Samsung One UI 8.
Credit: Samsung
Last week, Google rolled out Android 16 to all eligible Pixel phones. Third-party Android phone makers such as Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and others, which usually offer customised Android OS are gearing up to start beta testing.
Samsung has already begun Android 16-based One UI 8 beta testing and is available for Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra in Germany, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Android 16-based Samsung One UI is said to come with a refreshed Material-3 UI design and is optimised to deliver enhanced user experience in different device form factors, and personalized, proactive suggestions.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) Gemini-powered Now Bar and Now Brief will deliver even more personalised insights and suggestions to help the user stay on top of tasks and support the daily routine, through curated AI information.
The OneUI 8 will offer more power for the user to protect the private data on the phone. Galaxy Phone owners will have complete control over how the data requests are processed for AI to respond. Most of the work is expected to be performed on-device.
Android 16 update.
Credit: Google
It should be noted that less complex queries work on Google Gemini Nano AI model and it works on-device. For complex queries, Google Gemini Pro and Gemini Advanced AI models need cloud connectivity to perform tasks.
Android 16 is bringing the Live Updates feature, which offers options to compatible apps such as cab service, food delivery and e-commerce to show the live feed on the lock screen about the latest status update of the delivery or estimated time of arrival of the taxi. It will be integrated with the Now Bar on the lock screen.
Android 16 also brings Advanced Protection features, which enable an array of robust device security features that protect the user from online attacks, harmful apps, unsafe websites, scam calls and more.
Also, there is also a privacy security feature, which makes stolen Samsung phones useless.
List of Samsung phones eligible for Android 16-based One UI 8 update:
Galaxy S series device: Galaxy S21 FE 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G, Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S22 FE, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra S23 FE, Galaxy S24, S24 Plus. S24 FE, S24 Ultra, Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, S25 Ultra and S25 Edge.
Galaxy Foldable devices: Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, Z Flip4, Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G, Z Flip5, Z Fold5, Z Fold 6, Z Flip6 and Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. [Note: Samsung has confirmed that soon-to-be-launched Galaxy Z Fold7, Flip7 and Fold Ultra will come with Android 16-based One UI 8 out-of-the-box]
Galaxy A series: Galaxy A23, A24, A25, A26, A32, A33, A34, A35 5G, A36, A53, A54, A55 5G, A56 5G, Galaxy A73 5G, Galaxy A15, Galaxy A14 and the Galaxy A16.
Galaxy M series: The Galaxy M56, M55, M54, M53, M35, M34, M33 and M15 series.
Galaxy F series: The Galaxy F56, F55, F54, F34, F16 F15, and F06 series.
Galaxy Tab S series: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+, Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S10 FE, Tab S9 FE+, Tab S9 FE, Tab S9 Ultra, Tab S9+, Tab S9, Tab S8 Ultra, Tab S8+ and Tab S8 series.
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