One UI 8 Archives

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Galaxy S25 Ultra users report mysterious purple tint on moon photos with One UI 8 Beta

A bug has emerged among some Galaxy S25 Ultra users after installing the One UI 8 Beta 4 update, causing a purple tint in moon photographs at zoom levels of 30x, 50x, and 100x. This issue is linked to the Intelligent Optimization setting, with some users reporting persistence of the problem despite adjustments. Not all Galaxy S25 Ultra users are affected, and users of the base Galaxy S25 or S25 Plus models have not reported this issue. Samsung encourages users to report the bug through the Samsung Members app, including system log data.

AppWizard

August 6, 2025

Heads up, Galaxy users: One UI 8 Beta arrives for more devices next week

Samsung is expanding its One UI 8 Beta starting August 11, initially for the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Flip 6, and Galaxy Z Fold 6 in markets like India, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S. In September, the beta will include the Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Tab S10 series, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A35 5G. Samsung plans to extend One UI 8 to more Galaxy Watch 8 models later this year. The update will feature advanced multimodal capabilities, enhanced Galaxy AI functionalities, and updates to core apps like Samsung Health and Calendar. A refreshed Quick Share UI and improved accessibility options will also be included. Users must sign up through the Samsung Members app to participate in the beta program.

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

One UI 8: Android 16 to Hit Samsung Galaxy Sooner Than Expected

Google has expedited the release of Android 16, with Samsung launching its beta program for One UI 8 in May for the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung has rolled out the fourth beta of One UI 8, distributing it to testers in regions including the U.S., South Korea, Germany, and India. The Beta 4 update is approximately 1.3 GB and includes bug fixes for Galaxy AI, Bixby, and certain applications. It also enhances Samsung's IMS Service and supports full-screen switching during video playback in DeX mode. The stable One UI 8 release for the Galaxy S25 series may occur soon. It is uncertain if older Galaxy devices will receive the stable Android 16 update immediately after the Galaxy S25 series. One UI 8 introduces features such as enhanced camera controls, dynamic wallpapers, and improved multitasking. A sub-major update, Android 16.1, is anticipated by the end of the year.

BetaBeacon

July 29, 2025

Samsung Beat Google at Its Own Game with Android 16

Samsung was able to release its custom Android skin, One UI 8, just weeks after Android 16 became available by adopting a similar "Trunk Stable" approach to Google's development model. Samsung's faster turnaround was made possible by developing One UI from a single, stable internal branch, allowing them to match Google's release schedule going forward.

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

Here’s how Samsung is speeding up software updates for Galaxy devices

Samsung has launched its new Z Fold and Z Flip devices with One UI 8, just a month after the public release of Android 16, thanks to the adoption of Google's "Trunk Stable" development model. This model allows all development to occur within a single, stable internal branch, facilitating faster feature integration and reducing merge conflicts. Android 16 debuted in June, marking a quicker release schedule compared to previous versions. Samsung has confirmed its adoption of this model for One UI development, operating from a single development branch and collaborating with Google to refine the approach. This shift has enabled Samsung to expedite the rollout of One UI 8, aligning its release schedule with Google's updates.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

Samsung plans to make Now Bar more useful by nearly doubling app support

Samsung's Now Bar feature, initially introduced with the Galaxy S25 series, has expanded to the cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip with the One UI 8 update. As of June 2025, it supports approximately 20 applications, including those from Samsung, Google, and third-party developers, with plans to increase this number to 35 by the end of 2025. The expansion is enabled by a new API in One UI 8 based on Android 16, allowing applications to create “Live Notifications.” Current compatible applications include various Samsung apps (e.g., Media Player, Notes, SmartThings TV Remote), Google apps (e.g., Google Maps), and third-party apps (e.g., Uber, Waymo). Samsung's documentation lists 19 specific applications but suggests a 20th app is forthcoming.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

Samsung just supercharged these handy Good Lock modules for One UI 8

Samsung is updating its Good Lock toolkit to ensure compatibility with the One UI 8 update. Home Up has been refined to allow users to customize app launch animations, enhancing the experience beyond what was available in One UI 7. The update includes new tools for the DIY Home Screen feature, such as alignment guides, item grouping options, and a “Page Indicator Hiding” toggle. Users can now also enjoy horizontal scrolling for app sorting. MultiStar, NavStar, and QuickStar have been updated to align with One UI 8, introducing features like a “Launcher widget” for the cover screen. Additionally, two new multi-window settings have been added for devices with multi-window support, including a quick-access icon for flipping screen orientations and toggling between aspect ratios in portrait mode.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Android’s Linux Terminal arrives on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but Z Fold 7 users are left out

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the first non-Pixel smartphone to support Google's Linux Terminal app, which allows users to run Linux programs within a virtual machine. This feature is not available on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Terminal app operates on a modified version of Debian within the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF), introduced with Android 13 and categorized as an Android 16 feature for Samsung devices. The app's availability is dependent on specific technical requirements related to the chipset; the Galaxy Z Flip 7 uses the Exynos 2500, which supports the necessary non-protected virtual machine, while the Galaxy S25 and Z Fold 7 use the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is limited to secure virtual machines. Future updates from Qualcomm may address this limitation. The Terminal app currently does not support graphical applications, but there are indications that such features may be developed in the future.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

I tested the new Gemini app on my Galaxy Watch 8, and it’s close to excellent

Gemini has begun its phased rollout on Android watches equipped with Wear OS 4 and above. It offers improved natural language command recognition and tailored responses from Google's Search LLM, allowing users to interact seamlessly with Google and Samsung applications. Gemini can create Google Calendar reminders and YouTube Music playlists through voice commands. It provides specific examples in response to queries, such as suggesting foods rich in carotenoids, and can deliver concise answers to spontaneous inquiries. Gemini efficiently pulls data from Search and Maps for tasks like finding local theater showtimes and creating calendar entries. Users can select default applications for tasks, enhancing speed and functionality. Battery consumption is manageable, with only about 20% used during a full afternoon of heavy use. However, it occasionally misinterprets commands and could benefit from brevity in responses. A "View on phone" button and better recognition of speech completion would improve user experience. Support for the new One UI 8 Watch Tile format could enhance functionality further.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Samsung fixes the Secure Folder flaw that let anyone see what apps you’re hiding

Samsung has addressed a vulnerability in its Secure Folder feature that previously allowed individuals with physical access to a device to view hidden apps and photos. This flaw arose from the Secure Folder being classified as a "work profile," which certain system components did not recognize as secure. With the release of One UI 8, Samsung has reclassified Secure Folder as a "private" profile, ensuring it is treated as a secure space by Google’s components. This change prevents unauthorized access to its contents, but the Secure Folder must be fully hidden for enhanced protection. However, it currently does not integrate with third-party launchers, as Samsung has not yet implemented the necessary APIs for compatibility.