Samsung One UI 8 Open Beta Arrives, Built on Android 16
The tech major has begun rolling out its new One UI 8 open beta, which is built on the foundation of Android 16. It's basically a highly polished version of One UI 7, which really twick with all the rough edges that were a part of that release.
Who's Getting It, and What's the Point
To get in on this beta, you must own one of Samsung's newest Galaxy phones in the lineup: Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, or Galaxy S25 Ultra. These are currently available in the US, UK, Germany, and South Korea. So far, the new S25 Edge does not appear on the list of devices included in the beta program. What is Samsung preparing now. It seems, however, that the core theme will be artificial intelligence, where we will get smarter multimodal features and better personalization.
Accommodating All Sizes and Shapes
And this One UI 8 is by no means for normal phones; rather, it has been made compatible with other form factors, especially tablets and those beautiful foldable phones. An exciting advancement is an uplift in multitasking mode. So now you can partially slide off a window to one side of the screen while using another. It's handy really, somewhat similar to what we've seen on devices like the OnePlus Open.
What's New Beneath The Hood
Here are a few more enhancements you'd anticipate in addition to the significant push in AI and multitasking magic:
- A totally revamped look and feel for the Samsung Reminder app.
- A simpler, less cumbersome UI for Quick Share.
- Now supports Auracast technology. By this, your hearing aid or compatible headphones (like the new Galaxy Buds 3) would connect to a shared audio stream. Imagine announcements in airports or live audio at concerts, delivered directly to your ears.
When is It Coming
The stable, polished version of One UI 8 will probably be launched officially this summer. The arrival would coincide with what is expected to be Samsung's next foldable stars: the Galaxy Z Fold7 and the Z Flip7.
