What new features can I expect from the One UI 8 update?
Samsung's One UI 8, based on Android 16, introduces a range of new features focused on artificial intelligence, user experience enhancements, and security. While the core interface remains familiar, the update brings significant advancements in AI capabilities and device integration .
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Capabilities: One UI 8 integrates advanced multimodal AI, including Google Gemini and Gemini Live for real-time screen sharing and visual input . It also features a dedicated Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboard Slim .
Productivity and Creativity Tools: Users can expect new tools like Drawing Assistant, Writing Assistant, and Quick Tools . Photo Assist suggests objects or people to remove from images, and the audio eraser now has an "auto" button for background noise removal .
Enhanced Search Functionality: Circle to Search has been improved, now working within games to provide instant hints and tips by circling on-screen problems .
User Experience (UX) Optimization: The update provides a UX optimized for various device form factors and offers personalized, proactive suggestions for daily life .
Desktop Experience (DeX): One UI 8 enhances DeX with an Extended Mode, allowing the tablet to function as an external monitor for a dual-screen setup, and enables the creation of up to four separate workspaces .
Security Measures: One UI 8 introduces new security features like Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP), which creates secure silos for app data, and Knox Matrix, which automatically signs out of a Samsung Account if a device is flagged as high-risk .
Now Bar Widget: App support for the Now Bar widget is set to nearly double from 20 to 35 with the transition to One UI 8, with added cards expected by the end of 2025.
