A Meaningful Upgrade Beneath a Familiar Look
One UI 8, Samsung’s most recent software update, may not seem like much at first glance, but it includes a lot of functional and design enhancements that make Galaxy devices easier to use and faster.
The UI still looks like a Samsung, but the changes to app layouts, AI integration, and Samsung DeX make this upgrade one of the most balanced and professional ones in a long time.
Refreshed Quick Panel and Interface
The notification and quick panels still look the same, but the borders are crisper, the layers are more subtle, and the rounded accents are smoother. These modest but noticeable changes make the UI seem more current and polished while still being easy for users to use.
Redesigned Core Apps for a Cohesive Experience
A lot of the main apps got big graphic improvements. The Gallery app now has a two-tone blur effect and an icon-focused layout to make the UI smaller and easier to see. The My Files app, on the other hand, has a cleaner, more organized look that makes it easier to operate with one hand.
The Samsung Internet browser fits in with this new design language. It has a redesigned tab bar and better menu organization, which makes sure that all of Samsung’s native apps look the same.
Enhanced Weather, Calendar, and Reminder Features
The Weather app now shows a realistic 3D world with moving clouds, sand, and grass. The Calendar app has a new, smarter interface that makes it easy to switch between Event and Reminder modes.
The Reminder app gets rid of its outdated hamburger menu and replaces it with a clean tile-based layout. The new three-dot menu structure makes it easier to find your way around.
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Smarter Multitasking and New Labs Options
One UI 8 adds a 90/10 split view that lets users shrink one program to a small 10% window while using another app in full view. This is faster than moving between apps using gestures.
Samsung Labs has included a new “Back Swipe Preview” feature that provides iOS-style swipe animations. When you swipe from the left, you can see a sample of the previous screen. This choice is only available to people who want to navigate using gestures instead of buttons.
Samsung DeX Gets a Major Overhaul
The modification that stands out the most is the move to Samsung DeX. Now called Wireless DeX, it has a more modern desktop layout with a taskbar that has been moved, an app drawer that does not take up the whole screen, updated battery indications, and support for widgets on the home screen.
The new DeX environment is more like a real PC since it lets you drag and drop things and switch between your phone and an external monitor without any problems.
Galaxy AI Expands Creativity and Functionality
The Galaxy AI suite has additional features that work behind the scenes. The Drawing Assist tool now has creative styles, including Art Nouveau, Webtoon, Soft Illustration, and InstaToon. The AI picture generator now has a full search bar and better preview options.
One UI 8 also improves Now Brief (available on the Galaxy S24 series and above) by adding a voice narration toggle, contextual YouTube suggestions, reminders for parking spots, and new widget integrations like Google Finance Stocks.
Instant Audio Eraser for Cleaner Recordings
The new Instant Audio Eraser lets users quickly get rid of background noise from movies, audio recordings, and transcribed conversations for Galaxy S24 and later smartphones. It can now be turned on and off immediately from approved applications, which makes it easier for professionals and content makers to use.
An Update That Is Deeper and Smarter
One UI 8 does not entirely change the Galaxy experience, but it does make a big, deliberate upgrade that improves both the look and the speed of the device. This version is a significant step forward in Samsung’s software ecosystem. It has better app consistency, AI creation capabilities, and a DeX experience that feels like a PC.
And if the first leaks of One UI 8.5 are any indicator, the next iteration will have an even bolder design change. This shows that Samsung is still working on making its Android experience better.
