Everything about Samsung One UI version 8.0

One UI 8.0 will be the eighth major iteration of Samsung One UI. It will be based on Android 16, and from our early hands-on experience, it looks like One UI 8 will be a rather minor update that's more akin to a x.1 One UI update.

With One UI 7 bringing substantial changes to the user interface design, Samsung wasn't expected to do the same thing again with One UI 8, and that's been confirmed by the early One UI 8 firmware we tested on a Galaxy Z Flip 6.

There are some minor UI changes in Samsung apps, such as encircled buttons in pop out menus in apps such as Gallery, but other than that, One UI 8 looks and feels exactly the same as its predecessor. Fine-tuning's the name of the game with this version of One UI, and it shows even at an early stage in its development.

One UI 8 is also light on new features. Android 16 is a relatively minor update from Google and focuses mostly on under-the-hood improvements, and Samsung hasn't embellished it with any new features of its own.

With One UI 8, Samsung's focus seems to be on bringing over some Galaxy S25 features that it didn't couldn't bring to older devices with the One UI 7 update. Now Brief, a Galaxy AI feature that acts as a personal assistant that provides personalized suggestions and actions based on your daily routine, is one such example.

One UI 8 will also bring some Galaxy S25 features that Samsung only managed to implement on the Galaxy S24 series with One UI 7. The Galaxy Z Flip 6, for instance, will receive the log video recording camera feature, and so will the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

As of April 18, we haven't discovered any substantial new feature on One UI 8, and whether that will change as development goes on remains to be seen. It's also worth mentioning that a few Android 16 features, such as lock screen widgets, are already available through One UI 7 in some form or capacity.

With Samsung promising at least three major OS upgrades for modern Galaxy devices, most budget and mid-range phones and tablets launched in 2023 and later will be eligible for One UI 8.0. All flagship smartphones launched in 2022 and later are eligible as well.

One UI 8.0 is expected to arrive considerably earlier compared to previous One UI versions, partly because of Google's decision to expedite the release of Android 16 to OEMs and manufacturers. According to our sources, One UI 8 may not get a beta program, which is another factor that will contribute to its early release.

It will come preloaded on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 and then make its way to older devices in the weeks that follow. Flagship phones will receive the One UI 8 update before mid-range and budget phones.