SamMobile got access to the new Samsung One UI 8 on the Galaxy Flip6 smartphone and shared its impressions of the user experience.
One UI 8 in its current form feels like a very minor update. It feels like most of the new features are things Samsung could have easily added in One UI 7 but decided to postpone.
The most striking example is the appearance of the Now Brief feature on the Galaxy Flip6 and other flagships in 2024. Its code was present in One UI 7, but only with the update to One UI 8 will it become available on older devices.
The Quick Share feature, which allows you to share files between Android devices, has received an update. The menu is now divided into two sections: “Receive” and “Send.” When you tap “Receive,” your smartphone temporarily becomes visible to other devices. Previously, this had to be turned on manually.
The overall interface of One UI 8 is almost unchanged compared to One UI 7. The only noticeable change is in the quick settings panel, where some buttons now have shading. However, this could be a mistake, as such a change was only noticed on one of the two smartphones on which the new shell was tested.
Samsung is also updating the interface in some of its apps, but the changes aren't significant. In the Gallery app, all the options that appear when you tap the menu button are now surrounded by a frame. This makes them more visually appealing, but the functionality remains the same as before.
Since One UI 8 will be based on Android 16, several changes to the operating system's behavior are expected. As for user-oriented features, most of the new features will likely only be available on Pixel devices and those running a "pure" version of Android without an additional manufacturer skin.
By the way, One UI 8 is still in development, so Samsung may add new features, improvements, and changes to the shell before release.
Recall that SamMobile is not the only publication that has received access to One UI 8. Previously, screenshots of the shell were published by the SmartPrix media.