Samsung releases first beta update of One UI 8, these Galaxy phones will get it

Samsung has begun Android 16-based One UI 8 beta rollout to the flagship Galaxy S25 series. The update is currently available in the regions of South Korea, Germany, the UK and the US. The One UI 8 beta update will elevate the OS to Android 16 while adding productivity, security and accessibility related features. It also enables beta testing and development of the firmware prior to the public release.

Samsung has announced the details of the One UI 8 beta program in a newsroom blog post. It has been made available for all three of the Galaxy S25 series flagship models - Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 + and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The One UI 8 beta update is available in the US, Germany, the UK and South Korea as per the company. The users can register for the beta program via the Samsung Members app. The company has added that the update features can change based on the user's country and region. This update will be available out-of-the-box in Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z foldables launching this summer.

Samsung says that One UI 8 beta introduces significant improvements in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) which enhance daily life. It emphasizes three key aspects - multimodal functionality, form factor optimization and personalized pre-recommendations.

The first feature enables AI to recognize on-screen content in real time and provide 'natural interactions'. At the same time, the UX has been tailored for the different form factors of Galaxy products to increase productivity and efficiency and provide optimized interactions for the user's daily routine. Now Bar and Now Brief features will also provide job management, personalized greetings and suggestions.

With One UI 8 beta, Samsung Galaxy S25 series users can bring up camera quick controls by swiping up or down anywhere in the preview area. Secure Folder allows apps to be hidden and notifications to be stopped when locked. In Samsung DeX, users can choose optimized display resolution up to WQHD and rotate the screen up to 270 degrees. One UI 8 improves split-screen view, in which an app can be pinned to the side of the screen.

Preset templates and auto-complete suggestions have been added to the Reminder app. Users can share files such as to-do lists with loved ones with a single tap and add notifications with voice-based commands.

For accessibility, Samsung allows users to pair and connect Bluetooth hearing aid devices directly in the Accessibility settings. Additionally, users can enlarge the on-screen keyboard keys and adjust zoom settings by pressing the on-screen buttons. According to the release notes, Galaxy users can now challenge each other by setting running distance challenges. Users can also set reminders to track food intake in the Samsung Health app.