Samsung One UI 8 beta arrives on Galaxy S25 - First look at new AI features & Android 16

The One UI 8 beta surprisingly ditches the Galaxy S25 Edge for now, but the stable version will be introduced with the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 7.

Improved Quick Share and Reminder app layouts in the One UI 8 beta update. Image: Samsung

The wait is over! Samsung has officially launched its One UI 8 beta program for flagship devices, including the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra owners. This beta program offers an exclusive first look at Samsung's advanced, AI-powered mobile operating system. This significant Samsung OS upgrade, built on Google's Android 16, is initially available to users in select regions, including the US, UK, Germany, and South Korea.

Samsung has officially announced the One UI 8 beta update – Samsung's customized version of Android 16 – for Galaxy S25 users. Interestingly, the newly introduced Galaxy S25 Edge is not included in this initial beta phase. This significant OS upgrade primarily focuses on AI enhancements, emphasizing improved multimodal AI functions and deeper personalization tailored to individual user needs. However, the beta program's changelog, while not detailing every specific new feature, highlights significant speed improvements. Notably, features like "AI Select" are now virtually instantaneous, eliminating previous delays and ensuring a seamless, intuitive AI experience. Currently, the beta program for this new Samsung OS is largely centered on optimizing and refining features previously introduced.

Beyond its AI features, the newly introduced One UI 8 beta underscores Samsung's commitment to improving the overall user experience across its ecosystem. As highlighted in the company's official announcement, "The updated UX is optimized for the unique form factors across the Galaxy product portfolio, boosting your everyday productivity and efficiency." One UI 8 also promises an enhanced user experience across various form factors, including tablets and smartphones, by introducing several new features. Among these is an innovative split-screen option, allowing users to easily tuck one app away while focusing on another. This particular update is highly significant, especially as Samsung plans to unveil it with the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7, which will significantly benefit from enhanced multitasking capabilities.

Samsung has also integrated significant improvements through the One UI 8 upgrade into its native applications. Users will discover a redesigned Reminder app, now boasting a simpler layout that streamlines the organization and sharing of to-do lists. The popular Quick Share feature receives a more intuitive interface, making file sharing even easier. Another major upgrade enhances the connection for hearing devices, making it more flexible. This includes a new Auracast feature, enabling seamless connection of compatible earbuds (including the upcoming Galaxy Buds 3) to shared audio streams in public spaces, also offering hearing aid benefits.

How to Get the One UI 8 Beta on Your Galaxy S25 Today:

Eager to experience these new features firsthand? Enrolling in the One UI 8 beta program is simple for eligible Galaxy S25 owners:

• Open the Samsung Members app and log in with your Samsung Account.
• Tap the One UI 8.0 Beta Program banner on the home page to register.
• After registration, go to Settings ≫ Software update ≫ Download and install.
• Once downloaded, tap Install now. Your phone will restart to complete the installation.

This beta period paves the way for the full public release of One UI 8, which Samsung has confirmed will arrive this summer, coinciding with the launch of its next generation of foldable phones, widely anticipated to be the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 in July 2025. Once the public version is rolled out, it will gradually become available to other eligible devices. Stay tuned for further updates as One UI 8 continues to evolve.