One UI 8.5: A First Look Reveals Potential Usability Concerns
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One UI 8.5 is on the horizon, though not before 2026. Early test builds for the Galaxy S25 Ultra have surfaced, giving us a glimpse into SamsungS next major update. While buggy and unfinished, the build is functional enough to reveal significant changes – some of which may negatively impact the user experience that One UI is known for.
Specifically, Samsung is giving some of its apps a visual overhaul and, controversially, removing the text labels below icons in the bottom navigation bar. Gallery and Phone are prime examples of this design shift. While seemingly minor, this change suggests Samsung might potentially be prioritizing change over usability, a possibly concerning trend.
Samsung’s One UI 6.2 brings an iOS-inspired Gallery and reorganized Camera settings
Samsung is rolling out One UI 6.2 to its devices, and it brings some notable changes to the Gallery and Camera apps. Let’s dive into what’s new.
The Gallery app receives a significant visual update. Album previews now showcase the latest photo or video within that album,mirroring a feature found on iOS. This is a welcome addition, providing a swift visual reference of recent content.
[Image of Screenshot_20250925_172330_Gallery-scaled.jpg]
[Image of Screenshot_20250925_165103_Gallery-scaled.jpg]
The Camera app maintains its overall layout but benefits from reorganized settings. Video options are now more clearly structured with dedicated toggles for audio, formats (including HDR and log), and dual recording. Watermark and motion photo settings have also been expanded, although no groundbreaking new features have been introduced at this time.
One UI 7 brings redesigned My Files app and new charging animations to Galaxy S24 series
Samsung’s One UI 7 update is rolling out to the Galaxy S24 series, bringing a host of new features and improvements. Among these are a redesigned My Files app and updated charging animations.
The My Files app now features a search bar at the bottom of the screen, and highlights critically important sections like recent files and internal storage on the main screen with a blurred, glass-like background.
The charging animation introduced in One UI 7 remains. The percentage turns red when the battery is running low and transforms into a leaf when you enable power saving mode.
[Image of Device Care screen with charging animation – Screenshot_20250925_180546_Device-care-scaled.jpg]
[Image of Device Care screen with charging animation – Screenshot_20250925_180517_Device-care-scaled.jpg]
Samsung One UI 8.5: A First Look at the Next big update
Samsung’s One UI is evolving, and a recent hands-on preview reveals exciting new features coming with One UI 8.5. This update promises to build upon the foundation laid by One UI 8, focusing on enhanced AI capabilities and user productivity. Early indications suggest One UI 8.5 will be a significant iteration of samsung’s software, delighting users when it rolls out to compatible devices.
Key New Features in One UI 8.5
The most notable additions showcased so far center around artificial intelligence. Samsung is integrating AI more deeply into the user experience, with two key features highlighted in early previews: Meeting Assist and AI-powered product review generation.
* Meeting Assist: This feature leverages AI to transcribe, summarize, and translate meeting conversations in real-time. this will be a boon for professionals and students alike,streamlining note-taking and facilitating interaction across language barriers.
* AI-Powered Product Reviews: One UI 8.5 will reportedly allow users to generate product reviews directly from their purchase history and usage data. This feature aims to simplify the review process and provide more insightful feedback for other consumers.
These features align with the broader trend of on-device AI processing, allowing for faster and more private data handling. Samsung is clearly positioning One UI 8.5 as a showcase for its AI capabilities.
What Else to Expect from One UI 8.5
While the AI features are grabbing headlines, One UI 8.5 is expected to include a range of other improvements and refinements. Details are still emerging, but expect continued optimizations to performance, battery life, and the overall user interface. Samsung consistently refines its software based on user feedback,and One UI 8.5 is highly likely to continue this trend.
Device Compatibility and Release Timeline
Currently, Samsung has not officially announced a list of devices that will receive the One UI 8.5 update. However,it’s reasonable to expect the latest flagship devices,such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, to be among the first to receive the update. Older flagship and select mid-range devices are also likely to be included, though the timing will vary.
As of today,May 16,2024,a specific release timeline has not been announced. However, based on previous update cycles, we can anticipate a phased rollout beginning in the coming months.
Key Takeaways
* One UI 8.5 introduces significant AI-powered features, including Meeting Assist and AI-generated product reviews.
* The update focuses on enhancing user productivity and streamlining common tasks.
* A full list of compatible devices and a firm release date are yet to be announced by Samsung.
* One UI 8.5 builds upon the improvements of One UI 8, promising a refined and more intelligent user experience.
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