- A UI 8 should bring new features to the Now Bar
- The software can also solve a problem with the safe folder
- An UI 8 asset for watches have also leaked
With an UI 7 (based on Android 15) only reaching the oldest Galaxy phones, Samsung is already preparing an UI 8 (based on Android 16), and there are some key updates in the phones and watches pipe.
We know that Google plans to expel Android 16 very soon, before the pixels 10 phones, and it seems that Samsung is anxious to catch up. There has been rumors that an UI 8 could be launched with the next folding of Galaxy at some time in July.
Let’s start with the bar now, the dynamic widget of the added blocking screen in an IU 7. According to @topraks9plus on social networks (through 9to5google), the Widget one UI 8 version will add the ability to show phone calls and modes ‘do not disturb’.
Both would be useful additions. At this time, the bar can now show live updates of applications such as Samsung Health and Google Maps, but the more information is available on the blocking screen, the better.
Telephones and watches
Separately, a social publication of @devofipos (through Android Authority) suggests that the safe folder in an UI 8 will be based on the function of private space in Android 15. This would be a small change, but would solve one of the few privacy problems with the safe folder.
At this time, applications and files in the safe folder can be exposed in certain scenarios. Samsung has not publicly recognized the problem, but it seems that it could be about to solve it.
We have also seen assets for an UI 8 filtering clock, again filtered by @devofipos (through Sammobile). There are new system sounds, refined application icons and more suggestions that Gemini will soon appear on Galaxy Watch devices.
Samsung has not yet updated any of its Galaxy watches to an UI 7, and it seems almost certain that wearables such as the Galaxy Watch 7 will jump directly to an UI 8. We can expect more leaks in the near future, and we expect some official news quite soon too.