One UI 8 features that make Galaxy phones smarter, faster, and more fun to use

Samsung’s One UI 8 is here, and while it’s not a ground-up reinvention like One UI 7, it’s one of the most confident versions yet. Rolling out first to the Galaxy S25 family, the update brings Android 16 along for the ride and mixes useful new tricks with clever refinements that make your daily interactions smoother. These are the standout features of One UI 8 that show Samsung’s software is in its prime. If you’ve got a Samsung phone that’s eligible for the update, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on these.

Multitasking that bends the rules

Split screen used to mean 50/50 screen real estate for each app, and let’s be honest, that often felt cramped. One UI 8 borrows a page from OnePlus by letting you shrink one app down to just 10 per cent of the display. That 90:10 balance means you can keep an email, notes, or chat thread hovering in a sliver of space while giving the rest of your screen to maps, spreadsheets, or Netflix. It’s multitasking that actually feels practical.

ALSO READ: Which Samsung phones will get the One UI 8 update?

Quick Share grows up

AirDrop envy is real, but Samsung is catching up fast. The revamped Quick Share UI now separates sending and receiving into distinct tabs. That tiny change removes the awkwardness of fiddling with permissions every time. Just open “Receive” and you’re instantly visible to anyone nearby. It’s fast, clean, and exactly what sharing should feel like in 2025.

AI Select stops wasting your time

The last rendition of AI Select was clever but painfully slow. In One UI 7, it took five seconds before you could even draw around content. In One UI 8, it’s nearly instant. You tap, circle, and the system’s contextual smarts kick in right away. It’s the difference between a feature you occasionally tolerate and one you’ll actually use daily.

DeX reimagined, not retired

Rumours of DeX’s death were exaggerated. Instead of vanishing, it has evolved into Android’s standard Desktop Mode with Samsung’s polish layered on top. You can still dock your phone to a monitor, drag floating windows around, and even rotate displays in 90-degree steps. Whether you’re plugging into a café screen or your home office, DeX remains the closest thing to a pocket-sized PC.

Samsung Health adds social motivation

Logging meals or workouts always sounds good in theory, but habit is the enemy. One UI 8 helps nudge you along by adding reminders to log food and a beefed-up “Together” feature. You can now challenge friends to weekly running goals; it’s peer pressure with a fitness twist.

Accessibility feels intuitive

Pinch-to-zoom inside the magnification window sounds simple, yet it’s a game-changer for anyone relying on accessibility tools. Add to that keyboard zoom, new mouse pointer controls, and smoother navigation, and Samsung’s accessibility suite is finally catching up with modern expectations.

ALSO READ: Samsung One UI 8 stable update is now rolling out

Auracast without the headache

Connecting to public audio broadcasts with Auracast used to be a clunky multi-step ordeal. Now, you scan a QR code and you’re in. Whether it’s tuning into airport announcements or a museum guide, One UI 8 makes the futuristic promise of shared Bluetooth audio something you’ll actually want to use.

Portrait Studio goes beyond people

Samsung’s generative Portrait Studio isn’t just for people anymore. With One UI 8, your pets also get the AI treatment! Cats and dogs can be transformed into oil paintings, 3D cartoons, or fisheye art. It’s playful, niche, and exactly the kind of unexpected feature that keeps Galaxy owners so loyal.

ALSO READ: One UI 8.5 leak confirms upcoming Galaxy Ultra Privacy Display is real

Audio Eraser everywhere

Originally built into video editing, Audio Eraser can now strip background noise from voice memos, recordings, and even Samsung Notes. That means interviews at a crowded restaurant or reminders you mumble while commuting are suddenly usable. It won’t scrub out every sharp sound, but it’s dramatically better than before.

Small details that matter

Even the humble Weather app now feels richer, with more realistic visuals that instantly convey what it’s like outside. Reminders and Routines get smarter, with presets for things like weather-based alerts. None of these updates are flashy on their own, but together, they make the phone feel like it’s anticipating what you need.

Top new One UI 8 features

One UI 8 isn’t loud about its changes, but that seems to be the point. Samsung has taken ideas that were clunky or half-baked and made them genuinely useful. From multitasking to noise-free recordings to pet portraits, it’s a software update that makes your phone feel refreshed without feeling foreign. What’s your favourite new feature in One UI 8? Drop a comment to let us know!