Samsung One UI 8 key features

When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 last month, the spotlight was not just on the smooth new hardware. The real game-changer was UI 8, Samsung’s latest software experience that merges the future world of foldables with AI’s explosive rise. This release is not only another software update—this is the first time a device has ever been sent out of the box with Android 16, a huge milestone that was made possible thanks to Samsung’s deep cooperation with Google. For Galaxy users, this means reaching the most recent Android features wrapped in a UI design of Samsung specifically polished, making a mobile experience unlike anything in the market.

Behind the curtain, the development of UI 8 was not a small achievement. Samsung Newsroom spoke to three prominent people who shaped it: Mihaoun Jiag and Junhwan Kim, who led the development, and Nawong Han, who managed joint efforts with Google. His story shows how AI and foldable designs merged into a spontaneous, futuristic interface.

A UI 8 takes full advantage of the foldable design of the Galaxy, turning it into the right stage for Samsung’s most ambitious AI experience. Jong explained that as AI technology is more powerful, users expect much more from their devices, which makes the user interface important. To meet those expectations, Samsung’s customer experience, design, and engineering teams formed a special task force with a clear goal: to define the core of UI 8 and polish it for perfection. Their vision is boiled down to three columns: multimodal AI, a form factor-unnamed interface, and in-depth individual features that are favorable to each user. Kim, who oversees the foldable design, fully expressed the concept: “When the foldables meet AI.” For the Z Flip7, this means that the iconic flex window is smarter than ever, while the huge main screen of the Z Fold7 turns into a multitasking powerhouse. Whether you prefer compact or expandable, both phones now serve as a gateway to the new era of Samsung’s AI-AAP experiences.

The Z Flip7 shines with its advanced Flex Window, making it easier to use advanced AI tools without exposing the device. With a quick press of the side button, Gemini appears live, giving users the natural ability to chat with AI as if it were a friend. You can see what is on your camera feed and can talk to AI about it in real time, add events to your calendar, and just get immediate updates on sports, news, and apps through your voice or through the new now bar. Meanwhile, the brief now gives a direct personal insight on the screen, which saves you time and effort while keeping you in the loop.

For those who live for large screens, the Z Fold7 is paired with a UI 8, unlocking the next level of multitasking. Imagine asking AI questions while keeping two or three apps open together. The results can pop up in a partition view or a floating window, which you can carry forward and shape. Screen sharing with Gemini Live also means that you can really show AI what is on your performance and ask questions in real time, whether you are browsing, editing, or even raising many apps at a time. Editing photos also leads to a huge increase.-Fotto Assist allows you to look at the original and A-Nhens versions on the side, so you can fix every detail with incredible accuracy. Samsung has unprecedented cooperation with Google at the center of this sophisticated AI system. Han explained that the two companies worked together from the early stages, defined the concepts, and shaped features as a team. Unlike the specific partnership, Samsung and Google shared a live development branch, where they could immediately exchange code and fix issues around the clock. That close engineering collaboration allowed Samsung to make history with the first devices to launch with Android 16.

The best example of this teamwork is the multimodal ability of Mithun Live, which allows AI to recognize what to recognize on screen and react immediately in context. Whether you are drafting a message, examining an image, or planning an event, AI naturally understands and reacts. Another major highlight is Samsung Dex for UI 8. Working hand-in-hand with Google, Samsung brought the desktop window to Android, giving users a consistent, productivity-centered experience. This deep integration means that developers also benefit, as their apps run more smoothly in a multi-window desktop environment. Han also shared how he traveled between Korea and the UK for face-to-face thought-brainstorming sessions, where the teams sketched the ideas on the whiteboard and bonded for so long that they made matching hoodies and even shared stories about their pets. That camaraderie translated into a strong, smooth DEX experience for users. But a UI 8 is not only about raw power—it is also about making an emotional relationship through the design. Kim indicated small but delightful changes, like everyday apps such as immersive updates and smooth animation of the Weather app. Even the clock now recognizes the size of your chosen wallpaper and naturally adjusts to fit, giving your device a sense of livelihood. This focus on expansion is also spread to the flex window of the Z Flip7, which keeps the design consistent on both screens.

Jeong highlighted the convenience upgrades, which go beyond AI, such as a more streamlined share to send files, an audio eraser tool that removes unwanted background noise in the video, and even the new pet profiles in the portrait studio for photo assistance. Of course, none of these features will matter without rock-solid security, and Samsung has not cut corners here. NOX with a UI 8 nox vault introduces the encrypted protection (keep), protects individual AI features, and ensures that the user data is protected from unauthorized access. Jong insisted that Samsung knows that users are concerned about data security in the AI ​​era, so the company has created many layers of defense, while users also have simple tools to manage their privacy. With all these characteristics, a UI 8 represents a new chapter for Samsung’s foldable lineup. Jong called it a completely new foldable experience, where users interact with AI in ways that feel natural and comfortable. Kim said that Samsung aims to use AI to make all the form factors—big phones, foldables, and tablets—equally valuable – so every Galaxy device can improve daily life. And Han closed with a clear message: collaboration with Google is only deepening. As technology develops, teamwork will be more important than ever, and Samsung plans to expand its partnership to carry forward AI integration throughout the Galaxy ecosystem.

For users, the wait will not be long. A UI will begin rolling out for more devices starting on September 8, which will begin with the Galaxy S25 series. Whether you are using a foldable or traditional smartphone, the combination of AI innovation and Samsung’s unique design philosophy has again defined what your phone can do. Foldables and AI are not just meeting—they are fusing in something that can change the way you use technology every day.