When I woke up yesterday morning, I did not expect the Beta Ui 8 waiting for me on my Galaxy S25. However, this is precisely what happened. So, with my coffee in one hand and my S25 in the other, I spent my Wednesday morning downloading the last beta software from Samsung.
An IU 8 is not as drastic as a UI 7, but that does not mean that there are no new significant features. During the 24 hours that I used the beta version, I found a handful of changes quite fantastic.
Here are some things that I like in the beta of the UI 8, more something that I hate.
Do you think that UI 8 is a good update so far?
12 votes
The wonderful multitasking user interface 90:10
Joe Maring / Android authority
Without a doubt, my new favorite number one feature in the beta one UI 8 is the new divided screen option 90:10 for multitasking. This is technically an Android 16 functionality rather than something specific to one UI 8, but as it is not present in the beta version of Android 16 QPR1, it is the first time that we have a practical experience with it.
One UI 7 already offers a lot of freedom for the way you want to divide two applications that you perform simultaneously, although the furthest you can go is a split of 70:30. It is not horrible, but it can always make sure that certain applications feel crushed and difficult to navigate.
With the new 90:10 option in an 8 user interface, you can now run one of your applications in a mainly complete view, while your other application is hidden as a small ribbon at the top or bottom of the screen – and you can quickly change this application in full view simply by typing it.
This is practically identical to how Open Canvas works on OnePlus phones, and I could not be happier with that. Now, I can use an application without compromising its user interface while having another application to a tap. This is by far my favorite way to use the shared screen multitasking on Android, and I am delighted to have it now on Samsung phones with an IU 8.
The new Samsung recall application is excellent
Joe Maring / Android authority
In recent months, Google Tasks has been my list of list and task list. I do not see it changing so early, but the new Samsung recall application in an IU 8 tried me.
Samsung has completely revised the application page of the application, the most important change being the addition of new categories to the top. Previously, a user interface 7 showed your personalized recall categories at the top, while categories like today, programmed, important and places have been hidden in a side menu. Now, all of this is at the front and center at the top of the recall application, allowing you to immediately see how many reminders are in each of these categories.
The user interface to add a new reminder is also better. There are more recall options, adding time to a reminder is much simpler and the user interface of the location is also improved. In addition, if you use the Samsung Calendar application, you can now create a new reminder from there. It’s a lot of smaller settings, but I think they all come together to make Samsung recall a much more pleasant experience than before.
As a person who does not live so deep in the Samsung ecosystem, the wider availability of Google tasks will probably keep me there for the moment. However, this is a substantial update on the part of Samsung, and I hope that it motivates Google to grant similar attention tasks.
An updated fast sharing update
Joe Maring / Android authority
This is a relatively minor change from multitasking and recall updates, but it is always the one I appreciate. If you run the Beta Ui 8 and share something via a quick sharing, you will notice that there is now a completely new interface.
In a user interface 7, pressing the fast sharing switch to fast parameters simply displayed a context menu so that you can change that can share files with you. However, in a user interface 8, pressing the same fast sharing bottom now brings you to a brand new interface which is divided into dedicated reception and shipping pages. In addition, from the send page, you can select files that you want to share there, rather than doing it via the regular Android sharing menu.
The technology behind a quick share is excellent, but its user -oriented presence on Android has always been seriously missed. It is a massive step in the right direction, and I honestly think that it will make me use a quick sharing more often.
This is something that we expect all Android phones to eventually get, but if you want to try it now, you will only find it in the beta UI 8.
What I hate about the only UI 8 Beta
Joe Maring / Android authority
In my limited time with the beta one UI 8, I found nothing downright broken or a change that was made for the worst. If anything, it looks a lot like a user interface 7, just with additional features and a little additional varnish.
If this is the case, what do I hate an IU 8 that I hate? This is what is not here.
One of the biggest changes in Android 16 is the new expressive design of Google material. Having played with in the beta version of Android 16 QPR1, I am delighted with the way it takes place. This makes Android living and responsive in a way that Google works from Android 12, but this vision finally seems 100% made in Android 16.
Now that I have experienced Google’s new design language, I sorely fail to have it in a single UI 8.
Whether it is the beautiful animations with notification cards or the page of recent applications, the magnificent blurred user interface elements, or improved haptic comments throughout the interface, none of these Android 16 QPR1 elements is present in a user interface 8. And if you ask me, a user interface 8 is not as pleasant because of this.
To be clear, none of this is surprising. Samsung has its own separate software identity with a single user interface, and we knew that the company would not abandon it in favor of what Google designed with expressive equipment. However, now that I have experienced how good the new design language of Google is, I sorely fail to have it in UI 8.
A great evolution for a IU
Joe Maring / Android authority
Hot on the heels of an update as revolutionary as one UI 7, I can see some people watch a user interface 8 and find it a little boring. But it was always going to be the case. Samsung was never going to give us two consecutive updates on this scale. Instead, an IU 8 is an evolution of what Samsung has started with an IU 7, and if you ask me, that is (almost) all that this update should be.
Could it be even better with expressive equipment? Absolutely. But even without that, I am happy to see where Samsung is heading with an IU 8.
