Samsung has officially kicked off the beta program for One UI 8, the next major iteration of its custom Android skin. The announcement, made earlier today via Samsung's Members app and press communications, marks the beginning of the public testing phase for the software, which will make its full debut alongside Samsung’s next-generation foldable devices, expected to be unveiled in July.

A Glimpse Into One UI 8

Built on Android 15, One UI 8 brings a refined design, deeper AI integration, and enhanced multitasking capabilities — particularly tailored for foldable form factors. Samsung is emphasizing performance optimization, user-centric customization, and new cross-device continuity features in this update.

Key features teased include:

• Smarter UI Personalization: Leveraging on-device AI, One UI 8 introduces intelligent widget suggestions, dynamic theming based on user habits, and a more adaptive Always-On Display.

• Improved Foldable Experience: For its Galaxy Z Fold and Flip series, One UI 8 enhances Flex Mode functionality and introduces app continuity improvements when switching between internal and external displays.

• Deeper Samsung Ecosystem Sync: Enhanced interoperability between Galaxy tablets, phones, and wearables — including drag-and-drop content sharing, synchronized clipboard, and cross-device media control.

• New Privacy & Security Hub: A redesigned control center consolidates security tools like app tracking alerts, permission history, and biometric lock settings into one easy-to-navigate interface.

Beta Program Availability

The beta program is now open for select Galaxy S24 series users in South Korea, the United States, Germany, and India. Registrations are being handled via the Samsung Members app on eligible devices. As in previous years, Samsung is expected to expand support to more devices and regions in the coming weeks.

Initial feedback from early adopters points to improved fluidity, faster animations, and tighter integration of AI-powered features such as smart replies and contextual app suggestions.

Foldables First

Samsung has confirmed that the first stable version of One UI 8 will debut with its upcoming foldables — widely believed to be the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 — at the company’s annual Unpacked event, anticipated for mid-July 2025. These devices are expected to ship with One UI 8 out of the box, highlighting Samsung’s commitment to software leadership in the foldable category.

Industry watchers also speculate that the event may introduce a new Galaxy Ring and updates to Samsung’s wearable ecosystem, all of which are likely to benefit from the seamless connectivity framework being built into One UI 8.

Looking Ahead

With Google’s Android 15 set for a late summer release, Samsung appears to be aligning its development cycle more tightly with the broader Android ecosystem. The company’s push to bring meaningful AI experiences, along with tailored enhancements for foldable devices, positions One UI 8 as one of the most significant updates in recent years.

As beta testing progresses, Samsung is encouraging users to provide detailed feedback, which will help fine-tune the final release. The company aims for a stable One UI 8 rollout to its flagship and premium mid-range devices shortly after the launch of its new foldables.