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Samsung has already launched the Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 in the US. Both went on sale earlier last month, and what remains now is the Galaxy A27, which is also expected to make its way to the US. The launch could be on the cards, with growing evidence pointing to it.

In a report published earlier today, SamMobile notes the same, stating that the Galaxy A27 will be coming to the US soon. The outlet also discusses which carriers may offer the device. Based on that, the Galaxy A27 could be available through Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, as well as on Samsung.com.

There is also a chance that Samsung may reserve select color variants for retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, though that is just an assumption for now. We have already spotted the colors the phone might come in, at least for the European market, including Green, Black, Blue, and Pink.

Moreover, case listings from third party accessory makers and renders courtesy of OnLeaks have already revealed an early look at the device. Not much is changing, but Samsung may be going with a punch hole front camera design, keeping it in line with the other two phones in the latest A series.

As for the specs, the device may run on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 6GB of RAM. It could pack a 5,000mAh battery. Out of the box, it will run Android 16 QPR2 based One UI 8.5, with up to six years of software and security updates.

The post These Carriers Could Offer the Galaxy A27 in the US appeared first on SammyGuru.

Samsung Notes is packed with useful features, including a surprisingly quick customization option. You can move the toolbar anywhere on the screen, and you don’t have to dive deep into the app’s settings for it. This feature existed for a while, yet many Galaxy users still have no idea it’s there because it remains hidden in plain sight.

Depending on the One UI version of your Galaxy device, the toolbar on Samsung Notes could be at the top or bottom of the screen. If you’ve ever wished you could move it to somewhere else, you probably searched through the app’s settings menu and came away disappointed. While you can customize a lot of things in settings, including the arrangement of tools in the toolbar, there’s no option to move its position.

The good news is that you actually can reposition the toolbar in Samsung Notes. Even better, you don’t need to enable anything or dive into hidden menus. All you need to do is tap and hold the toolbar area, then drag it wherever you want. You move the toolbar to the top or bottom of the screen, or leave it floating freely anywhere on the display.

The floating mode is especially useful on tablets or foldables, where users often work in landscape orientation and may want quicker access to writing tools without stretching across the screen. As mentioned above, you can go into settings to customize the toolbar itself, so your most used tools are easily reachable.

Samsung Notes has evolved far beyond a simple note-taking app over the years. Features like AI-powered Note Assist, PDF annotation, audio syncing, handwriting-to-text conversion, math solving, and cross-device syncing have already made it one of Samsung’s strongest first-party apps. This hidden toolbar customization is another reminder that some of the app’s smartest features are the easiest to overlook.

The post Samsung Notes Secretly Lets You Drag and Reposition the Toolbar appeared first on SammyGuru.

For years, Samsung dominated the conversation around smartphone zoom cameras. Its Ultra models became the benchmark for long-range zoom, especially during the true 10x optical era, where Samsung managed to combine strong hardware with aggressive computational photography to hold the zoom crown for multiple generations. That’s no longer true.

After using the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, I realized that the Galaxy S26 Ultra can’t match it in telemacro and long-range zoom. The battle isn’t just software versus software. It is optics versus optics — and in two important areas, Samsung is now fighting from behind.

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra uses a massive 200MP 3x telephoto sensor with a 1/1.28-inch optical format, paired with a minimum focus distance close to 15cm. That combination completely changes how the camera behaves in real-world macro photography. Unlike traditional smartphone macro systems that rely heavily on ultra-wide lenses with exaggerated perspective and artificial depth separation, OPPO’s system behaves more like a real optical camera.

The large sensor creates natural background blur without forcing aggressive software simulation. The high megapixel count also gives the processing pipeline an enormous amount of data to work with. Even when moving beyond the native 3x range into 10x or 20x, the system still retains strong texture integrity because the crop originates from a very high-resolution optical source.

Traditional long telephoto lenses are often unusable for macro because their minimum focus distances become too long. OPPO’s dedicated 10x optical camera, for example, reaches roughly 100cm minimum focus distance, making it impractical for close-up work. Instead of forcing the 10x lens to do everything, OPPO optimized the 3x system to bridge both worlds — telemacro and mid-range zoom.

That design decision is why the camera feels so flexible in real usage.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra continues relying on a much smaller 3x sensor that simply carries far less optical data for close-range processing. In normal photography, that setup is usually enough to cover the 3x to roughly 4.9x range reasonably well. But telemacro pushes the hardware far beyond its comfort zone.

Yes, Samsung can still produce good macro shots sometimes. Processing can compensate in certain conditions. But consistency is the problem.

The smaller sensor cannot generate the same natural subject separation. It cannot hold the same micro-detail during close focusing. And once lighting conditions become more difficult, the gap becomes easier to see. OPPO’s larger sensor simply captures more optical information before software even begins processing the image.

Samsung deserves credit for what it achieved with software over the past few generations. The company managed to keep a 5x optical system surprisingly competitive against higher optical zoom competitors through advanced computational photography, multi-frame fusion, AI reconstruction, and sharpening pipelines.

But physics still matters. The OPPO Find X9 Ultra uses a true 10x optical system, while Samsung continues relying on a 5x optical camera. The moment users move beyond 10x magnification, the hardware gap becomes increasingly difficult to hide. At 20x, 30x, and above, OPPO retains stronger clarity and finer structural detail because the image starts from a stronger native optical foundation before digital cropping begins.

Software can reduce the gap. It cannot fully erase it.

Samsung’s processing still deserves recognition because the company keeps results usable far beyond what the optics alone should realistically deliver. But once users compare both systems side by side, especially in distant architecture, textures, or compressed landscapes, the advantage of native optical reach becomes obvious.

Even OPPO’s sometimes aggressive sharpening does not fully cancel the hardware lead. In fact, this is what makes the comparison fascinating. OPPO still needs tuning for more natural rendering in some scenarios, yet the optical foundation remains stronger. And optics always matter.

This entire situation creates a much bigger challenge for Samsung going into the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Current rumors suggest the company may remove the 3x lens entirely and rely more heavily on the 5x system. On paper, that strategy sounds logical. A larger new 5x sensor combined with fewer cameras and an upgraded main sensor could simplify the camera system while improving image consistency across different zoom ranges.

But there is one major problem. So far, no rumors mention any significant 5x sensor upgrade. And if Samsung keeps using the existing hardware philosophy, the entire strategy could backfire badly.

The 5x camera could still perform decent close-up photography on the Galaxy S25 Ultra with its 25cm minimum focus distance. But that situation is now changing with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The combination of a larger aperture and Samsung’s ALoP lens design appears to push the minimum focus distance closer to the 40–50cm range. This reduces much of the flexible 5x telemacro behavior that previous Ultra models could still partially achieve.

And even before that shift, Samsung’s 5x system still did not approach what OPPO achieved with the Find X9 Ultra’s massive 200MP 3x telephoto system, which has an extremely short minimum focus distance of 15cm. Compared to 25cm on the S25 Ultra, the quality matches, but the distance does not.

If Samsung removes the 3x camera entirely without dramatically upgrading the 5x hardware, the company may eventually be forced to rely more heavily on traditional ultra-wide macro photography again.

Galaxy S26 Ultra users are already starting to experience the limitations of this approach in real-world scenarios. Ultra-wide macro still works for casual close-up shots. However, it struggles because of perspective distortion, weak subject isolation, inconsistent lighting behavior, and the need to move extremely close to the subject. Users increasingly prefer telemacro because it creates a more natural composition while allowing greater shooting distance and cleaner optical separation.

Samsung now has two possible directions. Either it introduces a significantly larger 5x sensor with much shorter focusing capability, effectively transforming it into a hybrid telemacro and long-range zoom camera, or keeps the dedicated 3x lens but upgrades it dramatically to compete with the new generation of large-sensor telephoto systems. Anything in between risks falling behind in both categories simultaneously.

The ranking system in this comparison is designed around real user experience rather than isolated camera samples or marketing specifications. Each category awards points based on what users genuinely gain, and what they sacrifice, when using each device in everyday photography.</p>

Based on the categories already covered in previous comparisons — Camera usability; features and design; Pre-order experience and Unboxing — the score previously stood at: 3 for Samsung and 2.5 for OPPO. But after evaluating the telemacro capability and long-range zoom performance, both categories go to OPPO. Updated scores are 3 and 4.5, respectively.

This battle is no longer just about image processing styles or AI tuning. It is becoming a deeper conversation about camera architecture itself. About how much software can realistically compensate before optics reclaim control again. And right now, OPPO is forcing Samsung to answer a very uncomfortable question for the Galaxy S27 Ultra: Can software still carry the zoom race alone, or is it finally time for it to redesign the hardware philosophy entirely?

Stay tuned for the rest of the comparison. The race is becoming far more interesting now.

The post Samsung Lags Rivals in Telemacro and Long-range Zoom — What That Means for Galaxy S27 Ultra appeared first on SammyGuru.

Samsung is rolling out the May 2026 security patch to the Galaxy S26 series in more markets. First released in Europe, the update has now reached India, and potentially more countries in Asia. US units should pick up the new security patch in the coming days.

Earlier this month, Samsung released the One UI 9 beta program for the Galaxy S26 lineup in the US, the UK, Germany, and South Korea. The update arrived with the May security patch. However, users on One UI 8.5 didn’t get a new security release. Samsung finally dropped the latest patch in Europe yesterday and has now started a global rollout.

Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra users in India can download the May security patch, which carries firmware version AZE2. It’s the same build released in Europe earlier. The update weighs 563MB for the Ultra model, though the size and build version may vary by model and market.

The official changelog, as well as the firmware build, confirms that this update is all about the latest security fixes. According to Samsung’s official security bulletin, the May 2026 patch fixes a total of 39 security vulnerabilities. That includes patches related to the core Android operating system and Samsung-exclusive issues affecting One UI and Galaxy software components.

Samsung will gradually roll out the May 2026 update for the Galaxy S26 series in more markets. As usual, users can manually check for the update by heading to: Settings > Software update > Download and install. Samsung has also confirmed plans to expand the One UI 9 beta program for the new flagships to India and Poland later this month. We will let you know when the update arrives.

The post May 2026 Update Live for Galaxy S26 Lineup in India appeared first on SammyGuru.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s (review) camera system quietly changed after the second April camera update. The difference becomes especially noticeable once you move beyond the traditional “safe” zoom ranges inside 24MP mode. 10x zoom at 24MP no longer behaves as aggressively oversharpened as before.

In my previous Galaxy S26 Ultra camera settings guide, I explained how Samsung’s 24MP processing performed best inside what I described as the “lossless zones.” The ultra-wide camera performed optimally up to around 0.9x. The main camera maintained excellent balance up to roughly 1.9x, while the 5x telephoto system stayed surprisingly strong all the way to 9.9x.

Inside these ranges, Samsung delivered the best balance between detail, texture retention, minimal computational artifacts, and full 24MP resolution output. But once the system crossed into 10x territory inside 24MP mode, the processing pipeline became much more aggressive, even when the final output still remained 12MP.

Oversharpening increased noticeably. Edge enhancement became heavier. Fine texture sometimes looked artificially reconstructed rather than naturally resolved. In difficult scenes, the image could start feeling computational before it felt optical. That behavior created a very clear recommendation previously: switch to 12MP once moving beyond 10x for more natural rendering.

Samsung fixed this with its second April update for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its 24MP processing at 10x now behaves much closer to the cleaner rendering previously associated with 12MP mode.

The excessive sharpening behavior has clearly been reduced. Texture reconstruction feels calmer. Edges look more controlled. Micro-contrast appears less artificially boosted. And the overall image now maintains a more natural balance between detail and computational cleanup. The difference is not subtle when compared side by side against older processing behavior.

Special thanks to X/@Francesco_G92 for discovering this behavior first.

Before the update, 24MP mode felt most reliable up to around 9.9x before computational artifacts started becoming increasingly visible. Now, the practical range extends much further.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra now maintains surprisingly stable processing behavior all the way from 10x up to roughly 14.9x inside 24MP mode. The rendering remains controlled enough that many scenes now look very close to Samsung’s cleaner 12MP processing style, but with the additional detail advantage of the 24MP processing pipeline, even when the final output still remains 12MP.

That changes how the camera should actually be used in daily photography. Users no longer need to switch between 24MP and 12MP as aggressively once crossing the 10x threshold. The transition now feels more flexible and, more importantly, far more predictable. Still, 12MP remains the most natural-looking output overall, even if it appears slightly softer.

Once the camera moves beyond 15x, the computational pipeline starts becoming visibly heavier again. This is where Samsung’s AI reconstruction and digital enhancement systems begin taking much stronger control over the final image output. Fine detail starts depending more heavily on sharpening reconstruction, especially in distant scenes or lower lighting conditions. And this is where 12MP once again becomes the safer option for most situations. The image simply feels less stressed computationally.

However, 24MP mode still retains an important role. For extremely distant subjects in strong lighting conditions, 24MP can sometimes preserve extra perceived detail that 12MP cannot fully retain—especially when the scene contains enough real optical information for the computational engine to work with. So the decision now becomes more scene-dependent rather than fixed.

What makes this update particularly interesting is what it reveals about Samsung’s evolving computational photography strategy. Previously, Samsung often prioritized aggressive sharpening to preserve the perception of detail at long zoom ranges. The system frequently pushed micro-contrast and edge enhancement harder than necessary, especially in 24MP mode.

Now the behavior feels more restrained. Samsung appears to be trusting the optical data more instead of forcing the image to look artificially sharp at all costs. That creates a more premium rendering style overall. Not necessarily softer. Just smarter. The camera now feels more aware of when detail actually exists, and when computational enhancement should step back instead of overcompensating.

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Update Changes 10x Zoom Behavior More Than Expected appeared first on SammyGuru.

Google recently shared the release notes for its May 2026 Play System update. As usual, the update brings new features, security improvements, and bug fixes to improve the Android experience. The company should begin rolling out the update to eligible Galaxy devices in the coming weeks.

While the Google Play System update may not look as compelling as a big Android upgrade, it plays a key role in keeping devices secure and up to date. The update targets several system components, including Play services and Play Store. Here’s what this month’s update brings for Android users.

With Play Store version 51.3, the system now lets you open Google Play Sidekick from the notification drawer. You can also ask questions and share tips about games in several new languages. These include Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

The Play Store version 51.4 brings smarter search and discovery features. Thanks to AI Overview and Ask Play, they provide search results for Sports, Media, and Entertainment. You can also see trailers and find where to watch content. Moreover, you can get a taste (sample) of manga and webtoons on app pages in supported comic apps. Google now lets you get weekly rewards and special offers in your inboxes.

Meanwhile, Play Store version 51.5 brings the ability to access Play Collections. It offers detailed daily playtime stats when you tap streak icons. Players can also report gamer profile names directly in the Play Store. Google lets you share feedback on recently played games to improve recommendations. In addition, you can now find content from your installed apps inside the Play Store.

The Play services version 26.17 brings a warning screen on Android desktop devices. It appears when you sign in with a Dasher account. Wallet services also receive bug fixes for a more reliable experience.

As for Play Services version 26.18, the update improves the Trusted Contacts feature for supervised users. Family Link (Add/remove user settings) also gets an upgrade on PC for flexible user control. Quick Share now lets users send files from Android to iOS using a QR code and cloud transfer.

Furthermore, you can translate public safety broadcasts into your device’s language. There is also Gemini integration for security settings. The system now automatically ends calls that impersonate supported bank phone numbers. Advanced Protection also offers a smoother experience. Other features include backup and restore support for Autofill settings.

With Play Services version 26.19, you get an improved storage management screen thanks to Material 3 Expressive UI design. The update also improves how Google accounts work between phone and wear devices. It moves users from service flags to account capability.

At the moment, there is no exact date for when Google will begin pushing the May 2026 Play System update to Galaxy users. You can check for updates via Settings > Security & privacy > Updates > Google Play system update.

The post May 2026 Google Play System Update: What’s New? appeared first on SammyGuru.

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update brings a myriad of new features, including fresh Galaxy AI tools. Moreover, the update improves many existing AI features. Photo Assist, Samsung’s AI-powered editing suite inside the Gallery app, gets one of the most notable upgrades. Generative photo editing finally feels genuinely practical rather than experimental. Here’s what the One UI 8.5 version is capable of.

Samsung has steadily expanded the capabilities of Galaxy AI over the past couple of years. With One UI 8.5 and the Galaxy S26 series, the company turned Photo Assist into a practical AI photo editor. While previous versions focused mainly on object removal and generative fill, the new release adds a much smarter and more flexible editing system powered by multimodal AI.

No doubt, Photo Assist has worked impressively well since the very beginning. It could quickly remove distractions or add objects to photos. However, the workflow still required a fair amount of manual interaction. Users had to circle objects, adjust selections, and hope the AI understood the context correctly. It could get annoying if you have to select small objects in the photo.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung is trying to change that by making Photo Assist feel more conversational. Users can now describe the edits they want in natural language instead of relying only on manual selections and suggestions. Simply type out your instructions directly into a text box, and the AI interprets those commands and applies edits automatically. New capabilities include:

• Turning daytime scenes into nighttime shots (and vice versa)
• Changing outfits and colors in portraits
• Removing stains or spills from clothing
• Cleaning up reflections, shadows, and unwanted distractions
• Adding missing objects or environmental details
• Restoring damaged or partially hidden elements in photos
• Replacing backgrounds with entirely different scenery

The upgraded system is significantly more context-aware than before. Rather than editing isolated portions of an image, the AI analyzes the entire scene to maintain realistic lighting, shadows, perspective, and textures. Removing or adding objects to photos no longer produces distorted backgrounds, mismatched lighting, or blurry edges (or at least minimizes them).

Photo Assist now does a much better job of understanding semantic details within an image. For example, if you remove an object from a crowded street scene, the AI can reconstruct nearby textures, shadows, and reflections more accurately. Similarly, if you ask the AI to modify clothing or add accessories, it adjusts folds, lighting direction, and skin tones to match the original image.

Samsung also appears to be using a layered editing pipeline behind the scenes. Instead of generating the entire image again, the system selectively rebuilds portions of the scene while preserving the original details wherever possible. That helps photos retain a more authentic look. The improvements are especially noticeable in portrait shots, where hair, skin texture, and facial details tend to remain sharper after edits.

The new Photo Assist in One UI 8.5 also stores a complete history of AI-generated modifications. Users can revisit previous edits step by step, remove individual changes, or continue refining an image later without starting over from scratch. This dramatically improves usability, especially for people experimenting with multiple AI edits on the same photo.

Introduced with the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung’s upgraded Photo Assist is rolling out to select older flagships with One UI 8.5. However, it won’t be available on years-old models. If you are using an aging Galaxy smartphone, upgrading to a newer model is a good idea now. Samsung is currently offering flat discounts of up to $250 on the Galaxy S26 series.

The post How Samsung Made Photo Assist More Practical with One UI 8.5 appeared first on SammyGuru.

Well, it didn’t take long. Just a day after releasing the update in South Korea, Samsung has kicked off a global rollout of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy A56. The premium mid-range smartphone is now picking up the update in Europe, with other regions expected to follow soon. The Galaxy A36 should also soon get One UI 8.5 in global markets.

Galaxy A56 users in Europe are getting One UI 8.5 with the firmware build version A566BXXUACZDR. It’s approximately 2.95GB update introducing a myriad of UI changes and new features that first debuted on the Galaxy S26 series. While the device misses out on AI upgrades, it still gets plenty. A wider rollout is expected in the coming days. Users can check for updates from Settings > Software update > Download and install.

Additionally, Samsung should start a global rollout of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy A36 anytime now. It also initially picked up the update in Korea. These are the only two mid-range devices to receive One UI 8.5 so far. If the Korean firm keeps up the current pace, dozens of others could join the party over the next couple of weeks. The goal is to complete the One UI 8.5 rollout quickly and shift the focus to One UI 9.

In fact, Samsung has already started beta testing its Android 17-based One UI 9 update. The first beta arrived last week for the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra users in the US, the UK, Germany, and Korea. More devices are expected to get beta access to One UI 9 in June or July. The stable version debuts with the new foldables in late July, though a wider rollout may take a while.

The post Breaking! Galaxy A56 Starts Getting One UI 8.5 in Global Markets appeared first on SammyGuru.

While Samsung is seeing solid profits from booming AI memory demand, the market could see a big downturn in the next few years. The company’s standing advisor and former DS division head, Kyung Kye-hyun, predicted that memory chip prices could begin to drop starting in late 2027 or early 2028. This is mainly due to bold capacity expansions by Chinese chipmakers.

Samsung posted its strongest financial performance ever in Q1 2026, with both revenue and profit reaching record highs. The company’s semiconductor profits jumped sharply, all thanks to strong demand for high-value AI memory products and rising memory chip prices. However, the current AI memory boom may not last forever.

“Chinese companies are aggressively expanding their production capacity (CAPA),” Kyung said during a keynote speech at the 285th NAEK Forum in Seoul. “There is a possibility that the market will change starting from the second half of next year or the first half of 2028, when memory supply surges.”

Chinese memory module makers are accelerating the release of new DDR5 chip-powered products. ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), the country’s leading memory chipmaker, is reportedly playing a key role in this push. This could allow all the Chinese firms to catch up with industry leaders such as Samsung and SK Hynix.

Furthermore, Kyung said there is a risk that demand for memory chips could weaken after 2028. The reason is that big technology firms may reduce AI investment if returns on those investments decline. So, not only prices but also demand for memory chips could decline in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how Samsung responds to increasing competition from Chinese firms.

Kyung noted that South Korea accounts for 70% of the global DRAM market, thanks to its strong position in memory chips. The Korean semiconductor industry must now prepare for the post-super boom period.

The post Former Samsung Chip Lead Suggests Memory Prices Could Decline Fast appeared first on SammyGuru.

Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Samsung may launch a Fold 8 Wide this year. The new model caters to a different need. It’s more like a foldable tablet that also doubles up as a smartphone. Leaks have already revealed plenty about the device, and a new report reconfirms some of its specs, including the battery and cameras.

The upcoming Samsung foldable allegedly gets a 7.6-inch main display. While not quite a tablet-sized screen, it does boast an aspect ratio closer to 4:3, offering a tablet-like experience. There’s also a 5.4-inch display on the outside, with a 4.7:3 aspect ratio. Again, you get a wider screen than regular smartphones, so Samsung is trying something different here.

The new leak adds that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could pack a 4,800mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging, while maintaining a weight of roughly 200 grams. Samsung is finally doing something about the poor battery life of its foldables. The Fold 8 is also expected to jump from a 4,400mAh unit to a 5,000mAh cell this year.

Additionally, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide is said to feature dual 50MP rear cameras, including a primary and ultrawide sensor. Earlier leaks have suggested the same, so this looks confirmed. Cameras are certainly not its strength, it seems. Instead, Samsung is focusing on productivity here, something it tends to do with tablets too.

These two foldables will launch alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 8 later this year. While Samsung won’t officially announce the launch date anytime soon, leaks point to a July 22 unveiling of the upcoming Galaxy Z trio. For a change, the launch event could take place in London (Samsung typically hosts Unpacked events in the US or Korea). Stay tuned for more updates on the new foldables.

The post New Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide Leak Reconfirms Battery and Camera Specs appeared first on SammyGuru.

Google appears to be preparing stricter limits for free users of its AI assistant, Gemini. The company may soon move from short-term usage limits to weekly caps. This change appears to be in testing, with only a small group of users likely to see the new limit system.

Like other popular AI chatbots, Google puts certain restrictions on free Gemini users. The company says these limits are “designed to ensure an optimal experience for everyone” using the platform. Currently, Gemini uses a replenishment system where usage capacity resets regularly. This allows users to continue chatting after waiting for a short period.

As a result, normal users usually do not even notice these restrictions during day-to-day use. Things are getting stricter now, as Google is reportedly testing a new weekly limit system. If users finish their weekly allowance fast, they may have to wait for a few days to regain access to AI models.

As spotted by @ai_for_success, the dedicated usage cap section inside Gemini shows a weekly limit for free users. There, you can see the total weekly usage in percentage form. The page description reads, “Your plan’s limits determine how much you can use Gemini over time. Advanced models and features can take up more usage.”

According to Google’s support page, the number of prompts a user can send before hitting the limit depends on a bunch of factors. Longer and more complex prompts, larger file uploads, and longer conversations can quickly consume the limit.

As of now, the new weekly limit system appears to be available only to a small number of Gemini users. There is no word yet on when Google plans to roll it out to everyone. However, this change could cause power users to hit restrictions much sooner than before.

Meanwhile, Google is reportedly preparing to expand its Gemini AI subscription lineup, introducing an AI Ultra Lite plan. This tier could sit between the current AI Pro and AI Ultra.

The post Google May Impose Weekly Limits on Free Gemini Users appeared first on SammyGuru.

After months of beta testing and multiple updates across different Galaxy devices, Samsung recently started rolling out the stable version of One UI 8.5. As expected, the first batch includes Samsung’s recent flagship and foldable devices, including the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S24 series, Fold 7, Flip 7, Fold 6, and Flip 6.

The rollout began in Samsung’s home country, South Korea, with other regions now joining the update party as well. We have listed all the regions where One UI 8.5 is available for at least one Galaxy device below. We will keep updating this article regularly with the latest rollout information. Last updated on May 19.

As of May 19, 2026, Samsung’s One UI 8.5 stable rollout is live in the following markets:

• Afghanistan
• China
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Kazakhstan
• Malaysia
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam

• Iraq
• Israel
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates

• Austria
• Croatia
• France
• Georgia
• Ireland
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russia
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Pan Europe (EUY)

• Canada
• Dominican Republic
• Guatemala
• Mexico
• United States

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Uruguay

• Egypt
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Libya
• Morocco
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• South Africa
• Tunisia

• Australia
• New Zealand

Samsung started the rollout with its 2025 flagships and foldable lineup in early May. More Galaxy devices, like the Galaxy S24 series, S24 FE, S23 series, Z Fold 6, Flip 6, Fold 5, Flip 5, A56, and A36, are now picking up the update as well. Some models have started getting their One UI 8.5 updates globally, while the others are expected to begin soon.

After this, Samsung should gradually expand the rollout to tablets and midrange devices. Budget M and F series offerings could likely start seeing the update around late June in most regions.

While the exact rollout timeline is still unclear, Samsung usually takes around three to four months to complete major software rollouts. If everything goes according to plan, the company could finish the One UI 8.5 rollout for most eligible devices before July. 

That said, we will continue updating this tracker regularly, so feel free to check back anytime. If we missed your region, you can also reach out to @Mohammed_K_2010 on X and let us know.

The post One UI 8.5 Tracker: Which Regions Have the Update? appeared first on SammyGuru.

If leaks are accurate, Samsung’s 2026 foldables are just about two months away. The company is rumored to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Wide, and Flip 8 at an Unpacked event in London on July 22. As the said date approaches, leaks keep piling up. A recent report from Techmaniacs revealed key specifications of the Fold 8, including a major battery and charging boost.

Samsung’s next book-style foldable may not look drastically different from its predecessor. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could still bring a series of meaningful refinements. Most notably, it may pack a significantly larger battery, rumored at 5,000mAh. That’s a massive jump from a 4,400mAh cell used in previous models, including the Fold 7. Charging speeds may also increase from 25W to 45W.

This battery boost looks particularly impressive when you factor in dimensions. The Fold 8 allegedly measures just 4.1mm when unfolded and weighs around 210 grams. That would make it slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor, which measures 4.2mm unfolded and weighs 215 grams. Samsung has done well to pack a bigger battery without making the device bulkier.

The overall size may remain unchanged, with the report suggesting similar screen sizes to last year. This means an 8-inch main display and a 6.5-inch cover screen. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, previously used in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is expected to power the Fold 8.

Another notable upgrade could arrive in the camera department. The ultrawide sensor is reportedly jumping from 12MP to 50MP, potentially bringing a major improvement in detail and low-light performance. However, the rest of the camera hardware may remain unchanged, including the 200MP primary shooter, 10MP 3x telephoto lens, and the two 10MP selfie cameras.

As always, these leaked specifications should be treated with caution. However, with an official launch fast approaching, expect more leaks to confirm the rumors in the coming weeks.

The post Galaxy Z Fold 8 Leak Points to Major Battery and Charging Upgrades appeared first on SammyGuru.

It looks like there’s a big change coming to how users access Google Messages across devices. It matters even more, as it soon replaces Samsung Messages in the US. Google Messages’ web client has been hinting that QR code pairing won’t stick for long. Now, the same shift is beginning to surface within the Android app itself.

In the latest Google Messages v20260511 beta release, as pointed out by Android Authority, the QR code pairing option is nowhere to be found. That’s a pretty strong signal that Google is moving full steam ahead with its plan. Instead of scanning a code, users will eventually need to sign in using their Google account credentials.

Up until now, QR pairing has been the go-to method for linking devices. It was quick, hassle-free, and didn’t require logging into an account. For many, it just worked without any fuss. But it looks like Google is changing the playbook, whether users like it or not.

Interestingly, the web version still shows the QR code option for the time being. However, without support from the mobile app, it’s essentially on its last legs. Once the transition is complete, scanning a QR code simply won’t be an option anymore for pairing devices.

Google hasn’t shared a clear timeline for when the feature will be fully retired. That said, the direction is pretty obvious at this point. Users who rely on Messages for web access should brace themselves and start getting comfortable with Google account-based sign-ins. This move could bring tighter integration and possibly better security, but it also takes away a simple feature that many found convenient.

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Did you just notice? Google is giving Workspace apps a fresh coat of paint. The redesigned icons, leaked a few weeks ago, are now rolling out more widely. The new look of these app icons leans heavily on gradients, shifting from lighter to darker tones, similar to the updated Google logo from last year.

A key change is how colors are being used. Some apps no longer rely on the familiar four-color palette. Apps like Chat, Meet, and Calendar now use simpler color schemes, which could make them easier to tell apart, or harder, depending on who you ask. Docs, Sheets, and Slides mostly stick to their roots, though there are small tweaks (via 9to5Google).

There are also structural changes. Google Sheets and Google Slides now use a landscape orientation, which better reflects how people actually view content inside those apps. It’s a subtle shift, but one that makes practical sense and feels more aligned with real usage patterns.

Some apps are seeing bigger redesigns. Google Drive now has softer edges and a more rounded triangular form, while Google Keep drops its background entirely, leaving just the light bulb symbol. Gmail, on the other hand, stays mostly familiar with only minor visual tweaks.

The rollout is still uneven, with new icons showing up in some places but not everywhere yet. That suggests a phased release. With Google I/O just around the corner, it’s likely these changes are part of a broader design push. Whether we love or hate them, they’re here to stay.

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Samsung’s chip business is walking a tightrope as labor tensions collide with booming AI demand. With memory prices soaring and rivals cashing in, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Investors have been jittery, and any disruption could ripple across the global semiconductor supply chain in a big way.

The spotlight now shifts to Samsung after a South Korean court handed it partial relief ahead of a looming strike. The Suwon District Court allowed industrial action but set strict limits, according to Korea Economic Daily. This ensures production, safety, and facility access aren’t compromised during any walkout.

That’s a curveball for unions planning an 18 day strike starting May 21. While workers can still down tools, they can’t interfere with chip output or operations. Violations come with hefty fines, putting unions in a bind and taking some wind out of their sails.

At the heart of the dispute is money, plain and simple. Employees rejected a one time bonus worth roughly $340,000 per person, arguing it falls short compared to rival SK Hynix. Workers want a recurring share tied to profits, not a one off payout.

Union demands include allocating 15 percent of semiconductor operating profit toward bonuses and scrapping existing caps. If granted, the payout pool could balloon into tens of billions. Meanwhile, Samsung has already started scaling back production, bracing for potential disruption if talks fall through.

The government isn’t sitting on its hands either. Officials have warned that even a single day of halted chip production could cost billions. Emergency arbitration remains on the table, which could delay the strike. For now, negotiations continue, but it’s clear this standoff is far from over.

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In an otherwise weak quarter for India’s smartphone market, Samsung is emerging as a bright spot. Market research firm SAG forecasts a more than 15% year-over-year (YoY) shipment decline in Q2 2026, as memory shortages and rising component costs start to impact demand visibly.

Samsung is expected to grow 4% YoY and gain market share. This comes at a time when most rivals are likely to see a decline. It could even challenge for the top spot if iQOO volumes are counted separately from Vivo’s total. For those unfamiliar, iQOO is a sub-brand of Vivo.

Samsung’s performance is driven by steady demand in the low and mid-range segments, along with better traction in premium devices. Its broad portfolio is helping it capture volume. Meanwhile, competitors shift focus to higher-priced models, leaving gaps in the mass market.

Samsung’s growth will mainly come from strong sales in the budget and mid-range segments, led by models like the Galaxy A17, Galaxy A16, Galaxy A07, and F-series devices such as the Galaxy F70e. In the premium segment, the Galaxy S26 lineup is likely to outperform the S25 series due to better launch timing.

“While several Chinese vendors continue prioritizing higher ASP smartphone portfolios by launching the latest flagship models in Indian market, Samsung plans to capitalize on the resulting volume gap in the mass-market segment”, noted Abhilash Kumar, Lead Research Advisor at SAG.

Vivo is still expected to lead the market, though with a slight drop in share. As for Lenovo-Motorola and Apple, they may see modest gains. However, the quarter mainly highlights Samsung’s ability to grow despite wider market pressures.

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It’s one of the better times to buy the Galaxy S26 series. More specifically, there are two really good deals across all three Galaxy S26 models, and you’ll want to know which one makes the most sense right now.

For quite some time, Samsung has been offering a $200 discount on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. But in the latest deal, there’s a flat $250 discount when you buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra. There are also discounts on the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+. Here’s how much you’ll save on each model:

• 256GB: $1,049 ($250 off)
• 512GB: $1,249 ($250 off)
• 1TB: $1,549 ($250 off)

• 256GB: $924 ($175 off)
• 512GB: $1,099 ($200 off)

• 256GB: $819 ($100 off)
• 512GB: $999 ($100 off)

As you can see, the biggest savings come when you buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra (review), which is easily the best of the three in terms of extra features (e.g., privacy display, S Pen, battery, 60W wired charging, and more). But if your budget is tight, the base Galaxy S26 (review) is another recommendation.

These deals are now live on Samsung, which also means you can pick from online-exclusive colors such as Silver Shadow or Pink Gold. Since all three phones come in the same set of colors, choosing your favorite shouldn’t be a hassle.

On top of that, none of these prices require a trade-in, so there are no strings attached. As usual, you can either pay upfront, use Samsung Financing to spread the cost over 24 months, or split the payment into four installments every two weeks, whichever works for you.

As for extras, Samsung is also offering a $100 credit, which brings down the price of the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro to $124.99 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra to $394.99. Personally, I’d recommend picking up the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro here, as a newer Galaxy Watch Ultra variant is expected this summer.

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One UI 8.5 is actively rolling out, and more Galaxy devices are joining the party. However, there seems to be an issue with video calls, reportedly for those on AT&T network, running One UI 8.5. Multiple users say the feature isn’t working as expected.

According to multiple user reports (via Piunikaweb), video calls placed through the default phone app fail to connect. Even when calling another Android phone, including Galaxy devices from Samsung, the call triggers a “Video declined” message. The same happens when the call is initiated from the other device.

Users note that the issue began right after installing the update. Before One UI 8.5, video calling worked without any problems. Reports span several models, including Galaxy S23, S24, and S25 series devices, along with some Galaxy A lineup phones, although not everyone seems to be affected.

There’s also confusion around who’s responsible. Some users claim AT&T support says it’s an issue on Samsung’s side. Meanwhile, Samsung support reportedly points to the carrier. That leaves affected users without a clear answer, as neither side has officially acknowledged a fix yet.

Interestingly, third party apps like Google Meet continue to work fine, suggesting the issue is limited to the native dialer based video calling feature. Some users say calls connect normally, but enabling video immediately results in the same error message.

We’re monitoring the situation, and once there’s an update from either party, whether AT&T or Samsung, we’ll update this article. Given the growing number of complaints, it’s likely a fix will arrive in a future update, and hopefully sooner rather than later.

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If you are eyeing Samsung’s next-gen Galaxy foldables, you may need to prepare for steep prices. A fresh report suggests the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 may cost more than last year’s models, though only the higher storage models could be affected. This is mainly due to rising component costs, which have put pressure on the company to raise prices.

According to Newspim, Samsung’s average smartphone selling price has increased by around 23% in Q1 2026 compared to last year. In recent years, the company seems to be paying higher prices for mobile components. This may have led to increased overall manufacturing expenses, meaning the cost of end products is also rising.

The report notes memory prices have jumped by 107% year-on-year. The main reason is that the growing demand for AI server semiconductors is creating a shortage of memory. At the same time, application processors (APs) have seen prices increase by about 12% YoY, while camera module prices have climbed by about 15% YoY.

This situation could also affect Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy foldable devices. The company may face pressure when fixing prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 (and likely the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, too). Reports suggest that while base model prices may remain relatively flat, higher storage variants could see increases.

If this holds true, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 could debut at $1,999 and $1,099 in the US, respectively (for 256GB). However, it remains unclear how the company may set prices for higher storage models. It is worth mentioning that the firm lately adjusted the launch prices of its current Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. The 512GB and 1TB versions of the Z Fold 7 saw a $80 price hike. Similar increases applied to the 512GB Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Whether Samsung increases prices beyond the previous $80 adjustment for higher storage variants of the upcoming Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 remains to be seen. We’ll let you know when the exact price hike figure surfaces in the coming weeks.

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Samsung went all in with One UI 8.5 updates today. The company began the global rollout of the stable One UI 8.5 update for the Galaxy S24 series. It also began first One UI 8.5 releases in Korea for devices like the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy A56 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Now, Samsung has also started the global One UI 8.5 rollout for the Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. This comes after initially releasing the update in South Korea last week.

Starting with the Galaxy S24 FE, the Fan Edition smartphone is now receiving the stable One UI 8.5 update for the global “B” variant. The rollout follows the standard Galaxy S24 lineup, which picked up the update earlier today. Samsung has already started pushing the release in regions like India, Europe, Turkey and several Southeast Asian markets. The update carries build number S721BXXUBDZDP. It weighs around 4.2GB for non-beta users.

Samsung has also started rolling out stable One UI 8.5 for its 2024 foldables — the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. The update is now live in India, several European countries and a few additional regions. The Z Fold 6 carries build number F956BXXU3DZDP, while the Z Flip 6 comes with firmware version F741BXXU3DZDP. The company should expand the rollout to more countries very soon.

If you own a Galaxy S24 FE, Z Fold 6 or Flip 6, you can check for the stable One UI 8.5 update by going to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Once the package finishes downloading, tap Install now to begin the installation.

At this point, stable One UI 8.5 is available for all Samsung flagship, foldable and Fan Edition (FE) devices launched until 2023. Samsung has also started expanding the rollout to midrange devices by releasing the update for the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 in Korea earlier today. More budget models are expected to follow soon. Based on previous rollout timelines, the Korean giant could complete the One UI 8.5 rollout for most eligible devices by the end of July if it maintains the current pace.

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Samsung kicked off the One UI 8.5 beta program for the Galaxy S25 series back in early December. Now, after several months of beta testing and multiple beta updates, the stable rollout has finally started for eligible Galaxy devices. The first batch includes Samsung’s 2025 flagship and foldable lineup, with South Korea leading the rollout as expected. Meanwhile, newer devices like the Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 already launched with Android 16 QPR2-based One UI 8.5 out of the box. Last updated on May 18.

Samsung officially began the stable One UI 8.5 rollout on May 6. The first devices to receive the update are the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z7 foldables. The rollout should gradually expand to more eligible Galaxy devices over the coming weeks, with midrange and budget models expected to follow later. Based on Samsung’s previous rollout patterns, the company could continue expanding the update until around July end.

As of this writing, these Galaxy devices are receiving the stable One UI 8.5 update:

• Galaxy S25
• Galaxy S25+
• Galaxy S25 Ultra
• Galaxy S25 Edge
• Galaxy S25 FE
• Galaxy S24
• Galaxy S24+
• Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Galaxy S24 FE
• Galaxy S23
• Galaxy S23+
• Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Galaxy S23 FE

• Galaxy Z TriFold
• Galaxy Z Fold 7
• Galaxy Z Flip 7
• Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold 6
• Galaxy Z Flip 6
• Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Galaxy Z Flip 5

• Galaxy A36
• Galaxy A56

It is important to note that Samsung rolls out updates in phases,. So, if your device is not receiving the update yet, it should arrive soon depending on your region and CSC. The devices listed above have already started receiving the stable One UI 8.5 update in one or more regions.

You can check for the One UI 8.5 update by going to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Once the update appears, tap Install now. Your device will reboot after installation and boot into the new One UI 8.5 software with refreshed visuals and smoother animations across the system. Make sure your device has enough battery and is not overheating to ensure a smooth installation process.

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Samsung has finally started rolling out the May 2026 security update to Galaxy devices. The rollout began with the Galaxy A55, and the next phone to join the list is the Galaxy A54. Over the next few weeks, Samsung will keep pushing the latest security update to all eligible devices. Last updated on May 18.

We’ve compiled them into a list so you can check if the rollout has started for your device yet. A few things to keep in mind, however. Samsung rolls out updates gradually, so there’s always a chance that someone using the same model in another region might get it before you, or vice versa.

If this topic interests you, you might want to read more about how CSC affects these update rollouts. Enough talk, check the list below.

• Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, Galaxy S26 Ultra

• Galaxy A06
• Galaxy A54, Galaxy A55, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A57

• Galaxy XCover 6 Pro
• Galaxy XCover 7 Pro

The May 2026 security update comes with patches for more than three dozen vulnerabilities. It also fixes a serious zero-click Android vulnerability that lets hackers run code without user action. Google identified the flaw. This makes the update especially important.

Once you’ve received the update, head to Settings > Software update > Download and install. After the update file is downloaded, tap Install now. Once that’s done, your Galaxy device will reboot and run the latest security patch.

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Samsung’s Android 17-based One UI 9 is shaping up to be a refinement-focused update rather than a dramatic redesign. Beta testing is already underway, and it reveals a greater focus on polish and smarter AI integration. The update also improves sharing tools and brings foldable optimizations. Here’s everything new in One UI 9.

Note: While some of these features and changes are live in One UI 9 Beta 1, others are based on leaked builds and hidden code strings. Samsung may add or remove some tools as it continues testing its Android 17 update in the coming weeks.

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Android 17 and One UI 9 has been the idea that Samsung could adopt a “Liquid Glass” style interface similar to Apple’s recent iOS design experiments. The first beta release for the Galaxy S26 series suggests that it is not happening. Instead, Samsung appears to be refining the visual direction introduced with One UI 7, and further polished with One UI 8 and One UI 8.5.

The overall layout, icon style, quick settings structure, and system navigation remain familiar, though several interface elements are becoming smoother and more adaptive. Samsung seems more interested in improving consistency and usability than reinventing the interface again so soon after the major One UI 7 redesign.

One UI 9 includes improved animation timing across the interface. Transitions between apps, the recent apps menu, lock screen interactions, and widget resizing appear more fluid than before. Animation upgrades enhance the scrolling effects across the system, while Samsung is also refining the Settings app with cleaner device visualizations and better organization, allowing for a more intuitive experience.

Widgets are getting additional customization too. Users will be able to reshape or slightly blend widgets with wallpapers for a cleaner homescreen appearance. The lock screen music player is also being redesigned with waveform-style animations that dynamically react to playback.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung introduced notification highlights, which surface important notifications from the day for quick access. One UI 9 now brings more advanced notification controls, including smart summaries and better filtering for less important alerts. This aligns with Samsung’s broader push toward “agentic AI,” where the phone proactively surfaces useful information based on context and usage habits.

Additionally, a new feature called Notification Rules lets users create custom notification behaviors for specific apps or even individual contacts. Users can silence, block, bundle, or highlight notifications automatically, without manually tweaking settings for every app. One of the biggest additions is granular contact-level control, allowing users to mute one person in a messaging app without silencing the entire app itself.

Samsung is making small but noticeable design refinements to the Clock app in One UI 9. The Alarm screen now features larger text, a bigger Dismiss button, cleaner snooze controls grouped into a single container, and a slightly repositioned snooze section to improve visibility. The Timer interface is also getting subtle adjustments, including larger timer text, darker circular outlines, and redesigned Pause and Cancel buttons with more pronounced shadow effects.

One of the most interesting new additions in One UI 9 is a feature called “Tap to Share.” This tool uses NFC to instantly share contacts, files, or media between Galaxy devices by simply tapping phones together. The functionality sounds very similar to Apple’s NameDrop feature. Samsung could enhance the experience by integrating it deeply with various system apps and services.

The feature may support contact card sharing, instant media transfers, quick device pairing, and more. This could become one of the most useful everyday additions in One UI 9, after Samsung enabled AirDrop support for Quick Share on One UI 8.5. Galaxy devices can finally share files with iPhones without relying on third-party services.

Samsung could finally give Galaxy users more control over the home screen search experience. Users may soon be able to choose between Samsung’s Finder and Google Search directly on the home screen, use both at the same time, or remove the search bar entirely. Finder primarily focuses on on-device content like apps, settings, files, and contacts, while Google Search is better suited for web results and online queries.

Samsung continues pushing Galaxy AI aggressively, and One UI 9 is set to expand AI integration across more apps and system features. We may see improvements in AI-assisted photo editing, with features like automatic color correction, smarter object erasing, more accurate AI image generation, and context-aware editing suggestions (AI prompts).

The company is reportedly trying to make AI feel more deeply integrated into everyday phone usage rather than isolated inside standalone apps. Samsung has already taken a solid lead in the industry with its comprehensive Galaxy AI suite, which includes a bunch of mobile AI tools. One UI 9 could further bolster its lead.

Despite Samsung’s increasing partnership with Google Gemini, the company is still investing in Bixby. One UI 9 introduces new Bixby widgets designed for quick voice actions, device controls, smart home shortcuts, AI recommendations, and more. Samsung appears to be repositioning Bixby more as a system assistant deeply integrated with Galaxy hardware, while Gemini handles broader generative AI tasks.

Samsung is adding a small but useful multitasking improvement in One UI 9. The update finally lets Galaxy users hide split-screen app handles in Multi Window mode, giving the interface a cleaner and less cluttered appearance. A new toggle inside Multi Window settings allows users to completely remove the thin app bars shown at the top of split-screen apps, while still keeping multitasking functionality intact.

While Samsung has yet to start One UI 9 beta testing on foldables, leaked builds have revealed several references to upcoming foldable devices, including the rumored “Wide Fold.” The software contains animations and layouts optimized for wider cover displays, better multitasking, improved split-screen behavior, and adaptive foldable layouts

Samsung seems heavily focused on refining the foldable experience, especially after criticism of the narrow outer display on previous Galaxy Z Fold models. The update may also improve drag-and-drop multitasking, floating app windows, AI-assisted split view tools, and continuity between folded and unfolded states. After all, Samsung continues to invest heavily in the foldable form factor.

One UI 9 brings a new “Driving Insights” feature that generates AI-powered weekly driving summaries for Galaxy users. The system analyzes acceleration, braking, steering behavior, sharp turns, and trip history using the phone’s sensors and location data. It may activate automatically when connected to a car via Bluetooth and surface personalized driving feedback through Now Brief.

One UI 9 introduces a major security upgrade through support for Memory Tagging Extension (MTE), a hardware-level protection feature built into newer ARM processors. Code discovered inside Samsung’s Auto Blocker app suggests users may be able to enable MTE with a simple toggle instead of digging through Developer Options.

The system works by tagging memory blocks and detecting unauthorized access, memory corruption, app exploits, and RAM misuse in real time, potentially improving overall security and system stability. Samsung reportedly warns that enabling the feature may slightly reduce performance and require a reboot to fully activate. Since MTE relies on ARM v9 hardware, the feature will likely remain limited to newer Galaxy devices.

With One UI 9, we could also see a new centralized support section housing device diagnostics, warranty information, and repair tools. The feature will let Galaxy users quickly check hardware health, warranty status, repair eligibility, and service history without jumping between multiple apps or websites.

Additionally, the hub may also provide shortcuts for booking repairs, tracking ongoing service requests, and running built-in diagnostics for components like the battery, display, speakers, sensors, and cameras. Samsung already offers some of these tools separately through Device Care and Samsung Members, but One UI 9 appears to streamline everything into a more unified support experience.

Samsung is strengthening Auto Blocker in One UI 9 with two major upgrades focused on transparency and physical security. It adds a new Security Report dashboard that shows blocked app installation attempts from unknown sources over the past week or month. The update also expands Maximum Restrictions mode by fully blocking USB connections when the phone is locked, preventing unauthorized data access through physical connections.

Samsung is improving security in One UI 9 with a new “Manage unknown apps” section that makes it easier to identify sideloaded apps installed outside the Play Store or Galaxy Store. Located under Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings, the new hub lists all apps installed from APK files and other third-party sources in one place.

Samsung also warns that these apps may put user data at risk and recommends uninstalling anything suspicious. The feature is currently available in the One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 series and should arrive in the stable release later this year.

Samsung is experimenting with a powerful new focus feature in One UI 9 that could block internet access for distracting apps entirely, rather than simply limiting screen time. Discovered inside the hidden Connectivity Labs menu, the system is internally called “Network management for concentration.” It can reportedly restrict internet access for categories like social media, games, streaming apps, and browsers to help users focus on work or study.

The feature may also include scheduled Downtime sessions and six-digit PIN protection, making it harder to bypass restrictions. Samsung hasn’t officially announced it yet, and it may remain experimental for now.

Samsung has already launched One UI 9 Beta for the Galaxy S26 series. The Galaxy S25 series, Fold 7, Flip 7, and others may also get beta access in the coming weeks. Stable One UI 9 may debut with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 in July, with a wider rollout around September. We will keep you posted as more details about the update surface.

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