Launched last month alongside Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, One UI 8 delivers an entirely new mobile experience born from the synergy of foldable design and AI.
Launched last month alongside Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, One UI 8 delivers an entirely new mobile experience born from the synergy of foldable design and AI. Notably, this release marks the first time a device has shipped with Android 16 out of the box, an achievement that was made possible through close collaboration with Google. This means Galaxy users enjoy faster access to the latest generation of Android, along with the more refined experience it brings in tandem with One UI 8.
To hear the story of how One UI 8 came together, Samsung Newsroom sat down with three of the leading minds behind the new user interface: Mihyun Jeong and Joonhwan Kim, who were in charge of development, and Nawoong Han who coordinated collaboration with Google — all from Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business.
A Personalized Daily Experience, Powered by AI and Foldables
One UI 8 takes Galaxy’s distinctive foldable form factor to the next level, delivering an even more powerful AI experience. Jeong, who was in charge of One UI planning, noted that as AI technology rapidly advances, user expectations are also rising — making One UI both more complex and more important. “To address this, Samsung’s customer experience (CX), user experience (UX) and development teams formed a task force that focused on defining the core concepts and enhancing the overall quality of One UI 8,” she said. “As a result, these core concepts were summed up as ‘multimodal AI, a form factor–optimized UX and a proactive personalized experience.”
Kim, who was in charge of One UI design for foldables, highlighted the design concept for One UI 8 — “When Foldables Meet AI” — as the convergence of form factors and AI innovation. “From the FlexWindow of Galaxy Z Flip7 to the expansive main display of Galaxy Z Fold7, users can now experience Galaxy’s evolution into AI phones across multiple form factors,” he explained.
AI Innovation on the FlexWindow
With One UI 8, Galaxy Z Flip7 lets users access AI features quickly and effortlessly, even without unfolding the device. A simple press of the side key launches Gemini Live, and its FlexWindow-optimized UX enables natural, conversational interactions with AI, as if chatting with a friend.
“You can, for example, view what’s shown on the camera and speak with AI in real time, or add events directly to your calendar. Everyday tasks become quick and effortless,” Jeong added.
The expanded FlexWindow on Galaxy Z Flip7 also makes it easy to check real-time sports scores, news, app updates and more through Now Bar. Plus, Now Brief delivers richer, more personalized information and insights, all available at a glance from the Flex Window.
Innovating Multitasking on a Large Screen
Galaxy Z Fold7’s large main display brings out the full potential of One UI 8.
