Get ready for One UI 8.0… and no, that’s not a typo! Samsung is already testing the Android 16-based One UI 8.0, which will power the 2026’s Galaxy S26 series. Meanwhile, the stable version of One UI 7.0 is still in the works and hasn’t rolled out to eligible devices yet. We’re expecting it to land sometime after Samsung unveils the Galaxy S25 series at Galaxy Unpacked on January 22.
Android 16-based One UI 8.0 references spotted even before One UI 7.0 debut
Smartprix spotted some code references to One UI 8.0 in Samsung’s stock apps, which hints that the company might be quietly testing the new version. It sounds a little odd, especially since One UI 7.0 hasn’t even made it to the public yet, but it’s actually pretty typical for Samsung to start testing future updates early. In fact, these references to One UI 8.0 might mean Samsung is right on track. Android 16 arrived earlier than expected, and we’ve already mentioned that the One UI 8.0 beta could roll out sooner than the One UI 7.0 beta did.
Looking ahead, we can expect Samsung to keep putting in the work to fine-tune One UI 8.0. After all, Android 16 is set to drop sometime in mid-2025. So Samsung will have plenty of time to shape up the new version. The publication adds that 2026’s One UI update might introduce a decal shader in the One UI Launcher, which would give icons and animations a fresh, upgraded look. This feature could even tweak wallpaper textures to complement the icons and apps better.
While there’s no official confirmation yet, the One UI 8.0 could debut with the Galaxy S26 series (of course!). Besides, the Galaxy S25 series, S24 series, S23 series, and even the S22 series should all get their fair share of support. As more details roll in, we’ll put together a list of all the devices likely to receive the Android 16 update. In the meantime, if you’re wondering whether your device will get One UI 7.0, now’s a good time to check.
