Samsung has rolled out a new update for its Always On Display (AOD) app, aiming to address some of the issues users have experienced with the Now Bar Google Sports feature on One UI 7. The update, version 8.8.27.96, brings memory optimization improvements to enhance the performance of the AOD interface. It’s available on compatible devices via the Galaxy Store.
New AOD update improves the Now Bar Google Sports integration
The Google Sports integration in One UI 7’s Now Bar, which shows real-time sports updates directly on the lock screen, hasn’t been smooth so far. Many users reported functional inconsistencies and sluggish performance, with the feature completely missing on some older models. Samsung’s latest AOD update aims to improve this by reducing memory usage when running the feature.
The changelog for the update briefly states: “Memory optimization by using Now Bar sports feature,” highlighting the focus on better efficiency and smoother performance. For those unfamiliar, Samsung’s Always On Display allows users to see essential information like the time, date, and notifications even when the screen is off. The introduction of Now Bar Sports makes AOD more dynamic by delivering sports scores and updates at a glance — without needing to unlock the phone.
While the update may not fully fix all the reported issues with Now Bar Sports, it’s a step in the right direction. The optimized memory usage means better overall performance and less strain on your phone’s system resources. This AOD update is available for Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI 7. You can download the latest version (8.8.27.96) here or check for it manually on your phone.
Samsung will soon release the stable One UI 7 update for eligible Galaxy devices. Keep an eye out for update notifications in the coming days. You can also navigate to Settings > Software update > Download and install to check for updates manually.
