With Google expected to push out its next major Android update to its own Pixel phones sometime next month, Samsung is catching up: Its top-end phones got updates to One UI 7 (based on Android 15) this year, and now the beta version of One UI 8 (based on Android 16) is available if you own a Galaxy S25 phone and live in the U.S., UK, Germany, or South Korea.While there aren't any revolutionary new features here—at least, not so far—Samsung is promising "a new era of software intelligence" and "a true multimodal AI agent" (which as far as I can tell, means a few tweaks to the Now Bar and the Now Brief). Look inside the Members app for the beta invite. Credit: Lifehacker If you're in an eligible country and have an eligible device, then you can join the One UI 8 beta now. The usual caveats about beta software apply: Bugs are to be expected, and you shouldn't run betas on devices that you rely on (you may notice certain apps crash or don't work properly).How to join the One UI 8 betaOpen up the Samsung Members app on your phone (you can redownload it if you've previously uninstalled the app), and sign in using your Samsung account details. Scroll down the Discover tab, and somewhere on it you should see a Beta Program panel you can tap on.From there, tap One UI 8 S25 Beta, read through the information provided, and tap Join. After a few moments, you'll get confirmation that you're in, and you'll see a screen where you can Check for software updates. Once the software is ready, you'll be prompted to reboot your phone to install it. It takes a few seconds to sign up. Credit: Lifehacker As yet, Samsung hasn't said anything yet about which other phones might be able to join the beta, but considering One UI 8 is expected to launch in full around July time—with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, most probably—the program might not be extended much further beyond Galaxy S25 handsets.You can leave the One UI 8 beta at any time by tapping Beta Program > One UI 8 S25 Beta in the Members app, then the three dots (top right), then Leave One UI 8 S25 Beta.What's new in One UI 8There's official information from Samsung about what's new in One UI 8, plus features that users have already spotted during testing. Bear in mind that features can come and go during testing, so none of these changes are guaranteed to still be in place once One UI 8 is ready for mass adoption.There's a Bluetooth upgrade with Auracast, for sharing audio streams to multiple devices, as well as improved Quick Share capabilities: full screens for sending and receiving files, and QR code transfer support. You can get to Quick Share through a single tap on the button in Quick Settings. The Weather app in One UI 7 (left) and One UI 8 (right). Credit: Lifehacker Some apps are getting visual overhauls. They include Weather, which adopts a less cartoony aesthetic with more translucent elements, and Files, which adds a recently edited row and shifts some elements around. Reminders also gets a bit of an overhaul, with the introduction of suggested reminders and more category filters at the top (like Completed and Place).You'll notice a revamped menu in the Samsung Internet app too, if you tap on the three horizontal lines in the lower right corner. Shortcuts can be customized and pages can be shared more easily, and—like One UI 8 in general—the overall interface feels a little more modern and fresh.Samsung says it's added more resolution options for Samsung DeX, and there are more preset routines to choose from in Modes and Routines on the Settings menu. There are improvements to the Secure Folder as well: Apps can now be moved there and hidden from the app drawer, and the Secure Folder can also be completely hidden. The Reminders app in One UI 7 (left) and One UI 8 (right). Credit: Lifehacker Users are spotting all kinds of other changes: Earbud controls on the lock screen, more customization for home screen widgets, extra options for split-screen mode, and a bunch of other minor tweaks. No doubt more of these will emerge as the beta testing continues.As for Galaxy AI, I can't see too much that's changed. It appears that the Now Bar is able to show calls and Do Not Disturb modes now, but that's about it. It may be there's more to come here: Hidden code suggests you'll soon be able to get your Now Brief read out to you, but the feature hasn't gone live yet.

Deal  When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Samsung's best Dolby Atmos soundbar with wireless subwoofer is still discounted Sayan Sen Neowin @ssc_combater007 · May 23, 2025 18:22 EDT If you are in the market for an audio system and are shopping for discounts, then you can consider the Sonos Move 2, which is a fairly high-end Bluetooth speaker system that is currently discounted by about 25% off its MSRP of $449. Check the deal in this dedicated article. If, however, you are looking to invest in a surround sound setup, then Samsung has its 2025 Q series speakers at a discount. The 11.1.4 HW-Q990F is the company's flagship soundbar model which means it's the best soundbar experience Samsung offers. We covered it recently in this dedicated article as it continues to sell for $1598 or ~20% off the $2000 MSRP. Samsung Q900FIf you don't have the budget for the Q990F, then Samsung's Q900F model is also available at a great price currently (purchase link under the specs list below). Feature-wise it is quite similar but loses some channels, speakers. So like the Q990F, the Q900F also has things like AVA (Active Voice Amplifier) Pro feature that is said to detect noise disturbances and amplify dialogue to make it more audible over such surrounding noises. So it won't be as loud in terms of vocals vs the Q990F due to a lower number of speakers but the bass should still pack a similar punch as both the subwoofers have dual opposing 8-inch drivers. Thus, together they move around the same amount of air as a single 12-inch subwoofer unit. In addition to increasing the bass by +3 dB, dual opposing drivers are also said to help reduce vibrations of the subwoofer cabinet by cancelling out the resonance. The other technical specs of the Q900F are given below: HDMI In: 2 HDMI Out: 1 HDMI ARC: Yes(eARC) HDMI CEC: Yes Optical In: 1 Bluetooth 5.3 Wi-Fi: Yes USB Music Playback: No Get the Samsung Q900F at the link below: SAMSUNG Q-Series Soundbar HW-Q900F 7.1.2 ch Subwoofer (2025 Model) Smart Integration, Wireless Dolby Atmos, Q-Symphony, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay, Roon ready: $1097.99 (Amazon US) || $1097.99 (Amazon US) This Amazon deal is US-specific and not available in other regions unless specified. If you don't like it or want to look at more options, check out the Amazon US deals page here. Get Prime (SNAP), Prime Video, Audible Plus or Kindle / Music Unlimited. Free for 30 days. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed

Samsung's Art Store has expanded with a Disney collection, letting you add iconic scenes from Star Wars to your Frame, QLED, or Neo QLED TVs, if you subscribe.

This 4K QLED Art TV is perfect for blending masterpieces with modern decor.

The size of two QHD monitors side-by-side, the Odyssey G955C from Samsung is a steal at $999.

The big picture: One of the biggest challenges in virtual reality is mimicking the kind of sharpness we're used to seeing on TVs and monitors – but in VR, the screen is just inches from your eyes. While today's mainstream headsets like the Meta Quest 3 (2,064×2,208 per eye), PlayStation VR2 (2,000×2,040 per eye), and Apple Vision Pro (3,660×3,200 per eye) have made big strides, Samsung is now aiming to leap past those and push into truly lifelike territory with its latest next-gen displays. The company has crammed specs such as peak brightness levels of up to 20,000 nits and beyond-4K resolution into a new OLED display measuring no more than 1.4 inches across. Samsung is offering two versions of its headset. There's a 15,000-nit variant that delivers up to 5,000 PPI, and there's a 20,000-nit model boasting a 4,200 PPI. Both use a technology that Samsung likes to call OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon), where the OLED layers are deposited directly onto silicon wafers. That's what allows such dense pixel layouts and makes them ideal for compact VR form factors. As for why we'd want something that bright so close to our eyeballs, it's because VR headsets actually suffer massive brightness losses due to their optics. Pancake lenses, which help keep headsets slim and portable, are particularly inefficient, with around 90% of incoming light lost during transmission. Another factor affecting brightness is low-persistence illumination – a trick used to reduce motion blur. According to UploadVR, the combination ends up with your supposedly 5,000-nit display looking more like a 100-nit one. Samsung's new panels, with up to 20,000 nits of raw output, mean that even after all the optical losses, users could see 300 to 400 nits in the headset, which is still a meaningful jump compared to other options on the market today. The extra brightness could allow for not only sharper motion rendering but also more realistic daylight environments in mixed reality. Resolution-wise, one of Samsung's demo units boasts 3,888×3,888 pixels, while the other stretches beyond 4K per eye. Add in true RGB subpixel layouts (unlike the white OLEDs with color filters used in today's premium headsets), and you've got richer colors, deeper blacks, and better efficiency. Samsung also claims 99% DCI-P3 coverage, which is more than the Apple Vision Pro's already-impressive 92%. It all sounds almost too good to be true, but there is a catch. Manufacturing true RGB micro-OLED is significantly more complex and costly than the current standard. So for now, Samsung is positioning these panels as R&D and not yet ready for mass production. // Related Stories