Tired of using your having to make space on your Samsung phone‘s lock screen? A leaked look at the next version of One UI might be ready to help.
What’s happened? According to leaked software information from SamMobile, Samsung’s next One UI 8.5 update will make add flashlight functionality to the Now bar.
- The Now Bar (new in One UI 7) shows notifications from ongoing activities such as music, notices, and live elements on the lock screen or status bar, and now the flashlight icon is now included in this portion.
- Based on the leak, in the new version of Samsung’s software, if you activate the flashlight, there will be a card (or “tile”) for it in the Now Bar. Tap that card to deactivate the flashlight even when you’re at the lock screen or status bar.
- This is convenient because it makes the flashlight easier to turn off without having to dive into Quick Settings or the camera UI, or take up space with a dedicated button for it next to the Now Bar.
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Why is it important? Small interface changes like these may seem insignificant, but they’re more important than they look.
- This feature will offer quick, consistent access, reducing effort, especially in urgent situations.
- By enhancing the inherent functionality of the Now Bar, it brings easy upgrades to a raft of phones and solves user issues.
Why should I care? If you use a Samsung Galaxy phone with an up-to-date version of One UI, this update will make controlling your flashlight significantly easier when it lands.
- With this feature, you won’t need to unlock or burrow deep into menus to control the flashlight even on the lock screen.
- It shows Samsung is hearing user criticism and is spending on quality of life improvements, rather than headline features.
What’s next?
- The feature is likely to extend to Samsung phones and foldables that get the 8.5 update.
- Currently, there is no official release date for the One UI 8.5 update, but given the emergence of these leaks, it may arrive sooner than expected.
