Samsung’s handy Now Bar to get new functions in One UI 8

By Georgina Torbet Published May 7, 2025

Samsung Now Bar One UI 8 — Topraks9plus

Samsung’s One UI 7 software included updates for one killer feature that has multiple uses: the Now Bar. From showing notifications and currently playing music on your lock screen, to a recent integration with Google Maps, the pill-shaped bar at the bottom of the screen has been a handy answer to Apple’s Dynamic Island.

Now, it seems that the Now Bar is set to become even more useful in the upcoming Samsung One UI 8 update, as a leaked image and video of an early version of the software show new features for the bar. Shared by X user Topraks9plus, and highlighted by Android Authority, the video shows the new functions of the lockscreen widget:

One UI 8 update adds phone calls to Now bar 🌟#OneUI8 #NowBar pic.twitter.com/Demcw5yJ8o
— Toprak (@Topraks9plus) May 6, 2025

The video shows a user flicking through options on the Now Bar, including seeing the current Do Not Disturb mode, interacting with music controls, seeing phone calls, and seeing upcoming calendar events. The phone call feature is new, and it allows you to see the name of the contact you are on a call with and the call duration. The Do Not Disturb notification is new as well.

Recommended Videos

As well as new functions for the Now Bar, Samsung is also working on fixing the Now bar for Z Flip devices. The Now Bar is currently only visible on the internal screen on the Samsung Z Flip, which severely limits its usefulness. But a previous leak showed the Now Bar running on the current screen of a Z Flip 5 or 6 instead, which would be much more useful. That fix is expected to be part of One UI 8 as well.

Hopefully users won’t have to wait too long for One UI 8, especially given the criticism of the One UI 7 release and some of the bugs it contained. There is even a rumor that Samsung could jump straight from One UI 7.0 to One UI 8.0, given how behind it is on its releases.

Georgina Torbet

Former Space Writer

Georgina has been the space writer at Digital Trends space writer for six years, covering human space exploration, planetary…

Topics

Phones

I’d trade the Pixel 11 Pro’s temperature sensor for HiLight every single time

I don’t miss the Pixel’s temperature sensor. I need HiLight more

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

During the recent Pixel 11 announcement, Google showcased its new HiLight feature. We had our initial skepticism about it, but what caught my eye more was the temperature sensor being replaced. This was a feature barely anyone remembers (or uses), though it was something unique to the Pixels at the time.

The hardware eventually became capable of measuring body temperature, and I can appreciate the engineering behind squeezing something like this into a smartphone's body. Even then, I rarely had a reason to reach for it in day-to-day use. While I wasn't immediately drawn to the concept behind its replacement, I don't mind making this trade at all.

Phones

I played around with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. I think Google finally saw the right focus points

The Pixel Fold’s smallest upgrades make the biggest difference

Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

Google has a new foldable ready to hit the shelves, and it's quite a compelling package with some alarms going off. I spent some time with the phone earlier today, and after collecting my thoughts, I can’t quite figure out whether I should be excited about it or disregard it in favor of rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 pair.

The conundrum is warranted. It’s a $1,899 phone after all, and that’s the base price. But based on my limited time with the phone, it comes out as an overwhelmingly more practical device, especially for buyers based in the US. But let’s set aside the comparisons for the latter part of the debate.

Phones

Samsung may be going in for the full iOS-esque Liquid Glass look in OneUI 9.5

Well, well, well, Samsung could very much adopt the full Liquid Glass look instead of the mild-baked version we see currently.

Samsung Galaxy S26 showing the storage menu on One UI 8.5

Samsung appears to be preparing a major visual overhaul for One UI, with early leaks suggesting One UI 9.5 could adopt a more glass-like design with shinier edges, transparency, and greater visual depth.

The reported changes surfaced shortly after Samsung began rolling out One UI 9 Beta 5 for the Galaxy S26 series. According to Android Central, tipster Fahad Ali shared leaked screenshots of the upcoming interface on X, offering an early look at Samsung's apparent design direction.