Android 16 is now available for Pixel phones, although some of the more exciting features won’t be ready until the release of Android 16 QPR1 later this year. On the other hand, Samsung’s One UI 8 beta, which is based on Android 16, has already surprised us by going live faster than expected and packing some fundamental features that Pixels don’t have yet and won’t have until QPR1. Of course, One UI 8 beta also has all of Samsung’s apps and design language, as well as any new features Samsung develops for itself, but what I’m interested in here are the new Android 16-based features that I was able to try out.
Of all the Android 16 features that Samsung has already implemented in One UI 8, these are my three favorites.
Live Updates
With One UI 7, Samsung introduced Live Notifications. Like Apple’s Live Activities, Live Notifications make important notifications more accessible. Media controls, ongoing timers, Google Maps directions, and more are shown in a bubble to the left of the selfie camera and integrate with the Now Bar. If Samsung phones already have this feature, why are we discussing it now?