As the rollout of One UI 7 continues, Samsung is reportedly in the early stages of developing its successor, One UI 8. According to information shared by a tipster, the new update may enhance the Now Bar, a feature introduced with the Android 15-based operating system. Currently, the Now Bar offers a quick view of insights on the lock screen, powered by Galaxy AI through Now Brief. The upcoming update is expected to introduce additional functionalities, including options for managing phone calls and a Do Not Disturb (DND) setting.
Enhancements to the Now Bar in One UI 8
Tipster @opraks9plus recently posted a video showcasing the flagship Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra operating on One UI 8 via X (formerly known as Twitter). The footage purportedly highlights a new DND button within the Now Bar on the device’s lock screen. However, it remains unclear whether this feature will be a permanent option for toggling DND on and off or simply a notification indicating its activation.
In another post on X, the tipster also presented a glimpse of a feature that could allow users to manage phone calls directly from the Now Bar in One UI 8. An accompanying image suggests that users may be able to monitor ongoing calls through a pill-shaped button, which could display both the call duration and the details of the caller.
While these visuals provide an intriguing look at potential features, it is important to recognize that the Now Bar was found in an early build of One UI 8 and may undergo further modifications.
The Now Bar is part of Samsung’s artificial intelligence (AI) toolkit, integrated into the Galaxy AI suite, and was first introduced in One UI 7. It manifests on the lock screen as a rectangular bar, which includes multiple cards that users can scroll through vertically, similar to a card deck. This feature is designed as an extension of Now Brief, delivering personalized content updates, including health metrics, event reminders, news updates, travel information, and traffic alerts in a card-format interface.
