News
One UI 8 gives Galaxy S23 a serious animation upgrade even before release [Video]

One UI 8 update is yet to go live for the Galaxy S23 series, but we’ve just got our first glimpse at its animation upgrade. The new software brings a serious animation boost to older devices like the Galaxy S23 series, as shown in an early test.
X user Toprak sideloaded early One UI 8 build on his Galaxy S23 phone and posted a video showcasing silky smooth animation. Despite running unfinished software, the device feels like a whole new device with a stable OS.
The Galaxy S23 running One UI 8 showcased nicely crafted animations that reflect on the app opening and closing transition. After a series of opening/closing transitions, the video also displays the Back swipe preview gesture.
One UI 7 is already a major upgrade over previous generations, and One UI 8 is going to be worth installing. It’s shaping up to impressively elevate the overall user experience and foundation led by Samsung’s Android 15 update.
One UI 8 at this stage looks quite reliable and optimized software. With internal testing still underway, Samsung would further polish the user interface aspects.
You can watch the animation video here.

Source – Toprak / X
Samsung is currently Beta testing One UI 8 on the Galaxy S25 series. On July 9, the software will make an official debut at the Unpacked event. The company is expected to reveal the Stable update’s rollout timeline for existing devices.
One UI 8 update should drop for Galaxy devices this quarter. Whether the company launches a Beta Program for phones like the S24 and S23 series remains to be known.
Galaxy S22 and newer flagships are eligible for the Android 16 upgrade. It will first drop with One UI 8, and Samsung is likely to add new features as part of the One UI 8.5 update in the first half of the next year, after the Galaxy S26 launch.
News
Google Pixel 10 and Watch 4 launch August 20 – Built to battle Galaxy S25, Watch 8

Google is set to hold the Made by Google 2025 event on Wednesday, August 20. The company has been sending out the event invites recently. Google will launch the Pixel 10 and the Watch 4 to challenge Samsung’s Galaxy S25 and Watch 8 series.
Made by Google 2025 is set to take place in New York City, the same location where Samsung just held its foldable-focused Unpacked event. Notably, the last Pixel 9 series launch event was held in Mountain View, California.
Google will kick off the Made by Google 2025 keynote at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. It will be an in-person event like Samsung’s Unpacked, which will be livestreamed online as well. You can expect Android 16 and Wear OS 6 advancements as well.
This year, the new smartphone lineup is likely to include the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Google may also introduce its new Pixel Watch 4 smartwatch with Wear OS 6 pre-installed, following the Watch 8 series.
Pixel 10 smartphones may offer significant performance improvements as the Tensor G5 is now made by TSMC. Android 16’s new Material 3 Expressive design may also be an event highlight, impacting all Android devices out there.
Google doesn’t sell many Pixel phones, but the lineup is indeed turning into an alternative to shoppers who want a flagship smartphone that is neither from Apple nor Samsung.
That said, the Pixel 10 series will challenge the Galaxy S25 series and Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will take aim at Samsung’s just announced Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Source – Mark
News
A third of Galaxy S25 owners ignoring AI features, Samsung admits

Last year, Samsung entered the AI Phone era with the Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy AI feature suite. The initial launch then followed by the Z6 series in 2024, and the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z7 series this year. Samsung Galaxy AI features are so nice and useful, still a large portion of Galaxy S25 owners are still ignoring them.
Samsung revealed in its recent press release that 70% of Galaxy S25 owners are using Galaxy AI features. That said, Samsung admits that a third of Galaxy S25 owners are literally ignoring AI features despite being available for free.
Free AI tools that are offered in Galaxy phones include Live Translate, Writing Assist, Interpreter, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, Browsing Assist, Photo Assist, Drawing Assist, Audio Eraser, Object Eraser, Generative Wallpapers, and many more.
Shockingly, Samsung found that 30% users are still not using the AI features on the Galaxy S25 series. The company hasn’t shared exact details, but the figure seemingly completely avoids the AI features on their smartphones.
An official infographic sheds light on key milestones between 2024 and 2025, which include:
- Launch of the first AI Phone (with Galaxy S24 series)
- Samsung announced 20 new languages
- Samsung promises Galaxy AI expansion to over 200 million devices
- Samsung expands Galaxy AI experience to multiple form factors
- Samsung aims to install Galaxy AI on 400 million devices this year
Circle to Search is still the most used AI feature on Samsung phones, with more than half of the users utilizing it. As compared to Galaxy S24, the usage of Photo Assist has doubled. Now Brief is also trending among fans, with used by one in three.
To achieve its 400M-device target, Samsung will focus on expanding Galaxy AI to more devices and form factors. The tri-fold is coming this year, and its XR Headset would also be equipped with Galaxy AI to broaden the reach further.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press
News
Samsung sends chip experts back to Texas – Is an Nvidia deal brewing?

Samsung is sending experts and engineers back to its US chip plant being constructed in Taylor, Texas, which signals some big tech deals are about to be finalized.
The Korean tech giant has significantly delayed its Texas chip plant due to various reasons. Recent developments indicate that things are back on track with experts and engineers being deployed at Samsung Texas’ chip facility.
Korea’s FNNews reports that the company is resending personnel from its Semiconductor (DS) division headquarters to the foundry plant under construction in Taylor, Texas, USA.
The fact that DS Division’s VC Jeon Young-hyun traveled to Silicon Valley in the US in late June also lends weight to this view. Vice Chairman Jeon is widely expected to have held meetings with major foundry customers such as Nvidia.
Nearly a year ago, Samsung recalled engineers from Texas, citing adjustments in the construction speed. However, the new batch includes experts involved in all aspects of foundry mass production, including process, equipment, yield, and quality.
Deployment could begin as early as in line with customer order response schedules. The report also suggests that the facility’s “setting up” work for product production is also expected to accelerate with the fresh batch of personnel.
The personnel to be deployed to the Taylor fab this time, in addition to those from the Global Infrastructure Division, which is an infrastructure construction organization, will include many individuals handling processes below 3nm.
Earlier, Samsung revealed that it’s eyeing to complete and fully operate the Taylor plant by 2026. These developments collectively signal a big-scale deal from a significant US-based firm like Nvidia for which Samsung is accelerating its efforts.
News
Samsung Z Flip 7 success will decide Galaxy S26’s chip destiny

Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a massive upgrade over its predecessor, yet Samsung managed to freeze the price. Yes, the latest Galaxy Z Flip phone is significantly better than last year’s, but the Exynos strategy kept the price unchanged. Samsung might take the Z Flip 7 success into account to decide the chip destiny of its next flagships, the Galaxy S26 series.
Korean outlet DealSite reports how Samsung’s aggressive Exynos adoption helped it freeze the Galaxy Z Flip 7 price hike. Despite upgrades like full-view cover screen and a bigger battery, the phone’s cost remains the same at $1,099.
It’s all made possible because of Samsung’s in-house Exynos chipset. The company used its most advanced Exynos 2500 chip in the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which is fabricated using Samsung Foundry’s cutting-edge 3nm process tech.
Sources familiar with the industry state, “In a sensitive situation regarding pricing policies, including recent US tariffs, the full adoption of Exynos 2500 seems to have indirectly influenced the price freeze.”
Samsung is now working on its 2nm process, and Exynos 2600 is shaping up to be the first product. The company aims to equip the Galaxy S26 series with its in-house Exynos processor rather than the Snapdragon exclusivity like the S25 series.
It will enable Samsung to consider other hardware upgrades while keeping the price unchanged. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips are getting expensive with each generation, and TSMC’s manufacturing costs are also increasing.
“Although there were many innovations and improvements in the product, and thus cost burdens, we decided to absorb the cost increase internally as much as possible to popularize the foldable experience.” – TM Roh at New York Unpacked.
Galaxy Z Flip 7 is Samsung’s best, and its outcome will decide the Galaxy S26 series’s chip destiny. If the SoC performs as intended, there’s no doubt a large portion of Samsung’s next mainstream flagships will be equipped with the Exynos 2600 chipset.
President Roh explained at the press conference, “We jointly verified the Exynos performance not only with the MX business unit’s development department but also with cooperative partners.” He added, “It was confirmed that sufficient performance and quality were secured, so we decided to equip it in the Flip 7.”
News
Satellite messaging launches for Galaxy S25 in Canada, many Samsung phones to be eligible

Rogers launched a satellite messaging feature in Canada, and many Samsung phones are eligible, including the Galaxy S25 series. Similar to US carriers, Rogers first launched a Beta trial, offering free access to the feature for a limited period.
Under the Beta trial, Rogers invites all users having a qualifying device, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, to experience the satellite messaging feature in Canada.
The Beta Program starts with the Galaxy S25 series, among others, with an expansion planned for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 on July 22, 2025. Apart from Samsung, devices from Apple, Google, and Motorola are also eligible.
Rogers says its Satellite service offers coverage in areas where mobile coverage isn’t available. Satellite-to-mobile connectivity makes it possible to send messages and emergency SOS with no traditional cellular connectivity.
At present, Rogers Satellite service supports text messaging with expanded support planned for the future. The carrier confirmed that its satellite-to-mobile connectivity service will expand to picture messaging, data, and even voice calls.
Rogers Satellite-optimized Samsung phones:
- Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7
Samsung phones to be eligible for Rogers Satellite:
- Galaxy S24 series
- Galaxy S23 series
- Galaxy S22 series
- Galaxy S21 series
- Galaxy S20 series
- Galaxy S10 series
- Galaxy A5(x)
How to sign up for Rogers Satellite Beta
Visit the Rogers Satellite page and select Register now to sign up for the beta trial. Select the option that applies to you and follow the steps to complete the sign-up. Make sure your device is compatible, unlocked, and running the latest software.
Rogers Satellite Beta is available for free until October 31, 2025. Once the Beta ends, the subscription auto-renews for $10/month for the first 12 months, $15/month after, unless included in your plan or you cancel.

Source – Rogers
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