Samsung is quickly advancing its One UI 8 beta program, bringing users closer to the final release. The third beta build, designated ZYFA, is now rolling out to enrolled galaxy S25 series devices. While primarily focused on refining stability and squashing bugs, this update introduces a genuinely delightful new feature powered by Galaxy AI within the Now Brief feed. It signals that Samsung is fine-tuning the experience before the official launch, expected soon.
The Latest One UI 8 Beta Arrives for Galaxy S25
The third iteration of the One UI 8 beta program for the Galaxy S25 series is here, following its initial rollout back in May. This 1.2GB patch is crucial as the beta period approaches its likely conclusion. Reports suggest this might be the final beta build before Samsung unveils the completed Android 16-based One UI 8 at its upcoming Unpacked event. The update has already begun reaching testers in South Korea and various European markets, with availability expanding to the US beta participants imminently. Unlike the previous beta, Beta 3 isn’t packed with a multitude of new features but instead prioritizes system stability and fixing reported issues, which is typical as a software release matures.
Unlocking Creativity: AI-Powered Birthday Cards in Now Brief
One of the most interesting additions in this One UI 8 Beta 3 release surfaces within Now Brief. Now Brief, Samsung’s evolving AI-driven information feed, is designed to provide timely, relevant updates throughout your day, akin to a personalized dashboard. It’s a key part of the broader Galaxy AI suite introduced earlier this year. Samsung is actively working to enhance Now Brief’s utility and personalization capabilities, and this latest feature is a direct result of that ongoing development.
With this update, Now Brief gains the ability to integrate seamlessly with your calendar. When One UI detects an upcoming birthday for a contact listed in your calendar, it will present you with a proactive alert within the Now Brief feed. More excitingly, this alert includes an option to create a personalized birthday card using artificial intelligence.
Tapping the prompt opens a simple interface allowing you to design a unique digital card. Samsung provides a selection of distinct art styles to choose from, including popular options like watercolor, sketch, and charming 3D cartoons. You can leverage generative AI prompts to guide the design process, tailoring the image to the recipient or your own preferences. Furthermore, the feature appears to allow you to incorporate a photo directly from your own gallery into the card design, adding a personal touch. Once generated, the AI-created card can be quickly sent to the contact celebrating their birthday with just a few taps. While creating AI birthday cards might seem like a small addition, it demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to embedding Galaxy AI features into everyday user interactions and continuously refining Now Brief’s functionality. Reports also hint at other potential Now Brief features Samsung might be testing, such as parking location reminders, general event alerts, and even smart home device notifications appearing within the feed.
Behind the Scenes: Bug Fixes and System Improvements
Beyond the new birthday card feature, the One UI 8 Beta 3 update delivers a critical round of bug fixes aimed at improving the overall user experience on the Galaxy S25 series. The changelog for the ZYFA build details several specific issues that have been addressed.
Status Bar Overlap: An overlap issue between the status bar of the Recents app screen and the running app menu, which occurred in specific states within the NaviStar navigation feature, has been successfully resolved.
Security Folder Keyboard Input: A frustrating bug where keyboard input on the Secure Folder PIN input screen only functioned after a device reboot has been fixed.
Mode/Routine Loading Times: Improvements have been made to address instances of intermittently lengthened loading times when users attempted to enter the Mode or Routine menu settings.
Gesture Typing Errors: Errors related to text input when using gesture-based typing (swipe-to-type) on the standard keyboard screen are now corrected.
- S Pen Text Conversion: Reliability has been improved for text input errors occurring when using the S Pen’s “S Pen to text” conversion feature.
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Additionally, the update brings back a screen preview capability to the Laboratory features section. General software stabilization through updates to many pre-installed and system applications is also listed, alongside various other unspecified improvements aimed at refining the beta experience and system performance ahead of the final release.
Broader One UI 8 Developments
While Beta 3 primarily focuses on stability and that new birthday card trick, it’s worth noting other advancements Samsung is exploring within the One UI 8 framework. Reports indicate that Samsung is actively testing support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) screenshots. Leveraging capabilities built into Android 16, this feature allows screenshots of HDR content to be saved as special PNG files containing metadata. When viewed on an HDR-capable display, these screenshots accurately represent the vibrant colors and contrast of the original HDR source, avoiding the washed-out look of standard SDR screenshots. This feature has reportedly appeared in internal or closed beta builds, signaling its potential inclusion in future public betas or the final release.
Furthermore, Samsung appears to be listening to user feedback regarding the limited customization options in Now Brief. Leaks from within the beta code suggest the company is developing deeper personalization features, potentially integrated within the Modes and Routines app. This future capability might allow users to “design your own Now Brief cards,” setting specific triggers for when cards appear, linking them to apps, and even scheduling their visibility. These efforts highlight Samsung’s ongoing commitment to making One UI, and specifically its AI features like Now Brief, more tailored and useful for individual users.
What’s Next? The Road to One UI 8’s Full Release
The release of One UI 8 Beta 3 for the Galaxy S25 devices strongly indicates that the software development is in its final phases. Samsung is expected to debut the completed, stable version of One UI 8 alongside its next generation of foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, at the highly anticipated Unpacked event scheduled for July 9th in New York City.
Following its initial launch on the new foldables, the One UI 8 update will then systematically roll out to a wide range of older compatible Galaxy devices over the subsequent weeks and months. This typical staggered deployment allows Samsung to ensure stability across its diverse hardware portfolio. For Galaxy S25 beta testers, receiving this Beta 3 update brings them one step closer to experiencing the polished final version of One UI 8 and Android 16 on their devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main new feature introduced in the One UI 8 Beta 3 update?
The most significant new feature found in One UI 8 Beta 3 is the addition of an AI-powered birthday card creator integrated into the Now Brief feed. This feature detects birthdays from your calendar and prompts you to generate a customizable digital card using artificial intelligence, with options for different art styles and the ability to add your own photos.
Which Samsung devices are receiving the One UI 8 Beta 3 update?
The One UI 8 Beta 3 update is specifically rolling out to participants enrolled in the beta program using a Galaxy S25 series device. This includes the standard Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra models. The update has already started in select regions like South Korea and Europe and is expected to reach US beta testers soon.
How does this beta update relate to the final release of One UI 8?
The release of the third beta build, focusing primarily on bug fixes and stability alongside a single new feature, suggests that the One UI 8 beta program is nearing its conclusion. It is potentially the final beta version before Samsung releases the stable public build. The final version of One UI 8 is anticipated to be announced and debut on the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 phones at Samsung’s Unpacked event on July 9th.
Conclusion
The release of the third One UI 8 beta build for the Galaxy S25 series marks a significant step towards the stable public launch. While less feature-rich than previous betas, Beta 3 provides essential stability improvements and bug fixes, crucial for a smooth final release. The inclusion of the novel AI-generated birthday card feature within Now Brief highlights Samsung’s continued efforts to embed useful AI functionalities directly into the user interface and enhance its personalized feed experience. With the Unpacked event fast approaching, this beta update strongly suggests that One UI 8 is rapidly approaching its readiness for prime time, set to debut on Samsung’s next flagship devices before expanding to a wider range of the Galaxy ecosystem.
