Latest One UI 8 Build Adds Android 16’s Live Updates Support to Now Bar

One UI 7 took us by surprise when it introduced Now Bar support. With the upcoming One UI 8, it will gain support for more third-party apps, thanks to Android 16’s Live Updates. That’s essentially Android’s answer to iOS’s popular Live Activities feature.

Here’s an early look at how Live Updates will integrate into the Now Bar

Samsung notoriously keeps upcoming changes tucked inside app or developer settings. That’s how we found a way to bring the upcoming Samsung Internet overhaul to life a few weeks ago. Now, DevOfIpos has spotted what could be how the Now Bar with Live Updates support would look. It’s still clearly in testing, but the foundations are there.

It’s too early, so it’s not functional, meaning what you see here is a test notification. But that’s enough to show that Samsung and Google are planning to bring this to life, starting with the upcoming Android 16-based One UI 8. Once Android 16 is official, we’ll see deep integration between the system and third-party apps. For instance, you can expect live updates from Uber, DoorDash, and others.

That said, One UI 8 is expected to arrive soon. It will likely make its debut alongside the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 foldables, which are slated for a July launch. A beta program could kick off shortly after, most likely starting with the Galaxy S25 series. While Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed any details, we’ve put together a list of devices likely to receive the One UI 8 update based on past rollout patterns.

A new report suggests Samsung might skip smaller updates like One UI 8.1 or 8.1.1 and go straight to a bigger One UI 8.5 release. That version could land with the Galaxy S26 series early next year. If Samsung goes down this road, it might mean fewer updates in between, but the ones we do get could pack more of a punch. It’s a bit of a trade-off. That means less frequent feature drops, but with more to actually look forward to when they arrive.