The best Android 16 features that are already live in One UI 8 beta
Joe Maring / Android Authority
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.
Do you think One UI 8 is a good update so far?
278 votes
Yeah, I like the changes I'm seeing.
40 %
It's OK, but I'm curious to see how it progresses in future betas.
30 %
No, I was hoping for more change.
23 %
Other (let us know in the comments).
8 %
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?
Google is adding Live Updates — essentially the same feature — to Android 16, with full functionality expected in the QPR1 update later this year. This is a significant development for Samsung users, as there are relatively few third-party apps that support Samsung's Live Notifications in One UI 7, but app developers should have a greater incentive to support the feature when it's available on Android as a whole and not just Samsung phones.
90:10 split-screen
Split-screen multitasking has been a feature of Android for years, and it hasn't changed much since its introduction. OnePlus debuted Open Canvas on the OnePlus Open, a new way of multitasking on a foldable that made a lot more sense than anything else we'd tried. Android 16 is using that as inspiration for the 90:10 split. This allows you to collapse one of the apps, so it only takes up 10% of your screen, giving the other app room to breathe. Tapping the smaller app reverses their positions, so you can swap between them as needed.
Ironically, Samsung phones are currently the only Android 16 devices that can use this feature, as Google hasn't included it in the stable Android 16 release for Pixels, nor in the current betas for Android 16 QPR1. Hopefully that'll change soon, as I'd love to use this on my Pixel 9 Pro.
Advanced Protection
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Advanced Protection isn't as flashy or cool as the previous two entries, but it is an important addition to Android 16. It's a collection of features designed to keep your phone and data safe. Some of these security features are new, while others have been present in previous versions of Android and are now grouped under Advanced Protection.
Existing features, such as Theft Protection Lock, blocking APK installation, Android Safe Browsing, and more, are all enabled when Advanced Protection is activated. New features include a USB Protection mode that defaults new USB connections to charging only while your phone is locked, automatically restarting your phone if it has been left idle for 72 hours, and more.
None of that is as exciting as Live Updates, but I'm glad to see it in Android 16. Many of you reading this probably know not to install a dodgy APK from a random website or how to spot a scam call. Many people, however, don't, and enabling all these features on my grandparents' phones with one toggle, allowing me to worry less about them, is something I welcome. Will this completely resolve the spam and malicious software problems in the world? Of course not, but anything that makes combating them easier is a good thing.
Android 16 isn't a huge overhaul of Android, but there are still some cool new features that I'm looking forward to trying when they land. I'm just glad I get to try some of them already in One UI 8 beta, which already feels less rushed and less hacked together than One UI 7 did. What are you looking forward to in Android 16 and One UI 8? Let me know in the comments.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Down 30%, Should You Buy the Dip on IonQ?
Quantum computing soared following the release of Google's Willow quantum chip in December. IonQ is still deeply unprofitable, but the company expects its revenue to double this year. The company is building momentum following a deal with EPB and multiple acquisitions. 10 stocks we like better than IonQ › Quantum computing stocks captivated investors like few other sectors in recent months. Ever since Alphabet's Google announced its state-of-the-art quantum chip, Willow, in December, quantum computing stocks have soared. Many investors see them as the next major technology on the horizon, following in the footsteps of artificial intelligence (AI). One of the biggest players in AI is IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a developer and seller of quantum computers. The company sells hardware, software, and services, making its quantum computers available through providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, a business model known as quantum-computing-as-a-service (QCaaS). IonQ differentiates itself from other publicly traded quantum computing stocks like Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing because of its trapped-ion technology, which uses atoms suspended in a vacuum and manipulated with lasers. Right now is also an excellent time to consider buying IonQ stock, as it's down 30% from its peak late last year, and it's pulled back by nearly as much after a surge in late May, following an interview in Barron's with CEO Niccolo de Masi, who said the company aimed to be the "Nvidia of quantum computing." With IonQ stock having cooled off a bit in June, let's take a closer look at what the stock has to offer. Despite a market cap over $10 billion, IonQ is still essentially a development-stage company, as it brought in just $7.6 million in revenue in the first quarter. However, that was down slightly from the year before, showing the company is not delivering the kind of growth you might expect from a high-priced stock like IonQ. IonQ is also deeply unprofitable, with the company posting a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) operating loss of $75.7 million in the period, or 10 times what it brought in revenue. It does expect revenue growth to accelerate over the remainder of the year, forecasting $75 million to $95 million in revenue for the full year. That forecast, which includes some small acquisitions, targets revenue roughly doubling from $43.1 million last year. There are other signs the company is making progress. It signed a $22 million deal with EPB of Chattanooga, an energy and telecom company, and it's waiting to close on its acquisition of Lightsynq Technologies, a maker of quantum interconnects to bridge the gap to large-scale quantum computers. IonQ also took part in Nvidia's first-ever Quantum Day, where it demonstrated quantum-accelerated computation and commercially relevant applications, further evidence that quantum computing could is progressing toward mainstream. Additionally, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in June that the technology is at an inflection point, comments that came just months after he said that "very useful" quantum computers could be decades away. There's no question that there's a ton of uncertainty around quantum computing stocks right now. Valuations have been inflated by the attention placed on the sector following Google's announcement about Willow last December. Based on IonQ's guidance, the company still trades at a price-to-sales ratio of more than 100 using its 2025 forecast. However, there is real momentum in the industry, and analysts expect IonQ's revenue to double both this year and next. Given its leadership in quantum computing, business momentum, and expected revenue growth, opening a small position in the stock seems reasonable for risk-tolerant investors. Keep in mind that the risk with IonQ remains high at the current valuation, and the stock could fall a long way if its performance comes up short in the coming quarters. Before you buy stock in IonQ, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and IonQ wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $966,931!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Amazon and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Down 30%, Should You Buy the Dip on IonQ? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
2 Top Stocks Down 40% to Buy With $1,000
Reddit's data could be a valuable asset that Wall Street is overlooking. Marvell is well-positioned to benefit from data centers for AI workloads. 10 stocks we like better than Reddit › Buying shares of competitively positioned companies that are experiencing robust growth for their products can put you on the road to financial freedom. Sometimes the market gives you the opportunity to buy quality stocks at big discounts that can set you up for outstanding results. If you have $1,000 you don't need for at least five years, there are a few growth stocks that Wall Street is currently sleeping on that could deliver great returns over the next few years. Reddit (NYSE: RDDT) is a popular online platform that is built around discussion threads on an endless number of topics. Over 400 million people visit Reddit on a weekly basis. This has driven strong growth in the company's advertising revenue, which is the primary means it monetizes its platform. The stock is down 39% from its recent highs. This can be attributed to two things. First, it was due for a correction after climbing to a high price-to-sales multiple of around 25. It now trades at a lower multiple of 19. Second, Wall Street has been concerned about Alphabet's Google's launch of new artificial intelligence (AI) features in Search. Google's AI Overviews, for example, is taking content from Reddit and summarizing it in Google Search results. This could lead to less traffic going directly to Reddit's platform and limit its revenue growth prospects. However, Reddit continued to report extremely strong growth in the first quarter. Revenue grew 61% year over year, with 108 million daily active users. Advertisers continue to invest in Reddit's platform, given the high engagement from these users, not to mention that many people visiting Reddit are researching a product to buy, making it more likely they will click on an ad. All the discussions and comments across Reddit's communities are not only leading to strong advertising growth, but also opening up new growth opportunities. In fact, Reddit is starting to make a significant amount of money licensing its data to companies building AI models. Its "other" revenue grew 66% year over year in Q1, representing about 9% of its quarterly revenue. This growth in data licensing signals a competitive advantage for Reddit not fully reflected in the stock price. This makes the stock a compelling buy after the recent dip. There is substantial investment pouring into data center infrastructure (e.g., advanced chips and networking systems) to lay the groundwork for an AI-driven economy. Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL) is riding this wave, yet the stock is down 41% from its recent high, setting up a buying opportunity ahead of a potential bull run. Marvell is a leader in supplying custom chip solutions and networking products for data centers. Its data center business totaled 76% of its revenue last quarter and also, coincidentally, grew 76% year over year. The chipmaker has benefited greatly from its partnership with Amazon Web Services, the leading cloud services provider for enterprises. In late 2024, it signed a new five-year deal to supply AWS with custom AI chips and networking products, which are needed for faster data transfer in AI workloads. Marvell also has a partnership with Nvidia to integrate its chips in Nvidia's NVLink Fusion. NVLink is a game-changing product that brings together custom chip solutions from multiple suppliers on a single platform. This could spell more demand for Marvell's accelerator processing units (XPUs). These agreements with AWS and Nvidia significantly bolster Marvell's long-term prospects. The stock looks expensive, trading at high multiples of sales and earnings. But keep in mind that it is seeing margins improve from growing demand. Adjusted earnings more than doubled year over year to $0.62 in the first quarter. Wall Street analysts expect 46% annualized earnings growth over the next few years, which could support significant upside in the stock. Before you buy stock in Reddit, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Reddit wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $966,931!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Ballard has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Marvell Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Top Stocks Down 40% to Buy With $1,000 was originally published by The Motley Fool Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera tweak could be the glow-up your selfies didn't know they needed
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Samsung might be ditching the hidden selfie cameras and bringing back punch-holes on both the Z Fold 7's inner and cover screens. UDC tech still struggles with clarity, thanks to screen layers over the lens. If these changes stick, the Z Fold 7 might just be Samsung's ticket back to the top of the foldable race. A new Galaxy Z Fold 7 rumor has surfaced, and it's hinting that Samsung might be swapping under-display cameras for punch-holes on both the main and cover screens. According to PandaFlash on X, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is likely ditching the under-display selfie cameras for a classic punch-hole setup (via TechRadar). Recent renders back this up, clearly showing the new camera cutout right on the main screen and cover display. Going back to the recently leaked renders, it becomes clear that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will adopt punch-hole cameras on both the cover and inner screens. But for some fans, this might feel like a step back in both looks and tech for the Fold lineup. This move throws it back to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the last time we saw a punch-hole on the main and cover screens. Since then—even up to the current Galaxy Z Fold 6—Samsung has stuck with under-display cameras (UDC), starting with the Z Fold 3, which was the first to hide the inner selfie camera under the screen. There's no official explanation as to why Samsung is ditching the under-display camera on the Z Fold 7, but the likely reason is simple: better photo quality. Even with improvements, UDC still struggles to match the clarity of a regular punch-hole shooter, thanks to the extra display layer sitting on top of the lens. Sure, under-display cameras are a cool flex tech-wise, but hiding the lens under screen layers tends to wreck photo quality. The camera must contend with multiple display layers, which typically results in noisy, underexposed photos, along with issues like excessive lens flare and peculiar artifacts. A punch-hole camera, on the other hand, skips the visual gymnastics and usually delivers way cleaner, sharper photos. Assuming these rumored tweaks actually make it to the final Z Fold 7, Samsung might finally have the spark it needs to take back the foldable crown. After years of playing it safe, this could be the shake-up that puts it back at the top of every best foldable list. Samsung keeps quiet for now, but all signs point to a July 9 reveal for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.
