Samsung’s Next Update to Rival Pixel’s Quick Settings
▼ Summary
– Android 16 introduced resizable Quick Settings for Google Pixel users, and Samsung will adopt this feature in its next major Galaxy update.
– Samsung’s upcoming One UI 8.5 update will include a customizable Quick Panel, allowing users to adjust the size of toggles and other controls.
– The new Quick Panel customization will enable users to resize media widgets, volume sliders, and brightness controls, and change the orientation.
– One UI 8.5 is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S26 series and will not be available on existing devices until early next year.
– This information about Samsung’s plans was confirmed through recent leaks and reports from sources such as Tarun Vats and SamMobile.
The next major software release from Samsung is poised to deliver a highly customizable Quick Panel experience, directly challenging a standout feature recently introduced on Google Pixel devices. One UI 8.5, anticipated to debut alongside the Galaxy S26 series, will incorporate the resizable and reconfigurable quick settings that have become a hallmark of Android 16’s Material You design language. This move signifies Samsung’s commitment to bringing the latest Android innovations to its vast user base, ensuring Galaxy smartphones remain competitive with Google’s own offerings.
While Samsung is currently focused on distributing One UI 8 with Android 16 to its existing devices, development on the subsequent version is already well underway. Recent builds of One UI 8.5 have been spotted in testing, providing a clear look at the new functionalities in the pipeline. The most notable enhancement centers on the notification shade and Quick Panel, which is Samsung’s terminology for the Quick Settings area.
Leaks from reliable sources, including Tarun Vats and SamMobile, confirm that Samsung is implementing a system nearly identical to Google’s. This will allow users to resize individual toggles, choosing between a compact icon view and a more prominent button layout. The customization doesn’t stop there; the entire panel becomes a playground for personalization. You will reportedly gain control over the dimensions of the media playback widget, the volume slider, and even the brightness control bar. Furthermore, the orientation of these elements can be adjusted to better suit individual preferences, offering a level of flexibility previously unavailable on Galaxy devices.
This overhaul represents a significant step forward for Samsung’s software, moving beyond static layouts to a more dynamic and user-defined interface. The visual implementation, based on early glimpses, appears clean and modern, aligning with Samsung’s design principles while embracing the expressive nature of Android 16. The expectation is that this update will begin its official rollout coinciding with the launch of the Galaxy S26 series. For owners of current Samsung flagships and other supported models, this means the enhanced Quick Panel experience will likely arrive in an update scheduled for early next year.
(Source: 9to5 Google)
