Samsung is preparing to roll out One UI 8.5 alongside the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 series, expected in January. While early previews focused on design refinements, a recent teardown has revealed something even more intriguing: the integration of a native double-tap gesture on the back of the device. 
This functionality, long available on rival Android skins and through third-party apps, will finally be embedded directly into Samsung’s custom interface.
Previously, Galaxy owners could only unlock this feature through Samsung’s Good Lock suite, which many found useful but inconvenient since it required an extra download and setup. With One UI 8.5, the double-tap will come baked right into the system, no additional apps required. Once updated, users can choose from seven actions for the gesture: AI Select, Flashlight, Notifications, Open app, Privacy display, Quick settings, and Screenshot. This covers a broad range of daily shortcuts, and Samsung may expand the list further before release.
What makes this especially exciting is the timing. Samsung is aligning the software upgrade with the Galaxy S26 launch, ensuring new buyers experience the feature from day one, while existing Galaxy owners will also see their devices gain added utility. For many, this eliminates the need for third-party tools like TapTap, making the phone feel smarter and more responsive right out of the box.
It’s also another sign of Samsung listening to its users. People have been asking for built-in gesture customization for years, and while other brands such as Google and Xiaomi were quicker to implement, Samsung’s version is arriving with a wider set of options. Looking ahead, enthusiasts are already speculating that One UI 9.0, likely to debut in mid-2025 alongside the Fold 8 and Flip 8, will expand on this foundation even further with more creative gesture controls and Android 17 enhancements.
In short, One UI 8.5 is not just a routine update – it’s a practical quality-of-life upgrade that modernizes the Galaxy experience, making everyday actions faster, smoother, and more intuitive.
1 comment
finally samsung catching up, other androids had this for years