Samsung Polishes the Always On Display with Smart Animation in One UI 8.5

Samsung’s upcoming One UI 8.5 might seem like a small update at first glance, but it continues the company’s tradition of refining every corner of its software with obsessive precision.

A newly spotted detail in the Always On Display (AOD) feature perfectly illustrates how far Samsung goes to make even the most subtle animations feel natural and fluid.

The new firmware, currently in development for Galaxy smartphones and tablets, recently leaked online for the Galaxy S25 series, giving tech enthusiasts a peek at what’s coming. Among the discoveries is a beautifully executed visual tweak: when you double-tap the AOD lock screen to wake your device, the animation now originates from the exact spot where your finger touched the screen. This micro-animation breathes life into what used to be a static moment, creating the illusion that the phone responds directly to your touch rather than simply switching states.

Similarly, when you double-tap again to send the phone back to sleep, the transition fades out precisely from your tap point. It’s the kind of detail that seems small until you experience it in motion – then it becomes impossible to unsee. These are the design touches that separate Samsung’s One UI from generic Android skins, giving Galaxy devices a distinct feeling of polish and coherence. As @UniverseIce demonstrated in a shared video, this effect blends seamlessly into the AOD’s ambient behavior, showing Samsung’s design team’s obsession with tactile realism and animation logic.

While this may sound like a minor feature, it represents Samsung’s broader design philosophy – one that values how software feels, not just how it looks. Apple users often boast about “attention to detail,” but One UI’s recent refinements prove that Samsung is equally capable of creating those satisfying, almost subconscious touches that make devices feel alive.

According to current timelines, One UI 8.5 is expected to debut publicly alongside the Galaxy S26 series in February 2026, likely bringing a host of small but meaningful improvements like this. For Samsung fans, it’s another reminder that sometimes the magic lies not in massive overhauls, but in the quiet elegance of perfect execution.