Samsung One UI 8.5 redesigns the Phone app with a floating tab bar and modern card layout

Samsung’s upcoming One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be more than a simple iteration – it’s a polished visual overhaul that continues the brand’s design evolution toward cleaner, modern aesthetics. A newly leaked build of the firmware reveals a redesigned Phone app that introduces several subtle yet impactful interface improvements.

These refinements might seem small at first glance, but together they mark another step in Samsung’s mission to make its software feel lighter, more intuitive, and distinctly premium.

The most noticeable change is in the navigation structure. The traditional bottom tab bar now takes on a sleeker, floating appearance. Instead of being fully attached to the screen’s base, it hovers slightly above the content, giving the UI a sense of space and depth. This change also mirrors Samsung’s broader visual language in One UI 8.5, which emphasizes transparency, layering, and minimal clutter

. The tab bar itself is narrower, leaving more breathing room on the display – especially welcome for larger phones like those in the Galaxy S26 series, where reachability and visual balance matter.

The second standout change lies in the Favourites section. Contacts are now displayed in visually separated cards, creating a more tactile, magazine-like layout that’s reminiscent of digital business cards. Each card includes subtle shadows and rounded corners that make scrolling through contacts feel smoother and more interactive. This layout not only looks better but also improves usability – names and call icons are easier to tap and distinguish, minimizing accidental touches.

Observers have already pointed out that the new interface bears some resemblance to Apple’s iOS 26 Phone app. Indeed, there’s a shared philosophy: bold clarity, refined spacing, and an emphasis on gesture-driven navigation. Yet Samsung’s take retains its characteristic identity through One UI’s soft gradients, accent hues, and typographic rhythm. The company seems to be embracing a design convergence that respects modern trends while keeping its own DNA intact.

Beyond the Phone app, One UI 8.5 brings more refreshed elements across the system – new app icons, a redesigned status bar, and an updated search bar in the app drawer. These are part of Samsung’s gradual shift toward uniform visual consistency across devices, from foldables to tablets. The focus is not just cosmetic; under the hood, each update is also tuned to ensure better performance optimization and smoother animations, especially with devices running Android 15.

Industry insiders believe that One UI 8.5 will officially launch alongside the Galaxy S26 lineup in February 2026. As with previous major updates, the rollout is expected to start with flagship models before reaching older devices in stages. Given the rapid pace of leaks and testing builds, more UI tweaks and hidden features are likely to surface in the coming weeks. For now, the redesigned Phone app offers a promising glimpse of Samsung’s future direction – an elegant blend of function, form, and familiarity that continues to refine what users already love about One UI.