Samsung Bixby isn’t dead! One UI 8.5 revamp adds a sleek design and improved integration — discover what’s next for Bixby and Galaxy devices.
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Samsung Bixby: Not Going Anywhere Yet
For years, Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant has struggled to find its footing in a world increasingly dominated by Google Assistant and Gemini AI. With the arrival of the Galaxy S25 series, it seemed like Bixby’s days as the default voice companion were numbered. After all, Samsung replaced it with Google Gemini as the go-to AI assistant on its flagship phones.
But is Bixby really on its way out? Not quite.
A New Look Signals a Possible Comeback
Recent discoveries suggest that Samsung isn’t done polishing its in-house assistant. According to reports from SamMobile, Bixby is about to receive a visual overhaul. Screenshots of a redesigned pop-up interface — showcased in both light and dark themes — have surfaced online, giving us a glimpse of what might come next.
This revamped interface aligns with One UI 8.5’s modern design direction, which borrows subtle cues from iOS-style fluid layouts. If you’ve seen Samsung’s refreshed Quick Settings panel in earlier leaks, you’ll notice similar rounded corners, smoother animations, and a more minimalistic aesthetic. The new Bixby overlay even bears a faint resemblance to Google Gemini’s floating assistant window, hinting at a more unified visual identity across Samsung’s ecosystem.
Still, design isn’t everything. The real question remains:
Will This Update Actually Make Bixby Smarter?
A sleek new look might be nice, but users are more interested in what Bixby can do, not just how it looks. Unfortunately, the latest leak doesn’t confirm any performance enhancements.
However, insiders from SammyGuru revealed last month that Samsung has been working on deeper integration between Bixby, Gemini, and the “Modes and Routines” feature. Imagine telling your phone, “I’m going to sleep,” and watching it automatically dim the screen, activate Do Not Disturb, and set your morning alarm — all powered by Bixby’s contextual understanding. It’s the kind of practical AI Samsung has long promised, but rarely delivered with consistency.
Will this be the turning point? It’s too early to tell.
Gemini Takes the Lead — For Now
Let’s be honest: Google Gemini currently overshadows Bixby in nearly every aspect that requires internet connectivity or cloud-based reasoning. Gemini’s integration with Google’s ecosystem — from Calendar and Reminders to Docs and Gmail — makes it a far more capable assistant for daily productivity.
Bixby, on the other hand, still excels in on-device operations such as adjusting settings, controlling smart home devices, or executing offline commands. Think of it as the dependable co-pilot that handles internal systems while Gemini handles the outside world.
That said, Samsung’s strategy may not be to replace Gemini but to reinvent Bixby’s role — transforming it from a general assistant into a smart contextual layer that bridges One UI’s AI features with your device’s local intelligence.
What’s Next for Bixby and One UI 8.5?
Samsung has been unusually quiet about when users will get to try One UI 8.5’s beta, but leaks suggest that the first rollout could happen by the end of November. That would give the company just enough time to refine everything before launching the Galaxy S26 series early next year.
Once that happens, current Galaxy flagships like the S25 lineup and the latest foldables are expected to receive the stable version soon after.
Whether Bixby will emerge as a revitalized AI companion or continue as a background feature remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear — Samsung isn’t ready to pull the plug just yet.
Final Thoughts
In a tech landscape where AI assistants evolve at lightning speed, Samsung’s decision to keep Bixby alive is both strategic and symbolic. It signals that the company still values having a proprietary intelligence layer — one that doesn’t depend entirely on Google.
So, while Gemini may lead the way for now, Bixby’s quiet evolution could surprise us all when One UI 8.5 finally lands.
