Samsung not giving up on Bixby after all; plans revamp with One UI 8.5

The new Bixby will focus on natural language device control and live web search using Perplexity AI. Revamped Bixby will roll-out with OneUI 8.5 update

Samsung has announced a major revamp of its digital assistant Bixby, confirming that it is not abandoning the assistant despite making Google’s Gemini the default on Galaxy phones last year. In a press release, the company said a new version of Bixby is entering beta testing as part of the One UI 8.5 update, which itself has been in beta since December 2025.

 

The revamped Bixby is expected to debut alongside the Galaxy S26 series, which is widely expected to launch in February 2026.

 

The announcement comes a year after Samsung partnered with Google at the Galaxy S25 launch in January 2025 to make Gemini the default assistant on Galaxy phones, pushing Bixby into a secondary role.

New Bixby in One UI 8.5: Details

Samsung said the new version of Bixby is being redesigned as a “conversational device agent,” focused mainly on controlling phone settings and understanding natural language requests.

 

Instead of using exact setting names, users will be able to describe what they want in plain language. Bixby will then figure out the intent and change the relevant settings. 

 

For example:

• Saying “I don’t want the screen to turn off while I’m looking at it” will enable the setting that keeps the screen on.
• Asking “Why does my phone turn on in my pocket?” will surface options like accidental touch protection and allow users to enable it directly.

Samsung said Bixby will also look at current device settings and suggest fixes, instead of only giving generic instructions.

 

Real-time web search via Perplexity:

 

The new Bixby will also support live web search through a partnership with Perplexity.

 

This means Bixby will be able to pull up-to-date information from the web and show results inside its own interface, instead of sending users to a browser.

For example, users can ask things like:

• “Find hotels in Seoul with pools for kids,”
• and Bixby will show web results directly in the assistant view.

Samsung said this is meant to make Bixby more useful for general questions, not just device control.

One UI 8.5 and Galaxy S26 series

Samsung said the new Bixby will first be available in the One UI 8.5 beta in select markets, with wider rollout later.

 

One UI 8.5 has been in beta testing since December 2025 and is expected to debut with the Galaxy S26 series, which is likely to launch in February 2026.

 

Apart from Bixby, One UI 8.5 includes:

• Photo Assist updates for continuous editing without saving each step
• Smarter Quick Share that suggests contacts based on photos
• Cross-device features like Audio Broadcast and Storage Share
• New security tools like Theft Protection, Failed Authentication Lock, and expanded Identity Check
• UI changes: Full customisation of quick panel, bottom search bar in apps, Visual overhaul to apps like Clock and Voice Recorder, new Always On-Display animations 

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: What to expect

Samsung is planning to host its 2026 Galaxy Unpacked event on February 26, according to a report by 9To5Google. Samsung will likely launch its next flagship smartphones: Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra at the event, which will likely go on sale starting March 11. No official announcement has been made by Samsung in this regard though.