One UI 9.5 Leaks Reveal Ergonomic Shifts in Samsung Phone App and Keyboard

Key points

• The Phone app’s search icon is moving from the top-right to the bottom-right, alongside Keypad, Recents, and Contacts, to improve one-handed usability on large devices like the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
• The search placeholder text is changing from 'Search' to 'What are you looking for?', and a 'Search' header will appear next to the back arrow.
• Samsung Keyboard is gaining a 'Refine Voice Input' setting, an AI-powered feature similar to Google’s Rambler that removes filler words and polishes spoken text into professional formats.
• These changes are part of a broader trend in Samsung’s apps, following similar ergonomic updates to the Calendar app, and are expected to roll out via the One UI 9.5 beta program.
• The new keyboard feature relies on Galaxy AI and will be available on supported devices once the official beta builds begin distribution.

Background

Samsung has been actively modernizing its software ecosystem, recently integrating Google Photos into the Gallery app and launching a new AI-driven 'Memory' app for content organization. These updates follow the discontinuation of the Samsung News app and reflect a shift toward AI-integrated and user-centric design in One UI 9 and 9.5.

How outlets are covering it

Android Police and Android Authority emphasize the ergonomic benefits of moving the search bar to the bottom, highlighting how larger phone screens make top-edge features difficult to reach. Android Authority notes that this change could also benefit older devices via app updates. PhoneArena focuses on a different aspect of One UI 9.5, highlighting the addition of an AI-powered voice-to-text refinement feature in Samsung Keyboard, which mirrors Google’s Rambler technology. While Android Police and Android Authority focus on interface layout, PhoneArena highlights the integration of advanced AI capabilities in input methods.

Why it matters

These updates address long-standing usability complaints regarding one-handed operation on large smartphones and bring advanced AI voice-to-text capabilities to Samsung users, potentially improving productivity and accessibility. The shift toward bottom-aligned controls and AI-enhanced input methods may set a precedent for future Android interface standards.

What to watch

Samsung is expected to release the first official One UI 9.5 beta builds next week. Users enrolled in the beta program will be able to test the new Phone app layout and the 'Refine Voice Input' feature on Galaxy AI-supported devices. The company may also roll out the Phone app search update to older devices via app updates to ensure broader accessibility.