Samsung's One UI 8 navigation change comes over half a decade after Google made it in Android

After years of stubbornly sticking to traditional three-button navigation as the default, Samsung appears ready to finally embrace the gesture-first future that Google introduced back in 2019. Recent reports suggest that One UI 8.5 will make swipe-based gesture navigation the default on new Galaxy devices.

While most Android manufacturers quickly adopted Google’s gesture system after Android 10’s release over five years ago, Samsung has consistently defaulted to the classic back, home, and recent apps buttons. Even today, when you unbox a new Galaxy phone, you’re greeted by those familiar three buttons at the bottom of the screen rather than the gesture bar that has become standard across the Android ecosystem.

Samsung even flaunts the dated buttons in its marketing material on newer devices, such as the S25 series. You’ll spot plenty of official images that show the buttons, instead of gestures. My guess here is that it makes it easier for people to know that it’s a Samsung phone since the buttons are unique, especially when you consider the fact that most smartphones look the same these days from the front.

I’ll be honest – once you get used to gesture navigation, going back to buttons feels antiquated. The extra screen real estate and fluid animations make the entire Android experience feel more modern and immersive. Samsung’s reluctance to make this the default has always puzzled me.

According to SammyGuru‘s findings, Samsung is building a new option that allows users to select between three-button and gesture navigation during the initial setup process on new Galaxy devices.

This setup choice would eliminate the need for users to manually dig through display settings to enable gestures, something that has likely prevented many Samsung users from discovering this more fluid navigation method.

Google introduced full-fledged gesture navigation to Android with the release of Android 10 back in 2019, and the iPhone-like system has since become the default for new devices.

The timing makes Samsung’s potential change feel long overdue, especially when you consider how seamlessly gestures work with modern app design and Samsung’s own interface elements.

Beyond navigation changes, One UI 8 is shaping up to be a substantial update. The new version will recognize user context, offering personalized, proactive suggestions through features like Now Bar and Now Brief. Samsung is also expanding AI capabilities throughout the interface and introducing enhanced homescreen customization options with improved Good Lock integration. You can watch this video from SamMobile that highlights all the important changes:

This transition feels inevitable given how gesture navigation has evolved. Modern Android apps are increasingly designed with gestures in mind, and Samsung’s own features like Edge Panels work beautifully with swipe-based navigation. The company’s decision to potentially make this change suggests they’ve finally recognized that the future of mobile interfaces lies in gestures, not buttons.

Whether this materializes in One UI 8.0 or the rumored 8.5 update remains to be seen, but the groundwork is clearly being laid for Samsung to join the rest of the Android world in embracing gesture-first navigation as the standard experience. Feel free to share your thoughts on this in the comments below. Do you still use the three-button navigation or have you joined the rest of us with gestures?