Samsung’s One UI 8 could level up your runs with personalized coaching

Summary

Samsung’s upcoming One UI 8, based on Android 16, is expected this summer and will include minor UI tweaks, new animations, a DeX redesign, and a simpler beta registration process.
A key new feature in One UI 8 is reportedly a built-in “Running Coach” that will assess user fitness with a 12-minute run and provide personalized training plans with progress monitoring.
The Running Coach aims to offer guidance during runs and adjust intensity based on performance and heart rate data (especially when paired with a Galaxy Watch), potentially functioning independently of wearables.

Samsung’s Android 16-based One UI 8 is expected to land on Galaxy devices some time later this summer. Although the South Korean tech giant is yet to begin testing the operating system in public beta, we already know a lot about what the major update could encompass.

One UI 8 will reportedly focus on minor UI refinements, unlike Android 16’s broad Material 3 Expressive redesign, paired with new animations, an audio version of One UI 7’s Now Brief feature, a DeX redesign, a dedicated ‘Private Album’ feature to Samsung Gallery, and more. Further, Samsung is also making it easier for users to try out One UI 8’s new feature early with a simpler two-step registration process for the One UI beta program, and a dedicated “Beta space” within the Samsung Members app.

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Now, differentiating itself from the range of One UI 8 features and changes that have leaked previously, information about a significant addition to the OS has emerged — an addition that will cater primarily to fitness enthusiasts.

Highlighted by the folks over at SamMobile, Samsung is reportedly working on a ‘Running Coach’ feature for One UI 8. As the tool’s name suggests, it will offer personalized running guidance, but it will do so by first analyzing the user’s fitness level.

The report suggests that the tool, when first initiated, would task users with running as far as they can within 12 minutes. The data it collects in those 12 minutes will form the basis of the user’s initial fitness assessment. The tool subsequently creates a personalized running plan.

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Running Coach will also reportedly incorporate “level up” assessments to monitor your progress and adjust training intensity. The feature might make your running workout more strenuous if it detects that the initial workout is becoming easy for you. Similarly, it might make the running plan less demanding if it detects your inability to keep up.

When paired with the Galaxy Watch, the feature will monitor your real-time heart rate data to ensure that you’re not over-exerting yourself.

The feature likely wouldn’t solely rely on a connected wearable to function, essentially baking running workout tracking and guidance right into your Samsung phone’s software. It isn’t entirely clear if the new tool will make its way to users with the first One UI 8 beta, or if those interested would need to wait until stable.