Leaked builds and screenshots circulating this week suggest Samsung is preparing one of the biggest visual and functional refreshes to its default mobile browser in years. The redesign, tied to an upcoming One UI 8.5 update (browser build 29.1.2.23 in the leaks), replaces the current tab and menu arrangements with a floating, more customizable interface and adds new privacy and AI‑focused tools.
What leaked — the headlines
Early leaks from tipsters and forum screenshots show Samsung Internet receiving:
- A redesigned, translucent "liquid glass" style address bar that can float and disappear into the background when scrolling.
- Three URL bar placement styles: Compact, Standard and Bottom.
- A split address bar layout that separates the URL/home area from quick‑access shortcuts (Tabs, Browsing Assist, Options).
- Tab management views in List, Grid and Stack modes, with the new Grid appearing as a two‑column arrangement similar to the Gallery app.
- A pill‑shaped tab management control that hovers above page content and a move from a swipe‑up grid menu to a vertically opening flyover menu.
- Usability and privacy upgrades designed to better handle fixed‑position pop‑ups and to expose Secret Mode and synced tabs more readily.
- An "AI Search" toggle visible in debug settings that appears able to query external models such as Gemini or Perplexity.
Screenshots circulating under handles such as GalaxyTechie, thatjoshguy69 and SammyGuru — and discussions on Reddit — form the basis of the reporting. Samsung has not officially announced the changes.
Design and navigation: more customization, fewer distractions
The most immediately visible changes are aesthetic and navigational. The address bar adopts a blurred, semi‑transparent look and is split into two functional zones: a larger left area that houses the URL and a home icon, and a narrower right area for quick actions. Users can apparently choose how the bar is positioned (bottom vs more compact placements) and move shortcuts around.
Tab management is being rethought to ease multitasking. In addition to a list view, the new Grid and Stack layouts let users scan tabs as semi‑transparent cards. The Grid mode uses two columns, which reviewers say mirrors recent Gallery and Finder UI changes in One UI 8.5 leaks, giving a visually consistent system appearance.
Menus also change behavior: instead of the full‑screen swipe grid currently used in One UI 8.0, options open in a vertical flyover element, keeping more of the page visible and speeding access to key controls.
Privacy, content controls and AI features
Functionally, the revamp appears aimed at reducing intrusive elements and adding convenience. Several leaked screens and writeups claim the browser will better handle fixed‑position pop‑ups — the overlays and interstitials that often block content — and may allow new in‑app video interactions such as direct liking.
A notable inclusion is an "AI Search" option tucked into debug settings in the leaked build. Reports suggest it could surface results from third‑party models like Gemini or Perplexity directly inside the browser, effectively embedding an AI assistant for queries. The presence of that control in debug settings indicates the feature may still be experimental; it raises the prospect of faster contextual search but also new privacy and data‑handling questions if third‑party models are involved.
Other small quality‑of‑life additions in the leaks include a pop‑up menu for closing all tabs at once and easier access to Secret Mode and synced tabs from the primary tabs menu.
System utilities leak: Smart Manager gains (China only for now)
Separate leaks tied to One UI 8.5 show that Samsung's Smart Manager app — currently a China‑specific alternative to the global Device Care menu — is getting a sizeable feature bump. Items spotted by tipsters include native app lock (pattern/PIN/biometrics without using Secure Folder), app state restoration after crashes, sleep‑standby battery optimizations, refined background app controls and a privacy lockdown toggle.
Those Smart Manager features are notable because they address long‑standing requests from Galaxy users (native app locking without cloning apps into Secure Folder, better crash recovery). However, reports cautioned that Smart Manager remains restricted to the Chinese market and that practical use of the APK may require a rooted device. Global users currently see analogous functions via Device Care — whether Samsung will port these enhancements broadly is still unclear.
Timing, implications and what to watch for
Leaks tie the browser refresh to One UI 8.5, which industry watchers expect to debut alongside Samsung's next flagship cycle early next year (commonly tied to a Galaxy S26 launch window). If those timelines hold, Samsung Internet's redesign could roll out to eligible Galaxy phones in the months that follow.
The changes address common complaints — intrusive pop‑ups, clumsy tab management and a lack of integrated AI tools — and aim to create a more consistent system look. But they also spotlight two tensions: regional fragmentation of features (Smart Manager vs Device Care) and privacy considerations around embedding external AI models in a browser.
For users, the update promises a cleaner, more customizable browsing experience. For privacy advocates and developers, the coming months will be about scrutinizing data flows for any AI hooks and watching whether China‑only utilities make their way to global devices.
Until Samsung confirms details, the screenshots and build numbers (29.1.2.23) remain the clearest picture available. Expect official announcements from Samsung as One UI 8.5 approaches, and watch for hands‑on reviews once the company releases a public beta or stable update.