Since switching from the Xiaomi 15T, I’ve been rocking the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 as my new daily driver and the latest addition to my Android arsenal.
And more than refreshing hardware, I’ve been liking One UI 8.5 so far, but not for the smarter Bixby or the extended lock screen customizations. But it’s because of Now Brief.
It’s still a work in progress, but I didn’t expect to use it more often on my Flip phone than At a Glance and Google Discover on my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Although I’m still waiting for Google to ship Daily Brief to more Pixel devices, Samsung’s Now Brief already shows a better implementation, and it’s one I wish Google would mirror.
What is Now Brief
It is a better AI feed aggregator
Released last year with the Galaxy S25, it’s Samsung’s version of Google’s At a Glance, offering a quick snapshot of a personalized AI feed based on a range of content types.
Even with only a brief use, I already feel Samsung does a better job of designing the app and aggregating data in it.
My feed dynamically changes hourly or by phase throughout the day, depending on context, which is divided into three major blocks: morning, afternoon, and evening.
I get a Morning brief anytime before noon, a Midday brief from lunch to sunset, and a warm Evening brief at night.
There are also varying greetings depending on the weather and the feed, which adds a layer of personalization.
It’s a small touch but more thoughtful than only having static data like the usual weather and calendar feed.
Now Brief differs from Google’s At a Glance or Daily Brief.
The former adapts to real-time information, such as the status of a food delivery or a flight, while the latter is more of a single overview generated every morning.
Even in the presentation, Now Brief differs slightly from Daily Brief, which is tucked deep inside the Gemini app.
Now Brief’s access is on the lock screen and home screen as a widget or a shortcut in the Edge panel, so it can be accessed anytime.
While it’s accessible through the lock or home screen similar to At a Glance, I prefer it because it acts as a full widget.
This is unlike At a Glance, which has been a sticky widget that doesn’t support resizing or repositioning, leaving you with no options other than enabling or disabling it or toggling a high-contrast background.
QuizSamsung apps
Trivia challenge
From Bixby to bloatware — how well do you really know Samsung’s built-in app ecosystem?
BixbyGalaxy AppsFeaturesBloatwareSamsung
What is the name of Samsung’s built-in voice assistant, first introduced on the Galaxy S8 in 2017?
Correct! Bixby debuted on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in 2017, replacing Samsung’s older S Voice assistant. It was notable for its deep device integration, allowing users to control almost any on-screen function with their voice.
Not quite — the answer is Bixby. Samsung launched Bixby alongside the Galaxy S8 in 2017 as a smarter, more context-aware replacement for S Voice. S Voice was the predecessor, while Viv was actually the startup acquired by Samsung that helped build Bixby’s technology.
What is the name of Samsung’s official app store, which serves as an alternative to the Google Play Store on Galaxy devices?
Correct! The Galaxy Store is Samsung’s first-party app marketplace, pre-installed on Galaxy devices. It hosts exclusive Samsung themes, watch faces for Galaxy Watch, and select apps that sometimes launch there before hitting Google Play.
Not quite — it’s the Galaxy Store. Samsung rebranded its marketplace to Galaxy Store in 2019, having previously been known as Samsung Apps and then Samsung Galaxy Apps. It’s especially important for Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds users who download companion apps.
Samsung’s DeX feature, available on select Galaxy phones and tablets, is designed to do what?
Correct! Samsung DeX (Desktop Experience) lets compatible Galaxy devices power a desktop-style interface when connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It effectively turns your phone or tablet into a productivity workstation, running Android apps in resizable windows.
Not quite — Samsung DeX is all about the desktop experience. When connected to an external display, DeX transforms a Galaxy phone or tablet into a PC-like environment with a taskbar, resizable windows, and full keyboard and mouse support. It was first introduced with the Galaxy S8 in 2017.
Which of the following Samsung apps cannot be fully uninstalled on most Galaxy devices and can only be disabled at best?
Correct! Bixby is deeply embedded in Galaxy devices and cannot be fully uninstalled — users can only disable it. This is because Bixby is tied to core system functions and the dedicated Bixby button or side-key shortcut found on many Galaxy models, making it a classic example of persistent Samsung bloatware.
Not quite — Bixby is the answer here. While apps like Samsung Music and Samsung Notes can be fully uninstalled from most Galaxy devices, Bixby is baked so deeply into the system that it can only be disabled, not removed. Samsung ties it to hardware buttons and core OS routines, which is why it stubbornly survives factory resets.
What is Samsung Internet, and what rendering engine does it use?
Correct! Samsung Internet is the default browser on Galaxy devices and uses the Blink rendering engine — the same engine that powers Google Chrome. It has evolved into a genuinely capable browser with built-in ad blocking, tracking protection, and even a secret mode for private browsing.
Not quite — Samsung Internet runs on the Blink engine, not Gecko or WebKit. Blink is also the foundation of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Samsung Internet is actually well-regarded among Android browser alternatives, offering features like content blockers, DeX support, and a clean interface.
Samsung’s Good Lock app is best described as which of the following?
Correct! Good Lock is Samsung’s official customization platform, available through the Galaxy Store. It works via downloadable modules — such as Theme Park, QuickStar, and LockStar — that let users tweak nearly every aspect of One UI, from the lock screen to the notification shade.
The correct answer is that Good Lock is a modular customization platform. It’s one of Samsung’s best-kept secrets, letting power users reshape their One UI experience far beyond standard settings. Modules are downloaded individually from the Galaxy Store, and availability varies by region — it was long unavailable outside South Korea and the US.
Samsung Health was originally launched under a different name. What was it called before being rebranded?
Correct! Before becoming Samsung Health, the app was called S Health — part of Samsung’s broader ‘S’ branding family that included S Voice, S Planner, and S Note. The rebranding to Samsung Health reflected the company’s push toward a more unified and globally recognizable brand identity.
Not quite — it was originally called S Health. Samsung used to brand many of its first-party apps with an ‘S’ prefix, including S Voice, S Planner, and S Note. Over time, the company shifted to cleaner ‘Samsung’ branding, and S Health became Samsung Health as part of that evolution.
What does Samsung’s Link to Windows (formerly ‘Phone Link’) feature primarily allow users to do?
Correct! Link to Windows allows Galaxy device owners to mirror their phone’s screen, send and receive messages, manage notifications, and even run Android apps directly from a Windows PC. The integration is the result of a partnership between Samsung and Microsoft, and it goes significantly deeper than what most Android phones offer with the standard Phone Link app.
Not quite — Link to Windows is primarily about mirroring and interacting with your Galaxy device from a Windows PC. Built through a Samsung and Microsoft collaboration, it lets you view notifications, reply to messages, make calls, and even run mobile apps in a window on your desktop — no need to pick up your phone at all.
Your Score
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Easy to digest cards
Better presentation than Google
In terms of the feed, Now Brief supports a wider variety of content.
I’m a fan of how the feed is presented inside the dashboard. And this is a major departure from At a Glance, which yanks you into whichever app you tapped.
In Now Brief, the cards are large and with high visibility graphics. I can also scroll through them vertically.
Some apps, like YouTube suggestions, allow you to browse recommendations by swiping the card left and right.
The news suggestions also change frequently and aren’t strictly aligned with the major time blocks. Instead, they update to more recent stories every time I open the app.
It’s frustrating that Google hasn’t figured this out with At a Glance or even Daily Brief, with the latter leaving you with a lengthy summary of text instead of easy-to-digest cards.
Now Brief supports a range of content and apps, but it leans heavily on first-party sources like Samsung’s Health, Calendar, Gallery, Wearable, and News.
Meanwhile, for cross-platform services, I can enable YouTube, Messages, Spotify, and travel insights through Gemini.
It also reorganizes the cards depending on priority, though it always puts the weather on top.
Samsung needs to fix this on Now Brief
More cross-platform services
However, there’s a big constraint with Now Brief, and it hits hardest if you aren’t deeply tied to Samsung’s ecosystem, such as the Health app.
What I mostly get is the same repetitive set of cards: the weather forecast, news, a Spotify shortcut, and YouTube recommendations.
This is frustrating if you rely on alternative services like Google Fit or Health Connect for tracking health and fitness data.
For example, I don’t get health data despite setting up the app. I’m not sure if this is an algorithm bug or an exclusive feature locked behind connected Galaxy wearables like Galaxy Watches and fitness trackers.
Instead, I need to go to the dedicated Health widget on my home screen to see my health and fitness progress for the day.
Samsung has also shown in its presentation that you can get a wrap-up of health and fitness insights in the Evening brief, so this might be another function locked out in the app.
I’m interested to see how the feed of other content will play out if I have a Galaxy Watch paired with my Galaxy Z Flip 7.
Aside from the lack of Health insights, I haven’t seen any feed from communication and text messaging apps, despite having Android’s Messages app as my default.
Even after letting notifications and unread messages stack up, I still didn’t get a single card appearing in any of my briefings.
I start to question if there are restrictions in place, like region-exclusive features or an algorithm that needs to be trained before these feeds start to show.
I would also want to see Samsung improve the refresh rate of the other cards, such as News and YouTube.
Perhaps it could allow users to select which categories they want to include rather than relying on defaults.
Google needs to step up
Now Brief isn’t a perfect product, but it’s nice to see that Samsung knows what it is doing.
And even with these shortcomings, I feel it has more potential and direction than what Google has offered with the Pixel’s At a Glance for years, or with its fumbling with the Daily Hub turned into Daily Brief.
If Samsung can smooth out these rough edges and fix them, it will likely embarrass Google.
