Samsung could finally catch up to other Android OEMs with this navigation choice

Despite being a leading innovator in the mobile space, Samsung can sometimes resist change, especially when the mandate originates from other stakeholders, even Google. Until recently, Samsung refused to support seamless updates on its Android devices, even though it would have allowed users to save time. The welcome change came last year, and now, Samsung is likely to step away from another feature it has held sacred for a long time: three-button navigation.

Even though Google and other Android manufacturers have embraced swipe navigation gestures, the three-button system is chosen by default when you set up a new Samsung phone. If anyone wants to use navigation gestures, they must head to Settings on their Galaxy phones or tablets and switch it manually after completing the setup. However, with future versions of One UI 8, Samsung could finally allow users to choose between the three-button and gesture-based navigation systems while setting up their phones.

Folks at SammyGuru recently spotted references to a new choice screen in a yet-to-be-released build of One UI 8. The feature is currently missing from the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Flip 7, which come with One UI 8 pre-installed. The source, therefore, proposes that it could be added with the next major version upgrade, which would be One UI 8.5.

While Samsung could add the option to choose between the traditional and the relatively newer method of navigation, it will not eliminate the three-button navigation system from its phones. That would be useful for people who still prefer the classical method to move around in the Android interface.

While it’s unclear when — or even if — Samsung could actually bring this option, a significant software update like One UI 8.5 could make sense. However, we may have to wait for a few months for the change as Samsung is rumored to release the update alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year.