One UI 9 brings to Galaxy devices one of the most useful and most hated features of Google Pixel

The update One UI 9 of Samsung’s proprietary interface introduces a new feature that will surely spark discussion.

Although not drastically altering the design compared to the previous One UI 8.5, the South Korean company has decided to integrate a persistent Google search bar on the home screen, borrowing a historic feature from Google’s Pixel devices.

While aiming to streamline daily operations, offering immediate access to web searches without the need for tedious manual configurations and enriching the overall user experience of the brand’s tablets and smartphones, not everyone will be happy.

One UI 9: Google search bar arrives, just as on Pixel

The novelty concerns the way the search engine is rooted within the operating system. Through the system launcher settings, One UI Home, users can now enable a specific entry dedicated to the visibility of the search on the home page.

Once this option is enabled, a wide full-width bar appears exactly above the row of favorite apps, located at the bottom of the display.

This is a practical functional change, as it completely eliminates the need to navigate the widgets menu to manually add the tool to your home screen.

The inspiration clearly derives from Google’s approach on its Pixel smartphones, a solution that has always divided the public between those who appreciate its absolute convenience and those who, on the contrary, would prefer to have that space completely free to arrange their icons or admire the wallpaper.

Availability and differences between models

As of now, the spread of this novelty is not homogeneous across the Asian giant’s catalog. The first direct testimonies confirm the presence of the feature on the latest folding smartphones, specifically the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its larger variant Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Curiously, the same option appears completely absent on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, despite the latter currently running the fourth beta version of One UI 9.0.

This singular discrepancy suggests that the new foldables are equipped with a slightly newer software build and advanced than the one Samsung is currently testing on the S26 family.

It remains to be clarified whether the other foldable from the company, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, can boast or not the same native integration at startup.

The wait is now focused on the release of the stable and final version of the operating system, with the justified hope that the persistent search bar becomes a freely configurable option for all owners of a compatible Galaxy device.