Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update promises to be much more than a simple visual refresh, with the company’s Now Bar lockscreen widget poised to introduce two practical new features: Google-assisted commute updates and nearby Auracast audio broadcast detection. These enhancements are designed to streamline your morning routine and make joining shared audio experiences easier, all without unlocking your phone.
What’s New in Now Bar with One UI 8.5
According to tipster Tarun Vats, One UI 8.5 will add two new categories to the Now Bar: Commute information powered by Google and audio broadcast detection through Auracast. Currently, Now Bar offers glanceable widgets such as sports scores, media playback, health monitoring, phone calls, Do Not Disturb status, and what was previously non-real-time transit info based on Samsung Wallet tickets. These upcoming features align perfectly with the widget’s core purpose of delivering timely, relevant information at a glance as soon as you wake your device.
The commute tile is expected to pull data from Google Maps, showing travel times, traffic conditions, and route advisories linked to your saved locations. Meanwhile, the audio broadcast tile will tap into Auracast — a Bluetooth LE Audio technology that lets venues and devices stream audio to people nearby, as defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.
Why This Enhances Your Commute
Commuting often feels like lost time. The latest INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard highlights that drivers in many major cities waste tens of hours annually stuck in traffic. Having immediate lockscreen insights about whether your usual drive or transit route is faster or slower than usual can encourage you to leave earlier, change routes, or switch transportation modes.
The beauty of Now Bar is its passive yet proactive nature. Imagine quickly glancing at your phone and instantly seeing that your regular route is currently 12 minutes slower, with a suggested alternative route highlighted — all without opening any app or scrolling through feeds. For transit users, Now Bar already integrates Samsung Wallet ticket details, showing platform and departure info, and adding Google’s commute insights could help you make precise timing decisions, especially when navigating transfers.
Auracast on Your Lockscreen for Instant Access
Auracast plays a critical role in Bluetooth LE Audio by enabling one-to-many audio transmissions for museum tours, airport announcements, fitness classes, and accessibility tools. When your Now Bar detects nearby Auracast streams, it displays the stream’s name and venue, allowing you to tap and join an audio narration or announcement instantly instead of digging through Bluetooth menus.
This feature isn’t just about convenience; it has significant accessibility implications. The World Health Organization estimates hundreds of millions worldwide live with disabling hearing loss. Auracast aims to make public audio more accessible by allowing compatible hearing aids and earbuds to receive clear, direct audio feeds. With a lockscreen prompt, unlocking your device becomes effortless. For frequent travelers or conference attendees, this means getting the right audio exactly when needed, without frustrating delays.
How It Compares to Competitors
Google’s Pixel phones offer commute and travel alerts via At a Glance, while Apple uses Live Activities and Smart Stacks for timely notification cards. Samsung’s Now Bar targets a similar space but with a distinct Galaxy twist: deep integration with Samsung Wallet and system statuses, plus potential Auracast support — a feature neither Google nor Apple prominently offers on their lockscreens. If Samsung executes well, Now Bar could become one of the most powerful glanceable commuter tools on Android devices.
Privacy, Battery, and Practical Considerations
Google notes that commute cards “originate from Location History and user Saved Places in Google Maps,” with user controls in place for privacy and sharing. Expect permission prompts and easy toggles to disable or restrict these features. Auracast discovery uses Bluetooth Low Energy scanning, designed to be power-efficient. However, Samsung will need to balance battery conservation with background scanning, likely limiting checks to when your phone is unlocked or moved.
Now Bar also smartly manages calls and Do Not Disturb modes, and expanding this context-aware approach—for instance, hiding non-essential tiles during meetings or suppressing Auracast notifications when Do Not Disturb is on—helps keep the lockscreen informative without overwhelming you.
Availability and Device Support
One UI 8.5 is anticipated to debut with the Galaxy S26 series, later rolling out to recent Galaxy flagships and select mid-range models. Features may vary by region and carrier. Since commute cards rely on Google services, users signed into Google Maps will have the optimal experience. Auracast support depends on both venue availability and compatible earbuds or hearing devices.
If these updates arrive as reported, Now Bar will evolve from a niche lockscreen feature into a truly useful daily tool, reducing friction during the moments you check your phone most often.
