Language barriers are no longer an insurmountable wall when you carry a recent Galaxy in your pocket, because Galaxy AI integrates instant translation in real situations such as calls, classes, meetings, or simple on-screen texts. With One UI 8.5, Samsung doubles down and turns that promise into something even more practical, with tools that address every usage scenario.
If you wonder How advanced real-time translation works from Samsung and what changes with the new version, here is a complete guide: What Live Translate does, how Interpreter is different, what Meeting Assist brings and how One UI 8.5’s new assistants (Touch Assistant, Social Composer, and Smart Clipboard) fit together to help you understand and be understood in any language without any hassle.
Galaxy AI and One UI 8.5: The foundation on which real-time translation is built
Galaxy AI arrived with the Galaxy S24 as a suite of AI features designed for everyday tasks, and since then it has continued to grow with each major One UI update. One UI 8.5 takes a significant leap forward by combining interface changes with new controls and more intelligence. focused on understanding, summarizing, generating and, most especially, translating.
According to information reported by specialized media, this version introduces a facelift for settings, updates to some native apps, improvements to the lock screen, and tweaks to key system elements. In parallel, the layer adds four AI tools that attack the text and language from several fronts, and which we will see in detail a little further down.
It is worth clarifying that One UI 8.5 is not considered a “major” update Because it doesn't change the base of Android to a new major version. In fact, the jump to One UI 9 is reserved for the next major version of Android, but that doesn't mean 8.5 doesn't feel big due to the number of changes it includes.
What new translation features does One UI 8.5 bring?
The most striking piece is Meeting Assist, a feature that translates conversations, meetings, and conferences in real time. It's designed for those attending lectures in another language, students taking notes during live lectures, or professionals participating in meetings with international participants.
Next to her appears Touch Assistant, which allows you to easily process, edit, and translate the text you select on the screen. It's ideal for messages, posts, descriptions, or any block of text you interact with in everyday apps.
The third pillar, Social Composer, is not a pure translation tool, but it is a content ally: it generates texts from images and helps create reviews in shopping apps. Its value in this context is that allows you to adapt the message to the audience, and combined with translation features, streamlines multilingual publishing.
Complete the set Smart Clipboard, which analyzes what you copy and suggests actions. These include translating fragments and even actions by groups of texts, which is very useful if you copy multiple blocks at once and want to process them consistently.
The three key scenarios of translation with Galaxy AI
With One UI currently in place and 8.5 on the horizon, the experience relies on three broad scenarios that are well covered: phone calls, face-to-face conversations, and events or meetings. Each one has his specific tool.
For callsThe star of the show is Live Translate, which translates what you say and what the other person replies on the fly, with audio and subtitles in both directions. It's bilateral, real-time, and supports more than 13 languages, allowing for fluid conversations without sharing a language.
For face-to-face conversationsThe tool is Interpreter. The interface splits the screen so each speaker can comfortably read and listen to the other's translation. Perfect for traveling, serving clients or handling errands on the fly without a human interpreter.
To meetings, classes and conferencesOne UI 8.5 brings Meeting Assist. The key here is continuity: it interprets multiple voices and presents the translation throughout the conversation, reducing friction when taking notes and following along, especially in academic and professional settings.
Live Translate: Setup and use without getting lost in menus
Before you start translating calls, it's a good idea to activate the feature and set it to your liking. The steps are very simple and don't require any additional apps: everything lives in the Phone app and in the system settings.
- Open Settings and go to "Language & input"There you'll see the "Live Translate" section; activate it and indicate your primary and secondary languages.
- Customize the experience: In some models, you can choose the speed and pitch of the speech, as well as the languages of each interlocutor for a more natural translation.
- In the Phone app, tap the three-dot icon, go to “Settings,” and make sure “Live Translate” is enabled within the “Call Assistant.”
Once activated, Make or answer a call as usual. When you enter the assistant, you can tap Live Translate and the system will notify the person on the other end that the conversation is going to be translated. From there, you'll hear the translation and see subtitles while you talk.
Live Translate is not limited to voice. If you need to translate printed text (menus, signs, documents), open the camera, point it at the text, and tap the translation icon that appears on the screen. You'll see the translated version overlaid to help you orient yourself instantly.
A very practical advantage is that you can save the translated text to consult it later or share it, something key when traveling, carrying out procedures, or when working with data in different languages.
In calls, you also have the option to activate Call Assist so that translation can begin immediately if the need arises mid-conversation. It's a useful shortcut when you didn't plan for it.
Interpreter: Face-to-face conversations without misunderstandings
Interpreter is designed for in-person use. The phone screen is divided into two views, one for each speaker, and everyone sees and hears the translation in their own languageThis way, no one has to look upside down at their phone or wait for long voicemails.
The mode shines in customer service, hotels, retail, or quick meetings. Naturalness is the priority: Waiting time is reduced, the pace of a normal conversation is maintained, and both interlocutors understand the nuances of what is being said.
Meeting Assist in One UI 8.5: Translation for lectures, presentations, and meetings
The most anticipated new feature for One UI 8.5 is Meeting Assist. Its proposal is clear: translate on the fly what happens in a meeting or conference and present the result in a way that you can follow the thread without stress.
It is oriented to students and professionals: You sit down in a conversation, activate the assistant and receive the translation in real time to take notes or intervene without losing context, similar to tools like Google Meet on Android.
While some of these capabilities have already been seen on Galaxy devices in China, The arrival of One UI 8.5 seeks to bring them to everyone, raising the bar on what Live Translate and Interpreter already offered.
Touch Assistant, Smart Clipboard, and Social Composer: Text is also translated
There are many situations where you're not on a call or face-to-face, but rather reading or writing something on your phone. That's where One UI 8.5's text tools come in., which use AI to give you very direct shortcuts.
- Touch Assistant: By selecting a block of text in any app, you can process and translate it. Useful for chats, social media posts, or online store reviews.
- Smart Clipboard: Every time you copy a text, the clipboard analyzes it and suggests actions, including translation, even when there are several fragments at once.
- Social Composer: Generates text from your photos and helps with product reviews. Combined with translation, allows you to adapt the tone and language your audience in a couple of taps.
These pieces are what bring that feeling of "everything translates where it needs to" without forcing you to leave the app. The idea is that AI will be at your service in the context in which you are, minimizing interruptions.
What about Pixel-style message translation?
Some users have tried a "translate" button on other phones that applies automatic translation to all messages in an app (for example, in chats or channels). In the Galaxy ecosystem, the current experience relies on Live Translate, Interpreter, and text assistants.
As of today, in One UI there is no universal switch that translates the complete chronology of a messaging app continuously as such, but Touch Assistant and Smart Clipboard quickly cover Translating the content you select or copy without having to jump between applications.
Also, if you are looking to interpret messages and posts in context, The Galaxy ecosystem already allowed you to rely on tools such as circle search. to translate on-screen elements. If you prefer hardware, there are also solutions such as simultaneous translation headphones that facilitate immediate understanding.
Availability, devices and deployment
One of the best pieces of news is that real-time translation isn't limited to a single model. Live Translate and Interpreter are available on the Galaxy S24 series and have been extended to S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE, as well as the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 foldables, in addition to Galaxy S22, Z Fold4 and Z Flip4, among other compatible devices.
As for the calendar, the plan being handled is that One UI 8.5 arrives alongside the next generation Galaxy and, in the following weeks, it will be distributed to compatible models. Although it's not a "major" release, the company seems to have some significant changes in store for this update.
This rhythm is no coincidence. After the Delays and setbacks in the deployment of One UI 7Samsung has accelerated significantly with One UI 8, which has been a much smoother and faster update. 8.5 is shaping up to be the release that consolidates the strategy: speed first, then a large feature package.
In addition to the translation, we expect Quick Share improvements and redesigns to key apps, along with a clearer settings menu and a more flexible lock screen. These changes, while not necessarily a major Android version jump, are noticeable in everyday use.
How to Use Real-Time Translation Well: Quick Tips
For calls, try to choose the languages of each interlocutor in Live Translate in advance, so Voice and subtitle synchronization will be more precise. If you change the language during the conversation, you can adjust it on the fly from the assistant. If you need to change the input language, see the tutorial to customize the keyboard.
In meetings or classes, get as close as possible to the sound source and avoid loud background noises to aid recognition. Meeting Assist benefits from cleaner audio, as does any transcription and translation system.
When translating text with the camera, look for good lighting and a stable frame. Sharp characters improve the result and reduce subsequent corrections, especially in menus or documents with decorative fonts.
If you work with a lot of text in apps, get used to tapping and holding to select. With Touch Assistant and Smart Clipboard, translating becomes a natural gesture and not an action that takes you out of the flow.
User experience: naturalness, bilaterality and control
The key to these functions is not just that they translate, but How they do it: instantly, both ways, and with user controlBeing able to switch between languages, pause, save, and share your translations brings peace of mind.
In calls, the bilateral with audio and subtitles It makes a difference. You don't need the other person to set up anything: they just need to accept that the call will be translated, and the system handles both ends.
In face-to-face conversations, Interpreter's split interface avoid confusion and forced turns. Each person looks at their own half of the screen and listens to their own language, which reduces friction.
And in meetings, the idea of Meeting Assist is that don't lose the thread of a long exposureTaking notes, speaking, or simply following the conversation in another language is no longer a juggling act.
Privacy, languages, and reasonable limits
Although the focus is on comfort, it is worth remembering that Machine translation is not perfect, especially in technical jargon or proper nouns. Review critical passages if you plan to share them or use them in formal documents.
Regarding languages, compatibility exceeds a dozen and grows over timeIf you work with an uncommon language, verify that it's supported before entrusting it with a key meeting.
On the privacy front, when using features like Live Translate in calls, the system informs the other person that the conversation will be translated, a good practice of transparency that avoids misunderstandings.
Why now: The context of One UI 7, One UI 8, and what pushes 8.5
If it feels like One UI 8.5 is coming with a lot of clutter, there's a reason. After a One UI 7 launch with delays and bugs which bothered many users, Samsung stepped on the accelerator with One UI 8 to get back on track.
The deployment of One UI 8 was faster and smoother than its predecessor, and everything indicates that some of the new features that were in the kitchen have been reserved for 8.5, reinforcing the value package without making us wait too long.
The strategy is not unique: Android itself has made a move with more agile releases and new features that arrive through quarterly updatesIn this context, One UI 8.5 is positioned as a non-"major" but rather "significant" update.
Quick questions that often arise
Do I need a separate app to translate calls? No. Live Translate is built into your phone and is managed through Settings and the Call Assistant.
Does it work with any carrier? Generally speaking yes, because it acts on the call audio on the device, does not require special services of the operator to translate.
Can I turn off the voice and just have subtitles? On many models you can adjust speed, pitch and output modes. Check out Live Translate options to adapt it to your environment.
Do you keep a history of what has been translated? You can keep the translated text whenever you need it, especially in camera mode, and share it from your own mobile.
Small details that add up
One UI 8.5 interface improvements, such as a cleaner settings menu and the redesign of native apps help make finding these features faster. Small changes with real impact.
The new features planned for Quick Share also make it easier transfer files and content which you can then translate on the fly with text assistants, closing the loop between sharing and understanding.
When traveling, having one-touch translation features saves a world of time: menus, signs, directions and reservations are no longer an obstacle thanks to the translation icon in the camera and text shortcuts.
The most powerful thing about One UI 8.5 is how it all fits together: Live Translate for calls, Interpreter for face to face, Meeting Assist for events And text assistants for everything else. Real-time translation goes from being a one-time gimmick to a comprehensive tool on your phone, ready to help you study, work, or travel without stumbling across the language. Share this information and more users will know what's new in One UI 8.5..