The Now Bar, a feature from Samsung’s One UI 7 based on Android 15, is set to debut on its smartwatches with the upcoming One UI 8 Watch update. A leaked app teardown reveals its integration, allowing users to choose between displaying just an icon or both an icon and text. Gesture-based actions, like double-pinch, will open the Now Bar, which serves as a widget system for contextual data. It can display suggestions, maps, media controls, tips, and live sports scores, with potential for additional categories in future updates.
The Now Bar plays a significant role in Samsung’s One UI 7, which is based on Android 15, and it’s now reportedly making its way to the company’s smartwatches running Wear OS. This feature will be introduced with the One UI 8 Watch update.
This information is derived from a teardown of a leaked system app version, which already contains several code strings and references related to the Now Bar.
You’ll have the option to display either just an icon or both an icon and text when the screen is active. The image above illustrates how and where the Now Bar would appear on a watch face.
Gesture-based actions will allow you to double-pinch to access the Now Bar and initiate additional actions when it has no current content. Essentially, the Now Bar will function as a widget system, presenting contextually relevant information right on your watch face.
It can display contextual suggestions, map details, media controls, the Now Brief, usage tips, and live sports scores through Sports on Google. Naturally, more categories may be introduced either before its launch or in a subsequent update.
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