Samsung Galaxy smartphone users are about to experience a smarter way to manage their daily alerts, thanks to a powerful new AI-driven feature called ‘Priority Notifications.’ This innovative system, anticipated to arrive with the upcoming One UI 8.5 update, has recently been sighted in a leaked software release, offering a glimpse into how it will transform your notification experience.
Designed to automatically identify and elevate truly important alerts, Priority Notifications will ensure you never miss what matters most. By harnessing the intelligent filtering capabilities of Galaxy AI for on-device processing, Samsung aims to create a more organized and less cluttered notification panel. This significant update is expected to officially roll out alongside the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 series early next year.
A Closer Look at Samsung’s New Priority Notifications
Samsung is clearly committed to making notifications on its Galaxy smartphones both smarter and more intuitive. While initial mentions of the Priority Notifications feature surfaced in leaked firmware last week without full functionality, a newer leaked build, first highlighted by SammyFans, now shows the feature in action. This provides a clear preview of its appearance and operation.
The core of Priority Notifications lies in its use of Galaxy AI to automatically pinpoint and display critical alerts above all other notifications. As the feature description states, ‘Notifications that may be important will appear above other notifications to make sure you don’t miss them.’ Crucially, users will also have the power to customize which specific apps are allowed to send these high-priority notifications, offering a perfect balance of intelligent automation and personal control.
Images from the leaked build, shared by Sandeep Adap on X (formerly Twitter), illustrate how these Priority Notifications will stand out. They appear at the very top of the notification panel, distinctly separated from standard alerts, and are accompanied by a subtle glowing effect and a gradient reminiscent of Galaxy AI’s signature style. A key highlight for user privacy is Samsung’s assurance that all notification processing occurs directly on the device, ensuring no sensitive data is sent to external cloud servers.
This smart addition is poised to tackle a common pain point for many smartphone users: a constantly overflowing notification panel. By blending AI-driven detection with comprehensive user control, Samsung is making it easier than ever to spot crucial alerts without overwhelming the user or completely hiding less urgent messages. While Apple and Google offer similar features, such as Apple’s Priority Notifications in iOS 18.4 and Google’s Priority Conversations on Pixel devices, Samsung’s approach offers a unique blend of automation and manual configuration for enhanced flexibility.
Although Samsung has yet to officially announce the rollout schedule, previous reports hinted at a One UI 8.5 beta program kicking off in late November. However, that timeline may have shifted. The stable version of One UI 8.5, along with the public release of Priority Notifications for Galaxy users around the globe, is anticipated to launch with the Galaxy S26 series early next year.
Learn more about this exciting feature in a dedicated video overview.