Samsung is testing a new AI-powered custom widget feature called My Custom Widget in an early build of One UI 9.5. Discovered via a leak from tipster Fahad Ali Javed, the feature mirrors Google’s upcoming Gemini Intelligence tool, allowing users to build home screen widgets through plain language descriptions.
Smartphone customization is poised for a significant shift as tech giants lean into generative artificial intelligence to redesign the home screen. Rather than forcing users to manually hunt through app settings, layouts, and preset configurations, upcoming software iterations point toward conversational design tools that assemble widgets on demand.
What the One UI 9.5 Leak Reveals About Custom Widgets
Evidence of the custom widget option surfaced through an unreleased software build obtained online and shared by tipster Fahad Ali Javed on X. The leaked screenshots display a feature labeled My Custom Widget
sitting directly inside the widget picker interface, indicating a native integration for upcoming Samsung firmware releases.
The interface highlights a modular split layout where two distinct custom widgets can coexist within the same tile without a traditional single-app anchor. Initial builds suggest that the system leverages calendar integration and messaging tools directly linked into a unified workspace. This modular approach aligns closely with Google’s Android development pipeline, where One UI 9.5 and Android 17 are being shaped in lock-step partnership.
The Connection to Google’s Gemini Intelligence
The underlying mechanics of Samsung’s tool appear heavily intertwined with Google’s broader software roadmap. Back in May, Google showcased Create My Widget, an artificial intelligence capability powered by Gemini Intelligence designed to interpret plain-language user prompts and construct functional home screen elements automatically.
Industry analysts face an open question regarding branding and development ownership. It remains unconfirmed whether My Custom Widget represents a direct rebranding of Google’s feature tailored for Samsung’s ecosystem or an independent, parallel implementation developed internally by the Korean manufacturer.
Eligible Galaxy Hardware and Expected Timeline
Because Google previously indicated that its AI widget builder would roll out to select Pixel and Galaxy devices, hardware compatibility is closely tied to recent flagship releases. The Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip8 represent the first wave of Samsung hardware equipped to run Gemini Intelligence natively, having launched running One UI 9.0.
Users holding these foldable devices will likely need to wait for the broader One UI 9.5 software update before the widget builder officially activates on their screens. Similarly, upcoming flagship hardware lines, such as the anticipated Galaxy S27 family, are positioned to inherit these capabilities out of the box when they debut early next year.
Broader Design Changes Accompanying the Next Software Cycle
Beyond conversational widgets, the upcoming firmware update brings several visual and functional modifications across the interface. Samsung is introducing smoother animations designed to increase overall system fluidity, alongside a revamped fingerprint enrollment screen and subtle design tweaks within the native camera application.
Furthermore, the update extends search functionality by bringing Finder and Google Search bar options to the home screens of older device tiers. As Samsung prepares for a public rollout, developers continue testing these interface adjustments in early diagnostic builds.
