Samsung‘s highly anticipated One UI 8, based on Android 16, is set to revolutionize smartphone accessibility with the introduction of “Call Captions.” This groundbreaking feature will provide real-time text transcriptions of phone conversations, making communication significantly easier for individuals with hearing difficulties or those in noisy environments.
While still in its beta phase, Call Captions has been spotted in the latest One UI 8 builds for the Galaxy S25 series, signaling Samsung’s commitment to enhancing user experience through inclusive design. The feature is essentially a dedicated application of the existing Live Caption technology, tailored specifically for phone calls, ensuring that users can follow conversations by reading what each person says on the screen.
The description for Call Captions clearly outlines its purpose: “Show what each person says on the screen during calls. Captions can be useful when hearing is difficult. If needed, inform the other person that the call is being captioned.” This emphasizes both the practical utility and the crucial privacy consideration of informing the other party about the active captioning.
Currently, early reports indicate that the feature is primarily supporting English (India), with other languages and full functionality expected to be rolled out as One UI 8 progresses towards its stable release. This initial limitation is typical for beta software, and Samsung is likely working to refine and expand language support before the official launch.
The introduction of Call Captions represents a significant step forward in making smartphone communication more inclusive. Unlike system-wide Live Caption features that might transcribe all audio, Samsung’s targeted approach for calls aims to provide a more streamlined and resource-efficient solution, focusing on the specific need for real-time conversation transcription.
One UI 8 is expected to debut globally in July 2025, likely alongside Samsung’s new foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. Following this, the update will gradually roll out to a wide range of eligible Galaxy devices. As the stable version approaches, users can anticipate a more polished and fully functional Call Captions feature, further solidifying Samsung’s position as a leader in smartphone accessibility.