I have been using the Galaxy S26 Ultra as my daily driver, and I absolutely love it. Not just because it has a great camera or the new Privacy screen; those hardware points are there, and they certainly add to the overall experience. The software itself is also a big value addition to how you interact with the device every single day. One of the best new features in One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 Ultra (Read review) is Now Nudge. This tool has reduced the amount of app-switching I do whenever I am chatting with someone or trying to get things done. Hear me out.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus review: Reliable, polished and easy to live with
Think about a simple task like planning dinner with friends. Usually, it means jumping between three different apps. I get a text, swipe home, open Maps to check the traffic situation, swipe again to look at my calendar, and then finally go back to reply. Not many of us realise this, but it is a tedious, repetitive cycle. Thankfully, Samsung has fixed this exact problem with Now Nudge, bringing the action right to you.
For those who don’t know, Now Nudge is an intent-based feature. In simple words, instead of making you look for an app, the specific tool you need pops up on your screen to spare you the extra steps. It can seamlessly handle locations by reading addresses in your messages and providing a one-tap shortcut to Google Maps. For your calendar and contacts, it flags scheduling conflicts in real-time and lets you save events without switching screens. And if a chat calls for it, a bubble appears right above your keyboard to instantly share relevant photos or recent screenshots. The action is completed instantly.
It also handles autofill. I know it sounds like a basic browser function we have had for years, but Samsung has tied it directly into Now Nudge through a setting called Personal data intelligence. For example, when you are filling out a form in an app or on a web page, Now Nudge reads the context. If it spots a field asking for your passport number, phone number, or email address, it instantly floats that specific detail right above your keyboard. Of course, you do have to set it up first. By going to Security and privacy in settings > More privacy settings and enabling Personal data intelligence, there is a Manage personal data menu where you manually register all this information. You can even add details about your pets and personal interests, which is a nice touch for tailoring suggestions.
The main advantage here is the system-wide integration. For instance, on an iPhone, you are mostly relying on iCloud Keychain and Safari to handle autofill. Samsung makes it accessible anywhere the keyboard pops up.
However, the obvious con to all of this is the privacy trade-off. Basically, you are handing over highly sensitive information to an AI system. Samsung states the data is processed locally on the device unless you explicitly consent to share it with their partners, but you still have to be comfortable loading your passport details into the phone’s brain just to save a few seconds of typing.
Also, there are a couple of things that I need to call out regarding the whole Now Nudge experience.
The biggest drawback of this feature is that it only works if you use the default Samsung Keyboard. If you have a third-party keyboard installed, like Gboard or SwiftKey, you are completely out of luck. The feature is deeply tied to Samsung’s own typing software. I, personally, use the Samsung keyboard as my default anyway, but if you don’t, you will have to adjust to a different layout just to use the feature.
Additionally, there are also moments where Now Nudge can be a bit finicky. For instance, on one occasion, my friend asked for a location, and I got the prompt to share it. On a separate occasion, the same scenario didn’t trigger the prompt at all. These behaviours keep happening once in a while.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy S26 review: This phone is almost perfect… almost
But even with the minor flaws, I feel Now Nudge is a solid tool to have. Similar to how the Privacy display is considered a major hardware innovation on the S26 Ultra, which will only stay on the S26 Ultra until the S27 series arrives, this software feature will eventually trickle down to older Samsung phones as well, making it even better.