Samsung is actively updating several of its stock apps ahead of the One UI 9.5 rollout, and we have now obtained early access to the upcoming Samsung Notes app. As shown in the screenshots below, Samsung is introducing several notable UI tweaks and functional enhancements.

First, the navigation layout has received a slight reshuffle. The New Note button has moved from the bottom-right corner of the display to the bottom center. The Search icon has shifted from the top-right corner down to the bottom-right corner, placing it within much easier reach of the thumb.

Some visual styling elements have also been refreshed. The app now displays a subtle colored glow behind note thumbnails. In addition, Samsung has improved privacy by automatically masking sensitive information in private notes so that it is no longer visible in thumbnail previews outside of such notes.

You can check out the new button animation in the short video below:

Tapping the Search icon also triggers a sleek new animation for the placeholder text inside the search bar. Take a look at it in action here:

Expect these changes to roll out to the Samsung Notes app as a part of the One UI 9.5 update, which could debut in beta form later this month for the Galaxy S26 series and in stable form with the Galaxy S27 series early next year.