GoKawiilC. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Spotlight has been integral to iOS for years, making it much easier to search for apps, contacts, and files, as well as to execute certain system tasks on the iPhone. It’s also one of those features that Android, despite outshining iOS in various aspects, can’t match. As such, I always long for a similar search experience every time I use an Android phone.
Sure, Android has offered its own version of universal search for years, but it’s nowhere near as good. Even Samsung, with its more advanced take on universal search — S Finder — hasn’t managed to make it anywhere as functional as Spotlight. And it’s one of the reasons I never bothered using it, despite being a Galaxy phone user for years.
However, that finally changed when Samsung updated S Finder in One UI 8.5. Alongside renaming it to Finder, Samsung has transformed it into a more powerful search, capable of handling more tasks and returning better results than ever. I decided to try out Finder on my Galaxy S26 Ultra, and it has made my life so much easier.
Do you use Samsung Finder on your Galaxy phone? 19 votes Yes, it’s good. 47 % I do, but I find its functionality limited. 11 % No. 26 % I’ve yet to try the new Finder. 16 %
Finder simplifies various everyday tasks on Galaxy phones
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
For the uninitiated, Finder is essentially a search feature that lets you perform a range of tasks on your Galaxy phone. And with One UI 8.5, Samsung has completely revamped Finder to make it more accessible and functional than before.
The biggest change? You can access Finder right on the home screen, eliminating the need to open the app drawer every time you want to look something up or perform an action. Sure, it seems like a minor change, but I find it a valuable addition since having the Finder icon on the home screen constantly reminds me to use it, which is helpful when you’re planning to use a new feature more often.
Samsung has completely revamped Finder in One UI 8.5, making it more accessible and functional than before.
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