[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] SamsungElectronics(005930)is enhancing the usability of its Galaxy voice assistant, “Bixby.” Users can now bring their smartphone close to their mouth and speak to activate Bixby without a specific wake word, and a new feature has been added that allows users to verbally describe smartphone malfunctions so that Bixby can diagnose the problem.

According to IT media outlets such as Android Authority on the 31st, SamsungElectronics recently implemented the “Gesture Wake-up” feature in “One UI 9 Beta 7” for the Galaxy S26 series.

When Gesture Wake-up is enabled, there is no need to say a wake word like “Hi Bixby” first. Simply hold the smartphone near your mouth and start speaking into the microphone, and Bixby will launch automatically. However, this feature cannot be used while Bixby is handling other tasks or while media such as music or video is playing.

This feature was first introduced on new foldable phones, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which was released last month. With this beta update, SamsungElectronics is expanding the feature to the Galaxy S26 series.

A widget that allows you to use Bixby directly from the home screen has also been added. It comes in three sizes—2×1, 2×2, and 4×2—and lets you give commands to Bixby via text as well as voice. The largest 4×2 widget displays a separate text input field.

New features such as device diagnostics and translation have also been added. According to Samifans, a news site specializing in SamsungElectronics, the “Diagnostics” feature and a translation function have been implemented in Bixby for One UI 9.

Using the diagnostic feature, users can describe smartphone issues in natural language to identify the cause. For example, by telling Bixby symptoms such as “My device is getting too hot,” “My phone’s volume is too low,” or “Bluetooth won’t connect,” users are directed to relevant diagnostic and troubleshooting tools.

SamsungElectronics has also introduced a “Warranty & Care” menu in One UI 9 that allows users to check their product warranty status and Samsung Care+ eligibility in one place. By integrating this with Bixby’s natural language diagnostic feature, SamsungElectronics is improving accessibility—from device inspections to repair information.

The translation feature is also integrated with Bixby. This allows users to request translation from Bixby to translate real-time conversations without having to search for and launch a separate translation app.

On the 28th, SamsungElectronics began rolling out One UI 9 Beta 7 for the Galaxy S26 series. This update, approximately 1.2 GB in size, includes new artificial intelligence (AI) features and the August security patch. The schedule for the official One UI 9 update for existing Galaxy devices has not yet been announced.