One UI 9 (Android 17) may add Motion Assist to Galaxy phones to help reduce motion sickness while using your device in a moving vehicle.
Samsung's upcoming One UI 9, based on Android 17, is rumored to introduce a helpful new accessibility feature called Motion Assist. This feature is designed to reduce motion sickness when using your Galaxy phone in a moving vehicle, like a car, bus, or train.
What Causes Motion Sickness and How Motion Assist Fixes It
Motion sickness happens because of a mismatch: your eyes see a still screen while your body feels the movement of the vehicle. This conflict often leads to nausea, dizziness, or headaches.
Motion Assist solves this by adding subtle animated dots or particles along the edges of the screen. These small visual cues move in sync with the vehicle's motion (detected by the phone's sensors), helping your brain align what your eyes see with what your body feels.
Key highlights of the feature:
- Non-intrusive – it works quietly over most apps.
- Likely automatic activation when motion is detected.
- Manual on/off toggle in Quick Settings.
The feature was originally called "Motion Cues" but has been renamed to "Motion Assist." It works very similarly to Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues feature that launched with iOS 18.
Image via Android Authority
Which Galaxy Phones Will Get Motion Assist?
Since One UI 9 will be Samsung's custom skin on top of Android 17, all eligible Galaxy devices that receive the One UI 9 update should get Motion Assist.
This includes:
- Future flagships (Galaxy S26, S27 series, Z Fold/Flip models).
- Many current and recent mid-range and flagship devices in Samsung's update list.
The update is expected to start rolling out with new devices around mid-2026 and reach older supported models later.
Current Status (as of December 2025)
Motion Assist is still under development and not yet available on any device. Code for the feature has been found in Google Play Services, but it remains inactive. Full implementation and polishing are expected with the release of Android 17.
If you often feel sick while using your phone during travel, this upcoming feature could make a big difference in comfort.
Motion Assist vs. Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues
| Aspect | Motion Assist (Android / Samsung) | Vehicle Motion Cues (Apple) |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Cues | Animated dots or particles on screen edges | Animated dots on screen edges |
| Activation | Auto-detect + manual toggle | Auto + manual |
| Launch Timeline | Expected in Android 17 / One UI 9 (2026) | Already available since iOS 18 (2024) |
| Current Status | In development | Fully released and working |
| Customization | Possibly more options (rumored) | Basic on/off |
We should learn more official details when Google starts Android 17 previews in early 2026. Stay tuned!
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