Samsung’s copy of iPhone Live Activities will support Google Maps and more [Gallery]

Ben Schoon | Jan 22 2025 - 11:15 am PT

With its One UI 7 update, Samsung is adding support for “Live Notifications” and the “Now Bar,” the company’s take on the “Live Activities” functionality Apple has been building out on iPhone for a while. With the Galaxy S25 now official, Samsung is confirming additional support for apps including Google Maps.

Apple introduced Live Activities on iPhone a few years ago with the goal being to show ongoing tasks through a notification that’s surfaced on the lock screen and in the iPhone’s “Dynamic Island.” It took a while for the feature to be adopted by apps, but it’s become a very useful tool at this point, and something that Android hasn’t had a good answer to.

Samsung, with One UI 7 and its new Galaxy S25 series, is fully introducing “Live Notifications” and the “Now Bar” which replicate the functionality of Apple’s features.

The Now Bar exists on Samsung’s lock screen, showing data from supported apps before the phone is fully unlocked. Some functions, such as media playback, support an expanded UI with controls that work before unlocking. Others can just show some information and require the device to be unlocked for further interaction.

Samsung will, at least for now, support eight apps.

Sports from Google
Google Maps
Samsung Health
Interpreter
Clock
Voice Recorder
Samsung Notes
Emergency Sharing

Google Maps was the only one that we were able to try out during out hands-on session this week, and it works very well. When navigation is ongoing, directions appear on the Now Bar on the lock screen, and in the notification tray as a Live Notification.

The funny part of this is that, while it’s been in the works for ages, Google Maps still hasn’t rolled out support for Live Activities on iPhone.

You’ll also see this UI for ongoing media playback and it’s uh… pretty similar to Apple’s UI.

The last feature that will leverage the Now Bar, but not Live Notifications, will be Samsung’s “Now Brief” feature.

Google is rumored to be working on a nearly identical feature for Android 16, meaning this could eventually end up in Pixel and other Android devices. In the meantime, it’s going to be available on Samsung devices running One UI 7.

The Galaxy S25 series is now available for pre-order from Samsung.com, with up to $1,200 in savings, plus an additional $50 off when you click on our links and order within 30 minutes.