One UI is Samsung’s consumer interface for its Android telephones, smartwatches, and Galaxy Ebook laptops. Its most typical look is because the launcher for Samsung Galaxy telephones. When you’ve used a Galaxy cellphone operating Android 9 or later, you’ve got used One UI.
Not like Google’s Pixel gadgets, which run a near-stock model of Android, Samsung’s One UI launcher permits a higher diploma of customization and multitasking choices corresponding to any of the finest Android launchers.
You are often not lacking out on options both. One UI 6, for instance, provides new options on high of Android 14 however would not substitute them.
We’ll have a look at the historical past of Samsung One UI and the way it advanced to its present state, in addition to look forward to the way forward for One UI.
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What’s Samsung One UI?
One UI is a customized launcher Samsung designed for its Galaxy telephones and tablets. It gives extra design choices than Google’s inventory Android model. You possibly can change your machine’s themes and app icons and rearrange your private home or apps display structure to your satisfaction.
One UI House, situated in your machine’s battery utilization menu, is the default launcher on Samsung Galaxy telephones and tablets. It comes pre-installed in your cellphone and can’t be eliminated. It’s accountable for customizing your machine’s consumer interface, together with wallpapers, themes, app icons, and widgets.
The launcher additionally makes it simpler to navigate your cellphone, contemplating how massive Samsung smartphones are. The UI shifts key particulars to the center and backside of the display so that you could work together with them utilizing one hand. This fashion, you do not pressure your fingers when scrolling or tapping.
Samsung additionally pre-installs its apps and providers, similar to Samsung Well being, the Bixby digital assistant, Telephone, and Messages.
Chances are you’ll think about many of those apps as bloatware and want to take away them completely. Samsung would not allow you to try this until you root your machine. The perfect you are able to do with out compromising the machine is to deactivate pointless apps.
Samsung’s replace coverage for One UI can also be a robust promoting level for its software program. Samsung ensures that eligible gadgets will obtain as much as 4 main Android OS and One UI upgrades, whereas some premium gadgets (2024 flagships) will obtain as much as seven years of OS help and safety patches.
Your Galaxy gadgets will often robotically immediate you to put in the most recent model of One UI. When you assume try to be eligible for an replace however have not acquired a notification, you’ll be able to test for an replace your self.
How does One UI differ from inventory Android and different main OEM skins?
One UI is Samsung’s customized interface constructed on the Android OS. The customized pores and skin differs from the inventory Android model as a consequence of its intensive customization choices, distinctive options, and an additional deal with usability for bigger screens.
Whereas the customized pores and skin nonetheless shares the core basis of Android OS, One UI gives a extra visually distinct and feature-rich expertise in comparison with different non-Samsung gadgets.
One UI is Samsung’s customized interface constructed on high of Android, and it’s unique to Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets. You can’t set up One UI on gadgets from different Android producers.
A short historical past of Samsung One UI
Samsung’s software program has come a great distance for the reason that early TouchWiz and Samsung Expertise days.
TouchWiz was colourful and was on Samsung gadgets earlier than the corporate launched the primary Galaxy S smartphone. It stored lots of its pre-Android components, and the corporate improved it with subsequent updates.
Nevertheless, many customers criticized TouchWiz for its cluttered design and gradual efficiency.
Samsung overhauled the consumer interface with a extra minimal strategy. This transfer introduced Samsung Expertise. The software program matched the launch of the Galaxy S8, with a taller show and no heart button.
Though Samsung Expertise’s design was extra streamlined than TouchWiz, it nonetheless suffered from bloating and stuttering.
In December 2018, the corporate returned to the drafting board and developed One UI. It was a departure from its predecessors, that includes a elegant interface. With smartphones getting bigger, the software program paid consideration to one-handed use, a design ingredient Google just lately launched to the Pixel UI.
Since its debut, One UI has continued to evolve, with Samsung often making adjustments and including higher performance. Like most software program, One UI will get its share of bugs. Samsung listens to clients and is dedicated to refining its consumer expertise. This is how its well-known launcher has advanced since its launch.
One UI 1.0
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Main replace |
Launch |
Notable options |
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One UI 1.1 |
N/A (got here pre-installed) |
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One UI 1.5 |
August 2019 |
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The primary model of Samsung’s software program pores and skin appeared in December 2018 and overlaid on the Android 9 Pie Working System (OS). The corporate up to date the Galaxy S8, S9, Notice 8, and Notice 9 with it. Later, it was pre-installed as One UI 1.1. on the Galaxy S10 and A collection, together with the Z Fold.
- SoC
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Snapdragon 8 Elite
- RAM
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12GB or 16GB
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the thinnest and lightest within the collection up to now, integrating a strong Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor for enhanced AI capabilities and a 200MP pro-grade digital camera. Constructed for enhanced sturdiness with an Armor FlexHinge and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, the machine contains a wider 6.5-inch cowl display and unfolds into an expansive 8.0-inch most important show for immersive viewing and productiveness.
Like Android 9, One UI introduced a number of options which have develop into standard within the trade. For instance, it got here with Darkish mode, refined All the time-On Show, help for remapping the Bixby button, and gesture navigation.
Though One UI 1.1 was a minor software program replace, it optimized machine cameras, efficiency, and fingerprint and facial recognition.
Subsequently, Samsung launched One UI 1.5 and pre-installed it on the Galaxy Notice 10. It offered Hyperlink to Home windows help following the corporate’s partnership with Microsoft.
One UI 2.0
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Main replace |
Launch |
Notable options |
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One UI 2.0 |
November 2019 |
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One UI 2.1 |
February 2020 |
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One UI 2.5 |
August 2020 |
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Samsung launched the steady model of One UI 2.0 primarily based on Android 10 on November 28, 2019. The software program rolled out to the Galaxy Notice 9, Notice 10, S9, and S10 collection. It additionally got here pre-installed on the Galaxy S10 Lite and Notice 10 Lite.
Incremental variations, similar to One UI 2.1, launched with the S20 collection, whereas model 2.5 got here with the Galaxy Notice 20, Z Fold 2, and S20 FE gadgets.
One UI 2.0 launched enhanced Darkish Mode, a built-in display recorder, a Trash folder throughout the Recordsdata app, and Dynamic Lock display, which adjustments your lock display wallpaper each time you flip in your show.
One UI 2.1 took issues additional with Fast Share and extra digital camera modes. One UI 2.5 wasn’t notably feature-packed however launched DeX, Samsung’s instrument for mirroring your machine on a PC or suitable TV.
One UI 3.0
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Main replace |
Launch |
Notable options |
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One UI 3.0 |
December 2020 |
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One UI 3.1 |
February 2021 |
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One UI 3.1.1 |
August 2021 |
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The third main model of Samsung’s customized pores and skin was primarily based on Android 11, and it got here out in December 2020. Galaxy S20 gadgets had been the primary to get it, with others following between January and August 2021.
In the meantime, the Galaxy S21 got here pre-installed with the up to date One UI 3.1. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 got here with One UI 3.1.1.
One UI 3.0 launched a translucent notification panel and Samsung Free, the corporate’s model of Google Uncover. It delivered enhancements that improved the animations and transitions all through the software program and redesigned the house display widgets.
One UI 3.1 had no notable UI adjustments however improved the digital camera contact auto-focus and auto-exposure management, amongst different camera-specific additions.
One UI 4.0
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Main replace |
Launch |
Notable options |
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One UI 4.0 |
November 2021 |
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One UI 4.1 |
February 2022 |
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One UI 4.1.1 |
August 2022 |
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One UI 4.0, primarily based on Android 12, was launched publicly in November 2021 and rolled out to the Galaxy S21 and several other older gadgets between December 2021 and August 2022.
Like Android 10, One UI 4.0 centered on customization and privateness with improved haptic suggestions, rounded widgets, and enhanced location options.
Whereas it was pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, S22 Extremely, and Galaxy Tab S8, One UI 4.1 launched a redesigned palette picker, Night time Mode portraits, and a better calendar. The calendar detects dates and instances in messages so that you could add occasions rapidly.
As well as, the corporate launched a target-geared One UI 4.1.1 primarily based on Android 12L for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Tab S6, Tab S7, and Tab S8 collection.
One UI 5.0
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Main replace |
Launch |
Notable options |
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One UI 5.0 |
October 2022 |
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One UI 5.1 |
February 2023 |
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One UI 5.1.1 |
July 2023 |
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Samsung publicly launched One UI 5 primarily based on Android 13 on October 24, 2022. The steady model of the software program rapidly arrived on the Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Extremely.
One UI 5 got here with deeper Materials You integration, permitting for coloration palette adjustments that utilized to all elements of the UI.
There’s additionally a greater theming engine with help for extra colours, improved widget stacking, and the power so as to add a number of customers, together with a visitor profile, to your machine (a characteristic Android has supported for ages).
There are a pair extra latest enhancements in One UI 5 that you could be discover fascinating.
One UI 5.1 debuted on the Galaxy S22 and Z Fold 4 as updates and launched with the S23 collection out of the field. Though it looks like an incremental replace, One UI 5.1 has a number of tips, together with a better gallery, a brand new battery widget, and knowledgeable RAW integration, amongst different present options.
Customers name it probably the most “buttery clean” model of Samsung’s pores and skin.
One UI 6.0
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Main replace |
Launch |
Notable options |
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One UI 6.0 |
October 2023 |
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One UI 6.1 |
January 2024 |
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One UI 6.1.1 |
July 2024 |
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One UI 6 is Samsung’s most important launcher model in 2023-2024. The replace is predicated on Android 14.
In August 2023, the corporate launched a beta model for the Samsung Galaxy S23 collection, adopted by a steady construct in late October.
The UI introduced digital camera widgets to your private home display, one thing you could not do earlier than the replace. You possibly can add a selected digital camera mode, whether or not Professional, Video, or Night time, and immediately create photographs.
You can too change between resolutions throughout the app with one faucet. Flagships reaching 200MP should still require tapping twice. One faucet shows your selections, and the second faucet selects your most popular decision.
The Fast settings structure has additionally modified, providing a easy association for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airplane modes, amongst different toggles.
Your lock display is not exempt from customization. Now you can transfer the clock round. It additionally added fonts and designs.
One other cool characteristic is Auto blocker, which restricts third-party apps, photographs inside messages, and malicious USB cables from commanding your machine when linked.
One UI 6.1 was the subsequent main replace that got here with the Samsung Galaxy S24 collection. The replace was launched in late January 2024, with a rollout to different gadgets starting in late March, and was subsequently launched to older flagships and mid-range gadgets in Might 2024.
Samsung’s AI suite, Galaxy AI, was the distinguished key characteristic highlighted on this replace. It included options similar to PDF Overlay Translation, Listening mode (in Interpreter), Instructed replies, Sketch to Picture, Circle to Search, Sound Search, Portrait Studio, and On the spot Sluggish-Mo, instruments designed to boost productiveness utilizing AI.
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One UI 7.0
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Main replace |
Launch |
Notable options |
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One UI 7.0 |
January 2025 |
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One UI 7.0 is Samsung’s latest replace to One UI. The replace is predicated on Android 15 and contains a simplified residence display, redesigned widgets, and a brand new lock display expertise.
Inside the design options, One UI 7 additionally launched the Now Bar to show real-time updates (reside notifications), together with added media controls and different info that you could set in your lock display and All the time On Show.
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Along with the brand new design components, One UI 7 leverages Galaxy AI for enhanced communication, creativity, and productiveness by means of customized briefings.
Different key options included within the One UI 7 replace are a break up notification and fast settings panel (swiping down on totally different areas of the display will open the notifications and fast settings panel individually), a vertical app drawer, and expanded residence display folders.
Battery safety has additionally acquired an replace. Now you can choose between 80%, 90%, and 95% as your most charging restrict, in comparison with the earlier setting of 85%.
One UI 7 got here pre-installed with the Galaxy S25 collection when it was launched in February. The replace formally rolled out on April 7, 2025, to all supported Galaxy gadgets, following some delays.
Sadly, whereas rolling out the replace, Samsung needed to pause it quickly to deal with a vital bug.
The delay was lifted on April 17, 2025, permitting the replace to proceed reaching the latest flagships, beginning with the Galaxy S24 collection, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6. Older gadgets are anticipated to obtain this replace by the tip of September.
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One UI 8.0
One UI 8 would be the subsequent main replace to One UI. It’s anticipated to be launched after July 2025, coinciding with the launch of the brand new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 telephones.
Galaxy S25 collection house owners must also be among the many first to obtain it, and we count on that Samsung’s subsequent flagship launch (Galaxy S26 collection) would additionally launch with it.
The replace ought to embrace options like enhanced Now Bar and Now Transient performance, together with QR code sharing for Auracast audio streams, an up to date Reminder app, and a refreshed consumer interface.
Samsung launches a beta model of every One UI replace earlier than the ultimate steady launch. If you wish to be among the many first to strive One UI 8, join the One UI beta program along with your Samsung account.
Use your Samsung cellphone to the fullest
Selecting your subsequent Android cellphone includes contemplating elements like battery life, processing energy, cameras, and software program. The software program you utilize has probably the most vital impression in your day-to-day smartphone expertise.
When you use One UI, we suggest exploring its most impactful options to have the very best expertise with Samsung’s launcher.