The Galaxy S25 is right here, and so is One UI 7. One UI 7 incorporates a few of the largest modifications to Samsung’s Android pores and skin in years because it goals to enhance the person expertise. Nevertheless, no matter whether or not you suppose One UI 7 is a optimistic step ahead for Samsung or not, there are some options that we’d like Samsung to launch earlier than One UI 8.
The subsequent replace after a significant One UI launch normally focuses on enhancements and tweaks reasonably than substantial modifications. Nevertheless, we predict that because of a few of the massive modifications in One UI 7, Samsung must make some substantial modifications to maintain One UI 7’s options related. These are the options that Samsung wants to incorporate in One UI 7.1.
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A clearer divide between the notification shade and fast settings menu
It is present implementation is irritating and awkward
The break up notification shade and fast settings menu was one of many extra controversial modifications in One UI 7. Swiping down in your display on One UI 6.1.1 and earlier opened the notifications shade and a minimized fast settings menu. Swiping down once more revealed the expanded fast settings menu plus extra settings choices. That is the usual for Android skins, however Samsung took a leaf out of Apple’s ebook with One UI 7 and separated the notification shade and fast settings menu. Swiping down from the top-right of your display opens the short settings menu, however swiping down anyplace else opens the notification shade. In idea, this could have helped us simply entry the knowledge we would like with much less muddle, however in apply, it is easy to open the unsuitable menu accidentally.
The difficulty we found is that Samsung’s dividing line between the correct and left sides of your display is totally arbitrary. Our Telephones Editor, Will Sattelberg, needed to take out a ruler and S Pen to seek out the place the precise dividing line was. Even after discovering the spot, it’s nonetheless frustratingly simple to open the unsuitable menu accidentally.
Samsung has a few choices to repair this drawback. The only one is to supply a visible marker dividing the 2 sides. Apple neatly solves this with its Dynamic Island bar, however Samsung might want to suppose up an authentic thought because the digicam punch gap will not fairly reduce it. Alternatively, Samsung might tweak the swipe motion to solely open the short settings menu if you swipe diagonally from the top-right nook of the display. Both approach, this ought to be a key change in One UI 7.1.1
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Third-party app help for the Now Bar
The Now Bar is severely restricted in One UI 7
The Now Bar is one other function Samsung has lifted from Apple. This Dynamic Island competitor makes use of machine studying to research your actions and information; it shows acceptable reminders and recommendations when wanted. For instance, it will possibly immediate you to set an alarm earlier than you go to mattress or present your ETA earlier than you allow for work. It is a respectable function, however sadly, it is severely restricted in scope. Presently, the one apps supported by Now Bar are a number of Samsung’s apps and a pair from Google.
- Clock.
- Voice Recorder.
- Emergency Sharing.
- Bixby.
- Music.
- Notes.
- Well being.
- Interpreter.
- Emergency Sharing.
- Google.
- Google Maps.
That is a suitable checklist to make sure that the Now Bar has a number of use instances on launch, however in the event you do not need to use Samsung’s apps, then you definately’ll barely get any use out of it. To make this function one thing we’ll repeatedly need to return to, Samsung must be taught from what makes Dynamic Island so good: third-party help.
Including the APIs wanted for third-party developer help will guarantee this function will evolve and develop over time. Well-liked apps like Spotify and Citymapper are apparent examples, however we are able to think about builders producing devoted Now Bar instruments. In any case, we do not need to wait till One UI 8 for these options; One UI 7.1 wants third-party help for the Now Bar to make sure it would not crumble into obscurity.
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Content material filters in Now Transient
Now Transient is ineffective in One UI 7
Now Transient is an AI-powered each day briefing of related content material. It will possibly present the climate, calendar appointments, trending new tales, and extra. Nevertheless, as we noticed in our Samsung S25 Extremely evaluate, the function is half-baked at finest.
A few of the recommendations Now Transient made to AP’s Will Sattelberg included “opening the settings menu each morning” and recommending Spotify playlists with no followers. It is remarkably unhealthy, even for AI requirements, however there are some easy methods Samsung might make it helpful with out tackling the thorny situation of creating AI work successfully.
Now Transient’s largest drawback is that it exhibits irrelevant info, and there may be little you are able to do to customise it. Samsung’s information on personalizing Now Transient is laughably restricted. Need Now Transient to solely present information tales associated to sports activities? You may need to toggle the Information swap on and cross your fingers.
Theoretically, Now Transient ought to use the facility of AI to counsel related info while not having us to tweak numerous choices, however as we have seen with any implementation of AI recommendations on Android, that is unlikely to occur. (See Google’s laughable AI recommendations in its new AI-powered Climate app for an instance). Nevertheless, permitting us to finetune what Now Transient suggests might make it extra helpful.
The instance of solely permitting Now Transient to indicate information tales about sports activities is an apparent one, however it will be simple to go additional. Choosing themes or genres for instructed playlists is one other, or maybe filtering YouTube recommendations for less than channels you observe.
I am not sure if these modifications would make Now Transient a software that you’d need to use each day, however it will make it drastically extra helpful than its present implementation. Generic filters simply do not reduce it for a fancy AI software like this. If Samsung would not need new Galaxy S25 homeowners to disable this function instantly, it’s going to must make these modifications in One UI 7.1
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The entire elimination of Edge Panel
This function deserves a swift demise
One UI 7 dramatically reduces the useability of the Edge Panel. Gadgets working One UI 7 can not entry the Edge Panel storefront or obtain new panels. In case you delete current panels, you will not be capable of get well them. That is clearly a step towards the whole elimination of the function, however Samsung must go all the way in which with One UI 7.1.
In One UI 7, the Edge Panel simply will get in the way in which. As you possibly can now not customise it, there’s little level in opening it. Whereas we recognize that Samsung is giving its customers a while to get used to the eventual elimination of the function, I do not need One UI to turn out to be cluttered with stripped-down and principally ineffective options. It conflicts with One UI 7’s streamlined design philosophy and does little to dispel the picture of Galaxy telephones being full of bloatware.
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One UI 7 is all about AI
Whereas we need to see some UI tweaks in One UI 7.1, it is clear that the way forward for One UI and Android is all about AI. Google is cramming Gemini into as many apps as doable, and it exhibits no signal of slowing down. In case you’re shopping for a brand new Galaxy telephone in 2025, you may need to familiarize your self with the energy of Gemini on Android.