Your Samsung Phone Is Getting One UI 7—Here Are My 6 Favorite Features

One UI 7: A Breath of Fresh Air for Samsung Galaxy Phones

For years, Android updates have felt stagnant. However, One UI 7 delivers a significant upgrade, exceeding expectations. After testing the beta on my Galaxy Z Fold 6, I'm thoroughly impressed. The improvements are numerous and impactful, making the phone feel better than ever. Expect many of last year's Samsung phones to receive One UI 7 in the coming weeks and months.

1. A Visually Stunning Interface:

Surprisingly, I now prefer Samsung's One UI to stock Android. It's highly customizable and feature-rich. While I previously admired Pixel phones' animations, One UI 7 not only matches but surpasses them in smoothness and fluidity on Samsung hardware. The blend of transparent elements, subtle gradients, and refined animations creates a visually rich and nuanced experience. Even the refreshed app icons, while not revolutionary, contribute to a feeling of freshness. The improved widget consistency and aesthetics finally make them appealing for my home screen. These visual enhancements are the highlight of One UI 7.

Related: Here’s When Your Samsung Galaxy Will Get Android 15 (One UI 7)

2. Vertical App Drawer: Finally!

Samsung finally joins other Android manufacturers in adopting a vertically scrolling app drawer. This seemingly minor change drastically improves app navigation, allowing for quick scrolling and easy access to specific apps via alphabetical jumps.

3. The Now Bar and Enhanced Live Notifications:

The Now Bar is a significant addition, offering a more streamlined way to view ongoing actions than persistent notifications. While its appeal might be limited for non-sports fans (live scores are a key feature), its superior presentation of ongoing tasks (music playback, timers, etc.) is impressive. The lockscreen integration clearly distinguishes media playback from other notifications, and tapping the bar reveals additional controls. The intuitive swipe gestures for task switching are exceptionally well-executed.

Related: Samsung’s Now Bar Is the Sports and Lock Screen Feature I’ve Been Waiting For

4. Floating Taskbar for Foldables:

The Galaxy Z Fold's taskbar now features a floating, auto-hiding dock, maximizing screen real estate while retaining functionality. This resembles a horizontal Edge Panel and is a welcome improvement. Importantly, the classic taskbar remains an option for those who prefer it.

5. Larger, More User-Friendly App Folders:

One UI 7 allows for significantly larger app folders, eliminating the extra tap needed to access apps within. Icons remain easily accessible within these larger folders.

6. Separate Spaces for Notifications and Quick Settings:

Swiping down from the top-right accesses a full-screen view of quick settings, while swiping from the center or top-left reveals notifications. Switching between them is effortless, and the black background enhances the OLED display. This separation provides a more organized and functional experience compared to previous versions and stock Android. While the change requires adjustment, the option to revert to the older method remains.

Conclusion:

One UI 7 is a substantial improvement, showcasing meticulous attention to detail. Combined with the refined hardware of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it creates a remarkably polished user experience. While no software is perfect, after disabling some AI features, it comes remarkably close.

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