One UI
Samsung One UI 4.0 brings redesigned, customized widgets for effortless navigation
Samsung One UI 4 Beta program allows users to try out the advanced features of the One UI 4 before its official release. Owners of the Galaxy S21 series in selected markets can register to the beta program with the Samsung member app on their devices.
Participants will be able to preview the design of the One UI 4 with new features and post a bug. Samsung will use the information gathered in the beta system to optimize the One UI 4 user before delivering a final update, which is scheduled later this year.
Samsung’s One UI user interface brings an integrated mobile experience to Galaxy smartphones with simplified and streamlined interaction and a clean and elegant design.
With a One UI 4, users get customization options all the time. The wealth of themes options allow users to customize the look and performance of their device, providing them with tools to customize their home screens, icons, notifications, wallpapers, and much more. However, in this article, we’ll discuss UI changes in the Home screen, Lock Screen, and Always-on display (AOD) feature in the One UI 4.0 beta update.
Samsung One UI 4.0 Home Screen Customization
The most noticeable change in the One UI 4 is this year’s options for customizing the home screen and lock. Starting with the home screen, the widgets are updated with a new and refreshing look that comes with Android 12’s Material You redesign.
Widgets are enhanced with a circular look, and some widgets, such as a dual clock, will now switch from light to dark mode depending on the time of day. Unlike Material You, these widgets will not match their color background, that could be the change we see next.
Speaking of dark mode, Samsung has made some suggestive changes here to get seamless information. Icons, wallpapers, and some text areas are now slightly dim when in dark mode.
The Home screen widgets have been redesigned to the One UI 4 to give you more details while also making your home screen more stylish. You will also find recommendations for widgets that may be helpful to you.
You can see an example of a redesigned widget below with a two-city clock, now inserting a weather icon in the top right corner. This particular widget also now shows up as light or dark depending on the time in the selected city.
Samsung One UI 4.0 Lock Screen UI
On the lock screen, you can now switch the audio output to a different device, such as headphones or a speaker. This media output button is actually added to Android on Android 11, but it’s good to see it coming from Samsung’s Samsung 12 update.
You can now add a voice recording widget to the lock screen that lets you record voice memos without turning on your phone. When you double-tap, you get a monthly calendar view and your daily schedule, to help you better see your schedule.
Samsung One UI 4.0 Always on Display
As for Always on Display, there is a new option that has proven to be very useful so far. You can now choose to turn on AOD only when you receive new notifications. There are also many new stickers you can use to decorate your AOD if you’re in this type of thing.
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Android 14 officially debuted for testing and development, and a number of Samsung Galaxy devices will receive it with One UI 6.0. Google is likely to push the official version of Android 14 by August this year, whereas the One UI 6 Beta might start by late July.
Millions of Galaxy devices have already upgraded to the Android 13 operating system, but, Samsung consumers have now started to discuss the Android 14 update. Pay attention, Galaxy devices eligible for a more major OS upgrade might get One UI 5.1.1 as well, based on Android 13, before v14.
In early February, Google kicked off Android 14 on the Developer Preview channel, with the 2nd build released in March. April and May are the months of Android 14’s Public Beta rollout (Beta 1 and Beta 2), however, Platform Stability could be reached in June / July.
Various non-Pixel phones are now eligible to install the Android 14 Beta, thanks to Google’s announcement at I/O 2023. Regardless, Samsung hasn’t participated in Google’s activities as it runs its own One UI Beta testing for Galaxy handsets.
The current One UI 5.0 is based on Android 13, whereas the last year’s One UI 4.x versions were based on the Android 12 OS. Accordingly, the company will introduce the One UI 6.0 software for Galaxy devices, which will be based on the Android 14 OS.
Samsung is committed to bringing up to four generations of Android plus One UI and five years of security updates. Thanks to this solid policy, we have a pretty clear idea of which Galaxies will be receiving the next Android version upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy devices eligible for Android 14 (One UI 6.0)
Galaxy Z series
- Galaxy Z Fold 4 (2nd)
- Galaxy Z Flip 4
- Galaxy Z Fold 3 (3rd)
- Galaxy Z Flip 3
Galaxy S series
- Galaxy S23 Ultra (1st)
- Galaxy S23+
- Galaxy S23
- Galaxy S22 Ultra (2nd)
- Galaxy S22+
- Galaxy S22
- Galaxy S21 FE (2nd)
- Galaxy S21 Ultra (3rd)
- Galaxy S21+
- Galaxy S21
Galaxy A series
- Galaxy A14 (1st)
- Galaxy A04s
- Galaxy A73 (2nd)
- Galaxy A53 (2nd)
- Galaxy A33
- Galaxy A23
- Galaxy A13
- Galaxy A72 (3rd)
- Galaxy A52s 5G (3rd)
- Galaxy A52 LTE/5G (3rd)
Galaxy M series
- Galaxy M53 5G
- Galaxy M33 5G
- Galaxy M23
Galaxy Tab series
- Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
- Galaxy Tab S8+
- Galaxy Tab S8
Note:
- The list is based on update policy and previous rollouts.
- Samsung has not revealed which Galaxy devices will get Android 14.
- Some unlisted devices may also receive One UI 6 update.
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Samsung offers a lot of features for capturing photos and videos through its camera app. Along with the many photo mode features, Samsung provides an amazing video mode feature called Auto Framing for Galaxy devices, which allows you to capture professional-like videos. And with the One UI 5.1, the company enhances the Auto framing feature by making it more advanced.
Auto framing is a feature for Galaxy devices that detects people in the camera’s field of view and applies digital zoom and pan to focus the detected person on the screen. It considers the tracking shooting function and detection performance on supported models based on the user-specified area.
How to use Samsung Auto Framing feature?
You can easily enable the Auto Framing feature on your Galaxy smartphone, just need to follow below mentioned steps.
- Open the Samsung Camera app on your Galaxy smartphone.
- Now, select Video mode.
- At the bottom left corner, you can see the Auto framing (scan-like) icon next to the zoom options. Click on it.
- Now, the Auto framing feature is enabled.
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Once you enable the function, you can capture the video with automatic zoom changes that keep the person in the frame. With the latest enhancements, the feature supports the Auto framing of an area other than the person selected by the user. Notably, the advanced Auto Framing feature is available for limited Galaxy devices.
At the annual Developers Conference 2022, Samsung officially introduced the Android 13-based One UI 5.0 version for Galaxy devices (smartphones, foldables, and tablets).
During the event, Samsung also announced the One UI 6.0 update rollout plan. Initially, the Android 13-based One UI 5 first arrived for the S22 series as an Open Beta program, later extended to older flagships.
One UI 6 – When it’s coming?
After Google, Samsung was the fastest Android 13 update distributor for Galaxy smartphones, beating rivals from China. Impressively, the company managed to deploy stable software update for all devices, setting an example for rivals that began rollout in hurry, such as OnePlus. Going back to the One UI 6.0 timeline, the company started Android 13 Open Beta for the Galaxy S22 series in early August 2022, which later expanded to Galaxy S21, Note 20, S20, and more.
For One UI 6, Samsung is likely to follow the same as it did with the One UI 5 last year. It means you can expect the Android 14-based One UI 6 Beta program to start for the latest Galaxy S23 flagships by the last week of July or the first week of August. Do note that the Korean tech giant does not join Google for Android 14’s development.
Based on previous rollouts, and expected Android 14 development plan and Beta activities for Galaxy devices, Samsung would launch the One UI 6.0 at the 2023 Developers Conference later this year. However, Galaxy users having the latest flagship Galaxy device will be able to preview new design and features early.
Shortly after the announcement at Developers Conference, the South Korean tech giant may begin the One UI 6.0 Stable update rollout, first for Beta testers, followed by general users. Flagship Galaxy models are eligible for the early update, while the company may not take too much time to expand it to mid-range and budget phones, you can ensure your model’s eligibility in our list.
One UI 6.0 Roadmap
- Beta program – Late July or early August
- Stable/official – October 2023
You may have known that Google has already released Android 14 on the Beta channel. Back in February, the company rolled out two Developer Preview builds for supported Pixel smartphones, however, 3 more major Beta updates are expected before the official Android 14 debut.
Update: May 28 | Samsung may start the One UI Beta program early this year as new BWEE test firmware spotted on CheckFirm.
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