Android
What’s an Android skin and Samsung One UI
The combination of hardware and software makes a smartphone, bringing several features and tools to this handy gadget. Different makers bring different styles and hardware with their products, however, the software is also an important element in smart devices.
Talking specifically about smartphones, most of the devices run the Android operating system worldwide, however, non-Google OEMs developed their custom skins and gave them different names to define them as unique. Today, we are talking about what’s Android skin and One UI.
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What is Android Skin
Android operating system is open source, meaning, anyone can get the source code and do modifications accordingly. Various smartphone makers, including Samsung, do the same, they take Android’s code from AOSP and install it in their models with customized software.
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They personalize the user interface on their phones, just like you can download launchers from the Store, to show off their individuality and differentiate themselves from the competition. You might prefer one Android skin over another depending on your preferences.
Samsung One UI
All Samsung Galaxy phones, but only those that were released after 2018, run on One UI, an Android skin that replaced TouchWiz previously. Both casual and power users adore this skin because it has a tonne of features that you won’t find in other skins.
A browser, an app store, as well as necessary programs like Phone, Messages, and Contacts are just a few of the numerous Google apps that Samsung offers as alternatives. When you utilize Google as your main search engine, these apps might make the software hefty.
One UI delivers faster software upgrades for up to four years and Samsung Knox security, which is more than even Google provides with the Pixel series, ensuring endurance.
Last month, Samsung rolled out the first and second Beta builds of its Android 14 firmware. Currently, Samsung’s Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra devices are eligible to download and install One UI 6 Beta. The official way to get Beta is registration through Members, while there’s a custom installation way as well.
Courtesy of BredzProh (senior member at XDA Forums), the official One UI 6 Beta builds are available for download and install on the Galaxy S23 series. For Europe, the company is using a universal CSC Code – EUX, making it easier (indirectly) to install the firmware manually.
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DOWNLOAD ONE UI 6 BETA ROM
The Beta Program is only accessible for T-Mobile consumers in the United States along with the user having a carrier-unlocked smartphone. Do note that the download links are not just the way to get Beta in any country as you need to perfectly flash firmware through the ADB method. Links below:
Galaxy S23 Ultra
SM-S918B
AWF7 → ZWH8 [Beta 1]
ZWH8 → ZWHO [Beta 2]
ZWHO ➝ ZWI8 [Beta 3]
ZWIB ➝ ZWIC [Beta 4]
ZWIC ➝ ZWIK [Beta 5]
SM-S918U1
AWFD → ZWH8 [Beta 1]
ZWH8 → ZWHO [Beta 2]
ZWHO ➝ ZWI8 [Beta 3]
ZWIB ➝ ZWIC [Beta 4]
ZWIC ➝ ZWIK [Beta 5]
SM-S918U
AWFD → ZWH8 [Beta 1]
ZWH8 → ZWHO [Beta 2]
ZWHO ➝ ZWI8 [Beta 3]
ZWIB ➝ ZWIC [Beta 4]
ZWIC ➝ ZWIK [Beta 5]
Galaxy S23 Plus
SM-S916B
AWH3 → ZWHO [B1]
ZWHO ➝ ZWI8 [B3]
ZWIC ➝ ZWIK [N/A]
Galaxy S23
SM-S911B
AWH3 → ZWHO [B1]
AWH3 ➝ ZWI8 [5.1 to B3]
SM-S911U1
AWGH → ZWH8 [B1]
ZWH8 → ZWHO [B2]
ZWHO ➝ ZWI8 [B3]
How to install [ADB Method]
- Download the ROM (right build) for your Galaxy device.
- Find the file in My Files and change the extension from .bin to update.zip
- Download and install ADB on your PC.
- Make sure to have “C:\Android\platform-tools” added to “Path” in System variables.
- On your phone, go to Settings > About phone > Software information
- Repeatedly tap on the build number to activate Developer options, and then open it
- From Developer options, find and enable “USB debugging”
- Connect your phone to your PC.
- Eensure it has Samsung Driver installed from “Smart Switch for PC.”
- You may enable the “Always allow from this computer” if it’s your personal PC.
- Tap on Allow.
Installation
Your data will be wiped.
- On your PC, move the “update.zip” file to “C:\Android\platform-tools”.
- Click on the Start Button.
- Click on Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
- In the Terminal, type “adb devices” and execute it.
- If you didn’t enable “Always allow from this computer”, the pop up will appear again on the phone. Tap on Allow.
- Type “adb reboot recovery” and execute it.
- Your phone will boot to Recovery Mode.
- Navigating with the volume buttons and selecting the power button, go to “Apply update from ADB”
- If you want to force exit from this screen, hold down the Volume down and Power buttons.
- Back to the PC, type: “.\adb sideload “C:\Android\platform-tools\update.zip” and execute it.
- The installation process will start and One UI 6.0 beta will be installed.
- After the update process has finished, back to the PC, execute “adb reboot recovery” again.
- Go to “Wipe cache partition” and select Yes.
- Then select “Reboot system now”.
Note:
- Your data will be wiped.
- If you get an error, you may have downloaded the wrong build, or your device doesn’t support the beta program at all. If you are sure that you have downloaded the right build, try again using different cables, USB ports, or PCs.)
- Trigger manual firmware installation at your own risk.
Alternative Way
- Here is how you can download and install Samsung One UI Beta without PC – Read More
Android 14
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5 to receive One UI 6.0 beta in October, Community Moderator confirms
One UI 6.0 Beta update for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 has been delayed, which was scheduled to be released in late September 2023. This announcement is made by Samsung’s Community Moderator through a comment on the Samsung Members app.
For this delay, the moderator stated that more work is required to ensure the stability of the One UI 6.0 beta software for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphones.
In addition, the official assured that the company will do its best to deliver stable software so that the beta version can be launched as early as possible in October after the Chuseok holiday, which is a significant Korean festival that falls in late September this year.
Previously, Samsung’s community moderator had disclosed that the One UI team was working diligently in development and review to complete the beta version with the aim of distributing it within September. However, it seems that the team encountered some issues that required more time to fix.
Samsung guarantees 4 years of Android OS and 5 years of security updates to Galaxy devices. Meanwhile, Google is about to match Apple’s iOS support of 7 years of OS updates, starting with the Pixel 8 series, which Samsung must replicate for Galaxy devices.
In a recent development, a leaked Pixel 8 series specifications sheet revealed that Google will pledge 7 years of Android OS and security updates. It’s about to be the same as Apple does with all of its iPhone models, beating the Samsung software policy by a big margin.
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Samsung has a big lead in the smartphone market, thanks to its longer software support. Meanwhile, Google’s tentative announcement will make a big impact on the Galaxy maker’s policy. And to maintain consumer satisfaction, the Korean tech giant must replicate Google.
Google Pixel phones currently offer three generations of OS upgrades and five years of security patches. Samsung, on the other hand, has a wide range of Galaxy devices eligible for 4 OS plus 5 years of security updates. However, Apple’s iPhones get up to 7 years of major iOS upgrades.
The US tech giant will launch the Pixel 8 series on October 4. If it has plans to extend software support, the announcement will be done during the launch. It will be interesting to see if the company includes older Tensor-powered smartphones in new support plan.
Since the Pixel 6 series, Google is bringing a self-designed Tensor chipset, equipped with AI capabilities and machine learning. The Tensor G3 is based on Exynos and is being manufactured by Samsung, with Google plans to switch to TSMC in the next few years.
As the technology is growing such faster, it’s hard to keep a phone for 7 years, as the manufacturer believes. However, Pixel users will continue to rock with their smartphone, as Google could pledge 7 OS upgrades, that will arrive with new features and enhancements.