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Android 13 Dynamic App Icons – Galaxy is better than Pixel?
Samsung has the largest share of the Android smartphone market, even its created by Google. After Google’s Pixel phones, plenty of Galaxy devices have also received the new Android 13 operating system update. Here, we are comparing the Dynamic (Themed) App Icons feature of Android 13 on Galaxy and Pixel.
The Korean phone maker uses Android operating system as a base for its One UI skin tailored for Galaxies. Compared to stock Android, the One UI debuts better user interface, visual effects, and system animations without leaving features of the base OS.
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Android 13 – Galaxy vs Pixel
Talking about Android 13 Dynamic Themed App Icons on Galaxy and Pixel, I honestly like the way that Google adapted. Initially debuted with Android 12, the Material You design language works impressively on Google devices, compared to Samsung Galaxies. Here’s why I like Pixel… for just Themed Icons!
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Home Screen: One UI and Android, both, turn the App Icons into Dynamic Themed Icons, which match the home screen or lock screen wallpaper. Samsung placed it inside the Color Palette section, while, on Pixel, I found that the Themed icons feature is still in the Beta stage, hinting at the development stage.
Apps Screen: Biggest difference between Galaxy and Pixel’s Themed Icons feature is area of implementation. On Samsung devices, compatible app icons turn to Themed icons on both home screen and lock screen. Google, on the other hand, applies Themed icons on just apps placed on home screen, keeping original icon in Apps screen.
Compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Pixel 7 Pro delivers an even optimized home screen appearance. It looks better as most of the Google apps are now compatible with dynamic icons. One UI 5’s Apps Screen doesn’t look good to me as it becomes a tough task to identify certain apps in a crowd of Apps screen.
Android 13 for Galaxy
Samsung debuted the Stable Android 13 update for Galaxy S22 series devices on October 24. With the new variant of Android, Galaxy devices get One UI 5 software skin that introduces exclusive user interface along with additional software-derived features.
Android 13 for Pixel
Google showcased the new Android 13 operating system way back in February when it availed it to Developers. In mid-August, the company delivered Stable Android 13 upgrade for all eligible Pixel smartphones, installing new features and functionalities.
Samsung has finally launched the Android 15-based One UI 7 Beta Program. The official announcement was made on December 5. The activity is initially available for the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra in seven.
One UI 7 introduces radical interface tweaks, fresh new UI components, rich graphics, plenty of new features, and a lot more. The new software also uplevels the security system of your Galaxy smartphone to keep data safe.
What’s New in One UI 7?
Samsung’s Android 15-based One UI 7 Beta Program delivers a glimpse into a revolutionary smartphone experience powered by cutting-edge Galaxy AI features, enhanced personalization, and an overhauled interface.
One UI 7 integrates advanced AI agents and multimodal capabilities across the interface, enabling seamless and natural interactions.
Key AI enhancements include:
Writing Assist Tools: Users can now boost productivity with integrated AI-powered tools that summarize content, check grammar and spelling, and format notes into bullet points—all without switching between applications.
Samsung One UI 7 AI Writing Assist Tools (Source – Samsung)
Call Transcriptions: Calls recorded on Samsung Galaxy devices running the latest One UI 7 can now be transcribed automatically, supporting 20 languages, offering a convenient solution for multitasking professionals.
Samsung One UI 7 Call Transcript (Credit – Samsung)
One UI 7 introduces a streamlined design language centered around simplicity and user engagement.
Now Bar:
- Accessible directly from the lock screen, this feature offers instant access to activities like Interpreter, Music, Recording, and Stopwatch.
- Reduces the need to unlock the device frequently, transforming the lock screen experience.
Samsung One UI 7 Now Bar (Source – Samsung)
Simplified Customization:
- Redesigned widgets and lock screens allow users to personalize their devices effortlessly.
- Enhanced control over every detail ensures a more intuitive and cohesive experience.
Refreshed Camera UX:
- Reorganized controls make advanced settings easier to access.
- Pro and Pro Video modes now feature a simplified manual settings layout and a new zoom control for smoother transitions during video recording.
Availability and Rollout
The One UI 7 beta program is now available for Galaxy S24 series users in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US, starting December 5.
The official release of One UI 7 will begin in Q1 2025 with the next-generation Galaxy S series devices. Over time, it will expand to other Galaxy devices, reflecting Samsung’s commitment to extended OS upgrades.
Samsung seems to have revised its smartphone production target for 2025. Meanwhile, Samsung is aiming to foster Galaxy S25 series production than the S24 series. New input suggests that the production target is reduced by 7 to 8 million.
According to TheElec, Samsung is cutting smartphone production estimates for 2025, but the flagship Galaxy S25 series could be produced higher than the Galaxy S24 series.
Back in October, it was reported that Samsung is aiming to produce 237 million phones in 2025. As per the revised plan, the company has set a production target of 229.4 million.
In particular, the Galaxy S25 series is expected to be produced at 37 million units. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 series is estimated to be shipped 35 million units this year.
It seems the budget and entry-level phones would be produced in slightly lesser quantities. The aim is to maintain a conservative outlook without impacting premium sales.
On the flip side, the report also revealed production estimation of foldable smartphones, as follows:
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 – 3 million
- Galaxy Z Flip FE – 900,000
- Galaxy Z Fold 7 – 2 million
These figures sum up to a production target of around 6 million units. Combining a Fan Edition model, the sale is still estimated at 6 million – suggesting a slow pace of adoption.
The Galaxy S25 series will launch in late January next year, while the foldable devices may debut in July. Samsung is also preparing to introduce a Slim variant of the S25 series, while the launch timeline is uncertain.
Samsung Calendar app got a new icon with One UI 7, including new icons and enhanced features. The One UI 7 Beta update has been released, and a new report suggests that beta users just received the first app update, which is for the Samsung Calendar app.
The latest update of the Samsung Calendar app arrives with version 12.6.00.35. It brings a new tweak to the app icon, you can now see the name of the day along with the date. This update is truly useful as users no longer need to open the calendar to check the day, they can see its glance on the icon.
The new revamped icon of the Samsung Messages app is available for devices running Android 15-based One UI 7 beta, which means it’s currently only for the Galaxy S24 series. More devices will get this revamped icon with One UI 7.
Aside from this, the One UI 7 update makes handling your calendar easier. You can now reschedule events by simply dragging and dropping them in the Month view.
You can now choose which calendars to show on your widgets which lets you display different calendars on your home screen. With the “Add countdown widget”, you can add countdowns for events like birthdays to see the days left and right on your home screen.
Moreover, you can also move all events from one calendar to another without hassle, perfect for switching from a phone-based calendar to a cloud-based one. If you are a Galaxy S24 user, register and install the One UI 7 Beta to enjoy new Samsung Calendar features.