Android 14
Android 14 Features
Google introduced the new Android 14 operating system for Pixel smartphones and the system images are available on the Developer Preview channel. The company plans to reach the Platform Stability milestone by July 2023, followed by Stable deployment in late July or early August.
On February 8, the Android maker released the very initial build (Developer Preview 1) of the latest version of its mobile platform. It’s a developer-centric version, which comes with under-the-hood changes and new APIs to help app developers understand and grow the ecosystem.
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Developer Preview
Let’s explore Android 14 Features (DP 1) [Source – Mishaal Rahman]
Predictive back gesture
Android 14’s brand-new predictive back gesture allows you to preview where you’re going when you swipe back. To be mentioned, Android 13 just shows preview swipes back to the home screen. Have a look:
Android 14 is introducing a predictive back gesture that will let you preview where you're going when you swipe back. In Android 13, you could only preview swipes back to the home screen. In Android 14 DP1, you can preview cross-task and in-app transitions! Here's a demo: pic.twitter.com/roAawuIxE2
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 8, 2023
Vibrant “Basic colours” in Color Palette
The first DP build of Android 14 introduces more vibrant “Basic colours” options in the Wallpaper and style section. It looks like, the company has tweaked the first four-color carousel with brighter, more visually stand-out options.
Apps installed in the background
This is a new feature introduced by Android 14 DP, which lists apps that are sideloaded in the background, without your permission. You can check and uninstall them as they are not necessary for your phone to work normally.
Fast Pair
Samsung introduced the Galaxy S23 series, which brings Google’s Fast Pair feature out of the box. This feature has now arrived in the “Connection preferences” section, courtesy of the Android 14 Developer Preview 1.
Integrated Health Connect
Android 14 has integrated Google’s Health Connect platform, which is currently available through an installable application. The DP1 has a new Mainline module called Health Connect that contains the Health Connect app.
Prevention to install old apps
Android 14 will now warn you when you install an app that targets API level 27 or lower (ie. Android 8.1 or older). The threshold that triggered this warning was previously set at API level 22 (Android 5.1) in Android 10.
Tweaked “Security & privacy” section
The new OS brings a handful of minor changes to the Security & privacy section such as the addition of a new subpage for subheadings instead of dropdown menus.
Battery Saver UI
Android 14 comes with a couple of changes to the Battery section and operation of the Battery Saver UI. The Battery Saver section now has Basic and Extreme battery-saving options along with an integrated Adaptive tool.
Screen time in Battery usage section
Ditched with Android 12, Android 14 Developer Preview 1 brings back the ability to see just how long your screen has been on since your last full charge.
Taskbar text labels on larger displays
Android 12L brought the nifty Taskbar feature for large-screen devices such as tablets and foldables. Android 14 DP1 now shows text names below dock app icons in the taskbar on screens with a tablet DPI of 600+.
Advanced memory protection
Mishaal Rahman spotted that Android 14 is adding a new beta feature called “advanced memory protection” that “helps you protect your device from bugs that may put your security at risk.”
Hearing devices
In the new OS, there is a dedicated settings page for hearing devices at Settings > Accessibility > Hearing devices. It lets you pair a new hearing aid device, enable a shortcut to these settings, and toggle “hearing aid compatibility”.
One UI-inspired Cloned Apps
Android 14 is preparing to add a One UI-inspired app cloning feature. Many OEMs/third-party apps offer this functionality already, but it’s nice to see work on this in Google’s version of Android for Pixel phones.
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.
Android 14
Samsung’s One UI 6.0 Update: Galaxy S20, Note 20, and More Left Behind, New Options for Android Enthusiasts
Android 14 will soon start to roll out for Google Pixel phones. Samsung, on the other hand, started the One UI 6.0 Beta Program for Galaxy S23 series in August 2023. Samsung consumers have high expectations with the One UI 6.0 update, but many Galaxy devices are no longer supported.
Samsung should have pledged the Android 14 update for Galaxy S20 and Note 20 series, but it didn’t. It leads the Galaxy S20 FE to ineligibility for the next major update. Launched pre-installed with Android 10, the S20, Note 20 and S20 FE devices are no longer eligible for any major upgrade.
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The popular Galaxy A series phones – Galaxy A51 and A71 have also finished their OS upgrade eligibility with the Android 13-based One UI 5.0. Now, the Korean tech giant focuses more on affordable phones, with the Galaxy A24 as a recent example, which will get 4 OS upgrades.
The 2nd generation Galaxy Z Fold smartphone was also eligible for three major updates. The company had released it with Android 10-based One UI 2.5, which means, it has also completed its big OTA lifespan with Android 13. You can check One UI 6.0 unsupported devices in the list below.
- Galaxy S20 Series
- Galaxy Note 20 Series
- Galaxy S20 FE (LTE/5G)
- Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G
- Galaxy A71 & Galaxy A51
How to get One UI 6
To experience the next Samsung mobile OS, you need to purchase a new Galaxy phone. There are a lot of sticking options, offering you a longer software lifespan across categories from budget to premium. Check the quick guide below, which embeds phones with great software support.
- Premium – Galaxy S23 series
- Bonus Tip – Galaxy S21 FE (flagship phone with affordability)
- Mid-range – Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34
- Budget – Galaxy A24
