One UI
Samsung One UI 7 will launch compact live app widgets
In the past few years, Samsung has revamped the lock screen with numerous customization features and the One UI 7 launch will make it more interactive with compact live app widgets.
Live apps run in the background, unlike all apps, these have interactive elements. Therefore, the system doesn’t kill or limit their features when you push them in the background.
For example, in the Media Player app, when you start a song and lock your device, the song keeps on playing. When you wake the device, the lock screen will show you media controls. In that way, you don’t need to unlock the device to play/pause or change the track.
Such widgets are available in the existing One UI version, which makes it quite convenient. However, Samsung has planned a new upgrade for this section to make these lock screen widgets compact and intuitive.
Compact Live App Activities
Samsung One UI 7 is still far away from launch but an early leak from AndroidHeadlines has some new information, especially for the lock screen. A few seconds clip has uncovered a tiny detail on the bottom side of the display.
The lock screen has new compact widgets in between the phone and camera shortcuts. These widgets have buttons. The background has round corners to reflect One UI 7’s user interface and the leak showed three widgets:
- Music – Has a thumbnail on the left and back, pause/play, and next buttons.
- Recorder – Contains a recording timer and a stop button.
- Clock – This widget shows an active timer, total time, and ETA clock time along with a pause/resume button.
Samsung One UI 7 Compact Stackable Live App Widgets (Source – Androidheadlines)
Stackable
In One UI 6 and before, the lock screen will show you large widgets stretching from left to right and in a list view. In the most recent version, you will only see app icons. Once tapped, the system will expand the notification panel to show you the live activity or message notifications.
One UI 7 appears to have a new solution for this scenario. Instead of relying only on icons, the system could now separate live activities from other static app notifications.
With this hybrid approach, the system will show you the compact widgets at the bottom and If you have different live apps running simultaneously, the lock screen will stack them just like photos and you can swipe them to see the other live app activities.
Meanwhile, you can still tap on the notification icons to expand the large widget and use it as usual.
Comparison with iOS
Apple also has live activities and these look identical to what Samsung has to offer with the existing One UI version. When a user starts a timer, it appears right on the lock screen with a few controls.
However, compact live app widgets are likely to surpass that experience with Samsung One UI 7.
One UI 7 Launch Date
The Korean tech giant is planning to launch the One UI 7 beta program for public testers and it’s officially expected to debut with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series in Early 2025. Read more about One UI 7 here.
Samsung is in the final phase to launch the One UI 7 Beta Program for the Galaxy S23 series. While Samsung fans awaiting the second Beta update, One UI 7 Beta preparations are already underway for last year’s Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra.
In a recent development, Samsung published the One UI 7 Beta community for the Galaxy S23 series in Germany. This Community landing page will be accessible to consumers throughout the testing period after the Beta launch.
On December 5, Samsung started the One UI 7 Beta for the Galaxy S24 family. The first Beta update is also available for consumers in Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the US. The expansion is slated to start on December 16 in India and Poland.
Samsung will roll out the stable One UI 7 update in the first quarter of 2025. The company’s flagship phones and foldables will likely receive the official update in the initial phase. Meanwhile, development for budget and mid-range models is also underway.
The creation of Galaxy S23’s landing page is a significant development. Samsung users can now expect the Beta activity to be launched in a few weeks. The company could also surprise fans with the Beta expansion before Christmas 2024.
As the Beta continues, Samsung is listening to consumers for fourth refinements. The developers are actively responding to Beta participants’ submissions. This approach will ensure the software is polished by the consumers for the consumers.
Samsung’s Beta Program for Galaxy S23 series may be available in the same markets as the Galaxy S24 series. Besides, the Galaxy S22 series may also join the Beta activity later this month, but the availability may be limited to South Korea only.
Are you excited to join the One UI 7 Beta?
Samsung might change the placement of the Now Bar in the stable One UI 7.0 version. The first Beta is available for testing in select markets, bringing cool new user interface tweaks, and a slew of new features and enhancements across the OS.
Now Bar is one of the biggest additions in Samsung One UI 7.0. It is a rich pill-shaped UI element designed to enhance user interaction. It allows seamless control of ongoing activities such as music playback, timers, or viewing charging status.
In One UI 7 Beta, the Now Bar is positioned at the bottom of the lock screen for easy one-handed use. However, the company might alter its position on the lock screen given consumer feedback and future goals with the functionality.
In a recent development, one Galaxy S24 Ultra owner described the feature as “a strange fit,” while others have praised its functionality. The user believes that Now Bar’s placement at the bottom “looks odd” and feels out of place.
Samsung One UI 7 Now Bar (Source – Samsung)
The user argued that the screen appeared cleaner and more elegant when similar functionalities were positioned in the upper left corner of the lock screen.
In addition, the user highlighted that the current placement makes the Now Bar harder to reach with one hand on larger devices like the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Samsung’s Response
Samsung’s quick response came shortly after the post was published in the US Members’ community. The moderator acknowledged the feedback and forwarded the user’s feedback to the development team for review.
“Thank you for sharing your valuable suggestion on the Now Bar location. We have forwarded your feedback to the development team for review.
The project manager is currently evaluating its alignment with our design concept and goals. If your suggestion aligns with our direction, we will consider applying it to the official release.”
This response highlights the company’s openness to user input while testing the Galaxy software and its dedication to refining One UI based on real-world usage.
What Next?
It’s up to the development team to finalize the placement of Now Bar. However, the moderator’s consideration of user feedback suggests that the Now Bar’s placement might be adjusted before the official release of One UI 7.0.
While the current design prioritizes one-handed usability, the company might explore alternative placements or provide customization options with a stable One UI 7.0 version, such as letting users choose between top and bottom positions.
One UI 7 Now Bar | Image: SakiTech
Owners of the Galaxy S24 series have joined the One UI 7 Beta Program. Samsung dropped the One UI 7 Beta 1 in four countries last week. Now, Samsung’s Beta participants are awaiting the release of One UI 7 Beta 2.
The first Beta lets users experience the brand-new software. Beta Program brings early access to smoother animations, fluid, and natural transition effects, new Galaxy AI features, and software innovations from Samsung.
One UI 7’s first Beta has some bugs that should be addressed soon. The company has also acknowledged some consumer complaints about the Beta firmware. We expect a pretty improved experience with the second Beta update.
When to Expect the One UI 7 Beta 2
- Expected to be released on December 16.
One UI Beta hasn’t yet launched in India and Poland. Previously, the One UI 7 Beta was rumored to start on December 12 in India. Meanwhile, Samsung delayed the Program’s expansion without revealing the reason.
Now, the Beta Program is scheduled to be kicked off on December 16, 2025. It is expected that Samsung will drop the second Beta for initial Beta participants around the One UI 7 Beta expansion to the consumers in the remaining markets.
One UI 7 Beta 2 – What to expect?
- Smoother animations, fluid transitions
- Enhanced performance and lesser app incompatibility
- Bug fixes and overall user experience improvements
Samsung will improve the animation and transition effects in the next Beta updates. Galaxy users can expect smoother and more natural system animations in the second Beta. However, the overall improvements will be included in the final version.
The lock screen blur system is also buggy in the initial Beta update. The overall design is just stunning but the notification cards on the lock screen skip adapting the same blur effect, leaving the overlay colored White with transparency.
One UI 7 Lock Screen Notification Blur | Image: IceUniverse
Some Good Lock modules and Android Auto are not compatible with the One UI 7 Beta. The software has gained support for Good Guardians. The app incompatibility will be addressed with further Beta updates gradually.