Samsung One UI explained: Everything to know about Samsung's custom Android skin (2024)

Key Takeaways

  • One UI offers greater customization and multitasking options compared to stock Android, enhancing user experience on Samsung Galaxy devices.
  • One UI's evolution from TouchWiz to Samsung Experience and now to its current state prioritizes one-handed use and user feedback for continuous improvement.
  • Regular updates like One UI 6 and upcoming One UI 7 bring new features like camera widgets, improved lock screen customization, and enhanced security settings.

One UI is Samsung's user interface for its Android phones, smartwatches, and Galaxy Book laptops. Its most common appearance is as the launcher for Samsung Galaxy phones; if you've used a Galaxy phone running Android 9 or later, you've used One UI.

Unlike Google's Pixel devices, which run a near-stock version of Android, Samsung's One UI launcher allows a greater degree of customization and multitasking options comparable to any of the best Android launchers. You're usually not missing out on features either; One UI 6, for example, adds new features on top of Android 14 but doesn't replace them. We'll look at the history of Samsung One UI and how it evolved to its current state, as well as a look ahead to the future of One UI.

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What is Samsung One UI?

One UI is a personalized launcher that Samsung designed for its Galaxy phones and tablets. It offers more design options than Google's stock Android version. You can change your device's themes and app icons and rearrange your home or apps screen layout to your satisfaction.

The launcher also makes it easier to navigate through your phone, considering how large Samsung smartphones are. The UI shifts key details to the middle and bottom of the screen so that you can interact with them using one hand. This way, you don't strain your fingers when scrolling or tapping.

Samsung also pre-installs its apps and services, such as Samsung Health, the Bixby virtual assistant, Phone, and Messages. You may consider many of these apps as bloatware and wish to remove them permanently. Samsung doesn't let you do that unless you root your device. The best you can do without compromising the device is to deactivate unnecessary apps.

Your Galaxy devices will usually automatically prompt you to install the latest version of One UI. If you think you should be eligible for an update but haven't received a notification, you can check for an update yourself.

A brief history of Samsung One UI

Samsung's software has come a long way since the early TouchWiz and Samsung Experience days. TouchWiz was colorful and was on Samsung devices before the company launched the first Galaxy S smartphone. It kept many of its pre-Android elements, and the company improved it with subsequent updates. However, many users criticized TouchWiz for its cluttered design and slow performance.

Samsung overhauled the user interface with a more minimal approach. This move brought Samsung Experience. The software matched the launch of the Galaxy S8, with a taller display and no center button. Although Samsung Experience's design was more streamlined than TouchWiz, it still suffered from bloating and stuttering.

In December 2018, the company returned to the drawing board and developed One UI. It was a departure from its predecessors, featuring a polished interface. With smartphones getting larger, the software paid attention to one-handed use, a design element Google recently introduced to the Pixel UI.

Since its debut, One UI has continued to evolve, with Samsung regularly making changes and adding better functionality. Like most software, One UI gets its share of bugs. Samsung listens to customers and is committed to refining its user experience. Here's how its famous launcher has evolved since its release.

One UI 1.0

The first version of Samsung's software skin appeared in December 2018 and overlaid on the Android 9 Pie Operating System (OS). The company updated the Galaxy S8, S9, Note 8, and Note 9 with it. Later, it was pre-installed as One UI 1.1. on the Galaxy S10 and A series, including the Z Fold.

Like Android 9, One UI brought several features that have become popular in the industry. For example, it came with Dark mode, refined Always-On Display, support for remapping the Bixby button, and gesture navigation.

Although One UI 1.1 was a minor software update, it optimized device cameras, performance, and fingerprint and facial recognition. Subsequently, Samsung released One UI 1.5 and pre-installed it on the Galaxy Note 10. It provided Link to Windows support following the company's partnership with Microsoft.

One UI 2.0

Samsung launched the stable version of One UI 2.0 based on Android 10 on November 28, 2019. The software rolled out to the Galaxy Note 9, Note 10, S9, and S10 series. It also came pre-installed on the Galaxy S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite. Incremental versions, such as One UI 2.1, launched with the S20 series, while version 2.5 came with the Galaxy Note 20, Z Fold 2, and S20 FE devices.

One UI 2.0 introduced enhanced Dark Mode, a built-in screen recorder, a Trash folder within the Files app, and Dynamic Lock screen, which changes your lock screen wallpaper every time you turn on your display. One UI 2.1 took things further with Quick Share and additional camera modes. One UI 2.5 wasn't particularly feature-packed but introduced DeX, Samsung's tool for mirroring your device on a PC or compatible TV.

One UI 3.0

The third major version of Samsung's custom skin was based on Android 11, and it came out in December 2020. Galaxy S20 devices were the first to get it, with others following between January and August 2021. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S21 came pre-installed with the updated One UI 3.1. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 came with One UI 3.1.1.

One UI 3.0 introduced a translucent notification panel and Samsung Free, the company's version of Google Discover. It delivered enhancements that improved the animations and transitions throughout the software and redesigned the home screen widgets. One UI 3.1 had no notable UI changes but improved the camera touch auto-focus and auto-exposure control, among other camera-specific additions.

Samsung One UI explained: Everything to know about Samsung's custom Android skin (3)
Samsung One UI explained: Everything to know about Samsung's custom Android skin (4)

One UI 4.0

One UI 4.0, based on Android 12, was released publicly in November 2021 and rolled out to the Galaxy S21 and several older devices between December 2021 and August 2022. Like Android 10, One UI 4.0 focused on customization and privacy with improved haptic feedback, rounded widgets, and enhanced location features.

While it was pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, S22 Ultra, and Galaxy Tab S8, One UI 4.1 introduced a redesigned palette picker, Night Mode portraits, and a smarter calendar. The calendar detects dates and times in messages so that you can add events quickly. In addition, the company released a target-geared One UI 4.1.1 based on Android 12L for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Tab S6, Tab S7, and Tab S8 series.

One UI 5.0

Samsung publicly released One UI 5 based on Android 13 on October 24, 2022. The stable version of the software quickly arrived on the Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra. One UI 5 came with deeper Material You integration, allowing for color palette changes that applied to all aspects of the UI.

There's also a better theming engine with support for more colors, improved widget stacking, and the ability to add multiple users, including a guest profile, to your device (a feature Android has supported for ages). There are a couple more recent improvements in One UI 5 that you may find interesting.

One UI 5.1 debuted on the Galaxy S22 and Z Fold 4 as updates and launched with the S23 series out of the box. Although it seems like an incremental update, One UI 5.1 has several tricks, including a smarter gallery, a new battery widget, and expert RAW integration, among other current features. Users call it the most "buttery smooth" version of Samsung's skin.

One UI 6.0

One UI 6 is Samsung's latest launcher version, and it's rolling out with the Android 14 update. The company released a beta version for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series in August 2023 and a stable build in late October. The UI brings camera widgets to your home screen, something you couldn't do before the update. You can add a specific camera mode, whether Pro, Video, or Night, and instantly create shots.

You can also switch between resolutions within the app with one tap. Flagships reaching 200MP may still need to tap twice. One tap displays your choices, and the second tap selects your preferred resolution. The Quick settings layout also changed and offers a simple arrangement for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airplane modes, among other toggles. Your lock screen isn't exempt from the customization. You can now move the clock around. It also added fonts and designs.

Another cool feature is Auto blocker, which restricts third-party apps, images within messages, and malicious USB cables from commanding your device when connected. You may wonder when a One UI 6 update notification will appear on your screen. It's not long from now, as Samsung's roll-out schedule indicates that the release should wrap up in December. Before then, check the schedule to know if your device is eligible for the update.

One UI 7.0

One UI 7.0 will be Samsung's next major update to One UI. Like previous One UI versions, we expect it to launch shortly after Android 15, which is scheduled for launch sometime after July 2024. You can catch up on all the Android 15 news in our roundup.

Samsung launches a beta version of each One UI update before the final stable release. If you want to be among the first to try One UI 7, sign up for the One UI beta program with your Samsung account.

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Use your Samsung phone to the fullest

Choosing your next Android phone involves considering factors like battery life, processing power, cameras, and software. The software you use has the most significant impact on your day-to-day smartphone experience, so if you use One UI, we recommend exploring its most impactful features to have the best experience with Samsung's launcher.

Samsung One UI explained: Everything to know about Samsung's custom Android skin (2024)

FAQs

What Android skin does Samsung use? ›

One UI is a user interface (UI) developed by Samsung Electronics for its Android devices running Android 9 "Pie" and later.

What is custom skin in Android? ›

Skins are UI-focused updates made by the manufacturers to the device's operating system, which is based on Stock Android. I say UI-focused because skins can include changes to things other than the UI. For example, Samsung's One UI has camera modes like "Single Take" that are not available on Stock Android.

What is the purpose of Samsung One UI? ›

One UI is integral to the Samsung Galaxy experience; it's the face and brains of your Samsung device and has been designed with you in mind, combining all your favourite smartphone features and functions to enhance your experience.

What would Android skin be made of? ›

Original skin and moulding techniques

Our Androids' incredibly realistic skin is made from our specially developed silicone material and has negligible oil bleed.

What is Android skin called? ›

User interface (UI)

Android skins of various brands work by transforming the display through colors, design elements, and UI.

How do you find hidden apps on Samsung One UI? ›

In Settings

One of the more straightforward methods to find hidden apps on Samsung phones is the Setting option. Step 1: Open Settings app on your Android phone. Step 2: Tap 'Apps' option to see all hidden apps.

What are disguised apps? ›

Have you heard about hidden apps? They're also called vault apps, and they can be used on cell phones to hide things like photos, files and even other apps! So, why would a kid have a vault app?

Does Samsung have hidden app feature? ›

You can quickly hide apps on any Android device using the Settings menu. Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets also allow you to create a secure folder to transfer apps and photos to an encrypted space that keeps your data separate from the rest of your phone storage.

Why would someone use Samsung UI home? ›

Essentially, One UI Home is Samsung's home screen that contains all the applications, features, and services of their ecosystem on Android-based devices. The primary intention is providing a full and consistent experience for Samsung users that are specific for their hardware and software environment.

What is the difference between Android and one UI? ›

One UI is a personalized launcher that Samsung designed for its Galaxy phones and tablets. It offers more design options than Google's stock Android version. You can change your device's themes and app icons and rearrange your home or apps screen layout to your satisfaction.

What does Android One UI Home do? ›

One UI Home comes preinstalled on your Galaxy phone and tablet, and supplies advanced navigation tools for launching apps and widgets right from your Home screen!

Which Android version is used in Samsung? ›

Smartphones
DeviceVersion
Galaxy FeelOriginal: Samsung Experience 8.1 (Android 7.0 "Nougat") Upgradeable: Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo")
Galaxy S Light Luxury (S8 Lite)Samsung Experience 9.0 (Android 8.0 "Oreo")
Galaxy Xcover 4Samsung Experience 9.5 (Android 8.1 "Oreo")
Samsung Galaxy M10 / M20 / M30
36 more rows

What phone gives you the Galaxy skin? ›

This item was available for a Limited Time and will most likely NEVER come back. Victory is written in the stars. Galaxy is an Epic Outfit in Fortnite, that could have been obtained by playing 3 matches on a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 mobile device.

What is Samsung avatar? ›

The AR Emoji on the Galaxy phone is a virtual character that looks just like you. Create your own emoji and send it via message to your friends and family. There are plenty of options for taking funny photos and videos with emojis.

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