Samsung’s One UI 7 is here, and it’s packed with exciting updates that make your Galaxy phone or tablet smoother, smarter, and more fun to use. Based on Android 15, One UI 7 brings a fresh look, better performance, and new features that make everyday tasks easier. Whether you’re a longtime Samsung user or new to Galaxy devices, this update has something for everyone. Let’s dive into the best new features of One UI 7 in simple terms.
1. A Fresh and Modern Look
One UI 7 gives your device a vibrant new design. Here’s what’s new:
Colorful App Icons: Apps like Camera, Gallery, and Settings now have brighter, more eye-catching icons. They’re bold and easier to spot on your home screen.
Updated Widgets: Widgets are more colorful and organized. You can hide app labels for a cleaner look, and they fit better on your home screen.
Smoother Animations: Opening apps, switching screens, or multitasking feels super smooth thanks to new animations. Samsung calls these “interruptible animations,” which make everything feel fast and fluid.
New Lock Screen Options: You can now customize your lock screen with new clock styles, resize the clock, and move it anywhere you like. There are also new animations to make it look lively.
2. Now Bar: Your Info at a Glance
The Now Bar is a brand-new feature that shows important information on your lock screen. It’s like a quick hub for things you care about, such as:
Media controls (like pausing music or skipping songs).
Timers, workout stats, or navigation directions.
Updates from apps like Samsung Health or Voice Recorder.
You can tap the Now Bar to see more details or control these tasks without unlocking your phone. It also works with the Always-On Display (AOD) for quick access. You can choose which apps show up in the Now Bar to keep it clutter-free.
3. Vertical App Drawer is Back
Good news for app lovers! One UI 7 brings back the vertical app drawer, making it easier to scroll through your apps with one hand. The search bar is now at the bottom, so it’s easier to reach. There’s also a fast-scroll bar on the right to jump to specific apps quickly. To enable it, go to the app drawer, tap the menu, and sort apps alphabetically.
4. Smarter Notifications
One UI 7 changes how notifications work:
Split Notification Panel: By default, swiping down from the top-left or middle shows notifications, while swiping from the top-right shows quick settings (like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth toggles). If you don’t like this, you can switch back to the old combined view in Settings > Notifications > Panel settings > Together.
Filter Notifications: You can group less important notifications (like old ones or background app alerts) into an “X more notifications” card at the bottom of the panel. This keeps your screen tidy.
Lock Screen Notifications: Notifications now appear as small icons in the top-right corner of the lock screen. You can change this to show more details if you prefer.
5. Improved Camera Features
The camera app in One UI 7 is cleaner and easier to use:
Better Filters: You can now create custom filters based on your favorite photos. Adjust settings like color, contrast, or brightness to get the perfect look.
Pro Mode Upgrades: Pro and Pro Video modes have a simpler layout, with a new zoom slider for smooth video zooming. An exposure monitor shows zebra patterns to help you get the right brightness.
Log Video: You can shoot videos in Log format for professional editing, giving you more control over colors and lighting.
AI Zoom and Editing: Galaxy AI enhances zoom and suggests photo edits, like improving lighting or removing noise, for better results.
6. Galaxy AI: Smarter and More Helpful
One UI 7 makes Galaxy AI even better with tools to simplify your life:
Writing Assist: Select any text, and Galaxy AI can fix grammar, rewrite sentences, or summarize content. It works in any app with a keyboard.
Call Transcripts: Record a call, and One UI 7 will transcribe it in up to 20 languages. This is great for saving notes from important calls (note: all parties are notified of recording).
AI Select: This feature suggests actions based on what you’re doing. For example, select a date, and it offers to add it to your calendar. Select an image, and it suggests editing options.
Smart Search: Use natural language to search for settings or photos in the Gallery app. For example, say “find photos from last weekend” to get quick results.
7. Better Battery and Security
One UI 7 helps your phone stay safe and last longer:
Custom Battery Limits: You can now set your phone to stop charging at 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% to protect the battery’s lifespan. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery protection to adjust this.
Cool Charging Animation: When you plug in your phone, a sleek “charging pill” animation appears at the bottom of the lock screen or status bar. It’s subtle and doesn’t take over the screen.
Knox Matrix Dashboard: Check the security status of all your Samsung devices (like phones, tablets, or TVs) in one place.
Personal Data Engine: Your sensitive data, like biometrics, is stored securely on your device using Knox Vault encryption for extra safety.
Block USB Access: When your phone is locked, it blocks USB connections (except for charging) to prevent unauthorized access.
8. Gaming and Performance Boosts
Gamers will love these updates:
Game Booster: Tweak settings for each game to improve performance or save battery. This works great on devices like the Galaxy A56.
Smoother Performance: One UI 7 is better optimized, so even mid-range phones feel faster and smoother.
60Hz for Games: You can limit the refresh rate to 60Hz during gaming to save battery without affecting other apps. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Game Booster Settings > Gaming motion smoothness.
9. Other Cool Features
Now Brief: This feature gives you quick summaries of things like weather, upcoming meetings, or Samsung Health stats throughout the day. It may be exclusive to newer devices like the Galaxy S25.
Child Safety in Galaxy Store: Kids’ accounts now need parental permission to buy apps, keeping things safe.
Multitasking Improvements: For foldable devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, there’s a new taskbar and “Swipe to continue” feature when folding/unfolding.
Connectivity Labs: A hidden feature lets you check Wi-Fi performance. Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Intelligent Wi-Fi, tap “Intelligent Wi-Fi” seven times, and unlock tools to test your internet.
When Will You Get One UI 7?
One UI 7 started rolling out with the Galaxy S25 series in February 2025. The Galaxy S24 series got it in April 2025, and other devices like the Galaxy S23, Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, and some Galaxy A series phones (like A55 and A35) are getting it soon. Older devices, like the Galaxy S21, may also receive the update, but it could take longer. Check Samsung’s official website or your phone’s Settings > Software update for the latest info.
Final Thoughts
One UI 7 is one of Samsung’s biggest updates yet, with a fresh design, smarter AI, and features that make your phone easier to use. From the Now Bar to the vertical app drawer and better camera tools, there’s a lot to love. While some changes, like the split notification panel, might take time to get used to, you can customize most settings to fit your style.
If you’ve got One UI 7, try tweaking the Now Bar or battery settings to make the most of it. What’s your favorite feature? Let us know!
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