Samsung’s One UI 7: A buggy start and enhanced customization features

Samsung’s upcoming One UI 7, based on Android 15, is generating a lot of buzz as the company prepares to launch its beta testing phase. The beta release is expected around mid-November 2024, with an official rollout slated for early 2025. However, early reports suggest that the initial beta version might be riddled with bugs, a common issue seen in previous One UI betas, such as One UI 6, which had notable animation problems and performance glitches​.

Early Bug Reports and Beta Testing

The first beta build for One UI 7, rumored to be labeled as ZXKB, is anticipated to come with several issues, particularly in animations and interface fluidity. This isn’t surprising, as beta versions are typically used to iron out such problems before the official release. Samsung’s strategy includes rigorous internal testing, but the public beta will help gather broader user feedback to resolve any remaining issues. Samsung’s approach with the One UI 7 beta reflects a cautious rollout, aiming to ensure that by the time of the stable release, many of these initial bugs are fixed​.

New Features and Customization Options

One UI 7 is set to bring several significant enhancements, especially in terms of user customization:

1. Enhanced Quick Settings Panel: Samsung is introducing a redesigned Quick Settings panel. Users will have the ability to customize the layout, including repositioning the brightness slider and volume controls for easier access. This aims to improve user experience by allowing greater flexibility in setting preferences​.
2. Improved Good Lock Integration: Good Lock, Samsung’s powerful customization suite, will see updates with new modules and features. Notably, there is a rumored “animation tuning” option that may allow users to adjust or even mimic animations from other operating systems like iOS, providing a smoother and more fluid experience tailored to user preferences​.
3. Dynamic Island-Style Notifications: Taking inspiration from iOS, One UI 7 might introduce dynamic notifications that resemble Apple’s “Dynamic Island” feature. This will allow for a pill-shaped notification design, enhancing the interactive experience when users receive alerts​.
4. More Control Over Lock Screen Shortcuts: Samsung is adding new customization options for lock screen shortcuts, letting users change the default shortcuts without relying on external apps or Good Lock modules. This is a significant update aimed at increasing the ease of access to preferred apps directly from the lock screen​.
5. Resizable Widgets and New Animations: The update will also introduce new, resizable widgets, making better use of home and lock screen spaces. Users can expect smoother and faster UI animations, enhancing the overall experience of using Samsung devices​.

Expected Release and Rollout Plan

The One UI 7 beta program will likely kick off in select markets, including South Korea and the USA, before expanding to other regions like India, Germany, and the UK. This staged rollout will help Samsung gather feedback from a diverse set of users, enabling quicker identification and resolution of any lingering issues. The final, stable release is anticipated to coincide with the launch of the Galaxy S25 series in early 2025, as part of Samsung’s larger software update strategy​.

Conclusion

While the initial beta version of Samsung’s One UI 7 might present some bugs, this is part of the testing process to refine the software. With a focus on deeper customization options and enhanced features, One UI 7 promises to be a significant upgrade for Samsung users. The upcoming changes are expected to offer a more streamlined and personalized experience, setting a new standard for Android interfaces on Samsung devices.

This comprehensive upgrade aims to solidify Samsung’s reputation for providing a highly customizable and user-friendly software experience, aligning closely with the latest Android innovations while integrating unique features tailored to Samsung’s ecosystem.