The rollout of Samsung’s latest Android skin, One UI 7, has been a narrative of both anticipation and frustration. Based on Android 15, the update initially sparked excitement with its promise of enhanced AI integration and a refined user experience. However, the early stages of its deployment have been marred by significant technical hurdles, leading to a temporary but impactful pause in its global distribution.
On April 7th, the first wave of the update reached select flagship devices, including the Galaxy S24 series and the latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. This initial release, however, was short-lived. User reports quickly flooded in, detailing critical malfunctions, the most prominent being instances of devices becoming completely locked after the update. The epicentre of these issues appeared to be South Korea, particularly affecting Galaxy S24 models powered by Exynos chipsets.
Compounding these initial stability concerns was the discovery of a notable privacy vulnerability within Samsung’s Secure Folder. This flaw allowed automatically generated “stories” from within the secure environment to potentially surface outside its protected confines, raising serious concerns about the exposure of private multimedia content on the Galaxy S24 series, Z Flip 6, and Z Fold 6.
In response to this confluence of critical bugs, Samsung made the decisive move to halt the One UI 7 rollout across all affected regions. This pause impacted users in Europe, the United States, Canada, and India, where the update had already commenced its phased deployment. Even in Malaysia, where a limited rollout to the Galaxy S24 series, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 began around April 14th, the brakes were swiftly applied.
Despite this turbulent beginning, the situation appears to be evolving. Samsung has publicly acknowledged the reported issues and affirmed its commitment to resolving them. Recent indicators suggest that the primary lock screen bug has been identified and a fix is in the pipeline. There are even signals pointing towards a potential resumption of the rollout for the Galaxy S24 series as early as today, with a revised firmware build (version ending BYD9) reportedly being prepared.
Features Coming with One UI 7 to Older Devices
Beyond the initial rollout challenges, the underlying potential of One UI 7 remains significant for a broad spectrum of older Samsung devices. While the most cutting-edge AI functionalities might be reserved for newer flagship hardware, a wealth of enhancements are poised to enrich the user experience across eligible models:
- Refined User Interface: One UI 7 introduces a cleaner and more intuitive visual language, featuring a reorganised home screen, updated widget designs, and greater customisation options for the lock screen.
- The Innovative Now Bar: This novel feature delivers real-time, interactive notifications directly on the lock screen. Users can conveniently monitor workout progress or manage music playback without needing to unlock their devices.
- Expanding Galaxy AI Capabilities:
- Contextual AI Select: Offers intelligent action suggestions based on selected content, such as the quick creation of GIFs from video clips.
- Intelligent Writing Assist: Provides tools for summarising, formatting, and generating text in diverse styles within Samsung Notes.
- Creative Drawing Assist: Empowers users to generate unique AI-driven images from simple sketches or text prompts.
- Effective Audio Eraser: Reduces or eliminates unwanted background noise in video recordings, enhancing audio clarity.
- Seamless Live Translate: Transcribes and translates voice calls in real-time across multiple languages, facilitating communication.
- Enhanced Camera Functionality:
- A redesigned camera application interface for more intuitive control.
- AI-Powered Auto Trim: An intelligent video editing tool for streamlined post-production.
- Advanced Log Video Recording: Offers greater manual control over video capture parameters for experienced users.
- Versatile ND Filters in Expert RAW: Expands the creative possibilities for mobile photography.
- Integrated RAW Image Editor: Provides advanced editing capabilities for uncompressed RAW image files.
- Optimized Battery Protection: New battery management options allow users to tailor charging behaviour to maximise battery longevity. Choices include a basic mode (full charge with trickle-down), an adaptive mode (80% charge during sleep, full charge before waking), and a maximal mode (user-defined charge limit, e.g., 80%).
- Improved Quick Settings Panel: Offers a more efficient and customizable way to access frequently used system settings.
- Google Gemini Integration: Facilitates seamless interaction with Google’s advanced AI assistant within various native Samsung applications.
- Proactive Theft Detection: Leveraging on-device AI, this new Google feature can detect potential theft based on unusual device movement and automatically lock the device as a security measure.
While the precise rollout schedule remains subject to adjustments following the recent pause, Samsung has indicated a broad range of older Galaxy devices are slated to receive the One UI 7 update. This includes:
- Galaxy S Series: S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S21 FE, S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE.
- Galaxy Z Series: Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5.
- Galaxy A Series: Select models, including the A53, A54, and A55.
- Galaxy Tab Series: Tab S8 series, Tab S9 series, and the anticipated Tab S10 series.
The exact timeline for the update’s arrival on these older models will likely be clarified as Samsung resolves the initial rollout issues and resumes distribution.
