One UI 7 wishlist: What we want to see and what we know so far

Update: July 25, 2024 (9:35 AM ET): We’ve updated the Samsung One UI 7 rumor hub with an apparent beta program launch date.

Samsung’s software experience has undergone a remarkable transformation since the arrival of One UI. Once considered a bloated and sluggish overlay, it has evolved into one of the most polished and intuitive Android experiences on the market. The latest iteration, One UI 6.1, introduced a range of exciting AI-powered enhancements.

Now, anticipation builds as the next major One UI upgrade looms alongside the arrival of Android 15. While concrete details on the next version of One UI remain elusive as of March 2024, we can make some informed predictions about what this major update might bring.

One UI 7: Features we want to see

The rumor mill may be silent on specific One UI 7 features, but that won’t stop us from dreaming big. Considering the increasing use of AI across the board, and especially in One UI 6.1, it’s a safe bet that One UI 7 will continue to explore the potential of generative artificial intelligence and machine learning.

On-device AI

Topping our wishlist is the ability to run an AI model like Google Gemini or ChatGPT directly on your Samsung device. While this might be limited to flagship phones and foldables due to processing demands, it could revolutionize several aspects of the Samsung flagship experience.

On-device AI could dramatically speed up Galaxy AI experiences like generative image editing, real-time translations, and smart typing suggestions. Plus, it brings the bonus of offline access to these features and the enhanced privacy of keeping your data local.

Battery health monitoring

Next, we’re echoing the rumors about battery health monitoring. If Android 15 introduces this feature, Samsung absolutely needs to incorporate it. With Samsung’s commitment to longer software support cycles, understanding battery health becomes crucial for ensuring your device remains healthy and usable over the long term.

Ideally, this feature would offer insights into the number of charging cycles your phone has completed. Alternatively, even displaying the battery health as a percentage of its original capacity (like iPhones do) would be immensely helpful.

More customize-a-fun

Lastly, let’s talk customization. One UI already offers a plethora of options, but there’s always room for more. How about the ability to resize or reformat home screen folders or change the default icon shapes for a different aesthetic? While we’re dreaming, let’s throw in some dynamic, interactive widgets to liven things up.

One UI 7: Expected release date and name

Samsung has established a fairly predictable pattern for its major One UI updates, aligning them closely with Google’s release of new Android versions (except for One UI 1.0, which debuted with the Galaxy S10 series in February). Let’s look back at the last five years:

• One UI 1.0 (Android 9 Pie): February 2019
• One UI 2.0 (Android 10): December 2019
• One UI 3.0 (Android 11): December 2020
• One UI 4.0 (Android 12): November 2021
• One UI 5.0 (Android 13): October 2022
• One UI 6.0 (Android 14): October 2023

Based on this trend, we can anticipate One UI 7 to debut sometime around October 2024, shortly after the official release of Android 15. There’s no reason to think Samsung will deviate from its established naming pattern, so we can confidently expect the next major stable One UI release to arrive as One UI 7.0.

Will there be a One UI 7 beta?

Samsung has a solid history of offering beta programs for its One UI updates, and we expect One UI 7 to be no different. This allows enthusiastic users to preview new features and provide valuable feedback before the final One UI 7 stable release hits devices.

If past trends hold, the One UI 7 beta program could kick off as early as August 2024. Initially, it’s likely to be exclusive to Samsung’s 2024 flagship smartphones, including the Galaxy S24 series and potentially the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 foldable devices.

On July 25, journalist Max Jambor claimed on X that the One UI 7 beta program would start on Monday, July 29. Check out the tweet below.

It’s important to remember that beta software is inherently less stable than official releases. You might encounter bugs, glitches, and unexpected performance issues. For this reason, we never recommend installing a beta on your primary phone.

One UI 7 rumored features

While concrete details on One UI 7 remain scarce, there’s a strong chance that many of the exciting new features debuting in Android 15 will make their way to Samsung devices as well. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these potential additions.

Partial screen sharing

This feature, initially introduced in Android 14 QPR2 for Pixel devices, is making its way to the wider Android ecosystem with Android 15. It allows you to share or record a specific app window instead of your entire screen, boosting privacy and streamlining multitasking. While Samsung may implement this feature in its own way, we anticipate a similar function arriving in One UI 7.

Notification taming

Android 15 is also set to introduce a thoughtful “Notification Cooldown” feature. It automatically lowers the volume of repeated notifications from the same app, keeping your sanity in check. This could be a welcome addition to One UI 7’s notification management tools.

Sticky keys and Bounce keys

Google is already offering these features with Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, but they will most likely be added to Android 15. Sticky Keys make it easier for users to execute keyboard shortcuts by keeping modifier keys (like Alt, Ctrl, and Shift) active even after they are released. Bounce keys prevent accidental repeated key presses, ideal for users with varying levels of motor control. We expect these helpful features to land on Samsung phones and tablets with the One UI 7.0 update.

Rounded icons and widgets

A rumor from tipster Chunvn8888 claims that the next iteration of One UI will be heavily inspired by iOS 18. One of the ways it will mimic Apple’s OS is by giving its icons a more roundish, 3D-like design. Lock screen widgets could also get the rounded treatment. The tipster provide a few screenshots of what the redesign could look like.

The tipster also shared an image where the user can choose the icon and widget style, which he compares to iOS 18. Interestingly, it looks like Samsung may have also changed the look of the battery icon to be pill-shaped.

Quick action

Apple’s iPhone has a feature called quick action, which brings up a menu of actions you can do with an app. It’s believed that Samsung will add a similar feature to its lock screen.

Notification panel pages

Chunvn8888’s rumor claims that Samsung’s notification panel will get separate dropdowns for notifications and quick settings. This change could feature notifications on the left and quick settings on the right. It’s said to work similarly to Xiaomi’s MIUI/HyperOS skins that you to swipe laterally to switch between the two pages.

New camera UI

The rumor from Chunvn8888 also claims that the camera app UI will be changed. The quick camera settings at the top of the screen may be relocated to the bottom, along with the camera modes. Additionally, it’s said that a shortcut will be added that expands multiple quick camera settings. The tipster adds that the UI has been tweaked for a more one-hand-friendly experience.

Dynamic Island and Live Activities clones

Another rumor that comes from Chunvn8888 suggests that Samsung has made its own version of Apple’s Dynamic Island that will come in One UI 7. The tipster also claims that Samsung has copied Apple’s Live Activities feature.

One UI 7 compatibility

Samsung boasts one of the most generous software support policies in the Android world, so it comes as no surprise that the list of devices expected to receive the One UI 7 update is reassuringly long. Virtually all Galaxy devices launched with Android 13 or newer out of the box qualify. Additionally, flagship and select mid-range devices released in or after 2021, which fall under Samsung’s four-generation update promise, should be included as well.

While Samsung will release an official list of supported devices once the cat is out of the bag, we can extrapolate from historical patterns to say that these devices have a high probability of receiving One UI 7:

• All Galaxy S phones from the S21 series right up to the S24 series (including the FE editions)
• All Galaxy Z foldable devices including the Fold 3, Flip 3, and all newer models
• Recent Galaxy tablets, including all models under the Tab S8 and S9 lineups
• The latest Galaxy A series phones (think A15, A25, A35, and A55) alongside their recent predecessors (A54, A34, A53, and A33)
• International models from the Galaxy F and M series

While we wait for the official word from Samsung, anticipation builds for One UI 7. Potential AI upgrades and the integration of new Android 15 goodies make this an exciting update. Couple that with Samsung’s class-leading support policy, and One UI 7 looks like a great reason to hang onto your Galaxy device or jump on the Samsung bandwagon.