Overview of Release Date, Beta Timeline, Leaked Features, and More

Update: November 25, 2024 (05:00 AM ET): We’ve updated this Samsung One UI 7 hub with beta timeline details, a video showing the split notification shade/quick settings menu, and more details.

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 platform upgrade to Android 15. While concrete details on the next version of One UI remain elusive, we can make some informed predictions about what this major update might bring.

One UI 7: Expected release date and name

• One UI 4.0 (Android 12): November 2021
• One UI 5.0 (Android 13): October 2022
• One UI 6.0 (Android 14): October 2023

During the Samsung Developer Conference 2024 (SDC 2024), the company revealed that One UI 7 isn’t as close to releasing as we initially thought. The tech giant plans to launch the stable update along with the Galaxy S25 next year. This is contrary to previous years when the stable version would roll out shortly after the official launch of the new Android update.

Meanwhile, Samsung confirmed the beta will arrive before the end of the year. It’s difficult to say when it will launch between now and December.

The company has also recently confirmed a public beta program, although it’s unclear when this will take place. This is still good news, as our initial impression was that the One UI 7 beta program would be restricted to developers.

Leaker Ice Universe predicts that One UI 7 betas will start after November 17, 2025, with South Korea and the United States expected to be the first countries to receive the beta update. Fellow tipster Max Jambor followed up by claiming that the beta program could kick off in “early December.”

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. During SDC 2024, Samsung did confirm that a beta is on the way.

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.

In fact, leaker Ice Universe claimed on November 15 that the One UI 7 beta could be way buggier than previously expected. That’s not entirely surprising given the massive overhaul that is One UI 7, but it’s noteworthy nonetheless.

One UI 7 rumored and confirmed features

Although it revealed very little information, Samsung teased at SDC 2024 that One UI 7 will be a major shift to its interface. The company says that it is embracing “purposeful simplicity” and is trying out a new look for the home screen app grid. The three key points Samsung brought up in its presentation are simplicity, impactfulness, and emotional attachment.

One UI 7 leaks have been thin, but we have a rough changelog to help give a picture of what to expect from One UI 7. Leaker Ice Universe posted the changelog on Weibo but deleted the post shortly thereafter.

Several notable visual changes are worth highlighting from this leaked changelog summary, such as new system app icons, a new battery icon and charging animation, a new camera app UI, and new animations.

Ice Universe also asserts that you can choose between separate or unified dropdown menus for notifications and quick settings. Other notable One UI 7 tweaks mentioned by the leaker include more desktop widgets, more lockscreen widgets, and large folder support.

New UI elements

A rumor from tipster Chun Bhai claims that the next iteration of One UI will be heavily inspired by iOS 18. One way 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 provided 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.

Continuing to drip feed One UI 7 leaks, the tipster shared a couple of screenshots showing off a color palette theme. They also shared a look at the new lock screen UI.

SammyGuru spotted One UI 7 on some devices at Samsung’s developer conference in October, taking a photo of the new icons (seen below). We were also at the conference and can confirm that we saw these changes, including a tweaked battery icon.

YouTube channel Mobile Wala Bhai posted a One UI 7 hands-on video in late October. The video (which has since been pulled down) reveals a more customizable lock screen, new app icons, and new home screen additions (including new and overhauled widgets). The clip also confirms more fluid task-switching animations. An earlier clip by the YouTuber also corroborates the new battery icon, overhauled camera interface, and a few other aforementioned changes.

A massive leak from Android Headlines also gave us a good look at what is coming from Samsung, including the new icons. You can check out a preview of the icons in the old vs new comparison below:

Animations

Leaker Ice Universe posted a now-deleted video on Twitter showing the app-switching animations in One UI 7. Fortunately, Twitter user @TechKhaled_ saved the video.

The clip reveals some impressively smooth task-switching animations. The software seems to react almost instantly to taps and gestures when switching apps, which bodes well for smartphone enthusiasts who value an extremely smooth experience.

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.

One oft-repeated claim is 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.

These separate dropdown pages were confirmed via devices running One UI 7 at Samsung’s developer conference in October. SammyGuru first spotted these changes and took the photos seen above, but we also spotted them.

YouTuber Mobile Wala Bhai also highlighted these changes in his video and confirmed that you can return to a unified dropdown menu.

Ice Universe followed up with a video (seen above) showing off the separate quick settings and notifications menus. We also get a good look at the smoother, faster system animations.

New camera UI and photo features

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.

SamMobile confirmed most of these camera changes on a device running One UI 7 at Samsung’s developer conference. The settings menu in the viewfinder has indeed been shifted to the bottom of the screen and turned into a carousel.

Either way, these changes should make life easier if you’re shooting one-handed, particularly in portrait orientation.

The Android Headlines report mentions that One UI 7 will come with photo features such as using Live Effects to add depth to pictures and even let you restyle portraits with AI

The Sketch to Image feature will get more options like 3D Cartoon, Sketch, and Watercolor.

Dynamic Island and Live Activities clones

Another rumor from leaker Chun Bhai suggests that Samsung has made its own version of Apple’s Dynamic Island that will be included in One UI 7. The tipster also claims that Samsung has copied Apple’s Live Activities feature.

The Android Headlines report showcases what is being called “smart notification management” alongside an “enhanced lock screen,” and here’s what that could look like:

AI features

According to Ice Universe, One UI 7 will add a very useful AI search feature to Samsung’s stock Gallery app. Similar to Ask Photos in Google Photos, the new Gallery app feature could allow Samsung users to search for specific images in a natural, descriptive way. Leaker Chun Bhai mentions that Galaxy AI will have a notification summary feature called AI notification.

The Galaxy Tab S9 series tablets are compatible with the Galaxy Tab S10 series keyboards, but owners of the older tablet can’t use the new keyboard’s Galaxy AI key. Fortunately, Samsung has quietly confirmed that the One UI 7 update will bring support for this AI key to the Galaxy Tab S9 series.

Google features

The Android Headlines report mentions that several Google features will also be coming to One UI 7. For instance, Circle to Search will be updated with Homework Help to help you with Math and Physics homework problems.

Android 15 features that could come to One UI 7

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.

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.

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 Samsung’s official word, 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 keep your Galaxy device or jump on the Samsung bandwagon.