Samsung phones have always been impressive, from the ultra series to the folds, and now even their trifolds. One standout feature that sets them apart is One UI. Initially, One UI felt overwhelming—especially during the Galaxy S10 era—but with time, it has evolved into a seamless, highly customizable Android experience. By the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the appeal of One UI became clear, and recent devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Z Fold 7 have showcased its full potential. Today, One UI can arguably rival any Android OS, offering deeper customization than stock Android while maintaining smooth performance.
Minimalist Home Screen Setup
One UI excels in home screen management, making it easy to create a clean, distraction-free layout. By hiding app labels, adjusting the grid layout to a 5x6 configuration, and centralizing frequently used apps, the home screen achieves both simplicity and functionality. Recent additions like widget stacks enhance this minimalist aesthetic. Users can stack up to seven widgets in a single space, allowing swipe-through functionality for weather, news, or other essentials. Transparent widgets, such as the weather widget, blend seamlessly with the home screen, though some widgets still have backgrounds, slightly affecting the minimalistic look.
Additionally, Good Lock allows multiple home screens to be saved and restored, offering up to 20 different setups. This enables experimentation without the risk of losing preferred layouts. However, wallpapers must be manually reapplied after restoring a backup, and these setups remain device-specific, as cloud storage for home screen backups is not supported.
Advanced Gestures and One-Handed Controls
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On larger devices like the Ultra and Fold series, One UI’s gestures extend beyond the standard swipe-up home, swipe-up-and-hold recent apps, and swipe-from-side back gestures. One-Handed Mode Plus adds diagonal and long swipe gestures, enabling quick access to modes, quick panel settings, split-screen functions, and more—without needing to stretch across the screen. On foldables, gestures can adapt based on whether the device is open or closed, allowing routines to manage settings like auto-rotate automatically, enhancing convenience and efficiency.
Efficient Split-Screen Access, Smart Automation and Custom Shortcuts
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One UI also simplifies multitasking. Instead of navigating multiple steps to activate split-screen mode, users can enable a two-finger swipe up gesture in advanced settings and directly access multi-window functionality. This hidden gesture streamlines multitasking on large devices, making productivity much faster and more intuitive.
Routine automation is another strength. For example, Google Wallet can be launched with a double-press of the volume button, using face unlock to authenticate payments in one seamless action. Bixby, despite its reputation, offers practical uses such as dismissing alarms, timers, and calls via voice commands, even when other apps handle initial settings. These small automations significantly reduce friction in daily interactions.
Deep Customisation with Good Lock
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Good Lock provides extensive customisation options, from changing app animation speeds to removing the dock for a cleaner home screen. Finder access can be enabled with a swipe-down gesture, allowing easy app and settings searches. Task view layouts can be adjusted between tilt stack, grid, vertical list, or slim list. Edge lighting effects can be tailored for notifications, providing a personalised visual experience. Camera shutter lag can also be minimised with the Quick Tap Shutter feature, capturing images instantly on press rather than release.
The depth of One UI ensures that every device can be tailored to individual preferences. From home screens and widgets to gestures, split-screen shortcuts, automations, and aesthetic adjustments, One UI offers a level of customisation that keeps users exploring new possibilities. The platform’s flexibility makes Samsung devices uniquely adaptable, allowing users to craft an Android experience that feels entirely their own.
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