Samsung UI 6 launch, Android 14, here’s what we know

Samsung has made it clear that it has plans to release the first beta build of one UI6, based on Android 14 around July 2023.

This version will most likely be introduced to the Galaxy 23 series with a rollout to other models only rolled out later.

What is One UI 5.1?

Let’s take it back to the beginning.  One UI was Samsung’s suite answer for customizations on Android.

Think of features like gallery and camera app small tweaks.  Software updates on features such as updated widgets and other micro changes that collectively signal improved performance and aesthetics.

Samsung introduced One UI in 2018 followed by One UI 1 which basically was Android 9.  This was followed by One UI 2 based on Android 10.

Fast forward to 2023 and we have One UI 5 based on Android 13 with the latest being One UI 5.1, a minor update based on Android 13.

The minor update is available on the Galaxy S22, S21 series, and more.

Devices that currently have access to One UI 5 are Galaxy S22 (Released), Galaxy S22+ (Released), Galaxy S22 Ultra (Released), Galaxy S21 (Released), Galaxy S21+ (Released), Galaxy S21 Ultra (Released), Galaxy S21 FE (Released), Galaxy S20 (Released), Galaxy S20+ (Released), Galaxy S20 Ultra (Released).

One UI 6 rollout?

Part of the One UI 5.1 update was the improvement of in-app features such as the ability to recognize faces in photos, with a prompt to share albums with people in your pictures.  The ability to detect objects inside photos was also courtesy of One UI 5 and 5.1.  The information you can access in a photo when you swipe up on a photo to access information about the photo in your gallery and see the location of the photo.  That’s One UI 5 and 5.1.

Sources indicate that One UI 6 will be rolled out soon come the end of July, should things go according to plan.

One UI 6 would basically be based on Android 14 as previously stated.

One UI 6 is expected to bring an end to lock screen widgets which have been an issue for some time.

Based on Android 14, One UI 6 will introduce polished lock screen customizations which Samsung has been working on since earlier this year.

The ability to control widget transparency would be a bonus, but we can pretty much predict that the refined version of One UI brings new and efficiently compatible widgets which also allow users to stack multiple widgets in one area to save space.

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Featured image: Unsplash/Daniel Romero