I’d been refreshing the Software program Replace menu on my Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely for a couple of days, expectantly ready for One UI 7 to reach. Then, on the morning of April 10, it was immediately obtainable and I eagerly put in it. Samsung’s One UI 7 software program over Android 15 on the Galaxy S25 Extremely is an enormous success, however what would it not be like on 2024’s flagship Galaxy cellphone?
Not an enormous replace?
To my shock, the One UI 7 replace on the Galaxy S24 Extremely is modestly sized, and took lower than three minutes to obtain and set up on my cellphone. It did so with none situation too, and except for a couple of setup screens to navigate via — one for accessing Google Gemini, and one other displaying the brand new Galaxy AI options — my cellphone was operational once more in moments.
For reference, should you’re ready for the One UI 7 replace, I’m utilizing an unlocked Galaxy S24 Extremely within the U.Okay., and Samsung is probably going staggering the launch to make sure it runs easily. My Galaxy Z Flip 5 remains to be ready for the replace, for instance, regardless of additionally being an unlocked U.Okay. cellphone. There’s no technique to immediate the replace, outdoors of checking the software program replace possibility beneath Settings till it arrives.
The dimensions and time spent updating the cellphone doesn’t do it a lot justice, because it’s full of new options and modifications to the best way One UI seems and capabilities. Should you’ve learn our evaluate of the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Extremely, and the Galaxy A56, you’ll already pay attention to how extremely we regard One UI 7, which ranks up there with OnePlus’s OxygenOS 15 as one of the best present interpretations of Android 15 on a smartphone.
What must you check out?
As a result of One UI 7 is such a considerable replace, we need to spotlight a couple of options we advise you check out first.
Now Bar
The Now Bar seems on the backside of the lock display, and gives real-time data together with a number of fast entry buttons for chosen options, together with Google Maps, Samsung Notes, and media playback. It appears to be like nice, its place on the backside of the display is handy, and it really works rather well. Ensure you give it a attempt, however bear in mind its performance is restricted in the meanwhile.
New lock display and always-on display kinds
The Now Bar is barely one of many glorious lock screen-related modifications in One UI 7. Below the Edit Lock Display screen possibility there are a number of widgets obtainable, from the voice recorder to the calendar, plus the flexibility to vary the clock model, font dimension and weight, and the colours too. Ensure you faucet the shortcut icons within the backside corners too, as every might be modified to any characteristic discovered within the Fast Settings menu.
Break up pull down menu
This One UI 7 characteristic will break up opinion, no pun supposed, but it surely’s a notable change over earlier variations of the software program. It really works by splitting the pull-down menu into two sides, with notifications accessed from the left-hand facet of the display, and Fast Settings from the best. Whether or not you prefer it or not relies upon by yourself preferences, however the whole lot from muscle reminiscence at hand dimension will impression whether or not it really works for you or not. It’s an possibility although, so that you don’t have to make use of it.
New picture filters
Among the finest new picture options in One UI 7 are the intensive picture filters and enhancing suite. Faucet the Filter possibility within the Gallery app’s enhancing suite and there are a number of new filters, every with their very own distinct look. However what’s cool is how every filter might be edited, which is finished utilizing a sequence of intelligent slider bars. It’s not solely satisfying, however every genuinely modifications the look of your photographs.
There’s one thing lacking
That is only a small taster of what’s obtainable in One UI 7 for the Galaxy S24 sequence. It’s nicely value exploring. I actually like One UI 7’s general smoothness, the logical menu design, and the numerous new options it brings to final yr’s Galaxy S24 sequence. I’ll cease in need of saying it transforms the cellphone, but it surely actually brings it proper updated and really feel like new once more. It’s additionally but one more reason there’s little level in upgrading from the S24 Extremely to the S25 Extremely.
Nevertheless, Samsung has held one thing again: Now Transient. The much-trumpeted Galaxy AI characteristic Samsung guarantees will enable you to higher manage your life because it grows and learns with you stays a Galaxy S25-only characteristic. It’s exhausting to think about Now Transient can’t function on the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s {hardware}, significantly as so many different Galaxy AI options are current, and different manufacturers together with Nothing have complicated AI capabilities operating via a much less succesful processor.
It’s seemingly Now Transient’s unique standing is a enterprise resolution, and shall be dangled in entrance of Galaxy S24 house owners as an upgrade-shaped carrot. Do you have to be tempted? It is dependent upon your life-style. Now Transient is barely helpful in case your life could be very busy and you utilize your cellphone to prepare it, from a number of calendar entries to conferences somewhere else, and a whole lot of journey. In case your life is easier, then Now Transient might not be of a lot profit.
Now Transient apart, One UI 7’s arrival on the Galaxy S24 is a win for us all. It’s Samsung’s finest software program package deal but, modernizing an already excellent smartphone, and since it freshens the cellphone so successfully, it ought to banish these nagging remaining ideas of upgrading from it to the Galaxy S25 fully.