One UI is a user interface developed by Samsung Electronics for its mobile, computing devices and TVs, including Android-based devices running Android 9 "Pie" and later. It is the successor to Samsung Experience.
Samsung designed One UI to make using larger smartphones easier and be more visually appealing. It was announced and unveiled at Samsung Developer Conference on 7 November 2018, and was updated in the Galaxy Unpacked event on 20 February 2019 alongside the Galaxy S10 series, the Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Watch Active, the Galaxy Fit and the Galaxy Buds, since then receiving yearly upgrades.
Features One UI was designed as part of a goal to make Samsung's hardware and software "work together in perfect harmony" and provide a more "natural" experience on large-screen smartphones. One UI displays most of the features that were in the Samsung Experience UX. A prominent design pattern in many of Samsung's system applications is to intentionally place common features and user interface elements along the middle of the screen rather than near the top. This makes them easier to reach with a user's thumb when using the device one-handed.
For similar reasons, apps use large headers to push their main content towards the vertical centre of the screen. The navigation bar supports the use of gestures and the usual 3-button system, while a system-wide "night mode" was also added (which gives UI elements and supported applications a darkened color scheme). As with Android Pie upstream, the Overview screen of recent apps uses a horizontal layout, as opposed to the vertical layout of previous versions.
One UI Core One UI Core was a slimmed down version of the original One UI feature set aimed towards the lower-end/budget models of the A Series, M Series, the F Series, and some budget A series Tablets that all came with the core version of One UI. Devices running One UI Core lacked features that the full version of One UI gets such as Screen recording, Knox Security, Samsung DeX, Link to Windows, Good Lock modules, and sometimes AR Emoji depending if the OS uses 32-bit or 64-bit. Since the release of One UI 6, the One UI Core name had been abandoned, and devices previously running One UI Core were instead given full One UI software with limited features with the update to One UI 6.0 based on Android 14.
Default apps and components
The following is a list of Samsung's first-party apps and components included with One UI. Availability may vary by device and region, and not all apps and components are preinstalled or supported on every device. SoftwareDescriptionAR DoodleAugmented reality camera for creating doodlesBixbySmart voice assistantBixby VisionAugmented reality camera tools: Translate, Text copy, Discover, Wine (formerly)CalculatorBasic calculator with scientific mode, tips calculator, and unit convertersCalendarCalendar appCameraPhoto and video camera (including integrated additions)ClockClock, alarms, timers and countdowns app.ContactsContacts managerCreative StudioAI-powered tool for creating images, stickers, wallpapers, and other graphics from photos or text promptsDaily BoardPhoto frame emulator for Galaxy tabletsDeco PicDecorating personal photos and videosDevice CareOptimization tool for monitoring battery, storage, memory, and device securityDevice Control & Media OutputControl home connected devices or switch media output to different devices (integrated in quick panel)Digital WellbeingScreen time monitor toolEmailEmail clientExpert RAWImage editor capable of editing raw image filesGalaxy AvatarAugmented reality avatar and emoji creation tool, includes Avatar Camera, Stickers and EditorGalaxy Enhance-XAI-powered tool to automatically improve photosGalaxy StoreDownloadable apps, games, themes and customizationsGalaxy ThemesCustomization platform for downloading and applying themes, wallpapers, icons, and always-on display stylesGalaxy WearableManager for Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Buds, and Galaxy Ring wearable devicesGalleryPhoto and video gallery, includes stories and OneDrive backupGaming HubAll installed games and Samsung instant playsGood GuardiansPrivileged utilities for Galaxy for device battery, temperature, and moreGood LockUI customization and productivity tools for GalaxyGroup SharingShare content with other Samsung accounts (integrated)Health PlatformAn aggregator bringing together data from various health appsInterpreterReal-time translation tool for face-to-face conversations using voice and textMessagesSMS, MMS and RCS text messaging clientModes and RoutinesConditional automation toolMulti controlService for controlling multiple Samsung devices and dragging-and-dropping filesMusic ShareMulti-device connect to Bluetooth speakersMy FilesFile manager including FTP/SFTP client and SMB network client and integration with OneDrive and Google DrivePENUPSocial network for drawings, preinstalled on phones and tablets with S PenPhoneCellular and VoIP calling clientQuick MeasureAugmented reality measuring toolQuick Share File transfer tool with nearby Galaxy or Android devices and other devices using link, QR code, or installing Windows App.RadioFM radio client (available on Samsung devices with 3.5mm headphone jack)ReminderReminder app with support for syncing with Microsoft To DoSamsung Blockchain WalletCryptocurrency managementSamsung BrowserChromium-based web browserSamsung CloudCloud storage and backup with support for end-to-end encryptionSamsung DeXDesktop-like interface for using Galaxy devices on an external displaySamsung FindAsset tracking service for tracing, finding, locking and wiping lost or stolen devices, including smart tags, as well as sharing location with peopleSamsung FlowText, screen, and file share between phone, tablet, and PCSamsung FoodPersonalized recipe discovery, meal planning, and cooking assistant platformSamsung Global GoalsAdvertising to support donation for the UN's Sustainable Development GoalsSamsung HealthPersonal health tracking toolSamsung Health MonitorHealth monitoring app for ECG and blood pressure measurements on supported devicesSamsung HighlightsCurated content hub showcasing selected articles, media, and recommendationsSamsung KidsRestricted environment for kids with parental controlsSamsung MembersCommunity support and exclusive content, including device diagnosticsSamsung MusicMusic player of formats including MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC, with support for Spotify integrationSamsung NewsNews aggregator from various sources depending by region (provided by Upday in parts of Europe). Can be integrated (media page) into the One UI home screen. Replaced Samsung Free/Samsung O's Read tab.Samsung NotesNote-taking, sketching and PDF reader and editorSamsung ShopStorefront for Samsung Electronics productsSamsung TTS (Text-to-speech)Speech synthesisSamsung TV PlusFree ad-supported television streaming service (available in selected markets)Samsung Visit InProvides location-based notifications for nearby Samsung store offersSamsung WalletDigital wallet (Samsung Pay payment system, Samsung Pass password manager) (available in 32 markets)Smart SwitchData transfer tool to move content to a new Galaxy device from any phone including iPhones, also serves as service for Smart Switch PC and backup for Galaxy WatchesSmartThingsSmart home management platformSecure FolderPrivate and encrypted sandboxed workspace using KnoxSecure Wi-FiVPN network service, available in select countries and regionsSmart ViewScreen mirroring and casting using Miracast (integrated in quick panel) (formerly Samsung Link and AllShare Play)StudioCreate a project using pictures and/or videosTipsDevice information, manual and remote support; not available on low-end modelsVoice RecorderVoice recording in M4A format (3gp4 codec) up to 256 kbit/s/48 kHzWeatherWeather information provided by The Weather Channel
One UI devices also come with numerous Google Mobile Services components preinstalled as part of the Android software experience, except for devices sold in Mainland China.
Typefaces When One UI launched in 2019, the default system font continued to be the Google-developed Roboto. As before, Samsung have pre-installed their own Samsung Sans typeface and the "fun" typefaces Choco Cooky, Cool Jazz and Rosemary as options. One UI also introduced an additional pre-installed font, SamsungOne, a lighter typeface that was originally released in 2016 as an option from the Galaxy Store.
With the release of One UI 6.0 in 2023, Roboto was replaced as the default system font by a new typeface, One UI Sans. Roboto continues to be pre-installed as an option, now under its own name.
History
One UI
+Overview of One UI versions Version Initial release date Latest version Latest release date Android version One UI 112 August 2019Android 9 Pie One UI 2Android 10 One UI 3Android 11 One UI 4Android 12 One UI 5Android 13 One UI 6Android 14 One UI 7Android 15 One UI 8Android 16 One UI 9Android 17
One UI 1 One UI 1.0 is the first version of One UI (based on Android 9 Pie), and was released on 19 December 2018. It brought about many features which were becoming increasingly popular among various apps. Dark mode (then named Night mode) was one key feature added to make viewing in dark spaces easier on the user's eyes. This feature was included in many apps and eventually brought to iOS 13 and Android 10. The first version also brought native screenshot editing tools, refined curves, refinements to the Always-On Display (tap to show), an upgraded Bixby with support for remapping the Bixby button, and a new way to navigate the device: gestures.
While Android 9 Pie did come with gesture support, it was not available on Samsung devices and is said to be 'half baked' by many users. However, Samsung decided to create their own gesture system to navigate devices with One UI installed. To achieve this, the user has to swipe up from the bottom of the device in the three locations of the 'buttons' to navigate. The gesture system has received mixed reviews. The incoming call screen got refinements.
One UI 1.1 brought stability fixes and performance optimizations, primarily for the camera, fingerprint reader, and facial recognition. This version was officially launched with the release of the Galaxy S10 series and select Galaxy A and Galaxy M series devices in 2019.
One UI 1.5 provided a native screen recorder, a "Power Mode" for higher system performance and exclusive early access Link to Windows support in cooperation with Microsoft. It was launched with the Galaxy Note 10 series devices on 12 August 2019. It was included with select Galaxy A series devices from 2019, Galaxy Tab S6 and Tab Active Pro.
Although Samsung Experience was rebranded to One UI in late 2018, some apps like Settings or the Calendar still identify One UI 1.0–1.5 as Samsung Experience. This would be corrected with One UI 2 as the Samsung Experience name would later fade away with the release of Android 10 for those supported devices. Additionally, app versions were 10.x and with each generation of One UI, the version of apps was incremented by 1 for every One UI version.
One UI 2 One UI 2.0 is the second version of One UI and is powered by Android 10. It provides Galaxy users with a skinned Digital Wellbeing experience, a more refined UI in some default apps such as Device Care, a minor UI change to the clock position in quick settings, a native screen recorder, the new Android 10 gesture system, Dynamic Lock Screen (different wallpaper with every unlock), a Trash folder in Files, native Android Auto, sound themes and harder Location permission access. The incoming call screen got improvements, including the phone icons. The first phones that were released with this version were the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71. It also made its way to other devices such as the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series on 7 November 2019 as a software update.