Latest news with #OneUI
Android Authority
17 hours ago
- Android Authority
Galaxy S26 Ultra's chipset info spotted in One UI code, and it's not surprising
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR A new report has confirmed that Samsung will continue to rely on Qualcomm for its next Ultra smartphone. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is confirmed to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, based on evidence found in the device's firmware. This does not rule out the existence of an S26 Ultra powered by an Exynos 2600 or a Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, despite lean chances of any of that happening. Phone brands these days don't do a very good job of containing confidential information about upcoming devices. Samsung isn't immune to this problem either, and many tidbits of its yet-to-release Galaxy S26 series are already public knowledge. Earlier today, we learned about internal codenames for the upcoming Galaxy S26 devices that indicate the likelihood of a lineup rejig. Now, a new leak has confirmed the chipset (or at least, one of the chipsets) that will power the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Folks at SamMobile claim to have gotten access to the One UI firmware that will come preinstalled on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. From the firmware file, the team has deciphered the presence of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset at the helm. This chipset is most likely a Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, as suggested by the mentions of 'qcom' and 'PMK8850' in the source code. The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 has long been rumored to be associated with an identifier 'SM8850,' which is especially plausible since the Snapdragon 8 Elite is codenamed 'SM8750.' However, the use of 'PMK' in the codename could highlight the special 'For Galaxy' variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. While Samsung's choice of chipset was already expected, the evidence from One UI's code corroborates the assumption. However, it does not rule out the presence of an Exynos 2600-powered Galaxy S6 Ultra — even without ample historical evidence to support it. Notably, Samsung hasn't entirely relinquished the Exynos 2600, and its decision to equip the Galaxy Flip 7 with an Exynos 2500 globally backs the possibility of the newer Exynos powering more flagship devices next year. Another recent report spoke of Samsung's plans to address the longstanding problem of heating on Exynos chips by reconfiguring the design. Additionally, speculations from earlier this month have indicated that Samsung will use a variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 manufactured by TSMC for its Galaxy S26. However, it is also developing a cheaper variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 on a smaller 2nm fab, but could reserve its stocks for selling to other vendors like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and other Chinese manufacturers that aim for more competitive prices for their smartphones. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be Samsung's most upgraded phone in recent years, which is every bit new compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, except in terms of its battery capacity. Follow
Phone Arena
17 hours ago
- Phone Arena
One UI 8.5 quietly confirmed for Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung's upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is rumored to come with One UI 8.5. A few days ago, the first firmware for the phone was spotted on Samsung's server, suggesting that the phone's software is now being developed. It was then suspected that the firmware was based on One UI 8 .5, but there was no confirmation. Now, the folks at SamMobile have managed to get their hands on the first firmware for the expected beast to confirm it's based on One UI 8.5. The firmware version is carrying number S948USQU0AYG8. Its build info mentions it's based on Android 16 and One UI 8 .5. This is the first time One UI 8 .5 was mentioned officially, confirming its existence. Earlier, reputable leaker IceUniverse also mentioned the Galaxy S26 Ultra may come with One UI 8 .5. Last week, we heard that Samsung will start introducing major One UI versions with the foldables from the Galaxy Z series, which is sometime in the middle of each year. Now, Galaxy S series phones are going to come with One UI x.5, which includes major new features and improvements. Proof that Galaxy S26 Ultra may come with One UI 8.5. | Image Credit - SamMobile Google has switched to a new development model for Android for faster release of software. It's now releasing major new Android versions in the middle of the year. So Samsung is aiming with this change to match Google's software update release timeline with One UI releases. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to come with some great upgrades as well, not just some new features in One UI 8 .5. The phone is said to bring improvements to its display, possibly faster charging (although rumors are contradictory on this one), and maybe a new look. The S26 series is expected to come out in early 2026. They'll face the iPhone 17 series (coming this fall) in the battle of the best flagship phone. I think that this is an exciting change for Galaxy users. One UI 8 .5 sounds like it could bring some nice improvements, and it's great to see Samsung syncing up with Google's Android updates. That could mean faster, more polished software for everyone. The fact that Samsung is already testing the firmware shows it's working hard to get things ready early. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers on the upgrades we've heard about, plus the new software, it could be a really strong competitor in 2026.
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
6 features from other skins I want on One UI
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority One UI has been with us for six years now, and it's easily the best Android skin Samsung has made. One UI is smoother, more reliable, and easier to use than Samsung Experience or TouchWiz, the skins that preceded it. Aside from a blip with One UI 7, it's been updated quicker than ever, often beating other Android skins. The features One UI delivers have made it my favorite flavor of Android since I first used it on my Galaxy S10 Plus, but there are still things I'd like to change. Motorola, OnePlus, and others have added exciting features to their Android skins, and I'd love to see some of them adopted by Samsung in the next version of One UI. Which of these featurs would you like to see most on Samsung phones? 1 votes Moto: Gestures 100 % Moto: Easier customisation 0 % Pixel: Now Playing 0 % Pixel: Call Screening 0 % OnePlus: Screenshot pixelation 0 % OnePlus: Open Canvas 0 % Motorola: Intuitive gestures It's hard to believe it's been twelve years since the original Moto X hit shelves. That phone, along with the Moto G, shaped Motorola's future over the following decade, and one of the best things it introduced is what the company now calls Kinetic Gestures. The ones I want most are the two that started it all — Fast Torch and Quick Capture. On a Motorola phone, performing a double karate chop toggles the torch on or off, something that's incredibly useful when you're fumbling with keys in the dark and need to add some light to the situation. I use this a lot on my 2023 Razr Plus, where this gesture is much faster than unlocking the phone and swiping through quick settings. Quick Capture opens the camera or switches between the front and rear lenses if the camera is already open. This gesture requires a double flick of the wrist, and once you get used to it, it's the easiest way of quickly launching the camera so you don't miss an important shot. Motorola: Easy customisation One UI has plenty of theming options, more than Motorola does, but it's all split across too many different menus and apps. Theming icons is in Theme Park, fonts are in the settings menu, and the Material You colors are in a menu accessed from the home screen. It's even worse on Samsung's Z Flip series, where all of the options for the cover screen are spread across even more menus. It adds too much friction to customising your Samsung phone. Motorola has gone about things in a simple, thoughtful way. All of the options for themes, icons, fonts, home screen grid sizes, and the cover screen are in a single place. Long-press the home screen, open the personalise menu, and there are all of the options you could ever need. Sure, I miss some of the more advanced tweaks from One UI, but Motorola's approach of listing everything together is more approachable for users. Pixel: Now Playing Ryan Haines / Android Authority Now Playing is one of those small features that you don't think about until you use a phone that doesn't have it. I used a Pixel 9 Pro as my daily phone recently, the longest I'd used a Pixel since I owned a 3XL, and it reminded me how many subtle quality of life features you get on Pixels. Knowing what song is playing in the background wherever I am, without having to ask my phone to do it, is more convenient than the alternative. The Now Playing history is great, too. I've planned to listen to a song that I've heard and searched for when out and about, only to forget what the song was by the time I get home. Now Playing keeps a history of the songs it hears, so I don't have to rely on my memory. Pixel: Call Screening Andy Walker / Android Authority Pixel 8a Call Screening debuted on the Pixel 3 in 2018, but I never got to experience it as it didn't come to the UK until 2021. When I used it with the Pixel 9 Pro recently, I couldn't believe how much better it is than Samsung's alternative. Samsung's Call Assist can do the basics of screening calls, transcribing the conversation, and live translation. But it's the extras that Google has added to Call Screening over the years that Samsung can't keep up with. Call Screening on Pixels can wait on hold for you and notify you when the person you're calling comes back, tell you how long the average wait time is for a call to a business, and even map and label phone tree options. Samsung is off to a good start with Call Assist, but there's a lot more work to be done. OnePlus: Screenshot pixelation Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority I take a lot of screenshots in this line of work, and I often need to censor things like my email, address, and other personal information. One UI does have a blur and pixelation tool in the gallery, but it's a manual process that can be quite messy if you don't have an S Pen to make things easier. OnePlus and Oppo devices have an AI-powered auto mode that applies a neat blur to what it identifies as sensitive information. It isn't perfect. In the example above, I had to censor two elements that it missed manually, but that was much less painful than having to do the whole thing myself, and features like this will only improve with updates. OnePlus: Open Canvas OnePlus debuted Open Canvas on the OnePlus Open, and since then, it's come to many of the company's devices. It's a new approach to window management on mobile that is more intuitive and makes the most use out of the space available on a screen. Before OnePlus introduced this, One UI had my favorite multitasking system, but Open Canvas blows it out of the water. Google has taken some inspiration from Open Canvas, adding a 90:10 split to multi-window that you can try in One UI 8 on the Fold 7, Flip 7, Flip FE, and the S25 series running the beta. It's an improvement, but still doesn't come close to what OnePlus is doing, and I'd love to try Open Canvas on a big screen, like my Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. One UI 9 needs to impress Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority One UI 8 feels like a stop-gap update. One UI 7 made a lot of big changes to Samsung software, most of which were welcome, but the delayed and fragmented update rollout left a bitter taste. One UI 8 is shaping up to have a much smoother release, but there's almost nothing new here to be excited about. It feels like One UI 8 received only minimal changes so that Samsung could push it out the door quickly and act as damage control for last year. One UI 9, whenever we see it, needs to give us something to be excited about, and looking to other OEM skins for inspiration, drawing on what Motorola, Google, and OnePlus users love about their phones, would be a good place to start.
GSM Arena
3 days ago
- GSM Arena
Samsung is reportedly shifting its One UI update strategy, to give priority to the foldables Comments
Samsung is reportedly shifting its One UI update strategy, to give priority to the foldables Comments
Geeky Gadgets
4 days ago
- Geeky Gadgets
New Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7? 17 Essential Tips & Tricks
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 combines a sleek, foldable design with robust functionality, offering users a unique smartphone experience. To fully harness its capabilities, it's essential to set up the device properly and explore its wide array of features. This guide provides 17 essential tips and tricks to help you personalize and optimize your Galaxy Z Flip 7, making sure you get the most out of your device from the very first day. The video below from WhatGear gives us a look at a range of tips and tricks for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. Watch this video on YouTube. 1. Start with Software Updates Keeping your Galaxy Z Flip 7 up to date is critical for maintaining optimal performance and security. Begin by updating all Google system apps through the Play Store. Next, update Samsung-exclusive apps and One UI features via the Galaxy Store. These updates often include important bug fixes, performance enhancements, and new functionalities. Additionally, ensure you install the latest security patches to safeguard your device against vulnerabilities. Staying current with updates ensures your phone operates smoothly and securely. 2. Secure Your Device Protecting your personal data is a top priority. Enable Samsung's built-in app protection to scan for potential threats and malware. Set up biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, for fast and secure access to your device. Additionally, activate Samsung's 'Find My' feature, which allows you to locate, lock, or erase your device remotely in case it's lost or stolen. These steps provide peace of mind and ensure your data remains secure. 3. Enable Gesture Navigation Switching to gesture navigation can enhance your overall user experience. By replacing traditional navigation buttons with swipe gestures, you'll maximize screen space and enjoy smoother, more intuitive navigation. This feature is especially useful on the Galaxy Z Flip 7's expansive display, allowing you to interact with your device more fluidly and efficiently. 4. Customize Display Settings Tailor your display settings to match your preferences and daily needs. Enable adaptive brightness to automatically adjust screen brightness based on your environment. Turn on motion smoothness for fluid scrolling and animations, and activate dark mode to reduce eye strain while conserving battery life. Additionally, customize your home screen by resizing the app grid and organizing apps into folders for a cleaner, more organized interface. These adjustments ensure your display is both functional and visually appealing. 5. Personalize Quick Settings The quick settings panel is a powerful tool for accessing essential features with minimal effort. Rearrange shortcuts for frequently used functions such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and power-saving modes. By customizing this panel, you can streamline your workflow and reduce the time spent navigating through menus. 6. Add Widgets for Convenience Widgets can significantly enhance your home screen's functionality. Add widgets for weather updates, device care, or digital well-being stats to access important information at a glance. You can also customize the cover screen with widgets and wallpapers, allowing you to check notifications or control music playback without unfolding the device. This feature adds both convenience and a personal touch to your Galaxy Z Flip 7. 7. Master the Edge Panel The edge panel is a versatile multitasking feature that can improve your productivity. Customize it to include your most-used apps, tools, and shortcuts for quick access. Use the edge panel to enable split-screen mode or floating windows, allowing you to multitask efficiently. For example, you can browse the web while taking notes or watch a video while replying to messages. This feature makes multitasking seamless and intuitive. 8. Explore Camera Features The Galaxy Z Flip 7's camera system offers impressive versatility and quality. Switch between 12MP and 50MP modes depending on your photography needs. Enable motion photo mode to capture animated moments, and use the cover screen as a viewfinder for selfies or group shots. These features make it easy to capture high-quality photos and videos, whether you're documenting everyday moments or special occasions. 9. Use AI Tools Samsung's AI-powered tools can enhance your productivity and simplify daily tasks. Use the Samsung Internet browser to summarize or translate web pages in real-time. The keyboard offers grammar checks and writing suggestions, while the voice recorder app can transcribe lengthy recordings into text for easy reference. These tools are designed to save time and improve efficiency. 10. Simplify Call Management Managing calls on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is intuitive and convenient. Enable the 'open phone to answer calls' feature, which allows you to answer calls simply by unfolding the device. Additionally, explore advanced call recording and transcription options to keep track of important conversations. These features make call handling more seamless and efficient. 11. Organize Your Apps A clutter-free home screen improves usability and aesthetics. Organize your apps into folders and customize folder colors and transparency for a visually appealing interface. Save app pairs to launch two frequently used apps in split-screen mode with a single tap, making multitasking faster and more efficient. 12. Customize the Cover Screen The cover screen is one of the Galaxy Z Flip 7's standout features. Personalize it with widgets, wallpapers, and shortcuts to access essential functions without opening the device. This not only saves time but also helps conserve battery life by reducing the need to unfold the phone for basic tasks. 13. Optimize Battery Life Extend your Galaxy Z Flip 7's battery life by allowing power-saving modes and adaptive battery settings. These features limit background activity for less frequently used apps, making sure your device lasts longer throughout the day. Additionally, monitor battery usage in the settings menu to identify and manage power-hungry apps. 14. Use Flex Mode Flex Mode takes full advantage of the Galaxy Z Flip 7's foldable design. This feature splits the screen into two functional halves, making it easier to multitask. For instance, you can watch a video on the top half while taking notes on the bottom half. Flex Mode enhances usability and provides a unique way to interact with your device. 15. Explore Advanced Multitasking The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is designed for multitasking. Use split-screen mode and floating windows to work on multiple tasks simultaneously. Save frequently used app combinations for quick access, allowing you to switch between tasks effortlessly. These features are ideal for users who need to stay productive on the go. 16. Protect Your Privacy Samsung's privacy dashboard provides a clear overview of app permissions and data usage. Enable this feature to monitor which apps access sensitive information, such as your location or camera. Adjust permissions as needed to maintain control over your personal data and ensure your privacy is protected. 17. Explore Accessibility Features The Galaxy Z Flip 7 includes a range of accessibility features designed to improve usability for all users. Enable high-contrast text, magnification, or voice assistants to tailor the device to your specific needs. These features ensure the device is accessible and user-friendly for everyone. Unlock the Full Potential of Your Galaxy Z Flip 7 By following these 17 tips and tricks, you can maximize the functionality and personalization of your Galaxy Z Flip 7. From initial setup and security enhancements to advanced multitasking and customization, these steps ensure a seamless and enjoyable user experience. Take the time to explore these features and make your foldable smartphone work for you. Dive deeper into Galaxy Z Flip 7 setup with other articles and guides we have written below. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Features, Pricing, and Release Date Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Release Date, Features, and Price Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7: Specs, Camera, and Performance Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Features, Specs, and More Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Features, Specs, and More Source & Image Credit: WhatGear Filed Under: Android News, Guides, Mobile Phone News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
