Samsung sells a lot of different smartphones at many different prices, but the models all have one thing in common: the company’s One UI software.
Each Android phone maker creates its own ‘skin’ than it puts over Android. This means that each brand has a unique look and feel of their software that allows them to add features and design quirks that help differentiate.
As one of the most popular Android brands worldwide, Samsung is very much a taster with its One UI software. Currently on version 4.1, we expect the One UI 5 to launch along with Samsung’s taste of Android 13.
Google, the creator of Android, usually releases the latest version of Android annually in the second half of the year, with its Pixel phones getting the release first.
But Samsung is never far behind, and you can bet the company has been working on the One UI 5 for some time.
Here’s what we know so far about the One UI 5, what its features might be, and when you can expect to be able to download it if you already own a Samsung phone or plan to get one.
When will One UI 5 be released?
One UI release tends to depend on when Google prepares its own version of Android for stable release. Samsung is offering a beta program to eager customers who want to try out new release software early before it is officially pushed to compatible devices.
In 2021, Android 12 was only ready for Pixel phones in October, meaning that Samsung was not able to get its One UI 4 beta out before September.
But according to Sammobile, the One UI 5 2022 public beta could be ready as early as July. This means that if you have a relatively new Samsung phone, such as a model from the S22 or S21 series, you will be able to test the new software early.
But beta software can be buggy because it exists to test for errors! If you try it out, be prepared to get frustrated. For most people, it is best to wait until Samsung pushes a stable official release.
The actual release date for One UI 5 is more likely around September or October, when an official software update will be pushed out for Galaxy S, A, Flip and Fold phones, around the time Android 13 launches for Pixel phones.
Google usually drops its public beta for Pixels in May, to coincide with the company’s I / O conference – though the developer preview for Android 13 has been available since February.
Samsung may release One UI 5 along with its new Fold 4 and Flip 4 devices, which we expect around August 2022. But the company actually launched Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 in August 2021 with Android 11 and One UI 3.1, before pushed the Android 12 update later this year.
What features will the One UI 5 have?
We are still a long way from One UI 5 – One UI 4.1 has only recently been rolled out for Samsung phones. It brought incremental improvements over 4.0, especially to the image side of things with updates to Samsung’s photo and video editing and Gallery app.
Version 4.0 was more comprehensive, bringing Android 12 with color palette settings depending on the wallpaper, Samsung icon theme, and detailed privacy controls that all Android 12 phones get.
One UI 5.0 will introduce Android 13 for Samsung phones with the rumors of new features that Google will bring to the latest version and which Samsung may choose to include on its phone.
These include a universal photo selector user interface for sharing photos to an app, the ability to use client fields for quick settings, and new notification permissions for those who really like to control ping to a deep level.
One of the best visual updates will be if One UI 5 allows themes for all apps. In Android 12 and One UI 4, only Google and Samsung apps can use the colors selected as part of the version’s Material You theme feature. This means that third-party apps do not change color, so developers are asked to provide monochromatic app icons with their latest app submissions to ensure that Android 13 can thematize as many apps as possible.
If these are the most important new updates, One UI 5 will be a more incremental update than with One UI 4 and Android 12, as Android 12 was a significant change in the look and feel of Android and brought a number of new features.
One UI 5 will probably also see Samsung make some visual adjustments to the interface to modernize it and give people a fresh feeling.
What phones does the One UI 5 get?
Samsung has not officially confirmed which of its handsets will be updated for the One UI 5, but the good news is that it will probably come to many of them – especially if they were released in 2020 or later.
While its cheaper A-series phones may not see it, phones like the Galaxy S20 and later from the S-line are bound to get Android 13 and One UI 5.
But that’s the end of the line for 2019’s Galaxy S10, which was launched with Android 9 Pie. It was promised three version updates so it stays on Android 12.
Samsung has since confirmed that many of its devices from 2020 onwards will receive four Android version updates, including all of its S20, S21 and S22 phones. The S10 Lite can also get a look as it was released much later than the original S10 phones.
You should also expect each model of Z Flip to see One UI 5, as well as Z Fold 2 and Z Fold 3.
2020 Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra will also get the update, as well as Note 10 Lite released around the same time.
Galaxy A-series phones released within the last few years should also see Android 13 and One UI, including A73, A53, A33, A52 and A52s. Even cheaper models like the A32 and A12 are likely to pick it up as well.
We’ll update this page as we get more One UI 5 news, so be sure to check back for the latest news.