Why is Samsung's One UI 7 more exciting than the Galaxy S25?

Samsung's latest flagship - the Galaxy S25 - may be stealing all the attention. But many are more excited about One UI 7, as it's one of the biggest updates to the Android interface we've seen in years.

1. Expand Good Lock

 

If you've used a Samsung phone, you'll know that Good Lock and its modules add a ton of powerful customization options to explore.

While useful, Good Lock doesn't come pre-installed on Galaxy phones. Instead, you have to download it from the Galaxy Store.

With One UI 7, Samsung has announced that they will make Good Lock available for download through the Play Store and expand its availability to all regions. They are also revamping almost all of the modules, including the main Good Lock app, to give them a new look.

Modules also add more customization options, like the ability to adjust home screen gestures, a more flexible Edge panel, and more.

2. Vertical app drawer

A small but useful change in One UI 7 is the introduction of a vertical app drawer. Samsung is the only major manufacturer that has stuck with a vertical, paginated app drawer on its phones.

Previously, you could use the Good Lock module to switch to a vertical app drawer, but they eventually removed this functionality.

3. Improved Camera app

 

Samsung has reorganized its Camera app with One UI 7, making it simpler and easier to use. All the main camera controls are now at the bottom, tucked away in an expandable menu. By default, you'll see Portrait, Photo, and Video modes, with other modes accessible from the More tab.

Finally, Pro Photo and Video modes have simplified controls for easier use. Samsung has also added a new zoom control in Pro Video mode to allow seamless zooming while recording video.

While there aren't any notable new features in the One UI 7 Camera app, the changes do improve one-handed usability, which is always a welcome improvement.

4. Smoother system animations

With One UI 7, Samsung is finally catching up to its competitors by offering smoother system animations than previous One UI releases. The new animations feel more streamlined and cohesive, adding a bit of polish to the entire UI.

5. Call recording

 

Call recording has been available on Galaxy devices in Europe, parts of Asia, and other regions for a long time. However, Samsung has never offered call recording on its Galaxy devices in the United States due to regional laws. One UI 7 changes that, bringing call recording to Samsung phones in the United States with a call recording feature.

Call recording functionality in One UI 7 will be available as part of Galaxy AI. The feature will support over 20 languages, including Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Korean, and Spanish.

6. Now Bar

One of the most notable improvements in One UI 7 is the Now Bar. Think of it as Samsung's version of the iPhone's Live Activities, but with more functionality built in.

In addition to live notifications like sports scores, the Now Bar can display music and habits, as well as provide personalized content updates, like driving directions from Google Maps, Samsung Health notifications, and more.

7. More customizable Quick Settings panel

One UI 7 improves the Quick Settings panel on Galaxy devices with even more customization options. Like many Chinese Android skins, you now have the option to split the notification panel and Quick Settings panel into two.

 

Otherwise, you can swipe down on the home screen to access the notification panel, while swiping down from the top right will open the Quick Settings panel.

8. Deeper AI Integration

One UI 7 brings deeper Gemini and AI integration to the Galaxy S25 series. You can use Gemini on Samsung's latest flagship phones to perform multiple commands that work across multiple apps at once.

Even better, One UI 7 introduces the Gemini extension for many of Samsung's native apps, such as Samsung Calendar, Reminder, Notes, and Clock.

Many of the changes in One UI 7 may seem superficial at first. But they'll have a big impact on how you use your Galaxy phone. The best part is that you won't have to buy a Galaxy S25 to enjoy them, as most will be available on Samsung's other older flagship phones.