With new versions of One UI for its phones, tablets, and watches, Samsung is bringing a number of upgrades to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Flip 4, Watch 4, Watch 5, and more.
One UI is a custom version of Android for Samsung phones; you're most likely to interact with it in the camera app, on the lock screen, via notifications, while multitasking, or in settings. One UI Watch, meanwhile, runs atop of Wear OS on wearables and provides sleep insights and personalized heart rate zone data, among other features.
Updates to the Big Screens
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 already run One UI 5.1.1, so these features may look familiar.
That includes the Flex Mode Panel, which pops up when you bend a foldable device similar to a laptop. For example, in YouTube, folding the screen will place the video on the top half of the screen with controls on the bottom half along with the Flex Mode Panel. With One UI 5.1.1, an icon will pop up on the screen, giving you the option to open Flex Mode Panel and easily open a second app in split view, take a screenshot, or see your notifications. There is the option to customize the panel to include brightness controls, volume controls, or a shortcut to Settings.
A pop-up window can be dragged and docked to the side of the device. (Credit: Samsung)Multitasking is also getting a boost. When watching video, you can open Samsung's internet browser in a pop-up window. Then you can drag it to the side so it stays out of the way; tapping the browser when it's docked to the side will bring the pop-up window back to where you had it. Pop-up windows can be tiled by pressing and holding the top of the pop-up window and dragging it to the side where it can then be tiled. One UI 5.1 operated in a similar manner, but Samsung says that 5.1.1 will bring more control.
Taskbar on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 with four recent apps are to the right. (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)Large-screen devices like tablets and the inner screen of the Fold will now support two-handed drag and drop, which lets you open an app with one hand, then use the other to drag another item to your target.
The taskbar also gets an update as it will give you access to four recent apps; before this change, you would see only two recent apps in your taskbar. In our experience, the extra recent apps in the taskbar make multitasking much easier than before.
One UI 5.1.1. will first come to the Fold 4 and Flip 4, with the Fold 3 and Flip 3 to follow, with older generations getting the update after. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series and Tab S7 series are some of the tablets that will also get the new version of One UI soon.
Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)The Smaller Screen Updates
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic were the first devices to run Wear OS with One UI Watch 5 and the new software is coming to Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch 4, and Watch 4 Classic. Samsung upgraded its sleep-management features, making its UI more intuitive than before. Access to Sleep Coaching is now available on the watch, not just on a phone. Setting your watch to Sleep Mode can also trigger particular routines on connected SmartThings smart home devices.
As for fitness, Samsung is bringing its Personalized Heart Rate zone feature to these older devices. This allows the device to analyze your skill level and set one of five optimal workout intensity levels: warm up, fat burn, cardio, hard training, or max effort. Runs can be recorded with Track Run and custom workouts can be created as well. For those who like to import routes for cycling or hiking, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will be able to find new routes by browsing the GPX File Database. Also, Samsung's Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification Feature is coming to Watch 4 and Watch 5, which can be very useful to people who have hearts.
(Credit: Samsung)The new One UI Watch 5 will allow a Samsung watch to act as a camera controller when paired to a phone like the Flip 4. Camera modes and zoom controls can be accessed right from your wrist. Samsung rounds things out by including new watch faces with some of those watch faces coming to the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Watch 3 in the fall.
How to Get the Latest Update
If you're looking for the new One UI on your phone or tablet, head to Settings and search for "Software Update." Hit Download and Install to check if there is anything new. Or search for "One UI version" to see what you're running right now. As for a Galaxy Watch, go to the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone, tap Watch Settings, then Watch Software Update.
