One UI 7 vs One UI 6: What’s New and Is It Worth Upgrading?

Samsung’s One UI has come a long way, making Galaxy phones easier to use with every update. It’s all about a smooth, clean experience that feels natural and intuitive.

Now, with One UI 7, Samsung is rolling out faster performance, smarter AI features, better battery life, and even more ways to customize your phone. But is this a major upgrade or just a small step forward?

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what’s new in One UI 7 and whether it’s worth getting excited about.

One UI 7: What’s Changed?

Samsung’s One UI has continually evolved, refining the user experience with each update. With One UI 7, Samsung promises smoother animations, improved battery life, enhanced AI features, and better customization. But how does it compare to One UI 6? Let’s break down the key differences and help you decide whether to upgrade.

Visual & UI Changes

One UI 7 refines Samsung’s design philosophy with smoother transitions, updated icons, and a more cohesive layout. You will notice:

• Redesigned Lock Screen & Always On Display: One UI 7 brings a refined look and feel to Samsung devices, making everyday interactions smoother and more intuitive. The redesigned Lock Screen and Always On Display offer more customization options, including interactive elements that let you do more without unlocking your phone.

• Refreshed App Icons & UI Adjustments: Samsung has also refreshed app icons and UI elements, giving them a more polished and modern look. The changes aren’t drastic, but they bring a sense of consistency across the interface. Smoother animations make transitions feel faster and more fluid, reducing lag when navigating between apps.

• Smoother Animations: While One UI 6 introduced a cleaner Quick Settings panel and updated font, One UI 7 fine-tunes these elements for an even more seamless experience. It’s not a dramatic overhaul, but it’s a noticeable step in making Samsung’s software feel more refined and effortless.

One UI 6 already introduced a cleaner Quick Settings panel and an updated font. One UI 7 builds on this by making everything feel even more seamless, with smoother animations and a more polished interface.

These refinements make daily interactions feel more natural, but the improvements don’t stop at visuals. One UI 7 also brings better performance and battery life, which we’ll explore next.

Performance & Battery Life

Samsung has optimized One UI 7 for faster app launches and better resource management, particularly for flagship devices like the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

• Better RAM Management: Samsung has also refined background processes, reducing unnecessary system activity to improve efficiency. This means fewer background apps draining your battery and more power available when you need it.

• AI-Powered Battery Optimizations: AI-powered battery optimizations in One UI 7 analyze your usage patterns and adjust CPU, GPU, and background tasks dynamically, reducing power consumption and extending battery life without compromising performance.

• Refined Background Processes: Samsung has also refined background processes, reducing unnecessary system activity to improve efficiency. This means fewer background apps draining your battery and more power available when you need it.

One UI 7 not only makes your device faster and more efficient but also helps extend battery life through smarter optimizations. But performance isn’t the only area getting an upgrade; Samsung has also enhanced the camera and gallery experience to take your photos and videos to the next level.

Camera & Gallery Enhancements

Samsung’s camera software has always been a highlight, and One UI 7 introduces AI-driven improvements for photography and video recording.

• Enhanced Low-Light Performance: Night mode now produces clearer shots with reduced noise, improving detail in dark environments.

• More Manual Controls in Pro Mode: Users can fine-tune ISO, shutter speed, and white balance for greater creative control.

• AI Scene Optimization: The camera intelligently adjusts settings based on lighting conditions for better automatic results.

• Object Eraser & Improved Editing Tools in the Gallery: The Gallery app gets smarter with improved object removal and built-in editing features, reducing reliance on third-party apps.

With these AI-powered enhancements, capturing high-quality photos and videos becomes easier than ever, especially for Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra users. But while camera improvements are exciting, Samsung is also stepping up its game in another critical area: privacy and security.

Privacy & Security Upgrades

With security threats becoming more sophisticated, Samsung strengthens Knox security and app permission controls in One UI 7.

• More Granular App Permissions: Users have finer control over access to sensitive data like location and microphone, reducing unnecessary tracking.

• Enhanced Private Sharing Options: Secure file transfers with time-limited access to ensure shared content doesn’t remain accessible indefinitely.

• Knox Security Improvements: Stronger encryption and real-time threat monitoring provide an extra layer of protection for sensitive data.

With these security upgrades, One UI 7 ensures better control over your data and strengthens protection against evolving threats. But beyond privacy, how does this update truly compare to One UI 6 in terms of features and performance? Let’s take a closer look.

One UI 7 vs One UI 6: Comprehensive Feature & Performance Comparison

Feature	One UI 7	One UI 6
Animations & UI	Smoother, more refined	Standard animations
Performance	Faster app launches, better memory management	Good but slightly laggy on older devices
Battery Life	Enhanced power efficiency	Decent, but not as optimized
Customization	More lock screen and AOD options	Limited personalization
Camera Upgrades	AI-powered enhancements, Pro mode improvements	Basic features
Privacy & Security	Improved Knox, better app permissions	Standard security options

One UI 7: Refinement or Just a Minor Upgrade?

One UI 7 brings some nice improvements, but do they really matter for your device? Let’s find out.

Flagship Devices: Get the Best Experience

The Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra benefit the most from One UI 7. The update fine-tunes the already powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, making multitasking and gaming even smoother. AI-powered optimizations also improve battery life, and the camera software gets better post-processing, leading to sharper, more natural photos.

What About Mid-Range Galaxy Phones?

Devices like the Galaxy A36, A56, and A26 also receive One UI 7, but the improvements aren’t as noticeable. While they get minor UI tweaks and efficiency improvements, they miss out on some high-end AI features available on flagship models. Performance gains are present but not as dramatic.

Overall, One UI 7 refines the experience, especially for flagship users, but mid-range devices see more modest changes. So, should you upgrade? Let’s break down whether One UI 7 is truly worth it.

Is One UI 7 Worth the Upgrade?

With all the new features and improvements, the big question remains: does One UI 7 offer enough to justify upgrading? Let’s find out.

For Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra Users:

A definite YES! The Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 benefit the most from One UI 7’s smoother animations, AI-driven performance optimizations, and camera enhancements. If you’re using one of Samsung’s latest flagship models, upgrading ensures you get the best out of your device.

For Galaxy A36, A56, and A26 Users:

If you own a Galaxy A36, Galaxy A56, or Galaxy A26, One UI 7 is a welcome upgrade, but it’s not revolutionary. Expect minor refinements like improved battery efficiency, better RAM management, and UI tweaks rather than major feature changes. If your device is already running smoothly on One UI 6, the upgrade is worth it but not a game-changer.

For One UI 6 Users on Older Samsung Devices:

Upgrading to One UI 7 makes sense if performance improvements are a priority. Features like refined background processes, AI-powered battery optimization, and enhanced privacy controls help older devices run more efficiently. However, if your phone already handles daily tasks well, the upgrade won’t feel drastic.

At the end of the day, One UI 7 is all about refinement; some users will feel the difference more than others. But is it truly a game-changer or just a subtle polish? Let’s wrap it up.

One UI 7: A Refined Upgrade for Flagships & Optional for Others

Samsung’s One UI 7 brings refined animations, AI-driven battery optimizations, and improved performance. Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, and the upcoming S25 Ultra users will benefit the most from the new features, with enhanced multitasking, better cameras, and more efficient resource management.

Mid-range devices like the Galaxy A36, A56, and A26 receive minor refinements but won’t see major changes. For older Samsung phones, upgrading makes sense if you want better efficiency. Still, it’s not essential if your device runs smoothly on One UI 6.

Overall, One UI 7 is a solid refinement rather than a game-changing upgrade, highly recommended for flagship users but optional for others.

FAQs on One UI 7

Should I update to One UI 7?

One UI 7 is not even better than HyperOS or Apple’s animations. It’s not the leading industry in terms of animations, at least. The revolutionary update is mostly a marketing word for Samsung. Other Android brands already have much better lock screen customizations.

Is One UI 7 based on Android 15?

Samsung’s latest One UI 7 update, based on Android 15, officially made its debut in January with the Galaxy S25 series. Now, the wait for older Samsung Galaxy phones is finally over, as the company is all set to release this highly anticipated update starting in mid-April 2025.

Will the S23 get One UI 7?

The real indicator that a phone is about to get a One UI 7 beta is when beta builds appear on test servers — and that just happened for the Samsung Galaxy S23. The first One UI 7 beta build for the Galaxy S23 appeared on test servers today, February 27, according to Android tipster Tarun Vats on X (formerly Twitter).

Which One UI version is the latest?

One UI 7 will be available for a range of Samsung Galaxy devices, including the latest Galaxy S24 and S23 series, as well as older models such as the Galaxy S21 and S22 (including FE variants). In addition, devices from the A and M series will also be eligible for the update.

What is the difference between One Android and One UI?

One UI offers greater customization and multitasking options compared to stock Android, enhancing user experience on Samsung Galaxy devices. One UI’s evolution from TouchWiz to Samsung Experience and its current state prioritizes one-handed use and user feedback for continuous improvement.