One UI 7 needs to bring order to this chaotic feature

Throughout the Samsung fan community, the most polarizing One UI element this year might be the quick panel. Samsung redesigned it with the release of One UI 6.0, and while I don't have a gripe with the new layout, I can see why some people dislike it, as it makes it a bit harder to reach quick toggles using one hand.

While I don't mind the look of the quick panel in 2024, I do have a big issue with one of its functions. It might be the most chaotic and unpredictable aspect of One UI, and I hope Samsung will address it with the release of the upcoming One UI 7.0 update. Here is what I mean.

Pressing and holding quick toggles is a gamble

Quick toggles in One UI have this hidden function that lets you press and hold a toggle to access more options. At least, ideally. But it doesn't always work the same, and it's the most unpredictable UX element I ever encountered in any OS — as far as I can recall.

Here's the issue. Across the entire array of quick toggles, the press-and-hold gesture can trigger one of three functions, and you never know which function a quick toggle hides unless you try all of them and memorize each one. Here are some examples.

• Pressing and holding some quick toggles (like Flashlight and Rotate) opens a dedicated pop-up menu with a blurred home screen in the background. You can go back from this menu to the quick toggle area by pressing the back nav key or swiping back if you use gestures.
• Pressing and holding other quick toggles opens up their Settings app menus instead of the blurred pop-up. If you press back (or use the back gesture) from these Settings menus, you will be taken to the home screen instead of the quick toggle area where you last were.
• Pressing and holding some toggles won't open a dedicated pop-up or Settings app menu but will launch the app associated with the toggle. Examples are Secure Folder and Shazam.
• In some cases, you get the same function whether you're tapping or holding a quick toggle. One example is Scan QR Code. Whether you tap or hold this toggle, it launches the QR code scanner.

In other words, you never know what you get from pressing and holding quick toggles, so I rarely even try using this feature nowadays. I can't be bothered memorizing what's behind every toggle like I'm playing a memory game.

On a positive note, I must underline that I do love One UI, generally speaking. I think it's the best UI for Android, and aside from a few occasional issues, the Samsung UI improved with each update. And in my opinion, the best changes in the history of One UI came after One UI 5.0.

It's probably why this quick toggle behavior sticks out like a sore thumb. It is unlike the rest of One UI in 2024 and almost feels like a bug. I have to wonder if Samsung planned out this UI behavior or if it's a mistake and Samsung has any plans to change how it works.

I, for one, am hoping the company will fix this problem with One UI 7.0. I'd go as far as to say that even removing the press-and-hold function for quick toggles altogether might be preferable to the chaos. What we have now doesn't cut it as top-tier UX design.

Samsung said One UI 7 will debut early next year, which means the company is taking a longer time to develop the update this time around. Expectations are high.

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Galaxy A25 could be launched in a blingy color

Samsung usually launches its Galaxy A series phones in fun color options, and this year hasn't been any different in that regard. The Galaxy A25 was introduced in three color variants, but the South Korean firm isn't done yet. It is preparing to launch the Galaxy A25 in a blingy new color.

Galaxy A25 could be launched in Gold

If we look closely at Samsung's new video, it appears that the Galaxy A25 could be launched in gold. The South Korean firm has posted a teaser video of what appears to be the Galaxy A25. It shows the smartphone in its Gold avatar. Late last year, the Galaxy A25 was launched in four color options: Brave Black, Fantasy Blue, Optimistic Blue, and Personality Yellow.

The phone teased in the video has three rear-facing cameras, a side-mounted fingerprint reader, and a Key Island design for the buttons. Since the Galaxy A35 and the Galaxy A55 have in-display fingerprint readers, we think that the device showcased in the video is the Galaxy A25. The new color variant of the phone could be launched in India soon, as the video was published on Samsung India's YouTube channel.

Galaxy A25 features and specifications

The Galaxy A25 has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,000 nits peak brightness in High Brightness Mode (HBM). The device has a plastic frame, glass front, and plastic back. It is equipped with the Exynos 1280 processor, 6GB/8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB internal storage. It also has a microSD card slot. The phone runs Android 14-based One UI 6.1 update and will receive the Android 15 (One UI 7.0) update next year.

The phone has a 13MP selfie camera, a 50MP primary rear camera with autofocus and OIS, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging. It has stereo speakers, 5G (dual-SIM card slot), GPS, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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Galaxy phones are gaining long-term value as iPhones depreciate

Historically, one of the best attributes iPhones have enjoyed is a higher resale value than Android phones. However, although Apple devices maintain a relatively low depreciation rate even in 2024, market trends appear to be shifting.

A new study by SellCell shows that, over the past few years, Apple's flagship phones lost value faster than ever. And they continue to depreciate at a faster rate with every release.

Conversely, Samsung Galaxy phones have depreciated more slowly. iPhones maintain the lead in this comparison, but it's no coincidence that Galaxy phones are gaining ground while iPhones are doing worse every year.

People are starting to put more value on Galaxy

This new data shows that iPhones have been depreciating faster with every new generation.

While the iPhone 11 had a depreciation rate of 43.8% after 12 months on the market, the iPhone 15 series lost 48.2% of its value one year after release.

Comparatively, the Galaxy S22 series depreciated 66.7% after 12 months, and the sequel massively improved that figure. In one year, the Galaxy S23 depreciated 61.1%.

Meanwhile, six months after its release, the Galaxy S24 is seeing only a 50.4% depreciation, which means its value is 3.7% higher than the S23's was when it was six months old.

Apple is still leading this race, but the long-term value gap between iPhones and Galaxy flagship phones is narrowing fast, and if the trend continues, Apple might be in trouble.

The story continues after the video

Over the past couple of years, Samsung has done many things to improve the long-term value of its Galaxy flagship phones, from increasing durability and adopting long-lasting designs with stronger frames to employing more consumer-friendly firmware update policies.

The latest Galaxy flagship phones will enjoy support for seven major OS upgrades, which could be another factor to drive up the long-term value of Samsung devices.

The Galaxy S24 FE is the first Fan Edition device to benefit from this policy. And even low-cost phones, such as the Galaxy A16, are now getting better support, with Samsung promising six years of updates.

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Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition launch date leaks

Samsung is expected to unveil a thinner version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, featuring a slimmer profile, a bigger screen, and a better camera. It was earlier rumored that Samsung would launch that phone this month. Now, the exact Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition launch date has been reported, and it could be accurate.

Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition could be launched in October 2024

According to a report from FNNews, Samsung will announce the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition on October 25, 2024. With this phone, the South Korean firm will aim to match Chinese brands in screen size and thinness. The report claims that the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is 4.9mm thin when unfolded and 10.6mm thin when folded. That is an improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 6's 5.6mm and 12.1mm figures.

The device is rumored to be strong, and it reportedly has several Galaxy AI features. It could feature the same IP48 dust and water resistance rating as the Galaxy Z Fold 6. With this phone, Samsung wants to shake off consumer perception that it can't make foldable phones thin enough. It wants to show the world that it can make durable, thin, and high-specced foldable smartphones.

Previous reports claim that Samsung increased the size of the cover screen from 6.3 inches on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to 6.5 inches on the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. The inner screen is said to be 8 inches diagonally, up from the Galaxy Z Fold 6's 7.6-inch inner screen. Moreover, the device is rumored to feature a 200MP primary rear camera, while the other cameras could remain similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Watch our review of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in the video below.

Samsung was the king of foldable smartphones worldwide, but it dropped to the second position in the first quarter of this year. Its foldable smartphone market share dropped to 23%, trailing behind Huawei's 35% market share. Honor, Motorola, and OPPO reportedly have 12%, 11%, and 8% market shares, respectively.

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Galaxy A35 gets September 2024 security update very late

Samsung has released a new software update for the Galaxy A35 but it doesn't bring the latest security update. Instead, it brings last month's security update, which isn't typical of Samsung. However, it appears that the company is late this month with respect to software updates for its mid-range phone.

Galaxy A35 gets September 2024 security update

A new software update is rolling out to the Galaxy A35. It comes with firmware version A356BXXS3AXI3 and brings the September 2024 security patch. This security patch fixes dozens of security vulnerabilities that were discovered in the previous software version. Unfortunately, it doesn't bring any new features or performance improvements.

The security update is now available in European countries, including Austria, Croatia, France, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and the UK. Other European countries might get the update soon. Other than that, the update could also be released in other parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, and South America.

If you live in any of the countries mentioned above and use a Galaxy A35, you can check for the new software update. To do that, open the Settings app on your phone, navigate to Software update, and tap Download and install. Alternatively, you can download the appropriate firmware from our firmware database and flash it manually.

The story continues after the video in which you can watch our Galaxy S24 FE camera review.

Hopefully, Samsung will release the October 2024 security update to the Galaxy A35 and the Galaxy A55 before the end of this month. The company released Circle to Search to both phones via a software update a couple of months ago. The company could release the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 update to the devices sometime next year.

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Samsung wants Galaxy AI to be so good that you won’t have to use Settings menu

Earlier this year, Samsung made a splash by launching its first Galaxy AI smartphone, the Galaxy S24. The company's suite of AI-powered features adds fun and improves productivity. But Samsung doesn't want to stop there. It wants Galaxy AI to be so good that there won't be a need for the Settings menu at all in future phones.

Galaxy AI might make Settings menu redundant on phones and tablets

Apparently, Samsung is developing AI-powered features that would allow users to use Galaxy phones without accessing the Settings menu. This information comes from an ETNews report. If this information is correct, it could be referring to AI-powered predictions “that can predict what consumers want in advance by improving the performance of ‘touch points’ such as keyboard and camera.”

While we don't exactly know what Samsung has in mind, we have already seen something similar on Samsung's One UI software for TVs. In its new TV software, Samsung shows frequently accessed menu items when you press the Settings button on the TV's remote controller, so you don't have to navigate through the sub-menus to reach the desired settings.

Samsung has already announced that it plans to launch an upgraded version of Bixby that is powered by large language models (LLMs). The new version of Samsung's AI-powered digital voice assistant can now easily understand complex sentences. It can even understand voice commands that have multiple commands in a single sentence. It is already available on some high-end Bespoke series home appliances.

The story continues after the video below.

Bixby can already change several settings on Samsung's phones, but the upcoming version of Bixby could be even more powerful and engaging. There can be a future where you tell Bixby exactly what settings you want to change on your phone, and it does the job. That reminds us of the first version of Bixby that debuted years ago. It is also possible that it can predict what you want to do by learning your smartphone usage habits.

Samsung has done a good job so far with the release of existing Galaxy AI features. With One UI 7.0, it could release even more powerful AI features and the upgraded version of Bixby, allowing you to use several features without touching your phone's screen.

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Galaxy Ring went extreme mountain biking with Red Bull

The Galaxy Ring had a slow start. Surprisingly so, considering the pre-release hype. But over the past few weeks, the discrete wearable steadily reached more and more markets. Now that availability is expanding, Samsung is finally cooking up new ways to put a brighter spotlight on its first-ever smart ring and promote its capabilities. This week, Samsung announced that the Galaxy Ring went mountain biking during the Red Bull Rampage event.

Red Bull Rampage is the premier freeride mountain biking event, where athletes not only have to compete on two wheels, but their teams have to construct their own tracks from the top of the mountain to the finish line.

Each team had eight days to build lips, lines, and landings required to complete the course, using hand tools and 75 sandbags. With such a tight schedule, the Galaxy Ring played a big role in helping teams assess how much rest their riders needed for optimal performance on race day.

The story continues after the video

The Galaxy Ring was used by riders to track sleep quality and activity levels and get wellness tips.

Every day, riders received an Energy Score via the Samsung Health app, and teams used the data gathered by the Galaxy Ring to help their riders be in the best condition. Daily Energy SScores were also shared during the Red Bull Rampage broadcast.

One of the things riders loved about the Galaxy Ring was its compact size. Casey Brown said, “I can't believe how much technology they fit into such a small piece of jewelry, which helped inform my recovery. I don't even notice it during my daily activities. […] I can even sleep with it on without noticing it's there.”

Galaxy Ring was accompanied by the Red Bull camera phone

Although the Galaxy Ring was the star of the Red Bull Rampage event for Samsung, it wasn't the only device there.

As you might recall, the Galaxy S24 Ultra became the official Red Bull action camera for 2024, so it's no surprise that the same phone was also used to record key moments during the Red Bull Rampage event. The Galaxy S24 Ultra captured riders with its 100x zoom camera, and according to Samsung, the phone's camera combo performed flawlessly from early morning to late night thanks to the ProVisual Engine.

And lastly, there was another device that joined the Galaxy Ring and Galaxy S24 Ultra at the Red Bull mountain biking event, i.e., the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Athletes relied on the flip phone to capture their practice sessions without tripods using the unique FlexCam feature.

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Samsung and Apple had equal global phone market share in Q3

Industry experts say the global smartphone market grew year-on-year in Q3, attributing the higher sales to the ongoing phone replacement cycle. And as the segment grew, the competition between the top five global smartphone brands intensified.

In Q3, Samsung and Apple had nearly equal market share. Each company held roughly 18% of the global smartphone market, with Samsung barely defending its leadership position.

A year ago, Samsung held 21% of the market, and Apple accounted for 17%. Industry watchers (via Canalys) say Apple enjoyed the highest third-quarter shipment volume to date in 2024. The company's success was driven by high demand for the iPhone 15 series and legacy models.

Xiaomi gained a percent global market share and captured the third spot on the podium with 14%. Interestingly, OPPO and Vivo also had nearly equal market shares of around 9% each and battled for fourth place.

Samsung and Apple will keep leading

Although the global smartphone market in Q3 saw higher shipments and tighter competition between the top five brands, the Samsung-Apple dominance remains a thing of its own.

In fact, moving forward, Samsung and Apple are most ready to take on new challenges. Industry watchers say that as market conditions improve, vendors will face more eco-related regulatory hurdles. OEMs who have an effective supply chain, healthy inventory, and optimized marketing and sales will have the highest chances of leading the global segment.

Samsung has the best customer support, supply chain, and healthy inventory levels among all Android manufacturers. It benefits from a global retail presence that no Android phone maker can match. However, Apple is in a similar position, which is why the Cupertino giant remains Samsung's biggest threat to its throne.

As market conditions improve, the upcoming holiday shopping season will be a test for each OEM to demonstrate its ability to manage inventory and the global supply for its potentially best-selling mobile products.

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New update brings October security patch to Exynos Galaxy S22 models

The October 2024 security update is rolling out to the Galaxy S22 series. The initial release is for the Exynos-powered Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra sold in Europe. It shouldn't take long for the update to start rolling out to the Snapdragon-powered variants sold in other parts of the world.

The update is identifiable by the build number S90xBXXSCEXI4. You can download it over the air from your phone's Settings » Software update menu. The latest firmware is available on SamMobile as well.

October 2024 update fixes 40+ security vulnerabilities

The October 2024 security patch, the only thing included in the new Galaxy S22 series update, addresses 42 security vulnerabilities. 30 of those are common to all Android devices while 12 vulnerabilities affect only Galaxy smartphones and tablets. There's also a fix for a security flaw on devices powered by select Exynos chips, but the Exynos 2200 inside the Galaxy S22 series is unaffected.

For those who missed it, we will only see security updates for Samsung phones and tablets for the remainder of this year. While some markets will get a beta program allowing users to test Android 15 and One UI 7.0 this year, Samsung has delayed the official release of the next major Android and One UI upgrade to 2025. The Galaxy S25 series will be the first to get the stable version of One UI 7.0.

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Samsung plans to bring back Sound Assistant’s Multi-Sound feature

A few weeks ago, Samsung released the One UI 6.1.1 update to its smartphones and tablets. While it introduced several new features, Samsung disabled Sound Assistant's Multi-Sound feature when Android Auto was active, but it is planning to bring it back with a future One UI update.

Sound Assistant's Multi-Sound feature to return on Android Auto with One UI 7.0

Several people complained about the Multi-Sound feature not working on their Galaxy phones when using Android Auto. Samsung's official forum moderator for Good Lock replied to a related query, saying the feature was removed because it was not working as intended. Several people reportedly faced issues due to the Multi-Sound feature.

The Good Lock support team member also said the Multi-Sound feature needs an overhaul, and the company is trying to do that with the next operating system update. This means the company plans to bring back the feature with the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 update. If you want to use Multi-Sound with Android Auto, you must wait until early next year, when One UI 7.0 is expected to be released.

The One UI Beta Program was delayed this year because One UI 7.0 is a significant change. The company is bringing a major UI design revamp with One UI 7.0 and introducing several new features. We went hands-on with a Galaxy S24 Ultra running an internal beta version of One UI 7.0, and you can watch it in our video below.

One UI 7.0 brings new app icons, a new two-page Quick Panel layout that separates quick settings toggles and notifications, smoother animations and transitions, and a pill-shaped UI element in the status bar for ongoing activities. It also brings a new battery icon and a new battery charging animation. Samsung has also jazzed up the multitasking (Task Switcher) UI with a stacked cards-like styling.

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Samsung’s hardware will power South Korean Navy’s private 5G network

Samsung Networks, one of the world's biggest cellular network equipment providers, has announced that its hardware will power the South Korean Navy's private 5G network. KT and Samsung Networks will deploy a private 5G network as a part of the country's Smart Naval Project.

Samsung Networks and KT will deploy a private 5G network for the South Korean Navy

Samsung and KT (South Korean telecom network provider) have announced they have been selected to deploy a private 5G network for the Republic of Korea (RoK) Navy. This is a first-of-its-kind network for the South Korean naval base, and it will improve battleship and base operation capabilities.

Samsung will provide this project's hardware and software, including indoor and outdoor radios, private network 5G SA Compact Core, and AI-powered network management software. It will use the mid-band (n79, 4.7GHz) spectrum, which is used widely by the military worldwide. This full-stack system can run on a single server hardware, making deployments less complex and quick.

The two South Korean firms have collaborated on this project since the summer of 2024 and intend to complete the deployment by December 2025. It will be an independent and intelligent network that will offer seamless coverage for the second fleet of the South Korean Navy.

In the age of modern warfare, ultrafast networking speeds and highly secure systems are necessary for any country's combat and defense systems. Samsung says its 5G hardware will offer a highly reliable and secure system to the Republic of Korea's Navy. This deployment will offer the Navy various features, including a Digital Twin of the smart naval base, intelligent security monitoring, and battleship operation management.

• The Digital Twin concept will create a three-dimensional virtual version of the naval base that can be used for strategy development. The lessons learned from this can be used in real-life situations to improve the Navy's adaptability, autonomy, efficiency, and resilience.
• Intelligent Security Monitoring will allow real-time video control of ammunition depots, armories, operational forces, surveillance cameras, and vehicles.
• The Battleship Operation Management System will offer logistics management, monitoring, navigation support, and safety management for all Navy battleships. It will streamline operations and reduce administrative work for naval personnel.

Simon Lee, VP and Head of B2B·B2G Business Development Group, Samsung Networks, said, “Samsung's Private 5G solutions are trusted due to their dependable security, reliability, and proven commercial expertise, already serving diverse private and public sectors in countries like South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. In collaboration with KT, we are excited to deploy Korea’s first Private 5G at a Naval base. This project exemplifies our ongoing commitment to enhance and unlock the potential of 5G to meet every customer’s needs.”

Image Credits: Samsung

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Galaxy A54 picks up October 2024 security update

Another mid-range Samsung phone is picking up the latest security update this week. The Galaxy A55 received Samsung's October 2024 security update a few days back, and now, it's the Galaxy A54's turn.

The update is rolling out to the Galaxy A54 in Europe and should make its way to other regions soon. It sports the build number/firmware version A546BXXSACXI3.

The firmware version indicates the update only enhances security. There are a total of 42 security fixes in the October security patch. 30 of those affect all Android devices, while 12 affect only Galaxy smartphones and tablets. It also fixes a security flaw on devices powered by select Exynos chips, including the Exynos 1380 that powers the Galaxy A54.

To download the latest update on your Galaxy A54, open the Settings app on it, scroll down and tap Software update, then hit the Download and install button. Do that a couple of times or check a few hours later if the update doesn't immediately show up. You will also find the latest Galaxy A55 firmware in the SamMobile firmware library.

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