One UI 7 borrowing big from iOS: Here’s the proof

A recent leak about the upcoming Samsung One UI 7 highlights the software’s fresh design overhaul, reflecting considerable influences from iOS 18. Expected to launch alongside the Galaxy S25 series in early 2025, this update promises smoother animations and a revamped Quick Panel that adopts iOS-inspired features.

One UI 7 leak highlights iOS-style animations and a redesigned Quick Panel

The leaked video from source Ice Universe, showcased on social media, reveals an evolution in how notifications are managed within One UI 7. With design tweaks aimed at improving the user experience, the Quick Panel will feature bubble icons for quick toggles, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, organized in a rounded rectangle layout. Users can anticipate customizable settings, enhancing functionality while waiting for the official release.

One UI 7 brings a series of significant design changes and user experience enhancements, mirroring some of the most praised facets of iOS. Among the notable features is the split notification panel for the lock screen, separating notifications from quick settings— mirroring a similar trend seen in other Android interfaces.

The Quick Panel will adopt an aesthetic reminiscent of Apple’s with its bubble toggle icons prominently displayed for accessibility. Additional options, including airplane mode, location, and flashlight controls, will be shown as icon-only options below. Analysts suggest that this design shift could streamline user interactions depending on their specific needs.

Beyond the cosmetic changes, the software is set to enhance overall fluidity with improved animations within its Recents and App Opening panels. A focus on stability and performance improvements has led to the software being refined in its beta phase, with the expectation that the final release will be stable and feature-rich.

Samsung aims to launch One UI 7 after substantial user feedback regarding previous releases, specifically addressing criticisms of battery life and performance lags seen in earlier updates. The delayed rollout may help ensure a smoother launch trajectory for the software. In July 2024, leaks revealed additional iOS 18-inspired features, including a redesigned Gallery app mirroring Apple’s visual language and a Camera app that proposes a more streamlined control mechanism.

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Release timeline for One UI 7

The One UI 7 update is built upon Android 15, which officially released on October 15, 2024, for Google Pixel devices. Samsung previously announced that the One UI 7.0 beta program would be available to developers by the end of 2024, followed by a public beta likely in December. However, Samsung’s recent omission of the One UI 7.0 beta program launch at the SDC Korea 2024 event has sparked discussions within the community regarding delays.

The stable release of One UI 7 is anticipated to coincide with the Galaxy S25 series launch in early 2025. Post-launch, older Galaxy devices will begin receiving this update, which is expected to include enhancements aimed at stabilizing animations and improving overall software performance.

The eligible devices for the One UI 7 update include:

• Galaxy S Series: Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21 (including FE devices)
• Galaxy Z Series: Galaxy Z Fold 6, Flip 6, Fold 5, Flip 5, Fold 4, Flip 4, Fold 3, Flip 3
• Galaxy A Series: Galaxy A73, A55, A54, A53, A35, A34, A33, A25, A24, A23, A15, A14, A05, A05s
• Galaxy M Series: Galaxy M55, M54, M53, M35, M34, M33, M15
• Galaxy F Series: Galaxy F55, F54, F34, F15
• Galaxy Tab Series: Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, Ultra, FE, FE+, Tab S8, S8+, Ultra, Tab A9, A9+, Tab S6 Lite (2024)

Featured image credit: Vitalii Khodzinskyi/Unsplash