Samsung UI 5 draws heavily on iOS 15 and iOS 16. In the coming weeks comes One UI 5, the vision of Android 13 signed by Samsung: the press release announcing it lists the main news that our readers should sound familiar, such as the customizable lock screens and new ways to filter unwanted notifications based on ongoing activity.
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These features are in fact very appreciated by iPhone owners, who can benefit partially by installing iOS 15 or completely with the latest iOS 16. As for the customization of the One UI 5 lock screen, it works just like Apple’s: just press long on the lock screen to access the tools, including an option that allows you to create a wallpaper using a short video clip but also – says Samsung – many wallpapers, new colors and graphic options to choose from.
The Routine function, on the other hand, has been improved with the addition of algorithms enabled to recognize multiple situations in order to start automations, such as connecting to a mobile hotspot or activating airplane mode.
But there is also a new feature, simply called Mode, designed to filter distractions based on activities, such as when working, studying, sleeping or working out in the gym. Just like iOS 15’s Full Immersion mode recently improved with iOS 16. There is also a new widget that offers smart tips based on the apps in use, with action recommendations.
Although all this sounds familiar, let’s give Caesar what is Caesar’s: among the novelties there is also something completely new like the Bixby Text Call function, which allows you to respond and communicate with a person who has called us via SMS. Basically the voice assistant, Bixby, reads the text to the person on the other side of the handset and, in the same way, converts their voice into text.
It is a smart way to answer a phone call when you are in a noisy place or where you need to keep silence (such as at the cinema or theater) or you just want to keep some privacy with strangers.
This feature will initially be available in Korea while in the US it will arrive in 2023 and, presumably, other countries to follow. At launch, Samsung’s new One UI 5 will likely be available first for the Galaxy S22 series, the Z Flip 4 and the Z Fold 4, then arrive on older models and some mid-range devices.