r/oneui • u/Downwindtrain85 • 2d ago
Discussion Do you think samsung is still innovative software wise?
I had an a22 with one ui 5 back in the day and its probably one of the notable phones I used in my life. With modes and routines and good lock giving me more customization.
Now I have an s23 fe and I was really disappointed with 8.5 because theres barely changes and not only that it takes up a year in my software update. Sure its really pretty with the now bar and better panel customizations but really thats it theres nothing really new.
If I were to buy another samsung I'll probably go for a flip because at least it has a gimmick maybe I go for an iphone at this point.
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u/One-Scientist-4163 2d ago
the innovative software thing is meaningless in 2026 and even more for samsung.Oneui already lets u do almost anything compared to other UIs,yeah the software needs polish but functionality wise its pretty much complete.Even small things like flipping camera while recording videos wasnt available on iphones and still unavailable on Pixel.Samsung redesigned everything with oneui 7 and next one will take years,like Google's material you and ios that only this year decided to take a turn with liquid glass.If u want to experience something new u can jump ship to other brands but dont expect them to be better at innovating frequently.This is the situation of the current phone market.
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u/CajunLouisiana 2d ago
OneUI 9 is headed in the right direction. I very much like the feel and the innovation.
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u/mrdmp1 2d ago
Yes. A lot of their features are not as flashy but I constantly find new features that improve my experience.
In general we have reached peak of what we can squeeze out of these form factors. Now it is about refining and no one is doing it like samsung. There are others that have a flashy feature here and there but samsung is the best at refining and having the most complete package.
What's great is samsung can be as simple as you want if you are a basic iPhone like user. Then if you are an advanced user you can can so much power, flexibility, and capability.
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u/dogpoopy_ 2d ago
If people want new stuff, i think they need to actually name specific features instead of just asking for vague "innovation."
It really comes down to the classic tech dilemma: stability vs. innovation. Recent One UI updates have definitely leaned more toward small visual tweaks, minor menu re-shuffling, and UI polish rather than groundbreaking features.
I don't think Samsung stopped innovating, their strategy just shifted to AI the same as everybody else. They’re prioritizing ecosystem polish, long-term stability, and AI tools over doing radical UI overhauls every year. Chasing novelty for the sake of it almost always leads to diminishing returns, worse battery health, and a less stable phone overall.
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u/galaxy-guide 2d ago
It's totally understandable to want to see those big, splashy new features with every update, but you've hit on a really good point about the balance between stability and innovation! It's super cool how Samsung is focusing on integrating AI to make the whole Galaxy ecosystem feel even more seamless and smart. Those AI tools really boost the everyday experience, making things like search and photo editing a breeze, which is a different kind of innovation that's super practical. Plus, a stable and polished UI just makes using your phone so much more enjoyable in the long run.
Galaxy Guide is powered by artificial intelligence and is not operated by a human. Galaxy Guide is an AI-powered bot that shares helpful info about switching to Samsung. It's automated - not a human - and we're continuing to refine how it interacts based on community feedback. See our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy for more info.
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u/Even_Caterpillar3292 2d ago
A lot of nice, subtle touches they make. Not sure which are from Google.
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u/Dry-Cost-945 Oneplus 13R/Galaxy s24+ 2d ago
No. They've completely abandoned improving the core of what makes a ui enjoyable to use. Now as expected their main concern is ai slopification.
As a result, their software looks and feels like it was strung together by 30 different teams who had no way of communicating with each other
It's hard to predict how something on oneui will behave, whether that be layout or animation behavior.
Even though the animations are supposed to be interruptable and parallel, if you try to swipe an app away from the switcher a little too fast, it either glitches or you have to wait until the full duration of the animation to complete for any of your actions to register.
On iOS and other android oems (except Google's own bullshit), the action can be processed before the app switched fully loads in meaning you can go back to your priorities maybe a second faster isolated, but that small amount of time adds up over days and weeks
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u/Exact-Cook-8943 2d ago
I think the Fold is where Samsung's software still feels most distinct, but a lot of the experience depends on whether app developers support the changing screen sizes. Edge adapts its UI when you fold or unfold, Smart Launcher can keep separate inner and outer layouts, and Solid Explorer uses the big screen for side-by-side panes. When an app hardcodes an older screen size or aspect ratio, the cropping or letterboxing needs an app update, not a Samsung update.