5 One UI 6.1 Features Samsung Didn't Reveal At Unpacked (and One It Took Away)
On January 17, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S24 series at Galaxy Unpacked. At the event, the company talked about a number of new features for Galaxy AI and also discussed some features of One UI 6.1, the software that was first introduced in the Galaxy S24 series.
However, since Samsung has invested a lot of time into the AI tools and the new phone itself, it didn't get around to mentioning some of the One UI 6.1 features that I found particularly eye-catching. I want to focus on these five new things and also touch on one thing that Samsung actually removed from One UI that might be controversial among some One UI fans.
Generative AI wallpaper
K. Scott Brown / Android Authority
A big new feature that Samsung hasn't used much in Galaxy Unpacked is AI-generated wallpapers. You can enter text commands to create an AI-generated image and then use it as your home screen background.
If this sounds familiar, that's because it's the same system that Google used on the Pixel 8 series. All Samsung did here was reboot this system to make it more familiar to Samsung fans. However, aside from the appearance, it's the same: you choose one of the predefined options to create a work of art and then apply it as a wallpaper.
Samsung borrowed the Pixel 8's generative AI system for the wallpapers.
Note that, like the Pixel 8's generative AI tools, these tools require a data connection to work. No images generated by the AI on the device are processed. Your invitation is sent to an online server, which creates the AI-generated image you requested, and you then download it. Interestingly, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 has almost the same processor as the Galaxy S24 series and this phone is capable of generating AI-generated images on the device. Although we don't have any information to confirm this, it is possible that Samsung will release an update in the future that will allow you to create wallpapers on the device. At least on a material level, nothing stands in his way.
To start creating AI-generated images on your Samsung Galaxy S24, go to Wallpaper & Style > Change Background > Generator .
Photo wallpaper
K. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Another wallpaper-related feature added in One UI 6.1 is photo backgrounds. In this case, the weather data will be overlaid on any static background image of your choice. Basically, you give Samsung a photo or graphic, then Samsung overlays a weather image on top of it, so you can just look at the wallpaper and see whether it's snowing, raining, sunny, cloudy, or whatever the weather is. . specific area.
While this is pretty cool, it's part of the Labs section in One UI 6.1. To enable it, you need to go to Settings > Advanced Features > Lab and then enable Photo Background. After that, add a background image as usual by going to the Background & Style section . Next to the “Generative AI” option, you’ll find a new “Atmospheric Photography” option.
Although it's really cool, there's a reason it's in the lab. It might look ugly in some pictures and something might break here and there, but that's how the Labs feature works.
Lock screen function
K. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Lock screen widgets also get a nice update in One UI 6.1. While you can already add widgets to the lock screen in One UI 6 and earlier, you have to tap the clock icon to view them. With One UI 6.1 this is no longer necessary – at least for most widgets. The widget will now automatically appear on the lock screen when you pick it up. You can only see it in a small area under the watch, but it allows you to get a lot of data at once without having to unlock the phone or even tap it.
It supports some cool widgets like battery, Samsung Health, next calendar events display and more.
Some people may notice that the widget is very similar to the iPhone lock screen widget, and unfortunately that may be intentional. As always, Samsung is worth trying everything Apple has tried. It just happened.
AOD wallpaper
Damien Wilde/Android Authority
Another interesting update in One UI 6.1 is Always On Display (AOD). For years the AOD background was simply black. However, with this latest update, AOD can use the lock screen wallpaper but without sound, making the surrounding screen more personal.
We'll need to do some testing to know for sure, but I'm relatively confident that this will use more battery life than a traditional all-black background. It's a major sacrifice, but if it's not as bad as a battery drain, I think it's worth it.
This option is activated by default. However, you can disable them if you don't like them or want to save battery. Just go to Settings > Lock Screen & AOD > Always On Display, then turn off the Show Lock Screen Wallpaper setting .
Search for Samsung
K. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Samsung Find is a new app for the Galaxy S24 series that you won't find on any other Galaxy device, at least for now. It's a one-stop shop for all your tracking needs, similar to Apple's Find My and Google's Find My Device. It includes some of the features you normally see in the SmartThings app, adds some new features, and organizes them all in one place.
The app has three tabs: People, Devices, and Items. In the “People” section you can share your location with other people. This is similar to an existing feature in Google Maps that allows you to share your location with others over a period of time.
The Samsung Find app is your new one-stop shop to keep you on track.
In the Devices section, you will find your Samsung devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. Here you will also see devices that you can control, such as your child's phone. Now you can quickly see where everything is.
Finally, the Items section lets you track items that have a SmartTag attached, whether it's the original Galaxy SmartTag or the newer Galaxy SmartTag 2 ($21.99 at Amazon). For example, if you attach it to your luggage, you can quickly find it here.
The app comes pre-installed on the S24 series, but after updating to One UI 6.1 on your Galaxy phone or tablet, you can download it manually from the Galaxy Store. In other words, this feature is currently exclusive to the Galaxy S24 and One UI 6.1, but eventually everyone will have access to it.
Removed from One UI 6.1: Navigation bar is hidden.
K. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Now that we've looked at five things Samsung introduced in One UI 6.1, I want to talk about what it left out. Unfortunately, in this new version of One UI you no longer have the option to hide the navigation bar. When gesture navigation is enabled, a navigation bar appears at the bottom of the screen. In previous versions of One UI, you could hide it if you found it annoying to your eyes. But thanks to Circle to Search, that's no longer possible.
To activate Circle to Search when using gesture navigation, you need to long press the bar. If you hide the bar, this is not possible. So Circle to Search basically creates a navigation bar there. For people who have switched to gesture navigation and hate the navigation bar, this might be a problem. For reference, users of a three-button navigation system will not notice any changes.
Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about it. The search circle can be disabled, but this does not restore the ability to hide the navigation bar. Unfortunately, if you're really stuck with losing the little strip at the bottom of the screen, you'll have to get over it after updating to One UI 6.1.
When will you get One UI 6.1?
Robert Triggs/Android Authority
If you can't wait to get your hands on the software but don't want to buy a Galaxy S24, don't worry: Samsung has promised to release One UI 6.1 on a range of devices by the end of the first half of this year . Year . This year. These include the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5.
If you don't have it yet, One UI 6.1 is probably still coming, but Samsung can't promise it will arrive in the first half of this year.
Which of these One UI 6.1 features do you like the most? What do you think about the navigation bar situation? Tell us in the comments.
Which of the new features in One UI 6.1 do you like the most?
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