Abstract
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Samsung’s One UI has its benefits, however slows down the adoption of recent variations of Android for those who’re not able to purchase the corporate’s newest merchandise.
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Lots of the apps on Samsung telephones are both utterly pointless or redundant with the apps Google gives to each Android gadget maker. Typically, they lock you into Samsung merchandise, flying within the face of Android’s advantages.
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The corporate is unlikely to ditch One UI or these proprietary apps anytime quickly, because it desires that ecosystem lock-in, and it might take a number of effort and time to decouple options.
As you recognize, Samsung is a juggernaut of the smartphone business. Even in North America, the place Apple’s iPhone reigns supreme, it controls slightly below 1 / 4 of the market, relegating manufacturers like Google and Motorola to also-ran standing. Simply primarily based on the percentages, it is secure to say that for those who’re looking for an Android gadget as a substitute of an iPhone 16, you are most likely going to decide on a Galaxy S25 over a Pixel 9.
Whereas my every day driver is an iPhone 16 Professional, I’ve owned a number of Android telephones previously. I typically contemplate making the change again, significantly once I see the digicam specs on some newer units. However whereas Samsung is without doubt one of the firms main within the specs race, I am steering away from the model for one main motive: bloatware. And sadly, I do not suppose it may change course anytime quickly.
The bloatware dilemma
A novel proposition is not at all times a great one
For me, the main downside is One UI, Samsung’s Android pores and skin. There are literally a number of sensible benefits to it — it permits a number of issues that are not but constructed into Android, such because the Now Bar, which mimics Apple’s Sensible Stack. On some units, it is important for Samsung’s multitasking and AI capabilities. And naturally, it offers each Samsung gadget a singular look, filled with rounded icons and signature fonts. I am largely onboard, irrespective of my complaints about particular person options just like the Now Temporary.
The downside of One UI is that if you would like the most recent model of Android, it is an impediment. In the meanwhile, as an illustration, the one Samsung units with the non-beta model of One UI 8 — primarily based on Android 16 — are the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. Samsung is planning to carry the software program to extra units in September, however for those who’ve obtained a Galaxy S25 Extremely, all you are able to do till then is envy your buddy with the Pixel 9, who obtained Android 16 earlier this summer season.
Utilizing a Samsung cellphone at all times appears like I am indulging in a CEO’s deep need to repeat Apple’s walled backyard.
Comparable delays are current with different Android manufacturers, to be honest. However the extra software program you layer on high of units, the slower updates are prone to roll out, and a number of what Samsung does feels extraneous. I would a lot moderately have “naked” Android 16 as quickly as doable than one thing personalized a number of months later. Certainly, if I ever do soar again into Android, it is most likely going to be with a Pixel, since I have been spoiled by Apple’s capacity to replace all its suitable units on day one. iPhone 14 house owners would naturally be irritated in the event that they needed to wait till subsequent yr to improve to iOS 26, regardless of having completely suitable {hardware}.
One UI can be simple to forgive if Samsung averted loading every cellphone with an arsenal of apps which might be redundant with Google’s, or simply plain pointless. There’s little motive to make use of SmartThings in your sensible dwelling when Amazon Alexa and Google Dwelling are much better supported. For well being and health, Google Match and Well being Join cowl sufficient of the identical floor as Samsung Well being. You get Samsung Pockets as a substitute of Google Pockets, and do not even get me began on fluff like Samsung Free and Samsung TV Plus.
In some circumstances at the least, it is doable to disregard these apps, however utilizing a Samsung cellphone at all times appears like I am indulging in a CEO’s deep need to repeat Apple’s walled backyard. Apple has an excuse to fill its telephones with proprietary apps, nevertheless — iOS is its personal working system. With out first-party software program, key capabilities would both be lacking or vulnerable to being taken away at any second. Likewise, Android is already well-stocked with every part it wants — which is one thing most cellphone makers appear to have accepted. The Nothing Telephone 3, as an illustration, has little or no bloatware. The worst offenders are Nothing X and Important House, which nonetheless haven’t any direct analogues in Google’s library. If you are going to add to an OS, there must be some plain worth to doing it.
Will Samsung ever ditch the bloat?
By no means say by no means, however…
Wanting a disaster, Samsung is unlikely to jettison One UI. The obvious motive is that it might take an amazing quantity of effort and time to decouple the options Galaxy house owners genuinely need, and a few of them won’t survive the transition to impartial apps, despite the pliability of Android. Furthermore, Samsung has tied its company identification to the software program — if the Galaxy S26 out of the blue seemed quite a bit like a Google or OnePlus cellphone, some consumers could be extra inclined to see these different merchandise as equal alternate options (gasp). To be constant, Samsung may also have to revamp the interfaces of non-Android merchandise. That form of shake-up is usually a non-starter for smaller companies, not to mention megacorporations value a whole bunch of billions.
One of many strengths of Android is meant to be the liberty from lock-in, and Samsung continues to lean too exhausting within the incorrect path.
The decoupling concern carries over to a couple key apps. The Galaxy Watch at present requires Samsung Well being, and dropping SmartThings for Alexa or Google Dwelling would wreak havoc with the corporate’s sensible home equipment. Transitioning to different apps is doable, although, so the overriding issue is sort of definitely the push for ecosystem management. If you happen to’ve obtained a watch that will not work with no Samsung cellphone, you are most likely going to stay with Samsung usually for some time. If you happen to’ve obtained a Samsung equipment, you possibly can safely ignore SmartThings, however it creates the temptation to take a position extra in that platform to get probably the most out of it. One factor I get pleasure from about my Google TV is the flexibility to set a film evening scene for your complete room with a single voice command.
I really do not begrudge Samsung an excessive amount of for what it is doing. That might be hypocritical, given the variety of Apple merchandise I personal that successfully demand an iPhone or an iPad. However one of many strengths of Android is meant to be the liberty from lock-in, and Samsung continues to lean too exhausting within the incorrect path.
