This Android phone maker offers the best user interface: Here’s why
Android phones come in many guises with equally varied user interfaces. I used to swear by the stock version of Android found on Google’s Pixel phones. But now I find Samsung’s interface to be the best of all.
1 The single UI design is still reminiscent of Android
Smartphone manufacturers are creating their own interfaces as part of their efforts to differentiate their phones. After all, there’s less reason to be loyal to one brand over another based on phone specs and build quality alone.
Samsung’s older interface, known as TouchWiz, was like insect repellant to me – I refused to go near it. That garish look is now gone, replaced by a minimalist interface called One UI, which arguably feels more professional and different than Google’s own vision for Android.
Plus, Samsung’s design no longer conflicts with third-party apps. Yes, Samsung’s first-party software has its own look, but you can switch back and forth between other apps without having to adjust your eyes.
2 Samsung’s attention to detail and polish
Some smartphone manufacturers push software interfaces that lack visual consistency and overall sleekness. Take the Nothing Phone for example. While you might buy the hardware for its near-iconic looks, the software is less visually stunning. The fonts used in apps and the notification bar are inconsistent. The notification panel has toggles that are oddly larger than the others.
OnePlus’ OxygenOS is workable, but the look feels like a clunky mix of Android and iOS. I find the software from both Nothing and OnePlus bland enough to avoid their phones. Why settle for ok when there are better options? Samsung’s OneUI software is much more perfect in my opinion.
3 One UI has a better quick notification drawer
On the Pixel, there aren’t as many toggles on the notification panel. One swipe down shows my internet connection, bluetooth and two other options. To adjust the brightness, I have to swipe down again, and the number of switches only expands to eight.
In comparison, on my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, I have access to six switches and brightness settings, all from the first swipe. A second drag increases that number to 18. Even though all of these options are quickly available, the screen still feels clean to me.
4 Samsung offers a powerful suite of apps
I used to think of all pre-installed apps from the manufacturer as bloatware. However, I now consider Samsung apps to be some of the best options of their type. As I write this, I’m listening to my local music collection using Samsung Music. Samsung Internet is a stellar web browser that does things Chrome can’t.
Likewise, Samsung Notes is a powerful note-taking app that I use daily, and Samsung Gallery is packed with features that make it much better at managing your local photo library than Google Photos. Moving data with Samsung My Files is easier than with the file manager on my old computer!
Sure, most Android devices come with Google apps, but those aren’t that appealing to someone like me who isn’t very invested in the Google ecosystem. This is one of the reasons I won’t be switching to a Pixel phone.
5 One UI scales well to larger screen sizes
Google developed Android for smartphones, and while tablets aren’t new anymore, most interfaces still work best on phones.
Samsung has gone the extra mile to optimize One UI for larger screens. Built-in features like the optional taskbar help you switch between apps faster. In split-screen view, you can use two apps at the same time and even open any app in a floating window, just like on the desktop.
If you want an even more laptop-like experience, you can connect a keyboard and use Samsung DeX on an external display. While Samsung’s tablets still suffer from having fewer tablet-focused apps compared to iPads, the company’s interface adapts better to tablets than OnePlus or Google.
6 Native support for custom fonts and icons
With the ability to replace your phone’s home screen with a third-party launcher, you can radically change the look of any Android phone. These alternative launchers usually allow you to take your customization further by grabbing an icon pack.
You don’t need to change the default launcher on your Samsung phone to get full functionality. In the Galaxy Store, you can find icon packs and fonts to change aspects of the interface that most other smartphone manufacturers won’t let you touch. On most phones, changing the icons using a third-party launcher does not affect the icons you see when switching between recent apps. This is not the case with Samsung devices.
7 Endless customization and advanced features
The modifications do not end there. Out of the box, I can have the Edge Panel tucked into the side of the screen, which serves as a quick way to launch apps, view notes, check the weather, and more. I can set all my apps to appear on the home screen instead of in the app drawer. I can set routines and routines that tell my phone to do certain things at a certain time, in a chosen location, or in response to various variables.
Samsung also provides its own customization tool called Good Lock, which lets you configure almost anything you can’t tweak out of the box. I have my phone set to switch between recent apps when I swipe down from the side of the screen at an angle, which saves me moving my fingers to the bottom of the screen. I fixed the blurring that occurs when managing split screen apps. I also removed the gesture navigation bar at the bottom so that my apps fill more of the screen.
Good Lock alone is a good reason for me to stick with Samsung phones. If there’s something visual you’d like to change, or a behavior you wish worked differently, chances are Good Lock will let you tweak it. This is the kind of customization that required us to root our phones or install custom ROMs back in the day.
Many reviewers describe Samsung One UI as too much. I don’t see it. The non-technical people I know seem to be just as capable of navigating a Samsung device as they are a Motorola device. They don’t tend to delve into system settings anyway, so it doesn’t really matter that Samsung has crammed so many features in there.
For a power user like me, this extra feature is what allows me to radically change the kind of devices I use. I was able to trade my laptop for a phone thanks to DeX and Samsung’s extensive multitasking capabilities. Honestly, I can’t use the Pixel or the iPhone the way I use my Galaxy Z Fold 5, and it’s not because Samsung offers the best hardware; it’s the sheer maturity and capabilities of One UI that draws me to Galaxy phones.