5 One UI 6.1 features Samsung didn’t show at the Unpacked event
On January 17, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S24 series at Galaxy Unpacked. At this event, the company showed a lot of new features of Galaxy AI and also touched on some features of One UI 6.1, the software that will be introduced with the Galaxy S24 series. However, Samsung has already invested a lot of time in introducing the new AI tools and the new smartphones themselves. Instead, today we’re focusing on five new One UI 6.1 features that are pretty notable. And one thing that Samsung actually removed from One UI.
AI wallpapers
One huge new feature that Samsung didn’t spend much time on in Galaxy Unpacked is generative AI wallpapers. This allows you to create an AI-generated image from text and then use it as a background on the home screen. If this sounds familiar, it’s the same system that Google uses on the Pixel 8 series. All Samsung has done here is rework the system to make it more familiar to Samsung fans.
However, apart from the look, it’s the same: you choose from predefined options to create some graphics and then apply them as a wallpaper. However, just like the generative AI background tool on the Pixel 8 series, you need a data connection because the AI images are created on a cloud server. Interestingly, the Asus ROG Phone 8 series, which has the same chipset as the Galaxy S24 series, can create AI-generated images directly on the device. Samsung may release an update in the future to move processing to the device as well. In terms of hardware, nothing stands in the way of this. To start creating AI-generated graphics on the Samsung Galaxy S24, go to Wallpapers and Style > Change Backgrounds > Generative.
Photo Ambient Wallpapers
One UI 6.1 and another feature related to wallpapers has been added – Photo Ambient Wallpapers. This will overlay weather data on any static background image. Essentially, you give Samsung a photo or graphic, and then Samsung overlays weather data on it. This means you can see at a glance whether it is snowing, raining, sunny or cloudy.
The feature is part of the Labs section of One UI 6.1. To activate it, you have to go to Settings > Advanced Features > Labs and then enable the photo wallpaper. Then add a background image as usual under “Backgrounds and Style”. The new option can be found next to the “Generative AI” option. However, it is still a Labs feature for a good reason. It may not look particularly good in some pictures.
Lock screen widgets
The lock screen widgets have also received an update in One UI 6.1. While you can add lock screen widgets 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. Now the widgets will automatically appear on the lock screen. Although it can only be seen in the small box area under the watch, you can access a lot of data at a glance without unlocking your phone.
Several cool widgets are supported including battery, Samsung Health, upcoming calendar events and more. The widgets look very similar to iPhone lock screen widgets, and that’s probably not a coincidence. As usual, Samsung is trying a lot of things that Apple has tried before.
AOD wallpapers
Another cool One UI 6.1 update is for the Always-on Display (AOD). For years, the background of the AOD was just black. However, with the new firmware the AOD can use the slightly dimmed lock screen wallpaper. This should benefit the battery life, which is why this setting is activated by default. If you want to save even more battery, deactivate the AOD completely, of course, under Settings > Lock screen and AOD > Always-on display.
Samsung Find
Samsung Find is a completely new app on the Galaxy S24 series that has not yet been found on any other Galaxy smartphone. It is the central contact point for all tracking topics, similar to Find My from Apple and Find My Device from Google. It includes some of the features you would normally see in the SmartThings app and adds some new ones.
The app has three tabs: People, Devices, and Items. In the “People” section you can share your location with someone. A similar function already exists in Google Maps or WhatsApp. In the “Devices” section you can find your Samsung devices such as smartphones, tablets oder notebooks. You can also find devices here that you have control of, such as the children’s cell phones.
Finally, in the “Articles” section you will find the SmartTags – both the original Galaxy SmartTag or the newer Galaxy SmartTag 2. This app is preinstalled on the S24 series. But once you update your older Galaxy phone or tablet to One UI 6.1, you should be able to download it manually from the Galaxy Store. In other words, the feature is currently exclusive to the Galaxy S24 and One UI 6.1, but eventually everyone will have access to it.
Hide navigation bar
Unfortunately, Samsung has also removed a feature in One UI 6.1, namely the ability to hide the navigation bar. The navigation bar is displayed at the bottom of the display when gesture navigation is activated. In previous One UI versions you could hide this. However, due to Circle to Search, this is no longer possible.
To activate Circle to Search while gesture navigation is active, long press this bar. If the bar is hidden, this would not be possible. So Circle to Search has basically made sure that the navigation bar must be there. However, if you use three-button navigation, you won’t notice any change. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about it. Although you can disable Circle to Search, this does not restore the option to hide the navigation bar.
When will One UI 6.1 come to everyone?
Anyone who is convinced of One UI 6.1 but doesn’t want to buy a Galaxy S24 will have several other options before the end of the first half of the year. This includes the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5. Various older devices will also receive the update later this year.
