Introduction
Samsung was due to launch a major upgrade for its custom skin after releasing One UI 3.1.1. The subsequent version would have introduced significant cosmetic changes in addition to new features and functionality.
Beginning with the original One UI 1.0, every major version of Samsung's proprietary software was followed up by two minor upgrades. For example, One UI 1.0 was succeeded by One UI 1.1 and 1.5, while One UI version 2.0 was eventually replaced by One UI 2.1 and version 2.5.
Following that logic, it was safe to assume that the company would make the jump from One UI 3.1.1 directly to One UI 4.0. That is precisely what it did. Samsung introduced One UI 4.0 along with the Android 12 update. It didn't wait for new flagship smartphones to launch the update.
It launched the One UI 4.0 Android 12 beta program for the Galaxy S21 series in September 2021. The Galaxy S21 series was the first to receive the public One UI 4.0 build two months later in November.
One UI 4.0 design and enhancements
Samsung developed One UI 4.0 from the ground up to be more simple, comfortable and personalized. It opted for a simplified color palette to boost focus while Android 12's Material You lets users significantly personalize the look and feel of the UI.
Dark mode has been expanded to all app icons. It's also more interactive, enabling users to adjust the size of the picture-in-picture window with ease. The Camera app UI has been updated for more ease of use.
Minor enhancements have been made system-wide to make navigation through the UI feel more intuitive. One UI 4.0 is right up there with some of the best iterations of Samsung's custom software. It provides a modern and sleek user interface while being packed with powerful features.
One UI 4.0 features
One UI 4.0 brings personalized widget recommendations with every widget, even non-Samsung ones, getting rounded corners for design consistency. One UI 4.0 focuses on privacy features by providing users more control over the permissions apps ask for.
When apps ask to access the device's location, users have the option to share their precise or approximate location. Check out the full One UI 4.0 changelog for more detail on all of the new features.
One UI 4.0 release
The release of One UI 4.0 was tied with Android 12, as every major upgrade for Samsung's custom skin is accompanied by the latest version of Google's mobile software.
Samsung didn't make fans wait for a new flagship series to get their hands on One UI 4.0. It had previously confirmed that One UI 4.0 will be released for the Galaxy S21 series before the end of 2021.
The Galaxy S21 lineup was the first to get the update in November 2021. In the following weeks, the One UI 4.0 Android 12 update was also released for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. All Samsung devices eligible for the Android 12 update will eventually get it in the following weeks and months