After the Samsung Galaxy S20 the brand is carrying One UI 3.0 alongside Android 11 to the most recent ‘premium’ ranges, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20. And we have finally been able to test the long-awaited update: we tell you what you can expect from Samsung’s renewed layer.
Since it premiered at the Samsung Galaxy S10 One UI has evolved to offer a huge service to owners of a Samsung Galaxy (perhaps ‘exaggerated service’, which the cape is not exactly light). Samsung developed its software to be easy to use with one hand, it also adapted its design slightly approaching Google’s ‘pure’ Android. And with the last iteration that strategy is even more noticeable: One UI 3.0 reaches the first Samsung Galaxy to refresh your experience.
The aesthetic changes are minor

Those expecting a radical design change to the cape may be somewhat disappointed after the update as One UI 3.0 is not a break from the previous version, One UI 2.5. This does not imply that the aesthetics remain unchanged, rather the opposite: the renewed details are continuous that can be located by each menu, setting and section of the customized software of the updated Samsung Galaxy.
Although the design is minimally evolved yes, refinement in aesthetics is constantly appreciated. The fingerprint icon changes, also the buttons to enter the unlock PIN; One UI 3.0 applies some brushstrokes to the notification area and quick settings (and Android 11 notification bubbles are included); menu backgrounds change to a lighter gray when dark mode is activated; all system icons receive Samsung’s own design (squares with a colored background with rounded corners); Samsung bundles some related settings; and the pre-installed apps are minimally updated so that their design fits with the system.

One of the design changes that are most appreciated with the jump to One UI 3.0 is the one that concerns battery consumption. Samsung recovers the consumption graphs with a full charge in order to understand at a glance where the mAhs mostly went. Detailed apps, although without having access to what the system hardware consumed (screen hours are not shown either). In addition, the energy saving menus have been redesigned.

The volume controls have also been redesigned in One UI 3.0. The current aspect is much more similar to that offered by Google in the Pixel, for example. And it allows from adapting the volume of the sound that is being emitted to vary each volume category by clicking on the three menu items. All with floating window.

One last point is that of multimedia notification. Samsung has included a notification card on the lock screen, similar to the one displayed in the notification area (it looks really good). And we have found a problem in apps like Spotify: it doesn’t show media control in notification (it’s generic on Android 11). Hopefully it won’t take long to fix it.
Optimized performance and consumption

We have not noticed an abysmal change, but an improvement that is appreciated throughout a full load: One UI 3.0, along with the base of Android 11, consume slightly less energy during use. Samsung introduces higher spending restrictions per app. And automatic performance management is somewhat more successful, at least on a general level.
It is not that the power of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the mobile on which we have carried out One UI 3.0 tests, was short before updating, it is obvious. After installing the latest system and layer version, we have noticed some optimization in the background, in the jump between applications and also at startup. There are no appreciable slowdowns. And incidentally Samsung has optimized the animations between all the elements of the system. The interface feels somewhat more fluid.
Improved privacy control thanks to Android 11

Updating to the latest system version always brings the advantage of receiving the latest in terms of security and privacy. With the growing concern of users about both issues, Google significantly improved the control of what applications can collect: with One UI 3.0 the user can assign one-time permissions to location, camera and microphone. In addition, the mobile will deactivate those three permissions of the applications if the user has not used them for a long time.
The one named as’scoped storage‘or specific storage It is also a big change in terms of privacy: all updates that adapt to Android 11 (API level 30) they will have access only to the phone folder they choose. This means that they will no longer be able to read all of the phone’s storage just because they have asked for permission; This prevents developers from obtaining private user data.
A minor leap in design and a major leap in everything else

We already said the update can disappoint since the evolution in the aspect is very subtle. This is what happens with the evolution from Android 10 to Android 11: Google has not introduced excessive changes at the user level. Quite the opposite of what happens in the field of developers; which will end up benefiting those of us who use the system.
Changes in the APIs of Android 11 to improve privacy and security, improvements in notifications with suggested responses through Artificial Intelligence, notification bubbles, multimedia control center with audio output selection, Android Auto Wireless Integrated, Gboard now uses Google’s autocomplete to fill in the password field and more minor changes that constitute a notable global advance, although perhaps not as much as an update of this level warrants.
One UI 3.0. has reached the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Samsung Galaxy Note 20: If you have one of these phones, we recommend that you update as the user experience is improved. And in case you have another Samsung mobile you will have to wait: consult the update schedule to know when the new software will be available.
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The news
We tested One UI 3.0 on Android 11: this is the latest update of the Samsung Galaxy
was originally published in
Xataka Android
by
Ivan Linares
.
