Samsung’s One UI 7 update is extensive and mostly impressive, yet it’s clear that the company is drawing inspiration from numerous iOS features and design elements. Below is a rundown of how Samsung’s Android 15 update mimics iOS.
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‘Now Bar’ and ‘Live Notifications’
A prominent way Samsung’s One UI 7 is echoing iOS is through its new versions of Dynamic Island, which are represented in two formats.
On the lock screen, the “Now Bar” displays ongoing tasks like stopwatches, timers, music, and so forth. Additionally, “Live Notifications” allows the representation of ongoing tasks in the status bar, with a tap revealing extra controls. This is particularly evident when music is playing, showcasing UI similarities in a manner that can hardly be overlooked, as highlighted on DMN.
Though the positioning is different, their aim is to deliver similar functionality to the Dynamic Island, which can be seen as an advantageous addition. However, Samsung’s iteration doesn’t currently support third-party apps, which raises questions about its usefulness.
App icon sizes and widget labels
With iOS 18 marking a significant stride in home screen customization—allowing users to further tailor app icons—Samsung has now incorporated the changes it was previously lacking. Users can now display widget names like those found in iOS, turn off app names, and adjust app icon sizes in ways that echo Apple’s latest enhancements.
Revamped multitasking interface
The redesigned multitasking page in One UI 7 is one of the most straightforward emulations of iOS, resembling it almost identically.
Updated battery icon
Additionally, Samsung has introduced a new battery icon that bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s. It even features a new charging animation where the icon changes to green when the device is plugged in.
Divided notification and Quick Settings panels
Lastly, One UI 7 features a distinct separation of the notification tray and Quick Settings. This arrangement allows notifications to be accessed by swiping down from the top left, while Quick Settings can be revealed by swiping down from the top right.
Many Android manufacturers have adopted this configuration recently, yet it closely mimics Apple’s method established over several years.
Fortunately, Samsung provides an option to customize this feature fully.
Although many of these modifications seem to be inspired by iOS, Samsung’s overall update includes numerous enhancements that aren’t specifically derived from “the fruit company.” In various aspects, the features Samsung has adopted, which echo iOS, are arguably improvements.
What are your thoughts on One UI 7?
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