Samsung announced the roll-out of its One UI 5.1 update a couple of weeks after unveiling it with the Galaxy S23 series in February. The updated software improves on the main UI 5 update, based on Android 13, which included a slew of new features, including Bixby Text Call, Modes, easier video editing options, Stacked Widgets, a new Connected Devices menu, an Auto-switch Buds menu, a revamped security and privacy dashboard, and more. One UI 5.1 is a relatively minor update but comes with several new additions and improvements in aesthetics and functionality.
With One UI 5.1, Samsung is aiming to improve the photography experience of Galaxy smartphone users. The new software offers a shortcut to directly access the Expert RAW feature as part of the Camera app. It also brings an enhanced AI-based Photo Remaster feature that the company says automatically increases details in images by tweaking the brightness levels, making color corrections, and fine-tuning other aspects of the picture. The Gallery app also sees navigation improvements that make it easier to find photos and create shared family albums. Users can also tap on a person’s face in any photo to search for more images of that person.
One UI 5.1: New Features And Improvements
One UI 5.1 comes with a few visual and aesthetic tweaks, including custom wallpapers, ringtones, touch sensitivity, and font options for Modes and Routines. The changes will help users personalize specific activities and offer more convenience than ever before. The update also includes new lock screen customization options and changes to the volume icons and the Media Output interface. There aren’t too many other visual differences, though.
Users also get many new Android widgets, including a dynamic weather widget that analyzes and creates a custom design to reflect current weather conditions. An improved Smart Suggestions widget was first introduced with One UI 5 and can recommend Spotify tracks and playlists based on users’ activities. Finally, there’s a new battery widget that can show the battery levels of the phone and connected wearable devices.
Samsung is also emphasizing the new connectivity features in One UI 5.1. The company offers tighter integration of Galaxy ecosystem devices by expanding ‘Multi Control’ between its Galaxy Book laptops and smartphones. This will allow users to share their new Galaxy Book devices’ mouse, keyboard, and trackpad to copy and paste text or drag and drop images from one device to another. Already available with the Galaxy S23 phones, the One UI 5.1 update has started rolling out for the Galaxy S22 series, Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, S21 series, and S20 series. Devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 will also get One UI 5.1.
