Samsung has announced that the One UI 7 update is now rolling out to the Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A16 smartphones. The update is based on Android 15, which means the phones will get many new features and designs with Android 15. The initial rollout has started in South Korea, and the update will soon roll out to global markets (e.g. India, US, Europe). According to Samsung's press release, One UI 7 brings a bold new design and advanced AI integration that will make the user experience even more seamless.
Key features of One UI 7 (major update)
- Circle to Search AI: Samsung's popular Circle to Search feature is now available on the Galaxy A16 (and possibly the Galaxy A15 as well). With this feature, when you circle and select a text, image, or object on the screen, Samsung's AI tools instantly provide search results and related actions about that object. This update has made the on-screen search experience much easier.
- Android 15 Upgrade & Security Improvements: The One UI 7 update will upgrade these phones to Android 15. Android 15 also brings the latest security patch and privacy enhancements. Samsung has specifically introduced features like Identity Check, which protects your data even if your PIN/password is compromised. Along with this, there will also be regular Samsung Knox security updates and new layers of data encryption, which make privacy more secure.
- Quick Settings & Notification Panel: Both the quick settings panel and the notification shade have a new design in One UI 7. The quick settings tiles now look more streamlined and organized. The notification panel also has visual changes, such as a cleaner layout and responsive toggles. These design changes will make everyday use easier, which feels quite refreshing.
- Dynamic App Icons: The design of the stock app icons has also changed a lot. One UI 7 adds dynamic colors and unified shapes to the icons, giving the overall UI a coherent look. The icons now change color according to the Material You style and all follow the same shape (such as rounded square or circle). This visual refresh is quite noticeable compared to One UI 6.
- Now Bar (Lock Screen): A new Now Bar feature has also been added that shows real-time updates on the lock screen. This time you can see weather updates, news headlines, sports scores or music playback controls without having to unlock the phone. This is very useful for morning routines, such as when you are going for a run and can quickly check your progress. According to Samsung press, the Now Bar gives users "essential information at your fingertips without having to unlock the phone.
- Customization & Smooth Animations: Customization options and animations have also been improved in One UI 7. Personalizing the settings menu and widgets has become even easier. The new animation transitions are smoother than before, which increases fluidity while using the device. System-wide dark/light mode and theme tweaks have also been enhanced to make the phone feel more personalized.
One UI 6 vs One UI 7: What's new and improved?
The OnePlus 7 brings some major changes and enhancements over the OnePlus 6 (Android 14):
- Design Overhaul: One UI 7 is a bold redesign. The home screen is now simpler and streamlined, widgets and the lock screen have been given a new look. For example, One UI 7 now has a bar on the lock screen (which One UI 6 did not have). The icon set is also completely different - dynamic colors and uniform shapes have replaced the static icons of One UI 6.
- AI Integration: One UI 6 had limited AI features, but One UI 7 makes extensive use of Samsung AI. New tools like AI Select, Writing Assist, Drawing Assist, and Audio Eraser have been added. You can perform context-based actions (such as creating GIFs from videos) with AI Select by swiping on the edge panel. With Writing Assist, you can summarize written text or automatically adjust its tone/grammar. All of these features were not present in One UI 6, so One UI 7 brings a lot of advancements for creative tasks.
- Performance and speed: Android 15's kernel and optimizations improve under-the-hood performance. Samsung claims that resource management and multitasking have become more efficient. (Some early reports suggest that battery life may be affected immediately after the update, but this will depend on the model/optimization.) Overall, Samsung's focus is on ensuring smooth daily usage and gaming performance.
- Security & Privacy: Privacy controls are even tighter in One UI 7. Such as identity theft protection (Identity Check) and additional permission security measures have been implemented from Android 14 onwards. Compared to One UI 6, data encryption and secure processing are now deeply integrated.
Additional New Features in One UI 7
- Writing Assist: When writing in the messaging app, selecting text and tapping the Galaxy AI icon opens Writing Assist options – like changing the tone, checking grammar, or creating a summary. This makes writing conversations and emails faster and more refined.
- Drawing Assist: When editing photos or images, you may need to make enhancements using a combination of text prompts or drawings; this can be made easier using Drawing Assist.
- Audio Eraser: There is an option of Audio Eraser tool to remove unwanted background noise in video editing. It is available in high-end Galaxy devices and is part of One UI 7.
- Google Gemini Integration: By using Gemini on a long-press side button, you can perform tasks in a conversational way - like "Show the nearest Italian restaurant with outdoor seating". This feature is incorporated with Android 15's natural language capabilities.
Note: These advanced AI tools (AI Select, Drawing Assist, Audio Eraser, Gemini) will be supported more for flagship phones. According to SamMobile's analysis, "Galaxy AI is missing" on budget models like Galaxy A15/A16, which means the full AI suite may not be available. Although some AI features like Circle to Search are available, all AI capabilities are only available on high-end devices (Galaxy S/Ultra series, Fold/Flip series).
Battery and performance improvements (with Android 15)
The combination of Android 15 and One UI 7 is also expected to bring better improvements in battery optimization and performance. Samsung has optimized background process management and CPU throttling to increase power efficiency. Android 15 may also bring some new battery saver modes and adaptive charging features (such as setting the charge limit to 80%). However, some users have reported that the new update may drain the battery slightly faster, but this may be specific to the initial install. Future updates will fix these issues, while daily use may see better performance.
OneUI 6 vs OneUI 7: Competition
| Feature | One UI 6 (Android 14) | One UI 7 (Android 15) (New) |
|---|---|---|
| UI Design | Classic Samsung icons, generic layout. | New dynamic icons, simplified homescreen, redesigned widgets & lock screen. |
| Lock Screen | Notifications and widgets as before. | Now Bar on lock screen with live updates (news, sports, music). |
| Quick Settings | Old tile layout. | Brand-new Quick Settings with fresh layout. |
| AI Features | Basic (e.g. Bixby or Google integration). | Advanced AI tools: Circle to Search, AI Select, Writing Assist, etc.. |
| Icons/Theming | Fixed icon shapes, limited theming. | Dynamic Material-you colors, unified icon shapes across apps. |
| Animations | Standard Android animations. | Smoother and refined animations across UI. |
One UI 7 Rollout and Compatible Devices
One UI 7 is being rolled out to all new and recent Samsung devices. As per the announcement from Samsung Global Newsroom, the rollout began on April 7, 2025. The update will first come to the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, and high-end Fold/Flip phones (Galaxy Z Fold6/Flip6, Z Fold5/Flip5) and Galaxy Tab S10/S9 tablets. It will then gradually reach mid-range models.
- Flagships aur Foldables: Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S23/S22 series, Galaxy Z Fold6/5, Z Flip6/5, Galaxy Tab S10/S9 series.
- Mid-range A-series: Samsung Galaxy A73, A55, A54, A53, A35, A34, A33, A25, A24, A23, and now specially mentioned in the news Galaxy A16 (LTE / 5G) and A15 (LTE / 5G).
- Other series: Some Galaxy M and F series phones may also get it (as per Samsung's 4-year update policy), like Galaxy M55, M54, F55 etc. (official confirmation pending).
Samsung's official list hasn't been fully announced yet, but it will expand as the update is released. For now, if One UI 7 is available for your Galaxy phone, you can manually install it by checking under Settings > Software update > Download and install.
Disclosure (Summary)
The One UI 7 Android 15 update is a big step up for the Galaxy A15 and A16, bringing upgrades to design, AI, and security. The update brings AI features like Circle to Search, all-new UI elements (Quick Settings, icons, Now bar), and improved customization. The interface is much refreshed and smarter than the Android 14-based One UI 6. One UI 7 is being rolled out to the rest of Samsung's flagship and mid-range models, so everyone will get the new features gradually. If your phone has received the update, give it a try - enjoy the new look and features and keep your device up to date with the latest security.
Source: Taken from the latest news reports and Samsung announcements such as Sammobile and Sammy Fans (May 2025), Samsung Newsroom press release, Google Security Blog (Android 2025). All these information make clear the new features of One UI 7.
