Samsung's One UI 7 Beta: A Look at the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 Features

Samsung has officially launched the One UI 7 beta program for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 as of March 7. The update brings some exciting features, particularly in terms of the Now Bar, which is something even Galaxy S25 owners might envy. While the software update is mostly similar to what’s available on other Galaxy devices, certain elements stand out, especially for users of Samsung’s foldable phones. Here’s a deeper dive into the changes and what they mean for users.

Summary

The One UI 7 beta has been rolled out for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. A key feature of the update is the Now Bar, which displays ongoing activities as a pill in the status bar and on the lock screen. However, it’s worth noting that the Galaxy S25 series and the new A series phones that come with One UI 7 out of the box are missing this Now Bar pill for media playback in the status bar.

This issue also affects the Galaxy S24 series running One UI 7 beta firmware, where the media playback widget is also missing from notifications, now accessible only via the expanded quick panel. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 retain their Now Bar functionality, with the media playback widget appearing correctly in both the status bar and notifications.

Though One UI 7 on these foldable devices doesn’t introduce many major differences from the software found on other Galaxy devices, some new AI features seen in the Galaxy S25 series are notably absent. Samsung is expected to address these inconsistencies in future software updates.

What Undercode Says:

Samsung’s One UI 7 beta brings a small yet significant update to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, particularly for users of these foldable devices. The Now Bar feature, which offers users quick access to ongoing activities, now performs better on these devices compared to the Galaxy S25 series and other One UI 7 devices.

One of the standout differences is the proper display of the Now Bar pill for media playback on the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. This is something many users of the Galaxy S25 series will find frustrating, especially considering that the Now Bar pill doesn’t show up for media playback in the status bar on their devices. Furthermore, the media playback widget, which was previously accessible from notifications, is now hidden away in the expanded quick panel on the Galaxy S24 series, making it harder to control media.

This discrepancy highlights a key issue in software updates: it’s not always a given that features will roll out uniformly across devices, even within the same software version. For users of Samsung’s foldable devices, this can feel like a small but crucial advantage, with these phones offering an experience that other Galaxy devices on One UI 7 currently lack.

Despite this issue, it’s important to note that One UI 7 on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 doesn’t come with many other surprises. The update largely mirrors the software available on other Samsung phones. However, the absence of some of the advanced Galaxy AI features seen in the Galaxy S25 series suggests that Samsung may be reserving those features for their newest flagship devices, leaving foldable users with a slightly different experience.

As for the rollout and future updates, it’s reasonable to expect that Samsung will address these minor issues with the Now Bar and media playback widgets in the coming months. The company’s quick response to software glitches is generally commendable, so it’s likely that an update will fix these inconsistencies soon.

In conclusion, while One UI 7 on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 is largely similar to what we’ve seen on other Samsung devices, the functional Now Bar and media playback widget might just be enough to make foldable owners feel a little more special. The hope is that Samsung will refine the software for other devices in future updates, ensuring a smoother and more uniform experience across their entire lineup.

Fact Checker Results:

The Now Bar feature functions as intended on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, but is missing or restricted on other devices like the Galaxy S25 series and S24 series running One UI 7.
The One UI 7 update for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 does not include the same AI features available on the Galaxy S25 series.
Samsung is expected to address the media playback widget and Now Bar inconsistencies in future software updates.

References:

Reported By: https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-z-fold-6-flip-6-one-ui-7-beta-now-bar-fix/
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