Kwame Hollister

One UI is Samsung’s own interface for Android, and it runs on every current Galaxy phone, tablet and watch. Underneath, it is still Android, so Google Play, your apps and your Google account behave the same. What changes is the look, the built-in apps, a long list of Samsung-only features, and how and when updates reach you.

This guide explains what One UI is, how it compares with the “stock” Android on Google’s Pixel phones, and how to handle updates, Gemini and Circle to Search on a Galaxy.

What Samsung One UI actually is

One UI is a software layer, usually called a skin or custom interface, that Samsung builds on top of Google’s Android. Google publishes the core operating system as open source through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Phone makers then add their own design, apps and features. Samsung’s version of that is One UI.

When people search for “android samsung ui” or “samsung android ui,” this is the thing they mean. The home screen, the Settings app, the notification shade, the camera app, the keyboard and the lock screen on a Galaxy are all part of One UI.

From TouchWiz to One UI

Samsung has skinned Android since its earliest Galaxy phones. The first long-running skin was TouchWiz, which built a reputation for being heavy, busy and slow. Samsung Experience replaced it around 2016 and 2017 with a cleaner look, but the big reset came in November 2018, when Samsung announced One UI at its developer conference.

The pitch was specific. Phones had grown too tall to use with one thumb, so Samsung split many screens into two zones. The top half became a “viewing area” for titles and information. The bottom half became an “interaction area” for buttons, lists and controls you actually tap. Open the Settings app or Samsung’s Messages app on a Galaxy today and you can still see that idea: a big header at the top and the content pushed down toward your thumb.

One UI 1.0 rolled out to the Galaxy S9 and Note9 around the turn of 2019 and shipped on the Galaxy S10. Every Galaxy since has used it. You will also see it written as “oneui” in app package names and forum posts. It is the same software.

One UI versions and the Android they run on

Each major One UI release lines up with a major Android release. The “.1” and “.5” versions usually arrive with new hardware and add features without changing the Android base.

One UI version	Android base	Debuted on	When
One UI 1.0	Android 9	Galaxy S9 update, then Galaxy S10	2018-19
One UI 2.0	Android 10	Galaxy S10 update	Late 2019
One UI 3.0	Android 11	Galaxy S20 update	Dec 2020
One UI 4.0	Android 12	Galaxy S21 update	Nov 2021
One UI 5.0	Android 13	Galaxy S22 update	Oct 2022
One UI 6.0	Android 14	Galaxy S23 update	Oct 2023
One UI 6.1	Android 14	Galaxy S24 (first Galaxy AI)	Jan 2024
One UI 7	Android 15	Galaxy S25	Feb 2025
One UI 8	Android 16	Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7	Jul 2025
One UI 8.5	Android 16	Public beta for Galaxy S25	Dec 2025

Two things stand out in that history. First, Samsung dropped the “.0” from version names starting with One UI 7, which is why you now see “One UI 8” rather than “One UI 8.0.” Second, the gap between Google’s release and Samsung’s has swung a lot.

Android 15 reached Pixel phones in October 2024, while One UI 7 did not start its stable rollout to older Galaxy phones until April 2025. That roughly six-month wait drew plenty of criticism. Samsung tightened things up the following year: Android 16 landed on Pixels in June 2025, and One UI 8 began reaching the Galaxy S25 series in September 2025, a gap of about three months.

What “stock Android” means today

“Stock Android” gets used loosely, so it helps to pin it down. There are really three things people mean:

• AOSP: the bare open-source Android code from Google. Almost nobody uses it as-is on a phone, because it lacks Google Play, Gmail, Maps and the Google apps most people expect.
• Pixel software: the Android build Google ships on its own Pixel phones. This is what most reviewers mean by stock. It is AOSP plus Google’s apps, design and Pixel-only features such as Call Screen and Now Playing.
• Near-stock skins: brands like Motorola and Nothing keep their software close to Google’s design and add a smaller set of extras.

So the comparison that matters to buyers is One UI against Pixel software. Both are heavily customised in their own ways. Google simply has the advantage of building Android and its own phones at the same time, so Pixels get new Android versions first.

Since Android 16’s first quarterly update, Pixels use Google’s Material 3 Expressive design, with bouncy animations, larger rounded tiles and colours pulled from your wallpaper. One UI uses its own design language. It has supported wallpaper-based colour theming, which Samsung calls Color palette, since One UI 4, but the shapes, icons, menus and layouts are Samsung’s.

One UI vs stock Android side by side

Here is how the two compare on the things you notice in daily use. The stock column refers to Pixel software running Android 16.

Area	Samsung One UI 8	Stock Android (Pixel)
Design	Samsung design, one-handed layout	Material 3 Expressive
Quick Settings	Separate from notifications by default (One UI 7 and later)	Combined shade
Default browser	Samsung Internet preinstalled alongside Chrome	Chrome
Notes app	Samsung Notes	Google Keep
Gallery	Samsung Gallery, with OneDrive sync option	Google Photos
Voice assistant	Bixby and Gemini, side button configurable	Gemini
AI features	Galaxy AI plus Gemini	Gemini plus Pixel-exclusive features
Multitasking	Split screen, pop-up windows, Edge panels	Split screen
Desktop mode	Samsung DeX on supported models	Desktop features still limited
Secure storage	Secure Folder, backed by Knox	Private space (Android 15 and later)
Customisation depth	Good Lock modules, themes, lock screen editor	Wallpaper and colour theming
New Android version	Months after Pixel	Day one
Update promise (current flagships)	7 years	7 years

The headline is simple. Pixel software is lighter and quicker to update. One UI has far more built-in features and settings. Neither one is objectively better; they suit different people, and that is covered at the end of this guide.

The interface: where you notice the differences first

Pick up a Galaxy after using a Pixel and the differences show up within a minute. Most of them come down to layout and where things live.

Built for one hand

Samsung has kept its one-handed focus since 2018. Large headers in Settings, Phone, Messages, Clock and other Samsung apps push the tappable content down. Many menus open from the bottom. If you still struggle to reach the top of a big phone, One-handed mode shrinks the whole screen toward the bottom corner. You switch it on under Settings > Advanced features > One-handed mode, then swipe down on the bottom edge to trigger it.

There is also Easy mode, under Settings > Display > Easy mode. It enlarges icons and text, increases touch-and-hold delay, and simplifies the home screen layout. It is a sensible choice to set up for an older relative or anyone who wants a simple phone.

The home screen, One UI Home and the app drawer

Samsung’s launcher, the app that runs your home screen and app drawer, is called One UI Home. It appears in Google Play and the Galaxy Store as a separate listing, which is why you may see “Samsung One UI Home” pop up when you update apps. Samsung updates it independently of full system updates. You cannot install it on a non-Samsung phone, and on a Galaxy you cannot uninstall it.

The biggest visible difference from a Pixel is the app drawer. By default, Samsung’s drawer scrolls sideways in pages, much like the home screen, and it sorts apps in a custom order unless you switch it to alphabetical. Pixels use a vertically scrolling, alphabetical list. If you prefer Samsung’s layout but want more control over sorting, folders and page grids, our guide on the One UI app drawer walks through the settings.

You can also turn off the drawer entirely and put every app on the home screens, iPhone-style. Long press an empty spot on the home screen, tap Settings, and change Home screen layout to Home screen only.

Quick Settings and notifications

This changed in One UI 7. Samsung split the pull-down panel into two parts: swipe down from the left side of the top edge for notifications, and swipe down from the right side for Quick Settings, the toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight and the rest. That mirrors how iPhones work and differs from Pixels, where one swipe brings down both.

If you prefer the old combined panel, long press any Quick Settings tile, open panel settings, and choose to show the two panels together. Samsung also lets you resize the brightness slider, rearrange tiles and pin your most used ones at the top.

The navigation bar: buttons or gestures

Pixels use swipe gestures by default and have mostly buried the old three-button bar. Samsung still ships many Galaxy phones with three buttons out of the box: Recents, Home and Back. You can swap the button order so Back sits where your thumb expects it, or switch to swipe gestures.

Head to Settings > Display > Navigation bar. From there you can:

• Choose Buttons or Swipe gestures
• Change the button order
• Hide the gesture hint bar at the bottom
• Adjust Back gesture sensitivity
• Turn Circle to Search on or off

Samsung’s own NavStar module in Good Lock, covered below, adds further tweaks such as custom button icons.

The Now Bar and Now Brief

One UI 7 introduced the Now Bar, a pill-shaped strip at the bottom of the lock screen. It shows live activities: a running timer, music playback, a navigation route, an active call, or an Interpreter session. It is Samsung’s answer to the iPhone’s Live Activities, and Pixels do not have an exact equivalent.

Now Brief is a related feature on recent flagships. It pulls together weather, calendar events, suggestions and health information from Samsung Health into a daily summary, shown at times such as morning and evening. How useful it is depends on how many Samsung apps you use. If your calendar lives in Google Calendar and your fitness data in another app, the brief feels thinner.

Features you get on One UI but not on stock Android

This is the strongest argument for One UI. Samsung bundles tools that would otherwise need extra apps, and several have no direct Pixel equivalent.

Multitasking: split screen and pop-up view

Both platforms support split screen. One UI goes further with pop-up view, which puts an app in a floating, resizable mini window on top of whatever else you are doing. You can shrink that window to a small bubble and bring it back later. It works well for keeping a calculator, chat or video call on top of a browser.

To open an app in pop-up view, open Recents, tap the app’s icon above its preview, and choose Open in pop-up view. Swiping diagonally down from a top corner inside an app does the same thing if you enable it in Settings > Advanced features > Multi window.

Edge panels

Edge panels are a slim handle on the side of the screen. Swipe it in to open a panel with favourite apps, app pairs (two apps that launch together in split screen), tools, contacts or the clipboard. You can turn it on under Settings > Display > Edge panels. Pixels have nothing like it built in.

Secure Folder and Knox

Secure Folder creates a separate, encrypted space on your phone with its own apps, photos and files, locked behind its own PIN or biometrics. You can run a second copy of a messaging app inside it, or keep private documents away from anyone who borrows your phone. It is protected by Samsung Knox, the security platform built into Galaxy hardware and software.

Android 15 added a similar feature called private space to Pixels, so the gap has narrowed. Secure Folder is still more mature and more flexible.

Knox also powers several other One UI security features:

• Auto Blocker blocks app installs from unknown sources and certain malicious commands over USB.
• Maintenance mode hides your personal data when you hand the phone in for repair.
• Knox Vault stores sensitive data such as passwords and biometrics in an isolated, tamper-resistant chip on supported models.

Modes and Routines

Modes and Routines, previously Bixby Routines, lets you automate the phone with if-this-then-that rules. A few examples:

• When you connect to your car’s Bluetooth, open Maps and set media volume to 70%.
• At 11pm, turn on Sleep mode, mute notifications and dim the screen.
• When battery falls below 15%, switch on Power saving and turn off Always On Display.

You find it under Settings > Modes and Routines. Pixels have a few fixed automations, but nothing this open-ended without a third-party app.

Samsung DeX

DeX turns a supported Galaxy phone or tablet into a desktop-style workspace with resizable windows and a taskbar. On phones you connect to a monitor with a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter. On a Samsung tablet, DeX runs right on the screen and pairs naturally with a keyboard cover, which suits anyone who wants a laptop-ish setup without buying a laptop. Google has been working on its own desktop mode for Android, but DeX has years of head start.

Good Lock

Good Lock is a free Samsung app, available through the Galaxy Store in supported countries, that unlocks deep customisation through separate modules. The most popular are:

• Home Up: changes app drawer behaviour, folder styles and the Recents screen
• QuickStar: customises the Quick Settings panel and status bar icons
• LockStar: rearranges the lock screen
• NavStar: tweaks the navigation bar and gestures
• Theme Park: builds custom themes and icon packs
• Keys Cafe: custom keyboard layouts and effects
• Camera Assistant: adds advanced options to the Samsung Camera app

Nothing on stock Android comes close without rooting or a pile of separate apps.

Galaxy AI, Gemini and Circle to Search

AI is now a big part of how Samsung pitches One UI. Galaxy phones carry two sets of AI tools: Samsung’s own Galaxy AI features and Google’s Gemini assistant.

What Galaxy AI includes

Galaxy AI arrived with One UI 6.1 on the Galaxy S24 in January 2024 and was later added to the Galaxy S23, Z Fold5, Z Flip5 and Tab S9 series. Features vary by model, but the core set includes:

Feature	Where you use it	What it does
Live Translate	Phone app	Translates both sides of a voice call in near real time
Interpreter	Quick Settings	Split-screen translation for face-to-face conversations
Chat Assist	Samsung Keyboard	Adjusts tone and translates messages as you type
Note Assist	Samsung Notes	Summarises, formats and translates notes
Transcript Assist	Voice Recorder	Transcribes and summarises recordings
Photo Assist	Gallery	Moves, removes or resizes objects with generative fill
Audio Eraser	Gallery	Reduces wind, crowd and other noise in videos
Sketch to Image	Gallery, Notes	Turns rough drawings into generated images

Pixels have their own versions of several of these, such as Magic Editor and Audio Magic Eraser, plus exclusives like Call Screen. Samsung’s edge is that its tools are spread across apps you use daily, like the keyboard and the call screen.

Make the Side button start Gemini

Bixby is still Samsung’s own personal digital assistant, and it remains on every Galaxy. But Gemini is the more capable assistant for most people, and on the Galaxy S25 series Samsung made it the default for the Side button in many markets. On older or regional models, the button may still wake Bixby.

To check or change it:

1. Open Settings > Advanced features > Side button.
2. Under Press and hold, choose Digital assistant instead of Wake Bixby or Power off menu.
3. Next, go to Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Digital assistant app.
4. Tap Device assistance app and select Gemini.

If you pick Digital assistant in step 2 but leave Google Assistant as the default in step 4, holding the button will open the older assistant. Both settings need to agree.

Confirm your Gemini preferences

Once Gemini answers the Side button, open the Gemini app and tap your profile picture to reach its settings. The ones worth checking:

• Gemini on lock screen: decides whether Gemini can respond without you unlocking first
• Gemini Apps Activity: controls whether your conversations are saved to your Google account
• Apps (extensions): lets Gemini act inside connected apps

On the Galaxy S25 and newer, Gemini can work with Samsung Calendar, Samsung Notes and Samsung Reminder, so you can say “add a reminder to call the dentist on Thursday” and it lands in Samsung’s app rather than Google’s.

Using Gemini day to day

The best uses are practical rather than flashy. You can ask Gemini about what’s on your screen, such as a long article or a restaurant’s menu, and get a quick summary. Gemini Live lets you hold a spoken back-and-forth conversation, and on supported phones you can share your camera or screen so it can see what you are asking about. You can also chain tasks across apps, like finding a restaurant and sending its address to a friend in one request.

Circle to Search

Circle to Search debuted on the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 series in January 2024, and it is one of the few headline features Samsung and Google shipped at the same time. Long press the home button or the gesture handle at the bottom of the screen, then circle, scribble on or tap anything visible: a jacket in a video, a landmark in a photo, a word in a foreign-language post. Google runs a visual search on it without you leaving the app.

It is built on the same technology as Google Lens, so it handles translation, product lookup and text copying. It can also identify a song playing around you or in a video. If it doesn’t trigger, check that it’s turned on under Settings > Display > Navigation bar.

Samsung apps vs Google apps: the duplicate problem

One of the most common complaints about One UI is duplication. A new Galaxy often carries two apps for the same job: Samsung Internet and Chrome, Samsung Gallery and Google Photos, Samsung Notes and Google Keep, Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet, Galaxy Store and Google Play.

Some of Samsung’s apps are excellent. Samsung Notes is one of the best handwriting apps on Android, especially with an S Pen. Samsung Internet has built-in ad blocker support and strong privacy settings. Samsung’s Phone app supports call recording in regions where that is legal, which Google’s dialer handles differently.

Here is how to cut the clutter without breaking anything:

• Pick defaults: Settings > Apps > Choose default apps lets you set your browser, phone, SMS and assistant app.
• Disable what you won’t use: open the app’s info page and tap Disable or Uninstall. Core Samsung apps can usually be disabled, and partner apps preinstalled in some regions can often be removed outright.
• Keep app stores: leave the Galaxy Store installed even if you never browse it. Samsung delivers updates for many of its own apps and Good Lock modules through it.

Samsung has also leaned toward Google for some core apps. In the US, recent Galaxy flagships use Google Messages as the default texting app, which gives you RCS chat features and keeps your messages consistent if you later switch to a Pixel.

Accessories follow a similar pattern. Galaxy Buds pair with a pop-up card and sync settings through Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app. Third-party earbuds, including AirPods Pro 2, connect as standard Bluetooth headphones, so they work fine but lose features like automatic ear detection controls and quick settings toggles you would get on an iPhone.

How One UI updates work

This is where One UI has changed the most in recent years. Samsung used to trail far behind Google on support length. Its current flagships now match Pixels.

Samsung’s update promise vs Google’s

Phone	Launched	OS upgrades	Security updates
Galaxy S25 series	2025	7 years	7 years
Galaxy Z Fold7 / Z Flip7	2025	7 years	7 years
Galaxy S24 series	2024	7 years	7 years
Galaxy A56 / A36 / A26	2025	6 generations	6 years
Galaxy S23 series	2023	4 generations	5 years
Pixel 8 and later	2023 onward	7 years	7 years

The table shows why the model year matters if you buy a Galaxy secondhand or on discount. A Galaxy S23 launched with Android 13 and tops out four upgrades later, while a Galaxy S24 should keep getting new versions into the next decade.

Two caveats. First, the promise counts from launch, not from when you buy. Second, it guarantees updates will come but not how quickly. Pixels get each new Android version on release day, while Galaxy phones get it after Samsung finishes One UI work, usually starting with the newest flagship and working down the range. Mid-range and budget models often receive updates weeks or months after the S series, and some cheaper models get security patches quarterly rather than monthly.

How your Galaxy handles updates for you

By default, One UI downloads updates in the background over Wi-Fi and asks you to install them. You control this under Settings > Software update:

• Auto download over Wi-Fi: grabs update files automatically when you’re on Wi-Fi
• Install overnight: Samsung may offer to install between 2am and 5am while you sleep, provided the battery is charged enough

There are actually three update channels on a Galaxy, which confuses many people:

1. One UI software updates: the big version upgrades and Samsung’s security patches, delivered through Settings > Software update.
2. Google Play system updates: smaller Google-delivered fixes for core Android components, found under Settings > Security and privacy > Updates.
3. App updates: Samsung apps update through the Galaxy Store, and Google apps and One UI Home through Google Play.

If something like the Camera or Gallery app gets a new feature but your One UI version hasn’t changed, it usually came through the Galaxy Store.

How to check your current software version

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap About phone (About tablet on a Galaxy Tab).
3. Tap Software information.

You’ll see your One UI version, Android version, Google Play system update date, and the Android security patch level. The patch date matters more than most people think. If it’s more than three or four months old on a phone that’s still supported, check for an update.

How to manually check for a software update

1. Connect to Wi-Fi and make sure the battery is above 20%, or plug in your charger.
2. Open Settings > Software update.
3. Tap Download and install.
4. If an update is available, tap Download, then Install now once the download finishes.

The phone restarts during installation, and big version upgrades can take 15 to 30 minutes. Back up first through Samsung Cloud, Google One or Smart Switch on a computer, just in case. Major upgrades rarely wipe data, but a backup costs little.

If your phone says it’s up to date while others with the same model already have a new version, that’s normal. Samsung rolls updates out in waves by region and carrier. Carrier-locked phones in the US often lag unlocked models by days or weeks.

Joining the One UI beta

Samsung runs public beta programs for new One UI versions through the Samsung Members app, usually for flagships in a handful of countries such as the US, UK, South Korea, Germany and India. When a beta opens, a banner appears in Samsung Members and you register from there. The One UI 8.5 beta, for example, opened for the Galaxy S25 series in December 2025.

Betas carry bugs, and going back to stable software usually means waiting for the final release or wiping the phone. Only join on a phone you can afford to have misbehave. Samsung Members is also where you report bugs and run diagnostics, and it’s the first stop for support before booking a repair.

One UI beyond phones: tablets, foldables and watches

One UI runs across Samsung’s range, and that consistency is part of the appeal.

Tablets. Galaxy Tabs use the same One UI, adapted for large screens with a taskbar, three-app split view and DeX. The Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra launched in September 2025 running One UI 8 on Android 16, with Galaxy AI and Gemini built in. Anyone choosing a Samsung tablet benefits from the fact that settings, apps and gestures match your phone almost exactly.

Foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lines get extra One UI features you won’t find on slab phones. On the Fold, apps can stretch across the inner screen, and the taskbar makes it work like a small tablet. On the Flip, One UI runs a cut-down version on the cover screen, called FlexWindow, with widgets and selected full apps. Samsung often debuts new One UI versions on foldables now, as it did with One UI 8 on the Z Fold7 and Z Flip7.

Watches. Galaxy Watches run One UI Watch on top of Google’s Wear OS. The Galaxy Watch8, launched in July 2025, shipped with One UI 8 Watch on Wear OS 6, adding Samsung Health features such as Bedtime Guidance and Antioxidant Index. Health data syncs back to the Samsung Health app on your phone, which ties into Now Brief.

The honest downsides of One UI

One UI has improved enormously since the TouchWiz days, but some trade-offs remain.

Slower access to new Android versions. Even at three months, you wait for features Pixel owners already have. Lower-end Galaxy phones wait longer.

More preinstalled software. Expect duplicate apps, Samsung services you’ll be prompted to sign into, and in some regions partner apps installed out of the box. Most can be disabled, but it’s work you don’t do on a Pixel.

More settings to dig through. The number of options is a strength for tinkerers and a burden for people who want a phone that simply works. The Settings search bar helps a lot. Use it instead of hunting through menus.

Bixby still lurks. Even if you never use it, Bixby occasionally appears in prompts and some regional defaults. Reassigning the Side button fixes most of it.

A Samsung account helps a lot. Features like Samsung Cloud, SmartThings Find for locating a lost phone, Samsung Health sync and Good Lock work best with a Samsung account. You can skip it, but you lose a good chunk of what makes One UI worthwhile.

On performance, the old reputation for lag no longer holds on flagship hardware. Current Galaxy S and Z phones run One UI smoothly. Budget A-series models with less RAM can feel slower than a similarly priced Pixel, mostly because One UI does more in the background.

Who should pick One UI, and who should pick stock Android

Choose a Galaxy with One UI if you:

• Want lots of features built in, from Secure Folder to DeX to pop-up windows
• Like to customise your phone heavily through themes, Good Lock and routines
• Multitask a lot, especially on a foldable or tablet
• Already own Galaxy Buds, a Galaxy Watch or a Galaxy Tab and want them to work together
• Want a wide choice of hardware, from budget A-series phones to the S Ultra and Z Fold

Choose a Pixel or a near-stock phone if you:

• Want new Android versions and features the day Google releases them
• Prefer a lighter, simpler interface with fewer duplicate apps
• Care about Pixel-exclusive tools like Call Screen and Now Playing
• Don’t want to configure much after setup

If you’re coming from an iPhone 13 or another older iPhone, One UI will probably feel more familiar than you expect. The split notification and Quick Settings panels, the lock screen live activities in the Now Bar, and the option to drop the app drawer all echo iOS habits. A Pixel will feel more different.

FAQ

Is One UI Android?

Yes. One UI is Samsung’s interface built on top of Android, and each version maps to a specific Android release. One UI 8 is based on Android 16. You still get Google Play, Google apps and full Android app compatibility.

What is the latest version of One UI?

One UI 8, based on Android 16, is the current stable version. It debuted on the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 in July 2025 and began reaching the Galaxy S25 series in September 2025. Samsung opened a One UI 8.5 beta in December 2025.

Can you install stock Android on a Samsung phone?

Not in any practical way for most people. Installing other Android builds requires unlocking the bootloader, which permanently trips Samsung’s Knox security flag and disables features such as Samsung Wallet and Secure Folder. Many US models don’t allow bootloader unlocking at all. A better route is to set Google’s apps as your defaults and, if you like, install a third-party launcher from Google Play.

Does One UI slow down your phone?

Not noticeably on recent flagships, which have plenty of power and RAM. On cheaper Galaxy A models, One UI’s extra features and background services can make things feel slower than lighter software on similar hardware. Disabling apps you don’t use and trimming animations under Developer options can help.

What is One UI Home on Google Play?

It’s Samsung’s launcher, the app that runs your home screen and app drawer. Samsung lists it on Google Play and the Galaxy Store so it can push updates without a full system update. It only works on Galaxy devices.

Do Samsung phones get updates as long as Pixels?

Current flagships do. The Galaxy S24, S25, Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 get seven years of OS and security updates, matching the Pixel 8 and later. Galaxy A56, A36 and A26 get six years. The difference is speed: Pixels get new Android versions first, while Galaxies get them after Samsung’s One UI release.

Samsung sells more tablet models than anyone except Apple. That range runs from roughly $160 kids’ slates to $1,200 laptop replacements, and the names (S, FE, Lite, A, Active) do not explain much. We ranked the current Galaxy Tab lineup by who each model actually suits, with launch prices, specs, and a clear top pick so you can choose without decoding Samsung’s catalog.

Our top pick at a glance

The Galaxy Tab S11 is the Samsung tablet we recommend to most people. It has a flagship chip, a 120 Hz AMOLED screen, an S Pen in the box, and a launch price that is $400 below the Ultra. If you want something cheaper, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE gives you most of the useful features for well under $600. If your budget is tight, the Galaxy Tab A9+ still covers streaming and browsing.

How we ranked these Samsung tablets

We did not benchmark these tablets ourselves. The rankings come from official Samsung spec sheets, launch pricing, and the patterns we see across the lineup. These are the five criteria we weighted most heavily.

1. Screen quality per dollar. You spend most of your tablet time looking at the display. AMOLED panels with 120 Hz refresh rates sit at the top. 90 Hz LCD panels are the sweet spot for value.
2. Chip headroom. A tablet stays in use longer than a phone. A faster chip keeps multitasking, DeX desktop mode and Galaxy AI features smooth for years.
3. S Pen included or not. Samsung bundles the S Pen with every S-series model, including the Lite. A-series tablets do not support it at all.
4. Software support length. Samsung’s premium tablets get much longer OS and security update windows than the budget A series.
5. Total cost. The keyboard cover, a cellular plan and extra storage can raise the real price a lot.

Quick comparison: every Samsung Galaxy tablet in this guide

Rank	Model	Chip	Display	Battery / charging	S Pen	US launch price
1	Galaxy Tab S11	Dimensity 9400+	11 in AMOLED, 120 Hz	8,400 mAh / 45W	Included	$799.99
2	Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra	Dimensity 9400+	14.6 in AMOLED, 120 Hz	11,600 mAh / 45W	Included	$1,199.99
3	Galaxy Tab S10 FE	Exynos 1580	10.9 in LCD, 90 Hz	8,000 mAh / 45W	Included	$549.99
4	Galaxy Tab S10 Lite	Exynos 1380	10.9 in LCD, 90 Hz	8,000 mAh / 25W	Included	$349.99
5	Galaxy Tab A9+	Snapdragon 695	11 in LCD, 90 Hz	7,040 mAh / 15W	Not supported	$219.99
6	Galaxy Tab S10 FE+	Exynos 1580	13.1 in LCD, 90 Hz	10,090 mAh / 45W	Included	$649.99
7	Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (previous gen)	Dimensity 9300+	14.6 in AMOLED, 120 Hz	11,200 mAh / 45W	Included	$1,199.99
8	Galaxy Tab Active5	Exynos 1380	8 in LCD	5,050 mAh, removable	Included	Business pricing

Prices are Samsung US launch prices for base Wi-Fi models. Retail prices drop quickly. Samsung, Amazon and carriers run promotions on Galaxy tablets several times a year, so always check the current price before you pay full price.

1. Galaxy Tab S11: best Samsung tablet for most people

11-inch AMOLED, 120 Hz, Dimensity 9400+, 12GB RAM, from $799.99

The Tab S11 sits in the middle of Samsung’s lineup, and it is the model we would buy. Samsung announced it alongside the Ultra in September 2025. It has the same MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip as the Ultra, so you lose no performance by going smaller.

The 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display runs at 2560 x 1600 with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Compared with the LCD panels on the FE and Lite models, the deep blacks and contrast are the biggest upgrade you will notice. Video, comics and photo editing all look noticeably better on it.

Samsung pairs the chip with 12GB of RAM on every storage tier. That is enough for split-screen multitasking, three apps in floating windows, or DeX desktop mode without slowdowns. The 8,400 mAh battery supports 45W wired charging, though the charger is sold separately.

What is new on the Tab S11

• Thinner build. The Tab S11 measures 5.5 mm thick. That makes it one of the slimmest 11-inch tablets on sale.
• Redesigned S Pen. The new pen has a hexagonal barrel that sits more naturally in the hand and is less likely to roll off a desk. It is still in the box.
• One UI 8 on Android 16. The tablet launched on Samsung’s newest software, with Galaxy AI tools such as Circle to Search, Note Assist and Drawing Assist built in.
• Reworked DeX. Samsung’s desktop mode has been updated for the S11 generation. It gives you a more laptop-like workspace and better external monitor support.

Who should buy the Tab S11

Buy it if you want a premium Samsung tablet that is still comfortable to hold in one hand. Students who take handwritten notes will get the most from it, as will anyone who streams in bed or on planes. It also suits people who sketch casually but do not need a giant canvas.

Skip it if you mostly want a big screen for drawing or for replacing a laptop. The Ultra is the better fit for that.

2. Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra: best Samsung tablet for creators and laptop replacement

14.6-inch AMOLED, 120 Hz, Dimensity 9400+, 12GB or 16GB RAM, from $1,199.99

The Ultra is Samsung’s biggest and most expensive tablet. It is also the closest Android gets to a real laptop replacement.

The 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen runs at 2960 x 1848 and 120 Hz. Samsung uses an anti-reflective coating on its Ultra tablets, which helps a lot under office lights or near a window. The display is wide enough to run two full apps side by side with no compromise. A web browser next to a document editor feels like a small laptop.

It weighs 692 grams, so it is not a one-handed tablet. At 5.1 mm, though, it is thinner than the regular S11.

The battery grows to 11,600 mAh, with the same 45W charging. Base models get 12GB of RAM with 256GB or 512GB of storage. The 1TB version steps up to 16GB of RAM, which matters for heavy creative apps or video editing in LumaFusion.

Ultra versus S11: is the extra $400 worth it?

Feature	Tab S11	Tab S11 Ultra
Screen size	11 in	14.6 in
Battery	8,400 mAh	11,600 mAh
Max RAM	12GB	16GB (1TB model)
Rear cameras	Single 13MP	13MP plus 8MP ultrawide
Thickness	5.5 mm	5.1 mm
US launch price	$799.99	$1,199.99

The chip is the same on both. You pay for screen size, battery and extra memory. The Ultra is worth it for illustrators, people who edit photos on the go, and anyone who wants DeX as their main work setup. For reading, streaming and note-taking, it is overkill.

Who should buy the Tab S11 Ultra

Buy it if you plan to leave the laptop at home, or if you draw seriously. It also makes sense if you want the biggest AMOLED screen Samsung makes. Skip it if you mainly use your tablet on the couch. A 14.6-inch slab is awkward to hold up for long.

3. Galaxy Tab S10 FE: best value Samsung tablet

10.9-inch LCD, 90 Hz, Exynos 1580, 8GB or 12GB RAM, from $549.99

FE stands for Fan Edition. In practice, it means Samsung’s flagship tablet experience with cheaper parts where they matter least. The Tab S10 FE launched in April 2025, and we think it is the smartest buy in the whole lineup for people who do not need AMOLED.

You get a 10.9-inch LCD at 2304 x 1440 with a 90 Hz refresh rate. It is not as vivid as the S11’s AMOLED panel. Text is still crisp and scrolling is smooth enough that most people will not miss 120 Hz.

The Exynos 1580 is a mid-range chip, and it handles note-taking, streaming, light games and split-screen work well. Heavy 3D games and serious video editing will show its limits.

There are three features we did not expect at this price:

• IP68 water and dust resistance. That is rare on any tablet, and it makes the FE a solid pick for the kitchen, the bath or the pool.
• The S Pen in the box. You get the same note-taking and Galaxy AI drawing tools as the flagships.
• A microSD slot. Storage starts at 128GB, but you can expand it cheaply.

Battery capacity is 8,000 mAh with 45W charging support. Samsung sells it in Gray, Silver and Blue.

Who should buy the Tab S10 FE

Buy it if you are a student, a parent who also wants a work tablet, or anyone who wants the S Pen and Samsung’s full software features for about $250 less than the S11. It is also our pick for people who want a tablet that can take a splash.

4. Galaxy Tab S10 Lite: cheapest Samsung tablet with an S Pen

10.9-inch LCD, 90 Hz, Exynos 1380, 6GB or 8GB RAM, from $349.99

The S10 Lite is the cheapest way into the S series. Samsung launched it in September 2025, and the headline feature is simple: the S Pen comes in the box at a price close to the A series.

The 10.9-inch 90 Hz LCD matches the FE’s size and refresh rate. The Exynos 1380 is a generation older than the FE’s chip, and RAM starts at 6GB. In everyday terms, apps take a beat longer to open, and multitasking with three or more apps feels tighter.

Battery capacity is 8,000 mAh with 25W charging, which is slower than the FE’s 45W. A full charge takes noticeably longer. There is a microSD slot for expansion.

S10 Lite versus S10 FE

The FE costs about $200 more at launch. For that money you get the newer chip, faster charging, more RAM options and IP68. If you take a lot of handwritten notes and do little else, the Lite covers you. If you want the tablet to stay quick for four or five years, we would stretch to the FE.

Who should buy the Tab S10 Lite

Buy it if you are a student on a budget who needs a stylus for class notes and annotating PDFs. It also suits a family tablet that kids can sketch on. Skip it if you play demanding games or want to use DeX as a desktop.

5. Galaxy Tab A9+: best budget Samsung tablet for streaming

11-inch LCD, 90 Hz, Snapdragon 695, 4GB or 8GB RAM, from $219.99

The Galaxy Tab A series is Samsung’s entry-level line. The A9+ has been the default cheap Samsung tablet since late 2023, and it is still a sensible buy, especially on sale.

The 11-inch screen is a 1920 x 1200 LCD at 90 Hz. That is a lower resolution than the S-series panels, but at normal viewing distance Netflix and YouTube look perfectly good. Samsung fits quad speakers with Dolby Atmos tuning, which makes it a better movie tablet than its price suggests.

The Snapdragon 695 handles video, browsing, email and casual games. Pick the 8GB RAM version if you can find it, because the 4GB model struggles with multitasking.

Battery is 7,040 mAh, and charging tops out at 15W. Expect a long wait to fill it from empty.

The catches

• No S Pen support. You can use a basic capacitive stylus, but you do not get pressure sensitivity or Samsung’s pen features.
• Shorter software support. The A series gets fewer years of updates than the S series.
• Limited Galaxy AI. Most of Samsung’s AI features are reserved for S-series tablets.

Who should buy the Tab A9+

Buy it if you need a second screen for the kitchen, a travel tablet for movies, or a first tablet for an older child. Skip it if you want a tablet that will still feel quick in four years.

What about the smaller Galaxy Tab A9?

The 8.7-inch Tab A9 launched at $159.99 with a MediaTek Helio G99 and a 5,100 mAh battery. Its 1340 x 800 screen is low resolution, so we only suggest it for young kids. Samsung also sells a Kids Edition bundle with a chunky protective case. For adults, the A9+ is worth the extra money.

Samsung has also started rolling out the Tab A11 generation. Check which A model your retailer has in stock, and compare the chip and RAM before assuming the newer number is the better deal. A heavily discounted A9+ can still be the smarter buy.

6. Galaxy Tab S10 FE+: biggest screen for the money

13.1-inch LCD, 90 Hz, Exynos 1580, 8GB or 12GB RAM, from $649.99

The FE+ is the same tablet as the S10 FE, scaled up. You get a 13.1-inch LCD at 90 Hz, the same Exynos 1580 chip, the same IP68 rating and the same S Pen in the box.

The bigger body allows a larger 10,090 mAh battery, still with 45W charging. Given the larger screen, battery life lands in a similar range to the smaller FE.

We rank it lower than the standard FE for one reason: price. At $649.99 it sits uncomfortably close to the AMOLED Tab S11 at $799.99. For many buyers, the better screen and faster chip on the S11 are worth more than extra size.

Who should buy the Tab S10 FE+

Buy it if screen size matters more than screen quality. That covers sheet music, comics and manga, drawing on a budget, and viewing two documents at once. It is also a good shared family tablet for watching movies together on a flight.

7. Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and S10+: best deals on last year’s flagships

S10 Ultra: 14.6-inch AMOLED, Dimensity 9300+, 11,200 mAh. S10+: 12.4-inch AMOLED, 10,090 mAh

Samsung’s previous flagships launched in the fall of 2024. The S10+ debuted at $999.99, and the S10 Ultra came in at $1,199.99. There was no standard-size Tab S10 that year.

Now that the S11 generation is out, retailers clear S10 stock regularly. At a discount, these tablets are serious value. The Dimensity 9300+ is one generation behind, but it is still a flagship chip with plenty of headroom. Both models have 120 Hz AMOLED displays with anti-reflective coatings, 12GB of RAM, an S Pen in the box and microSD slots.

The S10+ is the more interesting one. Its 12.4-inch size sits between the S11 and S11 Ultra, a size Samsung dropped this generation. If 11 inches feels small and 14.6 inches feels huge, the S10+ is the one to hunt for.

Who should buy a Tab S10 model

Buy one if you can find it for meaningfully less than the matching S11 model. We would want at least $150 to $200 off to justify the older chip. Check the remaining software update window too, because it started counting a year earlier than the S11’s.

8. Galaxy Tab Active5: best rugged Samsung tablet

8-inch LCD, Exynos 1380, 6GB RAM, 5,050 mAh removable battery, IP68 and MIL-STD-810H

The Active line is built for job sites, warehouses, hospitals and field work. Most people will never need one. The people who do usually need it badly.

The Active5 has an 8-inch screen, an Exynos 1380 chip, and two features no consumer Galaxy tablet offers.

• A removable battery. The 5,050 mAh pack swaps out in seconds, so a shift never has to stop for charging. This is the same design idea that makes a repairable phone last longer.
• Military-grade durability. It carries IP68 water and dust resistance plus MIL-STD-810H drop and shock testing. The S Pen that ships with it is also water resistant.

Samsung also lets you use the screen with gloves or wet hands, and there is a programmable key for work apps. There is a larger Tab Active5 Pro with a 10.1-inch screen and a bigger removable battery for heavier-duty fleets.

Who should buy the Tab Active5

Buy it if you work outdoors or on a site, run a business fleet, or have a child who has broken every other tablet you own. Samsung sells the Active line mostly through business channels and carriers, so pricing varies by bundle and volume.

How Samsung’s tablet names work

Samsung’s naming confuses a lot of people searching for a “Samsung pad” or “tab Samsung” model. Here is the logic.

Series	What it means	Who it is for
Galaxy Tab S	Flagship chips, AMOLED screens, S Pen included	Power users, creators, laptop replacement
Galaxy Tab S FE	Flagship features with an LCD and mid-range chip	Students and value buyers
Galaxy Tab S Lite	Cheapest S-series model, S Pen included	Note-takers on a budget
Galaxy Tab A	Budget, no S Pen support	Streaming, kids, second screens
Galaxy Tab Active	Rugged, removable battery	Field workers and businesses

The number tracks the generation, and it moves roughly once a year. Inside the S series, “+” means larger, and “Ultra” means largest. A Tab S11 Ultra is newer and bigger than a Tab S10+, but both are flagship-tier.

Release timing follows a pattern too. Samsung has launched its main S-series flagships in late summer or fall, and the FE models in spring. Before you buy a flagship in July or August, check whether a new generation is about to land. The outgoing model often drops sharply in price after the launch.

Wi-Fi or 5G? Buying a Samsung tablet from a carrier

Most Galaxy tablets come in Wi-Fi only and cellular versions. The 5G models can connect to a mobile network without a hotspot, which is handy for commuters, sales staff and anyone who works on the move.

Should you pay for 5G?

For most people, no. A Wi-Fi tablet plus your phone’s hotspot covers occasional use. The cellular version usually costs more upfront, and you also pay a monthly data line on top.

Pay for 5G if you use the tablet away from Wi-Fi every week. That includes navigation in a car, work in the field, or frequent travel where hotel Wi-Fi is unreliable.

Buying through a carrier

Carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T sell 5G Galaxy tablets directly. They often split the cost into monthly device payments and bundle a promotion, such as a discount when you add a tablet line to an existing plan. Read the full details of any offer before you sign. Many carrier deals are paid as monthly bill credits that stop if you cancel the line early, which locks you in for two or three years.

Carriers also let you pay monthly for accessories like keyboard covers, chargers and cases. That spreads the cost, but it does not make them cheaper.

Bring your own tablet

If you already own a cellular Galaxy tablet, most carriers let you bring your own tablet and add it to your account with a SIM or eSIM. Check three things first.

1. It is a cellular model. Wi-Fi-only tablets have no modem, and no SIM will make them connect.
2. It is unlocked. A tablet bought on a payment plan from another carrier may be locked until it is paid off. Ask that carrier to unlock it through its official process.
3. It supports the carrier’s bands. Each carrier’s website has a compatibility check where you enter the IMEI, which you will find in Settings under About tablet.

The same steps apply to smartwatches with cellular connectivity. Galaxy Watch LTE models also need a compatible line on your carrier’s network.

Software: what One UI and Galaxy AI add

Every Galaxy tablet runs One UI, Samsung’s layer on top of Android. On tablets, it includes a few features that make Samsung tablets better at productivity than most Android rivals.

DeX desktop mode

DeX turns the tablet into a desktop-style workspace with resizable windows and a taskbar. With a keyboard cover attached, it feels close to a Chromebook. On S-series tablets, you can also connect an external monitor. DeX works best on the S11 and S11 Ultra because of their faster chips and extra RAM.

Multi-window and the taskbar

You can run up to three apps on screen plus floating pop-up windows. The taskbar at the bottom holds your recent and favorite apps, so switching feels more like a laptop than a phone. If the app layout feels cluttered, it is worth learning how the One UI app drawer can be sorted and customized. It works the same way on Galaxy tablets as on Galaxy phones.

Galaxy AI on tablets

Samsung’s AI features vary by model. S-series tablets get the most, A-series tablets the least. Highlights include:

• Circle to Search. Circle anything on screen to search it with Google. It is quicker than taking a screenshot, and it works much like using Google Lens on Android.
• Note Assist. It summarizes, formats and translates notes in Samsung Notes.
• Drawing Assist and Sketch to Image. These turn rough S Pen sketches into polished images.
• Live Translate and Interpreter. These help with conversation translation on supported models.

Some Galaxy AI features need a Samsung account, and some process in the cloud. Check Samsung’s support pages for the current feature list on your exact model, because features differ by tablet and region.

Samsung ecosystem perks

If you own a Galaxy phone, the tablet integrates closely with it. You can copy on one device and paste on the other, continue apps between devices, and use the tablet as a second screen for a Samsung laptop. Galaxy Buds also switch automatically between your phone and tablet. Notifications from your phone and Galaxy Watch can sync across, so you stay up to date without picking up the phone. If you are also about to choose a phone, sticking with Galaxy on both devices gives you the most from these features.

Accessories that change the experience

The tablet price is only part of the cost. These are the accessories worth budgeting for.

• Keyboard cover. Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard is the best fit, especially for DeX, but it is expensive. A third-party Bluetooth keyboard case saves a lot of money for occasional typing.
• Charger. Samsung no longer includes a power adapter in the box with most tablets. To get the full 45W on S11 and FE models, you need a USB-C PD charger that supports Samsung’s PPS standard.
• microSD card. Many FE, Lite, A and older S-series models take microSD cards, often up to 1TB or 2TB. A card is far cheaper than buying the next storage tier.
• Screen protector. A matte “paper-feel” protector makes S Pen writing feel more like pencil on paper. It slightly softens the image, so it suits note-takers more than movie watchers.
• Spare S Pen tips. Tips wear down with heavy use. Samsung includes spares with most tablets, and replacements are cheap.

Samsung tablet or iPad?

This is the most common question we see from people comparing tablets for sale. Our expert view is short.

Choose a Galaxy tablet if you already use Android or a Galaxy phone, or if you want the stylus included in the price. Samsung bundles the S Pen with every S-series tablet, while Apple sells its Pencil separately. Galaxy tablets also tend to offer microSD expansion on mid-range models and AMOLED screens at lower prices than Apple’s OLED iPads.

Choose an iPad if you are already invested in iPhone and Mac, or if you rely on pro creative apps that only run on iPadOS. The tablet app library on iPad is still deeper, especially for professional music and illustration tools.

For streaming, browsing and note-taking, both platforms are excellent. Pick the one that matches the phone in your pocket.

Buying refurbished or used

A used Samsung tablet can be a great deal, but we follow a few rules.

• Buy certified refurbished where possible. Samsung, major retailers and carriers sell inspected refurbished stock with a warranty.
• Check the update window. An older flagship with two years of support left can be a worse buy than a new FE with several years ahead of it.
• Check the account lock. The seller must remove their Samsung and Google accounts before handing it over. A tablet still signed in to someone else’s account is effectively unusable, and you should walk away.
• Inspect the S Pen and screen. Make sure the pen works across the whole display and that there are no dead zones or burn-in on AMOLED models.

Our verdict: which Samsung tablet fits you

These are our picks by buyer type.

1. Most people: Galaxy Tab S11. Flagship speed, AMOLED, S Pen, and a size you can hold.
2. Creators and laptop replacement: Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. The biggest screen, the most RAM and the best DeX experience.
3. Best value: Galaxy Tab S10 FE. IP68, S Pen and microSD for around $550.
4. Students on a budget: Galaxy Tab S10 Lite. The cheapest tablet with the S Pen in the box.
5. Streaming and casual use: Galaxy Tab A9+. Good speakers and a decent screen for little money.
6. Big screen on a budget: Galaxy Tab S10 FE+.
7. Deal hunters: a discounted Galaxy Tab S10+ or S10 Ultra.
8. Tough environments: Galaxy Tab Active5.

If you are stuck between two models, choose the one with the better chip. Tablets get kept for years, and the slower model is the one you will regret first.

FAQ

What is the best Samsung tablet right now?

The Galaxy Tab S11 is the best Samsung tablet for most buyers. It has the same Dimensity 9400+ chip as the Ultra, an 11-inch 120 Hz AMOLED screen, 12GB of RAM and the S Pen included, from $799.99 in the US. If you want a much bigger screen, the Tab S11 Ultra is the step up.

Do Samsung Galaxy tablets come with the S Pen?

Every current Galaxy Tab S model includes the S Pen in the box. That covers the S11, S11 Ultra, S10 FE, S10 FE+ and S10 Lite. The Galaxy Tab Active5 includes one too. Galaxy Tab A models do not support the S Pen at all.

What is the cheapest Samsung tablet worth buying?

For adults, the Galaxy Tab A9+ is the cheapest model we recommend, at a $219.99 launch price. For young kids, the 8.7-inch Tab A9 or its Kids Edition bundle is fine. If you need a stylus, the Tab S10 Lite is the cheapest option with real S Pen support.

Can I use a Samsung tablet on my phone carrier’s network?

Only if you buy a cellular (5G) version. Wi-Fi-only models cannot connect to a mobile network. Unlocked 5G Galaxy tablets work with most major carriers through a SIM or eSIM. Run the carrier’s compatibility check using the tablet’s IMEI first.

How long do Samsung tablets get software updates?

It depends on the series. Samsung’s premium S-series tablets get the longest OS upgrade and security update commitments, and the budget A series gets noticeably fewer years. Samsung lists the policy for each model on its product and support pages. Check it before you buy, especially for older or discounted models.

Can a Galaxy tablet replace a laptop?

For many people, yes, if you pair an S-series tablet with a keyboard cover and use DeX. The Tab S11 Ultra is the strongest candidate because of its 14.6-inch screen and up to 16GB of RAM. Some desktop software is still unavailable on Android, so check that your essential apps have Android versions before you sell your laptop.

When is the best time to buy a Samsung tablet?

Samsung has launched its flagship S-series tablets in late summer or fall and its FE models in spring. Buying just after a new launch gets you either launch-week promotions on the new model or clearance prices on the outgoing one. Holiday sales periods also bring regular discounts on Galaxy tablets.

Samsung’s app drawer changed noticeably with One UI 7. The search bar moved to the bottom, and a vertical scrolling layout became available but stays hidden behind a menu most people never open. This guide covers how the One UI app drawer works now, how to set it up the way you want, and how to fix the most common problems, including the missing app drawer icon.

What you need before you start

Most of these changes take a couple of taps, but they depend on a few conditions. Check these first so the menus match what you see on your phone.

• A Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet on One UI 7 or later. Go to Settings > About phone > Software information and look at the One UI version line. One UI 7 shipped on the Galaxy S25 series in early 2025 and reached older flagships from April 2025. One UI 8 arrived on the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 in July 2025, then came to the S25 series from September 2025.
• One UI Home set as your default launcher. If you installed another launcher, Samsung’s drawer settings won’t do anything. Check under Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Home app.
• An up-to-date One UI Home app. Samsung updates its launcher separately from the main firmware, and drawer fixes often arrive this way. You can check it under Settings > Home screen > About Home screen.
• A Samsung account (if you use the Galaxy Store). The Galaxy Store requires one for any download, including icon packs and Good Lock. Good Lock is also available on Google Play, so you can skip the Samsung account if that’s all you need.
• A few minutes and a clear idea of what bothers you. Some people only want vertical scrolling. Others want fewer apps or an app drawer icon in the dock. Fix the thing that annoys you most first.

On One UI 6 or older, most of the settings below still exist. The vertical scrolling option and the bottom search bar are the two big exceptions, because both arrived with One UI 7.

How the One UI app drawer works now

Samsung calls the app drawer the Apps screen in its menus. That matters, because searching your settings for “app drawer” often finds nothing, while “Apps screen” takes you to the right toggles.

By default, you open the Apps screen by swiping up anywhere on your Home screen. You close it by swiping down or pressing the Home gesture. Your installed apps sit in a grid. A search field sits at the bottom of the screen in One UI 7 and later, close to your thumb. A three-dot menu next to that field holds the sorting and layout options.

The drawer has two sorting modes, and each changes the layout:

• Custom order keeps the classic horizontal pages. You swipe left and right between screens of icons, and you can drag apps anywhere, leave gaps, and build folders in whatever order you like.
• Alphabetical order sorts every app and folder by name. On One UI 7 and later, it also switches the drawer to a single vertical scrolling list, so you flick up and down instead of sideways.

That link between sorting and scrolling direction confuses a lot of people. No separate “vertical scrolling” switch exists in the standard settings. Sorting alphabetically gets you vertical scrolling, and custom order gets you pages.

The menus described here are largely the same in One UI 8. The steps work the same on a Galaxy S25, an S24 updated to One UI 8, or a Z Flip7.

Step 1: Open Home screen settings

Nearly every app drawer setting lives in one place, and you can reach it two ways.

1. From the Home screen: Long-press an empty spot on your Home screen until the editing view appears. Tap Settings at the bottom.
2. From the Settings app: Open Settings and tap Home screen.

Both routes open the same page. You’ll see entries such as Home screen layout, Home screen grid, Apps screen grid, Folder grid, Add new apps to Home screen, Lock Home screen layout, Show Apps screen button on Home screen, and Hide apps on Home and Apps screens. The exact order shifts slightly between One UI versions and devices, but the names have stayed consistent.

Keep this page in mind. You’ll come back to it in most of the steps below.

Step 2: Switch to a vertical scrolling app drawer

This change matters most to people who come from Pixel phones or older Android launchers, where the drawer scrolls as one long list. On One UI 7 and later, it takes four taps.

1. Swipe up on your Home screen to open the Apps screen.
2. Tap the three-dot menu beside the search field at the bottom.
3. Tap Sort.
4. Choose Alphabetical order.

The drawer reorganizes into an A to Z list that scrolls vertically. Folders slot into that list by name as well. A folder called “Banking” sits among your B apps, for example.

Getting the vertical drawer back if it disappears

Many people find the vertical layout reverts to horizontal pages without warning. The usual cause is hand-arranging apps. Dragging an icon to a new spot in the drawer tells One UI that you want a custom arrangement, and custom order means pages. To restore vertical scrolling, repeat the four steps above and pick Alphabetical order again.

When you want vertical scrolling and some control over grouping, use folders instead of manual placement. Name the folders so they land where you want in the alphabet. Some people put a number or symbol at the start of a folder name to push it to the top of the list. Test this on your phone first, because sorting rules for special characters vary by language setting.

Switching back to pages

If you prefer swiping between screens, open the same three-dot menu, tap Sort, and choose Custom order. Your apps return to a paged grid. You can then drag them into any arrangement you like.

Step 3: Change the Apps screen grid

The grid controls how many icons fit across and down each page or row. A denser grid fits more apps on screen at once. A looser grid gives you bigger targets and easier-to-read labels.

1. Open Home screen settings as in Step 1.
2. Tap Apps screen grid.
3. Pick a layout from the options along the bottom. On most Galaxy phones you’ll see 4×5, 4×6, 5×5, and 5×6.
4. Check the preview, then tap Done.

The Apps screen grid is separate from the Home screen grid, so you can run a roomy 4×5 Home screen with a dense 5×6 drawer. That combination suits many people. Your Home screen holds a handful of daily apps at a comfortable size, while the drawer packs in everything else.

Tablets and foldables show different options because the screen is wider. On a Galaxy Z Fold, the cover screen and the main screen can have separate layouts. Look for Cover screen mirroring in Home screen settings. With mirroring on, the inner screen copies your cover screen layout. With it off, each screen keeps its own arrangement.

Step 4: Add the app drawer icon to your Samsung Home screen

People searching for “samsung app drawer icon” usually want one of two things. They either want a visible button that opens the drawer, or they want the drawer back because it seems to have vanished. Here’s how to fix both.

Show a dedicated Apps button

Samsung can place an Apps button on the Home screen, which you can tap instead of swiping up. It’s off by default.

1. Open Home screen settings.
2. Turn on Show Apps screen button on Home screen.
3. Go back to your Home screen. An Apps icon (a grid of dots) now appears, usually in the dock.
4. Long-press the button and drag it if you want it in a different spot in the dock.

The button suits people who struggle with gestures, people who set up a phone for an older relative, and anyone who keeps swiping up by accident when they meant to reach the notification shade. It takes up one dock slot. On a crowded dock, think about whether you’d rather keep a fifth app there.

If the drawer has disappeared entirely

When swiping up does nothing and no Apps button setting appears, your phone probably uses the Home screen only layout. In that mode, every app sits on the Home screen pages and the drawer is switched off. Here’s how to bring it back:

1. Open Home screen settings.
2. Tap Home screen layout.
3. Choose Home and Apps screens.
4. Tap Apply.

The Show Apps screen button option reappears after you switch, because it only makes sense when a drawer exists.

On tablets

On Galaxy Tab devices and the inner screen of the Z Fold series, the taskbar along the bottom includes its own Apps button. It opens the drawer over whatever app you’re using. If you don’t see the taskbar, check Settings > Display > Taskbar and make sure it’s turned on.

Step 5: Organize the drawer with folders

Folders do more than any other setting to make a crowded drawer usable. They work in both custom and alphabetical order.

Create a folder

1. Open the Apps screen.
2. Long-press an app until it lifts off the grid.
3. Drag it onto another app you want in the same group, then let go.
4. One UI creates a folder and offers a name field. Type a name, or keep the suggested one.

To grab several apps at once, long-press an app and tap Select. Tick every app you want in the group, then use the option to create a folder from the selection. This beats dragging fifteen apps one at a time.

Customize a folder

1. Tap the folder to open it.
2. Tap the folder name at the top to rename it.
3. Tap the palette icon to change the folder’s background color. You can pick a preset color or a custom shade.
4. Drag apps out of the folder to remove them. If you remove all but one app, the folder dissolves.

Folder grid in Home screen settings controls how many apps a folder shows per page when it’s open. If your folders hold a lot of apps, raise it so you scroll less.

Folder schemes that actually work

Folders only help if you can find things quickly. Here are three ways to organize them, ranked from simplest to most deliberate:

• By task: Money, Travel, Photo, Shopping, Health. This matches how most people think when they reach for an app.
• By owner: Samsung, Google, Carrier. This works well for preinstalled apps you rarely open but can’t uninstall.
• By frequency: a “Rarely used” folder for everything you open once a month. Combined with alphabetical sorting, this hides a lot of clutter while keeping your regular apps visible.

The Carrier folder deserves a mention. Phones bought through carriers often arrive with extra apps for account management, visual voicemail, and partner services. That includes phones from many prepaid wireless carriers. Lumping them into one folder keeps them out of your way without breaking anything they handle in the background.

Step 6: Hide apps you never use

Some apps you can’t uninstall, and some you’d rather not see while you keep them installed. Samsung lets you hide them from both the Home screen and the drawer.

1. Open Home screen settings.
2. Tap Hide apps on Home and Apps screens.
3. Tap each app you want to hide. Selected apps move to a row at the top.
4. Tap Done.

To unhide an app, go back to the same screen and tap the minus sign on its icon in the hidden row.

Hidden apps still run, still send notifications, and still take up storage. You can open their settings under Settings > Apps at any time. Hiding is purely cosmetic.

Hide, disable, or uninstall?

You have three ways to deal with an unwanted app, and each one does something different:

Action	Where to find it	What happens	Best for
Hide	Home screen settings	Icon disappears, app still runs	Apps you need but rarely open
Disable	Settings > Apps > app name	App stops running, icon disappears, updates removed	Preinstalled apps you can’t uninstall
Uninstall	Long-press icon > Uninstall	App and its data removed	Anything you installed yourself

Not every preinstalled app offers a Disable button. Core system apps usually don’t, and disabling the wrong thing can break features that depend on it. If you’re unsure what an app does, hide it rather than disable it.

Step 7: Tune search in the app drawer

With One UI 7, Samsung moved the drawer’s search field from the top of the Apps screen to the bottom. On tall phones, the thumb reaches the bottom field much more easily. People with years of muscle memory still find it jarring. The Reddit thread asking how to put the search bar back at the top ranks for this topic for a reason.

Can you move the search bar back to the top?

The standard Home screen settings have no toggle to move it. Samsung sometimes adds launcher tweaks to its Good Lock modules before they reach the main settings, so check Home Up (see Step 9) after each update. Don’t count on it appearing, though. The more practical fix is changing how you use search, so its position matters less.

Use search as your main way to open apps

Typing the first two or three letters of an app’s name usually beats scrolling. It works in any sort order and with any grid size. Here’s how to make it fast:

1. Swipe up to open the Apps screen.
2. Tap the search field at the bottom. The keyboard opens right below it, so your thumb barely moves.
3. Type the first letters of the app. Results appear as you type.
4. Tap the result.

The same search also finds settings pages, contacts, messages, files, and content inside some apps. Typing “bluetooth” takes you straight to the Bluetooth settings page, which is often quicker than opening Settings and drilling down.

Control what search returns

If search fills up with results you never want, such as random files or app content, narrow its scope.

1. Open the Apps screen and tap the search field.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the search view and open Settings.
3. Review the list of apps and sources that search can look through, and turn off the ones you don’t need.

Fewer sources means a cleaner list and usually quicker results. Samsung’s search is a different tool from Circle to Search and Google Lens. Those two identify things on screen or through the camera, while drawer search looks only at what’s stored on your phone.

Step 8: Stop the drawer and Home screen from getting messy again

A tidy drawer stays tidy only when new installs and stray taps don’t undo your work. Two settings handle most of it.

Keep new apps out of your Home screen

By default, One UI places a shortcut on your Home screen every time you install an app. If you prefer a clean Home screen with everything else in the drawer, turn that off.

1. Open Home screen settings.
2. Turn off Add new apps to Home screen.

New apps now appear only in the Apps screen. In alphabetical order, they slot into the right place automatically. In custom order, they’re added at the end, usually on the last page.

Lock your layout

1. Open Home screen settings.
2. Turn on Lock Home screen layout.

This stops icons and widgets on the Home screen from being moved or removed by accident. It’s ideal for kids’ phones and for the phone of a relative who keeps deleting the Phone icon. The downside: while the lock is on, you can’t drag apps out of the drawer onto the Home screen. Many “drag and drop broke” complaints come down to this setting.

Clean up pages in custom order

When you sort the drawer in custom order and delete or move a lot of apps, you end up with gaps and half-empty pages.

1. Open the Apps screen.
2. Tap the three-dot menu beside the search field.
3. Tap Clean up pages.

One UI shuffles your icons forward to fill the gaps, keeping their relative order. Alphabetical order doesn’t need this, because the list rebuilds itself whenever something changes.

Step 9: Go further with Good Lock and Home Up

Good Lock is Samsung’s official customization app, made up of separate modules that each handle one part of the interface. It’s free in the Galaxy Store, though availability has varied by region over the years. Home Up is the module that controls the launcher, so it’s the one that matters for the drawer.

Install Home Up

1. Open the Galaxy Store and search for Good Lock.
2. Install it, then open it.
3. Find Home Up in the module list and tap to install it.
4. Open Home Up from inside Good Lock and turn on the main switch.

What Home Up adds for the drawer

The exact options change between versions, and Samsung sometimes moves a Home Up feature into the main settings after a while. Expect tweaks along these lines:

• Larger grid choices for the Home screen, Apps screen, and folders, beyond the four standard sizes
• Icon label controls, such as hiding app names in the drawer for a cleaner look
• Folder layout and style options with more control than the stock folder grid
• Recents screen styles that change how your recent apps appear (not strictly part of the drawer, but you’ll find it in the same module)

Go through the module menu after installing, because new versions sometimes add drawer settings without much announcement. If a change makes the drawer look wrong, turn off Home Up’s main switch. Your phone falls back to the standard One UI behavior.

Change how the app icons look

The other half of searches for “app drawer icon samsung” comes from people who want different-looking icons, not a button. One UI gives you three official routes.

Galaxy Themes icon packs

1. Long-press an empty spot on the Home screen.
2. Tap Themes.
3. Open the Icons tab and browse. Some packs are free, others are paid.
4. Download a pack and tap Apply.

The icons change on both the Home screen and the Apps screen. Coverage depends on the pack. Most packs theme Samsung’s own apps and popular third-party ones, while less common apps keep their original icon, often placed on a tile so they match the shape.

Theme Park

Theme Park is another Good Lock module. It lets you build your own icon pack from a base shape, background color, and icon style. It suits people who want a uniform look without paying for packs, and it’s handy for matching icons to a wallpaper.

Third-party themes and launchers

Samsung’s launcher doesn’t load the icon packs sold on Google Play for other launchers. To use those, you need a third-party launcher, which we cover below. Stick with launchers and icon packs from Google Play or the Galaxy Store. Skip modified launcher files from random websites, which can carry malware.

App icon badges

Badges are the small dots or numbers that show unread notifications on an icon. They appear in the drawer as well as on the Home screen.

1. Open Home screen settings and tap App icon badges (on some versions, the option lives under Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings).
2. Choose between a plain dot and a number, or turn badges off entirely.

A number badge helps for messaging apps. On a drawer full of shopping and news apps, it creates a lot of nagging red. Turning badges off for specific apps in their notification settings gives you the middle ground.

Turn the app drawer off completely

Some people would rather not use a drawer at all. If you’re coming from an iPhone, including an iPhone 17 with Apple’s App Library tucked behind the last page, an Android drawer can feel like an extra step. One UI handles this natively.

1. Open Home screen settings.
2. Tap Home screen layout.
3. Choose Home screen only.
4. Tap Apply.

Every app now lives on your Home screen pages, much like an iPhone without the App Library. Swiping up no longer opens a drawer. New apps land on the last Home screen page.

This works best for people with fewer than about 40 apps. Beyond that, you’ll swipe through a lot of pages. Folders and search become essential. You can still search by swiping down on the Home screen if you’ve set that gesture to open search, or by using a search widget.

When a third-party launcher makes more sense

One UI Home is a good launcher, and Samsung keeps it tightly integrated with features such as Good Lock, folders, and foldable screen handling. Some people still want things it doesn’t offer, such as gesture shortcuts on individual icons, app drawer tabs, or full icon pack support.

To switch:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Open Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Home app.
3. Select the new launcher.

To go back, return to the same menu and pick One UI Home. Your Samsung layout stays saved in the meantime.

Third-party launchers have real downsides on Galaxy phones. Some Samsung features, including certain gesture and Recents screen behaviors, work best or only with One UI Home. You also lose access to Home Up. If the drawer is the only thing you dislike about your Galaxy, try the steps in this guide before you switch. And if you’re shopping for a new handset because of a launcher you don’t like, launcher quality is worth weighing when you choose a phone. Remember that Samsung’s launcher is easy to replace, while the hardware isn’t.

A setup that works for most people

After all the options, you might want a starting point. This configuration suits most Galaxy owners, and you can adjust from there.

1. Home screen layout: Home and Apps screens
2. Home screen grid: 4×5 for comfortable tap targets
3. Apps screen grid: 5×6 to fit more apps per screen
4. Sort: Alphabetical order, for vertical scrolling and automatic placement of new apps
5. Add new apps to Home screen: Off
6. Folders: Three to six task-based folders, plus one “Rarely used” folder for preinstalled apps
7. Hidden apps: Anything you can’t uninstall and never open
8. Search: Narrowed to apps, settings, and contacts

What you should end up with

Your Home screen holds one page of the apps and widgets you use every day. Swiping up opens a clean, vertically scrolling list where apps appear in alphabetical order, with a few clearly named folders mixed in. New installs drop into the right spot in the list without touching your Home screen. Anything you don’t recognize is either in a folder or hidden. To open almost anything, you swipe up, tap the search field at the bottom, and type two letters, without moving your thumb much at all.

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

My drawer keeps going back to horizontal pages

You’re almost certainly switching to custom order by dragging apps around in the drawer. Re-select Sort > Alphabetical order from the three-dot menu, and use folders instead of manual placement from then on.

I can’t find the vertical scrolling option in settings

It isn’t in Home screen settings. It’s tied to sorting, which lives in the three-dot menu inside the Apps screen. Also check that you’re on One UI 7 or later, because older versions only offer horizontal pages without Good Lock.

Swiping up does nothing

Your Home screen layout is set to Home screen only. Switch it to Home and Apps screens. If that’s already set, check whether a third-party launcher is your default Home app.

The Show Apps screen button option is missing

It only appears when the layout is Home and Apps screens. Switch the layout, then look again.

I can’t drag apps from the drawer to my Home screen

Lock Home screen layout is on. Turn it off, place your apps, then turn it back on if you want the protection.

An app vanished from my drawer

Check Hide apps on Home and Apps screens first, since it’s easy to tap an app there by accident. If the app isn’t hidden, look under Settings > Apps to see whether it was disabled, or check inside your folders. Disabled apps show a “Disabled” label in the app list, and you can re-enable them from the same screen.

My settings changed after a software update

Big One UI updates sometimes reset launcher preferences, especially sorting and grid size. Make it a habit to check Home screen settings and the drawer’s sort order after each major update. Good Lock modules may also need an update from the Galaxy Store before they work properly again.

The drawer feels laggy or icons look wrong

Update One UI Home through Settings > Home screen > About Home screen. If that doesn’t help, open Settings > Apps, find One UI Home (you may need to show system apps through the filter or sort menu), and clear its cache. Clearing cache is safe. Clearing storage resets your Home screen layout, so do that only as a last resort and after taking screenshots.

Icon pack changes didn’t apply to every app

That’s a limit of the pack, not a fault. Galaxy Themes packs only include custom artwork for the apps their designers drew. Try another pack, or build your own in Theme Park.

Where each app drawer setting lives

Setting	Location	What it controls
Sort (Custom or Alphabetical)	Apps screen > three-dot menu	Order of apps and horizontal vs vertical scrolling
Clean up pages	Apps screen > three-dot menu	Removes gaps in custom order
Apps screen grid	Home screen settings	Icons per row and column in the drawer
Folder grid	Home screen settings	Icons per page inside open folders
Home screen layout	Home screen settings	Turns the drawer on or off
Show Apps screen button	Home screen settings	Adds an app drawer icon to the Home screen
Hide apps	Home screen settings	Removes icons from Home and Apps screens
Add new apps to Home screen	Home screen settings	Whether new installs get a Home screen shortcut
Lock Home screen layout	Home screen settings	Prevents moving or removing Home screen items
App icon badges	Home screen or Notification settings	Dot, number, or no badge on icons
Search sources	Apps screen search > three-dot menu > Settings	What drawer search looks through

FAQ

What is the One UI app drawer called in Samsung’s settings?

Samsung calls it the Apps screen. Searching your Settings for “Apps screen” finds the right options, while “app drawer” often returns nothing useful.

How do I get a vertical app drawer on One UI 7?

Open the Apps screen, tap the three-dot menu next to the search field, tap Sort, and choose Alphabetical order. The drawer switches to a single vertical scrolling list. Choosing Custom order brings back horizontal pages.

How do I add the app drawer icon on a Samsung phone?

Go to Settings > Home screen and turn on Show Apps screen button on Home screen. An Apps button appears on your Home screen, usually in the dock. If the option isn’t there, set Home screen layout to Home and Apps screens first.

Why is the search bar at the bottom of my app drawer?

Samsung moved it there in One UI 7 so it’s easier to reach with your thumb on tall phones. The standard settings don’t offer a toggle to move it back to the top. Check Good Lock’s Home Up module after updates, since Samsung sometimes adds launcher tweaks there first.

Can I remove the app drawer completely?

Yes. Set Home screen layout to Home screen only in Home screen settings. All apps then live on your Home screen pages, similar to an iPhone, and swiping up no longer opens a drawer.

Do hidden apps still work?

Yes. Hidden apps keep running, send notifications, and use storage. Hiding only removes their icons from the Home and Apps screens. For real privacy, use Secure Folder.

Does Good Lock work on every Galaxy phone?

Good Lock supports most recent Galaxy phones and tablets running current One UI versions, but availability in the Galaxy Store has varied by region. Module features also change between versions, so the options on your phone may differ slightly from what others describe.

Will a third-party launcher replace the One UI app drawer?

Yes. Setting another launcher as your default Home app replaces both the Home screen and the drawer. You lose Samsung-specific options such as Home Up, but you can switch back at any time under Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Home app.