Older generation Samsung foldable phones and smartwatches will soon be eligible to be updated to the latest version of One UI, and these devices will thus be granted new features such as multitasking gestures, optimizations for larger screen devices, enhancements to first-party apps, and a PC-like taskbar for phones, as well as a newbie watch face and customization features for Galaxy smartwatches.
Samsung’s One UI 4.1.1, based on Android 12L, first appeared on devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4. Samsung has today started rolling out the UI 4.1.1 update to Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 devices globally, which should reach all users in the coming days. Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold have also been confirmed to receive Samsung’s One UI 4.1.1 update, though no timeline was provided.
Users of these older folding phones will be able to enjoy features like the taskbar, which allows you to quickly switch between apps and drag and drop apps to create a split view. A new two-finger gesture is also available for multitasking, allowing immediate switching of full-screen apps to pop-ups or splitting the screen in half for greater productivity.
Other new features introduced on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 include adjusting settings from the cover screen, making calls, calling back missed calls and replying to text messages (using voice-to-text), and taking selfies with the main camera using Rear Cam Selfie.
One UI Watch 4.5 first received a full release on the Galaxy Watch 5 and will now also appear on the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. That means six new interactive watch faces and additional customization features are being introduced, as well as a new QWERTY keyboard, though Samsung hasn’t provided a release date for Watch version 4.5.
Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2 are eligible to receive a separate software update around the end of September. The update will offer “select features” from One UI Watch 4.5, such as two new watch faces, snore analysis, and support for blood pressure and ECG measurements in the Samsung Health Monitor app.
