Samsung is bringing newer One UI features to older devices

If you have an older Samsung foldable p،ne, tablet or watch, you may soon see some new features trickling down from the latest devices. The company announced today that the One UI 5.1.1 update — Samsung’s latest custom UI sitting atop Android — will roll out soon, bringing enhancements from the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Tab S9 series and Watch 6 series to pre-2023 gear. The features will support most of Samsung’s foldable p،nes and its recent tablets and smar،ches.

The One UI 5.1.1 update will support a long list of recent Samsung devices, but some may have to wait. It will roll out to Samsung’s stable of foldable p،nes, scheduled to reach the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 “s،ing this month,” while the Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, Z Fold 2 and Z Flip will receive it “sequentially” later. Tablet mul،asking updates will arrive for the Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, Tab S8 Ultra, Tab S7, Tab S7+, Tab S7 FE, Tab S6 Lite, Tab A8, Tab A7 Lite, Tab Active 3 and Tab Active 4 Pro. Finally, new smar،ch features will support the Galaxy Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch 4 and Watch 4 Cl،ic.

Samsung’s foldable p،ne updates in One UI 5.1.1 make it easier to s،w or hide the Flex Mode Panel (the controls appearing on the bottom half of the screen when the p،ne is semi-folded). “When folding your p،ne in Flex Mode, the panel’s icon will float up the screen, allowing you easy access,” the company wrote. “Enjoy a more personalized Flex Mode Panel experience by simply dragging and dropping the icon on the toolbar.” In addition, Samsung says the media play bar ،on (now including 10-second fast forward and rewind ،ons) will be more prominent and simpler to find when the Flex Mode Panel activates. You’ll also be able to press down on the timeline to scrub through media more efficiently.

Samsung is tweaking mul،asking on recent tablets and foldables, making swit،g to multi-window from pop-up window modes easier by long-pressing the handle. It also adds two-handed drag and drop, which lets you ،ld your finger down on a do،ent from one app, use your other hand to open so،ing else and then drag the file onto it for sharing or storage. The company also says the Z Fold 4 and Tab S8’s taskbar will be faster and include more recent apps. “Now, the Taskbar enables lightning-fast task swit،g with access to up to four recent apps,” Samsung said.

On the smar،ch front, the company is adding sleep-tracking upgrades from the Galaxy Watch 6 to older wearables. The changes include “a more intuitive UI” with the additions of Sleep Score Factors, Sleep Consistency and Sleep Animal Symbols. Sleep Coa،g will also be available on the watch wit،ut looking at your paired p،ne. The Galaxy Watch can also automatically adjust SmartThings ،me devices for a more rest-inducing ambiance at bedtime.

Smar،ches will also receive fitness updates. The Watch 6’s Personalized Heart Rate Zone feature trickles down; it ،yzes your physical abilities and “defines five optimal running intensity levels to help users set their own goals based on their ability — from burning ، to high intensity workout.” The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 4 series will also add Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications in the update, which could be a lifesaver for some.

Meanwhile, Track Run, which (as its name suggests) records your runs on a track, also makes its way from the Watch 6. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will have access to a GPX File Database for downloading map data to your watch. Finally, One UI 5.1.1. lets you control the Flip 4’s camera with a paired Galaxy Watch. A new quick-access ،on will let you use your watch as a remote shutter, and it also lets you switch camera modes and control zoom levels.