Samsung users are waiting with baited breath for One UI 7, the next version of the phone maker's software interface that will also bring Android 15 to Galaxy devices. After some delays, One UI 7 is now available for public beta, meaning that the launch date for One UI 7 to reach more Samsung phones is finally approaching.

One Ui 7 certainly brings a lot of changes to the best Samsung phones, with a particular emphasis on improving the Galaxy's AI capabilities and security. But even now that the beta is available, we know more about what is part of One Ui 7 and what may come later.

So let's take a look at everything that has been confirmed about One UI 7, along with the rest of what we need to know about this Samsung software update - including the likely release date.

The beta version of One UI 7 is expected to arrive in the first week of December, with subsequent updates expected between now and when the full release is available for Galaxy S phones. Currently, only the Galaxy S24 model is eligible to run the beta, but it is imagined that the final version will be rolled out to older devices and Galaxy A models as well.

To get the beta version, you will need to install the Samsung Members app on your device, which allows you to register to participate in Samsung's program. At the time of this writing, the Members App says the beta program is full, but Samsung is known to open more slots as updates become available.

As for a full release, all indications are that Samsung will release the One UI 7 along with the Galaxy S25 flagship. These phones are not expected until the new year - rumors point to a mid to late January launch event for the Galaxy S25, so if you currently have a Samsung phone, some idea as to when you can expect to get the update give you some idea as to when you can expect to get the update.

Adding to the confusion surrounding the One UI 7 launch is Google's rumor of releasing Android 16 earlier than usual. According to several sources, Android 16 could be released next June, and given that One UI 7 is based on Android 15, Samsung's device could lag behind others in terms of features and AI integration.

With the release of the One UI 7 beta, we can see some of the changes Samsung has made to the look and functionality of its phone software, albeit not as widely released as the public beta of Apple's iOS software. We'll reserve judgment until we have a chance to actually use One UI 7, but for now, here's what awaits you once you upgrade.

New Home Screen: Samsung has simplified the look of the One UI home screen. It now sports darker colors and includes redesigned icons with gradient backgrounds. Widgets have also been redesigned and now look similar to the app icons. According to Samsung, the idea is to remove visual clutter and make customization more intuitive than before.

Besides these superficial improvements, there are other changes. As rumored, the One UI 7 beta introduces a vertical app drawer, moving away from the horizontal approach used in the current One UI interface. A search bar at the bottom of the screen makes it easier to find what you are looking for. In addition, users who have tried the beta version report that One UI 7 remembers their location in the app drawer, so when they return to the home screen from an app, they can resume from where they left off in the app drawer.

Other reported improvements include smoother animations when opening and closing apps.

Now bar: A new feature in One UI 7, the Now bar on the lock screen, will remind many people of Apple's Dynamic Island feature. Like that iOS feature, the Now Bar uses a pill-shaped interface to host various live widgets, including timers, playback controls, translation interfaces, voice recording tools, among other functions. The idea is that you will be able to monitor these activities from the Now Bar instead of having to unlock your phone to reach them.

The Now bar is only part of the changes that One UI 7 will introduce to the lock screen of Galaxy phones. According to Samsung, the lock screen supports a new notification system that recognizes priority notifications and allows faster access to them from the lock screen.

Writing Tools: Galaxy AI introduced several writing assistance features to Samsung's flagship phones earlier this year, including changing the tone of text messages and suggesting a summary of notes made in the Notes app One UI 7 is more fully integrated into the OS Adds a new writing assistance tool. Simply highlighting text now brings up a Galaxy AI icon to access these tools.

Writing tools can be used for everything from spell checking and grammar checking to summarizing text and even formatting with AI. By making these tools more accessible, One UI 7 offers the possibility to further improve productivity.

Call Recording: If you record a call using the phone app on your Galaxy device, you can now get an auto-generated transcript, the same feature available to both Pixel and iPhone users. In the case of One UI 7, however, the transcription feature supports 20 different languages. Even better, if call recording is enabled, recorded calls are automatically transcribed.

Redesigned Camera App: Photography professionals will want to install One UI 7 as soon as they get it, whether in beta or full release. The redesigned camera app has a simplified layout for manual settings and easier access to advanced settings, and when shooting video in Pro mode, you now have more control over zoom speed thanks to new controls.

Other beta additions: other changes arriving in the One UI 7 beta include tighter security via Knox Matrix, which promises “multi-layered, intelligent threat monitoring across connected Samsung devices.” Changes to Samsung's Maximum Restrictions suite allow users to control things like blocking 2G cellular service and preventing automatic reconnection to insecure Wi-Fi networks; you can also remove location information from photos and prevent attachments from being automatically downloaded by apps like Messages attachments that are automatically downloaded by apps like Messages.

There is more. The above features are only those highlighted in the One UI 7 beta release. It is possible that features related to the upcoming Galaxy S25 release are lurking under the hood. If so, we are bound to hear about those features during the Galaxy Unpacked event where these phones will debut.

Android 15 may be considered a minor update, but One UI 7 brings significant changes to Galaxy phones. Sure, the visual changes look eye-catching, but whether it really delivers the simplicity promised remains to be seen until you use the software. Given Samsung's focus on AI, the easier access to writing tools and call transcription features seem like inevitable additions.

Our biggest question right now is whether the Galaxy S25, which will be released next year, will be able to do even more. Will those new phones be able to take advantage of One UI 7 features we haven't heard about yet? If so, it will be worth the long wait for those software updates.