Samsung's next big version update is now in a closed beta — and a public beta will be available shortly.
Samsung is getting ready to show off the next version of One UI. The Android 11-based One UI 3.0 closed beta is now live in Korea and the U.S. to select developers, and Samsung is set to kick off a public beta shortly that will let Galaxy phone users try out the upcoming version of One UI.
The One UI 3.0 beta is limited to the Galaxy S20 series, and Samsung will make the public beta available in seven markets around the world. While the Galaxy Note 20 series recently made its debut, Samsung usually offers the beta program on its more mainstream Galaxy S lineup, and that's the case this year as well. The Galaxy S20 launched six months ago, and it continues to be one of the best Android phones today.
Here's what you need to know about the One UI 3.0 beta, the list of eligible phones slated to receive the stable update, and when you'll get the OTA update on your Galaxy phone.
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Samsung One UI 3.0:
Stable update should roll out starting December
One UI 3.0 public beta is rolling out soon
Public beta is coming to these countries
Here's what's new in One UI 3.0 beta
These phones are getting the beta
These phones will get the stable update
When will Samsung release the stable One UI 3.0 update?
With the One UI 3.0 public beta set to kick off shortly, it will be a few months before the stable update is available. Samsung kicked off the One UI 2.0 beta last October and rolled out the stable release by the end of December for the Galaxy S10, and that's the broad timeline for this year as well. Samsung Korea briefly shared a timeline for the stable One UI 3.0 release based on Android 11, stating that it will be rolling out after November.
That suggests the stable build will go out to retail devices starting December 2020. The Galaxy S20 series will be the first to receive the update, followed by the Note 20 series, and Samsung's 2019 flagships.
When is the One UI 3.0 public beta rolling out?
The One UI 3.0 closed beta is now live in Korea and the U.S., and is aimed at developers performing compatibility testing with carriers and device models. Samsung's One UI 3.0 beta page notes that the closed beta is already full, and that interested participants can sign up for the public beta once it is available.
Samsung announced further details about a One UI 3.0 public beta in Korea, noting that the public beta build will be available soon. Once the beta program kicks off in Korea, it shouldn't be too long before it is available to Galaxy customers in the U.S. and other markets.
Is the One UI 3.0 beta program available globally?
Samsung limits the number of markets that have access to its beta program, and it's no different with One UI 3.0. The beta initiative is kicking off in Korea and the U.S., and Samsung says it will offer One UI 3.0 public beta builds to Galaxy phone users in China, Germany, India, Poland, and the United Kingdom once the beta kicks off.
That means the public beta program will be live in seven markets around the world, similar to what Samsung has done in the past. Once more countries are added to the beta program, we should get a better idea about the models that are eligible for the beta in these particular regions.
What's new in One UI 3.0 beta?
Samsung isn't making a lot of design changes in One UI 3.0, with the overall aesthetic similar to One UI 2.5. That said, there are a lot of exciting new features, including the ability to long press an app to see all associated widgets and add them to the home screen, and a double tap gesture anywhere on the home screen to turn off the screen.
One UI 3.0 is also getting the Conversations view that debuted in Android 11, and the persistent media player. You also get better auto-focus and exposure controls in the camera, the option to customize the call screen with your own pictures and videos, device usage trends in Digital Wellbeing, and a lot of new Bixby Routines.
The One UI 3.0 changelog obtained by Android Police gives us a detailed look at all the new additions, including changes to the lock screen, accessibility, DeX, Samsung Internet, and more. There are a ton of small additions that make Samsung's skin even better.
Here's the full changelog:
Home screen
Touch and hold an app to add an associated widget
Turn the screen off by double-tapping on an empty area of the Home screen. You can turn this on in Settings > Advanced features > - Motions and gestures.
Lock screen
Dynamic Lock screen now has more categories, and you can select more than one.
Lock screen widgets are improved.
Quick panel
See your conversations and media more conveniently in their own sections when you swipe down from the top of the screen.
AOD
Always On Display widgets are improved.
Accessibility
Get quick access to the most important accessibility settings during device setup. - Get recommended accessibility features based on what you use.
Set the Accessibility shortcut more easily in settings.
Sound detectors now work with your SmartThings devices such as TVs and lights to give you more visible
Samsung Keyboard
You can find the keyboard settings more easily under General management in Settings, and the settings have been reorganized to put the most important ones first.
Samsung DeX
You can now connect to supported TVs wirelessly.
New touchpad multi-gestures let you change screen zoom and font size more easily.
Internet
Added ability to block websites from redirecting you when you tap the Back button. - Added warnings and blocking options for websites that show too many pop-ups or notifications.
Rearranged menus to make things easier to find. - Added several new add-ons, including one that translates websites.
Added option to hide the status bar for a more immersive browsing experience.
Increased maximum number of open tabs to 99.
Added ability to lock and reorder tabs.
Improved design for tab bar which is now supported on all devices.
Ended support for Samsung Internet edge panel.
Contacts & Phone
Added an option to help you quickly delete duplicate contacts.
Enhanced the search experience.
Phone/Call background
Added the ability to customize the call screen with your own pictures and videos.
Messages
Created a Trash bin to store recently deleted messages.
Call & Text on other devices
Added the ability to turn Call & text on other devices on or off with Bixby Routines.
Calendar
Events with the same start time are now shown together in month and agenda view.
Reorganized options for adding and editing events.
Improved layout for full screen alerts.
Digital wellbeing and Parental controls
Added trends to your weekly report. You can see how your usage has changed since the previous week and check your usage time for each feature.
Added phone usage time while driving to the weekly report.
Added a lock screen widget so you can check your screen time without unlocking your phone.
Added separate profiles for personal and work modes so you can track your screen time separately.
Camera
Improved auto-focus and auto exposure functionality and usability.
Improved stabilization when taking pictures of the moon at high zoom levels
Photo editor
Added the ability to revert edited pictures back to their original versions.
Bixby Routine
Grouped preset routines help you get started quickly and learn how to build your own routines quickly
You can now see what actions are reversed when a routine ends.
New conditions have been added, such as a specific start time, the disconnection of a Bluetooth device or Wi-Fi network, a call from a specific number, and more.
New actions have been added, including talking to Bixby and accessibility actions.
You can add a customized icon for each routine and add routines to the Lock screen for quick access.
What are the eligible phones for One UI 3.0 beta?
For now, Samsung is limiting the One UI 3.0 beta for the Galaxy S20 series. This was the case last year with the Android 10-based One UI 2.0 beta as well, with Samsung rolling out beta builds initially to the Galaxy S10 series.
Because Samsung sells a lot of models of the Galaxy S20 — including carrier variants — these are the models that are eligible for the closed One UI 3.0 beta in Korea and the U.S.:
Korea (KT / LGU+ / SKT / Unlocked): Galaxy S20 (SM-G981N), S20+ (SM-G986N), S20 Ultra (SM-G988N)
United States (T-Mobile): Galaxy S20 (SM-G981U), S20+ (SM-G986U), S20 Ultra (SM-G988U)
United States (Unlocked): Galaxy S20 (SM-G981U1), S20+ (SM-G986U1), S20 Ultra (SM-G988U1)
So if you have a Galaxy S20, S20+, or the S20 Ultra, you will be able to join the beta program and take a look at all the new features in the Android 11-based build.
These Samsung phones will get the One UI 3.0 stable update
While the One UI 3.0 is limited to the Galaxy S20 series, the stable update will be rolling out to dozens of phones. Samsung in particular makes a lot of great budget phones, and while the manufacturer hasn't shared an official list of devices that will receive the One UI 3.0 update, all phones launched within the last two years should make the switch.
Here's a preliminary list of phones that are likely to receive the One UI 3.0 stable build based on Android 11.
Samsung Galaxy S/Note series:
Galaxy Note 20
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G
Galaxy Z Fold 2
Galaxy Flip 5G
Galaxy Tab S7
Galaxy Tab S7+
Galaxy S20
Galaxy S20 5G
Galaxy S20+
Galaxy S20+ 5G
Galaxy S20 Ultra
Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
Galaxy Z Flip
Galaxy Fold
Galaxy Fold 5G
Galaxy Note 10+
Galaxy Note 10+ 5G
Galaxy Note 10
Galaxy Note 10 5G
Galaxy S10e
Galaxy S10+
Galaxy S10
Galaxy S10 5G
Galaxy Note 10 Lite
Galaxy S10 Lite
Samsung Galaxy A series:
Galaxy A51
Galaxy A51 5G
Galaxy A71
Galaxy A71 5G
Galaxy A50
Galaxy A50s
Galaxy A70
Galaxy A70s
Galaxy A60
Galaxy A80
Galaxy A8s
Galaxy A90 5G
Galaxy A01
Galaxy A10
Galaxy A10e
Galaxy A10s
Galaxy A11
Galaxy A20
Galaxy A20e
Galaxy A20s
Galaxy A21
Galaxy A21s
Galaxy A30
Galaxy A30s
Galaxy A31
Galaxy A40
Galaxy A41
Samsung Galaxy M series:
Galaxy M51
Galaxy M40
Galaxy M31s
Galaxy M31
Galaxy M30s
Galaxy M21
Galaxy M11
Galaxy M01
Galaxy M01s
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