I built a focused, productive One UI 7 home screen using its most chaotic feature
Andy Walker / Android Authority
I've had a blast using One UI 7 on my Galaxy phone. Now Bar has changed the way I juggle through playlists and monitor dishes in the oven, while its expanded Routines actions offers even more inventive ways of using its built-in automation feature. But one thing I've largely avoided until now was One UI Home. I've never been partial to stock launchers, but since I gave Pixel Launcher a fair chance and built a fairly productivity-minded home screen with it, it's only right that I give One UI Home its spotlight.
I decided to use One UI Home as my primary launcher for a week, leaving behind the comfort of Kvaesitso for the wild west of Home Up and widget stacks. I soon learned that these features helped me build a sensible, efficient home screen environment.
Which do you prefer: One UI Home or a third-party launcher?
0 votes
One UI Home.
NaN %
A third-party launcher (mention your favorite in the comments).
NaN %
Turning my insane Samsung home screen into something sensible
Andy Walker / Android Authority
With the rollout of One UI 7, One UI Home has seen welcome changes. Finally, I have access to a vertically scrolling app list, which makes all the difference for someone like me. I've also embraced Home Up, a Good Lock module that removes more boundaries for those who love an everything-everywhere-all-at-once home screen experience. Unlike my colleague Ryan Haines, who experimented with this feature's choice elements, I wanted to use it to bring more order to my home screen.
So, how did I accomplish this? Or at least, how did I plan to achieve this? Unlike my Pixel Launcher experiment, which sought to simplify the first screen I see on my phone to reduce distractions, my One UI Home main screen crams as much information as possible. I wanted to minimize procrastination by hiding social apps from the home screen and reducing my desire to constantly tinker. As a result, I limited myself to important widgets only, while frequently accessed apps are set in folders on the home screen.
This setup is widget-heavy, but the use of stacks brings thoughtful order to the madness.
I also ensured I maximized the gaps between various elements, giving each widget as much room as possible. This was somewhat possible through Home Up's DIY Home feature. Beware, it's in beta, so be prepared to encounter bugs. I sure did. I'll mention my issues later. Nevertheless, I continued to embrace One UI Home's features, particularly widget stacking. I used this feature to make the most of the available space without cluttering my view.
Finally, as I only included important apps on the home screen, every other app can be found using a swipe down and a search via Samsung Finder. It's how I use almost every other launcher, so it's a familiar and efficient workflow.
What my DIY home screen looks like, and why it works for me
Now, let's get into the actual setup. First, I keep Google Discover enabled. As I also use a Pixel 8, swiping right to access cherry-picked articles has become muscle memory for me.
Beyond this, I use two screens for my home setup. The first, which I'll call the main screen, consists almost entirely of widgets. The topmost widget is Samsung's default clock, which displays my local and New York time. This is essential since most of our team uses East Coast time to sync, and I constantly forget the time difference between South Africa and New York.
Below this widget, you'll find my first widget stack focusing on weather conditions. The top widget is Samsung's default, offering the current temperature and conditions, and the forecast for the next three hours. This is particularly important during winter in Cape Town. Fronts come and go, and so does the rain, so being aware of how long it'll pour or drizzle ensures I don't get caught in it. Swipe again, and you'll find my favorite radar widget, Weather & Radar. I love this app and use it through Android Auto while driving, too. Naturally, it deserves a place here. Finally, I included a Windy widget to detail the wind gusts in my area, something the other two widgets don't display adequately. Of course, Breezy Weather's Material widget is still king if you don't like these widgets and want a more Google-ified widget.
Andy Walker / Android Authority
Below this stack, I use two banks of widget stacks side by side. On the right, the Google Home widget gives me quick access to our kitchen Nest Mini and our generic ambient smart light behind the TV. The other widget in the stack is Samsung's battery widget, providing a detailed look at my phone and watch battery. My Galaxy Buds also appear when I'm using them, making it a nifty on-the-go way to check if anything needs a charge.
On the left, I have a narrow stack that includes Google Keep, Google Calendar's agenda, and Tasks.org's widget. The latter is far superior to Google's own iteration, and I believe it's worth switching into your rotation. I think Keep and the agenda widgets speak for themselves — I like having quick access to my grocery list, dinner ideas board, and my random, daily to-dos.
Finally, I have four folders of frequently used apps in the bottom right corner, closest to my right thumb, split by use case. Travel includes apps like Google Maps and Fuelio, Work includes Notion, Shopping is self-explanatory, and Essentials hosts everything else, including Firefox, Gmail, Material Files, the Play Store, and Google Wallet.
Andy Walker / Android Authority
The second screen consists solely of one launcher stack, with Google News, Sofascore, and Investing widgets residing here. Discover doesn't do a great job of highlighting local news, but News does. Sofascore is essential for a soccer fan, while Investing is key for keeping up with commodity prices and exchange rates.
I've been happy with this setup for over a week, but I feel there's room for improvement. At some point, a third screen housing a more detailed weather widget like Meteogram may be in the offing. A review of the apps on the main screen is also in order.
One UI's customization tools give me plenty, but it's still not enough
Andy Walker / Android Authority
While this One UI 7 Home setup could be mirrored in almost every other launcher, two things made it easier to achieve here: DIY Home Screen and widget stacking.
The latter is essential for keeping my home screen tidy, functional, and clutter-free without forcing me to drop useful widgets from my rotation. A dedicated weather stack is so useful, while having quick access to Keep and Calendar in one sliver of the home screen is brilliant.
Home Up is also vital for maximizing space between widgets, even though it's the most frustrating feature I've ever used in a launcher. Yes, I know it's in beta, so I can't really complain, its tendency to randomly snap objects onto invisible grids and rotating elements had me pull my hair out. Ironically, it forced me to be more conservative with placing items on my screen than its purpose would suggest. It's brilliant for randomly scattered items, but its fine resizing controls still need work.
Home Up is also vital for maximizing space between widgets, even though it's the most frustrating feature I've ever used in a launcher.
After my experiment, I'm debating returning to my original comfy setup. I've used Kvaesitso on my Galaxy S24 FE since I got the phone, and it wasn't easy to let go of it. I can access all my important widgets without them directly encroaching on my home screen or curated wallpaper. I've grown used to its gesture controls and search peculiarities. After a few days with One UI Home, I was already missing it.
Nevertheless, I've discovered plenty about One UI 7 and Samsung's customization drive. While features like Home Up's DIY Home appear to be for those creative folks who plaster their screens with various icons and drawings, it can be used by those seeking order, too. I hope that Samsung considers honing this feature, particularly for those who want to use every inch of our screens.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
8 things I want to see on the Pixel 10 series
Joe Maring / Android Authority Given the rumored earlier launch date of August this year, the Pixel 10 series is right around the corner. As is customary with every Google product, the leaks are really starting to ramp up as we get closer to the release. Up to now, all the tidbits of info we've seen are pointing to an iterative update with no meaningful changes to the design, except perhaps a slightly bigger camera bar on the back. While they might not look that different from their predecessors, we expect the new devices to improve upon the Pixel 9 lineup in a few key areas. Let's take a look at some of the likely (and perhaps some more hopeful) upgrades we might see when Google takes the wraps off the Pixel 10. Tensor G5 improvements Google Much has been made of the switch from Samsung to TSMC for the fabrication of the SoC that will power the Pixel 10 series. The Taiwanese chip maker is the best in the business, so it's not unreasonable to assume that the partnership will push Google's custom silicon to the next level. Said to be manufactured on TSMC's 3nm process, the Tensor G5 is expected to bring a decent boost to performance and graphics, plus a modestly faster TPU for improved AI functionality. Just like previous generations, the Tensor G5 will include a mixture of Google-designed and off-the-shelf IP. The hope is that by using TSMC to build the chips, the end result will be a Pixel 10 series with faster baseline performance that requires less throttling to keep things cool. Better efficiency and longer battery life could be another advantage — let's keep our fingers crossed for this one. Proper Face ID Rita El Khoury / Android Authority I've used pretty much every Pixel Google has released, and one of the most frustrating aspects of this product line, at least in recent years, has been the biometrics. Pixels 1 through 5 had fast and convenient rear-mounted fingerprint sensors, with the notable exception of the Pixel 4 (more on that in a moment). Since the big redesign that came with the Pixel 6, Google has gone all in with under-display fingerprint scanners (with mixed results) and, more recently, face unlocking. Unlike the Pixel 4, which had a full 3D face unlocking system, recent Pixels determine your identity using a single, 2D selfie camera. While this is now deemed secure enough for phone unlocking and even banking apps, it's still not a patch on the iPhone's Face ID and is useless in low-light situations. The Pixel 4 is the only Google phone that has come close to the speed and convenience of Apple's solution, and it was arguably even better at the time, since it also used the Soli radar chip to proactively fire up face unlocking for a rapid response. The Pixel 4 is the only Google phone that has come close to the speed and convenience of Apple's Face ID. I've longed for a return of proper IR face unlocking in a Pixel phone ever since. The good news is that this does seem to be in Google's plans. The bad news is that it might not be ready until the Pixel 11, which is rumored to feature an under-display IR camera system. Better late than never, I suppose. Slimmer bezels Paul Jones / Android Authority It took until last year's Pixel 9 series for Google to finally give us symmetrical bezels on all four sides of the display, but the borders are still rather chunky compared to other flagship phones. This is especially apparent when viewed next to an iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max (image above), as Apple slimmed the bezels down to an incredible 1.3-1.4mm (depending on the model). The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has similarly minute screen borders. By comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro looks dated and just that little bit less premium than its competitors. Unfortunately, judging by the recently leaked prototype of the Pixel 10 Pro, we might not be getting any noticeable improvement in this area. Assuming it's pretty close to the final design that Google will unveil in August, it looks like the bezels will remain unchanged. If that's the case, we'll have to hope that a more substantial redesign arrives with the Pixel 11 series. Longer battery life Robert Triggs / Android Authority One of the most common complaints about Pixel phones in recent years has been about the substandard battery life. And it seems that Google is well aware that longevity has been a core concern since it introduced custom Tensor processors. We're hopeful that the TSMC-made Tensor G5 will improve battery life at least a little bit, but Google shouldn't put all of its eggs in that basket. With any luck, the company is also working on software optimizations that will help to eke a bit more longevity from the Pixel 10's cell. Google's most recent release, the midrange Pixel 9a, outperformed the Pixel 9 in certain battery life tests. You would hope so, since it features the same processor along with a bigger battery and a generally less demanding spec sheet. The gains weren't as significant as you might expect, though, so it's clear Google still has plenty of work to do if it's to deliver truly impressive battery life across the Pixel 10 series. Qi2 magnetic wireless charging and accessories Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority Another sore point among Pixel 9 owners is the lack of magnetic wireless charging. MagSafe tech makes charging an iPhone incredibly convenient, and this has been standardised by the Wireless Power Consortium and made available to more manufacturers. Apple users have been able to enjoy it since 2020's iPhone 12, but Android phone makers have been slow to jump on board after Qi2 incorporated the same magnetic charging tech in 2023. Samsung described its Galaxy S25 series as 'Qi2 ready', meaning you get the minimum 15W charging speeds but without the secure attachment. The situation with the Pixel 9 lineup is even worse, since it doesn't support Qi2 at all. Outside of magnetic charging, Qi2 adds support for a wide range of magnetic accessories such as grips, stands, tripods, wallets, docks, and bike mounts. Google needs to step it up and offer the full magnetic Qi2 wireless charging experience for the Pixel 10. There is a workaround for the magnets on the Pixel 9 — you just have to buy a case that includes them — but Google really needs to step it up and offer the full magnetic Qi2 wireless charging experience for the Pixel 10 series out of the box. Thankfully, it sounds like this might be exactly what we're getting. A recent rumor points to a 'Pixelsnap' ecosystem of magnetic Qi2.2 accessories arriving alongside the Pixel 10, including a charger, ring stand, and a charging stand. The iPhone 17 is rumored to support up to 45W charging with a new Qi2.2 MagSafe charger, so faster wireless charging speeds could also be coming to the Pixel 10. Minimum storage of 256GB Rita El Khoury / Android Authority All of the base models in the Pixel 9 series launched with a measly 128GB of storage. With apps and media taking up more and more space as time goes by, this paltry amount just isn't good enough for a flagship phone in 2025. When Google launched the Pixel 9 in the UK, it offered the 256GB model for the same price as the 128GB version as a pre-order bonus. This felt like a tacit admission that this should have been the base storage amount across the board. I think it's fair to argue that 128GB is still acceptable for a cheaper device like the Pixel 9a, but Google needs to do better when it comes to its premium products. The base Pixel 10 Pro models ought to have 256GB of storage, and it would be great if this applied to the standard Pixel 10 as well. Bigger storage options for the regular Pixel 10 would also be welcome, as the Pixel 9 currently tops out at 256GB, with 512GB/1TB options reserved for the Pro models only. An even smaller model Robert Triggs / Android Authority I've used an iPhone just once in my life, and that was the iPhone 13 from 2021. Even though I returned to Android (and the Pixel 8) after this brief dalliance with Apple, there was still plenty I liked about the iPhone. Not least was the feel in the hand — the small size and the pleasingly curved corners made for excellent ergonomics, and it was also pretty light. When I learned that Google would offer a smaller Pixel Pro model, starting with the Pixel 9 Pro, I thought this was a great idea. However, it's quite a bit larger than the iPhone 13 that I so enjoyed using. And even though the smaller iPhone models have crept up in size over the last few years (especially the Pros), the Pixel 9 Pro is still a few centimeters taller and a smidge wider than the iPhone 16 Pro that came out at the same time. Since the Pixel also has bigger bezels, this size difference is even more noticeable when you compare the phones side-by-side. I'd love it if the Pixel 10 could be shrunk down to the size of the iPhone 16 Pro. I still commend Google for squeezing all the same tech from the XL model into the Pixel 9 Pro, but I'd love it if the Pixel 10 could be shrunk down just a little bit further. If not all the way down to the size of the iPhone 13, at least enough to match the size of the latest iPhone Pro. Along with smaller bezels, this could be the perfect body and screen size for most people, especially those of us who prefer to keep things compact. Google has already improved the comfort of recent Pixels a great deal by gradually increasing the radius of the corners and flattening the sides — reducing the overall footprint would be the cherry on the cake for me. An Action button Ryan Haines / Android Authority Plenty of phone makers have toyed with adding an additional button to their phones, but as is so often the case, it was Apple that really made it fashionable. The iPhone 15 Pro models did away with the mute switch in favor of a customizable Action button, and this has proven to be a fairly popular inclusion (although Apple could certainly do more with it). With the iPhone 16, Apple went one step further and added yet another button — Camera Control — to a more mixed reception. Among Android OEMs, OnePlus is famous for its alert slider, but it didn't take long to jump aboard the Action button train with the OnePlus 13T and its Shortcut Key. Not to be outdone, Carl Pei's current company, Nothing, recently introduced its Essential Key. This is used to save content to the AI organization tool Essential Space on the Phone 3a or Phone 3a Pro, which is pretty nifty but it would be better if this button were remappable. Now, I'm not suggesting that Google straight up copy Apple and add two new buttons to the Pixel 10. But including one extra button that could be assigned to almost any function would be a welcome addition. The power button double-press gesture that opens the camera (or wallet) has long been a popular Pixel feature, so I'm sure Google could do something great with another tactile key. The Pixel 10 series is slated for an August 20 reveal, so we don't have too long to wait until we see which of these features Google brings us. Let us know what other features you're hoping to see in the comments, and don't forget to vote in the poll below! What would you most like to see on Pixel 10? 0 votes Faster/more efficient processor NaN % IR face unlocking NaN % Slimmer bezels NaN % Longer battery life NaN % Qi2 magnetic wireless charging NaN % Minimum 256GB storage NaN % Even smaller phone NaN % Action button NaN %
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
The 2nm Race: Intel's 18A Faces Uphill Task Against TSMC
CANADA - 2025/05/26: In this photo illustration, the Intel Corporation logo is seen displayed on a ... More smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) has been fully committed to transforming itself into a global foundry leader, especially as the competition for next-generation 2-nanometer (nm) chips intensifies with its 18A process at the heart of its strategy. Over the last four years, the company has poured more than $90 billion into capital expenditures aimed at expanding its foundry operations and narrowing the gap with TSMC and Samsung. The stakes are considerable. The foundry segment suffered losses of nearly $13 billion last year, and Intel's shares have decreased by nearly 50% since their peak in 2024. So, how does Intel's new technology compare with that of its rivals? In the realm of chip manufacturing, 'nm' indicates the size of the process node in nanometers. Generally, smaller nodes allow for an increased number of transistors to be integrated into a designated area, leading to enhanced performance, improved energy efficiency, and the ability to accommodate more intricate designs. This is particularly crucial for high-performance applications such as AI, smartphones, and advanced server tasks. However, transitioning to smaller nodes is a costly and complicated endeavor. Initial yield rates are often lower, and the investment required to construct and equip fabrication facilities for such advanced production is substantial. Intel is optimistic that its new 18A process, which employs 1.8nm technology, is presently in risk production. Here, initial batches are utilized to evaluate and enhance the manufacturing process before mass production begins. Laptops utilizing 18A-based processors are already being sampled with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This process creates chips employing technologies like RibbonFET gate-all-around transistors and PowerVia backside power delivery. These innovations permit the creation of smaller transistors that enhance performance and energy efficiency. PowerVia could provide significant benefits for AI applications as well as high-performance computing tasks. The rollout of Intel's 18A is occurring just as its competitors are gaining momentum. TSMC, the leading player in the foundry market, commands over two-thirds of the overall foundry space and is expected to retain its lead in the 2nm generation by a considerable margin. TSMC plans to commence mass production of its 2nm process in the latter half of 2025 at its fabrication facilities in Taiwan. TSMC's 2nm process represents its first incorporation of gate-all-around (GAA) transistor architecture, which promises a 10% to 15% enhancement in performance and up to 30% reduction in power usage in comparison to its 3nm node. Furthermore, TSMC has demonstrated exceptional manufacturing prowess. As reported by the Taiwan Economic Daily, current yields for the 2nm process are at 60%, indicating that out of every 100 dies sliced from a silicon wafer, 60 meet quality control standards. That's a remarkable statistic. Some reports from March estimated that Intel was only achieving yields of between 20% to 30% on its 18A process, while Samsung was reportedly achieving 40% yields on its rivaling technology. TSMC's customer base is also extensive and loyal, featuring major clients like Apple and AMD that have already committed to utilizing its 2nm process. Even Intel is diversifying its strategy, engaging TSMC as an alternative source for some of its forthcoming Nova Lake desktop processors, anticipated in 2026. Counterpoint Research projects that TSMC may achieve full utilization of its 2nm capacity by the fourth quarter of 2025. Now, Intel asserts that the 18A process will provide improved performance and reduced power usage compared to TSMC's competing node. Nonetheless, TSMC's chips are likely to maintain an edge in terms of density and cost. Compounding Intel's difficulties, the company has experienced ongoing delays in introducing new nodes, and its 18A process has already witnessed some external clients withdraw after initial trial production, resulting in demand that fell short of expectations. Meanwhile, TSMC possesses the scale, ecosystem, and a broad array of loyal customers who are ready to embrace its 2nm technology, potentially complicating matters for Intel. Not only has Intel's stock performed poorly, but its annual returns have also been significantly more volatile than those of the S&P 500. The stock's returns were 6% in 2021, -47% in 2022, 95% in 2023, and -60% in 2024. In contrast, Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which includes 30 stocks, shows much lower volatility. It has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 over the past 4 years. What accounts for this? As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks have delivered better returns with reduced risk compared to the benchmark index; a more stable experience, as reflected in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
One UI 8 could give screenshots an HDR glow-up that was missing from betas
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is testing HDR screenshot support for One UI 8 with its latest closed beta (ZYF7) release. The feature likely relies on Android 16's embedded gain maps to show true HDR imagery when viewed correctly. HDR screenshots aren't yet available in the One UI 8 Beta 2 release, but may arrive with future open betas or the stable release. Samsung will be bringing Android 16 to its devices with the release of One UI 8. The beta program is live for the Galaxy S25 series, and we're already at the second beta release. Samsung also has an internal test track that runs ahead of the open beta, and thanks to these test builds, we have now learned that the company could be bringing support for HDR screenshots. With Android 16, Google has implemented support for true HDR screenshots. Screenshots of HDR content will be saved in HDR format, namely as PNG files with HDR gain maps embedded in them. Viewing these screenshots will brighten the screen to allow the HDR highlights to pop. These gain maps enable the screenshots to appear as HDR when viewed on Android 16 devices but as SDR on other devices. Leaker Ice Universe mentions that the latest One UI 8 ZYF7 build (available in the closed beta but not yet in the open beta) includes support for HDR screenshots. The leaker installed the update on their Galaxy S25 Ultra and took a screenshot of an HDR photo they saw on social media. To Google and Samsung's credit, the screenshot retains the HDR effect of the original image. I saw it on social media, and took a screenshot and put it in my gallery. It still retains the HDR effect of the original photo. However, it is… By the way, Samsung S25 Ultra One UI 8 ZYF7 (Android16 feature) supports screenshot HDR. This is an HDR photo of OPPO Find X8 UltraI saw it on social media, and took a screenshot and put it in my still retains the HDR effect of the original it is… — ICE CAT (@UniverseIce) June 20, 2025 The leaker notes that HDR screenshots is a new feature of the ZYF7 closed beta firmware and is not available in the One UI 8 Beta 2 (ZYF3) release. While there's a good chance this feature will be included in the next open beta release and the stable One UI 8 release, there's still a small probability that it will not. We're crossing our fingers to see HDR screenshots in the stable One UI 8 update when it launches alongside Samsung's next-generation foldables in the coming weeks. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
