Unwrapping SAMSUNG's One UI: A Mixed Bag of Innovation and Bloat

Samsung has been the leading force in the smartphone industry for several years now, and there is a good reason for it: they try to push the boundaries of tech to make life a little easier and more efficient than ever before. I’ve been a Samsung Galaxy user for almost four years now, and I’ve been using the newest Samsung software skin – One UI – for as long as it’s been out. I’ve loved its “clean” look and polished software interface. But there’s been one thing that has continuously detracted from my smartphone experience: bloatware.

SAMSUNG One UI: Where Bloatware Burdens Brilliance

The bloatware issue of the otherwise excellent One UI from Samsung is at the core of my complaint. The bloatware issue on a Samsung smartphone, in contrast to the normal bloatware present on other smartphones, simply takes things a step too far.

There are duplicative Samsung apps that replicate the functionality of Google’s basics, taking up storage and hogging resources. There are third-party applications that many of us hardly use or need. On Samsung devices, in particular, top-of-the-line phones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra carry more than 50 built-in applications and services.

The Redundancy Dilemma

Even though users can uninstall a few of them, the fact that they cannot remove Google’s own duplicate apps is a constant irritation, not only because of the space and speed it takes from the device, but also because it bars some of the user’s ability to customise their SAMSUNG experience.

Third-Party App Overload

Nor is it only the supplier-specific software from Samsung that spoils the view. A host of other software, provided by Google, Microsoft and a variety of entertainment services, all fighting for attention, further crowd it. While your phone provider might want to provide you with an easy and convenient way of acquiring these services, the reality is that most of them are available for download to anyone who wants to access them.

SAMSUNG One UI: Evolution or Devolution?

We can clearly see how TouchWiz progressed to Samsung Experience, and then to One UI, and how with each version, SAMSUNG has refined its software into something strikingly improved on many fronts – from basic design to performance. When One UI debuted, it was a breath of fresh air. For the first time, Samsung appeared to have finally taken user-friendly design seriously. And yet now, latest devices are shipping with even more preloaded apps than before – a worrisome trend that seems contradictory to the principles of minimalism and efficiency that One UI initially seemed to promise.

Yearning for Simplicity

Thinking back to the journey from the Galaxy S20 family of products to the S24 family, it’s easy to see the inflation in bloat as having eroded the experience in a way that’s unnerving. It’s a regression, a step backward into a bulky UI – and it’s a brutal violation of the kind of serene experience I think many of us want, where we can indulge in a surprisingly pleasant process of curating the slate when purchasing a new device.

My Continued Affection for One UI

However, the criticisms directed toward One UI have done nothing to inhibit my enthusiasm for the interface. The deliberate design of One UI emphasises ease of use, and is overloaded with utility features that are geared toward making day-to-day interactions with the phone a pleasure. Recent updates, including One UI 6 running on Android 14, emphasise refinement of the experience rather than wholesale revolution, focusing on quality-of-life features that lock me into SAMSUNG’s ecosystem.

The Update Advantage

I was also reassured by One UI’s software update policy: Samsung’s decision to offer several years of support for its hardware – and, in some cases, extending well beyond Google’s own commitment – is as close as Android gets to guaranteeing even a modicum of longevity.

In Conclusion: The Bloatware Conundrum

While I admire the ingenuity and user focus of Samsung’s One UI, the lingering spectre of bloatware is often on my mind, casting a pall over the user experience. The argument over whether the benefits of a broad selection of pre-installed apps outweigh their inconvenience is far from settled. For people like me, the choice is obvious: a software experience characterised as much by cleanliness as by functionality might help elevate Samsung’s One UI from good to great.

About SAMSUNG

An enterprise born in South Korea, Samsung is a multinational conglomerate engaged in the research, production and distribution of numerous lines of consumer and industry electronics, including smartphones, home and industrial appliances, and semiconductor technology. Consistently ranked as a major technology company, Samsung is widely held as a symbol of innovation and quality by its billion of users around the world, although not without some controversy surrounding choices in its proprietary software. Samsung states its purpose as: To inspire the world with its innovative ideas and technology. Striving to be the world's leading clear choice for consumers through its portfolio of revolutionary personal experiences, products, services and integrated solutions. A purpose and a promise that when fulfilled will continue to draw supporters worldwide as it endeavours to push design and production to new frontiers.