Over the years, I’ve used several devices from Samsung (Galaxy S23 Ultra), Google (Pixel 6), OnePlus (OnePlus 11), and Apple (iPhone 14 Pro). While I appreciate the Pixel’s smooth UI, OnePlus’s lightning-fast charging speeds, and the iPhone’s polished apps, I keep coming back to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as my primary SIM.

It’s not the S-Pen, the zoom camera, or the beautiful Super AMOLED panel. It’s mostly Samsung’s One UI layer on top of Android. From customization options to device automation, here are the key One UI features that have me loving Samsung Galaxy phones.

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1 Modes and routines

Automate your Galaxy like a pro

Modes and routines are two of the unsung heroes of One UI. Modes are an evolution of DND (Do Not Disturb) with different profiles. You can create modes like coding, writing, and yoga and explore the built-in modes to create a distraction-free setup.

I use the work mode which activates automatically during work hours. I have customized it to turn on DND, pause notifications from all social media apps, and change the phone’s sound mode to vibrate. Although I don’t use it, Samsung offers the flexibility to change the appearance of the home screen and lock screen in a specific mode.

Routines are like IFTTT on steroids. You can create rules where the system will perform multiple actions based on your set routine. For example, I created a routine where my Samsung phone automatically connects to my home Wi-Fi, turns off mobile data, turns on the lights via SmartThings, and changes the home screen and lock screen wallpapers when I get home. The possibilities are endless.

2 Secure Folder

Protect confidential files from prying eyes

Secure Folder is a personal digital safe that looks like a regular app. You can store your confidential files, photos, videos, and apps in it, and even run duplicate versions of apps. With small children running around me all the time, I rely on Secure Folder to add an extra layer of security to my data.

Because your data is encrypted by Samsung’s Knox security in the Secure Folder, you can have peace of mind even if your device is stolen or lost. Samsung offers the flexibility to change the app icon to conceal the identity or hide it from the app menu.

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3 Specific Samsung apps

Not every One UI app is bloated

Although Samsung is often criticized for pre-installing redundant applications on Galaxy devices, many of these apps are useful. They rival and even surpass their Google equivalents in terms of functionality. Samsung Internet is one app I prefer to Google Chrome.

Samsung Wallet provides a convenient platform for storing credit and debit cards, event tickets, and other items. In regions like India, it is tightly integrated and allows users to store their government-approved driving licenses and personal IDs.

Samsung Notes and Reminders are two more feature-rich solutions compared to Google Keep and Tasks.

4 Integration with Microsoft services

A Samsung phone and a Windows PC are a match made in heaven

Thanks to a partnership with Microsoft, Samsung apps work well with Microsoft services. Samsung Gallery, Notes and Reminders are tightly integrated with OneDrive, OneNote and Microsoft To-Do, respectively.

For example, I use an HP Spectre x360 Windows laptop in my workflow and my recent vacation photos are already synced and available in the OneDrive-based Photos app on Windows. Likewise, I can access my Samsung notes in OneNote Web and manage tasks in To Do.

5 Customization options

The sheer amount of customization features available to you

There is no shortage of customization options in One UI. Whether you want to tweak the home screen, lock screen, Always on Display, navigation gestures, or the quick toggle menu, the system offers plenty of options to truly make your Galaxy device your own.

My favorite add-on is Good Lock, which unlocks a ton of possibilities on my Galaxy S23 Ultra. It offers several packages to take your customization game to the next level. I use Home Up for a better One UI home setup, ClockFace to add additional clock styles on the lock screen and AOD, and Sound Assistant to expand audio system settings and increase convenience.

An honorable mention goes to the default Phone app’s private call recording feature, which is useful when people renege on promises or renege on prior agreements. Not everyone has the luxury of formalizing contracts or onboarding clients via email, Slack, or Teams. This feature allows me to quickly find and play back the call recording, giving me instant access to the details I need.

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Preview of One UI 7

One UI is by no means perfect. It still has its quirks and flaws (especially with animations) and I can’t wait to see what Samsung has in store with the upcoming Android 15-based One UI 7 update. The South Korean giant has a head start with Galaxy AI and it will be interesting to see how Samsung pushes the boundaries with the next major One UI iteration.