After launching One UI 3.1.1, Samsung was expected to release a substantial update to its custom skin. In addition to new features and functionality, the next version would have included considerable cosmetic improvements.

Every major version of Samsung's proprietary software has been followed by two minor improvements since the original One UI 1.0. One UI 1.0, for example, was followed by One UI 1.1 and 1.5, while One UI 2.0 was subsequently superseded by One UI 2.1 and 2.5.

Following this rationale, it was safe to predict that the organization would upgrade from One UI 3.1.1 to One UI 4.0 without delay. That's precisely what happened. With the Android 12 update, Samsung released One UI 4.0. The update was released without waiting for new flagship smartphones to be released.

In September 2021, it released the One UI 4.0 Android 12 beta program for the Galaxy S21 series. Two months later, the Galaxy S21 series was the first to receive the public One UI 4.0 build in November.

Design and upgrades for One UI 4.0

Samsung designed One UI 4.0 to be more manageable, comfortable, and customizable from the ground up. It used a simple color palette to increase concentration, whereas Android 12's Material Design did the same. You give users a lot of control over how the UI looks and feels.

All app icons now have dark mode enabled. It's also more dynamic, with users able to easily modify the size of the picture-in-picture window. The Camera app's user interface has been changed to make it easier to use.

Minor changes have been made across the board to make navigating the UI more intuitive. One UI 4.0 is right up there with some of Samsung's best custom software revisions. It has a slick and modern user interface and is jam-packed with valuable functions.

One UI 4.0 features

One UI 4.0 introduces personalized widget recommendations and rounded corners for design uniformity across all widgets, even non-Samsung ones. One UI 4.0 emphasizes privacy features by giving consumers more control over the permissions that apps request.

When apps ask for the device's position, users can choose to reveal their exact or estimated location. For additional information on all of the new features, see the One UI 4.0 changelog.

One UI 4.0 release

Every significant upgrade to Samsung's custom skin is accompanied by the current version of Google's mobile software; therefore, One UI 4.0 was released alongside Android 12.

Thanks to Samsung, fans won't have to wait for a new flagship series to get their hands on One UI 4.0. It was earlier stated that One UI 4.0 for the Galaxy S21 series would be available before the end of 2021.

In November 2021, the Galaxy S21 range was the first to receive the upgrade. The One UI 4.0 Android 12 update for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 was issued in the following weeks. In the next weeks and months, all Samsung devices eligible for the Android 12 update will receive it.