Android‘s themed icons have been a fan favourite for customization, and now Samsung’s upcoming One UI update might bring significant design changes mirroring Apple’s iOS advancements. Discover the latest leaks and rumours.
Thanks to its customization options, Android has long been the go-to operating system for personalization enthusiasts, like themed icons, customizable app icon grids, and a vast selection of customizable widgets.
Though iOS lock screen widgets have sparked some envy among Android fans, Apple has recently upped its customization game with monochrome icons and the freedom to position them anywhere on the screen.
The buzz around themed icons gained traction with the release of Android 12, which introduced Material You dynamic theming, allowing app icons to match the colour palette defined by the active wallpaper.
This feature garnered mixed reactions but was intriguing enough for Google to maintain and expand it, leading to the option of monochrome icons.
Rumours suggest that Samsung is gearing up to adopt similar changes in its upcoming One UI update. Leaker @chunvn8888 shared an X (formerly Twitter) image depicting the Samsung Gallery icon using a white square background with rounded corners, deviating from its usual magenta hue.
This shift hints at a potential significant design change due to Apple’s implementation of themed icons in iOS 18.
While previous speculations have mentioned more aggressively rounded corners, the move to a white background for icons could be a significant indicator of Samsung’s design evolution.
Another leaker, Ice Universe, responded to @chunvn8888’s tweet, confirming that although the icon design isn’t finalized, such changes are likely.
This isn’t Samsung’s first attempt at a similar icon design. They experimented with white backgrounds during the beta phase of One UI 5, but the idea was soon scrapped.
Timing and Release
Mark your calendars! One UI 7.0 is set to make its grand debut at the Samsung Developer Conference on October 3, 2024, in sunny San Jose, California. Following this exciting reveal, expect the update to roll out to compatible devices shortly after.
This schedule follows Samsung’s tradition of delivering significant updates in the fourth quarter, ensuring users enjoy the latest software enhancements and an elevated user experience just in time for the year-end festivities. Get ready for a smoother, more intuitive One UI!
However, One UI 7 could mark one of Samsung’s substantial UI overhauls. Early information also suggested a vertical app drawer could return, although it might take a few months to confirm these updates. The beta will undergo significant refinement and testing before the final, stable version of One UI 7 rolls out.
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