Samsung has announced the rollout of One UI 6.1 for Galaxy devices starting March 28, alongside a hint of the nearing launch of the Galaxy Ring, as seen in the battery widget.
Samsung Details One UI 6.1 Update Schedule and Features for Galaxy Devices
One UI 6.1 for Galaxy devices, first announced in February, will bring Samsung's new AI features to 2023 releases. Supported devices include the Galaxy S23 series, which will likely be the first to receive the update. When Samsung first announced the update, it said it would arrive in late March, per 9to5Google.
Samsung is being more specific right now. In addition, Samsung has confirmed that One UI 6.1 will be available beginning Thursday, March 28. This follows a notification sent to some users earlier this week. The update will be available globally, including in the United States, beginning on that date.
In the United States, Samsung expects the update to appear first on unlocked and carrier (Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular, etc) editions of the Galaxy S23 series, Z Flip 5 and Fold 5, and the Galaxy S23 FE. Tablets will also get the update later this week, but it may spill over into next week.
Which Samsung devices will be eligible? The complete list follows:
- Galaxy S23
- Galaxy S23+
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Galaxy S23 FE
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Galaxy Tab S9
- Galaxy Tab S9+
- Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
The One UI 6.1 update for these devices will include the full Galaxy AI suite, which provides Google Circle to Search, Live Translate, Chat Assist, and other features. According to a source review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, they explained how those features work in detail.
Samsung has also hinted that these features may eventually appear on the Galaxy S22. However, the South Korean behemoth has yet to announce when One UI 6.1 will be available for other, older Galaxy devices. When it does expand, it will most likely be without AI features. The update for these 2023 devices may include the April 2024 security patch, as the March patch is currently available.
Galaxy Ring Gears Up for Launch: Teased Features and Battery Widget Appearance
GSMArena reports that Samsung teased the Galaxy Ring at the Unpacked event in January, where it unveiled the Galaxy S24 family, and then announced it at MWC in Barcelona in February. It is expected to receive a proper introduction in July at the next Unpacked event, where the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 should be unveiled.
In the meantime, the Galaxy Ring was revealed to support Samsung Food, and it has now appeared in Samsung's stock Battery Widget.
Once you've added this widget to your Samsung smartphone's home screen, navigate to the Settings menu and see the options listed above. The ring is prominently featured alongside the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Fit, and Galaxy Buds, indicating that Samsung is busy preparing for its launch.
The source said it'll likely be available at the July Unpacked event, if not sooner.
The Galaxy Ring is said to be lightweight (though no one outside of Samsung has touched it yet) and will be available in various sizes and color finishes. It includes a heart rate sensor and tracks your sleep. It should last at least a few days on a single charge because there is no hungry screen to drain all that juice, and it may be more comfortable to wear than a smartwatch, mainly while sleeping. It is also rumored that NFC payments will be supported.