One UI 8 will block oem unlock and relock bootloader in all Samsung.
Well then I hate it.
didn’t they also push that downgrade for older versions?
That was always the case. From the samsung firmware version string U* usually indicates “bootloader version”, for example for A325NKSU4DWH3 its bootloader version 4
The same version number doesn’t really mean the same bootloader binary, this version is just for preventing downgrades. After installing a firmware with U4 you can’t rollback to a U3 firmware for example.
Source?
Well poo. Im glad I have an unlockable pixel but it feels like our options are getting crushed every second. Need to just start carrying a small Linux laptop instead of a phone…
There are phones supporting Linux https://linmob.net/resources/#smartphones
Yeah but everytime I’ve seen someone ask about daily use as their only cellphone the people who own them have said they aren’t even close to ready. My alarm clock needs to work 100% of the time and if it’s not on my phone there is a chance it won’t be were I am.
I hope it’s an improvement over OneUI 7 which I really don’t like.
Someone explain the big deal to me, as someone that’s never owned a Samsung phone. It just looks like a few small UI theme tweaks. Is there any significant benefit to Samsung’s modifications?
There’s a lot of small QOL features across the system and changes to the UI that depending on your taste, either like or dislike. For folding devices, it adds a huge ton of enhancements too that Google hasn’t bothered to add. I personally can’t go back to stock Android because of how lacking it is by comparison. Stuff like:
- An older style notification shade where you don’t have oversized setting toggles
- Built in sync with Windows for notifications, copy and paste, file system mounting over Wi-Fi
- Customizable lock screen, notification shade, volume bar, “navigation gestures”, task switcher
- Built in support for half open folding states for numerous stock apps with additional utilities for apps that don’t support them
- Override app aspect ratios for apps on folding devices
- Samsung Pay which works a whole lot better than whatever Google keeps renaming GPay into
- Allows any app to become a free form floating window before Android 15
- Allowing me to get away from how personally hideous Material U looks
- Built-in “Tasker-like” feature
There’s a lot more stuff here and there but these are just things off the top of my head.
It’s a strategy to give all Samsung products a distinct UI that has common elements across all the different things they make.
It’s all about having “a look” and making it slightly harder to pick a different option. Apple strategy.
I use Samsung phones for work, it’s really just some UI changes, and they’re genuinely much worse than just stock android. Samsung is just trying to differentiate itself.
