Samsung Experience

Samsung Experience
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Name	Samsung Experience
Developer	Samsung Electronics
Released	02 November 2017
Latest release version	9.5
Latest release date	24 October 2018
Operating system	Android 7 "Nougat", Android 8 "Oreo"
Replaced	TouchWiz
Replaced by	One UI
Genre	Firmware, User interface

Samsung Experience was a software overlay and user interface developed by Samsung Electronics for its Android-powered mobile devices, serving as the successor to the long-running TouchWiz platform. It was first introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 series running Android Nougat, representing a significant visual and functional redesign aimed at a more refined user experience. The interface was characterized by a cleaner aesthetic, improved performance, and new software features intended to complement Samsung's flagship hardware design philosophy during the late 2010s.

Overview

Samsung Experience was positioned as a major evolution from its predecessor, TouchWiz, focusing on streamlining the visual design and reducing software clutter that had been a point of criticism. It was designed to work in harmony with the new hardware language of Samsung Galaxy devices, which featured expansive Infinity Display screens with minimal bezels. The software integrated deeply with Samsung's ecosystem of services, including Samsung Pay, Samsung Health, and Bixby, while maintaining compatibility with the Google Mobile Services suite. Its development signaled a strategic shift by Samsung Electronics towards creating a more cohesive and premium software identity to compete with interfaces like Google's stock Android and LG's LG UX.

Features

Key features included a redesigned system-wide icon set with consistent rounded square shapes, a refined quick settings panel, and a more subtle color palette. It introduced the Edge Screen functionality for easier access to apps and contacts, and enhanced the Always-on display with more customization options. The software also brought improvements to Samsung DeX, allowing users to connect their phone to a monitor for a desktop-like computing experience. Other notable additions were advanced camera software modes for devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, performance management tools via Device Maintenance, and deeper integration of the Bixby voice assistant with a dedicated hardware button on flagship models.

Development and history

The development of Samsung Experience was led by the Samsung Mobile division's software teams, building upon the core of Android Nougat. It was officially unveiled alongside the Samsung Galaxy S8 at Samsung Unpacked events in 2017, marking the retirement of the TouchWiz brand name after nearly a decade. Subsequent updates, such as version 8.5 with Android Oreo, introduced features like Dual Messenger for running two accounts of the same messaging app and improved biometric security with Intelligent Scan. The final major version, Samsung Experience 9.5, was released for devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S9 before the platform was succeeded.

User interface

The user interface employed a principle of "focus on content" by using ample white space and translucent elements in areas like the notification shade and settings menu. Navigation was adapted for the new 18.5:9 aspect ratio displays, with an optional on-screen navigation bar replacing physical keys. The home screen, app drawer, and system applications like Samsung Internet and Galaxy Store received visual refreshes for greater consistency. Customization was offered through official Samsung Themes and the Good Lock modular system from Samsung Electronics for power users, allowing adjustments to the lock screen, task changer, and sound settings.

Reception

Initial reception from technology media outlets like The Verge, CNET, and Engadget was generally positive, with reviewers praising the reduction of visual noise and bloatware compared to earlier TouchWiz iterations. Critics noted significant improvements in general smoothness and responsiveness on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus. However, some analysis from Ars Technica and Android Authority pointed to remaining inconsistencies in design language and the contentious inclusion of the Bixby button. The software was widely seen as a necessary and successful step forward for Samsung Electronics in addressing long-standing software criticisms.

Successor

Samsung Experience was succeeded by One UI, a completely redesigned interface announced in 2018 and first released with Android Pie on the Samsung Galaxy S10. One UI introduced a stronger focus on one-handed usability with a distinct interface that grouped interactive elements at the bottom of the screen. The transition was part of a broader software strategy by Samsung Electronics to unify the experience across phones, tablets, and wearables like the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Support and updates for Samsung Experience gradually concluded as eligible devices were upgraded to the new One UI platform.

Category:Samsung software Category:Android user interfaces Category:Mobile technology