Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Samsung is limiting some new One UI 7 options, like AI Audio Eraser, to newer Galaxy S sequence flagships.
- A Reddit consumer alleges many of those “unique” options work positive on older Galaxy S23 {hardware} after porting them over.
- This has led to accusations of deliberate obsolescence as customers query why succesful older telephones are being unnoticed.
A lot of Samsung’s pitch for the Galaxy S25 sequence revolved round AI smarts by means of software program, because the {hardware} barely developed yr on yr. One UI 7 introduced a number of new options to the Galaxy S25 sequence, and customers of older Samsung flagships had been ready with bated breath for the platform replace to deliver them these options too. Nonetheless, in typical Samsung style, the corporate is holding some options like Now Temporary unique to the Galaxy S25 flagship sequence. Because it seems, that’s not all, as older flagships are lacking lots of options that their {hardware} can help, however Samsung merely didn’t port them over.
Samsung’s function lockout for older flagships
Reddit consumer tyrisodin went on a rant, lamenting Samsung’s function lockout on the Galaxy S23 sequence and calling it a “Mushroom Kingdom-level betrayal.” The consumer has good cause to be offended, as they declare to have ported the Galaxy S25’s One UI 7 ROM to the Galaxy S23 to check a number of of the newest “unique” options, solely to seek out that there’s nothing actually holding Samsung again from bringing these options to the Galaxy S23 sequence.
Samsung didn’t comprehensively record which new One UI 7 options are lacking from older gadgets and why. The corporate partially shared this info, solely to the extent of One UI 7 digicam options which might be coming to older gadgets. Even then, you possibly can see that many high-profile digicam options are locked to telephones launched throughout the final yr however to not older flagships.
So the Reddit consumer went round porting and testing a number of newer options and located that they work properly on the Galaxy S23 sequence.
AI Audio Eraser on the Galaxy S23 sequence
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Samsung launched a surprisingly nice AI Audio Eraser software with One UI 7 on the Galaxy S25 sequence, however prolonged the function to the Galaxy S24 sequence with its One UI 7 replace. Nonetheless, the function didn’t make it to the Galaxy S23 sequence.
The Reddit consumer ported the Audio Eraser module to their Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Galaxy S23 Extremely, and it appears to work properly sufficient. The consumer processed a 1080p video with avenue noise, and it did so inside 5 seconds, working with none crashes or lags, allegedly delivering a crisp output.
Log video
The Galaxy S25 sequence launched with Log video help, and the Galaxy S24 sequence acquired it by means of One UI 7. However the Galaxy S23 sequence is left behind.
The Reddit consumer ported the Log video digicam mode. They then shot a 4K video in log, and their Galaxy S23 Extremely dealt with it “like a champ.”
Movement Pictures
The Galaxy S25 sequence helps Movement Pictures, capturing 1.5 seconds of video earlier than and after a photograph is taken. Samsung prolonged the function to the Galaxy S24 sequence with One UI 7, however to not different older S flagships.
The Reddit consumer enabled Movement Pictures by means of ROM tweaks, which they are saying labored in addition to anticipated.
Samsung Well being: AI-driven well being insights
With the Galaxy S25 sequence, Samsung Well being can course of collected knowledge with AI to ship well being insights, like personalised sleep ideas or exercise tweaks. The function works with the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 sequence.
The consumer pressured the Well being Help module to run on their Galaxy S23 Extremely, gave it sleep and step knowledge to course of, and based on the consumer, Samsung Well being promptly gave out personalised ideas.
Picture Ambient Wallpaper
Picture Ambient Wallpaper makes use of AI to dynamically regulate your wallpaper primarily based on the time and climate. This can be a One UI 6.1.1 function that launched with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and was rolled out to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy S24 sequence, however to not the Galaxy S23 sequence. The overall idea nonetheless stands right here: Samsung is artificially locking older flagships out of options they will nonetheless help.
The consumer sideloaded the wallpaper engine on their Galaxy S23 Extremely, and it seemingly rendered the dynamic wallpapers “flawlessly,” with climate updates each 10 minutes.
Is the One UI 7 replace simply one other step in deliberate obsolescence?
Joe Maring / Android Authority
The Reddit consumer continues their rant by alleging deliberate obsolescence by Samsung, arguing that the Galaxy S23 sequence with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor has sufficient horsepower to deal with these options. The consumer additionally alleges the Galaxy S25’s “Snapdragon 8 Gen 4” (sic) simply has a “20% higher NPU.” Nonetheless, I’ve to step in right here to say that the Galaxy S25’s Snapdragon 8 Elite is claimed to have a forty five% higher NPU than the 8 Gen 3, which in flip boasted of 42% higher efficiency from the 8 Gen 2 — so the numbers are a good bit off. Nonetheless, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 stays a reliable processor.
We’ve contacted Samsung for feedback on this matter, hoping to be taught why the corporate has restricted a few of these One UI options to the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S24 sequence. We’ll maintain you up to date once we be taught extra.
