For years, Samsung has stood out – some might say stubbornly – from the Android crowd with its horizontally scrolling app drawer. While other manufacturers embraced the intuitive vertical swipe, Samsung users navigated their apps across pages, a design choice that often felt more like a quirk than a feature. Now, with the release of the One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra, that’s finally changing.
The One UI 7 beta quietly introduces a vertical app drawer, a long-awaited update that makes Samsung’s interface much more in line with industry standards. This seemingly small change dramatically improves user experience. No more horizontal swiping; instead, users simply swipe up from the home screen and scroll vertically – a familiar and efficient interaction pattern for most Android and even iPhone users.
This update isn’t just about conforming; it’s about enhancing usability. The shift to a vertical layout offers a significant improvement in app accessibility, particularly for users with many installed applications. Finding the desired app becomes significantly faster and more intuitive. The change eliminates the unnecessary friction of navigating multiple pages, providing a smoother and more streamlined user journey.
But Samsung hasn’t just adopted the standard vertical design; they’ve added some thoughtful refinements. The updated app drawer includes a handy right-mounted bar for quick alphabetical navigation, allowing users to jump to apps beginning with a specific letter. A conveniently placed search bar at the bottom enables searching for apps, files, or even performing Google searches directly from the app drawer – a feature sure to boost overall efficiency.
For those who might have grown accustomed to the horizontal layout, fear not! Samsung has included the option to revert to the horizontal scrolling. This customizable option allows users to maintain their preferred navigation style within the One UI 7 settings. However, after experiencing the intuitive nature of the vertical app drawer, we suspect many will find it hard to go back.
Beyond the revolutionary app drawer update, One UI 7 offers a wealth of additional features. These include new Galaxy AI functionalities, a redesigned lock screen, updated app icons, and more enhancements focused on improving overall user experience. The update, available now within the Samsung Members app, is still in beta, meaning that some unforeseen issues might arise. However, for those looking for an improved, more user-friendly Android experience, the upgrade to One UI 7, particularly the vertical app drawer alone, is likely worth the small risk involved. This is a significant step toward harmonizing Samsung’s smartphone experience with the wider Android ecosystem, and for many, it’s a welcome one.
