This story is part of CES, where our editors will present the latest news and the hottest gadgets from CES 2021 entirely virtual.
In Unzipped Samsung on Thursday, we finally saw the new Galaxy S21 phone line, complete with new camera features and a big drop in price. Samsung has also shown a change on the software side: Widgets on many Samsung phones are being updated with the latest version of Samsung One UI 3 – just like IOS 14 widgets finally arrived last year for iPhones and other Apple devices, giving you the ability to customize your iPhone home screen with the app information you need.
While Android has had widgets for years, the December launch of Samsung One UI 3 for certain Galaxy devices with Android 11 operating system brought redesigned widgets to keep your home screen more organized and aesthetically pleasing and allow you to access more features on the lock screen. In Unzipped Samsung, the company revealed new changes to One UI 3 to make widgets even more useful.
What’s the difference between Samsung’s One UI 3 and Apple’s iOS 14 widgets? We detail what you need to know.
Juan Garzon / CNET
Widgets have been an essential feature on Google’s Android since its inception in 2008. But Samsung’s One UI 3 for Android 11 renews some of the things you can do with these useful tools.
At Samsung Unpacked, the company unveiled new widgets for the lock screen that allow you to see more information without unlocking the phone, including screen time, Bixby Routines, along with time, music and your calendar. You can also set these lock screen widgets to dark mode.
On the home screen, you can customize your widgets in size and level of transparency. Message notifications are grouped at the top for faster access and you can switch between music apps.
A UI 3 is currently available on Samsung phones, including the new Galaxy S21 line, the Galaxy S20 line, the Galaxy Note 20 line, the Z Fold2 line, the Z Flip and the Note10, Fold and S10 series (although there are some differences in depending on the market). It will arrive on Galaxy A devices in the first half of the year.
Óscar Gutiérrez / CNET
Apple finally added widgets for iPhones with the release of iOS 14 last June (Apple also introduced widgets for iPad on iPadOS 14 and for Mac on MacOS Big Sur at that time).
IOS 14 allows you to place widgets for apps like weather, music and fitness on the home screen. You can also customize your own Smart Stack widget on the home screen, which combines several application widgets that you can scroll through (you can also let Apple organize this for you, based on how you use your phone).
You can download iOS 14 on compatible iPhones (usually from iPhone 6s to iPhone 11).
The final result
While Apple widgets are welcome, very useful (and aesthetically pleasing), Samsung’s One UI 3 widgets offer more through personalization. However, that can change whenever we catch a glimpse of iOS 15, probably later this year.
See this:
IOS 14 tips and tricks
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