Samsung One UI vs. One UI Core: What’s the Difference?

Samsung has a knack for choosing confusing names for its smartphones, and this is reflected in the software as well. Recently, many people confuse between Samsung One UI and One UI Core. As annoying as it sounds, both iterations of One UI are different. In this article, we will compare both to explain how One UI Core differs from One UI.

We will cover the differences between One UI and One UI Core and supported devices. Finally, we’ll leave you alone as to whether buying the One UI Core phone is a good idea for you.

Lets start.

What is Samsung One UI Core?

One UI is the customized Android skin installed on Samsung Galaxy smartphones. It comes in two variants – regular One UI and One UI Core.

For starters, One UI Core is not a beta version of One UI. It is a stripped down and stable version of the main One UI designed for low-budget and mid-range Samsung Galaxy phones. This means it has fewer features compared to One UI that mostly works on other Galaxy phones.

Which Samsung Phones Have a UI Core

As mentioned above, Samsung is using the One UI Core version for its entry-level and mid-range phones. This includes phones in the Galaxy M series and some entry-level Galaxy A series phones.

Some phones running One UI Core are Samsung Galaxy A11, A21s, A10s, M10, M11 and M51. You can check the full list on the official Samsung website.

What Features Are Missing in a UI Core

One UI Core is a simplified version, and that doesn’t mean Samsung has removed the main features. Truth be told, you wouldn’t even notice the difference that way. Contrary to popular belief, Samsung offers dark mode, gestures, focus mode, digital convenience, the ability to hide apps, one-handed mode, etc. in One UI Core. preserves such features. Best of all, the overall UI and experience is nearly identical.

Recently, Samsung announced that most Galaxy smartphones released after 2019 will receive 4-year security updates. Both the M and A series are on the list.

So what’s left in One UI Core? Let’s check this out.

Good Lock App

Good Lock is an add-on application from Samsung that allows you to customize your Galaxy phone and add functionality using various modules. You can customize the appearance of the navigation bar, the clock on the lock screen, filter notifications and much more. Unfortunately, this app and its modules do not work on One UI Core.

Bixby

Samsung’s digital voice assistant, Bixby, is also absent in One UI Core. While you can’t use Bixby Routines, Bixby Vision (Samsung’s version of Google Lens) is available on certain One UI Core supporting devices like the Galaxy M51.

easy mode

Easy Mode offers a simpler home screen view with larger items. It is very useful for visually impaired and elderly people. Earlier, Easy mode was available on all Samsung Galaxy smartphones. If you intend to use it, you should buy a regular One UI running phone, not One UI Core.

Samsung Pay/Pay Mini

Select One UI Core phones do not support Samsung Pay/Pay Mini. Other phones that support Samsung Pay or Pay Mini are limited to certain regions only.

Knox and the Secure Folder

Some phones running One UI Core lack the full security features offered by Samsung Knox, especially hardware-based ones. You won’t notice anything on the front end, but devices that don’t offer full Knox security are not ideal for enterprise deployments.

Similarly, the popular Secure folder is missing on low-budget One UI Core devices. However, it can be used on mid-range phones.

Connection to Windows

Microsoft’s Your Phone app helps you connect your Android phone and Windows 10 PC. With the app you can view your phone’s messages, notifications and photos on your PC. You can even make and receive calls on PC. These features work on all Android phones, even those running One UI Core. But if you have a One UI device, you can open and run Android apps on your PC. This is one of the features you cannot use on One UI Core phones.

Fly: Learn the difference between your Microsoft Phone and Samsung Flow.

How to Check for a UI Variant

To find out the One UI variant and version available on your phone, follow these steps:

Stage 1: Open Settings on your Samsung Galaxy phone.

Step 2: Go to About phone. Tap on Software information.

Stage 3: At the top, you will have the One UI version or the One UI Core version. If it’s the latter, that means your phone has One UI Core. The version number appears below the One UI banner.

Fly: Check out 9 tips to fix Samsung One UI Battery drain issue.

The Future of One UI

In the previous One UI 2 version, there were big differences between One UI and One UI Core. But the latest version i.e. One UI 3 has added most features to One UI Core. In the future, Samsung may also add these missing features to One UI Core. What are your favorite One UI features? Share them in the comments below.