These are my 5 favorite One UI tricks for Samsung foldables

I’ve used Samsung foldable devices for half a decade, spanning the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold models. The hardware hasn’t always been in good shape: my Galaxy Z Flip 3 screen protector broke along the fold in less than a year, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 I replaced it with quickly became obsolete. Only recently has Samsung shown its hardware strength with the impressive Galaxy Z Fold 7and, to a lesser extent, the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Meanwhile, the One UI software and its optimization for the foldable form factor never let me down.

Samsung’s One UI software has long tried to go beyond basic Android features, sometimes to its detriment. However, the added utility really helps you get the most out of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold phones. From application and operating system behaviors set by folded state to convenient Flex mode controls, there are plenty of options. User Interface Customization Features Built for folding only.

One UI has a robust set of automation on the Settings app’s “Modes & Routines” page, and foldable users can create routines tied to whether their phone is open or closed. Samsung’s foldable devices know if your foldable screen is currently open, closed, or even partially folded. You can take advantage of this information. to start custom routines depending on the folding status of the phone. For example, a routine could automatically enable auto-rotate when the phone is opened and rotate lock when the device is closed.

This is particularly useful for using One UI with a foldable phone, as the cover screen and foldable screen are used for different tasks. Let’s say you have a Galaxy Z Fold 7 and you use it on your desktop as a digital calendar or to-do list. You can create a custom routine that extends the screen timeout period to 10 minutes only when the foldable screen is opened, so that the screen does not go dark while you are at your desk. When the phone is closed, the screen timeout period may be shorter. Similarly, it is possible to create routines that specify unique font styles, font sizes, and screen zoom profiles for when a folding document is opened or closed.

The possibilities are almost endless. To try it yourself, open the Settings app on your foldable device and find the “Modes & Routines” page. Switch to the “Routines” tab and press the “+” icon to create a new routine. Select “Fold State” as the trigger for the routine and choose any action as the “Then” statement for the routine. When you’re done, the routines you created will automatically take effect based on the state of your foldable’s hinge.

By far my favorite One UI trick for foldable phones is Flex mode. Other foldable phone brands have come up with similar ways to control their phones, but none match the usefulness of Flex mode in my experience. Flex Mode is simply a user interface that allows you to intuitively use your phone like a laptop when it is ajar on a flat surface. I use it to watch videos, read articles, and anything else that involves propping up a flip phone or large foldable screen on a table or desk. The top half of the foldable device displays its contents, while the bottom half is exclusively for software controls that adapt to the situation.

Flex mode is available when your foldable phone’s hinge opens between 75 degrees and 115 degrees. It’s built into One UI, so you don’t need the individual app you’re using to support it. Depending on the open app, bending your smartphone at around 90 degrees will either automatically launch Flex Mode or display a Flex Mode button in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Most foldable device users will activate Flex mode to enjoy convenient on-screen controls for media playback. The user interface includes a timeline, playback controls, and forward or rewind buttons on the bottom half of the screen. The top half is reserved exclusively for your content. I only watch videos in Flex mode on my foldable devices; It’s great to have a built-in kickstand, and standard widescreen videos fit the top half of the screen almost perfectly.

That’s not all Flex Mode can do. It offers a virtual touchpad that can be used to control the top of the screen with a cursor. Additionally, Flex mode offers useful shortcuts for taking screenshots, adjusting volume, changing brightness, or viewing notifications. You can use apps in One UI’s Multi Window mode while in Flex mode, effectively turning your foldable device into a mini laptop.

It sounds surprising, but I will take a flip phone over any other type of smartphone for mobile photography. Foldable phones may not always have the largest or newest camera sensors, but they do have a built-in kickstand and dual screens. Those hardware features and the One UI software combine to form a great camera experience. Simply fold your phone in half and you’ll have a stand to place the device’s camera sensors anywhere you want. This activates Flex mode, moving the viewfinder to the top of the screen and freeing up the bottom for controls.

There are too many useful One UI camera features for foldables to count, but two that shine are Capture View and Dual Preview. The capture view allows you monitor the results of your shots in real time. It is available on Galaxy Z Fold phones and takes advantage of the extra screen real estate available when they are unfolded. The right side of the screen runs the same minimized camera app you’d use when the phone is folded. The left side shows all the photos you’ve captured in a given session, allowing you to swipe through them without leaving the viewfinder.

Google offers a similar feature, but it is only available on Pixel 10 Pro foldable – Google’s previous foldable documents are surprisingly incompatible. Samsung brought Capture View to all Galaxy Z Fold models running One UI 8 or later, which is great to see.

Dual preview is available on the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold models and is very easy. This shooting mode displays a live viewfinder on both the main and cover screens. Do you want to use this mode when taking selfies with the main camera systemor to give both the photographer and the subject a way to monitor the viewfinder. This simple feature allows me to take 200MP selfies with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, providing detail and sharpness that a traditional phone’s selfie camera could never match.

One UI offers robust app multitasking modes, including split-screen view and pop-up view. I love using the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s main screen to run two apps side by side. Because of the phone’s almost square aspect ratio when unfolded, it’s like having full-size apps on two traditional smartphones side by side. Samsung makes this really easy on the Galaxy Z Fold models, as they are equipped with the One UI taskbar to simplify app switching and multitasking.

Galaxy Z Flip models do not have the taskbar due to the smaller screen, unless you use Samsung DeX with an external display. Don’t worry, because One UI has a solution for that too. In the Settings app, navigate to “Advanced Features” and tap “Multi Window.” Flip the switch next to “Swipe to split screen” and you can swipe up with two fingers from the bottom of the screen to start multitasking from anywhere.

One UI is all about customization, and the operating system gives you the crucial choice of what happens when you close your foldable device with an app open. You can force apps to always or never open automatically on the cover screen. The best option is to split in half with the “Swipe up to continue application” option. This gives you the option to swipe up on the cover screen immediately after folding it to continue using an app. Or, you can do nothing and the foldable device will lock in a few seconds as normal.

It’s certainly a first-world problem, but it can be frustrating to switch from the folding screen to the cover screen and unlock the device again each time. This option helps avoid that hassle and you can find it in the Settings app under “Display” and “Continue apps on the cover screen.”

Software makes or breaks the folding experience

Foldable phones have the potential to offer new experiences and improve productivity, but they need great software to harness that potential. The hardware is just the beginning, and that’s why foldable phones are a joy to use for hobbies like photography, despite lacking the most impressive specs. Samsung One UI 8 It offers almost everything you could want from foldable software, and is part of the reason why the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is arguably the best foldable phone on the market in North America.