Review of One UI 6.0 on Galaxy S23+: Many exciting changes in terms of interface, features, performance, and battery improvement

On October 31st, Samsung officially launched One UI 6.0 for users of the Galaxy S23 Series in the Vietnamese market. My Galaxy S23+ has now received the latest One UI 6.0 update based on Android 14. So what's new with One UI 6.0 in terms of features? What is One UI 6.0? How to update One UI 6.0 for Galaxy S23+? Let's find out through the review of One UI 6.0 on the Galaxy S23+ below!

Read more: One UI 6.0 has officially arrived for the Galaxy S23 Series in Vietnam

What is One UI 6.0? Overview of the latest One UI update you need to know about

At the Samsung Developer Conference 2023 held in early October 2023, Samsung officially announced the new One UI 6.0 user interface based on Google's latest Android 14.

According to Samsung, One UI 6.0 is an update bringing many changes in interface such as Quick Settings panel, exclusive font One UI Sans, as well as AI features like automatic image analysis and suggestions for suitable editing tools. Additionally, One UI 6.0 also introduces a new Samsung Studio app for users to edit videos.

Currently, many users of the Galaxy S23 Series in several countries (including Vietnam) have received the official One UI 6.0 update after a long testing period.

How to update to One UI 6.0 officially

Updating to One UI 6.0 officially for Galaxy S23 Series is relatively simple. You can check for system updates on your Galaxy S23 Series by going to Settings > Software Update > Download and install > wait for the phone to connect to the system and then the official One UI 6.0 update will be downloaded to your device. 

Note that Samsung will gradually roll out updates for its phone lineup, with the Samsung Galaxy S23 series currently being prioritized. If you're using other Samsung phone models and haven't received the One UI 6.0 update yet, please be patient for a little while longer!

My Galaxy S23+ has received the official One UI 6.0 update with a size of about 3.1 GB. It took me around 15 minutes to complete the One UI 6.0 update process for the Galaxy S23+ (the time may vary depending on each device and network speed).

What's new in the official One UI 6.0 version in terms of features and interface?

After updating to the official One UI 6.0, I noticed many interesting changes in the user interface and features of the Galaxy S23+. Of course, I can't cover every new aspect of the One UI 6.0 update in this article. Therefore, I'll highlight some notable changes in the new One UI version. Feel free to leave a comment below to let everyone know if you discover any new features on One UI 6.0!

• Refreshing User Interface

- Notification Panel

One of the most notable interface changes in One UI 6.0 is the notification panel. As you can see in the comparison images below, the notification panel in One UI 6.0 features white icons and is segmented into specialized areas instead of being seamless like in One UI 5.1. I appreciate the visually appealing design of the new notification panel in One UI 6.0.

Additionally, the notification panel editing interface on One UI 6.0 has been refreshed, allowing me to customize functions at the top or the entire notification panel. I particularly enjoy the 'Instant Access to Quick Settings' feature. Specifically, I can swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access the quick settings panel instantly without having to view notifications (you can see the illustrated video below).

However, I think reaching up to the top right corner of the screen is a minor downside of the 'Instant Access to Quick Settings' feature. Because for those using large-screen phones like the Galaxy S23+ or Galaxy S23 Ultra, reaching up like that is inconvenient. However, this is not a significant concern for phones with smaller screens like the Galaxy S23.

- New Font Style

While experiencing the new notification panel interface, I noticed that the font style on One UI 6.0 has changed compared to the previous version. You can see the comparison image below; the font style on the latest One UI version is bolder rather than slender on One UI 5.1. I find the new font style on One UI 6.0 looks modern and easier to read.

- Settings App with New Battery Interface

Another change in the user interface of One UI 6.0 is the Settings app. Specifically, the Settings section of One UI 6.0 features icons with bolder colors compared to the old One UI version, making the overall interface more visually appealing and easier to navigate. Additionally, I noticed the appearance of the 'Battery' section right below the 'Display' section.

Returning to the new 'Battery' section mentioned earlier, I noticed significant changes in the interface in this section compared to the previous version, especially in the 'Battery Usage' part.

In the previous version, the 'Battery Usage' section only showed us usage since the last full charge or statistics for the past 7 days.

Meanwhile, One UI 6.0 displays battery activity in a very intuitive manner, allowing easy access to specific days. I find this to be one of the most detailed battery usage stats available on the smartphone market today, and I hope other smartphone manufacturers follow suit like Samsung.

- Customizing the Lock Screen

The lock screen customization section on One UI 6.0 has slight changes compared to the previous version, drawing inspiration from the lock screen interface on Android 14. Specifically, I can adjust the size and even the position of the clock - something that One UI 5.1 couldn't do before (you can check out the illustration videos below).

- Music Player with Captivating Wave Effect

I've noticed another small but interesting change in the interface of One UI 6.0 compared to the previous version, which is the music player's effect. Specifically, in the comparison image below, the music player in One UI 6.0 features a captivating Wave effect that enhances the visual experience while listening to music or watching YouTube videos in the background.

While this change may not be significant, I believe it still adds an interesting highlight to One UI 6.0, keeping Galaxy users engaged.

• New Widgets

In One UI 6.0, some new widgets have been added. Among them, I particularly like the two new Weather app widgets, which look more modern and intuitive compared to One UI 5.1.

By the way, speaking of weather, the 'Weather' app in One UI 6.0 has been supplemented with more data and a visually enhanced interface compared to One UI 5.1.

Additionally, as I'm someone who frequently listens to music, I also appreciate the new Vinyl widget from YouTube Music on One UI 6.0. Besides personalizing my phone's home screen, I can directly interact with this widget, such as pausing/playing music or liking a song.

But that's not all; One UI 6.0 also adds another interesting widget for the Camera app called 'Camera shortcuts'. Specifically, this widget allows me to quickly activate a specific function of the Camera right from my phone's home screen. This helps me save more time compared to going into the Camera app and selecting the function I want to use.

As you can see in the images below, I can easily select functions like portrait mode, video recording, night mode, etc., using either the rear or front camera. Moreover, I can customize the background image for the widget to enhance personalization for my own phone.

• Capturing and editing photos on One UI 6.0 becomes more convenient

Not stopping at just adding new widgets, the Camera and Gallery apps on One UI 6.0 have undergone interface changes to make it easier for users to capture and edit photos compared to the old version. First, in the Camera app, we can easily select separate resolutions and aspect ratios on One UI 6.0 instead of fixed options in One UI 5.1 (similarly for video recording).

Furthermore, I noticed that the 'Scene optimizer' feature in the Camera settings has been moved to the 'Advanced smart options' section on One UI 6.0.

Moving on to the Gallery app, the photo editing interface on One UI 6.0 has been enhanced with some convenient functions such as: Two Undo/Redo arrows, Copy and Paste editing content. These features will make photo editing easier and quicker for users, especially the ability to copy edited content from one photo to another.

Another minor change in the Gallery app on One UI 6.0 compared to the previous version is in the photo details section. Specifically, in the new One UI version, I just need to tap the 'i' icon to view details and easily change effects for the photo. Meanwhile, in One UI 5.1, I had to tap the three dots and then select the detail option for the photo.

Overall, One UI 6.0 is a major update with many exciting changes in both interface and features. I've noticed that most of the new features in One UI 6.0 are positive, making it more convenient and user-friendly for Galaxy users compared to previous versions.

Performance comparison of Galaxy S23+ after updating to One UI 6.0 Android 14

In addition to the interface changes or new features, I believe many of you will be interested in the performance and battery life of the Galaxy phone after updating to the latest One UI 6.0. Therefore, I've conducted performance scoring and battery testing of the Galaxy S23+ before and after updating to One UI 6.0. First, let me quickly outline the specifications of the Galaxy S23+ for easy understanding:

• Display: 6.6-inch size, Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate.
• Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
• RAM: 8 GB.
• Internal Storage: 256 GB or 512 GB.
• Rear Camera: 50 MP + 12 MP + 10 MP.
• Front Camera: 12 MP.
• Battery: 4,700 mAh, supports 45W fast charging.
• Operating System: One UI 5.1 - Android 13.

Check out: Explore the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy chip and many other processors from Qualcomm

• Performance scoring of Galaxy S23+ before and after updating to One UI 6.0

In this section, I used specialized software such as GeekBench 6, 3DMark, PCMark to score the performance of the Galaxy S23+ before and after updating to One UI 6.0. I also want to note that the results below are for reference only as each device may have different scores after software updates. The conditions for scoring performance are as follows:

• The device's battery must be between 90 - 100% (battery below 90% will affect the device's performance and results).
• Do not charge the battery while scoring.
• Score 3 times continuously and take the average result after 3 scoring sessions.

Firstly, in the single-core/multi-core test in GeekBench 6, the Galaxy S23+ running One UI 6.0 yielded higher results compared to One UI 5.1 previously. This indicates that Samsung has optimized the new One UI very well to provide the Galaxy S23+ with better CPU processing speed.

- GeekBench 6 (single-core/multi-core):

• One UI 5.1: 1,995 points / 5,199 points.
• One UI 6.0: 2,029 points / 5,268 points.

Similarly, in tests like GPU Compute OpenCL or Vulkan, the Galaxy S23+ after updating to the latest One UI still achieves higher scores compared to the previous version.

- GeekBench 6 (GPU Compute OpenCL):

• One UI 5.1: 8,225 points.
• One UI 6.0: 9,107 points.

- GeekBench 6 (GPU Compute Vulkan):

• One UI 5.1: 6,229 points.
• One UI 6.0: 9,402 points.

Moving on to the PCMark test - assessing the phone's performance in everyday tasks. The results below show that the Galaxy S23+ after updating to One UI 6.0 scored higher than with One UI 5.1.

- PCMark:

• One UI 5.1: 6,229 points.
• One UI 6.0: 9,402 points.

Continuing with the lightweight graphics test 3DMark Solar Bay, the Galaxy S23+ running One UI 6.0 continues to deliver impressive results compared to the previous version.

- 3DMark Solar Bay:

• One UI 5.1: 5,293 total points, average FPS 20.13.
• One UI 6.0: 5,558 total points, average FPS 21.14.

Additionally, the Galaxy S23+ on One UI 6.0 also does not experience battery drain (maintaining 100% battery) after completing the test, similar to the previous version (decreasing by 1% from 99% to 98%). Meanwhile, the device's temperature also increases slightly by 4 degrees Celsius in both One UI versions.

- 3DMark Solar Bay:

• One UI 5.1: Battery decreases from 99% to 98%, temperature rises from 36°C to 40°C.
• One UI 6.0: Battery maintains 100%, temperature rises from 35°C to 39°C.

Finally, let's move on to the intensive graphics test called 3DMark Solar Bay Stress Test. For those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten, this test will automatically repeat 20 times to assess the phone's stability when performing heavy tasks like video editing, gaming, etc. Please pay attention to the Stability section as it is the most important factor in this test.

- 3DMark Solar Bay Stress Test (One UI 5.1):

• Stability: 56.6%
• Highest loop score: 5,300 points.
• Lowest loop score: 2,999 points.
• Score difference between highest and lowest loop: 2,301 points.

3DMark Solar Bay Stress Test Scores of One UI 6.0.

• Stability: 66.6%
• Highest loop score: 5,302 points.
• Lowest loop score: 3,529 points.
• Score difference between highest and lowest loop: 1,773 points.

From the results above, I must commend Samsung for optimizing One UI 6.0 excellently for the Galaxy S23+. The device achieved a stability level of 66.6%, higher than the 56.6% of the previous One UI version. This is also evident in the score difference between the highest and lowest loops (lower is better). Specifically, the Galaxy S23+ on One UI 6.0 achieved 1,773 points, significantly better than the 2,301 points on One UI 5.1. All these factors indicate that the Galaxy S23+ after updating to the latest One UI version will easily handle various heavy tasks with the highest stability.

- 3DMark Solar Bay Stress Test (One UI 5.1):

• Battery decreased from 98% to 89% (a drop of 9%).
• Temperature increased from 38°C to 46°C (an increase of 8°C).

- 3DMark Solar Bay Stress Test (One UI 6.0):

• Battery decreased from 100% to 93% (a drop of 7%).
• Temperature increased from 39°C to 47°C (an increase of 8°C).

Furthermore, there is a difference in the battery life of the Galaxy S23+ between the two versions of One UI. Specifically, the Galaxy S23+ on One UI 6.0 only dropped 7% in battery, lower than the 9% in One UI 5.1. Meanwhile, the temperature of the Galaxy S23+ increased by 8°C in both versions after completing the stress test. Thus, I conclude that One UI 6.0 has been optimized for the Galaxy S23+ to provide better performance than the previous version.

• Gaming experience on the Galaxy S23+ before and after updating to One UI 6.0

Besides benchmarking, I've also tested gaming performance on the Galaxy S23+ before and after updating to One UI 6.0. Overall, the device handles popular games well such as Arena of Valor, Call Of Duty Mobile, PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, delivering smooth gaming experiences similar to when I evaluated the Galaxy S23+ after 6 months (One UI 5.1). I'll provide detailed settings and gameplay videos for each game below for your reference.

It's unfortunate that the Perfdog app (which I usually use to measure FPS while gaming) still doesn't support Android 14 in general and One UI 6.0 in particular. Therefore, I couldn't compare the frame rates of the Galaxy S23+ when playing each game.

- Arena of Valor

 - Call Of Duty Mobile

- PUBG Mobile

- Genshin Impact

Comparison of Galaxy S23+ battery life before and after updating to One UI 6.0 Android 14

As you've seen in the title above, I conducted a Galaxy S23+ battery test (before and after updating to One UI 6.0) following the standards of Mytour with specific conditions as follows:

• Experience 4 rotating tasks including: Playing Liên Quân (graphics settings as shown below), watching YouTube, browsing Facebook, and using the Chrome browser.

• Each task lasted for 1 hour.
• A SIM card was inserted into the device.
• Screen brightness set to 100%, with 120 Hz refresh rate.
• External speaker on at 50% volume.
• WiFi and social media notifications enabled.
• Battery saver, adaptive screen, GPS, and Bluetooth were off.
• Tested from 100% to 0% battery.

The results obtained are as shown in the image below:

Through the comparison table above, we can see that the Galaxy S23+ battery lasts longer after updating to One UI 6.0 compared to the old version (specifically, 9 hours 3 minutes versus 7 hours 49 minutes). During the battery test, the Galaxy S23+ on One UI 6.0 does not heat up quickly during gaming tasks like One UI 5.1. The good optimization from One UI 6.0 has somewhat improved the device's battery life.

Interim Conclusion

Based on my experiences with One UI 6.0, I consider it the best update Samsung has ever released. Not only does this update bring many changes in terms of interface and features, but it also improves the performance and battery life of the phone. What do you think about One UI 6.0 on the Galaxy S23+? Leave your comments below for me and everyone to know! Thank you for your attention and for following my article.

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Read more: Galaxy S23+ Review: This is the Galaxy S I want to own