This story is part of CES, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the most popular articles from the all-virtual CES 2021.
By Samsung unpacked Thursday we finally saw the new Galaxy S21 phone line, complete with new camera features and a large price drop. Samsung has also shown a change on the software side: widgets on many Samsung phones get an upgrade with the latest version of Samsung One UI 3 – just like iOS 14 play pieces finally arrived last year for iPhones and other Apple devices that give you the opportunity to customize your iPhone home screen with the information you need.
While Android has had widgets for years, the launch of Samsung One UI 3 in December for certain Galaxy devices with Android 11 OS, has brought redesigned widgets to keep your home screen more organized and aesthetically pleasing, and you can access more features from your lock screen. By Samsung unpackedthe company introduced new changes to One UI 3 to make widgets even more usable.
So, what’s the difference between widgets for Samsung’s One UI 3 and Apple’s iOS 14? We break down what you need to know.
Juan Garzon / CNET
Widgets have been a mainstay of Google’s Android since its inception in 2008. But Samsung’s One UI 3 for Android 11 enhances some of the things you can do with these useful tools.
At Samsung Unpacked, the company unveils new lock screen widgets that allow you to view more information without unlocking your phone, including screen time, Bixby Routines, along with weather, music, and your calendar. You can also set these lock screen widgets in dark mode.
You can customize your widgets on your home screen according to size and level of transparency. Message notifications are grouped at the top for faster access, and you can browse between music programs.
One 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, the Z Flip and the Note10, Fold and S10 lines. range (although there are some differences in availability depending on the market). It will reach 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 in iPadOS 14 and at the time for Mac in MacOS Big Sur).
With iOS 14, you can place widgets for apps like weather, music, and fitness on your home screen. You can also customize your own Smart Stack widget on your home screen, which combines different app widgets that you can browse (you can also have Apple compile it for you, based on how you use your phone).
You can download iOS 14 on supported iPhones (usually the iPhone 6s to the iPhone 11).
The conclusion
While Apple’s widgets are welcome, they are very useful (and aesthetically pleasing) feature offers Samsung’s One UI 3 widgets more customizable. However, that may change when we get a look at iOS 15, probably later this year.
Look at this:
iOS 14 tips and tricks
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