Samsung’s upcoming One UI 7, built on Android 15, is set to debut in January 2025 alongside the Galaxy S25 series. The update promises to be a significant overhaul, bringing a host of new features aimed at improving user interaction and addressing common smartphone pain points. Early insights into the update, gathered through the beta program, reveal several exciting changes that are likely to make Galaxy devices more efficient and user-friendly. One of the standout features in this upcoming release is Filter Notifications, a tool designed to tackle the growing issue of notification overload.
Filter Notifications is a feature that gives users more control over their alerts, allowing them to manage notifications based on priority. Located under the Settings menu, it divides notifications into two categories: Priority Notifications, which remain visible and urgent, and Less Critical Notifications, which are tucked away for later viewing. This division helps declutter the notification panel, making it easier to stay focused on what matters most without missing out on important updates.
The feature also offers flexibility with three filtering options. Users can choose to hide Old Notifications, which are a few days old, remove alerts from Background Activities, or minimize notifications that have already been reduced in visibility. The filtered notifications are not entirely discarded but are instead stored in a compact “X more notifications” pill at the bottom of the notification panel. Tapping on the bubble reveals these notifications, making it easy to catch up on less important alerts when convenient.
The need for such a feature is evident, as modern smartphones are inundated with constant notifications from social media, emails, and various apps. Filter Notifications aims to address this by prioritizing essential alerts and reducing the noise from less important updates. This approach is not entirely unique, as Apple has also made strides in managing notifications in iOS 18 by using AI to summarize them, providing users with only key details and cutting down on unnecessary clutter.
In addition to Filter Notifications, One UI 7 will bring several other notable updates. These include a Vertical App Drawer for easier app navigation, Now Bar, which functions like Apple’s Live Activities for real-time updates, a Split Notification & Quick Settings Panel for a more organized interface, and Game Booster Refresh Rate Settings for smoother gameplay. The stable release of One UI 7 is expected to roll out alongside the Galaxy S25 series, and while the update is currently in beta for Galaxy S24 users, Samsung is fine-tuning the experience based on feedback. If the rest of the update is as well thought-out as Filter Notifications, it’s clear that Galaxy users have a lot to look forward to.
