We received the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for testing. As we explained in our hands-on and video, the most significant new features are focused on the interface, One UI 7, based on Android 15.
In addition to in-depth work on the UI, the look of the interface, Samsung has added many features. Examples include an audio eraser, an activity tracking system on the lock screen called Now Bar, or a sort of scalable central hub, Now Brief.
The weight increases by almost 20%, with or without Samsung applications
All these changes are welcome, but they seem to have had a negative impact on the weight of the interface. Rest assured, we are far from the 60 GB occupied by One UI 5 at the launch of the Galaxy S23. But the Korean manufacturer still sees its system gain in thickness, which reduces the available size.
To find this information, we simply compared the storage data of a barely configured Galaxy S24 Ultra and under One UI 6.1, with those of the Galaxy S25 Ultra under One UI 7 that we have in test. The result is simple. One UI takes up 17.83 GB on the S24 Ultra, and goes up to 21.39 GB on the S25 Ultra. This represents an increase of 20% if we round up.
In order to be complete, we must add the pre-installed Samsung apps. While it is possible to uninstall most of them, they remain important to take into account in the total. Indeed, Samsung relies on its apps for many exclusive features, so they are part of the heart of the experience.
Good news, Samsung has revised its onboarding process (the different panels that appear when you first turn on the phone and that allow you to configure the phone). As a result, we have fewer pre-installed Samsung apps in One UI 7, only 11, compared to 18 on One UI 6.1. For the sake of completeness, we still installed Samsung Notes and Samsung Internet, both optional, but suggested by the interface, because they are central to the integration of new features. Notes is for example very practical for the stylus. We therefore find it difficult to see a user doing without it.
And surprise, the 11 applications of One UI 7 weigh more than the 18 of One UI, 6 GB against 4.3 GB. The main culprit is called Samsung Language Core and it is not a surprise. This is the system that manages generative writing and writing assistance, on which many new features are based. To work directly on the device and therefore save time and autonomy, the smartphone must have a sufficiently large database. This will therefore logically tend to grow over the course of updates.
If we add the weight of these applications to the system, we arrive at a total weight of 27 GB for One UI 7, compared to 22.196 GB on One UI 6.1, which represents an increase of almost 21.6% in the size of the interface.
By the time the Galaxy S25 goes on sale on February 7, Samsung has informed us that an update should take place. We hope that this does not lead to a further increase in its weight.
0 Comments