The camera app is one of the most important in any smartphone, and it's also the one with which Samsung fails to maintain any consistency. From general user interface changes with almost every new flagship and Android/One UI update to removing features both big and small and then bringing some of them back later, the camera app on Galaxy devices is in a constant state of flux.
With One UI 2.5, which debuts on the Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Tab S7, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Samsung has added plenty of new camera features. A considerably more advanced Pro video mode is perhaps the biggest highlight, and we will be taking a detailed look at it in our upcoming Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review. However, One UI 2.5 also addresses two frustrating aspects of Samsung's Camera app that we think will please a lot of users.
Camera app can now open in and remember last used mode and selfie angle
Yes, Samsung has once again introduced the option to have the camera app always open in the shooting mode you used the last time to capture photos and videos. It's a particularly useful option for those who weren't happy that Samsung separated photo and video into two separate modes, as having to switch to the Video mode every time you open the camera app can be frustrating if you shoot a lot of videos. Of course, it works just as well for any mode that you might prefer or use more often.
The other new option in the camera app on One UI 2.5 is having the phone remember the angle you used for your previous selfie session. Starting with One UI 1.1, every Galaxy phone defaults to taking selfies with a cropped field of view, and you have to manually switch to the full field of view. Samsung brought a partial solution for this One UI 2.1 – it added automatic switching to wide-angle view when two or more people are detected in the frame. Now, it has fully addressed the problem (if you can call it that).
There's more in One UI 2.5, so look out for our full review
One UI 2.5 also introduces a couple of other new features, and we'll tell you all about them in our upcoming review. Spoiler alert: There isn't a lot to see, which is to be expected from these minor One UI updates. One UI 3.0 is the update we should look forward to, and it may not be long before we can test it out in beta form.
