Like every other year, Samsung will spend the first half of 2024 rolling out a new version of One UI to millions of Galaxy devices. One UI 6.1 debuted with the Galaxy S24 lineup on January 17th and will start making it to older phones and tablets in the next few weeks.
However, One UI 6.1 is unique compared to previous such updates and will be a lot more exciting for flagship Galaxy smartphones and tablets launched in 2023. That's because those devices, which include the Galaxy S23 series (S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE), Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and the Galaxy Tab S9, are the only ones that are going to gain all the AI abilities that are part of what Samsung calls the Galaxy AI experience.
You get exclusive access to One UI 6.1's AI features with a 2023 flagship
The Galaxy S24 introduced a laundry list of new features that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve various aspects of the user interface. Whether you're typing on the keyboard, looking for real-time text and voice translation, or altering pictures you have captured using the device's built-in photo editor, the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra use AI to enhance your experience.
If you own a flagship device launched last year, you're getting exclusive access to all that AI action with One UI 6.1. Pretty much every AI feature found in the Galaxy S24 series will be backported, making One UI 6.1 a huge update even though the change in version number suggests otherwise.
Once those devices get One UI 6.1, they will also become excellent choices for anyone looking to buy a flagship today or in the near future. The hardware on the Galaxy S23, Fold 5, Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 is still pretty top-notch but can now be found at sizable discounts, and if you decide to pick one up, you will get virtually the same software experience as the one that is enjoyed by Galaxy S24 owners.
