Let's check out all the new side button options Samsung has introduced with the Galaxy S25 and One UI 7.0.
Galaxy S25's side button options
The Galaxy S25, running One UI 7.0, offers an expansive list of options for its side button actions, including long press and double press. When you long press the side button, you can open an AI assistant of your choice. By default, it is Gemini. You can set it to open Bixby or other compatible third-party assistant apps like Alexa (but Alexa doesn't work right now).
For the double-press option, you can set the side button to do the following things:
- Camera: Open Camera, Record Video, Take Portrait, Take Selfie
- Samsung Wallet
- Torch
- Magnifier
- Voice Recorder: Open Voice Recorder, Start Recording
- Samsung Notes: Open Samsung Notes, Paint With Brush, Record Voice Note, Type Note, Write With Pen
- Samsung Capture: AI Select, Screen Recorder, Screenshots
- Modes And Routines: Any Mode or Routine in the app
- Apps: Any app installed on the phone
You can see all those options in the screenshots below.
You can access more settings for those nine options, such as a specific mode or sub-section of that action or app. For example, you can select the Camera option to open in Photo, Video, Portrait, or Selfie modes. For Voice Recorder, you can set it just to open the Voice Recorder or start recording voice right away.
Similarly, you can choose the side button double-press action to start Samsung Notes, open the app in Paint With Brush mode, create a new note by typing, record a new voice note, or write with a pen. You can also choose to open AI Select, start screen recording, or capture a screenshot.
You can also use the Galaxy S25's side button to start any Mode or Routine by double-pressing it.
Watch more One UI 7.0 features on the Galaxy S25 series in our video below.
In comparison, with One UI 6.1.1, you are limited to a few actions. You can't choose to open Gemini in its quick assistant view. You can launch the camera, Samsung Wallet, Torch, Interpreter Mode, or any other app of your choice. You can select it to open Gemini, but it will open the full-fledged app, not its voice command mode.
The images below show all the side button options on devices running One UI 6.1.1.
