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At the Samsung unpacked On Thursday we finally saw the new Galaxy S21 phone line, complete with new Camera functions and a big drop in prices. Samsung also showed a change on the software side: widgets on many Samsung phones are upgraded with the latest version of Samsung One UI 3 - just like iOS 14 widgets finally arrived last year for iPhones and other Apple devices that give you the opportunity to do so Customize your iPhone home screen with the app information you need.
While Android has had widgets for yearsThe introduction of Samsung One UI 3 for certain Galaxy devices with the Android 11 operating system in December brought redesigned widgets to make your home screen cleaner and more aesthetic, and to allow you to access more functions from your lock screen. At the Samsung unpackedThe company announced new changes to One UI 3 to make widgets even more useful.
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What is the difference between widgets for Samsung's One UI 3 and Apple's iOS 14? We'll break down what you need to know.
Juan Garzon / CNET
Widgets have been a key feature of Google's Android since it was first introduced in 2008. However, Samsung's One UI 3 for Android 11 is reworking some of the things that you can do with these helpful tools.
At Samsung Unpacked, the company introduced new lock screen widgets that allow you to view more information without having to unlock your phone, including screen time, Bixby routines, and weather, music, and calendar. You can also set these lock screen widgets to dark mode.
You can adjust the size and transparency of your widgets on your home screen. Message notifications are grouped at the top for quicker access, and you can switch between music apps.
A UI 3 is currently available on Samsung phones including the new Galaxy S21 line, Galaxy S20 line, Galaxy Note 20 line, Z Fold2, Z Flip, and Note10, Fold, and S10 -Series (although there are some differences) depending on market availability). It will reach Galaxy A devices in the first half of the year.
Óscar Gutiérrez / CNET
Apple finally added widgets for iPhones with the release of iOS 14 last June (Apple also introduced widgets for iPad in iPadOS 14 and for Mac in MacOS Big Sur).
IOS 14 lets you put widgets for apps like weather, music, and fitness on your home screen. You can also customize your own Smart Stack widget on your home screen, which combines several app widgets that you can scroll through (you can also have Apple curate this depending on how you use your phone).
You can download iOS 14 on supported iPhones (generally the iPhone 6s over iPhone 11).
The final result
Apple's widgets are welcome, but very useful (and aesthetically pleasing) Samsung's One UI 3 widgets offer more customization options. However, that could change if we take a look at iOS 15, likely later this year.
Tips and tricks for iOS 14
