Beta 2: Feedback and Current Thoughts Part 3

[0vermind]

This is part 3 of 3. Would have been nice to keep this all together. Purpose is to share my feedback with Samsung, but anyone may share comments. 

Better Customization / Make Us Feel Like This Is Our Phone: Samsung, let me be honest, I paid cash $1250 for my phone, and I am starting to regret that. It doesn't feel like my phone. I haven't even been able to customize things as simple as the colors, with limited themes, theme store only showing Korean anime themes, and theme park being so complicated that I can't figure out how to make a simple color palette to remove (change back to white) the ugly Gray that was introduced for menus and dialogs in One UI 7.

 • Notification Icon Choices: The lock screen wakeup screen, and AOD are missing the oval with the notification icons it, which was displayed below the clock. The Now Chip blocks the notification icons (no option to make it smaller or move it to right side of camera hole, and an option to change notification icons to 4, 5, or all, these customizations are missing. I'm starting to feel like this isn't really my phone. It's an extension of what Samsung allows me to have. That's not why I bought Android!

- Mike

[0vermind]

(Part 4 - P.O.S. Members app)

Continuing Thoughts / Feedback About Notification Icons: Some may say they don't like notification icons. For me, they are important. The icons provide critical information, when my phone vibrates while on a job site or driving, by checking what icon appeared, I know what I need to know. I know if it's an email, text, an alert I need to respond to (SLA contracts), or junk.

When listening to music or a podcast, the notification icons are blocked by the Dynamic Now Chip, and they don't appear under the clock on the lockscreen, meaning I cannot see important details. This requires me to take my eyes off whatever I am doing, which could be dangerous (and in many situations it is), unlock my phone, pull down the notification shade, and review the notifications. A better option would be to allow the user to move the Dynamic Now Chip to the right side of the camera hole, there is nothing there! It's a perfect place for it. I don't see the issue. Second option, let us shrink the Dynamic Now Chip and move over the clock a few px to the left so the Chip and icons can fit together.

Like I said, I feel that One UI 7 is sloppy with no attention to details.

[USBetaModerator3]

Hello Mike,

Thanks again for continuing to share your detailed feedback—we truly value your persistence in getting these points across.

Your comments about notification icon visibility and safety considerations are particularly important. We understand how critical it is for users like you to glance quickly at their lock screen or AOD and immediately know what kind of notification has come in, especially when hands-free or situational awareness is essential. Your suggestion to relocate or resize the Dynamic Now Chip to preserve icon visibility is well-articulated and will be forwarded to the UX and notification system teams for consideration.

We also appreciate your suggestion to use the space to the right of the camera hole, as well as the idea to adjust the clock layout slightly—this kind of real-world use case is exactly what helps shape more practical UI decisions.

Your commitment to improving the experience and your candid assessment of where One UI 7 still needs polish are deeply appreciated. Thank you again for advocating so clearly for meaningful, user-centered refinements.

Regards,
One UI Beta Team

[user7Qp4rkiq9b]

I'm going to report these posts for being AWESOME and on point! 🙏 🙏 Thank you for covering these issues so well and so thoroughly. I agree with 95% and the rest I'll take you at your word because you're more savvy than me! They really need to do better, especially with the Now bar.
( finally, someone else says that Good Lock's modules aren't exactly a cakewalk )

[USBetaModerator3]

Hello Mike,

We truly appreciate the time and energy you've taken to share such thorough feedback across your three posts. Your insights help us see the experience from the perspective of a dedicated and power user, and that's invaluable to the evolution of One UI.

Customization & Ownership Feel: Your message about wanting the phone to feel yours hits home. Customization has always been a core part of the Android ecosystem, and we recognize that limitations in theme availability or difficulty in using tools like Theme Park can create friction. Your feedback will be shared with both the customization and Theme Store teams. We also agree that improving global access to a wider variety of themes could offer a more personalized and inclusive experience.

Notification Icon Flexibility (Lock Screen / AOD): The suggestions regarding the notification layout (oval bubble, icon count, Now Chip position/size) are excellent and echo requests we've seen from others as well. A more flexible layout or user-controlled visibility options could enhance clarity while retaining aesthetic balance. These are helpful design pointers and will be passed to the UX and AOD development teams.

Your passion for improving the platform and your continued loyalty to the Samsung ecosystem—even through frustrations—speak volumes. We’re listening, and we thank you again for taking the time to offer such thoughtful, constructive feedback across all three posts.

Regards,
One UI Beta Team