TECH

Galaxy A15 spotted running One UI 7.0 via RTL

Samsung is slowly but surely testing One UI 7.0 for older Galaxy models. Although the stable version has only rolled out to the Galaxy S25 series so far, test builds have been popping up for other devices. Surprisingly the latest is the entry-level Galaxy A15. The phone has been spotted running One UI 7.0 in Samsung’s Remote Test Lab (RTL).

What’s RTL, and why does it matter?...RTL, or Remote Test Lab, is a virtual testing environment where developers and testers can try out software on devices without needing the physical hardware. Recently, users noticed the Galaxy A15 running One UI 7.0 in RTL, which means Samsung is actively testing the update for this device.

However, don’t get too excited just yet, as it doesn’t guarantee the update will roll out to actual Galaxy A15 devices anytime soon. Samsung is still in the testing phase, and it could take several weeks before the stable build reaches users.

According to recent reports, the Galaxy S24 FE is expected to receive the stable One UI 7.0 update on March 31st. It’s unlikely that the A15 will receive the update before the S24 FE, given Samsung’s usual rollout pattern for major updates.

What’s new in One UI 7.0 for the Galaxy A15?...The Galaxy A15 launched in late 2023 with Android 14 and One UI 6.0, so One UI 7.0 will be its first major update. Users can look forward to new features like:

-Split mode for quick settings and notifications

-NowBar

-More customization options for the home screen and lock screen

That said, don’t expect AI features like those on the Galaxy S25 series. The Galaxy A15’s hardware likely isn’t powerful enough to support advanced AI capabilities.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra now on top of DxOMark's display leaderboard but suffers from stubborn issues...The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has the best display of all smartphones tested by DxOMark so far, not least because of the very high brightness and the screen's anti-glare surface. However, a well-known problem from the previous model is yet to be rectified.

DxOMark has just subjected the display of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to a detailed analysis. The score of 160 points tops the best list and pushes the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL into second place with its 158 points. This high score is due not least to the anti-reflective coating of the Corning Gorilla Armor 2 protective glass, which is said to reflect only 1.5% of ambient light, less than a third compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

This value has not changed compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and there has also been no progress in terms of brightness since the display still reaches 2,122 nits in the sun and is thus almost on par with the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. But the lower incidence of reflections means that the display effectively achieves a higher contrast ratio in the sun and therefore a higher display quality. DxOMark measured a PWM frequency of 480 Hz, which is unlikely to be problematic for most users. 

Better color display, but old problems remain...Compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, color representation in particular is said to have been improved, as colors are displayed more accurately on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and steep viewing angles no longer affect the color display as much. The peak HDR brightness in a dark room has been reduced from 80 nits to 24 nits, meaning that the screen of the Galaxy S25 Ultra is far less dazzling at night.

However, DxOMark's analysis is not entirely free of criticism. Despite the improvement in the display of HDR content, the display is still generally too bright when used in a dark room, while the touchscreen, like the previous model, occasionally registers accidental touches and generally does not respond as quickly as other comparable smartphones.

mundophone