Customizable flash notifications
Worried you won’t hear your phone? Learn how to change your Advanced settings so your phone strobes the camera flash to catch your attention.
5 accessibility features you didn't
know were in the palm of your hand
Even if you’re not actively managing a disability, these useful One UI 4 features¹ can help make your phone a productivity powerhouse.
In the 21st century, technology brings us together. That's why accessibility features are so important. They're the number-one tool we have to make sure our phones can be used by anyone, no matter their permanent, temporary or situational disability to connect with friends, family and services.
Accessibility isn't just cool because it's the right thing to do. Accessibility settings are also where you’ll find some of your Galaxy smartphone’s most innovative features in the release of our One UI 4, which is available now for Galaxy S21 series smartphones and will be delivered for qualifying devices in Spring 2022.2 Your phone or tablet will alert you when the update is available. These options will not only help supercharge your phone if you're managing a disability, they'll make devices like your Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G3 more powerful and fun to use no matter who you are.
Visibility enhancements
Vision exists within a spectrum. What is readable for one person is often illegible for another. Plus, our ability to see what’s on our smartphone screen can shift throughout the day. No matter your capabilities, One UI’s Visibility enhancement settings have you covered. If you find it hard to read your phone, you can switch on High contrast fonts, keyboards and themes. Similarly, if you have difficulty seeing your phone in the dark because it is too bright, you can dim your display automatically. And if you experience partial color blindness, you can even adjust the colors on your screen, or invert them completely, depending on your preference.
Customize your buttons
With One UI, changing your accessibility features on the fly is easier than ever. When you turn on the Accessibility button, you can choose between a new floating button or a fixed navigation button that will allow you to enable your accessibility features in most of the apps you’re using.4 With a quick tap, you can turn on accessibility features like TalkBack, which reads what's on your screen out loud , or Magnification to magnify what's on your screen for easier viewing. You can also use Advanced settings to program your Galaxy smartphones to launch accessibility features by holding down the volume buttons.
Live Transcribe
Even if it's just trying to hear a friend in a loud restaurant, we could all use captions now and then. That's why Live Transcribe5 is so helpful. Just turn it on under Hearing enhancements in your Galaxy smartphone’s Accessibility settings and the sounds around you will be captioned on your screen like a video. It will even make your phone to vibrate when your name is mentioned. Pair Live Transcribe functionality with a Galaxy Z Flip3 5G positioned so only you can see it and you'll never be taken by surprise in a team meeting again.
Sound Notifications
Have you ever been eagerly waiting for a package only to miss the sound of the delivery person ringing the doorbell? Check out Sound Notifications under One UI's Hearing enhancements accessibility setting or Turn On Sound Notifications in your Live Transcribe app. You can have your Galaxy alert you with a flashing light or vibration if it hears anything you don’t want to miss, whether that's your microwave beeping or a doorbell. That's useful functionality if you are deaf, but even if you don't have hearing loss, Sound Notifications offer peace of mind that you won't accidentally miss something important in a world of competing noises.
Screen image simulated for illustrative purposes.
See with Bixby Vision²
When you turn on Bixby Vision, Galaxy's powerful virtual assistant and on-board AI will use your camera as its eyes. Even if you don't have a vision deficit, it can do things like look up and provide tasting notes about a bottle of wine you are drinking.6,7 Welcome to the era of the AI sommelier. And if you are visually impaired, Bixby Vision will narrate the world around you — describing a sunset, determining whether you’re holding a lemon or a lime, telling you the color of the dress you’re wearing or even reading a sign to you.
Ready to optimize your Galaxy?
Here are some other great accessibility features you’ll find in One UI.
- ¹One UI 4 update schedule may vary by device, country or operator. Please find the schedule for One UI upgrades from Notices on the Samsung Members app. Samsung Members app is available at Galaxy Store. Samsung Account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) required.
- 2One UI 4 is available for Galaxy S21 devices as of November 15, 2021. At a later date the update will also be available on the Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, S20 FE, Note20, Note20 Ultra, S10, S10e, S10+, S10 5G, Note10, Note 10+, Galaxy Fold, Z Fold3, Z Flip3, Z Fold2, Z Flip, Z Flip 5G, Galaxy A82 5G, A72, A52, A52 5G, A52s 5G, A42 5G, and Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+.
- 3Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with your carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.
- 4Available screens and settings may vary by wireless service provider, software version, and phone model.
- 5Live Transcribe service is provided by Google subject to its privacy policy and terms and conditions. Samsung does not own or control the Live Transcribe service and is not responsible for its content, use, or privacy practices.
- 6Bixby Vision with AI assistance is currently available with Galaxy S21/S21+/S21 Ultra/S20 FE/Note20/Note20 Ultra/Note10/Note10+/Note10 Lite/Note9/S9/S9+/Note8/Z Fold3/Z Fold2/Fold/Z Flip 3/Z Flip/S20/S20+/S20 Ultra/S10/S10+/S10e/S10 Lite/S8/S8+/S8 Active/S8 Lite/Note FE/A71/A42/A41/A31/M51/M31S/M31/M21S/M21/F41/Tab S6 Lite/Tab Active 3/Tab A 2018/A90/A80/A71/A70s/A70/A60/A51/A50s/A50/A9 Star/A8s/A8 2018/A8+ 2018/A7 2018/A6/A6+/C8/J7+/J7 Top/Tab S7/Tab S7+/Tab S6/Tab Active Pro/Tab S5e/Tab S4/Tab A2/XCover Pro. Samsung Account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) required.
- 7Samsung Account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) required.
- 8As of November 2021, available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish only.
