Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Gets Always-on Lock Screen Wallpaper Similar to iPhone 15 Pro Models: Report

But it comes with an interesting addition.

Written by Sheldon Pinto, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 19 January 2024 14:52 IST

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Gets Always-on Lock Screen Wallpaper Similar to iPhone 15 Pro Models: Report

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra is the only model to be offered with a Qualcomm SoC in India

Highlights

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has the largest display in the S24 series
The new always-on lock screen wallpaper feature is switched on by default
Apple added a similar feature to its iPhone Pro line-up in 2022

Samsung's recently announced Galaxy S24 series comes packed with some interesting AI-enabled software features, but there's something quite interesting that the brand left out at launch and we have a good idea why it did so. Samsung has quietly included a new always-on lockscreen wallpaper feature, which takes advantage of their new LTPO displays. If you think that this new One UI 6.1 feature sounds familiar, that's because it appears very similar to Apple's always-on Lock screen wallpaper feature, which is available on recent iPhone Pro models. But Samsung seems to have added its own twist to it.

According to SamMobile, the feature builds on the previously available always-on display (AOD) which has been available on several smartphones from various brands. The standard Android AOD feature basically shows the time, date, and weather along with some icons from the notifications tray to keep users updated about what's happening on their devices. This glanceable data is almost always displayed over a black background (to save power) and users can choose to keep it on all the time, have it scheduled or on a ‘tap to show' basis.

Samsung basically adds another layer to it by allowing the lockscreen wallpaper to shine through, taking advantage of the new and reportedly more power-efficient LTPO panels, which can refresh at 1Hz, while sipping on as little power as possible. Samsung also lets users erase the background of its lockscreen wallpaper, keeping only the subject visible, which should in theory consume less power compared to having the whole screen lit up (albeit in a dimmed mode) all the time.

While it appears to be similar in function to Apple's always-on lock screen feature, it's quite different in principle because Samsung will only show the same set of notification icons along with time, date and weather, while Apple's implementation actually shows a very dimmed version of the lock screen itself when in this mode, which also lets you glance at details in the notifications and more.

The source also confirmed that the new feature (although a part of One UI 6.1) will not be arriving on the older Galaxy S23 series. The reason for the same is said to be the new and more power efficient AMOLED panels which are said to be superior to the older models. So, for now, it will only be available on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and the Galaxy S24 and are switched on by default on these models.

Apple introduced its always-on lock screen wallpaper feature with the iPhone 14 Pro models back in 2022. Initially it was not well-received as it appeared to drain a reasonable amount of power when activated. Apple then came up with a workaround giving users the option to hide the wallpaper in the background and only show the time, date and lockscreen notifications. Things seem to have improved with the iPhone 15 Pro Max when we reviewed it, as it had little impact on its battery life. It remains to be seen how well Samsung's implementation of the same turns out.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Bright display with fewer reflections
Great battery life
Useful AI features
Excellent performance
Top-quality cameras
Longer software support

Bad
Expensive
Relatively slower charging speeds

Read detailed Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

Display 6.80-inch

Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 200-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 50-megapixel + 10-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

Battery Capacity 5000mAh

OS Android 14

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Samsung Galaxy S24+

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.70-inch

Processor deca-core

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 10-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB

Battery Capacity 4900mAh

OS Android 14

More Samsung mobiles Samsung mobiles price in India

Samsung Galaxy S24

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Compact design
Vibrant 120Hz display
Capable processor
Good overall camera performance

Bad
Average battery life
Recycled design
AI features free till 2025

Read detailed Samsung Galaxy S24 review

Display 6.20-inch

Processor octa-core

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 10-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

Battery Capacity 4000mAh

OS Android 14

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Further reading: Samsung, Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Always-On Display, Lock Screen, One UI

Sheldon Pinto

Email Sheldon Pinto

Sheldon Pinto is based in Mumbai, and has several years of experience in reviewing smartphones and gadgets. As a Senior Reviewer at Gadgets 360, you will always find him deeply immersed in his reviews, switching from one phone to another. When the battery dies out, Sheldon is always browsing the web for a good sci-fi movie or reading up on cars and bikes. He also loves creating lists of interesting places to eat and travel. Sheldon is available on Twitter at @shellshocd, and you can mail him at ...More