What you need to know
- Samsung is updating Galaxy Buds Manager control widgets ahead of One UI 7’s widespread rollout.
- The widget takes up more space on your home screen by default, and shows less information when collapsed.
- While the update is already appearing for some, it might not be available immediately for your device.
Samsung is adjusting the appearance of Galaxy Buds Manager widgets with an Over-The-Air (OTA) update. Some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the changes. The design is in line with current One UI trends, but the update makes the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro control widgets larger by default and displays less information when manually collapsed.
The update is currently being rolled out as part of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Manager v7.0 for some users, as reported by SamMobile. While initially starting with the newest and most expensive Buds 3 Pro, it is expected that this design change will eventually be implemented across all Galaxy Buds Manager apps. The new widget has more rounded corners, taking on an oval shape with a translucent appearance, and an opacity that can still be customized.
The default widget is now larger than before, but still displays the same amount of information. However, the 4×1 and 2×1 sizes of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro control widget show less information, omitting the device name and full noise control slider. This change has been met with criticism from some users on the One UI subreddit, as outlined in a Reddit post.
New Buds manager widget: Change is the only constant but this is just bs! from r/oneui
There are some new features that come with the updated Galaxy Buds 3 Pro control widget. Users now have the option to choose from three background coloring options: light, dark, and match phone setting. Previously, the choices for white and black backgrounds were combined with an intensity slider. Now, users have separate toggles for background color and an opacity slider.
Although the official Google Play Store listing indicates that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Manager app has been recently updated, it may take some time before the update is available on all devices. Android Central tested the changes with a Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and a Galaxy S25 running on One UI 7, as well as a Galaxy S24 FE on One UI 6, but the update was not yet accessible on either device. It was also not available for 9to5Google over-the-air.
The reaction to this design change is likely to be mixed. While it helps the Galaxy Buds Manager control widgets to align with One UI 7, some may argue that it prioritizes form over function.