Leak suggests Samsung phones might get the Android redesign they desperately need

Please let this be true.
 By 
Raymond Wong
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Samsung is pretty much the go-to hardware for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets. The software that runs on them, however -- specifically Samsung's own version of Android, called TouchWiz -- desperately needs an overhaul.

It's not that Samsung's TouchWiz isn't flat enough -- the company has taken many steps over the last few years to shed its gloss and skeuomorphic design elements -- but that it doesn't feel fresh anymore. 

Years of baggage and small changes have left TouchWiz in a better place than before, but the entire UI still feels bloated and confusing at times.


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One need only look inside the Settings app to feel lost. Installing a new launcher will banish TouchWiz on a surface level, but you can't truly escape it.

However, according to a purported leaked video from an Italian tech blog, there may be a redesigned version of TouchWiz ahead.

The alleged "Grace UI" TouchWiz revamp shows off a flatter, cleaner user interface, which the blog says may launch on the Galaxy Note 7 later this summer.

(Recent leaks have confirmed Samsung will skip the Note 6 moniker and go right to the Note 7 to match the S7 and S7 Edge naming schemes.)

A software rejigger for its mobile devices is exactly what Samsung needs.

Few details on the Note 7 have gotten out. The specs that have leaked include a 5.7-inch Quad HD display, 64GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot for storage expansion, a 12-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera, and IP68 dust and water resistance.

The Note 7 will also reportedly come with an iris scanner, which may allow users to unlock the phone with just a glance.

Samsung's gotten so much right in the last year, and it's earned a ton of goodwill in the process. A software rejigger for its mobile devices is exactly what Samsung needs to prove to customers that it's committed to quality.

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Topics Android Samsung

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Raymond Wong

Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.

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