Hello everyone! Samsung’s One UI 6.1 is gradually rolling out to more devices. This article explores key updates for screen reader users after upgrading to One UI 6.1.
This article is based on the experience with a Galaxy A52, which was updated to One UI 6.1 on June 4, 2024. Note that Galaxy AI features are not included here, as they are not supported on the Galaxy A52.
Changes
Samsung TalkBack Has Been Updated
Samsung TalkBack has been updated to version 14.1.00.6, similar to Google’s TalkBack 14.1 released earlier. New features include English image descriptions, gesture-based spell-check with the Braille keyboard, and improved response speed while swiping.
How to check the TalkBack version:
- Open TalkBack Settings by pressing three fingers on the screen or swiping down and right.
- In the new interface, swipe until you hear “Open TalkBack in Galaxy Store, current TalkBack version…”
If the version is below 14.1, you can tap this option to open Galaxy Store and update TalkBack.
TalkBack Versions Tied to One UI
It appears that Samsung has linked TalkBack versions with specific One UI updates. For example, devices running One UI 5.1 can update only to TalkBack 13.5, while One UI 6.0 devices are limited to TalkBack 14.0. This restriction could limit users on older devices from accessing the latest TalkBack features. Hopefully, Samsung will consider expanding TalkBack updates in the future as Google currently does.
Sound Issues with TalkBack
According to accessibleandroid.com, Samsung uses a “soundbooster” library to optimize sound quality on its devices. However, with Google’s TalkBack 13.0 update and Samsung’s TalkBack 14.0 update, sound quality issues arose because Google discontinued support for older sound libraries. If Samsung updates the “soundbooster” library for all Galaxy devices, this issue would be resolved.
Quick Settings Interface
The Quick Settings interface is now fully translated into Vietnamese, fixing previous mixed-language display issues in One UI 6.0.
Battery Protection Mode Changes
Since One UI 4.0, Samsung has offered a feature to limit battery charging to 85% to extend battery life. With One UI 6.1, users can now choose between three battery protection modes:
- Basic: Maintains charge between 95% and 100%.
- Compatible: Charges to 80%, then completes to 100% when the user wakes up.
- Maximum: Charges to 80% only.
How to enable battery protection mode:
- Open Settings and scroll to “Device Care.”
- Tap “Battery” and select “Battery Protection” to set your desired mode.
Changes to Voice Input and Input Method Switch Buttons
The Input Method Switch button is now located to the left of the Recent button, and Voice Input can be accessed through the “Input Method” option on the latest Samsung Keyboard version.
Closing a Specific App
The feature to close a specific app in the “Recent” interface has returned in One UI 6.1.
Instructions:
- Open the “Recent” interface and locate the app you want to close.
- By default, TalkBack’s reading control is set to “Actions.” Swipe down once to hear “Close” and double-tap to close the app.
The “Remove Animations” Feature Has Been Renamed to “Reduce Animations”
This change reflects a clearer purpose, aiming to smooth the user experience by reducing animations.
Conclusion
This article has covered the changes experienced after upgrading a Samsung Galaxy A52 to One UI 6.1. We hope these insights are helpful for TalkBack users!
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