iPadOS 26 vs Samsung One UI 7: UX & Design Comparison

Published: 12/06/2025

Tablet users are often caught in a classic debate — Apple’s iPad OS or Samsung’s One UI? With the release of iPad OS 26 and One UI 7, both Apple and Samsung have upgraded their tablet software experience. But which one truly offers the better user interface (UI) and user experience (UX)?

Table of Content

At a Glance: Key UI & UX Differences
Control Center vs Quick Panel
Widget Functionality
Personalization Features
Animation & Visual Effects
UX Simplicity & Accessibility
What Are Real Users Saying? (From Reddit & Forums)
So, Which One Should You Choose?
Conclusion

In this blog, we’ll explore key differences between the two — animations, widgets, personalization, control center layout, and more — using a simple, point-wise comparison.

At a Glance: Key UI & UX Differences

Here’s a quick overview of what sets them apart:

Feature	iPadOS 26	One UI 7 (Samsung)
Control Center	Minimal, floating, translucent	Quick Panel, bold, expressive
Animations	“Liquid Glass” fluidity	Expressive, bouncy transitions
Widgets	Static, aesthetic	Resizable, layered, dynamic
Personalization	Limited	High (themes, fonts, icons)
Performance	Smooth across all models	Varies by device
UX Simplicity	Clean, beginner-friendly	Feature-rich, semi-complex

Control Center vs Quick Panel

Apple’s Control Center in iPadOS 26 is sleek, floating, and transparent — focusing on elegance over customization.
Samsung’s Quick Panel under One UI 7 is more function-packed, with reachability in mind. It places important toggles at the bottom, making them thumb-accessible.

🟢 Winner:
Choose iPad OS if you like visual clarity.
Go with Samsung if you want quick access to more functions.

Widget Functionality

iPadOS 26 widgets are beautiful but static. You can place them on the home screen, but customization options are limited.
Samsung One UI 7 widgets are interactive, resizable, and offer more depth. You can stack them or apply transparency.

🟢 Winner:
Samsung provides more interactive and flexible widget features.

Personalization Features

Apple’s iPadOS 26 offers basic personalization: widgets, wallpaper, and app layout — but no themes, fonts, or icon packs.
Samsung One UI 7 gives you deep personalization: you can change fonts, install themes, tweak icons, and more — right from the Galaxy Store.

🟢 Winner:
If you want to make your tablet truly yours, Samsung is the clear winner.

Animation & Visual Effects

iPadOS 26 introduces “Liquid Glass” animation, a smooth, seamless effect that makes swiping and opening apps feel buttery.
One UI 7 is also expressive but sometimes feels inconsistent, especially on mid-range tablets like the A-series.

🟢 Winner:
Apple wins here — its animations feel more polished and premium.

UX Simplicity & Accessibility

Let’s break it down:

Experience Aspect	iPadOS 26	One UI 7
Onboarding	Quick and simple	A bit overwhelming
Layout	Clean and consistent	Feature-rich but busy
Navigation	Intuitive gestures	Mixed: gestures + buttons
Accessibility	Universal ease of use	More custom, but needs setup
Learning Curve	Very low	Moderate

🟢 Verdict:
iPad OS offers a smoother experience for casual and new users, while Samsung may appeal more to power users who enjoy tweaking every setting.

What Are Real Users Saying? (From Reddit & Forums)

We scanned user opinions on Reddit and other forums. Here are some thoughts:

🔵 “Apple’s iPad feels smoother out of the box.”
🔵 “Samsung lets me resize everything — I love that.”
🔵 “Liquid Glass effect on iPadOS 26 is chef’s kiss.”
🔵 “One UI 7 themes keep things fresh every week.”

These show that Apple nails fluidity, but Samsung wins on flexibility.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

If You Prefer…	Go For…
Smooth animations & simple design	iPadOS 26
Deep customization and control	One UI 7
Beginner-friendly setup	iPadOS 26
Unique themes and layouts	One UI 7
Best all-round performance across devices	iPad OS 26

Conclusion

Both Apple and Samsung have taken big steps in evolving tablet UX:

iPadOS 26 focuses on clean design and fluid transitions with limited but polished control.
One UI 7 gives you powerful customization, dynamic widgets, and flexibility.

If you’re someone who values ease, simplicity, and polish, iPadOS 26 is your go-to. But if you like to personalize, explore features, and want a hands-on experience, Samsung One UI 7 is the right choice.