Samsung Galaxy S25 Series and One UI 7.0: Flagship Phones That Fail to Prioritize Accessibility

Last updated on 24 February 2025

The launch of a new flagship smartphone is always met with excitement and high expectations. For tech enthusiasts, it represents the pinnacle of innovation, design, and functionality. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Series, with their cutting-edge hardware and the latest One UI 7.0 software, is no exception. However, despite Samsung’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of mobile technology, accessibility remains an afterthought across the lineup. While we have tested the Galaxy S25 Ultra specifically, our findings suggest that accessibility concerns may extend across the entire series. Despite the anticipation surrounding these devices, their accessibility features are a stark reminder that even the most advanced technology can fall short when inclusivity is not prioritized. This article delves into the accessibility issues plaguing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Series and One UI 7.0, highlighting how these oversights impact users who rely on these features for a seamless experience. It’s not clear if, or when, some or all of these accessibility glitches will be resolved by Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Accessibility Observations

Modified but Limited TalkBack 15.1

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Series ships with a modified version of TalkBack 15.1, tailored to better suit One UI 7.0. While this customization is intended to enhance the user experience, it lacks certain features found in the standard Google TalkBack 15.1. This divergence creates a fragmented experience for users who rely on TalkBack for navigation and accessibility. For flagship devices, the absence of these features is a significant oversight, especially when accessibility should be a top priority.

Unresolved Issues from One UI 7.0 Beta

Many accessibility issues observed and reported during the One UI 7.0 beta cycle remain unresolved in the final release. For instance, the Lock screen experience is marred by an annoying bug where anytime the user interacts with the bottom half of the Lock screen, TalkBack erroneously announces, “Move up,” (meaning move up your finger), even when the user is touching above the fingerprint sensor. This issue persists across devices running Android 15, making it a widespread problem.

Additionally, navigation in the Recent screen is broken. Swiping left and right no longer works, forcing users to rely on the two-finger scrolling gesture—a cumbersome workaround that disrupts the user experience.

Another glaring issue is the prevalence of unlabeled buttons in One UI 7.0. Playback controls on the Lock screen and options when long-pressing notifications lack proper labeling, making it difficult for TalkBack users to understand their purpose. These oversights suggest that Samsung did not thoroughly test or address accessibility concerns during the beta phase.

TalkBack Separation Saga Continues

The difficulty of installing Google TalkBack on One UI has been a recurring problem. Users who attempted to uninstall Samsung’s version of TalkBack and then reinstall it on their S25 series phones, which come with One UI 7.0 out of the box, found themselves unable to do so, with the only solution being a factory reset. The good news is that this issue is no longer present, as users have confirmed that Samsung TalkBack can now be reinstalled from the Galaxy Store. This may be due to an updated version in the Galaxy Store that allows reinstalling Samsung TalkBack without errors.

Although both versions of TalkBack can still be installed, and users can assign an accessibility shortcut to launch Google’s version—either after removing Samsung’s version or by using ADB commands—they should keep in mind that the experience may not be seamless. There is a possibility of crashes or future compatibility issues when running Google’s TalkBack on the S25 or other Samsung devices.

Additionally, users should be aware that if Google TalkBack is running when the device is restarted, neither version of TalkBack will launch before unlocking the device. This means that there won’t be a screen reader available during the password or PIN entry process.

Limited Image Descriptions

Samsung TalkBack lacks an option to enable or disable Gemini’s online image descriptions, despite the “Describe Image” command being functional. This suggests that the feature is enabled by default but relies on the less accurate on-device Gemini Nano model. The absence of the more detailed online Gemini model is a glaring omission, especially for users who rely on accurate image descriptions for a better understanding of their surroundings. Google promised the utilization of Gemini models for TalkBack image descriptions on the S25 Series, but we can’t tell if it means Gemini Nano or Gemini online.

Improved but Limited Voice Options

The default US English female Samsung voice on the S25 Series sounds more natural and clearer than its predecessor, marking a step forward in text-to-speech quality. However, as of this writing, this improvement is exclusive to the S25 Series, as older models like the S24 Ultra do not have access to this updated voice. Meanwhile, the UK English female voice remains unchanged, sounding overly excited and less pleasant to listen to. This inconsistency highlights Samsung’s uneven approach to improving accessibility features.

Lack of Advanced Camera Accessibility

The Samsung Camera app continues to lag behind competitors like Google Pixel in terms of accessibility. Features such as object detection and Auto image capturing, which are available in the Pixel Camera app, are absent in the S25 Series. The lack of Guided Frame, a Pixel-exclusive feature, further underscores Samsung’s failure to innovate in this area. For visually impaired users, these omissions make the camera experience less intuitive and accessible.

Improved but Inadequate Accessibility Volume

While the accessibility volume on the S25 Ultra, in particular, has seen improvements in bass and clarity compared to the S24 Ultra, it still falls short of the rich, full quality of Media volume. Odd frequency shifts persist, detracting from the overall listening experience. For screen reader users, this is a significant drawback, as audio quality is crucial for effective communication and navigation.

Scrolling Lag in Long Lists

Scrolling through long lists with TalkBack remains a somewhat laggy experience, a longstanding issue that has yet to be resolved. While this problem is not unique to the S25 Series and is a common complaint among Android users, it is particularly noticeable when compared to the smoother scrolling experience offered by iOS VoiceOver on iPhones. This disparity highlights the need for Samsung to optimize TalkBack’s performance.

Gemini Overlay Interruption

Long-pressing the Side button activates the Gemini overlay, but Samsung TalkBack interrupts the experience by announcing, “List ask about the screen.” This bug, which previously affected Google Assistant interactions when Samsung TalkBack was used, has now carried over to the Gemini experience. Such interruptions disrupt the flow of issuing verbal commands, making the feature less user-friendly.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Series and One UI 7.0 represent a missed opportunity to set a new standard for accessibility in flagship smartphones. While the devices boast impressive hardware and innovative AI features, their accessibility shortcomings reveal a troubling lack of attention to detail and inclusivity. From unresolved bugs and unlabeled buttons to limited voice options and subpar camera accessibility, the S25 Series fails to deliver a seamless experience for users who rely on these features.

Samsung’s inattention to accessibility not only disappoints but also alienates a significant portion of its user base. In an era where technology is increasingly integral to daily life, prioritizing accessibility is not just a moral imperative but also a competitive advantage. By neglecting these critical aspects, Samsung risks falling behind competitors who are more committed to inclusivity.

The ramifications of these oversights extend beyond user frustration. They reinforce the perception that accessibility is an afterthought rather than a core consideration in product development. For Samsung to truly lead the smartphone market, it must address these issues head-on and demonstrate a genuine commitment to creating technology that is accessible to all. Until then, the S25 Series remains a flagship lineup that fails to live up to its full potential.