One UI 2.5 might bring ads to stock Samsung apps [Updated]

Update: The lock screen ad is actually a joke made by a member of the South Korean Samsung Community forum. It was posted in response to an actual ad which appeared in the Samsung Weather app and garnered severe user backlash.

A new leaked screenshot of Samsung’s upcoming One UI 2.5 suggests the Korean tech giant will begin pushing ads in its stock apps and even on the lock screen. According to speculation, the ads will only show up on budget Samsung offerings in the A and M-series. The sample ad shows a 15-second timer on the lock screen which you need to watch before you can unlock the device.

One UI 2.5 ads

Another example shows a banner integrated into the weather app. Both ads are in Korean so it remains to be seen if Samsung will bring this approach to its international devices. Samsung Korea representatives also issued a statement back in October which did mention their intent of bringing banner ads to One UI with the purpose of providing “new functions and stable service operation” through the collected advertising revenue.

Info about One UI 2.5 is scarce with the only previous leak suggesting it will bring gesture navigation for third party launchers. The new UI is expected to debut on the Galaxy Note20 series.

Via