Samsung Galaxy S23: how much does the OS and One UI really weigh on storage?

Cloud storage may be democratizing, but it is always reassuring to have a large amount of “physical” memory on our smartphones. Manufacturers are aware of this, and it is now rare to buy a smartphone without taking advantage of at least 128 GB of ROM (storage space). As on any device, part of this space is immediately occupied by the operating system and the manufacturer interface. But this phenomenon seems to take on significant proportions, some would say excessive, on the recent Samsung Galaxy S23.

The Android Authority site has indeed looked into the subject, and discovered that the Korean OS and interface weighed around 60 GB on the smartphone, once it was configured. An astonishing observation, which can even prove to be disabling if you have chosen the “standard” option of 128 GB. Especially given the number of applications available today, and the volume that photos and videos can take up. 4K or even 8K. A problem that pushes users to turn to much more expensive storage options.

An XXL overcoat

We hastened to verify this data on our test copies, and the result turned out to be quite different. On the Galaxy S23 Ultra, these famous system data represented 41.75 GB. Values ​​that vary slightly depending on the model, but also the use, since they integrate data such as the cache. It is certainly less than what has been mentioned, but it is still very important. However, we must moderate on one point.

At launch, the System tab integrates the applications installed on the smartphone. This seems to be specific to One UI. In the settings, via the Storage tab, it is possible to separate them from the total calculation. To do this, click on the Information tab located next to the Applications line, and authorize access to My Files usage data. This allows the phone to independently calculate the memory occupied by applications and the system.

On our brand new copy of Galaxy S23 Ultra, this allowed to go from 41.75 GB to 37.35 GB. On another test copy, the system data occupied approximately 83 GB. After this manipulation, it weighed only 38.16 GB. It’s still way too much, since it’s equivalent to an OS… of a Windows PC. The models across the Atlantic, however, seem particularly loaded with optional applications. As it stands, this still represents almost 30% of the storage of a 128 GB model.

The situation with competitors

What competing brands? On recently released high-end Android smartphones, the proportions are less. We were able to verify this by going to the Storage tab of the other devices around us.

The reasonable figures of the Oppo Find X 5 Pro and the Xiaomi 12 Pro are to be tempered, since a second space (named Other or System data) takes up as much space as the system itself. It cannot really be used, since it is particularly dedicated to the use of virtual RAM, and to the deployment of updates. Over time, we will therefore exceed 30 GB.

Apple is doing pretty well, as the iPhone 14 Pro is content with 9.59 GB for iOS and around 10 GB of system data. Again, the size of this second partition will fluctuate depending on the state of the system. Samsung therefore remains the worst student of the troop, but a good part of its competitors could also do better.

Duplicates that weigh on the scales

Although One UI is one of the most popular overlays for the general public, it is difficult to justify such a difference. However, it is possible to partially explain it. Unlike many smartphones that offer a clean stock experience, Samsung clearly displays its style thanks to a multitude of in-house applications. This is the case for calls, SMS, the gallery, the web browser (313 MB) but also its voice assistant Bixby or the connected object manager.

However, the firm is also required to offer the entire suite of Google applications: many duplicates therefore weigh on storage. It is also obliged to offer OneDrive as part of its partnership with Microsoft. Microsoft Office 365 weighs 136 MB, One Drive weighs 153 MB and Outlook weighs 236 MB, to name a few titles.

This certainly does not explain everything, but the desire to keep these visual cues, often popular with users, has a clear impact on the storage of Samsung devices.

Contrary to what one might think, it is possible to delete the majority of these applications. To do this, nothing rocket science. Just long-press on one of them and select Delete on the floating tab that just opened (here, the Galaxy Shop). Enough to recover a little space, without reversing the trend.

It works with the vast majority of Samsung applications (and others, of course). But some are resisting. We note that it is only possible to deactivate the voice assistant Bixby.