The 5 best Samsung Galaxy exclusive features, ranked

When you buy a Samsung Galaxy phone, you're getting a lot more than just an Android phone. You're also getting a device packed with advanced features seamlessly integrated into One UI, Samsung's version of Android. And while there's plenty of overlap, several Samsung Galaxy exclusive features make the experience even better.

Samsung's One UI software is visually different, highly customizable, full of AI smarts, and has all sorts of settings , controls, and features you won't find on phones from Apple, Google, or other brands. With that in mind, here are my favorite Galaxy features that you'll absolutely love.

1. Samsung Good Lock

Customize the heck out of your phone

While Samsung's standard One UI software is more customizable than most phone software, Good Lock takes it to the next level. It's like a laboratory of advanced features and controls . Good Lock is free, built for Galaxy phones, and lets you customize the UI, lock screen, navigation bar, quick panels, keyboard, and so much more. You can essentially rewrite how your phone works .

In the early days of Android, users would download and flash third-party ROMs to change how their devices looked or acted. With Samsung Good Lock, you get the same power without the risk or the need to void your warranty.

I've been using Good Lock since like 2017, and I can't imagine owning a Galaxy without these modules. It's extremely powerful, and it's one of the first things I do whenever I buy a new phone.

2. Samsung DeX (Desktop Experience)

Replace your PC with your Galaxy phone

With Samsung Dex, which stands for Desktop experience, you can easily turn your phone into a customizable yet capable PC. In many ways, it's better than a Chromebook , and some people use their Galaxy phone and DeX exclusively as their home computer.

DeX doesn't just mirror your phone to a monitor. Instead, it transforms any phone or tablet into a full PC environment with a taskbar and start menu, true multitasking with movable, resizable windows, USB mouse and keyboard support, right- and left-click functionality, and more. Samsung DeX is even better in One UI 8 and 8.5, and it'll likely continue to improve over time.

And yes, Google is busy making its own desktop experience for Pixel and stock Android, but it's still years behind . Connect your Galaxy to an external monitor, TV, or PC, watch DeX fire up, and enjoy all it has to offer.

3. Modes and Routines

Automation that you'll truly love

One of the most underused Samsung features is also its smartest , and I absolutely love it. I'm talking about Samsung Modes and Routines . And sure, other phones or apps offer this type of functionality, but Samsung's built-in tools are among the best.

So what are modes and routines? Modes make it easy to automate settings and controls on your phone when you're driving, at work, or in certain situations, and once you get to work, the software automatically changes everything for you. It's nice, but Routines is where the magic happens. It's similar to "If Then" apps, where an action occurs if a condition is met.

For example, my phone is always on silent mode, but I don't want to miss phone calls from my wife or specific family members. Using routines, if a specific condition, like my wife's phone number calls, the phone turns off silent mode and audibly rings. After the call, it'll go back to silent mode. That's just one simple example, and the software is wildly customizable and crazy helpful .

4. Audio Eraser Tool

Make your videos better and remove unwanted noise

While most AI tools being thrown into every aspect of our phones aren't all that great, Samsung's Audio Eraser is genuinely useful. It's essentially an AI-powered video editing tool that allows you to reduce background noise, boost voices, remove unwanted sounds, and clean up your videos. You can separate each sound into categories, then control everything.

Open a video, tap the Edit icon, then look for the Audio Eraser tool. More importantly, the all-new Galaxy S26 with One UI 8.5 made Audio Eraser even better , and you can use it on third-party apps like Netflix.

Seriously, you can open Netflix and start playing a video, pull down the notification bar, and tap the Audio Eraser icon. It'll analyze the video, and you can increase the voice volume, reduce background sounds, and make it easier to watch your favorite movie or show. I don't use it daily, which is why it's not as high on my list, but it's still pretty neat and powerful.

5. Samsung Edge Panels

Yes, Edge Panels still exist, and they're better than ever

Years ago, when Samsung had fancy curved edges on its screens and released Galaxy Note phones, it debuted Edge Panels. This is one of the many features most people forgot existed, and they're still pretty great.

Samsung's Edge Panels are almost like putting a taskbar on the side of your phone . A quick swipe from the side of the screen can open apps, call a favorite contact, open tools like a measuring tape, and so much more. Here's everything you need to know, and why you should use Edge Panels .

You can even download more Edge Panels from the Galaxy Store. People have created Edge Panels for sticky notes, voice recorders, the calendar, battery stats, glowing lights for notifications or battery percentage, and other handy things.

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Do more with your Galaxy

These are just a few of the many powerful features that are exclusive to Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets. I'm also a big fan of Auto Touch Protection to prevent accidental taps while gaming, the Secure Folder is great, gesture controls are cool, and the new video call effects are pretty nifty as well.

If you're not using some of these features, you're not only missing out, but you're not using that Galaxy phone to its full potential.