Update 1 (08/18/2021 @ 02:57 PM ET): Samsung has confirmed reports that it's going to remove ads from One UI stock apps. Click here for more information. The article, as published earlier today, is preserved below.

It's a well-known fact that Samsung's One UI has an ad problem. Several of its stock apps display banner ads, even on premium devices like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Samsung also sends out push notifications on One UI, asking users to buy other Samsung products. While we've voiced these concerns several times in the past, Samsung is yet to change its ways. However, that might change soon, if a recent report from South Korean publication Naver is to be believed.

Ads in One UI stock apps

As per the report (via SamMobile), senior Samsung officials have revealed that the company plans on removing ads from stock apps soon. During a "town hall meeting" at Samsung's Suwon Digital City, an employee reportedly asked by One UI stock apps contained ads. In response, TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, said that the company will remove ads in future builds of Samsung Pay, Samsung Themes, Samsung Weather, and more.

"We have been seeking new growth opportunities in the fields of content and advertising services such as games and media to strengthen the integrated Galaxy ecosystem experience. It is our most important mission to innovate the customer experience based on this," Roh further added.

Although Samsung hasn't laid out a specific timeline for the change, it's great to see that the company is listening to feedback. We'll make sure to let you know as soon as Samsung starts rolling out updated One UI stock apps without ads.

Update 1: Samsung confirms

If you were upset about the prospect of paying $1,000 for a brand-new Galaxy Z Flip 3 or $1,800 for a Galaxy Z Fold 3, only to see ads littering the stock apps, then you'll be happy to know that Samsung will be ending this practice. After comments from an internal town hall meeting leaked, Samsung has confirmed to The Verge that it will stop putting advertisements in the stock apps included with One UI.

“Samsung has made a decision to cease the advertisement on proprietary apps including Samsung Weather, Samsung Pay, and Samsung Theme,” the company told the publication. The update will apparently be ready later this year, though Samsung declined to offer an exact timeline. Yonhap reports that the change will be made through an update to One UI, which is odd since these apps should be updateable through the Galaxy Store. In any case, we're glad that Samsung has acknowledged feedback from consumers who are unhappy about seeing advertisements on their phones after paying such a high premium.