New Galaxy S24 Ultra Leak Reveals Samsung’s Curious Decision

Updated November 20: article originally posted November 18.

Samsung is set to promote one of the world’s most popular applications to the forefront of the Galaxy S24 family of handsets when they launch early next year. Instagram is moving, and it’s moving to the lock screen.

Details on the new location of Instagram come from Android tipster Alessandro Paluzzi on X (neé Twitter):

“Instagram is working on letting Samsung Galaxy S24 users add the shortcut for the Instagram Camera to the lock screen.”

Update: Monday November 20: As the launch of the new Galaxy handsets draws closer, more details on the software should become available, and that launch is sooner than many expected. Traditionally, Samsung has launched just before MWC in the middle of February, but for 2024 it is taking a different approach, reportedly launching the Galaxy S24 handsets on January 17th.

Details on the launch dates from The Elec in South Korea. The next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on January 17th in San Jose, California. Samsung is expected to debut the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Following the launch, The Elec reports that pre-orders for the S24 family will open immediately, with deliveries between the 19th and 25th of January before the handsets go on wider sale starting January 30th.

No doubt the launch will have a significant amount of detail on the new software, including the quiet promotion of Instagram.

The lock screen addition is a small detail to come out, but it helps understand the company’s upcoming approach. Samsung’s One UI software has limited apps that can appear on the lock screen only to system apps, with only one or two exceptions. Instagram joining that list is a big decision for the South Korean company.

Sure, Instagram can be installed as an app, found quickly in the share menu, or launched from a widget, but the more accessible a default option is to reach, the more it will be used.

The placement of the app will no doubt drive more image sharing from Samsung devices, given that smartphone camera systems continue to be critical points of displaying innovation; the more images “Shared By Samsung” to online communities such as Instagram, the better for the marketing of the handset.

The Galaxy S24 family of handsets is expected to launch in early 2024, with some commentators looking towards a debt in late January.

Now read about the AI improvements Samsung Gauss will offer the Galaxy S24 family…