TouchWiz

TouchWiz
	TouchWiz Grace UX screenshot
Developer	Samsung Electronics
Written in	C++
Working state	Discontinued
Initial release	2009
Final release	TouchWiz Grace UX (Android 7) / 2016
Available in	90+ languages (varies by carrier and/or country purchased)
License	Proprietary
Succeeded by	Samsung Experience
Official website	www.samsung.com/uk/apps/
Support status
	Unsupported as of 2019, Google Play Services will be discontinued for all Touchwiz versions in 2025

TouchWiz is a discontinued user interface developed by Samsung Electronics with partners, featuring a full touch user interface. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as an operating system. TouchWiz was used internally by Samsung for smartphones, feature phones and tablet computers, and was not available for licensing by external parties. The Android version of TouchWiz also comes with the Samsung-made app store Galaxy Apps. It was replaced by Samsung Experience in 2017 with the release of Android 7.0 "Nougat".

Samsung's approach to its TouchWiz UI was distinct from its Android version updates. While Android updates brought new features and improvements to the operating system, Samsung often customized its UI separately. This meant that even if two devices ran the same Android version, their TouchWiz UI could differ based on the device's release date and hardware capabilities.

For example, the Galaxy S5, released with Android KitKat, had a version of TouchWiz tailored to its hardware and design. When upgraded to Android Marshmallow, it retained an older version of TouchWiz UI with minor tweaks. On the other hand, the Galaxy S7, which launched with Android Marshmallow, featured a newer version of TouchWiz designed for its advanced hardware and features.

Samsung's strategy was likely aimed at optimizing the user experience for each device rather than standardizing the UI across all models. This approach allowed them to differentiate their devices and ensure compatibility with specific hardware configurations. However, it also led to inconsistencies in the user experience across devices running the same Android version.