I tested One UI 9's new Network Guard against AdGuard's Private DNS to stop annoying ads on my Galaxy
Only one blocks the ads I actually hate
Samsung's One UI 9 introduced a new feature called Network Guard, designed to curb annoying ads on its Galaxy devices. Unlike traditional ad blockers, Network Guard doesn't target ads directly. Instead, it restricts specific apps from accessing the internet, both on Wi-Fi and mobile data. To test Network Guard's effectiveness against AdGuard's Private DNS, I subjected three free, ad-supported apps and one ad-heavy website to scrutiny.
AdGuard, a popular free ad-blocking solution, works differently, focusing solely on preventing ads without disrupting internet-connected apps. My testing involved two apps requiring no internet connection, one app needing data, and an ad-heavy website. Sudoku and the QR & Barcode Scanner apps, which don't require internet access, continued to function normally with Network Guard, eliminating ads and preventing any display interruptions.
However, AccuWeather, an app that required data access, failed to load, displaying an error message. The ad-free experience was evident across my test, with a brief "Access blocked" message appearing intermittently when apps attempted to connect online. While Network Guard excels at blocking ads in offline apps, its impact on websites remains limited unless browsers are specifically targeted.
Additionally, the tool sometimes overlooks certain essential apps, like Samsung's banking application, OPay. AdGuard, on the other hand, targets ads across apps and websites without hindering internet connectivity required by essential apps. Despite its user-friendly interface, AdGuard falls short in blocking certain obtrusive ads, such as full-screen interruptions in specific apps.
In my experience, Network Guard proved more effective at eliminating all ads in offline apps, including Sudoku's full-screen ads, while leaving other functionalities intact. For now, I'll retain Network Guard for the disruptive ads in certain apps, while allowing AdGuard to handle ads in general browsing scenarios.
Written by urgent.news from Android Police's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
