Samsung will officially launch One UI 9, its Android 17 build, in beta for Galaxy S26 devices later this week.
Confirmed in a newsroom post, Samsung says that the One UI 9 beta program will kick off “starting this week.”
The Android 17-based update will only be available to the Galaxy S26 series to start, with supported regions including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US.
What’s new in One UI 9? Previously, leaks haven’t shown too much, but Samsung teases “expanded creative tools, customization options, a more accessible mobile experience, and stronger protection against potential security threats.”
Some specific points include:
Samsung Notes gains creative new tools, including decorative tapes and a wider variety of pen line styles. Meanwhile, the Contacts app now offers direct access to Creative Studio for creating personalized profile cards without the need to switch between apps.
The updated Quick Panel gives users greater control over its layout. Brightness, sound and media player are each independently adjustable, with more size options to suit individual preferences.
Accessibility is significantly improved by an adjustable Mouse Key speed that enables smoother cursor control and a combined TalkBack package that brings together features previously offered separately by Google and Samsung. The new Text Spotlight feature — which displays selected text larger or more clearly in a floating window — has also been added to make reading easier.
One UI 9 also introduces enhanced protection against suspicious apps and potential threats: when new high-risk apps are detected, it now warns users, blocks execution and installation, and recommends deletion through security policy updates.
The first stable One UI 9 release will arrive on “upcoming Galaxy flagship devices later this year,” Samsung says, pointing to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and other new foldables, which are expected to launch in July. Google is expected to launch Android 17’s first stable release in the coming weeks.
Samsung adds that One UI 9’s stable release on new foldables will include “advanced AI features that will make mobile interaction easy and effortless.”
Those interested in signing up for the beta program can do so via the Samsung Members app, though sign-ups are not live just yet.
More on Samsung:
- Samsung widely rolling out stable One UI 8.5 update, five months after the beta started
- Samsung will let you block apps that spam notifications with ads
- ‘Galaxy Ring 2’ likely launching ‘early’ 2027 with battery, hardware upgrades
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