Samsung has announced that the testing phase for One UI 9 (based on Android 17) is getting underway this week, giving users who don’t mind a few bugs and rough edges the chance to test out new features ahead of time. (The standard warning for betas applies here, which is that you install this at your own risk—there’s no guarantee that you won’t lose data or find a particular app stops working if you decide to go down the beta route.)
As for when everyone will be able to download and install the finished version of One UI 9, that’s not easy to predict. There are rumors that it may debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 around July, which would match Samsung’s strategy from last year, with a wider rollout possibly starting in September.
One UI 9 beta’s new features
In its official announcement, Samsung mentioned a few new features we can expect in One UI 9, though this is unlikely to be a comprehensive list. Samsung usually adds extra capabilities as the beta program progresses, right up until a full launch.
There are new creative tools coming to Samsung Notes, including more pen styles and decorative tapes, and the updated Contacts app makes it easier to create personalized profile cards using Creative Studio AI.
The Quick Panel (the settings pane you pull down from the top) will offer more control over the layout of widgets and the media player, while One UI 9 will be better at warning you about “high-risk apps” that could be dangerous.
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Some upgrades to the accessibility features in One UI are coming, too: an adjustable mouse key speed, an improved TalkBack tool that uses audio and haptic feedback to help visually impaired users, and a new Text Spotlight option to make reading easier.
It’s not the most significant list of upgrades you’ll ever see, but that’s just the start. The Gemini Intelligence features that just got announced—for carrying out tasks, filling out forms, improving dictation, and creating custom widgets—are going to arrive on Samsung and Pixel phones first, it’s been confirmed, suggesting they’ll be tied to One UI 9. Refreshes for various parts of the interface are also expected, though those are just rumors for now. Easier phone-to-phone sharing has been leaked as well, so by the time One UI 9 arrives properly, there should be a more substantial list of upgrades to look at.
One UI 9 beta’s compatible devices
The only phones that will work with the One UI 9 beta are Galaxy handsets with an “S26” in their name. If you’ve got a Galaxy S26, a Galaxy S26 Plus, or a Galaxy S26 Ultra, then you can get involved—otherwise you’ll have to wait.
What do you think so far?
With the Galaxy S25, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7 (so the flagship 2025 devices) only just getting One UI 8.5 now, it’s likely to be towards the end of the year before owners of these phones are given a chance to join the One UI 9 beta. Availability is limited by region, too. Users in the U.S., the UK, Germany, India, South Korea, and Poland are getting the beta option this week, and if Samsung follows its usual strategy, more regions will be added over the coming weeks and months.
How to sign up for the One UI 9 beta
Look for a banner something like this.
Credit: Samsung
If you’ve got a Galaxy S26 phone and live in one of the countries currently eligible for the beta, you can get started with One UI 9 now by heading to the Members app on your Samsung phone. You’ll need to sign in with your Samsung account details if you haven’t already (or sign up for a Samsung account, if you don’t have one).
I’m in the UK and have a Galaxy S26 Ultra, so am eligible—but the beta program option hasn’t appeared for me yet. Based on previous betas, an invitation to join should show up prominently on the front screen of the Members app, so you won’t miss it.
Once you’ve gone through the necessary agreements, you can check for the beta download by opening Settings on your Samsung phone and choosing Software update > Download and install. You’ll continue to get beta updates until the full release of One UI 9, or until you opt out of the beta program.
