Samsung announces One UI 9 beta for Galaxy S26 series; focuses on creativity, customisation, enhanced security
Samsung has officially kicked off the One UI 9 beta program for the Galaxy S26 series, just days after beginning the wider rollout of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7. Built on the latest Android 17, the update will begin rolling out starting this week for registered users in select markets, including India. Samsung notes that the update primarily focuses on offering more creative control, improved customisation options, and stronger protection against potential security threats.
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One UI 9 availability and rollout
Unlike previous major One UI beta updates, One UI 9 beta will be available to download in multiple regions from the start. Rolling out this week, users in India, Germany, Korea, Poland, the U.K. and the U.S. with a Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, or Galaxy S26 Ultra will start receiving One UI 9 beta this week, provided they’ve applied for the program through the Samsung Members app.
The stable One UI 9 is expected to land on the upcoming foldables from Samsung, namely Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, which are expected to debut sometime in July. Post that, the update should arrive on the Galaxy S26 series within a few weeks.
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What’s new in One UI 9 beta
While there’s no visual representation of the features announced by Samsung, let’s take a look at what One UI 9 will offer:
- Upgrades to first-party apps – Samsung’s proprietary notes app now features new creative tools, such as decorative tapes and a more pen-style option. On the other hand, the Contacts app features direct access to Creative Studio, enabling users to customise profile cards without needing to switch to a dedicated app for the same purpose.
- Updated quick settings panel – It appears that the quick settings panel has once again been upgraded to offer more flexibility over its layout. Samsung notes that “the brightness, sound and media player are each independently adjustable, with more size options to suit individual preferences.”
- Improved accessibility options – One UI 9 brings notable accessibility upgrades, including customizable Mouse Key speed for smoother cursor control and a combined TalkBack solution that integrates features from Google and Samsung. The new Text Spotlight tool further improves readability by displaying selected text in a larger floating window.
- Security threat prompts – To further enhance security, One UI 9 will warn users when high-risk apps are detected on the phone. Furthermore, it automatically blocks the app’s operation and recommends uninstallation.
