Samsung One UI 9 Beta Is Live and Android 17 Arrives on Galaxy S26 Series

Samsung did not take long to move on. Just days after stable One UI 8.5 finished rolling out to the broader Galaxy lineup, the company flipped the switch on its next major update. 

One UI 9 Beta, built on Android 17, is now live for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra in Germany, the UK, South Korea, and the US, arriving as firmware build S94xBXXU2ZZEF at a 3.6GB download.

The first One UI 9 beta arrives with the May 2026 security patch and a range of early refinements across the system and core apps.

What Is Actually New in One UI 9 Beta 1

As 9to5Google noted in its changelog review, One UI 9 Beta 1 is relatively light by Samsung’s standards. 

The 12 confirmed changes in this build are:

• Quick Panel: Rearrange controls freely, resize the brightness and volume sliders, resize the media player card, and separate the sound mode button from the volume slider independently
• Samsung DeX: Move app windows between desktops through the window menu, and access desktop previews directly from the Recents screen with a single tap
• Samsung Notes: A new “Tape” feature lets you cover parts of a note and reveal sections on demand, plus a wider library of pen styles for writing and drawing
• Samsung Contacts: Direct access to Creative Studio for generating personalized profile cards without switching apps
• Game Booster: Adjust screen resolution, screenshot format, and game settings mid-session without pausing gameplay
• Location access indicator: A new blue dot appears in the status bar when an app is actively accessing your location, an Android 17 privacy feature
• High-risk app detection: Samsung’s security policy now automatically flags apps identified as potentially high-risk
• Select to Speak: Tap any on-screen text or image to hear it read aloud without activating full TalkBack
• Text magnifier: Tap any text to enlarge and highlight it in a floating window with customizable font size and colors
• Keyboard accessibility: Physical keyboard shortcuts now navigate Accessibility settings without touching the screen
• Mouse control: Expanded speed and acceleration options, plus number pad support for point-and-click interactions
• TalkBack updates: Now delivered directly via the Play Store rather than requiring a full firmware update

One UI 9 Rollout Timeline and How to Join

The beta is now live in Germany, the UK, South Korea, and the US, giving testers their first hands-on look at the MTE security protections previously seen in One UI 9 leaks.

Samsung has confirmed that India and Poland will receive Beta 1 access on May 26, the same day Beta 2 is expected to be pushed to the four launch countries. 

To enroll, open the Samsung Members app on your Galaxy S26, S26+, or S26 Ultra; tap the One UI 9 Beta Programme banner, and follow the on-screen prompts. The update does not arrive automatically; enrollment is required before the OTA appears. 

The stable One UI 9 rollout is expected at Samsung Unpacked in London on July 22, 2026, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, when the full AI features will arrive. This beta is a lighter refinement, with major AI updates reserved for the final release.

Source: Samsung Launches One UI 9 Beta for Galaxy S26 Series Users