-1120w630h.webp "Samsung One UI 9 illustration")
It's been a while since Samsung released One UI 9 Beta for the Galaxy S26 series and the second beta is already rolling out. While the new version is expected to bring many new features, including a minor yet impactful core feature that Google released in Android 17, Samsung phones still haven't received the same.
One UI 9's Smart Replies Could Use Some Smartness
One of the most subtle yet important Android 17 features is Google letting users edit Smart Replies in notifications. Instead of tapping on a reply and the phone instantly sending the same, Android will now let you edit the message before sending. However, even after two Beta updates, the same is absent from the One UI 9 Beta update on Samsung phones.
For those unaware, Smart Replies were introduced back in 2019 and they allow users to send suggested texts quickly when they are busy. However, the implementation had its quirks, where users would accidentally tap on the replies to send them out when their phones were in their pockets or via a simple mistouch. The latest Android 17 change prevents that from happening.
However, One UI 9 Beta 2 didn't get the message and Smart Replies on the update still incorporates the same ancient instant send feature. This means users will still have to navigate to the notification shade to avoid triggering an irreversible and potentially incorrect auto-response. This seems like a glaring miss from Samsung, one that would make users' lives much easier.
However, we're hopeful that this is still a very early Beta thing. For those unaware, One UI betas tend to last significantly longer periods, with every build introducing a few minor features in baby steps. Beyond Smart Replies, the upcoming One UI AI features list should also expand comprehensively.
One UI 8.5 had around 10 beta releases before it was released in stable. Therefore, Smart Replies on One UI could actually get smarter at a later date. With the One UI 9 Beta 2 update rolling out to the Galaxy S26 series, the software is first expected to appear on Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, before Samsung rolls it out to all the One UI 9 eligible devices by the end of this year.
