Samsung Starts Testing One UI 9 for Galaxy S26 Series

Samsung is yet to roll out its latest One UI 8.5 to all the supported smartphones. But despite the software being in testing phases, it looks like the brand is already moving to its next big release based on Android 17. That's right, One UI 9.0 testing has now begun on the Galaxy S26 series.

First Signs of One UI 9 Based on Android 17

First spotted by Tarun Vats on X, the first One UI 9 Beta build for the Galaxy S26 Ultra has been spotted on Samsung's test servers. The build carries build versions S948BXXU2ZZE7, S947BOXM2ZZE7 and S948BXXU2BZE7. The "Z" towards the end of the build number further confirms that this is an early test build.

The new One UI 9 build is probably based on Android 17. For those unaware, One UI 8.5, which is the current latest One UI build, is based on Android 16. The version is still stuck in Beta, which has been dragged on longer than usual due to the sheer number of features it brings.

This early spotting hints at One UI 9 being an incremental upgrade with all the Android 17 features. Besides, One UI 9 could bring a vibrant Media Player and a new Tap to Share feature, where users can tap their phones to share files via NFC.

This is also not the first time One UI 9 has been spotted on a Samsung phone. Samsung was spotted testing One UI 9 on the upcoming Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 smartphones before One UI 8.5 beta even sprang into action.

The evidence so far suggests that it's quite clear Samsung wants to give itself a head start, so that the overall update cycle can progress smoothly. While we don't have any information about its release date, it could arrive with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8 and Z Fold Wide, expected to launch around July or August 2026.

More information about One UI 9 should surface as we inch closer to the second half of 2026. Until then, stay tuned.