One UI 9: Samsung starts distributing it to current Galaxy cell phones
Samsung has started distributing One UI 9 to all models in the Galaxy S26 series. The Android 17-based user interface brings new AI features and a revised design to users’ smartphones.
One UI 9 is rolling out
The first leaks about One UI 9 had already occurred in March of this year. With the release of Samsung’s new foldables, the latest version of the smartphone user interface was used for the first time in July. The South Koreans have now started the rollout for devices that were not delivered directly from the factory with the surface. After a four-month beta phase, the following current Galaxy devices in the S26 series will receive the stable update based on Android 17, joining the Galaxy S26 FE, which, like the folding smartphones, already comes with the software ex works:
Initially, the rollout will be limited to Samsung’s South Korean home market. However, experience shows that the manufacturer is quickly expanding the distribution of major system updates, so that German users can also expect the update on their devices shortly. Anyone who has previously taken part in the test phase will be given priority for the new version. Like the leaker Tarun Vats on X reported, the firmware for the different model variants has the endings BZI6 and BZHO.
For participants in the beta program, the update is around 650 megabytes in size. For other users it could be larger. In addition to the update to One UI 9 based on Android 17, the update also includes the security patch for September 2026.
New features for the Galaxy S26
With the switch to One UI 9, Samsung is integrating various functions that were previously reserved for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. These include Galaxy AI tools such as My FanCam and Call Brief. In addition, the daily Now Brief overview can now be customized with personalized cards.
In addition to the functional extensions, the developers have also revised the design of the user interface. For example, the Quick Panel, which can be used to access quick settings, has visual changes to the brightness and volume controls.
Moving out of beta
As soon as the update is available in Germany, it can be downloaded via the system settings. Samsung has officially declared the beta program for the S26 series to be over. Support for pre-release versions has been discontinued accordingly. Users should therefore go directly to the release version as soon as it is available.
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