Samsung has officially started the one ui 9 beta program for the Galaxy S26 series, just days after expanding the rollout of One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7. Built on Android 17, the update will begin rolling out this week for registered users in select markets, including India.

Samsung says one ui 9 focuses on offering greater creative control, enhanced customisation options, and stronger protection against potential security threats.

One UI 9 Beta Availability

Unlike previous major beta releases, the one ui 9 beta will be available in multiple regions from the beginning. 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 the update this week after registering through the Samsung Members app.

The stable version of one ui 9 is expected to debut on Samsung’s upcoming foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, which are likely to launch in July. The Galaxy S26 series is expected to receive the stable update within a few weeks after that.

Upgrades to Samsung Apps

Samsung is bringing several upgrades to its first-party apps with one ui 9. The Samsung Notes app now includes new creative tools such as decorative tapes and an expanded pen-style option.

Meanwhile, the Contacts app now provides direct access to Creative Studio, allowing users to customise profile cards without switching to a separate app.

Updated Quick Settings Panel

The quick settings panel in one ui 9 has been updated again to offer more layout flexibility. Samsung says brightness, sound, and the media player can now be adjusted independently, with additional size options for improved personalisation.

Improved Accessibility Features

Samsung is also introducing accessibility improvements in one ui 9. Users can now customise Mouse Key speed for smoother cursor movement.

The update also combines TalkBack features from both Google and Samsung into a single solution. In addition, the new Text Spotlight feature improves readability by showing selected text in a larger floating window.

Enhanced Security Protection

To strengthen device security, one ui 9 will alert users when potentially high-risk apps are detected. The system can automatically block these apps from operating and recommend uninstalling them.

The stable version of one ui 9 may also include Android 17 features such as Gemini Intelligence, which allows voice-based phone controls.