Samsung One UI 9.0 beta arrives on Galaxy S26

Samsung has announced the launch of the One UI 9.0 beta for its Galaxy S26 range. Interested users can sign up, although the programme is currently available in only a limited number of countries.

One UI 9.0 beta: eligible Galaxy S26 users and countries

One UI 9.0 is Samsung’s next software skin. Built for Android 17, the beta is now available, according to SamMobile. To take part, users must own a Galaxy S26-series handset, live in South Korea, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom or the United States, and be enrolled in the Samsung Members programme.

This is only the initial rollout, however, and Samsung is expected to open the beta to further countries and additional devices.

What is new in Samsung One UI 9.0?

In the editorial team’s view, One UI 9.0 is one of the strongest Android skins on the market. Pleasant to use, smooth, feature-rich and visually appealing, it remains a benchmark for others to follow. Version 9.0 will further refine the formula by drawing on Android 17’s new features. For instance, users can easily share a photograph or image by holding their finger on it and bringing another smartphone close, in a similar way to AirDrop. Bixby AI is also said to receive a boost and gain widgets, much like Gemini.

SamMobile has also highlighted several quality-of-life improvements. The pull-down panel now lets users control display brightness separately, as well as ringtone and media volume; the latter two were combined in One UI 8.5. The panel will also offer broader personalisation options, with a wide selection of sizes and adjustments.

Samsung Notes, Creative Studio and app security

Samsung is using One UI 9.0 to introduce several smaller additions as well. Samsung Notes, which is particularly useful on Ultra models and tablets, gains more writing options. Creative Studio, the app for generating images with AI, is now integrated into the Contacts page, making it easier to personalise entries in the address book. It is not a major revolution, but it avoids having to switch between apps.

Beyond these additions, One UI 9.0 includes numerous less visible improvements. The most significant is stronger protection against suspicious apps. The software skin scans downloaded apps and blocks them whenever there is the slightest concern. This chiefly applies to software obtained outside the Play Store.

One UI 9.0 does not transform One UI, then, but instead delivers changes that build on the existing experience. Naturally, the public release of this software skin will have to wait for the rollout of Android 17.