Samsung launches One UI 9 beta for Galaxy S26 series with Android 17 and enhanced AI features

Samsung Launches One UI 9 Beta for Galaxy S26 Series Users

One UI 9 beta offers a more intuitive and personalized mobile experience with enhancements across creativity, accessibility and security Samsung Electronics today announced the One UI 9 beta program, launching this week beginning with the Galaxy S26 series. Built on the new Android 17, One UI 9 beta delivers expanded creative tools, customization options, a more accessible mobile experience and stronger protection against potential security threats. The full experience of One UI 9 will be introduced with upcoming Galaxy flagship devices later this year, which will include advanced AI features that will make mobile interaction easy and effortless. One UI 9 beta introduces several updates across key areas of the mobile experience. Samsung Notes gains creative new tools, including decorative tapes and a wider variety of pen line styles. Meanwhile, the Contacts app now offers direct access to Creative Studio for creating personalized profile cards without the need to switch between apps. The updated Quick Panel gives users greater control over its layout. Brightness, sound and media player are each independently adjustable, with more size options to suit individual preferences. Accessibility is significantly improved by an adjustable Mouse Key speed that enables smoother cursor control and a combined TalkBack package that brings together features previously offered separately by Google and Samsung. The new Text Spotlight feature -- which displays selected text larger or more clearly in a floating window -- has also been added to make reading easier. One UI 9 also introduces enhanced protection against suspicious apps and potential threats: when new high-risk apps are detected, it now warns users, blocks execution and installation, and recommends deletion through security policy updates. The One UI 9 beta program will be available to Galaxy S26 series users in select markets, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the U.K. and the U.S starting this week. Galaxy S26 series users can apply to join the beta program via the Samsung Members app.

Samsung One UI 9 beta arrives, but the best is probably still to come | Stuff

Samsung is allowing Galaxy S26 owners to sample the One UI 9 features with a beta release. Samsung has announced it has launched the One UI 9 beta, initially for Galaxy S26 smartphone owners, with the company promising a focus on creativity, personalisation, accessibility and security. The new user interface, which sits on top of Android, will roll to all owners of recent Galaxy devices as the year progresses. Right now, only Galaxy S26 series owners who have access to the beta program can take One UI 9 for a spin. The key updates include updates to Samsung Notes, which brings in more pen styles and decorative tapes. The new Contacts app has a meaningless feature that enables personalised profile cards to be made with AI. I mean, just use a photo, right? Samsung is updating the Quick Panel, offering users more layout customisation options including the ability to independently adjust brightness, sound and media player controls. From a security standpoint, Samsung is now proactively warning users when threads are abound from malicious or insecure apps. "One UI 9 also introduces enhanced protection against suspicious apps and potential threats: when new high-risk apps are detected, it now warns users, blocks execution and installation, and recommends deletion through security policy updates," Samsung says in a blog post. Furthermore, accessibility is getting a boost. The Mouse Key speed will now be adjustable, while the TalkBack feature combines the best of Google and Samsung features. For those with vision issues, a Text Spotlight feature has been added to "display selected text larger or more clearly in a floating window." If this sounds a little underwhelming as a feature set, fear not, Samsung is likely to add updates as the beta progresses. One of those is probably new Gemini Intelligence features that Google announced earlier this week as part of Android Show announcements. Those include agentic features, like automatically filling out forms. Google and Samsung have already said their phones get first dibs.

Samsung One UI 9 beta roll out begins this week

Samsung has announced the rollout of its One UI 9 beta program. Built upon the newly released Android 17, the beta phase will begin this week, starting with the Galaxy S26 series. The update focuses on expanding customization options, introducing new creative tools, enhancing accessibility, and bolstering device security. The complete One UI 9 experience is scheduled to debut alongside upcoming Galaxy flagship devices later this year. The final release is expected to feature advanced artificial intelligence capabilities designed to streamline mobile interactions. The beta introduces several notable updates across the core mobile experience: The One UI 9 beta program will be available to Galaxy S26 series users in select markets starting this week. Participating countries include: Eligible Galaxy S26 series users interested in testing the new operating system can apply to join the beta program directly through the Samsung Members app.