The One UI 9 beta program may have just finished for Galaxy S26 owners, but it appears there will be another one coming sooner than expected. While there’s nothing official yet, we’re seeing the first hint of the One UI 9.5 beta appearing.
One UI 9.5 beta could be launching on the Galaxy S26 series soon
Samsung has refreshed the One UI Beta Program banner inside the Samsung Members app. The app is used for owners of Galaxy devices to register and access beta updates when they’re available.
The change has been spotted by the folks at SamMobile, and comes about a month after the launch of the stable One UI 9 for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Unfortunately, the updated banner doesn’t explicitly mention One UI 9.5 or a launch date for the new beta program.
What do you want to see in One UI 9.5 the most?
4 Votes
What new features will the Galaxy S26 get with One UI 9.5?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra launched with One UI 8.5. | Image by PhoneArena
The existence of One UI 9.5 is not a surprise, with rumors about its development for the Galaxy S27 series circulating since early August. We still know relatively little about it, besides that it’ll be based on Android 17, and it’ll launch first on the upcoming Galaxy flagship phones.
Among the few rumors we’ve heard so far, a highlight new feature could be the customizable widgets one. Similar to Google’s Gemini-powered Create My Widget option, this will allow users to create their own widgets. There are also murmurs for a native app locking feature and an app mirroring option for Galaxy Books.
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Of course, we’ll need to wait to see what part of the new features will make it to the older devices, including the Galaxy S26 phones. Users on Reddit seemed unimpressed with the One UI 9 update, saying it barely brought them any change. On the bright side, this meant there were no performance issues either.
Some Galaxy S26 owners couldn't see the difference One UI 9 brought them. | Image by Reddit (screenshot
When will the One UI 9.5 Beta Program start?
If Samsung’s past is anything to measure its future plans by, the One UI 9.5 beta could start in the coming months. The One UI 8.5 beta was launched in the beginning of December, 2025, about three months after the stable One UI 8 release for the Galaxy S25 phones. If this year’s timeline remains the same, we’re likely to get One UI 9.5 beta sometime in December.
The first phones to get access to the new software are most likely to be the Galaxy S26 phones. However, there’s a chance other flagship devices will be able to participate in the Beta Program as well.
A chance for Samsung to do better
I can’t help but compare Samsung’s launches of One UI with Apple’s release of iOS. iPhone owners could install iOS 27 on any supported device at the day of launch, while many Galaxy owners are still waiting for One UI 9 to reach them. I hope things finally get better with the next release.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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