One UI 9 release date expectations, new features, and compatible phones
The Galaxy S26 Ultra running One UI 8.5 for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
What's expected to change vs One UI 8:
- Revamped Samsung Internet Browser with a new "Ask AI" feature
- Perplexity AI to power the Ask AI feature
- New way to activate Bixby
- Gemini Intelligence on the more premium Galaxy models that support it
- A nifty Gallery feature with a selection box for multiple images
- Android 17's features
- New creative tools for the Samsung Notes app
Expected release timeline:
- The stable One UI 9 version will likely arrive first on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, if there are no delays.
- The first beta for Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra is now live for select markets.
One UI 9 release date
One UI 9 will first arrive on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide foldable phones, set to be announced on July 22, 2026. From there, the OS – built on Android 17 – will roll out to all supported Galaxy phones in stages, depending on region and carrier.
| One UI version | Announcement |
|---|---|
| One UI 9 | July 22, 2026* |
| One UI 8 (Android 16) | July 9, 2025 |
| One UI 7 (Android 15) | April 10, 2025 |
* - probable dates
Expect a stable rollout to the Galaxy S26 lineup around September.
One UI 9 supported Galaxy phones
One UI 9 is expected to land on Galaxy S flagships starting with the Galaxy S23 series. Foldables from the Z Flip 5 and Fold 5 onward are also reportedly getting the update.
Select Galaxy A models will get One UI 9 too, along with some Samsung tablets starting with the Tab S9.
| Galaxy device | Market release date | One UI 9 support |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S27 series | Expected early 2027 | Yes |
| Galaxy S26 series | February 26, 2026 | Yes |
| Galaxy S25 series | February 7, 2025 | Yes |
| Galaxy S24 series | January 31, 2024 | Yes |
| Galaxy S23 series | February 17, 2023 | Yes |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8 | Expected July/August 2026 | Yes |
| Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 | July 25, 2025 | Yes |
| Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6 | July 24, 2024 | Yes |
| Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5 | August 11, 2023 | Yes |
| Galaxy A: select models (A57, A56, A55, A37, A36, A35, A26, A25, A17, A16, A15, A07) | Various years | Yes |
| Galaxy Tab S12 series | Expected late 2026/early 2027 | Yes |
| Galaxy Tab S11 series | September 20, 2025 | Yes |
| Galaxy Tab S10 series | October 3, 2024 | Yes |
| Galaxy Tab S9 series | August 11, 2023 | Yes |
| Tab Active 5 and 5 Pro | January 2024 | Yes |
The table above reflects Samsung's usual update policy. We know for certain that the Galaxy S22 series isn't getting the update, nor is the Galaxy S21 FE, the Fold 4, or older Galaxy A phones.
One UI 9 design
One UI 9 will be based on Android 17, which Google recently announced. Leaks have already given us a look at how One UI 9 might shape up, with several UI changes reportedly in the works.
One rumored change is a darker background for the Now Bar. When a track plays, its name appears at the top, with an animation running across the bottom of the Now Bar.
Leaked One UI 9 desgin tweak. | Image by SammyGuru
The same report also points to a visual tweak on some of Samsung's widgets, which are reportedly getting more squared-off corners.
The Samsung Internet browser is also reportedly getting a visual refresh. You'll apparently get three layout options for the menu and navigation:
- Standard, the classic look
- Bottom, optimized for one-hand use
- Compact, featuring a new floating search bar
In the compact option, the floating search bar dynamically appears and disappears as you scroll up or down.
One UI 9 Compact Search Bar in Samsung Internet
— Mohammed Khatri (@Mohammed_K_2010) February 19, 2026
It has a fade in and fade out animation️
Disappears when you scroll down and re-appears when you scroll up️
Has a slight blur and offers a more immersive experience ️
Looks cute very cute #OneUI9 #Samsung pic.twitter.com/kq8hKneAXW
Beyond that expect a revised Quick Panel with independently adjustable Brightness, Sound, and Media player toggles, giving you more control over how it looks.
One UI 9 top features
The newly announced Gemini Intelligence will be available on One UI 9, since it's already a core part of Android 17's general release.
Gemini Intelligence
Gemini Intelligence is the next step in on-device AI that Google recently unveiled. The AI agent can complete multi-step tasks on your behalf.
It's worth noting, however, that this level of AI may not be available on every device that supports One UI 9, since it may require a flagship chip to run its complex processes (Galaxy S devices may support it, while Galaxy A devices may not).
Ask AI and Samsung Internet Browser updates
One UI 9 is bringing a new "Ask AI" feature to the Samsung Internet Browser. The responses there may be generated by Perplexity AI, and they are expected to be contextual based on what you're reading.
The AI agent should also serve up tailored responses without pulling you off the page you're currently on.
Meanwhile, Ask AI is expected to extend into the split-screen browsing as well. Samsung's browser app is also reportedly working on a feature called "Enable Cross Device Resume," though details remain scarce for now.
Updates to the Gallery app
Reportedly, the Gallery app is getting a handy selection box that appears when you select multiple images in One UI 9.
The new selection box in Gallery in One UI 9. | Image by SammyGuru
The box can apparently hold up to 15 images at once, making it easier to double-check your selection. That should help, since selecting images can get messy on its own – especially when the images you want aren't next to each other on your screen.
Updates to Notes app, Contacts app
One UI 9 is also said to bring a batch of creative tools to the Samsung Notes app, including decorative tapes and more pen line styles.
Meanwhile, the Contacts app is getting direct access to Creative Studio.
Security and accessibility
One UI 9 is said to bring stronger protection against suspicious apps, though details remain scarce for now. It may be fairly aggressive about flagged threats – warning users, blocking installs, and recommending suspicious apps be deleted.
Another security tweak involves the power menu. With One UI 9, backing out of the power menu (which shows power off, restart, emergency call, and Medical Info) will take you to the lock screen, rather than back to whatever you were doing before.
So the moment you pull up that menu, the phone locks.
In the accessibility department, there's a new Text Spotlight feature for easier reading, plus adjustable Mouse Key speed for smoother cursor control.
Bixby
Reportedly, Samsung is working on a new way to activate Bixby with One UI 9 – by bringing the phone closer to your face. Hints of this have apparently surfaced in early One UI builds. The feature would likely work alongside the existing wake-word method, not replace it.
One UI 9 beta releases
The first One UI 9 beta is already live for supported Galaxy S26 phones in select regions.
If you're feeling courageous and want to test One UI 9 beta before the official stable release, you can do so on the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra via the Samsung Members app.
In the Samsung Members app, you can join the Beta Program from the banner on the home screen, if your device and region are supported. Supported regions for the beta include Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US.
Keep in mind: back up your device before installing it. Beta builds typically come with bugs and instability, so we wouldn't recommend running one on your daily driver.
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