One UI 9 expected release date, supported devices and must-know features
The Galaxy S26 Ultra running One UI 8.5 for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
What's changing vs One UI 8:
- Gemini Intelligence for complex, multi-step AI tasks across 40+ apps
- Gemini Notebook for collecting and organizing notes, files, and recordings in one place
- Smarter Now Nudge and customizable Now Brief
- Everything Android 17 brings to the table
- New creative tools landing in Samsung Notes
- A centralized AI Assistant Activity dashboard
- Enhanced Privacy Alerts for proactive security warnings
- Improved Smart Switch with QR code transfer from iOS and expanded data types
- Quick Share now works with AirDrop for seamless file sharing between iOS and Galaxy
- Revamped Samsung Internet Browser with Ask AI powered by Perplexity AI (unconfirmed)
- New way to activate Bixby (unconfirmed)
- A smarter Gallery app with a multi-image selection box (unconfirmed)
- One UI 9 stable launched on July 22, 2026, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8. The Galaxy S26 series rollout is expected next, followed by older flagships.
One UI 9 release date
One UI 9 stable was made official on July 22, 2026, arriving first on Samsung's new foldable lineup – the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Built on Android 17, the update is rolling out to supported Galaxy devices in phases, with timing varying by 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 |
Galaxy S26 owners will have to wait a bit longer for the stable release, as One UI 9 is currently only available on the new foldables.
That said, the wait looks nearly over – a possible stable One UI 9 build for the Galaxy S26 Ultra has been spotted on Samsung's servers, and Samsung Customer Support has confirmed a stable update will release soon, with the Galaxy S26 series expected to receive it in late August or early September 2026. After that, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 should follow, then older flagships, and eventually the broader Galaxy portfolio.
One UI 9 supported Galaxy phones
One UI 9 is expected to reach Galaxy S flagships going back to the Galaxy S23 series, along with foldables from the Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 onward. Select Galaxy A models and tablets starting with the Tab S9 are also in line for the update.
| 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 | August 7, 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 is built on Android 17, and several visual changes are confirmed or in the works alongside it.
The Now Bar is getting a darker background treatment. When music plays, the track name appears at the top with an animation running along the bottom of the bar. Samsung's widgets are also moving toward more squared-off corners, bringing a more consistent look across the interface.
Leaked One UI 9 desgin tweak. | Image by SammyGuru
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
Several key features are now confirmed for One UI 9, with some launching exclusively on the new foldables before expanding to the broader lineup.
Gemini Intelligence
It's not limited to one task at a time – it chains steps together from a single prompt. Note that the feature requires a flagship-grade chip and is currently available in the US and Korea in English and Korean, with more languages and regions expected later this year.
Gemini Notebook
Drag-and-drop support in Split view makes adding files and images even more seamless.
Now Brief and Now Nudge
Now Nudge gets smarter too – when plans take shape in a conversation, it surfaces relevant next steps like checking a schedule, finding a place, or saving a location. On foldables, tapping a nudge opens the suggested app in split view so your conversation stays visible.
AI Assistant Activity dashboard
One UI 9 introduces a centralized AI Assistant Activity dashboard, giving you a single place to review everything AI automations have done on your behalf. Rather than jumping between apps to piece together what happened, you can see all actions in one view and jump directly to the relevant agent for more context or to adjust settings.
Privacy Alerts
Enhanced Privacy Alerts now proactively flag potential privacy risks – including apps making unnecessary attempts to access background permissions – before they have a chance to operate unnoticed.
Warranty and Care hub
A new Warranty and Care hub in Settings brings Samsung Care+ enrollment, warranty checks, device diagnostics, and repair requests under one roof, without needing to navigate between multiple apps or websites.
My FanCam (foldable exclusive)
My FanCam is a new foldable-only feature that automatically tracks a selected subject and reframes footage into a chosen aspect ratio, turning action-heavy scenes into polished, social-ready clips with minimal editing required.
Cine LUT (Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra exclusive)
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gains Cine LUT support, bringing cinematic color grading and tone control directly into the video recording experience.
AI-native FlexWindow (Galaxy Z Flip 8 exclusive)
The Flip 8's cover screen gets a complete rethink as an AI-native interface, with apps, contextual insights, and quick actions surfaced directly on the FlexWindow without needing to open the phone.
Updates to Notes app, Contacts app
Samsung Notes is picking up a batch of creative tools in One UI 9, including decorative tapes and additional pen line styles. The Contacts app is also gaining a direct shortcut into Creative Studio.
Security and accessibility
One UI 9 strengthens protection against suspicious apps – the system can now warn users, block installs outright, and flag apps for removal. The power menu behavior has also changed: backing out of it now takes you to the lock screen rather than returning to your previous app, effectively locking the device the moment the power menu opens.
On the accessibility side, a new Text Spotlight feature makes on-screen reading easier, and Mouse Key speed is now adjustable for smoother cursor control.
Quick Share and AirDrop compatibility
Smart Switch improvements
iOS users on iOS 26.6 or later can now scan a QR code on their current device to wirelessly transfer data to a new Galaxy phone without downloading any additional apps. Smart Switch also gains support for transferring passwords and passkeys, call history, accessibility settings, eSIM data, and more.
Ask AI and Samsung Internet Browser updates (unconfirmed yet)
One UI 9 is rumored to be bringing a new Ask AI feature to the Samsung Internet Browser, with responses powered by Perplexity AI and shaped around whatever you're currently reading – surfacing relevant answers without pulling you away from the page.
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 (unconfirmed yet)
The Gallery app is rumored to be getting a floating selection box that appears whenever you pick multiple images, holding up to 15 images at once for easier review. This feature was not confirmed at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.
The new selection box in Gallery in One UI 9. | Image by SammyGuru
Bixby (unconfirmed yet)
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
One UI 9 stable is live on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8. The beta program for the Galaxy S26 series has been running for some time in select regions, including Germany, India, South Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US.
If you have a Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, or S26 Ultra and want to try One UI 9 ahead of the stable rollout, the beta program is still accessible through the Samsung Members app — look for the Beta Program banner on the home screen, assuming your device and region are supported.
Beta 5 has since rolled out to the Galaxy S26 series, with Samsung Customer Support confirming a stable release is coming soon – late August or early September 2026 is the current expectation.
Keep in mind: back up your device before installing a beta version. Beta builds typically come with bugs and instability, so we wouldn't recommend running one on your daily driver.
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