Samsung launches One UI 9 beta

Samsung Electronics said on May 12 that it has started the One UI 9 beta program, with the first rollout beginning this week for the Galaxy S26 series. The software is built on Android 17, according to Samsung’s global newsroom and mobile press materials. Samsung said the beta adds new creative tools, customization options, accessibility changes and security protections. The company also said the full One UI 9 experience will debut later this year on upcoming Galaxy flagship devices. ### Which Galaxy phones are in the first One UI 9 beta wave? Samsung said the initial beta launch begins with the Galaxy S26 series, not a broad list of older Galaxy S or Fold devices. The company’s May 12 announcement, mirrored across its global, U.S. and regional newsroom sites, names the Galaxy S26 series as the starting point for the program. (news.samsung.com) Samsung’s developer page says the One UI Beta Program is available only for specific devices, OS versions and countries, and that compatible devices can vary by market. That means users need to check eligibility through Samsung’s own beta channels rather than rely on third-party compatibility lists alone. ### Did Samsung say the beta started on May 11? (news.samsung.com) Samsung’s official materials are dated May 12, 2026, and say the program is “launching this week” beginning with the Galaxy S26 series. The company’s press release does not state that the beta opened on May 11. The date matters because outside reports had described a May 11 start and a wider device list. (developer.samsung.com) Samsung’s own announcements, which are the primary source for the rollout, describe a week-of-May-12 launch and identify the S26 line as the first eligible family. ### What is new in One UI 9? (news.samsung.com) One UI 9 adds features in creativity, accessibility, customization and security, Samsung said. In its announcement, the company highlighted expanded creative tools and stronger protection against potential security threats as part of the Android 17-based update. Samsung’s U.S. newsroom said Samsung Notes gains new tools including decorative tapes and a wider range of templates. (news.samsung.com) The company also described broader interface and personalization changes, though it has not framed the beta as a final feature-complete release for every eligible device. ### How do users sign up for the beta? (news.samsung.com) Samsung Developers says participation in the One UI Beta Program requires a Samsung Account. The company also says beta access is limited to supported devices and markets, and that users should enroll through Samsung’s beta program channels. Samsung’s public beta materials do not promise identical timing across countries. (news.samsung.com) The developer page says the beta period and compatible devices vary by country, a standard condition for Samsung’s staged software testing. ### When will the full version arrive? Samsung said the full One UI 9 experience will be introduced with upcoming Galaxy flagship devices later in 2026. (developer.samsung.com) The company added that those future devices will include advanced AI features tied to the new software generation. Samsung has not, in the materials reviewed, published a complete public timetable for every Galaxy model that may later receive One UI 9. (developer.samsung.com) For now, the company’s next step is the beta rollout through supported Galaxy S26 devices in select markets, with enrollment details available through Samsung’s beta program and developer pages. (news.samsung.com)