Samsung One UI 9: release date, new features, and every device getting the update
Samsung is bringing One UI 9.0, built on Android 17, to a Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, 2026 in London. The update debuts alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, and Samsung is expected to push a stable rollout to existing flagships in September. With more than 60 devices projected to qualify — from the S26 all the way back to the S23 and budget A-series phones — this is one of the broader Android update pushes in recent memory.
The beta is already live
Samsung launched the One UI 9 beta on May 13, 2026 for Galaxy S26 owners in the US, UK, Germany, South Korea, India, and Poland. You can enroll via the Samsung Members app. The stable build is expected in September, starting with the Galaxy S26, Z Fold 7, and Z Flip 7, per SamMobile. Mid-range A, M, and Tab models are expected to follow through Q4 2026.
What's actually changing
One UI 8.5 already handled the big visual overhaul, so One UI 9 is a refinement update rather than a redesign. The most visible tweaks: brightness and volume sliders are thicker and fill their teardrop shape more completely; the lock screen media player gets a dynamic waveform animation that adapts to album art colors; and liquid glass effects appear in more places across the interface.
On the AI side, the Gallery app gains a built-in Creative Studio tool for making profile cards without third-party apps. Samsung's Good Lock Home Up module now supports multi-finger gestures for custom actions like volume control or launching pop-up windows. Samsung Browser adds an Ask AI feature for quick answers based on page content.
Android 17 underneath
Android 17 brings a few system-level changes worth knowing about. Any app can now open in a floating bubble window — previously this was limited to messaging apps. A new system-level contact picker lets you grant an app access to specific contacts only, rather than your entire address book, a privacy improvement that puts Android closer to iOS behavior. Google is also requiring developers to stop hard-locking screen orientation, which should improve app usability on foldables and tablets.
The device list
Samsung hasn't officially confirmed which phones will receive One UI 9, but the projected list based on its update policy is extensive:
- Galaxy S: S23 through S26 (including FE and Ultra variants, plus S25 Edge) - Galaxy Z: Z Fold 5 through Z Fold 7, Z Flip 5 through Z Flip 7, Z TriFold, Z Fold Special Edition - Galaxy A: A06 5G through A57 - Galaxy M: M06 through M56 - Galaxy F: F06 through F70e - Galaxy Tab: Tab S9 series through Tab S11, Tab S6 Lite (2024), Tab A11, Tab Active 5/5 Pro - Galaxy XCover: XCover 7, XCover 7 Pro
Pricing for the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 has not been confirmed. Rumors tied to ongoing memory supply issues put the Z Fold 8 above $2,100, but Samsung has made no official announcement ahead of the July 22 event.