Samsung announced the One UI 9 beta program on May 12, and it is rolling out in the UK, Germany & South Korea. Users can now participate in the beta program and install the One UI 9 beta version on their phones. The new beta firmware version S948BXXU2ZZEF has been released in over 3GB of files. Despite the website mentioning all beta countries, not every region is getting it at the same time. India and Poland will have to wait until May 26 for the beta to go live.
According to the official Samsung site, the first phase is only for the US, UK, Germany, and South Korea. If you own a Galaxy S26, S26+, or S26 Ultra in India or Poland, you are part of the second batch.
This is not unusual. Samsung has followed the same approach with previous beta programs. The first phase usually rolls out to markets where Samsung has a larger developer and tester base, including the US. India typically falls into the second wave. The good news is that the May 26 date is officially confirmed, so there is no delay this time.
To join the beta, you need to sign up through the Samsung Members app. Once Samsung opens registrations for India, you will see the option under the âBenefitsâ or âNoticesâ section. Install the beta update, and you are in. Keep in mind that beta software may contain bugs, so it may not be ideal for your primary device.
What’s New in One UI 9
Since One UI 8.5 already introduced major visual changes, this update focuses more on refinements and smaller improvements. Samsung Notes is getting new decorative tapes and additional pen line styles. The Quick Panel is also receiving layout improvements, allowing users to adjust elements more freely.
There is also a new Text Spotlight feature, which displays selected text in a larger floating window, making it easier to read without manually zooming in.
Additionally, Samsung is adding stronger protection against potentially malicious apps. The Contacts app will now connect directly to Creative Studio for creating personalized profile cards. Samsung Browser is also expected to receive new features and improved multi-window support on Galaxy devices.
When Is the Stable Release?
Samsung has not confirmed a specific stable release date for the Galaxy S26 series. Based on previous rollout patterns, the stable One UI update usually arrives a few months after the beta program ends.
Samsung is rumored to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 at its second Unpacked event in July or August, and those devices are expected to ship with One UI 9 out of the box. Galaxy S26 users will likely receive the stable update sometime after that, possibly in late 2026.
During the recent Google I/O event, Google introduced several new Android 17 features, including Gemini Intelligence and live widget creation, which are also expected to arrive on Galaxy devices, according to Samsung.
Finally, Samsung could begin the One UI 9 beta testing program tomorrow or this Friday in South Korea and the US.
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