Samsung expands One UI 9 beta to 12 Galaxy devices ahead of July launch
Samsung has widened its One UI 9 beta testing to include a variety of flagship and mid-range devices, focusing on stability and enhanced accessibility tools.
Samsung expands One UI 9 beta to 12 Galaxy devices ahead of July launch
Samsung is accelerating the development of its next major software iteration, expanding the One UI 9 beta to a total of 12 devices. According to firmware tracker Tarun Vats, internal testing this week began for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, S23 FE, and M34. Additionally, a build for the Galaxy A37 was spotted on Samsung servers.
The current testing lineup now spans four generations of flagships and several other tiers, including the Galaxy S23, S24, S24 FE, S25, S26, A35, A56, A57, A37, M34, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6. This simultaneous development across four flagship generations, four A-series devices, one M-series budget phone, and two 2024 foldables precedes the official launch of One UI 9 at Galaxy Unpacked London at the end of July.
The stable version of One UI 9 will debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. Other Galaxy devices will receive the update subsequently, with recent foldables and flagships prioritized over older A-series and Fan Edition models.
Stability and Customization
For the Galaxy S26, Samsung has maintained a two-week beta release cycle. Beta 1 launched May 13, followed by Beta 2 on May 26, and Beta 3 on June 16. These updates have prioritized stability over new functionality.
Beta 3 specifically addressed nine issues, including:
- Inaccurate 30x zoom focus and camera preview cropping
- Failure of S Pen swipe gestures on the home screen
- Lock screen battery and weather widgets failing to update
- Random reboots during video streaming
- A white or black screen glitch when pulling down the status bar or receiving calls
- A My Files scrolling bug
Support for the software is also extending to Samsung's deep customization suite. This week, the LockStar module—used for tinkering with always-on displays and lock screens—released v9.0.00.5, adding full One UI 9 support. This follows a broader Good Lock update currently rolling out in Korea.
Feature Shift: From Visuals to Accessibility
One UI 9 focuses on refinement rather than a total overhaul, as the previous One UI 8.5 release already implemented a major visual redesign. That earlier update split media controls, volume, and brightness in the Quick Panel into separate, resizable sliders.
The new additions in One UI 9 are primarily focused on accessibility and security. New features include:
- Text Spotlight: A floating zoom tool designed for easier reading.
- Combined TalkBack: A system that merges Google's and Samsung's screen-reader tools.
- High-Risk App Detection: A security feature that warns users and blocks the execution of suspicious or unsigned apps.
These updates build upon the AI-centric foundation of One UI 8.5, which introduced Creative Studio for AI photo edits and wallpapers, AI Call Screening, and real-time voicemail transcripts. One UI 8.5 also integrated a smarter Bixby powered by Perplexity, Privacy Alerts for location-overusing apps, and Quick Share compatibility with Apple's AirDrop.
The full rollout of One UI 9 will begin next month following the Galaxy Unpacked event.
