One UI 9 enters beta, Samsung Galaxy S26 series users first to get access

Samsung has announced that One UI 9, their upcoming version of their mobile operating system, is entering beta. It’s built on the new Android 17, and those on the Galaxy S26 series will be the first devices able to access the One UI 9 beta program.

According to Samsung, the One UI 9 beta brings with it several new features and updates across various areas. For starters, the Samsung Notes app now has new creative tools, such as more pen line styles and decorative tapes. The Contacts app meanwhile will offer direct access to the Creative Studio for creating personalised profile cards without needing to switch apps.

The Quick Panel has also been updated with users now able to better adjust the layout. Everything from brightness and sound to the media player can each be independently adjusted, with more size options to suit your preference.

There’s new accessibility tools too, with an adjustable Mouse Key speed for better cursor control, while Text Spotlight can help enlarge selected text or even highlight it in a floating window for easier reading. That’s on top of several other security fixes and improvements.

However, Malaysians with a Galaxy S26 will need to wait for a bit longer. At time of writing, Samsung has only opened up the One UI 9 beta program in select markets, which include Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the US. Once Malaysian users do get access though, you may apply for the beta program via the Samsung Members app.

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