Samsung has officially kicked off the One UI 9 Beta program, giving Galaxy fans an early look at its next major software update built on Android 17. After announcing the beta yesterday, Samsung said the first rollout would begin “this week” for Galaxy S26 series users across Germany, India, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the US. While the company didn’t initially share a precise release time, the first beta build is now appearing for eligible devices.
One UI 9 Beta 1 arrives as a sizable 3.6GB download and includes the May 5, 2026 security patch level. That combination suggests Samsung is aiming to deliver not only new features and interface refinements, but also up-to-date security improvements from the very first beta release.
Samsung is putting its attention on improvements across roughly a dozen areas in One UI 9, focusing on everyday usability, customization, and productivity. One of the standout upgrades in this first beta is an enhanced Samsung DeX experience, including refreshed desktop previews designed to make DeX feel more polished and PC-like when you connect your phone to a monitor.
Customization also gets a boost. One UI 9 Beta 1 introduces additional Quick Panel options, giving users more control over the layout and behavior of the toggle and shortcut area. These added Quick Panel customizations are especially notable because some flexibility in this area was missing in the previous One UI generation, making this a welcome return for users who like tailoring their interface.
If you own a Galaxy S26 model in one of the supported countries, keep an eye on the Samsung Members app and your software update section as the One UI 9 Beta rollout continues through the week. As with most beta programs, availability can vary by region, carrier, and device variant, and the update may arrive in waves rather than all at once.
With the first One UI 9 Beta now landing, Samsung’s Android 17 update cycle is officially underway—and early signs point to a release focused on smarter customization and a more capable DeX for productivity-minded users.
