Samsung Is Expanding the One UI 9 Beta to 10 More Galaxy Phones

Samsung announced on September 1, 2026, a significant expansion of its One UI 9 beta program, bringing the Android 17-based software to a wide range of Galaxy devices. Following months of testing with the Galaxy S26 series, the company is now offering early access to One UI 9 on older flagships, foldable phones, and select mid-range models across multiple markets. The expansion represents a major step toward the stable rollout of One UI 9, which already ships on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra. For beta testers, this is an opportunity to experience the latest Samsung software before its official public release.

A Broad Device Roster Gets Early Access

The newly eligible devices for the One UI 9 Beta Program include: Galaxy S25 series: Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Galaxy S25 FE Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 (the latest foldables) Beyond the official announcement, additional reporting indicates that the beta program is also available or rolling out to: Galaxy S24 series (S24, S24+, S24 Ultra) Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 (previous-generation foldables) Galaxy A57 5G (mid-range device) In total, Samsung is providing beta access to well over a dozen devices spanning three years of product generations. This breadth represents an unusually generous beta program, bringing devices ranging from the flagship S25 Ultra down to the budget-conscious Galaxy A57.

Global Availability Starting in September

The One UI 9 beta will roll out in select markets beginning in September 2026, with confirmed availability in: India South Korea United Kingdom United States Availability and timing may vary by market and device, Samsung noted. Users interested in participating can enroll through the Samsung Members app, where they'll find the Beta Program banner under Notices. After enrollment, the beta update should appear in Settings > Software Update within approximately 10 minutes.

One UI 9: Android 17 Arrives

One UI 9 is Samsung's customized interface built on top of Google's Android 17, which launched earlier this year. The software already reached stable release status on Samsung's latest foldable devices (Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Flip 8) when they debuted on July 22, 2026. Key features in One UI 9 include: AI-powered interface refinements that adapt to user behavior Enhanced Gallery app with a floating selection box supporting up to 15 images for easier multi-image review New Bixby activation method allowing voice commands by bringing the phone closer to your face (in addition to existing wake-word activation) Improved system efficiency and battery management optimizations New Samsung Notes features including a Tape function for covering and revealing parts of notes The software emphasizes AI integration across the interface, reflecting Samsung's broader push to position One UI as an AI-first operating system. However, most headline features remain under-the-hood refinements focused on performance, efficiency, and system smoothness rather than dramatically redesigned user-facing features.

Why the Early Beta Expansion Matters

The rollout to older devices signals that Samsung considers One UI 9 sufficiently stable for broader testing. The Galaxy S26 series has been running the beta since May, accumulating months of real-world usage data and bug reports. Beta 5 and subsequent releases have refined the software significantly. By opening the beta to Galaxy S25 devices—which are essentially the same hardware as the S26 series but with a year-old processor—Samsung can gather additional validation data while preparing for the stable rollout. Following the pattern of previous years, the stable release should arrive within weeks of beta expansion.

How to Enroll in the Beta Program

Users with eligible devices can join the One UI 9 beta through a straightforward process: Open the Samsung Members app Navigate to Notices Look for the One UI Beta Program banner Follow the on-screen instructions and agree to terms and conditions Tap Enroll to confirm participation After enrollment, check Settings > Software Update within 10 minutes for the beta update to appear. Beta builds typically arrive as over-the-air updates, though downloads can be large (often hundreds of megabytes). Samsung recommends ensuring stable Wi-Fi connectivity and adequate free storage before installing.

Important Considerations for Beta Users

Samsung explicitly recommends backing up your device before installing a beta version. Beta software often contains bugs, instability, battery drain, overheating issues, or other problems that could impact daily usability. Users should not install betas on devices they rely on as daily drivers—these are test builds, not production-ready software. Previous beta cycles have sometimes included significant bugs that were resolved only in later beta releases. Users should anticipate potential problems and be willing to troubleshoot or report issues to Samsung.

Timeline Expectations

Based on Samsung's historical pattern, here's what to expect: September 2026: Beta expansion to S25, S24, Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 series and mid-range devices Late September 2026: Stable rollout likely for Galaxy S26 series Late September to early October 2026: Stable rollout to Galaxy S25 series October 2026: Broader rollout to Galaxy S24 series and older foldables However, Samsung has not officially committed to these dates. Stable releases depend on bug fixes, security patches, and Samsung's internal testing schedule. The company could accelerate or delay rollouts based on development progress.

A Generous Beta Window

Samsung's decision to provide beta access across multiple device families and generation spans—from 2024 flagships to mid-range phones released in 2026—suggests confidence in One UI 9's stability. This approach also maximizes real-world testing diversity, catching edge cases and hardware-specific issues that only emerge when millions of users run the software on different devices. For Samsung enthusiasts and power users, the expanded beta program represents an opportunity to get hands-on with One UI 9 months before general availability. For the company, it's a final validation push before the stable rollout that will reach hundreds of millions of devices globally. If you own any of the eligible devices and want to try Android 17 with Samsung's latest software refinements, the beta program is now open in your market.