Second Wave of One UI 9 Beta Brings Android 17 Features to More Galaxy S26 Users
Samsung is pushing ahead with the second wave of its One UI 9 beta, bringing Android 17 features to more Samsung Galaxy S26 owners. The company has confirmed that the next rollout phase begins on May 26, with users able to enroll via the Samsung Members app once the beta appears for their devices. Initially launched for the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, the One UI 9 beta introduces Samsung’s early take on Android 17 while the stable One UI 8.5 continues to land on older models. This staggered approach suggests that broader One UI 9 beta support will follow later, likely closer to the launch of Samsung’s next flagship phones. For now, the focus is on collecting feedback from Galaxy S26 users as Samsung refines interface changes, tests new AI-driven features, and evaluates how aggressively it can roll out its latest Samsung security updates in this Android 17-based build.
Quick Panel Redesign and Granular Customization Options
One of the most noticeable changes in the One UI 9 beta is the Quick Panel redesign. Samsung now lets users resize multiple modules, including brightness, sound, and media player controls, offering more control over layout and emphasis. Each module can be independently adjusted and rearranged, allowing users to prioritize what they access most often instead of relying on a fixed grid. This flexibility aligns One UI more closely with widget-style customization that competing platforms have offered for some time. Beyond Quick Panel tweaks, the beta enables personalization of a profile card directly from the Contacts app through a shortcut into Creative Studio, making it easier to create a consistent visual identity across calls and messages. Together, these Android 17 features and Samsung-specific touches move One UI 9 toward a more modular interface, where users can fine-tune the look and behavior of everyday controls without diving deep into settings menus.
AI Tools, Samsung Notes Enhancements, and Creative Studio Integration
While Samsung has not fully detailed every Galaxy AI upgrade planned for One UI 9, the current beta already lays groundwork for smarter, more creative workflows. Within Samsung Notes, users gain new pen line styles and decorative tape effects that make journaling, sketching, or annotating documents more expressive. More importantly, Creative Studio tools are now embedded inside Notes, so users can build profile cards or stylized layouts without flipping between multiple apps. This integration hints at broader AI-assisted design and content creation features that Samsung says will arrive as One UI 9 matures. Combined with Android 17 features under the hood, these changes point toward an ecosystem where AI helps personalize layouts, suggest visual styles, and streamline routine note-taking. For Galaxy S26 owners participating in the One UI 9 beta, Samsung Notes becomes both a richer canvas and an early testbed for how AI will be woven into everyday productivity.
Security, Accessibility, and the Road to Stable One UI 9
Security and accessibility are key pillars of the second One UI 9 beta rollout. Samsung has boosted its proactive defenses so the software can detect suspicious or high-risk apps before they cause harm. When a threat is identified, the system warns users, blocks installation or execution, and may recommend removing the risky app altogether while users wait for upcoming Samsung security updates. On the accessibility side, Samsung is merging some of its TalkBack capabilities with Android’s default screen reader features, reducing duplication and improving consistency. Users who rely on mice, especially in DeX mode, gain new cursor speed controls, while a Text Spotlight tool magnifies selected text in a floating window for easier reading. These updates underscore that One UI 9 is not just a visual refresh; it is also a platform-level refinement that tightens security, improves usability, and prepares the Galaxy S26 lineup for the eventual stable release of Samsung’s next major interface overhaul.