One UI 9 could boost security with MTE but slow down your phone

A recent in-depth analysis of Samsung's Auto Blocker app suggests the company plans to improve security in the upcoming One UI 9 update by introducing Memory Tagging Extension (MTE).

The feature is embedded in CPUs based on the ARMv9 architecture. It already exists in Google's Pixel 8 phones and newer models but hasn’t been used by Samsung yet.

Memory Tagging Extension enhances security by detecting and mitigating memory safety bugs. For example, it can prevent UAF (use-after-free) memory corruption vulnerabilities.

Strings of code in Samsung's Auto Blocker app hint at how the feature is supposed to work.

However, even on phones where MTE is available, it isn’t enabled by default. Pixel users must turn it on via the hidden Developer Options menu.

So what gives? If MTE is so useful, why isn’t it always on? Samsung's code gives us a hint. “This [feature] can reduce your phone's performance,” says the company.

It’s a tradeoff future One UI 9 users may soon face. We expect MTE will also be off by default in One UI 9, assuming it actually gets implemented.

Will we choose MTE for improved security and system/app stability? Or keep it off to avoid potential performance loss? Time will tell. It depends on the performance hit and whether some Galaxy phones are more affected than others. One UI 9 should debut this summer, so we may find out soon.