Last updated: March 16th, 2026 at 09:14 UTC+01:00
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It will be based on Android 17 and bring several improvements.
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Max Jambor / SamMobile
Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S26 series with One UI 8.5 onboard. The phones in the lineup were the first Galaxy devices to run the stable version of the new software. Now, the first One UI 9 build has appeared for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, marking an important milestone in the development of Samsung’s next major software update.
The first One UI 9 build for the Galaxy S26 Ultra was spotted (via Tarun Vats) on Samsung’s servers. It carries a firmware version ending in BZC5 for the global variant of the phone (SM-S948B) and has a download size of around 2.6GB.
This indicates that Samsung has started development of the Android 17-based One UI 9 update for its latest flagship smartphone. We managed to install this build on our Galaxy S26 Ultra, and you can see some screenshots below.
Max Jambor / SamMobile
One UI 9 running on the Galaxy S26 Ultra – Source: Max Jambor / SamMobile
Google recently released Android 17 Beta 2, following the first beta version that arrived last month. The update introduces several underlying improvements, including enhancements to app windowing, support for lock screen widgets, and better adaptability for apps across different screen sizes.
It also adds security features such as SMS OTP protection and Advanced Protection Mode. In addition, Android 17 introduces split notifications and quick settings in stock Android.
Samsung is expected to release the stable version of Android 17 in mid-2026 alongside the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Before that happens, the company could open the One UI 9 Beta Program for the Galaxy S26 series.
Asif is a computer engineer turned technology journalist. He has been using Samsung phones since 2004, and his current smartphone is the Galaxy S23 Ultra. He loves headphones, mechanical keyboards, and PC hardware. When not writing about technology, he likes watching crime and science fiction movies and TV shows.
