One UI 9 beta arrives to give Galaxy S26 owners a taste of Android 17
One UI 9 beta arrives to give Galaxy S26 owners a taste of Android 17
Publish Date: 2026-05-12 09:36:00
Source Domain: www.androidcentral.com
What you need to know
- Samsung has officially launched the One UI 9 Beta program, giving Galaxy S26 users first access to Android 17 features.
- One UI 9 adds more customization tools in Samsung Notes, including decorative tapes and new pen styles.
- The beta program is rolling out first in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the U.S. through the Samsung Members app.
After much anticipation, Samsung is finally pulling back the curtains on its next big software chapter, and it looks like the wait for Android 17 is entering its home stretch. Samsung has just announced the launch of the One UI 9 Beta program, and if you’re sporting a Galaxy S26, you’re first in line to witness how Samsung is rethinking the mobile experience this year.
While most of us are still waiting on stable One UI 8.5 rollouts, Samsung is already beta testing the next big thing. And it’s not shy about what’s new.
Samsung Notes now has decorative tapes and extra pen line styles. The Contacts app now links directly to Creative Studio, so you can build custom profile cards without jumping between apps. That said, Creative Studio still needs a separate install and Samsung Account login, but once set up, it’s seamless.
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Android Central’s Take
Faster betas and earlier testing should mean less delays and faster access to Android 17 features. However, while shipping betas early sounds good on paper, it won’t mean anything if the firm goes back to its delayed…
