Samsung has begun rolling out the stable One UI 9 based on Android 17 for some Galaxy phones. This update comes almost three months after Android 17 was released for Google Pixel phones and initially targets Samsung's new flagships.
According to ITna quoting Techadvisor, per Samsung's official announcement, the Galaxy S26 series are the first phones to receive the stable One UI 9. The list includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Separately, Android 17 comes preinstalled on the Galaxy S26 FE and the new foldables including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Flip 8.
One of the most important parts of One UI 9 is the suite of AI-based features. NowNudge allows users to take actions based on the content of a conversation, such as creating a calendar event or booking a restaurant directly from within messages. The NowBrief feature also provides useful daily information like sleep status, weather, upcoming appointments, and podcast suggestions in the form of a summary and can be customized.
The My FanCam feature is also designed for video recording. This feature can automatically keep a person selected by the user centered in the frame and by continuously adjusting the frame, reduces shake and subject exit from the shot.
Samsung has also added a new Warranty and Care option to Settings that allows viewing the warranty status of connected devices and running diagnostic tests to identify issues.
Security and privacy have also been addressed in One UI 9. The Security Brief warns about threats such as malware, apps installed from unknown sources, and apps requesting unnecessary permissions. Samsung also uses AI to provide privacy alerts to identify potential risks of other apps or services accessing personal data.
To manually install the update, eligible users should go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. More phones such as the Galaxy S25 series, S24 series, and Galaxy Z7 series are expected to receive One UI 9 in the coming weeks. The S23 series will also be eligible for this update, and Android 17 will be its final major OS update; in contrast, the S22 series will no longer receive major OS updates and will only continue to receive security updates.