Phone and OS

Samsung is already preparing its next major software update, One UI 9, based on Android 17. Google seeded the first Android 17 beta on February 13, 2026, and early One UI 9 test builds reportedly appeared soon after on Samsung’s internal servers. The company is still preparing One UI 8.5 for wider public release, but work on the Android 17-based upgrade appears to be moving quickly. For Galaxy users, the main question is simple: which phones and tablets are likely to receive One UI 9? Samsung has not announced an official One UI 9 rollout schedule or eligibility list yet. However, the company’s current software update policy, early test builds and previous rollout patterns give a fairly clear idea of which Galaxy devices are likely to make the cut. When could One UI 9 launch? Samsung is expected to open the first One UI 9 public beta for its latest flagship phones. The Galaxy S26 series is likely to be first in line, followed by the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 lineups. A beta release cou...

Samsung has said it never formally announced April 30 as the rollout date for One UI 8.5, after widespread rumors led users to expect the stable update to arrive that day. The clarification came from a moderator on Samsung’s US community forum. The moderator said the April 30 timeline was based on community speculation and past rollout patterns, not an official announcement from the company. Samsung said the One UI 8.5 rollout is still being finalized and no release date has been confirmed. The company said it prioritizes testing results before committing to an update schedule, with final approval resting with its lab engineers. The extended beta testing period has made the software nearly stable, according to the company, but Samsung said engineers must complete their evaluations before clearing the update for public release. Regional factors also appear to have influenced the rollout. South Korea observed Labor Day on May 1, and a rollout on April 30 could have left Samsung with limi...