Samsung has opened a beta program for One UI 9, the Android 17‑based skin destined for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. The rollout begins this week in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the U.K. and the U.S., with participants signing up through the Samsung Members app. Early adopters will get a first look at the next‑gen interface.

New tools arrive in familiar apps. Samsung Contacts now embeds Creative Studio, an AI art generator that lets users craft custom profile cards on the fly. The Quick Panel gains separate toggles for brightness, sound and media playback, while Samsung Notes adds fresh pen line styles and decorative tape options for personal flair.

Accessibility sees a boost with a unified TalkBack voice guidance package that merges Samsung’s and Google’s separate solutions. Text Spotlight can now float over other windows, and Mouse Key speed becomes adjustable, easing navigation for users with limited dexterity. Security also tightens: the system will automatically flag high‑risk apps, block suspicious files and suggest remediation steps.

By pushing One UI 9 out ahead of the official Android 17 reveal, Samsung aims to lock in early feedback and differentiate the S26 line from rivals. The beta’s feature set—AI‑driven creativity, granular controls and hardened security—signals a shift toward more personalized, privacy‑centric experiences on flagship Android devices.