Recently, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 series with One UI 8.5 onboard. The lineup is made up of the first Galaxy devices to run the stable version of the new software.
The first One UI 9 build has been released for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It will be based on Android 17 and feature many improvements. This is actually a big success in the development of Samsung’s next key software update.
The first One UI 9 build for the Galaxy S26 Ultra was spotted (via Tarun Vats) on Samsung’s servers. It comes with a firmware version ending in BZC5 for the global variant of the phone (SM-S948B) and features a download size of around 2.6GB.
This development reveals that Samsung has begun the development of the Android 17-based One UI 9 update for its latest flagship smartphone.
Furthermore, Google recently unveiled Android 17 Beta 2, following the first beta version that arrived in February. The update reveals many underlying improvements. These include enhancements to app windowing, support for lock screen widgets, as well as better adaptability for apps across different screen sizes.
Moreover, it adds security features like SMS OTP protection and Advanced Protection Mode. Android 17 introduces split notifications and quick settings in stock Android.
It’s expected that Samsung will release the stable version of Android 17 in mid-2026. It’s also expected to be at the same time with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung is likely to open the One UI 9 Beta Programme for the Galaxy S26 series before then.
