Samsung’s next big Galaxy update is starting to feel less like a distant promise and more like something millions of users should prepare for now.
Samsung appears to be moving closer to expanding One UI 9 to more Galaxy phones, with new beta builds reportedly spotted for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic this week.
According to Forbes, Samsung update tracker Tarun Vats spotted fresh One UI 9 beta builds across several device families within hours of each other.
The report said the Galaxy S25 public beta now looks especially close, while the Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy S25 FE are also progressing toward their own beta programs.
Samsung One UI 9 Beta Builds Point to a Wider Release
The Galaxy S26 series is still the furthest along in Samsung’s One UI 9 testing cycle.
Android Authority reported earlier this month that Samsung released the fifth One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 series, bringing bug fixes and the August 2026 security patch.
Forbes now reports that a newer Galaxy S26 build suggests Samsung may be preparing a sixth beta. That means the stable version may still need more testing before it reaches everyone.
The bigger update is for Galaxy S25 owners.
A new beta build reportedly appeared on Samsung’s servers after the internal build cleared Google Play Protect certification. That usually signals that Samsung is getting closer to opening public testing.
Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 FE owners may have to wait a little longer, but both devices are reportedly moving in the same direction.
What One UI 9 Adds to Galaxy Phones
Samsung’s official One UI 9 page lists several major features coming with the update, though availability may vary by device, region and language.
One of the headline tools is Now Nudge, which gives real-time prompts based on what the user is doing.
For example, it can suggest opening Calendar, saving a place to Maps or moving to the next action without forcing the user to switch apps manually.
Another new feature is My FanCam, which lets users record a wide video first, then reframe it later around a specific person inside the Gallery app.
Photo Assist is also getting voice instructions, letting users describe edits out loud instead of typing prompts.
Samsung also lists privacy-focused features such as AI Assistant Activity, which shows what apps an AI assistant accessed, and AI Privacy Alerts, which can warn users about apps that may be overusing location or background permissions.
Not Every Galaxy Phone May Get Every AI Feature
The update may be free, but the full feature list may not be the same on every device.
Forbes noted that some One UI 9 features could remain tied to newer flagship models, especially as Samsung uses AI features to separate current devices from older ones. Samsung’s own One UI page also says feature availability can vary depending on device model, language and region.
That makes the upcoming Galaxy S26 FE launch worth watching. Samsung has confirmed a Galaxy event for August 27, where it is expected to introduce the latest member of the Galaxy S26 family.
Reports suggest the Galaxy S26 FE could become an early test of which One UI 9 AI features Samsung brings to cheaper models.
One UI 9.5 Is Already Being Planned
Even as One UI 9 is still moving through beta testing for many devices, Samsung is reportedly already working on One UI 9.5.
SamMobile reported that Samsung is testing a feature called My Custom Widget, which could let users combine information from Samsung apps like Calendar and Messages into a personalized widget layout. The feature is reportedly tied to Samsung’s next x.5 software update and may arrive with a larger visual refresh next year.
That suggests One UI 9 may be more about AI, security and usability upgrades, while One UI 9.5 could bring bigger design changes.
When Should Galaxy Users Check for the Update?
Galaxy S25 users should watch the Samsung Members app for beta invitations. Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 FE users may follow after that, based on the latest reports.
- To check manually, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install, then tap Check for updates.
As of this writing, Samsung has not announced the full public rollout schedule for One UI 9 on the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S25 FE. But with multiple beta builds now appearing, the update is clearly moving closer.
via: Forbes | Samsung | Android Authority | Android Central | SamMobile
