Samsung has started testing the next major Android update for its Galaxy devices. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra launched only recently with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16.
The first internal build of One UI 9, based on Android 17, has been spotted for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, confirming that development is underway.
According to reports, the early test build appeared on Samsung’s servers with a firmware version ending in BZC5 for the global model (SM-S948B).
The file is around 2.6GB, suggesting it is an internal testing version rather than a public release.
If Samsung follows a similar timeline to previous releases, the One UI 9 beta program for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series could begin around May or June 2026.
The stable version is expected to arrive later in the year, possibly alongside the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Samsung has not officially announced the update yet, and the timeline may still change as development continues. Stay tuned.
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