Samsung Galaxy users: What One UI 9 means for your phone
By Trizer Lijondo, September 24, 2026Samsung Galaxy users are beginning to see changes coming to their devices as the company rolls out One UI 9, the latest software update based on Android 17.
Samsung began the official rollout on September 16, starting with the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra, following its debut on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8 and Z Flip8. The company has said the update will gradually reach more Galaxy devices and markets. According to Samsung, One UI 9 focuses on artificial intelligence, personalisation, security and making everyday tasks easier.
New features coming to Galaxy phones
One of the notable additions is My FanCam, which can automatically track a selected person in a recorded video and keep them centred as they move. The feature could make it easier for users to create social media-ready videos without manually adjusting the frame.
Samsung has also introduced changes to Now Brief, allowing users to create more personalised cards around information such as health, weather and videos.
The update also expands several Galaxy AI functions. Now Nudge can provide context-aware suggestions, while Creative Studio can suggest ideas for generating images around upcoming events. Samsung has also introduced improvements to translation, document scanning and Voice Recorder.
Security and privacy get more attention
One UI 9 also brings changes aimed at helping users keep track of what is happening on their devices.
Samsung says Security Brief can highlight issues such as malware, apps installed from unknown sources and unnecessary permissions. Privacy Alerts can also use on-device AI to identify potential privacy risks, including attempts by apps to access permissions in the background.
The update also introduces Warranty and Care within Settings, allowing users on supported devices to check warranty information, run diagnostics and access repair-related services.
When will your phone get One UI 9?
The rollout is being done in phases, meaning Galaxy users will not necessarily receive the update at the same time.
Samsung has expanded One UI 9 beta testing beyond the latest flagship phones to devices including the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7. Tech-ish has also reported public beta testing on several A-series phones, including the Galaxy A57, A56, A55, A36, A35, A25 and A15 5G.
For users waiting for the stable version, the availability will depend on the specific Galaxy model, market and carrier. This means seeing One UI 9 listed for a particular Galaxy phone does not necessarily mean the update is already available in Kenya.