Samsung has started rolling out One UI 9, its custom version of Android 17, specially tailored for its Galaxy line of phones.
The new Android version is already preloaded on the newest Google Pixel phones, and now, three months later, Samsung is rolling the update out to its phones.
One UI 9 brings a slew of new features (which we'll cover later in this article), and, unsurprisingly, most of them further enhance the phones' AI capabilities.
However, even if AI doesn't excite you, the update still adds features you might find interesting.
So which Samsung models get the update first? Which ones get it a little later? And which models stay behind? Here are all the details.
Galaxy phones that already have One UI 9
Samsung's newest phones already have the update folded in
If you own one of Samsung's shiny new foldables (the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, or Z Flip 8), One UI 9 is preinstalled and ready to go. No update needed.
The Galaxy S26 line started getting the update on September 16 in South Korea, and as of September 23, it's reaching the US, starting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra on T-Mobile. If your S26 is unlocked or on AT&T or Verizon, you'll have to wait a little longer.
The Galaxy S25 and Z7 series are next in line
Samsung promises 'within September,' whatever that means
The original plan for the global rollout was September 21. That moved to September 28, and now the official date for the Galaxy S26 line is "within September." Whatever that means.
If you own a Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge, or S25 FE, the update should arrive by the end of the month. Feel free to check from time to time.
The same goes for owners of Samsung's previous foldables, the Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7.
Everything else that's getting One UI 9
Expected, but Samsung hasn't dated them yet
Many more Samsung devices should get the One UI 9 update at some later, yet unannounced date. Realistically, we can expect these toward the end of the year, with the newest first. They include:
- Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, and S24 FE
- Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, and S23 FE
- Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 5, and Z Flip 5
- A series: Galaxy A57, A56, A55, A54, A37, A36, A35, A34, A26, A25, A24, A17, A16, A15, A07, and A06
- Tablets: Galaxy Tab S11, Tab S10, and Tab S9 series, Tab A11, and Tab A9+
- Rugged phones: Galaxy XCover 7, XCover 7 Pro, and XCover 6 Pro
Galaxy phones that won't get One UI 9
The Galaxy S22 and S21 FE age out
Not every Samsung device will receive this update. The Galaxy S22 and S21 FE are staying on One UI 8, since they've used up their four major Android updates.
How to check for One UI 9 on your Galaxy
It arrives in waves, so keep checking
Here's how to check whether your phone has the One UI 9 update:
- Open .
- Tap Software update.
- Tap Download and install.
If the update appears, tap . If it doesn't, your turn hasn't arrived yet. Wait and try again later.
When the update arrives, keep in mind it's a big download (about 4GB on the S26 Ultra). Make sure you're on Wi-Fi (not your cellular network), have enough free space, and keep the phone plugged in so it doesn't run out of battery mid-update.
What One UI 9 adds with Galaxy AI
Samsung's headline features are mostly about AI
Here are some of the interesting features arriving with One UI 9:
- Tap any person in a video, and you get a new version of the same video with the camera focused on them.
- Context-aware suggestions across the phone. Talk to a friend about the restaurant you're eating at tonight, and the phone pulls up the reservation inside the chat.
- Moving shapes at the edges of the screen react to the car's motion, so you don't get carsick scrolling in the back seat.
- The phone's AI now warns you when an app tries to use your camera, mic, or other permissions in the background.
But it's not all about AI. The update also lets you add a search bar at the bottom of the home screen to find apps, contacts, settings, files, and calendar entries.
There's a customizable quick settings panel, improved document scanning, an option to book a phone repair from Settings, and plenty of small quality-of-life improvements.
On top of that, you get all the smaller changes from Android 17 underneath.
One UI 9 is running late, but it's coming
It might arrive a little later than Samsung initially promised, but it is coming, and this update seems substantial.
So, whether it arrives on your phone in the next couple of days or by the end of the year, the wait is worth it, if only for My FanCam.
Keep an eye on your Software update screen. Good luck.