TL;DR Samsung has started developing One UI 9, its next major interface update based on Android 17, with early internal builds already appearing on company servers.
The first firmware build (BZC5) for the Galaxy S26 series confirms Samsung has begun internal testing of the new software.
Samsung just kicked off global sales of its latest flagship phones last week, but the company is already moving on to the next big software update. Early signs suggest that work on One UI 9, based on Android 17, has quietly begun, and the first internal builds have appeared on Samsung’s servers.
According to tipster Tarun Vats on X, the first internal One UI 9 firmware for the Galaxy S26 series has shown up on Samsung’s servers.
This build, labeled BZC5, confirms that Samsung has begun internal testing of the Android 17-based software.
Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a favorite source in Google Discover to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more.
to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more. You can also set us as a preferred source in Google Search by clicking the button below.
There aren’t any big changes yet. Early builds usually have some rough spots, and this one is no different. So far, the visual updates are small. Max Jambor posted on X about slightly larger brightness and volume sliders in the Quick Panel on his Galaxy S26 Ultra, and a settings change that puts Parental Controls in its own section instead of under Digital Wellbeing.
Bigger sliders for brightness and volume in One UI 9 Parental controls are now a separate section in One UI 9 Parental controls in One UI 9
If this seems early, it’s because Samsung has been changing how it releases new versions of One UI. In the past, the Galaxy S series usually launched with the latest Android version. Now, Samsung seems to be matching its schedule more closely with Google’s Android releases.
... continue reading