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Samsung decided to be proactive without waiting for official steps from Google. Yesterday, the company launched beta testing of the new One UI 9 shell for owners of Galaxy S26 smartphones, which symbolically coincided with the presentation of Android 17 at the Google I/O conference. The program is initially available in six countries, including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, and Poland. You can become a member of the test through the Samsung Members app.
The test version is based on the latest Android 17 and includes Galaxy S26, S26+, and the top-of-the-line S26 Ultra. Key updates include the integration of the Creative Studio tool directly into the Contacts app, which allows you to create personalized profile cards using AI technologies. In addition, the developers have rethought the Quick Access Panel, where the brightness, sound, and media player controls are now divided into separate elements, making them much more convenient to manage.
The update also touches on special features: the TalkBack voice assistant now combines solutions from Google and Samsung into one package, the Text Spotlight feature is now available in floating windows, and the mouse key speed is now adjustable. An important step in strengthening security was the automatic detection of suspicious software that blocks the installation and launch of dangerous files by proactively offering protective measures.
Samsung’s move to release the Android 17 beta at the same time as Google’s announcement of the operating system itself is a well-thought-out strategy. It demonstrates that Samsung is working on the software at the closest possible pace with Android developers, ensuring that the Galaxy S26 line is among the first devices to receive the final stable version of the system. This maneuver also emphasizes Samsung’s independence in developing its own services and AI features that are not tied to Google’s schedules. Such innovations as Creative Studio, unified TalkBack, and proactive security are the company’s own developments that expand the capabilities of the basic Android 17.
The introduction of Creative Studio in Contacts seems to be a logical development of this tool, which previously existed separately in One UI 8.5 for creating wallpapers or stickers. Now users can generate stylized avatars and unique images for their contacts without leaving the phone book. For those who pay attention to personalizing their call list, this will be a useful addition. As for the UI, the previous version of the Quick Access Panel often grouped settings in such a way that you had to make unnecessary taps to simply change the brightness or volume. In One UI 9, these controls are now autonomous, which reduces the number of manipulations during daily use of the smartphone.
The most practically significant update for the average user is the system of preventive detection of high-risk programs. Instead of reacting to existing problems, One UI 9 identifies suspicious activity in real time, instantly blocking questionable files and giving advice on how to proceed. This feature is especially aimed at combating dangerous APK files downloaded from third-party resources, acting much more rigorously than previous system protection mechanisms. However, it is worth remembering that beta versions may contain bugs, so it is recommended to back up your data before installing and not to use this software on your main device to perform critical tasks.
Read also:
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Reference Flagship Without Major Changes
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Review: Most Compact Flagship with Minimal Changes
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus Review: Is It Worth the Price?