Samsung’s One UI 9 brings many of the same updates to the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S26 series, including new Galaxy AI tools, home‑screen and system customization, and several camera improvements — though the S26 retains a few camera and mode advantages after the update. The S26 line launched with One UI 8.5, so some camera features were already available there and One UI 9 extends more of that functionality to the S25 series.
One UI 9: shared Galaxy AI and system changes
Both lineups receive Galaxy AI features My FanCam, Call Brief, and custom cards for Now Brief. My FanCam can take an existing group recording and create a cropped version that follows a selected person; you can choose who to follow after recording, including videos already in the Gallery. Call Brief can display relevant information during calls — for example a shared calendar event or the local time when calling internationally — though it does not show a card on every call. Custom Now Brief cards let users choose items such as weather, health, or video information and schedule when a card appears.
Home screen and system updates are also shared. You can add a Finder bar to the home screen to search apps, settings, files and other phone content without opening the app drawer. Bixby widgets provide a way to type or speak to Bixby while keeping Gemini assigned to the power button. Both series gain more Quick Panel customization, easier desktop management in DeX, and a Warranty and care menu for warranty information and support.
Camera changes and S26 exclusives
One UI 9 brings Super steady with Horizontal Lock to the Galaxy S25 series; the S26 series already offered this feature on One UI 8.5. With Horizontal Lock enabled, video remains level even when you tilt or rotate the phone. Both lineups also get a new vertical split layout for dual recording in Video mode, expanding on the picture‑in‑picture and horizontal layout options available on One UI 8.5.
However, the S26 series keeps some exclusive camera options. In Pro video mode at Full HD and UHD resolutions, the S26 can record at 120, 60, 48, 30, 24, 100, 50 and 25 fps, while the S25 is limited to 120, 60, 30 and 24 fps. At 8K resolution the S26 adds a 25 fps option alongside 30 and 24 fps. The S26 lineup also lets you enable 24MP resolution in standard Photo mode through Samsung’s Camera Assistant app; the Camera Assistant remains missing on the Galaxy S25 after the One UI 9 update. S25 owners can still shoot at 24MP but must use the separate Expert RAW app to do so.
What the FE models miss
The Galaxy S25 FE does not receive Call Brief after updating, and the Galaxy S26 FE also does not support Call Brief despite launching with One UI 9.
