Samsung has begun early testing of One UI 9.5 for the Galaxy S26 series: a firmware build ending in CHZ1 is now in development, according to Tarun Vats.
One UI 9.5 testing underway
One UI 9.0, based on Android 17, officially debuted earlier this month with Samsung’s new Galaxy Z foldables, while the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra have been part of the One UI 9 beta program since May. Despite that ongoing beta, development on One UI 9.5 is already underway for the S26 lineup.
One UI 8.5 development for the Galaxy S25 series did not begin until mid-September last year, a timeline that suggests Samsung may be moving faster this cycle. As a result, the official One UI 9.5 beta could also arrive earlier than its predecessor, which launched in early December 2025.
Where One UI 9 stands now
For now, attention remains on One UI 9: Samsung is expected to issue at least one more beta update for the Galaxy S26 series and to expand the program to the Galaxy S25 series and other older devices. If you want One UI 9 immediately, the only current option is to buy a Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra or Z Flip 8; all three foldables are now on sale worldwide and include several features not yet available in the One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 lineup.
