One UI
Samsung’s One UI 9 Finder icon returns to One UI 8.5 design
June 17, 2026 | Samsung has recently released the third One UI 9 Beta update for the Galaxy S26 series. While everyone’s busy finding new features buried in the huge ~ 2GB update, our team discovered a silent design reversal.
The glow-up that Samsung’s Finder icon has in One UI 9 Beta has been lost in the One UI 9 Beta 3 version. The icon has returned to the design state it had in One UI 8.5, probably due to a bug, as the reversal doesn’t look fine at all.
Original story as follows
Samsung is Beta testing One UI 9 firmware, which brings big and small changes across the user interface. In particular, the Samsung Finder icon had also adopted a small tweak, which actually made a big visual impact.
Galaxy’s home screen brings a Samsung Finder icon tagged with page dots. It stays on the home screen to let you search within and outside the device. Samsung has amplified the aesthetics of the Finder icon in One UI 9.
Samsung Finder icon glows up in One UI 9
One UI 9 adopts a more refined Samsung Finder icon than One UI 8.5. The redesign has adopted a brighter appearance, which stands out.
Comparing the icons side-by-side in One UI 8.5 and One UI 9 reveals a major difference. The former looks boring next to the dynamically glowing version in One UI 9.
Samsung has retained the pill’s shape, internal component, and text. The change only applies to the entire look of the icon, which now displays wallpaper-inspired color as a background.
Image credit – Chanakya Shrutam of SammyFans
Samsung’s UI refinements are not just limited to minor tweaks. The new One UI 9 version has also cleaned up the entire Settings menu design. Tools and options have removed their descriptions on the main page for better clarity.
The Galaxy AI page, which consists of all the compatible tools, has also removed feature descriptions. Expanding a specific feature shows the relevant description, paving the way for the main menu to look cleaner than ever.
Next is Status bar, which is receiving major refinements for Galaxy user experience. The interface now features slightly larger icons for notifications. The text and icon have also applied a bolder shade of Black to match remaining visuals.
Samsung will unveil One UI 9 official update in late July 2026.
Samsung is getting ready to roll out the Android 17-based One UI 9 update to eligible Galaxy devices. If you have a Galaxy S23 Ultra and are wondering whether your phone will receive the One UI 9 update, the answer is yes.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is among the devices eligible for One UI 9, which is expected to arrive later this year. This update will bring several new features, including improved Galaxy AI tools, interface enhancements, better productivity options, and all the latest Android 17 enhancements.
However, One UI 9 is likely to be the last major Android update for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung launched the phone in 2023 with Android 13 and One UI 5.1, promising four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates. Since then, the device has received Android 14, Android 15, and Android 16.
With the arrival of Android 17 and One UI 9, Samsung will complete its promised software support for major Android upgrades. Even so, Galaxy S23 Ultra owners can expect security updates until early 2028.
Many users are also curious about One UI 9.5. While Samsung has not officially confirmed its plans, the update may not arrive for the Galaxy S23 series. That’s because Samsung has changed its software strategy.
Recent mid-cycle updates are built on Google’s Android Quarterly Platform Releases (QPR). This is also why the Galaxy S22 series did not receive One UI 8.5 after completing its major Android update cycle. If Samsung follows the same approach next year, the Galaxy S23 Ultra could miss One UI 9.5 as well.
Samsung just released the first software update based on the official One UI 9 version. The company’s newest foldables are benefiting from this rollout; however, it’s coming a week before the public release of the devices.
First update for Galaxy Z Fold 8 phones
Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra (probably the Z Flip 8 too) are receiving their first software update, which is based on official One UI 9.
Even though it landed on the verge of August, security patches date back to June 2026. The firmware size is over 600 megabytes, and the changelog content doesn’t specify the target changes beyond stability improvements.
That said, this update is aimed at early units of the devices. GregglesTV confirmed the rollout for Galaxy Z Fold 8, while tipster Kailash spotted the update for the Ultra version as well, making the Flip 8 also a beneficiary.
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 – F971NKSU1AZGI / F971USQU1AZGI
- Z Fold 8 Ultra – F976NKSU1AZGI / F976USQU1AZGI
Samsung is shipping its new Galaxy devices with Seamless Updates support. It significantly reduces the downtime while installing a firmware update, as most of the process completes without powering off the device.
Source – Greggles TV
One UI 9 Update Rollout
Samsung may keep the Stable One UI 9 update restricted to its new foldable phones for a specific period, which could be anything between weeks and months.
The public rollout begins on August 7, the date when the Z8 series goes on sale. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 series is gearing up to receive the fifth Beta firmware update in August.
Samsung also plans to expand the Beta Program in August 2026. Galaxy S25 series is ready to make the jump, while the Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 may also be preparing for their turn.
SammyFans Poll: Samsung’s One UI 9 software chapter has officially begun, but is it generating the usual excitement, or has update fatigue quietly set in among the fanbase?
One UI 9, built on top of Android 17, went official on July 22, 2026, arriving alongside the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 lineup. That launch was really just the opening move, as the real test starts now, as Samsung shifts from “new phones get it first” mode into the much bigger job of pushing the update out to the rest of its device lineup.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 series will see the full experience build land around August 7, and if past patterns hold, that will set the tone for how aggressively Samsung tackles the rest of the schedule.
Beta testing widens the net
Not everyone wants to wait for a new foldable to try new software, and Samsung knows that. The One UI 9 beta program is already active for the Galaxy S26 series in select markets, giving current flagship owners early access.
Galaxy S25 users should not feel left out for long either, with Beta access on the way soon. Once that happens, last year’s flagship buyers get their own hands on the latest software advancements and newly added AI features.
Even owners of the Galaxy S24 and S23 series aren’t being ignored. Internal testing is said to be progressing well behind the scenes, and a stable release for those devices could realistically show up as early as September.
One UI 9 brings refinement, not reinvention
What stands out about One UI 9 so far isn’t a dramatic redesign. It leans more toward Android 17 optimizations, smoother performance, and small but meaningful UI adjustments rather than anything that reshapes how the interface looks and feels.
So, where do you stand?
Are you genuinely looking forward to One UI 9, or has the excitement worn thin after years of iterative updates? Are you refreshing the Beta news daily, content to wait for the stable release, or simply happy running what you already have?
Vote in the poll below and let us know your thoughts in the X post’s comments!
#Poll: One UI updates used to feel huge. Now it's mostly subtle AI tweaks and minor UI changes.
How are you feeling about One UI 9 on your Galaxy?
— Sammy Fans – We ♥ Samsung! (@thesammyfans) July 31, 2026
Samsung launched One UI 9 Beta, but reserved its wearable iteration. Galaxy Unpacked is officially set for July 22, and the Android 17-based One UI 9 and Wear OS 7-based One UI 9 Watch will go official with new foldable phones and smartwatches.
One UI 9 Watch is set to deliver intelligent capabilities. The next-gen smartwatches are tailored for offering more personalized and adaptive experiences. Samsung will also share these new advancements with existing models.
One UI 9 Watch enters testing for existing smartwatches
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 will ship with One UI 9 Watch. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and Watch Ultra are the primary contenders for the One UI 9 Watch software update.
On July 8, Samsung started internal One UI 9 Watch testing for the Galaxy Watch 8 series. This info is derived from an early firmware discovery for the standard model, carrying build version L320XXU2BZG2.
The lineup includes a Classic variant as well, which should soon enter the streak. Samsung would take a couple of weeks for internal testing, and then a Beta Program will be opened for general users to help shape the firmware.
As of July 31, 2026, these Galaxy Watches are testing One UI 9 Watch:
Which Galaxy Watch models are eligible?
- Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, 44mm, and 46mm)
- Galaxy Watch Ultra
- Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm and 44mm)
- Galaxy Watch FE
- Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm and 44mm)
- Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm and 47mm)
- Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm and 44mm)
- Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Galaxy Watch 4 also runs Wear OS, but the lineup is unlikely to receive one more major upgrade. The firmware support is already on the verge of ending, and if you are still on the Watch 4, it’s time to consider upgrading to a newer model.
Samsung’s next One UI 9 Beta for Galaxy S26 series could benefit the Galaxy S25 series. The company is internally testing fresh Beta builds for the two flagship lineups, and the release window may share the same date.
On July 22, Samsung announced its new foldable phones, wearable devices, and software advancements. The July 22 Unpacked event had a dedicated showcase for One UI 9 improvements and new features.
Samsung testing One UI 9 Beta for Galaxy S25
One UI 9 Beta is being tested internally for the Galaxy S25 series. It started only after the launch of the official One UI 9 version. The company plans to expand the Beta Program to even more users over the next couple of weeks.
Galaxy S25 users are set to benefit hugely with the One UI 9 upgrade. The next software is expected to add plenty of new features from the Galaxy S26 series, including Now Nudge, Horizon Lock camera, and My FanCam.
Galaxy S25’s Beta is linked to Galaxy S26
Samsung will first push Galaxy S26 Beta 5 in August 2026. This release will likely follow the Beta Program’s launch for the Galaxy S25 series. That’s how the software rollout of two different product lineups is linked to each other.
On July 14, Samsung started rolling out the One UI 9 Beta 4 update to the Galaxy S26 series. The update included important improvements to various system functions.
The gap between the release of Beta 1 and Beta 2 and between Beta 2 and Beta 3 was nearly two weeks, which stretched to around four weeks between Beta 3 and Beta 4. That said, the next Beta is expected to be available in early to mid-August.
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