Samsung is working on its next major software update, One UI 9.0, and the Galaxy S25 series could get a new camera feature. According to a leak, Samsung is testing Virtual Reflector for the Galaxy S25 series. The feature could help users take better portrait photos in difficult lighting.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is reportedly being tested with a new internal One UI 9 build, ending with ZZHC. Samsung is also preparing an update for its Expert RAW camera app with the new Virtual Reflector feature. It means that One UI 9.0 may bring this new feature to the Galaxy S25 Ultra smartphone.

Virtual Reflector helps make faces look brighter in photos. When light comes from one side, it can create dark shadows on the face. This feature is designed to reduce those shadows and make the face look more evenly lit.

Usually, photographers use a physical reflector to bounce light onto a person’s face. Samsung’s Virtual Reflector tries to create a similar effect using software. This means users may not need any extra camera equipment to improve their photos.

Image via @fahadalijaved (X)

The feature could be useful when taking photos outside in strong sunlight. It may also help when taking pictures of pets or when shooting indoors with uneven lighting. The main goal is to make photos look brighter and more balanced.

Virtual Reflector is already available on the Galaxy S26 series through Expert RAW. Samsung could now bring the feature to Galaxy S25 phones with One UI 9.

Samsung has not officially confirmed the feature for the Galaxy S25 series yet. However, the new test build suggests that Samsung is working on more camera improvements. Stay tuned.

Samsung One UI 9.0 is more of a refinement release rather than a massive transformation for Galaxy phones. The new software is still in the Beta Program, despite getting an official reveal with the Galaxy Z8 series foldables this August.

The software update mechanism is a crucial document for smartphone owners. Samsung is one of the biggest examples, which is teaching its rival brands (not Apple and Google, of course) how transparent they should be.

As of June 2026, Samsung has two kinds of software strategies for all Galaxy devices:

1. Seven years of updates – Flagship/premium Galaxy devices
2. Six years of updates – All the remaining Galaxy devices

Samsung’s 7-year update strategy came into effect in 2024 and is applicable to Galaxy S24 and newer lineups. However, the previous software guarantees had mixed tiers for entry-level, budget, mid-range, and premium devices.

Take Galaxy S22 and S23, for example; the two lineups are eligible for four years of software updates, while the Galaxy S24 series is promised for seven years.

Here is a tentative list of devices to be excluded from the official rollout:

Flagship phones ineligible for One UI 9

• Galaxy S22 Series: Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra
• Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4
• Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Note: The standard S21 series already stopped at an earlier version like One UI 7).

Non-flagship devices

• Galaxy A73 5G
• Galaxy A53 5G
• Galaxy A33 5G
• Galaxy A14 (both LTE and 5G variants)
• Galaxy A06 LTE (The 5G variant may qualify, but the LTE build is capped).
• Galaxy A05 / A05s
• Galaxy M53 5G / F53 5G
• Galaxy M33 5G / F33 5G
• Galaxy M14 / F14

Note: This is not a confirmed list.

With Samsung maintaining two tiers for a few years now, things will settle when older lineups get ousted from the stream. Still, detecting which device is eligible and ineligible isn’t too tricky, thanks to Samsung’s commitments.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic users are near receiving the One UI 9 Watch Beta update. The company may soon end the wait of its smartwatch users by bringing early access to the latest software.

Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 released with official One UI 9 Watch. The new software introduces better reliability and performance. On top of that, the new OS focuses on system stability, performance, and efficiency.

Additionally, Samsung added a handful of new AI Health features. They join the existing health tracking tools, which are also enhanced in version 9. Most of the new perks will soon be expanding to previous-gen models.

Samsung is now testing a new One UI 9 Watch Beta build on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The fresh build, ending with ZZH3, replaced the older ZZH2 build.

That’s a minor change on paper, but it signals things are stabilized now. Once the firmware is verified for rollout, Samsung will open Beta Program enrollment and push the first Beta update.

One UI 9 Watch update scope

Several Galaxy Watch lineups are eligible for the major upgrade. The list includes wearables from the Galaxy Watch 5 series to the Galaxy Watch 8 series. It also includes the Watch Ultra first-gen and Fan Edition models.

Meanwhile, the Beta Program may first launch for the Galaxy Watch 8 series. Samsung is also readying a Beta update for previous generations, but users would have to wait a little longer until the expansion takes place.

If you are still using the Galaxy Watch 4 (or its Classic version), it’s time to consider upgrading. The first Wear OS-powered watches are no longer eligible for the Wear OS 7 upgrade.

Are you excited for the One UI 9 Watch Beta Program?

Samsung is internally testing Android 17-based One UI 9.0 software for various Galaxy devices. This activity is running in parallel to the Open Beta Program. The public beta update is exclusively available for the Galaxy S26 series.

One UI 9.0 update will bring Android 17 to Samsung devices. The official launch took place on July 22, and rollout started with foldables on August 7. Samsung will first prioritize new devices rather than sharing software advancements.

Samsung picked mid-May as the timeline to announce and start the One UI 9 Beta Program. As of August 2026, the company has already rolled out four Beta builds to Galaxy S26 users in six countries around the world.

One UI 9 official devices

• Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
• Galaxy Z Fold 8
• Galaxy Z Flip 8

Open Beta Program

1. Galaxy S26
2. Galaxy S26+
3. Galaxy S26 Ultra
4. Galaxy S25 – Coming soon
5. Galaxy S25+
6. Galaxy S25 Ultra
7. Galaxy S25 FE
8. Galaxy S24 – Coming soon
9. Galaxy S24+
10. Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung will keep the Beta Program limited to its latest flagship devices. Meanwhile, internal testing has already started for plenty of models. It includes phones from the S series, foldables from the Z series, and tablets from the Tab series.

What’s more, some Galaxy A Series phones have also joined the party. The internal testing is expanding to unexpected models, including the budget ones. The pace is fast, and Samsung is gearing up for a faster rollout.

Internal Testing Stage

Galaxy S Series

1. Galaxy S25
2. Galaxy S25+
3. Galaxy S25 Ultra
4. Galaxy S25 FE
5. Galaxy S24
6. Galaxy S24+
7. Galaxy S24 Ultra
8. Galaxy S24 FE
9. Galaxy S23
10. Galaxy S23+
11. Galaxy S23 Ultra
12. Galaxy S23 FE

Galaxy Z Series

1. Galaxy Z Fold 7
2. Galaxy Z Flip 7
3. Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
4. Galaxy Z Fold 6
5. Galaxy Z Flip 6
6. Galaxy Z Fold 5
7. Galaxy Z Flip 5

Galaxy A Series

1. Galaxy A18
2. Galaxy A57
3. Galaxy A37
4. Galaxy A27
5. Galaxy A17
6. Galaxy A07
7. Galaxy A56
8. Galaxy A36
9. Galaxy A26
10. Galaxy A16
11. Galaxy A55
12. Galaxy A35
13. Galaxy A25
14. Galaxy A15 5G
15. Galaxy A54
16. Galaxy A34
17. Galaxy A24

Galaxy M Series

1. Galaxy M47
2. Galaxy M17
3. Galaxy M17e
4. Galaxy M35
5. Galaxy M56
6. Galaxy M34
7. Galaxy M54
8. Galaxy M56
9. Galaxy M36
10. Galaxy M16
11. Galaxy M15

Galaxy F series

1. Galaxy F70 Pro
2. Galaxy F70e
3. Galaxy F17
4. Galaxy F56
5. Galaxy F36
6. Galaxy F16
7. Galaxy F15
8. Galaxy F54
9. Galaxy F34

Galaxy Tab S Series

1. Galaxy Tab S11
2. Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
3. Galaxy Tab S10+
4. Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
5. Galaxy Tab S10 FE
6. Galaxy Tab S10 FE+
7. Galaxy Tab S10 Lite
8. Galaxy Tab S9
9. Galaxy Tab S9+
10. Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
11. Galaxy Tab A11
12. Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

The list is broad enough yet incomplete. Samsung will add even more Galaxy models to its internal software testing streak. Beta Program may open for more users, but it would only happen after the Summer Galaxy Unpacked event.

Updated on August 20, 2026.

Samsung’s One UI 9 Beta Program isn’t ending anytime soon for the Galaxy S26 series, with the company working on Beta 6 for the latest lineup as well as the first Betas for the older flagships, including the S24 and S25 series.

The fifth One UI 9 Beta dropped last week, and Galaxy S26 users thought it was the last Beta build and Stable would arrive next. Meanwhile, Samsung isn’t closing the Beta run this early, as new updates are already being prepared.

Galaxy S26 series

Samsung is testing the sixth Beta update for the Galaxy S26 series. The initial build version was ZZHB, which has been replaced by ZZHC. It’s a minor bump, which suggests the firmware testing is progressing internally by Samsung developers.

The company took about four weeks to roll out Beta 4 and Beta 5 after their previous builds. If the streak continues, the next Beta deployment could happen in mid-September.

Galaxy S24 and S25 series

Samsung is also readying the first Beta updates for the Galaxy S24 and S25 series. The Open Beta Program hasn’t launched yet, but it will be announced soon.

One UI developers are swiftly testing the latest builds to verify reliability. As of August 20, ZZHC is the latest firmware for both older lineups, which matches the version with the upcoming S26 Beta.

When can we expect the next One UI 9 Beta wave?

We assumed the S25 Beta would launch with the release of the S26 Beta 5. It didn’t happen, and all eyes are on the Galaxy S26 Beta 6, which is likely to land in the second week of September 2026.

All in all, current developments indicate that the next wave of One UI 9 Beta rollout (including Beta 6 and Beta 1) could happen between September 7 and September 13.

Disclaimer: The release timeline is framed based on Samsung’s software mechanism. These are not confirmed timelines for the rollouts. Samsung could either deliver OTAs early or delay a little, based on the stage of verification.