Samsung has already started working on One UI 9, and early leaks from the past week are giving us a first real peek at what’s coming for your Galaxy smartphone. If you are a Sammy Fans reader who read about the initial rumors last month, One UI 9 feels like a minor upgrade rather than a complete overhaul. Just to share, One UI 9 is based on Android 17, and right now it’s in very early internal testing on the Galaxy S26 series.
Where are we right now?
Samsung first started testing the One UI 9 for the Galaxy S26 series. And someone even managed to install the very early (test) build on a real device and share screenshots. That means nothing is confirmed yet, many things could change or even be removed before it reaches a stable version.
According to leaks, Samsung is focusing on polishing the look instead of making everything brand new. The Now Bar gets a refresh. It now comes with a darker, almost black background. This makes the text much easier to read. When you play music, the song title appears clearly at the top. You will also see a smooth, wavy animation at the bottom of the pill-shaped bar. If you press and hold the Now Bar, you get quick options. You can remove it completely or go directly to its settings.

Widgets look a bit different: Several widgets, such as the Browser, Weather, and Now Bar, now have sharper and more square corners. They are moving away from the soft, rounded corners we saw before. There’s a chance Samsung may add an option so you can choose the corner style you like and customize it yourself.

We also have some improvements in the Gallery App. When you pick multiple photos or videos, a new small box or highlight now shows clearly which ones you have selected. It’s a small change, but it will help you save time and avoid mistakes while organizing your pictures.
There are many small improvements. The volume and brightness sliders in the quick settings are now a bit bigger and easier to tap. The lock screen music player has brighter waveform graphics on the progress bar. It also adds a new quick option to cast your media to other devices, such as “This Phone” for easy sharing. Some settings menus have also been rearranged a little for better use.
New Features:
Two new things caught attention in the latest leaks:
1. Warranty & Care App
Samsung is making a simple app for all support needs. In this app, you can easily check your warranty, see repair costs, book a service appointment, and track your repair status, all in one place. Right now, this app is hidden in the early test version. You need special tools to open it, which means it is still being developed. If it comes out as planned, fixing or repairing your Galaxy phone could become much less stressful.

Image via Android Authority
2. Better Samsung Browser
The phone’s built-in browser (also known as Internet) may get some useful upgrades. It could support multiple windows or a split-screen view. This will be especially useful on foldable phones because of the extra screen space.
There is also an “Ask AI” button powered by Perplexity AI. While you are on any webpage, you can tap this button to ask questions about the page, get quick summaries, or use information from your past browsing history. It makes research faster and easier without copying text or opening other apps.
In addition, the browser may get a compact bottom bar that automatically hides when you scroll, giving you a cleaner and wider view of the webpage.
Who will get One UI 9 and when?
There is still no official list of supported phones. But based on Samsung’s usual pattern, the newest foldable phones (Z Fold8 and Z Flip8) and the Galaxy S26 series should get it first. Older flagship phones like the S25 and S24 will likely receive the update later. Some mid-range A-series phones may also get it after the flagships. Note that the most advanced AI features might only work on newer Galaxy phones. We have seen the same pattern in the last few years.

From the leaks this week, One UI 9 is not bringing any big or flashy redesigns. Instead, it looks like a careful improvement. We are seeing better readability, easier ways to select photos in the Gallery, a new support app, and smarter features in the browser. The main goal seems to be making daily use smoother and more enjoyable.
Remember, all this information comes from very early test versions. Many things can still change. Samsung usually adds and removes features while developing the update. Once the public beta starts (possibly in May or June), we will know a lot more.
If you are excited about any part, like the new browser AI or the Warranty & Care app, feel free to DM on X @thesammyfans. I will keep watching for new leaks and share updates with you. What do you hope to see most in One UI 9?
The post What we know about One UI 9 right now: Small but useful changes – Fresh leaks from this week appeared first on Sammy Fans.