Samsung has started rolling out One UI 9 Beta 4 to the Galaxy S26 series, and this build is less about new features and more about clearing out bugs. The Android 17-based update reached the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra starting July 14, 2026, carrying the July 2026 security patch and fixes for six specific problems that earlier betas left behind.
The update ships as firmware version S948BXXU4ZZG4 and weighs about 1.25GB (1,250MB). Beta testers first spotted it in India, and it has since expanded to Germany, Poland, the UK, and South Korea, with the United States still pending at the time of writing.
What One UI 9 Beta 4 fixes
One UI is Samsung's software layer that sits on top of Android. A beta is an early test version that volunteers install before the final, stable release, so it can still have rough edges. Beta 4 focuses on smoothing those out rather than adding anything flashy. SamMobile lists the full changelog, which covers six issues:
- The lock screen clock changing size incorrectly when you rotate the phone between portrait and landscape.
- The Privacy Display routine misbehaving when toggled from the Quick Panel (the shade you pull down from the top) or from Settings.
- The navigation bar disappearing during some games.
- Lag when opening and closing the Quick Panel.
- Timer numbers getting cut off, and unstable behavior in Live notifications.
- Bluetooth media volume routines failing when the phone connects to a car.
The build also folds in the July 5, 2026 Android security patch, according to Android Authority, so it is a maintenance and stability release rather than a feature drop. As one report on the Beta 4 rollout put it, the beta "focuses squarely on optimizing performance, smoothing out the UI, and squashing persistent system bugs."
Galaxy S26 beta testers can grab it from Settings > Software update > Download and install, then tap Install now.
What One UI 9 actually adds
While Beta 4 is about polish, the wider One UI 9 release does bring new tools. Samsung, in its official One UI 9 beta announcement, highlights several changes built on Android 17:
- Samsung Notes gains decorative tapes and more pen line styles.
- The Contacts app links directly to Creative Studio for custom profile cards.
- The Quick Panel lets you adjust brightness, sound, and the media player separately.
- A new Text Spotlight feature shows selected text in a floating window.
- Accessibility improvements, including adjustable Mouse Key speed and combined TalkBack features.
- Stronger security that can detect and block high-risk apps through updated policies.
One UI 9 uses the same Android 17 base that Google already pushed to Pixel phones, now dressed in Samsung's interface.
When Filipino Galaxy S26 owners get it
Here is the honest local picture: the One UI 9 beta program is not open in the Philippines. Samsung's own beta market list covers Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US, and the Philippines is not on it. Filipino Galaxy S26 owners are still on Android 16 with One UI 8.5 for now.
That does not mean the update skips the country. The Galaxy S26 series is sold here, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra listed on Samsung's Philippine store from ₱86,990 for the 256GB model, ₱100,990 for 512GB, and ₱121,990 for the 1TB version. Those phones are in line for the stable One UI 9, which is what most local users should wait for rather than the test builds.
What is next for One UI 9
Samsung is expected to run a couple more beta rounds before the stable version arrives. The stable One UI 9 is set to debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, which Samsung will unveil at its Galaxy Unpacked event confirmed for July 22 in London. Existing Galaxy phones, including the S26 series, are expected to start receiving the stable update in the weeks after that launch.
FAQ
Is the One UI 9 beta available in the Philippines?
No. Samsung's beta program covers Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US. The Philippines is not among the beta markets, so local Galaxy S26 owners remain on One UI 8.5 until the stable release.
How big is the One UI 9 Beta 4 update?
It is about 1.25GB (1,250MB), with firmware version S948BXXU4ZZG4 and the July 2026 security patch.
When will stable One UI 9 arrive?
Samsung plans to launch stable One UI 9 first on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 at the July 22 Unpacked event, with existing Galaxy phones getting it in the following weeks.
