Samsung’s upcoming software roadmap is beginning to take shape, with evidence confirming that the next major version of its custom skin will be One UI 9.0. References to the version were recently discovered in leaked One UI 8.5 firmware, which has been circulating online this week.
As expected, One UI 9.0 will be built on Android 17 and is likely to deliver more substantial changes compared to the incremental One UI 8.5 update, and perhaps even the current One UI 8.0 release. While the update is still some time away, Samsung’s faster rollout strategy in recent years means it could arrive earlier than anticipated. For context, One UI 8.0 began reaching users on September 15.
Looking ahead, Samsung is expected to debut One UI 9.0 on its next-generation foldables—including the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip successors, as well as the company’s first tri-fold foldable, which is reportedly lined up for a global launch next year. The Galaxy S26 series will launch with One UI 8.5 and should be among the first devices to transition to One UI 9.0 once it’s ready.
At this stage, details on new features—AI-related or otherwise—remain under wraps. However, the ongoing leaks tied to One UI 8.5 could offer early clues. For now, users can look forward to One UI 8.0, which is scheduled to expand to more Galaxy devices later this month after its initial rollout to the Galaxy S25 lineup.