Samsung launches One UI 9. Which Galaxy phones will get it and which won't?

Samsung showcased One UI 9 at Unpacked on July 22, and since then, the date August 7 has been circulating online. It sounds like the start of the update for everyone. It’s not. The difference between “it’s released” and “it arrives on your phone” is quite significant this year.

What will actually happen on August 7

On August 7, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 go on sale. These come with One UI 9 pre-installed. On the same day, the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 will also hit the shelves with the corresponding version of the system for wearables.

That’s all. Anyone not buying a new foldable phone will get nothing on August 7. Samsung did not publish any update schedule for older devices at Unpacked, nor did it do so in the subsequent press release – which, by the way, is its habit, repeating year after year.

When your phone will get it

No one knows the exact date, but history provides a fairly reliable guide. One UI 7 was released in January 2025 and rolled out to older models as late as April. One UI 8 arrived in July 2025, and Samsung kept it only on foldables until the end of September. One UI 8.5 debuted this February and arrived on older phones in May.

The order is always the same: first the current flagship series, then last year’s foldables, then older S-series models, and finally mid-range phones and tablets. Specifically, this means that the Galaxy S26 will be first, followed by the Fold 7 and Flip 7, then the S25 and S24, and then the S23. The A series, where Samsung has by far the most units in our country, will be pushed to the end of the year.

Beta versions don’t change much. The testing program has been running since May, but only for the S26 series and only in six countries – Germany, India, South Korea, Poland, Britain, and the USA. The Czech Republic is not among them, so you cannot legally activate the preliminary version here.

Who missed the train

The Galaxy S22, S21 FE, and Z Fold 4 will not receive One UI 9. All of them fall under the older four-year update policy and end with One UI 8.5 with Android 16. The famous seven major updates apply only from the S24 series upwards.

Are you looking forward to One UI 9, or have you learned to wait with updates after your experience with version seven?

Sources: Sammy Fans, PhoneArena, Beebom