The first real builds of One UI 9 are out in the wild, running on Galaxy S26 hardware, and they tell a clearer story than any leak could.
The headline feature is Tap to Share. Bring two compatible Galaxy devices close together and file transfers begin automatically over NFC, no app juggling required. Samsung has also placed NFC antennas on both the back and the top edge of the S26, so the physical gesture works however you naturally hold the phone.
But the more interesting move involves Bixby.
Samsung’s assistant is getting home screen widgets for the first time in One UI 9, ranging from small shortcut icons to a larger 4×2 bar with a built-in microphone. The goal is straightforward: reduce the steps between a user and Bixby. If the assistant lives on your home screen, you use it more. That is the theory, anyway.
This follows real momentum from One UI 8.5, where Bixby gained Perplexity integration to handle queries it could not confidently answer alone. Samsung is clearly trying to rebuild Bixby into something people actually reach for, rather than accidentally trigger.
The challenge is Gemini. Google’s assistant already has deep roots in the Galaxy ecosystem and is not going anywhere. Widgets alone will not close that gap. Samsung knows this, which is why further Bixby updates are likely before One UI 9 ships.
Other additions include a consolidated warranty and support panel in settings, a Select to Speak accessibility tool, and Text Spotlight for enlarging on-screen text.
One UI 9 is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 in July. Development is still active, and the Galaxy AI features have not been fully revealed yet.
