On August 12, Samsung released One UI 9 Beta 5 for the Galaxy S26 series, which includes bug fixes and the August security patch for enrolled testers.

If you own a Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, or Z Flip 8, you already have a stable version of One UI 9. Samsung launched the stable version with those foldables in July at Galaxy Unpacked in London. Your Galaxy S26 is still in the beta program, and Beta 5 is the latest step in that process.

Which phones are getting Beta 5, and where

Beta 5 is rolling out to the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. It started in South Korea, India, and the UK, and it will expand to Poland, Germany, and the US as more testers get it.

• Firmware version: S94xBXXU4ZZH6
• Download size: about 1.1GB
• Security patch: August 2026, covering 56 fixes
• Devices: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung also delayed this beta by about a month. Beta 4 arrived on July 14, and testers were told to expect Beta 5 the following week. A Samsung Beta Operations Manager later apologised for the wait on the Samsung Community forum and said the extra time went into final reviews and quality checks.

What Beta 5 actually fixes

This update is about fixing bugs, not adding features. Samsung’s changelog lists these fixes.

• Fixed an issue where the Settings app freezes or shows a white screen in some menus
• Fixed slow loading and a black screen when you launch the camera widget on the lock screen
• Fixed the bottom floating bar not showing correctly in the Phone app
• Fixed a blank screen that appeared briefly when you open the recent files list in My Files
• Fixed an issue where 1×1 size shortcuts did not appear on the home screen bottom bar
• Fixed a misaligned or flickering preview screen in Video Editor and Photo Editor
• Fixed occasional screen flickering
• Fixed Wi-Fi connection errors and improved connection stability

You will not find new features in this build. Most outlets that cover Samsung software, including SamMobile and Android Authority, describe Beta 5 as a cleanup release.

Is this the last beta before stable One UI 9 for your S26

Nobody knows yet, and the reports point in two different directions.

Tipster Tarun Vats spotted two new firmware builds on Samsung’s servers, one on the beta track and one on the stable track. Sammy Fans and SamMobile report that the beta build could be Beta 6, which would mean more testing before the stable release.

A separate tipster, Kailash, spotted a possible stable build for the S26 series. Sammy Fans reports this could mean Beta 5 is the final beta before the stable rollout.

Samsung has not confirmed either path. Sammy Fans estimates the stable update could arrive by mid-September, possibly around the same time as the Galaxy S26 FE launch, but that is not confirmed either. Treat both reports as leaks until Samsung says otherwise.

A quick timeline of the One UI 9 beta program

Here is how the  Galaxy S26’s beta program has progressed since May.

• Beta 1: May 13, 2026, launched in six countries at once
• Beta 2: May 26, 2026
• Beta 3: June 16, 2026
• Beta 4: July 14, 2026
• Beta 5: August 12, 2026

The first three betas landed roughly two weeks apart. The gap widened to about four weeks for Beta 4 and Beta 5.

Older Galaxy phones are still waiting

No device older than the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 has stable One UI 9 yet. Reports from Sammy Fans and SamMobile say Samsung has started internal testing on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra, but a public beta for those phones had not opened as of mid-August. If your phone is an S25, S24, or an older model, you can expect to wait longer for the stable update.

Should you install Beta 5?

This is still beta software, so it comes with some risk. Keep these points in mind before you install it.

• Back up your phone with Smart Switch first. Samsung itself warns that beta software can cause data loss
• Skip this beta if you rely on sideloading apps. Some testers have reported that installing APK files does not work properly on this build
• Know that going back to stable software later usually means a full data wipe, so treat this as a one-way step
• Check for the update under Settings > Software update if you are already enrolled in the Samsung Members beta program

What’s next for Samsung’s software

While your Galaxy S26 is still on the One UI 9 beta, Samsung has already started work on One UI 9.5. Tipster Fahad Ali Javed spotted the first build in early August, and leaked screenshots point to a glass-style design with shinier borders and softer shadows. SamMobile and Android Central report that One UI 9.5 is expected to debut with the Galaxy S27 series in early 2027, with a possible beta for the S26 arriving before the end of this year.

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