Samsung is giving Galaxy S25 owners an early taste of the future, and honestly, it’s about time. The company has started rolling out the first One UI 9 beta update, based on Android 17, to the Galaxy S25 series in select countries. That means S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and S25 Edge users can now join Galaxy S26 owners in testing the next major software release.
This matters more than a typical beta drop. One UI 9 is the second major Android OS upgrade for the core S25 lineup, which tells you something about Samsung’s commitment to long-term software support. For Galaxy S25 FE owners, this is actually the first major OS upgrade the device will receive. So the stakes are different depending on which phone you’re holding.
There is one caveat worth flagging. It’s not clear yet whether the Galaxy S25 Edge will be included in the beta program. The Edge was already a bit of an oddball release, so its beta status is still up in the air. If you’re an Edge owner hoping to jump in early, you may need to wait for official confirmation from Samsung.
For everyone else, getting into the beta is straightforward. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Samsung Members app on your Galaxy S25
- Find and sign up for the One UI 9 beta program
- Once enrolled, go to Settings and tap Software update
- Download and install the first beta build
Beta programs like this are Samsung’s way of stress-testing major updates before they go wide. Android 17 will likely bring new AI features, interface tweaks, and under-the-hood improvements. But betas are betas. Expect bugs, battery quirks, and the occasional crash. If your phone is your lifeline for work, maybe sit this one out and wait for the stable release.
Still, the fact that S25 owners are getting access this early is a good sign. Samsung has been pushing harder on software timelines over the past couple of years, and getting a major beta out before the end of 2026 shows the pipeline is moving faster than it used to. That’s good for consumers across the board.