Samsung appears to be laying the groundwork for the final major operating system update for its Galaxy S23 series. Recently, a Galaxy S23 Ultra was spotted running Android 17 in a benchmark test, signaling that early internal testing is already underway.

According to a recent Geekbench listing, the device was running completely new software. This early benchmark suggests Samsung is kicking off internal tests for One UI 9, even as the company remains heavily focused on rolling out the One UI 8.5 Beta to various devices.

In the benchmark, the Galaxy S23 Ultra scored 1,743 in single-core and 3,919 in multi-core performance. These numbers fall notably short of the device's usual capabilities, strongly indicating that this software build is still in its infancy and far from fully optimized.

Looking ahead, One UI 9—based on Android 17—is expected to debut alongside Samsung's next generation of foldables. This lineup reportedly includes the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, and a brand-new "Wide Fold" model. Following that launch, the update will gradually roll out to older devices over the subsequent months.

Historically, Samsung prioritizes its newest flagships, meaning upcoming devices like the Galaxy S26 and Z Fold 7 will be first in line. For Galaxy S23 owners, the wait for One UI 9 will likely stretch until late 2026.

In the shorter term, Samsung is gearing up to release the stable version of One UI 8.5. The Galaxy S23 is expected to receive this update around June of this year, following its stint in the beta program.

Notably, One UI 9 represents the end of the road for the Galaxy S23 series in terms of major OS upgrades. Launched in 2023 with Android 13, the lineup was promised four generations of Android updates. Unless Samsung drastically changes its software support policy, the S23’s lifecycle will cap off with Android 17, though it will continue to receive smaller security patches thereafter.