One UI 9.0, the next version of Samsung's custom interface, has officially been revealed in the source code of the leaked One UI 8.5 firmware. This is not too surprising, but this early appearance shows that Samsung is preparing for a major upgrade, based on Android 17, promising to go beyond what One UI 8.5 and One UI 8.0 have brought.

Although the expected launch date is about a year away, the possibility that Samsung will shorten the update roadmap is completely reasonable. One UI 8.0 was released on September 15, and if Samsung continues to speed up the development, One UI 9.0 could reach users sooner than expected.

According to initial information, One UI 9.0 will appear on the new generation Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip models when they launch, and will likely also be the first software platform for the triple-folding smartphone that Samsung plans to introduce globally next year. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 series will launch with One UI 8.5, but will almost certainly be among the first devices to be upgraded to One UI 9.0.

It is not yet possible to confirm what features Samsung will integrate, from AI to other system improvements. However, clues in the One UI 8.5 firmware may reveal some of the company's plans. In the meantime, Galaxy users can still expect One UI 8.0 to continue to be expanded to many other devices this month, after being launched with the Galaxy S25 series.