Samsung is still working on One UI 9 ahead of a planned launch later this summer. With a fresh leaked build, we’re getting a better glimpse at two features coming to your phone with this update.
As reported by SamMobile, Samsung has officially moved its test builds to Android 17, rather than building on top of Android 16. The result is a look at a couple of new features running on a Galaxy S26, including a more detailed look at the “Tap to Share” gesture that first leaked last month. Rather than the empty settings page seen on previous builds, this new look at One UI 9 includes more details, including a step-by-step process on how to share documents by tapping devices together.
The whole thing sounds pretty easy. Tapping your device to another supported phone while Gallery, Quick Share, or the share panel are open on your phone allows you to send selected images, videos, and other files. Tapping from the home screen, however, just shares your contact profile, making it easier to exchange phone numbers, email addresses, and more. To use, both phones must be unlocked and the backs of each phone must be tapped. Samsung’s menu says where the devices need to meet depends on the model of both phones. Once you’ve tapped, you’ll just need to hit accept on the device receiving this data transfer.
We know Google is working on similar functionality, presumably for improved cross-OEM support to allow for files to be shared between, say, a Galaxy S26 and a Pixel 10. Quick Share actually still has this functionality built in as well, though in my experience, it’s relatively hidden and doesn’t always function as intended.
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Outside of “Tap to Share,” Samsung is developing new Bixby widgets for your home screen, with easily tappable ways to interact with the company’s AI assistant through both keyboard and voice commands. That’s yet another sign of life for the beleaguered Assistant competitor, which received some fresh upgrades earlier this year thanks to a new partnership with Perplexity. Whether these widgets will be enough to get fans to leave Gemini behind, however, remains to be seen.
Expect One UI 9 to roll out later this year, with an initial launch presumably planned for the company’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8.
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