Galaxy Z Flip 8 already in testing: first firmware with One UI 9 and Android 17 spotted

Only a few days remain until the debut of the series Galaxy S26 and all eyes are on the new flagship family. However behind the scenes Samsung has already begun laying the groundwork for future foldable flagships: a new software version has been spotted and all signs point to the next flip phone from the tech giant, with the upcoming One UI 9.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 with One UI 9: first sighting of the new software with Android 17

What has appeared recently seems to be a test build of the upcoming version of Samsung’s interface. The software bears the build code F776USQU0AZB1 and inside there is a model number currently associated with the unreleased Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 (i.e., SM-F776).

Thus, this would be the first build dedicated to the clamshell foldable and, consequently, the first version of One UI 9. 2026 will be a year of changes for the Asian manufacturer, at least as far as the software side is concerned.

The new strategy will see a sort of central focus on the summer devices, traditionally the foldables of the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series: the main software version will arrive with these, while Galaxy S series smartphones will receive the mid-cycle update.

In plain terms: the Galaxy S26 lineup will debut with the latest One UI 8.5, an update that won’t overhaul things but will refine the brand’s interface. The upcoming One UI 9 will arrive with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, clearly based on Android 17.