Samsung is still releasing beta updates for One UI 9, but we’re already seeing early details about the next big release. Industry leaker Fahad Ali Javed shared some new screenshots from an internal build running on a Samsung Galaxy S26, giving us a first look at One UI 9.5. Reactions so far are pretty… Mixed, to say the least.
One UI 9.5 has an awful 3D effect on its buttons
One Twitter user said “Might actually make me switch away from Samsung permanently”
Instead of a complete redesign, the early One UI 9.5 software shows a more “polished” look. Samsung seems to be going for a cleaner style with frosted finishes, soft shadows, and thin borders that create a 3D effect. The biggest change is how menus and home screens now have clearer separation, thanks to subtle shading and added depth.
I have to be honest, I’m not a fan of that 3D effect on the UI. Bearing in mind this hasn’t been officially confirmed by Samsung, I’m hopeful there’s still work to be done. Fahad Ali Javed claims that this is the second internal build, and more changes are to come, as well as teasing ‘plenty of features that will be very nice if implemented correctly’.
Granted, I do think it’s cleaner than the old liquid glass style, which was hard to see and felt like a poor imitation of Apple. This is a step forward, but I don’t think it’s enough yet. For example, if liquid glass is supposed to feel alive, One UI’s 3D elements should also react to the background and movement, maybe even with reflections that move as the background changes. These are just statics, so maybe one day!
That being said, it’s a little better in light mode. But who uses light mode, come on!
Besides the visual changes, One UI 9.5 is also said to bring new features to make one-handed use easier. According to Fahad Ali Javed, the Phone app now places the search icon in the floating navigation bar at the bottom instead of the top-right corner. The dialer also gets a new Search in Dialer tool powered by Samsung AI. Like the Finder tool, this lets you quickly find contacts, recent calls, and other actions right from the keypad.
Since these screenshots come from early test builds, Samsung still has time to change or add features before the official release of the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+, Galaxy S27 Pro and Galaxy S27 Ultra, which will be the first devices to launch with One UI 9.5.