Samsung is bringing key Galaxy Z Fold 8 features to its flagship flat phones with the latest Android 17 beta for the Galaxy S26 lineup. Users enrolled in the One UI 9 beta now get features like Call Brief, new Now Brief widgets, and Fan Cam—along with a reimagined homescreen search bar that mimics the control and flexibility introduced in the Fold 8 series. The homescreen search is optional so it doesn’t force changes for users who prefer things as before.
Owners of the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra can test these new additions through nightly builds labeled S948BXXU4ZZHK, S948BOXM4ZZHK, and S948BXX14BZHK respectively. The update also fixes bugs: it patches an issue where devices would reboot unexpectedly, and improves the “Do Not Disturb” mode for better usability. These broader improvements are bundled under the same One UI 9 beta release.
What’s coming and whom it affects
The new features stem from Samsung’s efforts to unify UI perks across device lines. The Fold 8 Ultra and its sibling dropped significant UX upgrades under One UI 9, including Call Brief (a concise incoming call UI), tailor-made Now Brief cards (smart widgets), and Fan Cam (camera enhancements). These upgrades are now migrating to the S26 family via the beta.
So far, the One UI 9 beta is limited to Galaxy S26 models. Samsung hasn’t offered a timeline for bringing the same Fold 8 style features to older devices like the S25. Access requires enrollment through the Samsung Members app.
Why it matters
Fold series devices often act as testbeds for Samsung’s most ambitious interface ideas. By extending Fold 8 innovations from hardware-limited devices to the more mainstream S26 lineup, Samsung signals that many of its bold UI moves may become accessible to regular flagship phone users. That makes Fold-series launches even more consequential—not just for design, but for the general experience across Samsung’s product line.
This also means S26 users get early access to interface changes that could influence third-party apps or Android behavior more broadly—especially once One UI 9 finishes beta and moves into stable release. Improvements in core features like search, calling UI, and Do Not Disturb are the kind of changes that ripple across usage patterns.
In short, this rollout marks a shift: high-end UX features are bleeding downward across Samsung’s portfolio, tightening cohesion between its folding and slab phones. What to watch next: when stable Android 17 ships, whether Galaxy S25 devices get the same treatment, and how third-party developers adjust to UI tweaks such as Fan Cam and the homescreen search bar.
