The Galaxy S26 series has unlocked three features that were previously exclusive to Samsung’s newest foldables, with the rollout beginning on 28 August through the One UI 9 beta programme. The additions include My FanCam, an upgraded Now Brief and a smarter Now Nudge, narrowing the video gap between the Galaxy S26 series and the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
Samsung is not waiting for the stable release to make the features available. Anyone already enrolled in the beta receives a notification to download the update, so there is no need to sign up again.
What the One UI 9 beta update brings to the Galaxy S26
My FanCam is the addition most users will notice. It keeps a selected person in focus and then reframes the footage into different aspect ratios for social platforms, removing the need to crop after filming a group.
Now Brief has also been improved, pulling information and recommendations into customisable cards built around a user’s routine, interests and daily needs. It now surfaces security and privacy insights too, flagging potential risks alongside the protective step Samsung recommends.
Now Nudge is being tuned for smarter and more contextual suggestions as users move through everyday tasks. This appears in the Beta 7 build, which arrived only a few days after Beta 6.
Foldable exclusivity ends before the stable release
These three features shipped with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Series and the Z Flip 8 in July, and had remained exclusive to those devices until now. My FanCam had been described as foldable-only prior to this announcement.
The timing is notable, as the stable One UI 9 build for the Galaxy S26 lineup is expected in late August or early September. Beta testers are effectively gaining a couple of weeks’ head start on features that everyone else will receive shortly.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is currently available at around £860 off, priced at roughly £870 with an eligible trade-in, down from about £1,655. Alternatively, buyers can receive a £160 Samsung credit without trading in a device. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is available at up to £315 off, priced at approximately £630 with a trade-in, down from around £945, or with an £80 Samsung credit and no trade-in.
The beta itself remains limited to six countries, so most Galaxy S26 owners are waiting regardless. In a comparison of the Pixel 11 Pro XL and the Galaxy S26 Ultra earlier this month, Google was favoured for video, as Samsung had focused its efforts on professional recording.
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Image: phonearena.com
