Preview Samsung One UI 9 based on Android 17, focusing on enhanced accessibility features like cursor control, keyboard shortcuts, and text highlighting for better usability.
© A. Krivonosov
Samsung is continuing to develop its One UI interface and has already begun work on the next version of the shell—One UI 9, which will be based on Android 17. While the public release is still some way off, leaks provide a glimpse at key changes, with accessibility features emerging as a major focus.
According to data found in the system, the company is preparing an updated "What's New" section to introduce users to the improvements. Among these are expanded cursor control capabilities using the keyboard. Users will be able to more precisely adjust cursor movement speed and utilize the numeric keypad for control, which is particularly important for people with limited motor skills.
New keyboard shortcuts will also appear, allowing users to quickly turn accessibility features on and off without needing to touch the screen. This will simplify device interaction in situations where touch control is inconvenient or impossible. Navigation has been reworked as well: the feature that replaces swipes with single taps will become more prominent and accessible in the settings.
Special attention has been paid to text reading. One UI 9 will include a "text highlighting" tool that lets users enlarge and highlight content with a single tap, adjusting size and color for better readability. This approach makes the interface more adaptable for users with visual impairments.
While many of these features already exist in the system, Samsung is making them more flexible and user-friendly. This indicates the company is increasingly focused on making its devices more inclusive and accessible to the widest possible audience.