Android 17 Spotted Early On Galaxy S26 As Samsung Shuts Down Tri-Fold

Android 16 hasn’t been globally released. However, some manufacturers got early access to it on their latest flagships, including Xiaomi, Samsung, and Fairphone (as of days ago). 

The software is still under development. Usually, the Developer previews start early in the year with the Beta versions rolling out around April to June. 

The final release won't land until around June to August the next year. Samsung engineers are already testing an early Android 17 build on the latest Galaxy S25 series. It has been labeled BZC5.

Android 17 is in development 

Known leaker, Tarun Vats, found a new firmware build tied to the Galaxy S26 series. It points to an internal test version of One UI 9, which is Samsung’s next major software update based on Android 17.  Google already started testing it in February this year.

Build numbers spotted include S948BXXU1BZC5, S948BOXM1BZC5, and again S948BXXU1BZC5. The S948 corresponds to the Ultra model in that generation. Samsung follows a pattern where the higher number in the series is reserved for the Ultra. 

If it were a different model, you’d see something else entirely at the start. The BZC5 at the ending contains a marker indicating that it's not ready for public release.

Android 16 itself isn’t even publicly rolled out yet, even though newer phones have already launched out of the box with it, including the Galaxy S26. 

SamMobile, and few others, have reported installing the update. It has a file size of 2.6GB. But since it’s an early version, it doesn’t show many obvious new features besides mention of a feature similar to Apple’s Handoff. 

It would let you start a task on one device, like your phone, and continue it instantly on another, such as a tablet or laptop. Most of the changes are happening in the background, and target overall system performance.

Say goodbye to Galaxy Z TriFold 

While their software is preparing to give new life to existing devices through One UI 9, another phase is ending as Galaxy Z Tri-Fold sales are shutting down for good. 

Although it did sell out quickly, and the company had produced it in a safely small quantity of 3,000 units as originally intended, the Tri-Fold is an (unsurprisingly) unscalable device. The hardware is expensive to keep producing, and it's not profitable to continue.

If you bought one, then you're among the lucky few to grab a piece of Samsung's proof-of-concept product. In a few years, we may see more triple-folding phones when the technology to make them is more refined and cheaper.

Samsung is working towards it as they have two new prototypes already in development. The first is a sliding phone where the screen expands as you manually pull it out. 

The second is a new generation of the Tri-Fold with a lighter hinge, thinner frame, and reduced weight. Basically, the brand is fixing the biggest problems of the current Tri-Fold. We will likely see these devices around 2027 or early 2028.