Samsung's next huge upgrade will include AirDrop-like Tap to Share and new widgets

One UI 8.5 may be on the horizon, but Samsung's next huge upgrade has already started taking shape. One UI 9 is going to be the next big operating system update for Samsung's many phones, and we're already seeing rumors about which new features are likely to come with it.

Early test builds have been spotted, and the latest one seen by SamMobile shows that Samsung is integrating a Tap to Share feature using NFC, and additional widgets for Bixby (via Android Authority).

It's early days, but Bixby is likely to be prominent in One UI 9

Sharing has been big business for Android phones lately. In the last year, we've seen the gulf between Android and iOS close as AirDrop compatibility came to Android phones, allowing people on opposite sides of the divide to share content easily. Now, Samsung is looking to integrate Tap to Share in One UI 9.

Tap to Share is similar to older NFC sharing features, which let you send files between two compatible devices with a simple tap. It uses the same tech that powers your Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet, and was famously used by Samsung way back in the Samsung S Beam days.

Also included are new widgets for Bixby. These come in 2x1, 2x2, and 4x1 sizes, and they're a bit on the basic side. The two smaller widgets have a pair of buttons for speaking and typing to Bixby, but the larger size contains a full text box. It's very likely these aren't even close to a finished product, as it's clear there's not much going on here yet.

Bixby is likely to get a big push with One UI 9. Samsung spent a lot of time and money setting up a partnership with Perplexity so it could justify reviving Bixby, so it's not likely to give up on it again any time soon.

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It's hard to get excited about Bixby news, but I always find accessibility news worth getting hyped up for. One UI 9's early build also includes a feature called "Select to Speak". This feature lets you select text on your phone, then tap a "play" button to hear it read out loud. It's a great use of modern tech advances, and something that could really help those with limited vision.

It's still very early days where One UI 9 is concerned, and despite some misgivings about Bixby's prominence, it's looking like a positive step from Samsung. We will definitely be learning more about what to expect from One UI 9 in the coming months.