Samsung is already a few weeks into testing One UI 9 with Galaxy S26 beta users, and a new feature spotted in the latest build feels long overdue. It is the network speed indicator, a simple status bar tool so common on other Android phones that it is surprising Galaxy phones have gone this long without it.
You can find this feature even on budget Android phones from brands like OnePlus, Oppo, and Xiaomi. It shows real-time upload and download activity in the status bar while the phone is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, giving users a quick way to check whether their connection is actually moving data.
Samsung is adding it through Good Lock
According to SammyGuru, the network speed indicator has been spotted in One UI 9 through Samsung’s Good Lock customization suite. More specifically, it appears to be part of the updated QuickStar module, which lets Galaxy users tweak the status bar and Quick Panel.
Once enabled, the indicator sits in the status bar and shows live speeds in KB/s, MB/s, or GB/s, depending on current network activity. It works with both Wi-Fi and mobile data, so users do not have to rely on a separate app. If a video is buffering, a download is slow, or an app refuses to load, the speed meter can quickly show whether the phone is actively using the network or sitting idle.
What else is new in the One UI 9 beta?
The latest beta builds also include new AI-powered features, expanded accessibility tools, more Good Lock customization, and privacy improvements, including an improved Lockdown Mode that can quickly disable biometric authentication.
Samsung opened the One UI 9 beta program for the Galaxy S26 series last month in select markets, including India, the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Poland, and South Korea. The beta update is expected to arrive in the Philippines next. As for the stable launch, nothing is set in stone as of yet, but One UI 9 is expected to debut in July, alongside Samsung’s next-generation Galaxy foldables.