Performed by pianist Yekwon Sunwoo, Frédéric Chopin’s “Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2” adds a lyrical dimension to everyday life. Sunwoo became the first Korean to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017 and holds the record for the most international competition wins by a Korean pianist. More than 190 years after Chopin composed the piece, Sunwoo offers a fresh interpretation that can now be heard on the latest Galaxy devices.

▲ Behind-the-scenes footage of the Chopin nocturne ringtone recording

Chopin’s Nocturne for One UI 9

Samsung’s choice of Chopin’s “Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2” as a new ringtone carries special significance. To celebrate the release of One UI 9, Samsung selected the piece from Chopin’s Op. 9 — a fitting nod to the shared number. Long cherished worldwide for its serene melody and delicate emotional expression, the nocturne lends itself naturally to alarms that start the day and ringtones that signal incoming calls.

The new nocturne ringtone debuts with One UI 9 on Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8.

Yekwon Sunwoo

Capturing Chopin for Galaxy

The recording took place at Samsung Galaxy Sound Studios, located at Samsung Seoul R&D Campus — the very space where Galaxy’s sound identity is shaped.

Byeong Joon Hwang and Young Jae Jang of Sound Mirror Korea — who have collaborated with Samsung on several projects — oversaw the recording and mixing, carefully preserving the nuances of the performance. Master piano technician Hyungu Kang refined the instrument’s tone, ensuring clarity and precision in every note.

“The warm piano tone and the acoustics of the studio made it an ideal setting for performing the nocturne,” said Sunwoo. “It was meaningful to bring the comfort and timeless emotion of classical music to Galaxy devices used by people around the world.”

Sunwoo performs Chopin’s nocturne.

A Classical Touch to Everyday Life

More than a simple alert, the new ringtone carries the lingering emotion of classical music into the devices people turn to throughout the day. This connection reflects Galaxy’s philosophy of delivering sound experiences that extend beyond the device itself.

“The nocturne evokes the stillness of the night, and we wanted its gentle resonance to weave naturally into the rhythms of the day,” said Myoung Woo Nam, Principal Sound Designer, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “We hope that encountering classical music in everyday life will create special moments for users.”

Samsung will continue to apply a consistent sound philosophy across its products to enhance the user experience and further expand Galaxy’s distinctive sound identity.

Drawing on works by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel, the sounds create a deeper, more immersive listening experience in everyday life.

▲ A musician performs a classical piece adapted as a Galaxy S26 ringtone.

A Sound Philosophy Inspired by Nature

Galaxy has established “Inspired by Nature” as the core concept of its sound design, applying it across all interaction sounds — from ringtones to touch sounds. Extending this philosophy, Samsung brings nature-inspired classical music to Galaxy, creating a more refined listening experience in everyday interactions.

New ringtones on the Galaxy S26 series include Bach’s “Prélude” from Cello Suite No. 1, whose symmetry, repetition and harmony evoke natural patterns such as plant growth and ocean waves.

Also included is Handel’s “Alla Hornpipe” from Water Music Suite No. 2, famously performed on the River Thames for King George and known for its flowing rhythm and structured progression.

Both pieces were previously used as ringtones during the Anycall era of the 1990s and 2000s, returning as familiar, nostalgic melodies.

▲ Musicians perform a classical piece adapted as a Galaxy S26 ringtone.

Global Collaboration Behind the Sound

Global experts collaborated throughout the recording process to enhance sound quality. The ringtones were recorded at Abbey Road Studios — the world’s first recording studio and the birthplace of many iconic Beatles tracks. Jonathan Allan handled recording and mixing in London, while Tae Ho Lee of MiXNBLE led mastering in Seoul, highlighting East–West collaboration.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a world-renowned U.K. symphony orchestra, performed both pieces. The Bach piece features co-principal cellist Jonathan Ayling.

A Unified Vision for Galaxy Sound

The new ringtones on the Galaxy S26 series go beyond simple alerts, reflecting Galaxy’s sound identity shaped by nature-inspired design and refined technology.

“Classical music transcends time and space, resonating deeply with people,” said Myoung Woo Nam, Principal Sound Designer, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics.  “We hope more users can experience classical music naturally in daily life through Galaxy.”

Samsung plans to continue applying a consistent sound philosophy across its products while expanding Galaxy’s unified sound identity.

As smartphones become an increasingly essential tool of everyday life, the ringtone, too, has made a presence in today’s modern world. “Over the Horizon” is perhaps one of the most recognizable ringtones, as it has been the default ringtone of Galaxy devices since 2011. It is so recognizable, in fact, that when heard from a distance, you might even wonder if it’s coming from your own device.

Each year, with each new generation of Galaxy devices, “Over the Horizon” is rearranged to mirror the aesthetic transformation of the devices themselves. For 2018, Samsung reached out to Icelandic composer Pétur Jónsson to reimagine the melody.

Delicately layering instruments, Jónsson’s minimalist arrangement takes you away on an atmospheric journey of discovery. The piece begins with the soft tones of a single piano playing the refrain. As additional instruments are gradually introduced, the sound rises to a crescendo before melting away. As the video cuts away from the opening scene of Jónsson at the piano, it prompts you to imagine travelling over the remote Icelandic countryside. Capturing the beauty of Nordic nature, the camera pans over misty mountains and jagged cliffs, steaming geysers and snow-blanketed hills.

Listening to this year’s piece by Jónsson, you will find that the notes arouse the most pure, fundamental elements of the human sentiment that often remain hidden in our daily lives. In this way, the latest version of Samsung’s brand sound has the power to relax the mind and heal the soul, thus resonating with all who hear it, regardless of their age.

Get a first listen of Jónsson’s version of “Over the Horizon” in the video below.

That’s because Samsung has outfitted its latest flagship device with an exclusive set of ring- and notification tones that feature catchy, modern beats. The S Pen-inspired ‘pen and beat’ playlist includes three ringtones and two alerts composed by a gifted young ‘pen beater’, a world-class beatboxer and an acclaimed musician and producer.

A Kinetic Collaboration

Musical inspiration comes easily to Jinyoung Choi, whose popular ‘pen beating’ videos spotlight a fresh and inventive way to use pens as outlets for creativity.

Jinyoung transforms the relatively simple action of tapping pens on a table into a nuanced form of musical expression, deftly utilizing each part of the writing instruments – the cap, body and tip – to produce a variety of sounds. The 14-year-old’s energetic pen beating videos have racked up millions of views online, and earned him a global following.

To complement Jinyoung’s kinetic sound, Samsung enlisted the help of professional beatboxer and rapper 2 Tak, and placed the dynamic duo in a studio with famed musician and producer Tucker, aka Tadashi Takatsuka.

In Tucker, Samsung found the perfect supervisor for its ‘pen and beat’ collaboration. Not only does he have extensive experience composing distinctive sounds for some of the world’s top brands, he’s also produced more than 30 albums, and hosted a TV show in his native Japan that showcased inventive ways to create music.

A Signature Soundtrack

Each of the collaborating artists brings to the table a diverse set of skills that, when harmonized, create sounds that are reflective of multifaceted millennials.

Before they went about composing the new tracks, the artists were asked to consider the types of sounds they’d like to introduce as ringtones. The synthesis of their respective talents – 2 Tak’s melodic beatboxing, Tucker’s instrumentals and Jinyoung’s dynamic pen beating – produced three unique, head-bumping ringtones, titled “Bubble Beat”, “Happy Jungle” and “Kitchen Mix”. Each song is as fresh and energetic as it is distinct.

The trio’s Galaxy Note8 notification sounds are called “Beatbox” and “Pen Beats”, and feature punchy and pleasant solos from the two performing artists.