Samsung has confirmed it is bringing some of its latest software features to its Android Galaxy phones more than two years old thanks to a free update that’s just started rolling out. Until now, if you wanted the newest goodies from Samsung including handy AI tools that can search the web by circling images, translate a live phone call, or summarise a note or block of text for you, you’d have to have stumped up for the Galaxy S24 or S24 Ultra.
Thankfully, Samsung has decided to bring the flashy new AI features to older phones. Circle to search, which you can call up by holding the home button or gesture bar to freeze your screen and then circle something to Google image search it, is now on Galaxy S23 phones and other models.
But if you have a Galaxy S22 in your pocket then you are also being brought along for the ride. Perhaps Samsung was encouraged to bring the handy new tools to more people after ti saw big uptake from users – the company says 8.8 million Galaxy owners across Europe have downloaded and used the AI features since the software updates went out.
“Nearly 75 percent of Galaxy Z Fold5, 80 percent of S23 Ultra and nearly 65 percent of Tab S9 users across Europe have downloaded the One UI 6.1 update, making it one of Samsung’s most popular ever software updates,” Samsung said, adding it was “bringing Galaxy AI to even more Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Coverage will expand to the Galaxy S22 series, the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4 foldable phones, and the Galaxy Tab S8 series tablets starting in May.”
That amounts to a big free boost for thousands of Galaxy owners across the UK. The S22 series and the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 came out in 2022, alongside the Tab S8 tablets. It’s great to see Samsung pushing its AI smarts to these still very capable older phones.
Many phone companies are going big with AI in their latest handsets in an attempt to bring something new to entice customers as smartphone sales plateau globally, so it’s interesting to see Samsung bring features it could have kept exclusive to the newest Galaxy S24. The Galaxy S22 will likely still be serving you just fine in 2024, with no reason for you to upgrade – so perhaps Samsung is letting features trickle down quickly to its other customers to keep them happy, with an eye on their next smartphone purchase in a couple of years.
If you’re happy with your Samsung device for several years, you might be more likely to purchase another one when your current gadget gives up the ghost.
Samsung is expected to launch its next-generation folding phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, later this year. It will also likely debut the Galaxy Ring, a smart ring with heart rate sensor similar to the popular Oura Ring that the company teased at the launch of the S24 earlier in the year but has yet to put on sale.
