Free Samsung Galaxy update brings S26 AI features to older phones – is yours on the list?

If you’re not planning to upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (which happens to be on our list of the best smartphones), this might soften the blow. A new free Samsung Galaxy update is bringing some headline Galaxy S26 AI features to some older Samsung devices.

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With the rollout of One UI 8.5, Samsung is starting to test bringing several Galaxy S26 AI tools beyond its newest phones, SamMobile reports.

The update includes four key features. The first is Advanced Audio Eraser, a smart noise filter for video. It can identify things like wind, traffic, or background chatter, and let you dial them down independently, so voices come through more clearly. 

It’s no longer limited to editing recorded clips either – it now works in real time while you’re watching videos, meaning you can tweak sound on the fly in apps like YouTube, Netflix, or Instagram, with controls accessible directly from the Quick Panel.

Call Screening is another feature. Using on-device AI, your phone can answer unknown calls for you, ask who’s calling and why, then save a transcript and recording so you can decide whether it’s worth your time.

There’s also a new Creative Studio app, which lets you generate things like stickers, wallpapers, and invitation cards using doodles or text prompts. Elsewhere, Photo Assist has been upgraded with more advanced editing tools, including the ability to move elements between images, or generate edits based on written instructions.

So which devices are actually getting this free Samsung Galaxy update? Right now, the features have appeared in the One UI 8.5 beta on a handful of recent flagships. That includes the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Samsung Galaxy S24 ranges, along with foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

These are the first devices to receive the features in beta, and older models like the Galaxy S23 series and previous-gen foldables could still be added later.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.