Every Galaxy AI Feature Explained and Ranked (One UI 9)

Short answer: Samsung’s One UI 9 has 28 Galaxy AI features you can actually use. The five worth it for almost everyone are Circle to Search, Audio Eraser, Live Translate, Photo Assist’s object eraser and Interpreter. They’re useful, reviewers found them reliable, and you’ll use them often or when it really matters. At the bottom are Creative Studio, Perplexity, Photo Assist’s describe-the-edit mode, Now Nudge and Gemini’s app automation: each is either unreliable in independent testing, rarely useful, or limited to the US and Korea. The full scored table is below, and every feature has steps, devices, on-device or cloud, and a verdict.

Updated for One UI 9 (Android 17) · Last checked October 11, 2026 · By Stephen Jacob

This page goes through Samsung’s Galaxy AI one feature at a time. If you want the overview instead (what Galaxy AI is, which phones get it, whether it’s free and how your data is handled), start with our complete Galaxy AI guide. If Samsung’s model names are new to you, our guide to every Galaxy device family explains them. I haven’t run lab tests for this ranking. The scores are my editorial judgment, based on Samsung’s documentation and published tests by outlets such as Tom’s Guide, The Verge, Ars Technica, Engadget and Android Central, and each verdict links to its evidence.

How we ranked every Galaxy AI feature

We scored each feature from 1 to 5 on four criteria, then weighted the scores so the total is out of 100.

Criterion	Weight	What a 5 means
Usefulness	35%	It solves a real problem or saves real time when you use it
Reliability	30%	Independent testing found it works as promised, first time, most of the time
Frequency of use	20%	A typical owner would use it daily or weekly
Uniqueness vs Google and Apple	15%	You can’t get the same thing on a Pixel or an iPhone

How the total works: Usefulness × 7 + Reliability × 6 + Frequency × 4 + Uniqueness × 3. Five out of five on everything gives 100.

Rules we applied:

• Reliability comes from published tests, not from us. Where we couldn’t find an independent test, the feature gets a neutral 3, marked “3 (est.)” in the table.
• Scores assume your phone has the feature. Device availability is listed separately for each feature, so an S26-only tool isn’t marked down for being new.
• Ties go to the higher Reliability score, then the higher Usefulness score, then the feature with independent testing, then the one available on more phones.
• Verdicts: 65 or more is Worth it. 50 to 64 is Worth it if the condition we name applies to you. Below 50 is Skip it for now.
• Not ranked: privacy controls such as Process data only on device, the always-on camera processing (ProVisual Engine and AI ISP), and a handful of smaller creative tools.

Galaxy AI features ranked: the full table

Rank	Feature	Usefulness	Reliability	Frequency	Uniqueness	Score	Verdict
1	Circle to Search	5	4	5	2	85	Worth it
2	Audio Eraser	4	4	4	4	80	Worth it
3	Live Translate	5	4	2	4	79	Worth it
4	Photo Assist: erase, move and resize	4	4	4	3	77	Worth it
5	Interpreter	4	4	2	4	72	Worth it
6	Chat translation	4	4	2	3	69	Worth it
7	Document Scan	4	3 (est.)	3	3	67	Worth it
8	Transcript Assist	4	3	3	2	64	Worth it if
9	Health Assist, Energy Score and Bedtime Guidance	3	3 (est.)	4	3	64	Worth it if
10	My FanCam	3	4	2	3	62	Worth it if
11	Bixby	3	3	3	3	60	Worth it if
12	Browsing Assist	3	3	3	2	57	Worth it if
13	Edit suggestions	3	3 (est.)	3	2	57	Worth it if
14	Note Assist	3	3 (est.)	2	3	56	Worth it if
15	Flip cover-screen AI	3	3 (est.)	2	3	56	Worth it if
16	Call Screening	4	2	3	1	55	Worth it if
17	Writing Assist	3	3	3	1	54	Worth it if
18	AI Select	3	3 (est.)	2	2	53	Worth it if
19	Notification highlights	3	2	4	1	52	Worth it if
20	Call Brief	2	3 (est.)	3	2	50	Worth it if
21	Now Brief	2	2	4	2	48	Skip it
22	Auto Trim	2	3 (est.)	2	2	46	Skip it
23	Privacy Alerts and Security Brief	3	2	1	3	46	Skip it
24	Gemini app automation	3	2	1	2	43	Skip it
25	Now Nudge	3	1	2	2	41	Skip it
26	Photo Assist: describe the edit	2	2	2	2	40	Skip it
27	Perplexity	2	2	1	1	33	Skip it
28	Creative Studio	1	2	1	2	29	Skip it

“3 (est.)” means we found no independent test, so Reliability is set to neutral. A Skip it verdict means it’s not worth your time right now, not that you should disable it; the background features (Privacy Alerts, Now Brief) cost nothing to leave on.

Below, the features are grouped the same way as in our Galaxy AI guide’s feature list, with each one’s rank and score.

Calls and translation features

Live Translate

Rank 3 · 79/100 · Worth it

What it does: translates a phone call in both directions as it happens, with spoken translation and on-screen text. Samsung says it works in the Phone app and in WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Signal, Line, WeChat, Telegram, Meet and Kakao Talk (Samsung support).

How to use it:

1. Download the language pack for both languages: Settings → General management → Language packs.
2. Turn it on in Settings → Galaxy AI → Call assist → Live translate, and set your language and the other person’s.
3. During a call, tap Call assist on the call screen, then Live translate.

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone; see which devices support Galaxy AI. It covers the 22-language group, which includes Arabic.

On-device or cloud: on the device. SamMobile ran it with cloud processing switched off and lost nothing (SamMobile).

How well it works: in Tom’s Guide’s comparison against iOS 26, Galaxy AI was “nearly spot-on with the translation,” but it waits for the speaker to stop before translating, which made the call feel awkward. You also can’t scroll back through the transcript during the call (Tom’s Guide). The Korea Herald measured a delay of about a second or more per translation on the S24 Ultra (Korea Herald).

Verdict: worth it. The accuracy is there, and it works inside the chat apps people in the Gulf actually call on. Apple’s iPhone call translation doesn’t list Arabic (Apple), and that’s why it scores high on uniqueness. My take: it’s not something most people use weekly, but on the call where you need it, nothing else on the phone comes close.

Interpreter

Rank 5 · 72/100 · Worth it

What it does: translates a face-to-face conversation. The phone listens, shows the translation on screen and speaks it aloud. One UI 9 adds Thread View, so you can scroll back through the conversation, and translation through Galaxy Buds3 and Buds4 (Samsung).

How to use it:

1. Swipe down with two fingers to open Quick settings and tap Interpreter. If it’s not there, add it with the pencil (edit) button.
2. Pick the two languages.
3. Tap the microphone for whoever is speaking, or switch to conversation mode so each person gets their own half of the screen.
4. To listen through Buds3 or Buds4, Samsung says you start it with a long press on the earbuds.

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone. Buds translation and Thread View need One UI 9.

On-device or cloud: on the device, with the language packs downloaded (SamMobile, linked above).

How well it works: Tom’s Guide used the S25 Ultra as an interpreter and found “the majority of the translations were accurate,” but it struggled with slang, which made the conversation feel “like chats you had in a French class” (Tom’s Guide).

Verdict: worth it if you travel, or live somewhere like Dubai where you deal with people across several languages. Arabic ⇄ English is supported. Google’s Pixel and Apple’s iPhone both have conversation translation now, so it’s less unique than Live Translate. How Galaxy AI works on Buds, watches and tablets is covered in our Samsung ecosystem guide.

Chat translation

Rank 6 · 69/100 · Worth it

What it does: translates messages inside the Samsung Keyboard, both the ones you receive and the ones you type, so you can chat in another language without switching apps. It’s part of Writing Assist.

How to use it:

1. Open a chat and tap the text field to bring up the Samsung Keyboard.
2. Tap the Galaxy AI (stars) icon on the keyboard toolbar, then Chat translation.
3. Choose your language and the other person’s. Incoming messages are translated on screen, and what you type is sent in their language (Samsung support).

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone using the Samsung Keyboard. It doesn’t work in Gboard.

On-device or cloud: on the device in SamMobile’s test.

How well it works: CNET singled it out, along with Circle to Search, as a tool that shows “there’s promise behind the hype” (CNET). We found no recent accuracy test, but it uses the same on-device translation models as Live Translate.

Verdict: worth it if you text anyone in another language. It’s quicker than copying text into Google Translate.

Call Screening

Rank 16 · 55/100 · Worth it if you get a lot of unknown calls

What it does: answers calls from unknown or suspected spam numbers, asks who’s calling and why, and shows the reply as live text so you can pick up, reply or hang up.

How to use it:

1. Open the Phone app, tap ⋮ → Settings → Call screening.
2. Turn it on, and turn on Auto screen calls if you want it to answer unknown numbers by itself (Samsung support).
3. To screen a call by hand, tap Call assist on the incoming-call screen, then Call screening.

Our settings guide explains the side effects Samsung warns about, including missed calls you never heard ring.

Devices: S26 series and the Z Fold8 and Flip8 at launch (One UI 8.5 and later). Samsung hasn’t published a full list of older phones that get it with One UI 9. It supports 13 languages, not including Arabic.

On-device or cloud: Samsung doesn’t say clearly. Google’s separate Scam Detection on the S26 runs on the device (Google).

How well it works: poorly next to Google’s version. Tom’s Guide tested it against the Pixel 10 Pro XL and called it “as dull and basic as it gets” (Tom’s Guide).

Verdict: worth it if spam calls are a daily problem: it’s useful even when it’s basic. If you’re comparing phones, Pixel’s Call Screen is the better feature, which is why this scores 1 for uniqueness.

Call Brief

Rank 20 · 50/100 · Worth it if you often call abroad

What it does: new in One UI 9. It shows a small card on the call screen with context, such as the other person’s local time or a calendar event with the caller.

How to use it:

1. Allow the Phone app in Personal data intelligence first.
2. Open the Phone app → ⋮ → Settings → Call assist → Call brief and turn it on. The full steps are in setting 23 of our settings guide.

Devices: S24, S25 and S26 series, and the Z Fold6, Flip6 and newer foldables. FE models don’t get it (SamMobile).

On-device or cloud: it uses your personal data through Personal data intelligence, which Samsung processes on the phone.

How well it works: we found no independent test yet.

Verdict: worth it if you regularly call family or colleagues in other time zones. Otherwise you’ll rarely see it.

Writing, notes and recording features

Transcript Assist

Rank 8 · 64/100 · Worth it if you record meetings, lectures or calls

What it does: turns a recording into text with speaker labels, then summarises or translates it. On One UI 9, summaries can include headings and tables.

How to use it:

1. Open Voice Recorder and record, or open an existing recording.
2. Tap the Transcript Assist (stars) icon, then Transcribe and choose the language.
3. Once the transcript is done, tap Summarize or Translate (Samsung support).

Recordings must be under 3 hours. It works on files from Samsung’s Voice Recorder, Phone, Notes and Interpreter apps.

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone. A series phones such as the A57 and A37 get transcription only.

On-device or cloud: this is disputed. SamMobile found transcription works with cloud processing turned off, but Samsung’s own footnote says transcription and summaries need a network connection. Expect the summary, at least, to need the internet.

How well it works: Tom’s Guide compared it against the iPhone and Pixel. Its call summary “was accurate, too, but left out the budget amount,” which was a key point of the conversation (Tom’s Guide). An earlier Tom’s Guide test found the summaries repetitive (Tom’s Guide).

Verdict: worth it for the transcript, which is the useful part. Check the summary against the transcript before you rely on it.

Document Scan

Rank 7 · 67/100 · Worth it

What it does: spots a document in the camera view and cleans up the scan, removing distortion, folded corners, moiré and stray fingers. On One UI 9, Multi-Scan handles up to 350 pages in one session and copes better with curved book pages (Samsung).

How to use it:

1. Open Camera and point it at the document.
2. Tap the Scan button when it appears.
3. Adjust the corners if needed, then save as an image or PDF.

More detail is in hidden feature 26.

Devices: One UI 9 phones for Multi-Scan and curved pages. Basic scanning has been in the camera for years.

On-device or cloud: Samsung doesn’t say. We list it as unconfirmed.

How well it works: we found no independent test of the One UI 9 version.

Verdict: worth it. You’ll use it for receipts, forms and contracts, and it saves you a separate scanner app. My take: this is the most underrated feature on the list, because nobody markets a scanner.

Note Assist

Rank 14 · 56/100 · Worth it if you live in Samsung Notes

What it does: formats, summarises, corrects spelling in and translates notes in Samsung Notes, including imported PDFs.

How to use it:

1. Open a note in Samsung Notes.
2. Tap the Note Assist (stars) icon.
3. Choose Auto format, Summarize, Correct spelling or Translate (Samsung support).

Samsung says a note needs roughly 200 to 4,000 characters, plus a Samsung account and an internet connection.

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone and tablet.

On-device or cloud: translation runs on the device. Auto format, summaries and spelling need the cloud (SamMobile).

How well it works: we found no recent independent test.

Verdict: worth it if Samsung Notes is where you keep meeting notes or study material. If you use Google Keep, OneNote or Notion, it does nothing for you.

Writing Assist

Rank 17 · 54/100 · Worth it if you want a grammar check in the keyboard

What it does: works inside the Samsung Keyboard. Composer drafts text from a prompt. Writing style rewrites what you’ve typed (Professional, Casual, Social, Emojify). Spelling and grammar proofreads it. Chat translation, covered above, is part of the same menu.

How to use it:

1. Type something in any app, then tap the Galaxy AI (stars) icon on the Samsung Keyboard.
2. Choose Composer, Writing style or Spelling and grammar.
3. Tap Replace, Insert or Copy to use the result (Samsung support).

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone, with the Samsung Keyboard. Samsung lists 41 languages, including Arabic.

On-device or cloud: style and grammar run on the device in SamMobile’s test. Composer needs the cloud.

How well it works: Android Police found the grammar check “the most useful of the AI additions,” but the keyboard kept using American English on a phone set to UK English (Android Police). CNET found Composer’s results full of emoji and “inauthentic” (CNET, linked above).

Verdict: worth it if you want the grammar check. Skip Composer and the social styles. Gemini and Gboard do the same job on any Android phone, which is why it scores 1 for uniqueness.

Browsing Assist

Rank 12 · 57/100 · Worth it if Samsung Internet is your browser

What it does: summarises or translates the web page you’re reading in Samsung Internet.

How to use it:

1. Open a page in Samsung Internet.
2. Tap the Galaxy AI icon in the toolbar.
3. Choose Summarize or Translate.

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone and tablet.

On-device or cloud: translation runs on the device. Summaries need the cloud (SamMobile).

How well it works: Tom’s Guide called it “great for summarizing the content of a webpage,” and liked that it can read a summary aloud in another language (Tom’s Guide).

Verdict: worth it if you already use Samsung Internet. Chrome users get similar tools from Gemini.

Notification highlights

Rank 19 · 52/100 · Worth it if you turn on Prioritize and skip Summarize

What it does: has two parts. Prioritize moves important, time-sensitive notifications to the top of the panel, and Summarize condenses long chat threads in notifications.

How to use it:

1. Go to Settings → Galaxy AI → Notification highlights.
2. Turn on Prioritize notifications, Summarize notifications or both (Samsung support).
3. Samsung says you can choose which apps’ notifications are included.

Devices: S26 series and newer foldables at launch; One UI 9 on other phones. Samsung hasn’t published the full list.

On-device or cloud: on the device, using Gemini Nano, according to Android Faithful.

How well it works: Android Faithful found the summaries “often unintelligible,” and said it reads them for entertainment (Android Faithful).

Verdict: worth it for Prioritize. Leave Summarize off until it improves. Apple and Google both offer notification summaries, so it’s not unique.

Photo and video features

Audio Eraser

Rank 2 · 80/100 · Worth it

What it does: separates the audio in a video into sound types (voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise) so you can turn down the ones you don’t want. On the S26 series it also works live on video you stream, in apps such as YouTube, Netflix and Instagram (Samsung Newsroom).

How to use it on a video you shot:

1. Open the video in Gallery and tap the Edit (pencil) icon.
2. Tap the Audio (speaker) tab, then Audio eraser.
3. Lower the sounds you don’t want, then save.

How to use it while streaming (S26 series):

1. Play a video in a supported app.
2. Swipe down to open the Quick Panel and tap Audio eraser.
3. Long-press the tile to set the strength. At maximum strength you can turn on Voice focus.

Our hidden feature 21 explains the streaming version in more detail.

Devices: Gallery editing on recent flagships (sources disagree on whether it started with the S24 or the S25). Streaming playback needs the S26 series or a newer foldable.

On-device or cloud: the streaming version runs in real time on the device, according to 9to5Google. Samsung’s footnote says some supported apps need a network connection.

How well it works: 9to5Google said it “works really well on YouTube,” with some audio artifacts (9to5Google). Android Central found Voice Focus boosts dialogue, but “sometimes the voices can get muddied” (Android Central).

Verdict: worth it. Pixel offers a similar eraser for recorded video, but cleaning up dialogue live in Netflix or YouTube is something you can only do on a Galaxy. My take: the streaming version is the most genuinely new thing Galaxy AI has added since 2024.

Photo Assist: erase, move and resize

Rank 4 · 77/100 · Worth it

What it does: removes, moves or resizes objects and people in a photo, then generates whatever was behind them.

How to use it:

1. Open a photo in Gallery and tap the Photo Assist (stars) icon.
2. Tap or draw around the object.
3. Drag it to move it, pinch to resize it, or tap Erase.
4. Tap Generate, then save.

Samsung adds a visible AI watermark to generated results and saves them at up to 12MP (Samsung support).

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone. A series phones get the simpler Object Eraser.

On-device or cloud: generative fills need the cloud. One UI 8.5 added an option to remove objects on the device.

How well it works: in Tom’s Guide’s three-way test against Apple and Google, “Samsung clearly has the best AI-assisted tool for erasing unwanted subjects” (Tom’s Guide). Digit called the S26’s eraser “one of the best implementations out there” (Digit).

Verdict: worth it. It’s the generative photo tool most owners will actually use.

Edit suggestions

Rank 13 · 57/100 · Worth it if you edit in Gallery

What it does: suggests fixes for the photo or video you’re viewing, such as remastering, colourising old photos, removing reflections and adding portrait effects (Samsung support).

How to use it: open a photo in Gallery and tap the Galaxy AI (stars) icon. The suggestions that apply appear as one-tap options. On One UI 9 the button’s exact name may vary.

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone.

On-device or cloud: on the device, according to Samsung.

How well it works: we found no independent test.

Verdict: worth it if you fix old or flat photos in Gallery. It’s quick and private, but Google Photos offers similar one-tap fixes. For the camera settings that affect every shot, see our S26 Ultra camera settings.

My FanCam

Rank 10 · 62/100 · Worth it if you film group performances or sport

What it does: new in One UI 9. It turns an existing group video into a cropped clip that follows one person you choose.

How to use it:

1. Open the video in Gallery and tap the Galaxy AI (stars) icon.
2. Tap My FanCam and pick the person.
3. Choose the orientation and aspect ratio, then save.

The video must be at least 720 × 720 pixels, and it tracks people only. The full walkthrough is in hidden feature 20.

Devices: S24, S25 and S26 series, including FE models, and the Z Fold6, Flip6 and newer foldables. Not the S23 series (SamMobile, linked above).

On-device or cloud: on the device. Engadget found it worked in airplane mode, though it needs a Samsung account login (Engadget).

How well it works: Engadget found it tracks a subject across a whole video without a special recording mode.

Verdict: worth it if you film school concerts, dance recitals or kids’ football. Most people will use it a few times a year.

Auto Trim

Rank 22 · 46/100 · Skip it

What it does: builds a highlight clip from your videos. Samsung lists limits of 90 minutes per clip, 180 minutes in total and 60 clips (Samsung).

How to use it: Samsung hasn’t published One UI 9 steps. In Gallery, select the videos and look for the Galaxy AI or create options. This menu path is unconfirmed.

Devices: Samsung lists it for recent flagships.

On-device or cloud: Samsung doesn’t say.

How well it works: we found no independent test.

Verdict: skip it. Google Photos and CapCut do automatic highlights with more control.

Photo Assist: describe the edit

Rank 26 · 40/100 · Skip it

What it does: new on the S26 series. You type or say an edit in plain language, such as “make it night” or “remove the people,” and Photo Assist applies it. One UI 9 adds spoken prompts.

How to use it:

1. Open a photo in Gallery and tap the Photo Assist icon.
2. Type or say what you want changed.
3. Pick one of the results and save.

Devices: S26 series and the Z Fold8 and Flip8 at launch. Samsung lists 41 languages.

On-device or cloud: the cloud.

How well it works: Tom’s Guide pitted it against the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s Ask Photos. Google won three of five prompts. Photo Assist “repeatedly returned a message stating it couldn’t generate the request” for a King Kong prompt, and won only the prompt where changing less was better (Tom’s Guide). The Verge found the generative tools “unsettling” (The Verge).

Verdict: skip it for now. Use the eraser instead: it’s quicker and much more reliable.

Creative Studio

Rank 28 · 29/100 · Skip it

What it does: generates images, stickers and wallpapers from a description, and styles existing photos.

How to use it:

1. Open the Edge panel and tap Creative studio.
2. Choose Generate image, Style a photo, Create sticker or Wallpaper.
3. Type a description of 100 words or fewer, pick a style and tap Generate (Samsung support).

Devices: S26 series and newer foldables.

On-device or cloud: it needs a network connection.

How well it works: Digital Trends’ S26 Ultra review called it a show-once-and-forget feature, based on the search snippet; the full page was blocked when we checked.

Verdict: skip it. My take: it’s a demo, not a tool. Stickers made from your own photos are fun for a day, but nothing here earns a place in your routine.

Proactive Galaxy AI features

Now Brief

Rank 21 · 48/100 · Skip it, except the custom cards

What it does: a personalised briefing on the lock screen and home screen, covering your schedule, reservations, travel, health, news and reminders. One UI 9 lets you write up to three custom cards (weather, health or videos on topics you choose).

How to use it:

1. Allow the apps you want in Personal data intelligence.
2. Go to Settings → Galaxy AI → Now brief and choose what to include.
3. To make a custom card on One UI 9, follow the steps in hidden feature 27.

Devices: One UI 8 and later on the S24 series and newer. Custom cards need One UI 9 and an S24 or newer (SamMobile). It doesn’t support Arabic.

On-device or cloud: personal data is processed on the phone. Engadget says custom cards are generated off the device.

How well it works: Ars Technica said it “still does almost nothing of use” on the S26 Ultra (Ars Technica). Engadget found each custom card is served only once a day. MakeUseOf liked custom cards for the Samsung Health stats it cares about (MakeUseOf).

Verdict: skip the briefing itself. Try a custom health card if you wear a Galaxy Watch.

Now Nudge

Rank 25 · 41/100 · Skip it for now

What it does: suggests the next step from what’s on screen. If a friend asks for trip photos, it offers them from Gallery, and if a message mentions a meeting, it checks your calendar. In One UI 9 it also appears in conversation notifications and as a floating button.

How to use it:

1. Go to Settings → Galaxy AI → Now nudge and turn it on (Samsung support).
2. Allow the apps it may read under Personal data intelligence.
3. Chat as normal. Suggestions appear above the keyboard or in the floating button.

Our recommended setup is setting 24 in our settings guide.

Devices: S26 series from One UI 8.5. S24 and S25 series, FE models and recent foldables get it with One UI 9 (SamMobile). Samsung lists Arabic.

On-device or cloud: your personal data is processed on the phone.

How well it works: Ars Technica: “I haven’t seen a single Nudge appear in my testing.” The Verge saw it “a couple of times,” and once it helped schedule an event (The Verge, linked above). The Guardian called it “limited compared with” Google’s Magic Cue (The Guardian).

Verdict: skip it for now. The idea is good, but you can’t rely on a feature that rarely appears. Give the One UI 9 version a week, then turn it off if the floating button gets in the way.

Search and assistant features

Circle to Search

Rank 1 · 85/100 · Worth it

What it does: searches anything on your screen. Circle, scribble on or tap an image, product or block of text, and Google shows results without you leaving the app. Detected text can be copied or translated, and on the S26 series it recognises several objects in one image.

How to use it:

1. Press and hold the Home button, or the navigation handle if you use gestures.
2. Circle, scribble on or tap what you want to search.
3. Scroll the results, or tap Copy or Translate when text is detected.

If it doesn’t start, check Settings → Display → Navigation bar → Circle to search.

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone and tablet, including A series phones.

On-device or cloud: the cloud. It needs an internet connection, and it doesn’t work in apps that block screenshots, such as banking or streaming apps (Samsung support).

How well it works: it’s Google Search and Google Lens behind the gesture, and in CNET’s long-term use it stood out as one of the clearest examples of AI being useful (CNET, linked above).

Verdict: worth it, and the feature you’ll use most. It loses points on uniqueness only because every recent Pixel and many other Android phones have it. Every gesture, translation, song search, privacy setting and fix is in our full Circle to Search guide; for the S Pen and S26-specific tips, see Circle to Search on the S26 Ultra.

AI Select

Rank 18 · 53/100 · Worth it if you use the Edge panel or S Pen

What it does: you select part of the screen and it suggests actions for that content, such as translating text, adding to Samsung Wallet, making a GIF from a video, saving an image or setting it as wallpaper.

How to use it:

1. Swipe in from the edge to open the Edge panel and tap AI Select. Or take a screenshot and tap AI Select in the toolbar, or on the S26 Ultra choose it from the S Pen’s Air command.
2. Outline the area or tap an object.
3. Tap the highlighted area to see the actions (Samsung support).

Devices: every Galaxy AI phone, including the A57 and A37.

On-device or cloud: depends on the action. Text extraction is local, while Photo Assist actions need the cloud.

How well it works: we found no independent test.

Verdict: worth it if you already use the Edge panel or S Pen. Otherwise, Circle to Search covers most of it. Our hidden feature 23 shows a related trick for copying text.

Bixby

Rank 11 · 60/100 · Worth it if you change settings by voice

What it does: Samsung’s assistant. On the S26 series it understands natural language, changes phone settings for you, takes you straight to a setting, and answers web questions by handing them to Perplexity.

How to use it:

1. Say “Hi Bixby,” or put Bixby on the side button: Settings → Advanced features → Bixby → Side button settings (path from Samsung’s S26 support page).
2. Ask in plain language, for example “make the screen easier to read at night.”

You can also talk to Bixby by raising the phone.

Devices: S26 series and the Z Fold8 and Flip8 for the new Bixby. Older phones have the previous version. Bixby voice supports 12 accents and dialects, not including Arabic.

On-device or cloud: phone actions are local. Web answers go to Perplexity.

How well it works: GSMArena found it “can take you straight to the exact menu or toggle you need” (GSMArena). Android Faithful asked for Extra Dim and was taken to Connections instead of Accessibility (Android Faithful, linked above). The Guardian: “It works OK, but with Gemini baked in,” it saw little reason to use it (The Guardian, linked above).

Verdict: worth it if you’d rather say a setting than hunt for it. For everything else, Gemini is the better assistant.

Gemini app automation

Rank 24 · 43/100 · Skip it for now

What it does: Google’s Gemini carries out multi-step tasks in other apps for you, such as booking a ride or ordering food. It’s Google’s feature rather than Samsung’s, built into the S26 and the new foldables.

How to use it:

1. Long-press the side button to open Gemini.
2. Ask for the task, for example “order my usual from Starbucks.”
3. Confirm the steps when Gemini asks.

Devices: S26 series and the Z Fold8 and Flip8. As of July 2026 it works in more than 40 apps, only in the US and Korea, in US English and Korean, for users 18 and over (Google). It isn’t available in the UAE.

On-device or cloud: the cloud.

How well it works: The Verge called it “slow, clunky, and super impressive.” One dinner order took nine minutes (The Verge).

Verdict: skip it for now. It’s impressive as a preview, but slower than doing the task yourself, and most readers can’t use it yet. If you let it act, check AI Assistant Activity to see what it did (see our privacy section).

Perplexity

Rank 27 · 33/100 · Skip it

What it does: Perplexity is the third assistant Samsung offers on the S26 series, alongside Gemini and Bixby. It gives web answers with sources.

How to use it: Android Faithful found it isn’t preloaded on every unit. Download it from the Galaxy Store if it’s missing, then sign in. Android Faithful also mentions a free year of Perplexity Pro with the phone, but Samsung hasn’t published an S26 offer, and owners report that the US Galaxy Store promotion ended on December 24, 2025. Some carriers run their own deals. We cover what’s confirmed in is Galaxy AI free.

Devices: S26 series and newer.

On-device or cloud: the cloud.

How well it works: Android Faithful notes its wake word was removed after launch, and it has no built-in shortcut the way Gemini does.

Verdict: skip it unless you already pay for Perplexity. Bixby already passes web questions to it, and the standalone app works the same on any phone.

Health, security and foldable features

Health Assist, Energy Score and Bedtime Guidance

Rank 9 · 64/100 · Worth it if you wear a Galaxy Watch or Ring

What it does: AI insights in Samsung Health. Health Assist gives personalised guidance from your data, Energy Score rates your readiness each morning, and Bedtime Guidance suggests when to sleep.

How to use it:

1. Open Samsung Health, version 6.27 or later.
2. Check the message at the top of the Home screen and tap it for details (Samsung support).

Energy Score needs a Galaxy Watch4 or later (Wear OS 5 or later) or a Galaxy Ring. Bedtime Guidance needs three days of sleep data.

Devices: Galaxy phones running Samsung Health 6.27 or later, paired with a supported watch or ring.

On-device or cloud: Samsung doesn’t say.

How well it works: we found no independent test of the insights’ accuracy.

Verdict: worth it if you wear a Galaxy Watch or Ring: it’s free, and it turns raw numbers into a daily nudge. Without a wearable, it does very little.

Privacy Alerts and Security Brief

Rank 23 · 46/100 · Skip it (but leave it on)

What it does: new in One UI 9. On-device AI flags apps that use permissions they don’t need, and Now Brief can show a security summary.

How to use it:

1. Open Settings → Galaxy AI → Now brief and turn on the security and privacy content.
2. Privacy Alerts run in the background. If one appears, tap it to review the app’s permissions. Samsung hasn’t published a separate menu path.

See our Security Brief setting.

Devices: One UI 9 phones. Samsung lists Security Brief back to the S23.

On-device or cloud: on the device.

How well it works: Engadget “could not get an alert to appear in the course of normal use” (Engadget, linked above).

Verdict: skip it as a reason to buy, but leave it switched on. It costs nothing, and you’ll only notice it if an app misbehaves.

Flip cover-screen AI

Rank 15 · 56/100 · Worth it if you own a Z Flip

What it does: on the cover screen, auto zoom and auto framing for photos and AI-suggested replies to messages.

How to use it: open the camera on the cover screen and the framing tools appear. Suggested replies show when you open a message on the cover screen.

Devices: Z Flip6, Flip7, Flip7 FE and Flip8 (Samsung support).

On-device or cloud: Samsung doesn’t say.

How well it works: we found no independent test.

Verdict: worth it if you own a Flip. Suggested replies are the part you’ll actually use.

Smaller Galaxy AI tools we didn’t rank

Samsung lists a few more creative tools, but we found too little testing, or they’re too niche, to score them fairly (Samsung support):

• Drawing Assist (sketch to image): turns a rough sketch into an image in Samsung Notes, Gallery or Air command. It needs the cloud.
• Portrait Studio: restyles a selfie in one of several art styles, from Photo Assist in Gallery.
• Live effects: adds a 3D depth effect to a still photo.
• Photo Ambient and generative wallpapers: dynamic wallpapers made from your photos, or generated from a prompt.

Galaxy AI controls that aren’t features

Three switches decide how much of the list above works, so they’re not ranked:

• Process data only on device (Settings → Galaxy AI) keeps processing on the phone. Translation keeps working, while summaries and generative edits stop.
• Personal data intelligence controls which apps Now Brief, Now Nudge and Call Brief may read.
• AI Assistant Activity (One UI 9) logs what Gemini or another assistant did in your apps.

Our Galaxy AI guide explains each one in its privacy and data controls section. For recommended values, see setting 22 in our settings guide. To switch individual features off, see how to turn Galaxy AI features on or off.

Galaxy AI features FAQ

What is the best Galaxy AI feature?

Circle to Search, on our scoring. It’s the one you’ll use most, and it works reliably. Audio Eraser comes second, and it’s the best feature only Samsung offers, because its streaming mode cleans up dialogue in apps like Netflix and YouTube.

What are the main Galaxy AI features?

Samsung groups them into calls and translation (Live Translate, Interpreter, Call Screening), writing and productivity (Writing Assist, Note Assist, Transcript Assist), photo and video (Photo Assist, Audio Eraser, My FanCam), proactive help (Now Brief, Now Nudge), and search and assistants (Circle to Search, Bixby, Gemini). The full ranking table lists all 28.

Which Galaxy AI features work offline or on device?

Live Translate, Interpreter and Chat translation work with no connection once you’ve downloaded the language packs. My FanCam, Edit suggestions and Writing Assist’s style and grammar tools also run on the phone. Circle to Search, Composer, summaries, Creative Studio and generative photo edits need the internet. Samsung and independent testers disagree on Transcript Assist. Our Galaxy AI guide has the full table.

What Galaxy AI feature removes background noise from videos?

Audio Eraser. In Gallery, open the video, tap Edit, then the Audio tab, and lower the noise, wind or crowd sounds. On the S26 series you can also apply it to streaming video from the Quick Panel. See Audio Eraser above.

Which Galaxy AI features need a Galaxy S26?

At launch, Call Screening, Photo Assist’s describe-the-edit mode, Audio Eraser for streaming apps, the new Bixby, Creative Studio and Gemini’s app automation (US and Korea only) came with the S26 series and the new foldables. One UI 9 brings My FanCam, Now Nudge, custom Now Brief cards and Call Brief to the S24 and S25 too. Check your phone’s update status in our One UI 9 rollout tracker.

Are Galaxy AI features free?

Samsung says its basic Galaxy AI features are free, with no end date since January 2026. It may charge for future “enhanced” features, and third-party AI such as Gemini’s paid tiers has its own terms. Details, including which features are on Samsung’s basic list, are in is Galaxy AI free.

Which Galaxy AI features work in Arabic?

Live Translate, Interpreter, Transcript Assist, Note Assist, Writing Assist, Photo Assist and Now Nudge support Arabic, according to Samsung. Now Brief, Call Screening and Bixby voice don’t. More in Galaxy AI in the UAE.

Is Galaxy AI worth it?

If your phone already has it, yes: the top seven features on our list are useful, and the rest cost nothing to leave off. I wouldn’t upgrade a phone just for the newest AI features, though. Most of the S26-only additions rank in the bottom half. For the bigger picture, see is Galaxy AI worth it in our guide.

The bottom line

On our scoring, about a quarter of Galaxy AI’s 28 features are worth building habits around. Turn on Circle to Search, Audio Eraser, Live Translate and Interpreter, and use Photo Assist’s eraser and Document Scan whenever you need them. Try the conditional features once to see if they fit how you work: Transcript Assist, My FanCam, Bixby and Health Assist. Ignore Creative Studio and the describe-the-edit mode, and check Now Nudge again in a future update. If you’re setting up a new phone, our Samsung settings to change and S26 Ultra tips guides show where these switches live, our complete S26 Ultra guide covers One UI 9 on Samsung’s flagship, and our One UI 9 guide covers everything else in the update.