This story was updated on May 14th. Update below.
Samsung released One UI 6.1, which brings with it a raft of Galaxy AI features, to users of older Galaxy phone users in Korea last week. Now, the company is rolling out the update to U.S. users.
Samsung announced that it is rolling out One UI 6.1 to the Galaxy S22 series, Flip 4, Fold 4 and Tab S8 devices in the U.S. this week. The Korean company is also emailing Galaxy users with details about what features they can expect to see.
The headline news about this update is that Samsung’s formerly S24-exclusive suite of AI features will now work on phones that are up to three years old. These devices will get Circle to Search, Chat Assist, Interpreter, Live Translate, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, Browsing Assist, Generative Edit, Edit Suggestion and AI-Generated Wallpaper.
Samsung has also confirmed that the older Galaxy S21 series, Flip 3 and Fold 3 handsets will only get two Galaxy AI features: Circle to Search and Chat Assist. Unless the Korean company is feeling particularly generous, I suspect these are the last phones Samsung will update with Galaxy AI for performance reasons. But also because the Galaxy S20 is outside of its Android update window.
Samsung is also making it clear in its communications to users that these Galaxy AI features are only free until “the end” of 2025. That doesn’t necessarily mean the company will charge to use these tools, but it gives Samsung the option to.
I imagine Google-powered AI skills, like Circle to Search, will remain free because it is Google’s technology, not Samsung’s. Google has also spent years updating older Pixel phones with new AI features for free. I can’t see the company suddenly charging a subscription for them.
Samsung keeping the door open to charging for AI features also means Galaxy S22 owners, who are getting the update this week, may only get full free access to these tools for 18 months.
A possible subscription also raises an interesting question about Android updates on older phones. Will Samsung allow users to pay for AI features, even after those phones are outside of the update window? We will have to wait and see what Samsung’s plans are when the free Galaxy AI deadline expires.
For the time being, with this update, Samsung has increased the value of its older handsets and has given Galaxy buyers a legitimate reason to pick up the S22 or S23.
May 14th update: Samsung is now rolling out One UI 6.1 to the Galaxy A54, which is one of the company’s mid-range phones. The update was spotted by Tarun Vats on X/Twitter and, like previous updates, users in Korea will get the OS first. If Samsung’s previous rollout schedules are anything to go by, other territories will get the update in the next week, too.
One UI 6.1 hitting the A54 is particularly interesting because it’s not clear if the device will also get Galaxy AI features. Owners of older Samsung phones, like the S23, S22 and S1 are currently enjoying most of Samsung’s AI-powered apps, skills and tools, with the exception of the S21 range, which only gets two features as I explained in this story.
But Samsung has remained tight-lipped about how wide it is willing to spread Galaxy AI throughout its smartphone line-up. The A54 should be able to run some features, like Circle to Search, but we will have to see if the company wants to reserve its most advanced software for flagship handsets.
