Samsung has extended its latest software update, One UI 8.5, to a wider range of Galaxy smartphones, bringing new artificial intelligence features previously exclusive to its newest handsets. The rollout reflects the firm’s continued push to embed AI more deeply into its mobile ecosystem, although not all devices are receiving the full suite of upgrades.
AI Features Arrive on Galaxy S23 — With Some Limitations
The South Korean tech giant Samsung has begun delivering elements of its latest AI toolkit—first introduced with the Galaxy S26 series—to older models including the Galaxy S25, S24 and now the Galaxy S23 range.
Details emerging from a leaked changelog shared by tipster Tarun Vats suggest that while Galaxy S23 users will benefit from several enhancements, the update stops short of offering full feature parity with newer devices.
At the centre of the update is a significant overhaul to Bixby, Samsung’s voice assistant. The upgraded version now supports more advanced natural language processing, allowing users to control settings and access features through conversational prompts.
For instance, users can request changes such as enabling Quick Share or ask broader questions—like how to extend battery life—prompting contextual suggestions. The assistant can also interpret indirect phrasing; saying “my eyes are strained” activates eye comfort settings, while complaints about brightness trigger adaptive dimming.
Samsung’s integration of Perplexity AI technology underpins these improvements, signalling a broader shift towards AI-driven user interfaces across smartphones.
Photo Tools Enhanced, but Key Features Missing
Another notable addition is an upgrade to Photo Assist, enabling continuous AI-generated image edits without requiring users to save each version individually—streamlining the editing process.
However, several headline AI features remain absent from the Galaxy S23 update. These include Audio Eraser, Creative Studio, and Call Screening—tools that have been positioned as key selling points in Samsung’s latest devices.
Additionally, improved cross-device sharing akin to AirDrop is not referenced in the changelog. Instead, Samsung appears to be tightening file-sharing permissions, limiting transfers to users signed into the same Samsung or Google account.
Hardware Constraints Likely Behind Feature Gap
The disparity between devices may come down to hardware capability. Samsung’s newer phones, particularly those powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, are designed with on-device AI processing in mind.
These chips feature more advanced neural processing units (NPUs), allowing them to handle generative AI tasks efficiently without compromising performance or battery life. By contrast, the Galaxy S23’s older architecture may struggle to support the full range of AI features.
Samsung has also drawn a clear line around 2024—the year it formally launched its Galaxy AI platform—suggesting that devices released prior to that may only receive partial updates.
Galaxy S24 FE Gains Full AI Suite
There is better news for owners of the Galaxy S24 FE. The latest beta version of One UI 8.5 indicates that the device will receive the complete set of AI features, including Photo Assist, Audio Eraser, Creative Studio and Call Screening.
The update also addresses several technical issues, such as a black screen bug during incoming calls and visual glitches when recording 4K video. Improvements to Bluetooth stability and overall system reliability have also been included.
By contrast, the Galaxy S23 FE has not yet received the same level of enhancement. While it does gain a new Privacy Alerts feature—offering greater transparency over app data usage—it lacks the advanced AI tools seen on newer models.
A Gradual Shift Towards AI-Centric Smartphones
Samsung’s staggered rollout reflects a broader industry trend, as smartphone manufacturers increasingly position AI as a defining feature of modern devices. For consumers in markets such as the UK—where handset upgrade cycles have lengthened due to rising costs—the availability of new features on older devices may prove particularly significant.
Conclusion
While Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update brings meaningful AI improvements to the Galaxy S23 series, it also highlights the growing divide between older and newer hardware. As AI capabilities become more demanding, full access to these features may increasingly depend on owning the latest devices, leaving earlier models with only a partial experience.
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