Samsung Electronics is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) features to enhance its flagship Galaxy smartphones, aiming to gain a competitive edge against Apple’s iPhone. Unveiled at the Unpacked conference in San Jose, California, the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra phones showcase AI tools based on Alphabet’s Google Gemini technology.
Earlier this month techmoonshot hinted about the release of these new Samsung phones with new AI capabilities. These devices offer capabilities such as live phone call translation, voice recording transcription, web article summarization, handwriting correction, and generative AI for photo enhancement. This launch represents a significant effort to integrate AI seamlessly into a smartphone’s interface and features.
Furthermore, it provides Google with an opportunity to extend its advanced software to a broader user base, potentially strengthening its position in the ongoing competition for AI dominance with Microsoft and startup OpenAI.
The spotlight of the new phones is on their AI features, accompanied by sleeker bezels and brighter displays. Samsung’s focus is particularly on the top-tier model, the S24 Ultra, priced starting at $1,299, featuring a new titanium frame reminiscent of the iPhone 15 Pro models released in September.
The S24 Ultra boasts 42% thinner borders around the display, a 40% brighter screen compared to its predecessor, flatter edges, and an 11% smaller front-facing camera cut-out. The $799 S24 and $999 S24+ models, crafted in aluminum, feature slightly larger screens than their predecessors, moving from 6.1-inch and 6.6-inch to 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The S24 Ultra, mirroring the S23 Ultra, sports a 6.8-inch screen.
In certain regions, Qualcomm supplies the main chip for the new Samsung phones. The S24 lineup is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 applications processor, offering the latest Wi-Fi capabilities and handling AI-assisted features like live translation and transcription, according to Qualcomm.
These new models arrive at a critical juncture for Samsung, facing market share losses and a broader smartphone downturn. Last year, it relinquished its position as the leading smartphone supplier to Apple, marking the first time since 2010 that Samsung has not held the market’s top spot.
Samsung faced a nearly 14% decline in phone shipments, totaling 226.6 million units in 2023, as reported by research firm IDC. In contrast, Apple experienced a 3.7% increase in unit shipments, reaching 234.6 million.
To reverse its fortunes, Samsung is taking an early initiative in AI. Unlike Apple, which is anticipated to reveal its latest artificial intelligence plans in June, ahead of new iPhones arriving around September, Samsung’s new Galaxy phones are set to debut on January 31, with pre-orders starting this Wednesday.
Samsung opted for the Gemini AI technology following a comprehensive assessment of competitors’ offerings, as stated by Thomas Kurian, the head of Google’s cloud computing unit. Under a multi-year agreement, Google becomes the exclusive provider of generative AI for Samsung’s phones and applications, encompassing features like note-taking and audio recording.
Thomas Kurian highlighted, “This is a validation of the quality of our models. They were free to choose whoever they wanted.” Users can choose between two options: Gemini Nano, running on the phone itself, and a more potent Pro version utilizing cloud computing. The flexibility offered by Google’s solutions distinguished them from the competition, according to Kurian.
In tandem with Samsung’s announcements, Google introduced a feature called “Circle to Search,” enabling users to search anything on their phone screens without switching apps.
A Deep Dive into Phone Features
Users on Google’s Android operating system can now annotate or circle items such as images, text, or videos within apps like YouTube Shorts or TikTok to access more information. This feature is globally launching on the new Galaxy S24 and Google’s Pixel 8 smartphones on January 31.
AI features on Samsung devices empower users to dynamically change the language of a message based on context, distinguishing between a work memo and a social media post. Additionally, Android Auto, Google’s in-car interface, introduces new capabilities to summarize incoming text messages and alerts.
AI enhancements extend to the phones’ camera systems, featuring upgraded sensors for sharper photos. The S24 Ultra replaces one of its 10-megapixel telephoto cameras with a 50-megapixel version. Camera specifications for the S24 and S24+ remain the same as their predecessors.
Storage options vary, with the S24 Ultra offering up to 1 terabyte, the S24+ topping out at 512 gigabytes, and the S24 providing up to 256 gigabytes. Both the S24+ and S24 Ultra come with 12GB of memory for shorter-term data storage, while the regular S24 has 8GB.
