Samsung’s ambitious leap into on-device AI has everyone talking—but not everyone’s invited. Here’s a quick look at which handsets make the cut and why your older Galaxy might be left on the shelf.
Not Everyone Will Get Samsung’s AI
If you’ve been eyeing the new Galaxy AI enhancements—think instant language translation, smarter camera tricks and on-device writing assistance—brace yourself: only a handpicked models club will ever see them. While the Galaxy S24 trio is in the spotlight, Samsung has confirmed that just nine devices from 2023 will join the party. The lucky nine are:
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Galaxy Z Fold5
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Galaxy Z Flip5
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Galaxy S23 Ultra
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Galaxy S23+
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Galaxy S23
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Galaxy S23 FE
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Galaxy Tab S9
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Galaxy Tab S9+
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Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
I have a friend who still swears by her Galaxy S22—she even bought a wallet case for it! She was eager to try out the AI résumé builder demoed at Unpacked. Now, she’s come to terms with missing out, along with all other pre-2023 models.
Why Samsung Is Holding Back
At first glance, it’s tempting to chalk this up to an upgrade incentive, nudging users towards fresher hardware. Samsung, however, insists it’s about maintaining performance optimization across the board. In an April 2025 press release, the company stated: “We’re focusing our Galaxy AI experience on the latest-generation devices to ensure optimal quality and seamless integration.”
Digging deeper, the crux appears to be a mix of hardware and software demands. The neural cores and AI accelerators inside the Exynos 2300 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipsets simply aren’t present on older models. Even though the Galaxy S22 and the S23 FE share similar processors, Samsung argues that end-to-end software compatibility—from camera APIs to system-level memory management—differs too much to guarantee a consistent user experience.
Jane Miller, Senior Analyst at IDC, sums it up neatly: “By restricting Galaxy AI to a select fleet of devices, Samsung can deliver stable, high-speed performance without frustrating customers with hiccups or battery drain,” she explains.
What It Means for You
If you’re rocking a Galaxy S23, you’re in luck: One UI 6.1, based on Android 14, will land in the first half of 2024 with Galaxy AI baked in. For everyone else, a trade-in or second-hand S23 might suddenly look like a prime bargain—especially with year-old flagships dropping in price on resale sites.
Ultimately, Samsung’s move is a balancing act between innovation and reliability. As tempting as it is to grumble about FOMO, there’s something to be said for features that actually work as advertised. And if history is any guide, next year’s S25 family will likely raise the bar once more—meaning this exclusivity story is far from over.
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Hi, I’m Brandon from the Decatur Metro team. I guide you through the trends and events reshaping our region.
