The latest Galaxy Unpacked event from Samsung has brought several exciting new products, including foldables and smartwatches, but the partnership with Google has also revealed some significant Android features that will debut on these devices first.
Several new Android features are set to be released on the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 before appearing on Pixels and other phones, marking a tradition of mid-year product launches that bring new features to Samsung devices before they become available on other devices.
The focus of this year's release is on Gemini, with the Gemini Intelligence feature expanding to support more than 40 apps and being available out of the box on the new Galaxy foldables. Gemini can complete tasks for users, such as booking cabs or reserving tables, and users will receive an overview of what the AI is up to on their screen, with final approval required for any important actions.
Gemini Notebook is also preinstalled on the new Samsung phones, offering an AI research tool that allows users to drag and drop elements into their notebooks from other apps, taking advantage of the wider screen on the Z Fold 8 devices.
Those who purchase a Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, or Galaxy Z Flip 8 will receive six months of Google AI Pro for free, which includes features such as video generation, the Antigravity coding tool, YouTube Premium Lite, and 5TB of storage.
On the Galaxy Watch 9, Gemini will start listening for instructions as soon as users raise their wrist to talk, eliminating the need for a wake word and offering faster access to the AI.
Google has also improved the "switching" feature from iPhones, which now works wirelessly and supports additional data types, including Google Account details and wifi credentials, on top of photos, videos, contacts, messages, and calendars.
