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    • Thanks to the use of AI, cheap Galaxy phones become unbeatable: Big win for Android users on a small budget
    Michigan

    Thanks to the use of AI, cheap Galaxy phones become unbeatable: Big win for Android users on a small budget

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

    As a bit of a “tech nerd,” I’ve witnessed the rapid evolution of smartphone hardware and software over the years, and in 2024, it’s clear that (practical) AI features will transform our mobile experience in ways we could only have imagined a few years ago.

    And while phone makers tend to reserve AI tricks for flagship phones in the $800 to $1,300 price range, we may now be seeing a trend shift that opens up the possibility of having “AI” features on phones that cost half as much as a “flagship” phone.

    Examples include the $500 Pixel 8a and OnePlus Nord 4, which share a ton of AI with their more expensive flagship siblings, the Pixel 8 and OnePlus 12. In fact, these two are (currently) the only mid-range phones with built-in AI sold in Western markets.

    Fortunately for millions of Android users, this is about to change, according to leaked information, as Samsung prepares to release the AI-powered One UI 6.1.1 update for the mid-range Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 models (as early as late August or September).

    With this unexpected AI injection and Samsung’s latest suspiciously generous move, the South Korean giant will not only make budget-conscious buyers happy, but could also change the “mood” in the mid-range smartphone market practically overnight.

    Here’s why!

    Galaxy AI is coming to Samsung mid-range phones: Which Galaxy S24 AI features will Samsung keep/leave?

    • Let’s start with arguably the best and most practical “AI” trick of the Galaxy S24 series and you can be 99% sure that “Circle to Search” is coming to Samsung’s mid-range series.

    That’s because Circle to Search really doesn’t require any special hardware to run on mid-range and budget phones. In fact, it’s highly debatable whether it’s even an “AI” feature – but that’s another story.

    • As for what to do next, I’m undecided about the Summarize feature, which allows you to summarize web pages, notes, and emails.

    Summarize certainly requires more hardware power compared to Circle to Search. However, it is a fairly basic feature, so I expect Samsung will be generous enough to include it in the Galaxy A series – unless there are hardware limitations (such as RAM).

    • “Translate call/chat” is another super useful “true AI” trick, but it requires significantly more CPU and RAM than the other two. It would be great if Samsung made it available on the Galaxy A35 & A55.

    All in all, Circle to Search, Summarize, and Chat Translate would be more than enough AI to make the Galaxy A series an incredible bargain. Keep in mind that the AI ​​Object Eraser feature, which removes unwanted objects from photos, is already available on the Galaxy A35 and A55.

    The good news is that Samsung has been very generous in recent years and has equipped the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S22 series with virtually the same AI as the GalaxyS24.

    In other words (and I repeat myself), if the hardware limitations are no object, this means that the much newer Galaxy A35, A55 (and upcoming mid-range models from Samsung) may get even more AI.

    Samsung’s generous AI boost could make Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 the easiest Android to recommend

    In summary, handy AI features in budget Android phones greatly improve the user experience and should not be ignored when making a purchasing decision.

    For example, Circle to Search is my new favorite feature on both my Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra, but those phones cost $1,000 and $1,300 respectively, so practical AI on a $400 phone would be a real selling point for someone like me and (I think) anyone.

    I would even go so far as to say that the AI-powered Galaxy A35 and A55 might be the Android phones I can most easily recommend to the majority of “normal” users out there – like my friends and family.

    Let’s not forget that the Galaxy A35 and A55 also have excellent cameras, long battery life, and even IP67 dust/water resistance. Not to mention that they’re available almost everywhere in the world. Their only real downside is the slightly underpowered (and sometimes sluggish) Exynos chips.

    Even taking that into account, the Galaxy A35 seems like an unbeatable deal at just €240 in Europe right now, and with the upcoming Galaxy AI, Samsung’s popular budget champion could become… unbeatable.

    The only two AI-enabled alternatives to the Galaxy A35 & A55 are currently the Pixels 8a and OnePlus Nord 4. Both cost much more than €250/£260/$330, however, and while the OnePlus makes a good argument for being more expensive, Google’s dated design and tiny 6.1-inch display make the Pixels 8a for many of the losers.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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