Samsung Brings Galaxy S26 AI Features to S24 Series in One UI 9 Beta

Samsung is extending the capabilities of its 2024 flagship hardware by bringing advanced AI tools to the Galaxy S24 series. The company has released the One UI 9.0 Beta 2 update, introducing several features previously reserved for the newer Galaxy S26 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 models.

The update, currently available to beta participants via the ZZI4 firmware, introduces four primary AI enhancements. These include Call Brief, My FanCam, Now Nudge, and custom cards for Now Brief. Each tool leverages artificial intelligence to automate routine tasks or enhance media creation.

Specifically, My FanCam uses AI to track a selected individual within a recorded video, automatically cropping the footage to keep the subject centered in the frame. For communication, Call Brief surfaces pertinent data—such as upcoming calendar events or birthdays—directly on the screen during an active phone call. Now Nudge analyzes on-screen content in real-time to suggest immediate actions, such as adding events to a calendar, opening a location in Google Maps, or retrieving relevant photos from the Gallery. Additionally, Now Brief Custom Cards allow users to consolidate scheduled data from YouTube, Weather, and Samsung Health into a single interface.

Bridging the Hardware Gap

This rollout follows a pattern of expanding the One UI 9 beta program to older flagship devices. While the initial beta for the S24 series lacked these additions, Beta 2 effectively closes the software divide between the 2024 models and the latest S26 and Z Fold 8 series. This follows a similar trajectory seen the previous week, when these same features were rolled out to the Galaxy S25 series.

Industry Implications

By backporting high-end AI capabilities to older hardware, Samsung is actively fighting perceived obsolescence. This strategy extends the functional lifecycle of the S24 series, ensuring that users of older flagships do not feel left behind by rapid software iterations. In a competitive landscape, this move allows Samsung to maintain a stronger value proposition against rivals like Google's Pixel series, which similarly emphasizes long-term software support and AI integration.

What to Watch

While the features are currently limited to beta testers, the broader user base is awaiting the stable release of One UI 9. Samsung has not officially confirmed the final release date for the general public. Users will be watching to see if further S26-exclusive features are ported back to the S24 before the final build is deployed.