Samsung to sunset Quick Measure and AR Doodle apps by 2026

Samsung is phasing out two of its augmented reality tools, Quick Measure and AR Doodle, marking the end of support for features once touted as pillars of the Galaxy ecosystem. The company has set a firm discontinuation date of December 31, 2026, for both applications.

Samsung will cease providing software updates and will stop offering new downloads for the apps after the termination date. While users who already have the tools installed on their devices may continue to use them, Samsung has warned that functionality may degrade over time. Furthermore, the company stated that compatibility with future versions of Android or One UI is not guaranteed, meaning the apps could become unstable or completely non-functional as devices are updated.

The role of AR utilities

Quick Measure was designed to leverage the camera and 3D depth sensors found in select Galaxy devices to provide AR-based measurements of physical objects and distances. AR Doodle complemented this utility by allowing users to create augmented reality drawings and animations anchored to their real-world environment. Both apps were previously highlighted by Samsung as key innovative features that differentiated the Galaxy hardware from other Android competitors.

A shift in AR strategy

This move signals a broader shift in Samsung's approach to augmented reality. By sunsetting these standalone niche utility apps, the company appears to be moving toward more integrated software experiences rather than maintaining a suite of separate, specialized AR tools. This transition suggests that AR capabilities may be absorbed into broader system features or replaced by more comprehensive AI-driven tools in future One UI iterations.

Impact on power users

For power users who rely on the 3D depth camera for precise measurements, the discontinuation creates a functional gap in the device's utility suite. Because Samsung has not announced a direct replacement for the specific depth-sensing capabilities of Quick Measure, these users may find themselves without a native first-party solution for AR measurement after 2026.

What to watch

As the December 2026 deadline approaches, the industry will be watching to see if Samsung integrates these capabilities into a new platform or if they are abandoned entirely. For now, users dependent on these tools should ensure they are installed before the download window closes, though the long-term viability of the apps remains uncertain given the lack of guaranteed One UI compatibility.