Samsung had promised it: with One UI 6.1, Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Z smartphones and Galaxy Tab tablets can now benefit from most of the artificial intelligence functions of the new Galaxy S24.
If you own a Samsung smartphone from the S23 range released last year and you were hesitant to fall for one of the new S24s available since the start of the year, you may have done well not to rush. Your S23 will take a serious hit as soon as you install One UI 6.1. Samsung’s latest software update has been downloadable since Thursday March 28 and brings almost all the new functions introduced in the S24 range. It is therefore not a question of a small refresh of the facade but of providing these previous generation mobiles with the capacity to exploit artificial intelligence in the Samsung (and Google) style. This means that you don’t need to have the latest generation of mobile phones to take advantage of it.
What are the new AI functions for the Galaxy?
We installed the One UI 6.1 update on a Galaxy S23 Ultra. First observation: it works very well. We have not yet noticed any slowdowns in using the interface. Fluidity remains there. Then, we were able to see that most of the functions highlighted in Samsung’s promotional spots to promote its new Galaxy S24 respond to the call.
Circle to search. A long press on the bar at the bottom of the screen triggers the adapted version of Google Lens to surround an element displayed on the screen, regardless of the app open, and carry out a search on the Web. A function that is also found on Google’s Pixel 8 smartphones.
Translation of telephone calls. This function appealed to us during our test of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24/S24+. During a call, simply trigger the translator so that the conversation is translated on the fly and in both directions by a synthetic voice. Very convenient.
Assistant interpreter. Here again, real-time translation is carried out during a face-to-face conversation with an interlocutor. It is done in audio but is also transcribed on screen.
Automatic transcription. The voice recorder allows you to transcribe discussions during a meeting. The AI can translate the exchanges and produce a summary.
Text generation. The Samsung virtual keyboard allows you to modify text entered for example in a message by varying the styles (professional, casual, etc.), check grammar and spelling but also translate the text.
Translation and summary. In the Samsung Internet browser, you can request to translate the displayed page and/or request a summary for faster reading.
Image generation. Photo editing in the Gallery app allows you to move elements in the image and replace the empty area with AI-generated content. It still works very well. It is also possible to copy an element from one image and paste it into another.
Controlled slow motion in videos. AI makes it possible to apply slow motion to a video that was not originally intended for that. For a sequence captured at 30 or 60 frames per second, it is possible to apply slow motion at 240 frames per second (the AI is responsible for generating the intermediate frames to create the illusion). Please note that this function is not available on the Galaxy S23 FE.
AI-generated wallpapers. If you are tired of your wallpapers, you can try to create new ones by asking artificial intelligence for help. The framework is still a little strict (you have to choose from several options) but it’s fun.
Which devices are affected by One UI 6.1?
Samsung is currently offering the update to its One UI 6.1 software overlay on a limited number of devices. But smartphones aren’t the only ones affected.
The update begins to be deployed this Thursday, March 28. To check that it is available for your device, open Settings then navigate to the Software Update menu at the bottom of the list. Then tap Download and install.
It is also not impossible that some of these new functions will also land on the 2022 Galaxy smartphone range, the S22. Indeed, the Galaxy S23 FE released at the end of last year and which also benefits from One UI 6.1, runs on the same in-house SoC, the Exynos 2200, as the S22.