Samsung says the next Galaxy S phones will lean on AI again, yet surveys suggest most buyers do not care, so the S27 may feel like a small step.
Samsung used its latest earnings call to say it will keep pushing AI on its phones, and early signs point to a Galaxy S27 that looks a lot like the Galaxy S26. Surveys suggest few people buy a phone for AI. Android Police's Tom Bedford says that worries him.
Samsung promised to "advance Galaxy AI-centric features" that better read users' context and intentions. It also said it will expand its foldable phone lineup, named the TriFold, and will give each S series model a more distinct character. That hints that the S27 Pro is real. Privacy Displays and battery life were mentioned, but without details.
The numbers are not kind to an AI-first pitch.
Bedford also found Samsung's own tools underwhelming. Now Nudge is meant to offer helpful links based on messages and notifications, but rarely does. Now Brief is meant to summarize your information, but mostly repeats your notifications.
Bedford notes that Samsung's own studies show battery life matters most to buyers, yet its phones often trail rivals on it. He also says the Ultra cameras have been downgraded for several years, and recalls the 10x zoom on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. None of this was addressed in detail on the call.
Samsung is doing well. Its operating profit rose 780% from a year earlier, to the equivalent of $80 billion. A tech stock sell-off at the end of October was blamed by Reuters and The Guardian on cooling attitudes toward AI, but Samsung seems to be weathering it.
Cost may explain the focus. Tech is getting pricier because of a chip shortage tied to AI data centers. Big hardware upgrades would likely raise prices. New software features do not cost more to add.
Samsung has not announced the Galaxy S27, and the details above are plans and hints, not specs. If the S27 follows the S26 closely, as Bedford expects, waiting or buying an older model could save money.
Do not count on big changes in the Galaxy S27. If an upgrade is due, an older Galaxy S model may give you almost the same phone for less.
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