Four New Features Are Coming to Android Soon, but Samsung Galaxy Devices Will Get Them First.
Amid yet another busy Galaxy Unpacked presentation and the announcement of several new foldable smartphones and smartwatches from Samsung, Google has announced a new partnership with Samsung: a number of new Android features will first appear on the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8, and will later be released on Pixel phones and other models.
This has become something of a tradition for Samsung when launching new products mid-year, as some new features, including gaming support via the Circle to Search feature, first appeared on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 last year.
In 2026, the focus is on Gemini. First, Gemini Intelligence, a feature that performs tasks for you and launched in beta in May, is expanding to support over 40 apps and is available immediately upon purchase of the new Galaxy foldable smartphones. Additionally, you can now trigger your voice assistant by taking a screenshot or by sending a prompt (for example, a photo of a piece of clothing you want the AI to search for online).
Google didn’t specify which 40 apps are now enabled, but the idea is the same: Gemini can handle more administrative tasks for you, such as ordering a taxi or reserving tables, within your apps. You’ll still get an overview of what the AI is doing on your screen, as well as final confirmation of any important actions, and you can stop the process at any time.
Next up is the updated Gemini Notebook (an AI research tool previously known as NotebookLM). There are no new features, but the app will come pre-installed on the foldable devices Samsung just unveiled, and on the Z Fold 8, you’ll be able to take advantage of the wider screen to drag and drop items (such as images and web links) into your notebooks from other apps.
Additionally, when you purchase a Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, or Galaxy Z Flip 8, you get six months of free Google AI Pro ( usually $19.99 per month ). Compared to the free version, Google AI Pro gives you video creation tools, the Antigravity coding tool, YouTube Premium Lite, 5 TB of storage, and significantly higher usage limits for all Google AI tools (including Gemini and Gemini Notebook).
Gemini’s third benefit for those purchasing a new Samsung device also extends to the Galaxy Watch 9. On the new smartwatch, Gemini will begin listening for instructions as soon as you raise your wrist to speak—no passcode required. It’s a small improvement, but it means you’ll have faster access to artificial intelligence.
Finally, Google also announced a “simplified transition” from iPhone to Android 17, also available on new Samsung phones. You’ll no longer need a cable, as everything now works wirelessly, and additional data types are supported, including your Google account information and Wi-Fi credentials, in addition to photos, videos, contacts, messages, and calendars.
According to Google, this improved switching method has already started rolling out on Pixel devices and is reportedly coming to other Android devices soon.