The Galaxy S24 series has most upgrades you’d expect to see in a new phone, including a faster processor, a sharper zoom camera on the Ultra model and larger batteries in the regular and Plus versions.
But arguably the most exciting change compared to last year’s phones is Galaxy AI, an umbrella term that refers to a collection of new features powered by generative AI, or AI that can create content or responses when prompted based on training data.
Read more: Samsung’s Galaxy Ring Will Need Less of Your Attention Than a Smartwatch
The biggest areas where you’ll see Galaxy AI at work on the Galaxy S24 are in its photo-editing features, language translation capabilities and a new feature called Circle to Search, which lets you launch a Google search just by circling an object on screen.
After using the Galaxy S24 Ultra for about a week, I’ve come to realize that not every Galaxy AI feature feels immediately useful. But Circle to Search and other tools, such as Samsung’s instant language translation in text messages, show that there’s promise behind the hype surrounding AI.
Galaxy AI will be available on all three of Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 phones when they launch on Jan. 31 and is also coming to the Galaxy S23 series at a later date.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
12:23
Circle to Search
The Galaxy S24 Ultra showing the new chat translation feature
Chat Assist is a blanket term for three new features in the Messages app: Chat translation (translates text messages into different languages), Writing style (rewrites texts in different tones before you send them, like Google’s Magic Compose) and Spelling and grammar (checks messages for errors). But the one that impressed me the most is chat translation.
With just a couple of taps, I converted an entire chat thread into another language without having to copy and paste text or switch between apps. When I received an incoming message written in Korean from one of my coworkers, the Messages app automatically asked if I wanted to translate it into English.
This could be helpful for frequent travelers and those who regularly communicate with family members or colleagues who speak a different native language. And even though I’m not using it on an everyday basis, seeing text messages automatically translate in real time as I scrolled through my messaging history was impressive.
Live Translate
Language translation was clearly a big area of focus for Samsung when developing Galaxy AI. The company added translation capabilities to the native phone app as well with a new feature called Live Translate. When making a phone call, just tap the Live Translate button, and Samsung will translate the call on both ends in real time. An automated voice informs the person on the other end that the call is being translated. Once you’re finished speaking, Samsung will repeat your speech in the desired language so that the person on the other side can understand it, and vice versa.
As someone who has done a lot of international traveling in the past year, I could see how this could have been useful for tasks like making restaurant reservations and buying event tickets abroad. But it can also feel a bit awkward to use since it can be hard to tell when it’s your turn to speak.
Instant Slow-mo
Instant Slow-mo on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
On the Galaxy S24 series, you can see how any video clip in the Gallery app will look in slow motion just by pressing and holding the screen. It’s not a must-have feature, but it’s a lot of fun to play around with. However, I wish it were just as easy to save clips in slow motion after previewing them. You have to tap on the pencil icon below the video clip to do so.
