One UI 6.1 for Galaxy S21, Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3 lacks most Galaxy AI features

The Galaxy S24 series brought One UI 6.1, and one of the highlights of the new software is Galaxy AI, a suite of AI-powered features that come in very handy in day-to-day life.

Last month, the company rolled out One UI 6.1 to its flagship smartphones and tablets from last year, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy S23 series, and the Galaxy Tab S9 series, along with most of the AI-powered features from the Galaxy S24.

Yesterday, Samsung released One UI 6.1 to the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3. While One UI 6.1 on the S22, Fold 4, and Flip 4 comes with the same set of Galaxy AI features that we see on newer devices, it is severely restricted on the Fold 3, Flip 3, and S21. These three devices only get one Galaxy AI feature and that's Google Circle to Search.

Why hasn’t Samsung brought the remaining Galaxy AI features, including Live Translation, Chat Assist, Generative Edit, and Browsing Assist, on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, and Galaxy S21? Well, it could either be because these devices don’t have enough processing power and memory or Samsung doesn’t want to offer Galaxy AI to older devices.

If it is the latter, the brand might be taking that approach because if it keeps bringing new features to old devices, people might not upgrade to a new phone, and that's not something any brand, including Samsung, would want. Still, it's disappointing, and Samsung may have to deal with some backlash because of the decision.

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Abid Iqbal Shaik - Writer

First Samsung device: Galaxy S II

I’m a computer science engineer living in Hyderabad, India, who has a keen interest in automobiles and consumer electronics. My journalism career kicked off in 2017 with MySmartPrice where I wrote news, features, buying guides, and explanatory articles about technology among other things, and reviewed many products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, PC components, smartwatches, audio devices, wearables, and smart home products. Since then, I have worked for 91Mobiles, Apple, and Onsitego, before finally landing on SamMobile.

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