Galaxy S21, Z Flip 3: Bad news, artificial intelligence has not actually appeared in the latest updates

Samsung is currently launching One UI 6.1 updates on various devices, but some older models, such as the Galaxy S21 and Z Flip 3, have fallen behind. Although the new models benefit from the full range of AI supported features, the versions of these old flagship products may disappoint some people.

Samsung's latest system update, a UI 6.1, is being launched together with the Galaxy S24 series. With it, a series of innovative promises, known as Galaxy AI, are aimed at making daily use of smartphones easier and widely appreciated. Initially deployed on the latest flagship and tablet computers, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy S23 series, these improvements seem to only apply to the latest models.

However, recently extending this update to older devices has revealed selective update strategies. Users of Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 models have found that their One UI 6.1 update only includes Google's "surround search" feature. This means it does not include advanced tools such as real-time translation and navigation assistance. This limitation is significantly different from the features of newer models.

The artificial intelligence on the old Samsung flagship has begun
Several hypotheses can be made regarding the lack of certain Galaxy AI features on the old model. Firstly, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 may not have the necessary features at all. Their processing power or memory may not be sufficient to support the requirements of new AI features.

On the other hand, Samsung may also intentionally limit the updates of its old models to encourage the public to migrate to new devices. Although this strategy is beneficial for the sales of new smartphones, it may disappoint loyal users who hope to keep their devices up-to-date with the latest innovations without investing in new phones.