Every new phone launch now leads with AI, which makes it easy to feel like your current phone is falling behind. The truth is more complicated. You don't need a new phone to use AI, but you do need a newer phone to get the AI features that run directly on the device, like call screening, live translation, and Gemini's task automation.
Timing matters too, because phones just got more expensive. Samsung and Google both raised prices this month, so upgrading purely for AI costs more than it did a few months ago. Here's what your current phone can already do, what it's missing, and when an upgrade actually makes sense.
Which Android phones support AI?
Which phones support AI depends on the type of AI. Cloud-based assistants like Gemini run on almost any recent Android phone, while on-device features need specific hardware. Here's the Android breakdown, including the full Samsung AI phones list:
Android AI support by phone
| Phone | What you get |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S24 series and newer, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 and newer | The full Galaxy AI suite, including Samsung's newest One UI 8.5 features |
| Galaxy S22 and S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 and older | Most Galaxy AI features, but not the newest additions like Call Screening |
| Galaxy S21 series | A limited set of Galaxy AI features |
| Galaxy A16, A17, A26, A36, and A56 and newer | A limited set of Galaxy AI features plus Gemini |
| Google Pixel 8 and newer | Gemini plus on-device AI like Call Screen and Magic Editor |
| Google Pixel 10 and newer | Google's newest AI features, including Gemini task automation and Voice Translate |
| Most other Android phones | The Gemini app and, on many models, Circle to Search |
Will older Samsung phones get AI?
Samsung has a solid track record here, since the Galaxy S22 series picked up nearly the full Galaxy AI suite in a software update. The limits are showing up now, though. The Galaxy S23 series and the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 are getting a cut-down version of One UI 8.5, because the newest AI features don't run properly on their older hardware.
What can older Android phones still do with cloud AI?
Older phones can still use plenty of AI through the cloud, where the heavy processing happens on a company's servers instead of your phone. How do you get AI on your phone if it's a few years old? Download an AI app. The Gemini app, ChatGPT, and other assistants run on most Android phones from the last several years, and our list of the best AI apps covers the strongest options.
Cloud AI handles the big stuff well, like answering questions, summarizing documents, and generating images. On an older phone, you lose features that need to run locally and instantly, like screening a call before your phone rings or translating a conversation in real time. Our Apple Intelligence vs. Google Gemini comparison breaks down where each company draws that line.
The RAM and chip floor for on-device AI
On-device AI needs two things: enough memory and a capable AI processor. Most phones with AI chips use a dedicated neural processing unit, or NPU, built into the main processor. Google's Tensor chips, Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips in Galaxy flagships, and Apple's A-series chips all include one.
8GB of RAM is the practical floor for on-device AI. Google originally left Gemini Nano off the 8GB Pixel 8 because of hardware limits, then added it later, and Apple Intelligence skipped the 6GB iPhone 15 entirely. Newer AI flagships ship with 12GB or more, which is why the newest features keep landing on the newest phones first.
What phones have Apple AI?
Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and every model that supports it has at least 8GB of RAM. The newest feature, Siri AI in iOS 27, has the same requirement.
Older iPhones still get iOS 27 and can run AI apps like ChatGPT and Gemini through the cloud. Our Apple Intelligence guide covers everything Apple's AI can do, our list of the best Apple Intelligence apps shows where it's most useful, and our take on why Apple Intelligence still has room to win is worth reading before you upgrade.
Is an upgrade worth it at today's prices?
Phone prices climbed again this month as a shortage of memory chips pushed costs higher. The Galaxy S26 now starts at $999, up from $899 at launch. The Galaxy A57 jumped to $599, and Google's Pixel 10a rose from $499 to $599.
Do I need AI on my phone? My honest answer is no, not as the only reason to upgrade. The most useful AI features, like call screening and live translation, are great, but they aren't worth $999 on their own if your current phone still gets software updates and works well.
An upgrade makes sense when your phone has stopped getting updates, or when one specific feature would change your day-to-day, like call screening for anyone buried in spam calls. Before you pay full price, check what your carrier is offering, since trade-in deals and bill credits can knock a big chunk off a new flagship.
Best AI Android phones to buy right now
The best Android AI phone for you depends mostly on how much you're willing to spend. A current flagship from Samsung or Google gets the most AI features, including Gemini task automation, AI call screening, and live translation. If you're after the best budget AI phone, a midrange Pixel or Galaxy A-series phone still gets Gemini and a solid set of AI tools for far less, even after this month's price increases.
Whatever you choose, look for at least 8GB of RAM and a long software update window since new AI features keep arriving through updates long after launch. Here are some of the best phones for AI available right now.
Galaxy A27 5G 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 5MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy A37 5G 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 5MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Galaxy A57 5G 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 12MP, 5MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Pixel 10a 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 13MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
AI phones: FAQ
Which Samsung phones have Galaxy AI?
Galaxy AI runs on the Galaxy S21 series and newer, plus Galaxy Z foldables from the Fold4 and Flip4 onward and select A-series phones like the Galaxy A16, A26, A36, and A56. Older and budget models get a limited set of features, while the Galaxy S24 series and newer get the full suite.
Will older phones get AI?
Older phones get some AI through software updates and cloud-based apps, but the newest on-device features usually skip them. Samsung's One UI 8.5 update, for example, leaves the newest AI tools off the Galaxy S23 series because its hardware can't run them properly.
How much RAM does a phone need for AI?
A phone needs at least 8GB of RAM to run on-device AI features like Apple Intelligence and Gemini Nano. Cloud-based AI apps like the Gemini app and ChatGPT run on phones with much less RAM, since the processing happens on remote servers.
Scott Houghton
Jr. Staff Writer
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