The Galaxy S26 boosts its Android security with Scam Detection, and it’s just what I needed
What you need to know
- Google announces that Gemini can handle user tasks on the Galaxy S26 series, such as ordering food or hailing a ride.
- The Gemini model in Circle to Search thrives on the “multiple recognition” of fashion, while allowing users to quickly unlock visual experimentation.
- Security and privacy are on the rise in the Galaxy S26 series, as Google Fraud Detection comes to capture calls and texts.
The partnership of Samsung and Google continues with the Galaxy S26, as both reveal the next Gemini in the new flagships.
A press release from Android Central shared details about the many ways that Google’s AI is coming to the Galaxy S26 to help the user experience. Gemini leads the way in the ability to manage and organize the user’s user list. This capability starts as a beta, according to Google’s statement, on “select” devices, such as the Galaxy S26 series. According to its post, users can long-press the phone’s side button to launch Gemini and start “offloading tedious tasks” to the AI.
Google says that if users choose to have Gemini ready for this, the AI will work in the background, and that “your phone is still yours to use.” In his example, a user asks Gemini to scan a group text chat, find an order that everyone wants, and then do so through Grubhub. Google adds that users will receive live notifications, detailing the AI’s progress on the task they’ve assigned.
“Booking a ride home” or “re-ordering” your favorite food are additional examples of how Gemini can help users. This is coming first to the US and Korea.
Circle to Search is another feature that gets a little TLC. Specifically, Google says that this handy search feature supports “multi-factor recognition.” Google uses fashion as a great example of how this will work in practice. The software can now “quickly identify a visual match for every piece,” from the upper to the existing shoes. Google’s AI will present more pieces of inspiration to the user. In addition, the virtual try-on feature meets Circle to Search in this instance, allowing users to quickly see how something will look for them during their deep dive.
Confidence is key
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The last major update is for Android security and privacy for the Galaxy S26 series. Google says it’s looking to help promote “peace of mind” by releasing “in-device intelligence” for “active phone protection.” Leveraging Gemini, Google’s Scam Detection is now available on the Galaxy S26 series with the Samsung Phone app. This feature works as you would expect from a Pixel. If the system detects that the incoming call is a scam, it will notify you with a “quick sound and haptic” notification.
The company adds that AI work to determine whether a call is a scam or not is done on the device to help protect your privacy. In addition, “the phone conversation processed by Scam Detection is not stored on your device, and is shared outside the device.” Users must enable Scam Detection in their settings; however, Google says you are always in control and can stop this at any time.
In addition, Google says it is adding its support for detecting scams in messages to the Galaxy S26 series, too. AI detects certain “conversation patterns” that are commonly sent to connect users to caves and warn you before a disaster. Many of these features (Scam Detection, Search Circle, task management) are made by its latest Gemini 3 model.
Google says these updates will be available on the Galaxy S26 series at launch and that it will likely add “more capabilities over time.”
Android Central Take
I felt that the security on the Galaxy S25 Ultra (and others) was already good. However, there were clear signs that it could be better. It seems that Samsung has mastered this, too, and its partnership has provided scam detection to users. Now, we will see clear signs about the dangers that other calls or texts may cause, which always include. The additions to Circle to Search are decent, of course, but Gemini’s ability to complete mundane tasks for me might be one of the main highlights of the series outside of Galaxy AI.
