Putting Galaxy AI into practice: A day in the life of Samsung S26+

Hi! I’m Amy, a content creator at Three and I spent the day exploring Samsung’s S26+ latest AI features.

We all know the latest devices come loaded with AI.

Some solve real problems. Others reflect what's possible, rather than what people actually need.

The S26+ is just one of many Samsung phones with all Galaxy AI features built in, bringing together a collection of tools that aim to make everyday tasks easier. 

From real-time translation and content summarisation to advanced photo editing, intelligent search, and personalised assistance, there’s plenty to explore. But the real test isn't what these features can do. It's how well they slot into our daily routines and save us time along the way.

To find out, I spent a day putting the device's top AI features through their paces to see which ones proved genuinely useful and which felt more like a cool party trick. Fun in the moment, but less impressive once the novelty wore off.

Here's what I thought of the new Galaxy AI features on the Samsung S26+: which worked, which didn't, and how to make the best of them day to day.

My morning always starts with a cup of tea and a quick scroll on TikTok. It’s not long before I spy a great coat online and an even better opportunity to put Circle to Search to the test.

Rather than trawling through search engines to find it, I hold down the Home button and circle the coat on screen. Just as the name suggests.

Unlike the Visual Search from Engines feature – where you'd need to take or upload an image to Google – Circle to Search provides all the answers I need without me even having to leave TikTok.

In moments, I’ve found the coat and it’s sitting in my basket before my very first brew of the day. Now that's efficient.

That's not to say the Visual Search from Engines feature doesn't have its place. If I spot someone wearing the coat IRL, snapping a quick photo is still an option.

But given how much time I spend online – and the awkwardness of that interaction – Circle to Search feels far more likely to become a tool I’d turn to on the daily. Quick, easy, and no need to switch between apps.

Best for:

• Shopping for items you've spotted on social 
• Identifying products in photos and videos
• Getting quick answers while you browse

Multi-tasking isn't one of my strengths, so anything that can cut down on admin time and let me focus on the conversation at hand is worth a try.

As I settle into my morning meeting, I open the Notes app, tap the plus icon and select Voice Recording. With Automatic Meeting Notes running in the background, I can focus on what's being said, rather than frantically scribbling notes and trying to decode my handwriting later.

Once the meeting wraps up, I hit stop and tap the transcript icon in the top-right corner. As if by magic, a written transcript appears of our entire conversation.  

It isn't perfect word for word, and there are a few moments where names and phrases don’t quite land correctly. But overall, it does a pretty solid job of keeping up with the conversation and capturing the key points. Much better than my own note-taking skills anyway.

The real game-changer though comes when you pair Automatic Meeting Notes with Note Assist.

With a tap of the Note Assist icon, the transcript is transformed into a structured summary, complete with clear headings, organised talking points, and a professional tone-of-voice. Instead of spending time pulling together meeting notes afterwards, I've already got a helpful recap ready to share before lunch.

For anyone who spends their day bouncing between calls, it's a simple but effective way to speed up summarisation and keep projects moving.

Best for:

• Capturing ideas during brainstorming sessions
• Creating meeting summaries and action points
• Sharing notes with colleagues who couldn't attend

Cross-App AI Actions was the feature I was most skeptical about. It's a great idea on paper, but I wasn't convinced it would hold up in real life.

The feature is designed to complete tasks across multiple apps using a single prompt. Instead of bouncing between apps, you just ask Google Gemini for what you need and it handles the legwork for you.

So when my friends text, asking if I want to grab a bite after work, I call upon Google Gemini – at the click of the side button.

Normally, this would involve opening Maps to find somewhere roughly halfway between us all. Searching for the restaurant on Google to secure a reservation. Then texting the group back to say where and when to meet. An easy enough task, but one that requires a whole lot of back and forth.

Credit where it’s due, the Cross-App AI feature did a pretty good job of researching this all on my behalf. In no time at all, I had a local Italian restaurant recommended to me, with a text all drafted and ready to send to my mates. 

The sticking point came at the final hurdle where it couldn’t complete the reservation. That was still on me to make in my browser. 

So while it definitely does a lot of the heavy lifting, there was still some app switching required to get our plans out of the group chat. And ultimately a way to go before Cross-App AI Actions can stand on its own two feet. 

Best for:

• Researching restaurants, venues or local attractions – not booking
• Comparing options across different services
• Drafting messages

A quick dinner after work soon leads to a few drinks and inevitably some questionable selfies. The perfect time to try out Samsung's AI-powered photo editing tools. 

First up is Best Face. Getting a good group shot is tough at the best of times, let alone when alcohol is involved. There's always someone blinking, looking away, or pulling a less-than-flattering expression. 

Thankfully, Best Face takes the stress out of it. By tapping the edit button and selecting Best Face, Galaxy AI analyses multiple frames from the photo and suggests the best expression for each person. Before long, our slightly chaotic group shot starts to look considerably more Instagram-worthy. 

The Object Removal tool is equally impressive. A few taps of the eraser are all it takes to remove people lingering in the background. No complicated editing skills required. 

But the feature that surprises me most is the Generative Edit tool. If there's something you'd like to change, move, or add to a photo, you simply describe what you want and let Galaxy AI do the rest. Your wish is its command. 

Combined, these features really helped us to put our best foot forward when it came to sharing photos the next day. 

Best for: 

• Fixing blinks and awkward expressions in group photos 
• Removing unwanted people or objects from the background 
• Making quick edits for social media posts

All in all, Samsung really delivered in providing intelligence that isn’t just innovative. But intuitive. 

If we're turning to AI to save time, the last thing we want is to waste more of it figuring out how to use the tools. But from the get-go, I could navigate all these new Samsung AI features without a manual. They just slotted right into my routine.

For me, the standout has to be the smart photo editing tools. They’re super practical but also deliver incredibly professional results. 

Sure, features like Cross-App AI Actions may have a little way to go before they can take care of tasks entirely on their own. But even in their current form, most of the effort is taken out of the planning and research, which is generally the biggest time thief anyway. 

The real takeaway? The best Galaxy AI features aren't necessarily the flashiest. They're the ones that fit naturally into your day without demanding your attention. Whether that's finding something you've spotted on social media, taking notes in a meeting, or rescuing a group photo, Samsung's AI feels genuinely useful.

As for features like Live Translate and Interpreter Mode, my daily life doesn’t involve enough jet-setting to give them a proper workout. Still, the ability to translate calls and conversations in real time is a real draw for travellers, and one I'd definitely like to try for myself – preferably from a beach in Bora Bora.

Keep an eye out for part 2.