Upgraded AI capabilities anticipated in One UI 8, accompanied by life enhancement features, set for the Galaxy S26.
Samsung's latest innovation, the Voice Captioning feature, is currently officially available only in China on select Galaxy devices running One UI 8, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7[1][2][4]. This feature offers real-time translation and summarization of captions during voice calls, video calls, and live conversations, supports multiple languages, and allows saving and renaming voice recordings[1][2][4].
However, outside China, some users have attempted to utilize the Voice Captioning feature by installing an unofficial APK on phones running One UI 7 or 8. This unofficial use often results in crashes or malfunction, as the feature is not yet officially supported[1][2][4]. There is no official confirmation from Samsung regarding a global rollout date, but it is speculated that Voice Captioning may be launched worldwide with the final version of One UI 8.0 or possibly One UI 8.5 in the future[1][4].
The Voice Captioning feature is part of Samsung's larger Galaxy AI initiative, which aims to improve Live Captioning[5]. Currently, Samsung's Live Captioning only transcribes voices into the language they are spoken in. With Voice Captioning, the feature will convert speech from calls, videos, and live conversations into text, providing a more comprehensive solution for accessibility[5].
Meanwhile, Samsung is also planning to address issues related to NFC payments on its devices. The Galaxy S26, expected to be released around the start of the year, is rumoured to have a big quality-of-life improvement related to NFC payments[6]. Additionally, Samsung is working on adding a new NFC antenna to the top of the Galaxy S26[7]. This change could help alleviate the current inconvenience caused by the single NFC coil placement on Samsung phones, which is sometimes situated just below the camera module[3].
It's worth noting that sideloading apps on Android phones, such as installing the unofficial Voice Captioning APK, carries an inherent risk. Users are advised to proceed with caution when installing unofficial apps[8].
In terms of design, the overall design of the Galaxy S26 is not yet finalized, so the new coil placement could be subject to change[9]. Other Android devices have multiple NFC coil placements, which could be an approach Samsung may consider in the future[10].
For those interested in trying the Voice Captioning feature outside China, the APK is available on Galaxy Techie's X thread if your device is running One UI 7 or One UI 8[4]. However, it's important to remember that the APK may not always work with the One UI 8 beta[1].
[1] https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/voice-captioning/ [2] https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-voice-captioning-feature-now-available-china [3] https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-galaxy-s22-ultra-nfc-payment-issues/ [4] https://www.galaxytechie.com/threads/voice-captioning-apk-download-one-ui-7-8.248009/ [5] https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/ai/ [6] https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26-11427.php [7] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Samsung-Galaxy-S26-will-feature-new-NFC-antenna-on-top-of-the-device.586974.0.html [8] https://www.androidauthority.com/sideload-apps-android-11-1113775/ [9] https://www.9to5google.com/2022/08/25/galaxy-s23-design-leak-renders-colors/ [10] https://www.androidcentral.com/android-phones-multiple-nfc-coil-placements-why-theyre-important
People outside China, who wish to experience the Voice Captioning feature on their Galaxy devices, can download an unofficial APK from Galaxy Techie's X thread, if their device is running One UI 7 or One UI 8. However, it's crucial to note that the APK may not always function correctly with the One UI 8 beta.
In the future, Samsung may incorporate smartphone technologies such as Voice Captioning and advanced NFC systems into their upcoming devices like the Galaxy S26, with the goal of enhancing accessibility and improving convenience for users.
