The Galaxy S24 are a missile to the Pixel from a Google that has a symbiotic relationship with Samsung
Not because it was expected, Samsung has stopped surprising. We had known for weeks that in January we would have the new Samsung Galaxy S24 (we already have the first impressions of all Galaxy S24) and that both the system and the SoC would be very focused on AI functions.
However, what we did not expect was that Samsung would be such strong competition not only for Apple and its iPhone 15but for Google itself and its Pixel 8. Yes, Samsung and Google are allies, but With the new artificial intelligence functions of the Galaxy S24… why would we want a Pixel?
Samsung and Google, a symbiotic relationship
Obviously, there are plenty of reasons to choose a Google mobile (that special personalized version of Android), but Samsung just launched a missile at Google. And it makes a lot of sense. But well, let’s start at the beginning, and there we have to talk about the relationship between both companies.
First things first: Samsung is one of the companies that sells the most mobile phones, and that positions them as one of the flagships of Android (and Google by extension). The Galaxy reach the top with their own applications that replace Google’sbut Google spends a lot of money on contracts so that its apps are present in the foreground on the Galaxy.
This information was leaked a few months ago due to Epic’s antitrust lawsuits against Apple and Google and it is extremely sensitive information, but hey, the reality is that Google is interested in getting along with Samsung. And vice versa, of course, since it is a symbiotic relationship.
However, This is not limited to the relationship between Samsung hardware and Google software, but goes beyond. Samsung is one of the largest companies when it comes to manufacturing chips. The Exynos are an example, but when Google decided to put aside the Qualcomm Snapdragon to create the processors for its Pixel 6they did not turn to TSMC, but to Samsung.
That is why it has always been said that The Tensor are a species of Exynos and, with the presentation of the Exynos 2400 A few months ago, the industry was clear that they would be like the G3 Tensioner of the Pixel 8 Pro. Perhaps somewhat more powerful, but with the idea that they would be very efficient in artificial intelligence calculations.
And, after seeing the presentation of the new Galaxy S24, it seems that this idea was not wrong. Absolutely.
The Galaxy S24, AI and the controversy of payment functions
Leaving aside the capabilities of the Pixel camera and the operating system itself, what Google has focused most on in recent years is how its Tensor processors enhanced AI calculations to make its phones better in the future. day to day.
Many of these functions run invisibly in the system but there are other more obvious ones such as the Magic Eraser of the photo editor or the most recent function to change faces in the Pixel 8. There are other similar functions, such as the different portrait modes or the Gemini possibilities, but the essential thing to keep in mind The point is that Google has not focused as much on power as on demonstrating the capabilities of its AI processors.
That is precisely what Samsung has emphasized in the presentation of its Galaxy S24. Yes, they said the GPU in their new phones is very powerful, but What they spent the most time on was the functions that depend on AI And, furthermore, it is what is being talked about the most.
The reason? The Magic Eraser of the Pixel has a replica in the Galaxy: it is called Object Eraser and it works in a very similar way to what we have seen on Google mobile phones. The Pixel wallpaper creator is also in the Galaxy S24, as well as a function copied from Magic Compose that was presented at last year’s Google I/O for Google Photos.
And we’re not just talking about photography.but from the simultaneous translation system that Samsung now also has or the subtitles of the content that is being played on the mobile, among other functions that have been borrowed from the Pixel.
It is clear that, if Google boasted of these functions and Samsung was the company that manufactures the chips, the South Koreans were going to score something and we saw everything together in the presentation a few days ago. In fact, features like Circle to Search will be on Android soon, but it is already available on the Galaxy S24.
Now, as good as all this sounds, there is something that has stained Samsung’s presentation: the intention to charge for these functions, or only for some, starting in 2025. That is, while Google offers seven years of updates of Android and has not communicated anything about charging for AI functions (beyond limiting them depending on the Pixel we have), Samsung’s strategy is to leave a trial year and, later, start charging.
It is a very controversial movement because some of these functions are executed on the mobile thanks to the capabilities of the SoC, not through online computing, which would represent an artificial payment barrier. We will see what happens, since there is still time until 2025 and Samsung could back down, but what is clear is that Samsung wants no one to take away the banner of being the stronghold of Android. Not even Google.
Photos | Ricardo Aguilar
