Apple Intelligence vs Galaxy AI: The Silent Fight for AI Dominance

Introduction

The smartphone AI race has become an Apple Intelligence vs Galaxy AI affair after Apple announced the entry of its AI system to the market in early September 2024.

Samsung had introduced Galaxy AI with its Galaxy S24 series devices in July 2024. Apple Intelligence is set to debut with its iPhone 16 and iOS 18 devices in October 2024. These AI systems represent important shifts in smartphone capabilities and user experiences.

Both companies are using AI to change a range of smartphone aspects like text editing, photography, and real time translation. However, their focus and approach to AI application vary, implying that each company is pursuing a different philosophy and applying varying ecosystem strategies.

As the two companies scramble for the smartphone AI market share, comparing Apple Intelligence vs Galaxy AI can help us understand who is ahead in the AI game in 2024.

The Performance Question: Apple AI vs Samsung AI

The Apple Vs Samsung AI battle is fueled by the difference between Apple Intelligence and Samsung’s Galaxy AI operating systems. Galaxy is an operating system-based AI while Apple intelligence is an on-device AI.

Operating system-based AI is integrated into the device operating system and uses cloud processing. System-based AI accesses huge cloud processing power and vast amounts of data, which gives it powerful capabilities. The main disadvantage is that it needs an internet connection. User privacy may also be compromised.

With on-device AI, data is processed on the smartphone. This guarantees user privacy and supports offline access to AI features. However, hardware capabilities may be limited.

Smartphone AI systems affect user privacy and experiences in multiple ways. These include:

• Functionality: Availability of cloud resources allows operating-system based AI to offer more advanced features. The features of on-device AI may be more limited.
• Speed: On-device AI can provide fast responses, allowing users to complete some tasks quickly.
• Battery Life: Complex processing can drain device batteries faster compared to system-based AI.
• Privacy: Information does not leave devices that use on-device AI, an aspect that offers users more privacy.

Galaxy AI vs Apple Intelligence: The Unique Distinction

Both Apple and Samsung have sought to differentiate themselves through their unique focus and approaches. Apple Intelligence is a personalized AI system that places generative AI in models that are the core of iPhone, Mac, and iPad. Apple AI is more focused on creating more personalized and integrated AI experiences for users. It’s designed to maintain user privacy by leveraging on-device processing. Apple Intelligence integrates with third-party AI models, which expands its capabilities beyond its in-built features.

Galaxy AI features a complete AI system that integrates different AI features across Samsung devices. Galaxy AI is designed to boost productivity and enhance user experience with its innovative search and powerful translation capabilities that enable users to transcend language barriers realtime.

Both smartphone AI systems come with text generation and editing capabilities. However, their approach towards processing and device compatibility varies. Galaxy AI is more accessible to users because it’s available on a wide range of Samsung devices. Apple Intelligence offers less device compatibility. However, it provides enhanced security and privacy through on-device processing.

AI Features: The New Apple-Samsung BattleFront

The intensifying Apple Vs Samsung competition has made the difference between the two smartphone AI systems more apparent. As Apple Intelligence becomes available this October, users will have to choose between the two smartphone AI approaches. Taking a deeper look at their features can make this decision easier and more rewarding. Here’s how Apple AI features compare with Galaxy AI features:

Translation Capabilities

When it comes to translating languages, the real-time call translation feature in Samsung Galaxy AI carries the day. Users can leverage this feature to overcome language barriers during phone calls. Since this feature works for both text and voice, it makes Galaxy AI incredibly powerful for cross-border communication.

Apple Intelligence offers translation capabilities through Siri and Translate App. Though it does not provide real-time call translation, translations are more private because they’re processed on-device.

Photo Editing Tools

Apple Intelligence offers users an Image Playground feature that integrates with the Apple Photo app and other Apple services. It allows users to remove objects from their images, replace backgrounds, and offer intelligent editing suggestions.

Similarly, Galaxy AI comes with powerful photo editing features. With the Generative Edit tool, users can move, remove, or resize objects in their images. Galaxy AI also gives suggestions for improving images to users. The two smartphone AI systems offer powerful image editing capabilities, personal preference should determine your choice.

AI-Powered Assistants

Apple Intelligence will feature an improved version of Apple’s AI assistant, Siri. In May 2024, Apple said it was revamping the virtual assistant with advanced AI to make it smarter.

The tech giant says the new Siri is designed for seamless integration across Apple’s ecosystem. The new Siri has a better understanding of speech and language. It’s capable of taking personal context into account and can take in-app actions.

Galaxy AI, on the other hand, uses Google’s advanced Gemini AI model which features a broad knowledge base. Historically, Siri has lagged behind Gemini in some aspects. However, Siri offers unique advantages when it comes to privacy, on-device processing, and integration with Apple devices. If you’re looking for an AI assistant that offers a broad knowledge base and advanced capabilities, Samsung AI would be the best choice.

Intuitive Search

Samsung AI comes with an innovative Circle tool that helps users search for anything on their screen by circling it. This feature gives users a powerful and intuitive search experience.

Apple AI uses Siri to power its search capabilities. Though the enhanced Siri version features higher contextual awareness and integrates well with the iOS ecosystem, it does not match Galaxy AI’s Circle to Search capabilities.

Custom Emojis

Apple Intelligence takes the lead when it comes to creating custom emojis. Galaxy AI does not offer an equivalence of the Genmoji feature available in Apply. Genmoji leverages generative AI to personalize user experience through the creation of expressive emojis. Users can customize emojis based on photos and text features.

Galaxy AI, on the other hand, comes with an AR Emoji that allows users to produce 3D avatars based on their appearances. AR Emoji is less flexible compared to Apple’s Genmoji.

Health and Fitness Features

Apple AI carries the day with its range of health features to users. This smartphone AI is designed to integrate deeply with Apple’s health-software and hardware ecosystem. This integration offers users health insights that are highly personalized. Apple Intelligence comes with trend analysis and predictive health capabilities that enable it to track health and fitness metrics across its devices.

Galaxy AI is designed to integrate flawlessly with Samsung Health. This allows users to access insightful and actionable data. With Samsung AI users can track workouts, develop personalized fitness plans, and access advanced health analytics.

Integration with Third-Party AI Models

Apple AI stands out with its third-party AI model integrations, which include ChatGPT. These integrations create numerous possibilities for users to expand AI capabilities across iOS devices. Galaxy AI is more focused on partnering with Google to develop its own capabilities rather than open up to integrating with third-party AI models.

Eyeing Premium Handsets for AI TakeOver

Both Samsung and Apple announced that AI will feature prominently in their premium handsets in their respective unveiling events. Samsung Galaxy AI first debuted on Galaxy S24 at the beginning of the year. In July 2024, Samsung made Galaxy AI available in its Galaxy Z Series and Galaxy Watch products which include Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Watch7.

Since then, the company expanded the range of products with Galaxy AI to include different Galaxy Series phones. The tech giant has said it’ll be bringing select Galaxy AI features to more affordable, mid-range handsets that include Galaxy A35 and A55.

On September 9, Apple announced that Apple Intelligence would be available in iPhone 16 smartphones when it hit the market this fall. However, iPhone 16 devices debuted on September 20 without the much anticipated Apple Intelligence. The company added that among existing devices, AI features would only be accessible through the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple intends to maintain Apple Intelligence access within these products, which makes its AI a privilege of a select few.

The widening range of Samsung phones that support AI presents a sharp contrast to Apple’s limited availability of Apple Intelligence in iPhones. Although Apple is set to make Apple Intelligence available in its premium handsets this October, Samsung appears to have taken a strong lead in the AI for smartphones race by offering Galaxy AI to a much wider audience.

Samsung Vs. Apple: Scramble for Market Dominance

Samsung successfully expanded its US market share for premium handsets in May 2024, thanks to its Galaxy AI phone, Galaxy S24. The company launched Galaxy AI about two months before Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence.

This time difference may have favored Samsung as it attracted demand from Android smartphone users like TCL and Google. Counterpoint Research reported that Samsung’s US smartphone market share hit the 31% mark in quarter one of this year, the highest for the phone maker since 2020.

According to KED Global, Samsung recorded an 8% dip in smartphone shipments within the US, but this decline was largely observed in mid-range and low-end phones. The company experienced a steady increase in demand for high-end premium phones, which was largely attributed to increased shipment of Galaxy S24 series phones. Samsung’s market share dropped to 24% in quarter two of 2024 after the momentum for the Galaxy S24 series was reduced.

Apple, on the other hand, maintained a 52% grip on the US market share in the first half of 2024. The launch of Apple Intelligence was expected to boost sales in the second half of the year and increase this market share. However, this expectation may not hold after sales of Apple’s iPhone 16 dropped by 12% compared to iPhone 15 sales last year.

This drop in sales was attributed to Apple’s failure to make Apple Intelligence available during its Glowtime launch event and at the time of the iPhone 16 release. Apple Intelligence was the main selling point of the premium handset.

Apple AI vs Samsung AI: Which Should You Take?

Smartphone AI is a major factor when choosing between iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones.
You’ll need to consider your use cases and priorities when choosing between Apple Intelligence and Galaxy AI. If privacy is among your biggest concerns, Apple Intelligence would be a great pick. But if you’re looking to power your productivity with smartphone AI that you can access on a wide range of devices, Galaxy AI would be the best option.

Apple and Samsung AI smartphone price is another crucial factor to consider when choosing between the two. While it’s possible to get either of the smartphones for less than $1000, prices vary based on storage capacity. With a budget of between $650 and $800, you can get a Galaxy S24 FE with 128GB or 256GB storage capacity. If you prefer an iPhone 16, this budget can only get you one with 128GB. For higher storage capacity, you’ll have to spend $100 to $300 more.