Samsung addresses the ‘burden’ of AI, and why it won’t make small phones anymore
Source: Android Authority
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Samsung UK’s VP of Product and Marketing for Mobile Experience, Annika Bizon, held an AMA on Reddit and answered several user questions.
- Samsung emphasizes that Galaxy AI is entirely optional; users can disable all features or adopt them one by one to reduce the feeling of “burden.”
- The company highlighted the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display and confirmed that large screens remain the priority due to consumer demand.
Galaxy AI: Optional and User‑Controlled
During the AMA in the Samsung UK Reddit sub‑forum, Bizon explained how Samsung supports customers who don’t want AI on their devices:
- AI features are enabled in Galaxy AI settings during device setup.
- Users can toggle each feature on or off, or run the phone with no AI features at all.
- For those who find AI a “burden,” the advice is to start with one feature, let it prove its usefulness, and then decide whether to enable more.
Samsung’s goal is for AI to become invisible—functionally essential yet unnoticed, much like electricity in a home.
Privacy Display and Other S26 Ultra Highlights
When asked how to sell the S26 Ultra over the S25 Ultra, Bizon pointed to three key upgrades:
- Improved ProVisual Engine – better colour accuracy and HDR performance.
- Faster charging – reduced charge times compared with the previous generation.
- New Privacy Display – a screen that dims when viewed from an angle to protect on‑screen content.
“There are plenty more comments praising the Privacy Display, and while it’s genuinely a great feature, it comes with trade‑offs.”
Read more about the trade‑offs: Eye‑strain complaints on the S26 Ultra
Why Samsung No Longer Makes Small Phones
A user asked why Samsung has stopped producing compact flagship phones. Bizon responded that display size is driven by the majority of users’ needs—most people use their phones for a wide range of tasks that benefit from a larger screen.
For users who still prefer a compact form factor, Samsung is promoting the Galaxy Z Flip series, which offers a smaller footprint when folded while still delivering flagship performance.
Looking Ahead
Samsung appears to be betting on AI becoming indispensable yet unobtrusive. For now, the company is letting users decide whether to embrace AI‑driven workflows or stick with a traditional smartphone experience. The hope is that future decisions will be data‑backed and consumer‑focused, rather than driven solely by the hype around “the future” of AI.