Samsung tests paid subscription for Galaxy AI features

The shift to a paid model

Samsung is reportedly entering the subscription economy by testing a paid AI Premium service for its Galaxy smartphones. This move follows a trend where tech companies seek to monetize the high costs of running large language models and generative tools. While many users currently enjoy these features as part of their device purchase, the company is looking to create a distinct paid tier.

The company first signaled this potential shift last year when it updated its terms of service to include language about paid AI features. This suggests that the move from a purely free model to a hybrid one has been in the works for some time. The current testing phase aims to gauge how much users are willing to pay for enhanced capabilities.

According to reports from Stuff South Africa, the company is currently testing the pricing structure with a specific group of users. Those involved in the test are expected to receive refunds once the trial period concludes. However, the general public may face these costs once the subscription officially rolls out to the wider market.

How the freemium system works

The proposed model appears to follow a freemium structure where basic AI tools remain available to everyone. Features that users have already become accustomed to, such as Photo Assist and Now Brief, are expected to stay functional without a mandatory fee. This allows the company to maintain a broad user base while still offering premium options for heavy users.

The catch for free users lies in the introduction of rate limits. If a user exceeds a certain amount of AI queries or assistance requests, the system will stop the service. At that point, the user would be prompted to either purchase individual credits to continue or upgrade to a paid subscription. This ensures that the most intensive tasks are reserved for those who pay.

Paid subscribers will receive higher limits on how many times they can query the AI for help. By setting these boundaries, Samsung can manage the computational load and costs associated with providing real-time AI assistance. It creates a clear distinction between casual use and the high-frequency demands of power users.

New tools for subscribers

Beyond just higher limits, the AI Premium subscription is intended to unlock several new features that are not currently available. One of the primary additions is Gen Video, which allows users to generate videos from the images they have captured on their phones. This would provide a creative capability that standard smartphone recording does not currently offer.

Another new feature included in the subscription is Bixby Action. While the specific details are still somewhat vague, it appears to have an agent-like purpose for the device. This suggests that the subscription might eventually provide more autonomous ways for the phone to perform tasks on behalf of the user.

The subscription also includes a feature called Daily Briefing. Although the source does not provide a detailed explanation of what this entails, it may be a more advanced version of the existing Now Brief tool. These additions are designed to provide a more comprehensive and proactive AI experience for those willing to pay the monthly fee.

Pricing and hardware rollout

For the American market, the pricing for the Max plan has already been established during this testing phase. The monthly cost is expected to be $5. While these prices are currently set for the test, they are subject to change once the evaluation period is finished.

The final price point will depend on how the company interprets the data gathered from the current testers. It remains to be seen if these specific prices will be applied globally or if they will vary by region. The company has previously hinted at these changes in its terms of service updates.

The upcoming Galaxy S27 family is expected to be the first line of smartphones to officially support the subscription. This suggests that while current Galaxy owners might see some changes to their existing features, the full suite of paid tools may be targeted at new hardware buyers. The rollout of these paid features across the entire global market is still unconfirmed.