Samsung Plans Free Feature Boost For Millions Of Galaxy Phones

After giving away free Pro subscriptions of Perplexity to millions of Galaxy phone users, Samsung is reportedly planning to roll out an updated version of its proprietary AI agent, Bixby, that will be powered by Perplexity for the Galaxy S26 —massively boosting its abilities.

Samsung leaker @chunvn8888, who has previously been accurate about the introduction of AI notification summaries in future Samsung phones, and the omission of a magnetic coil for Qi2 wireless charging in the Galaxy S25, posted on X that Bixby will be integrated with Perplexity.

Specifically, they noted that “basic” tasks will be handled by Samsung’s AI tools, while the more complex requests will be fulfilled by Perplexity. This is similar to how ChatGPT and Apple Intelligence work together.

Samsung is planning to roll out the new partnership with the launch of the Galaxy S26 in January 2026, if the release date leaks prove to be accurate. But I imagine it would filter down to older Galaxy models that support Bixby.

Samsung And Perplexity Have Been Circling A Partnership For Months For The Galaxy S26

Bloomberg reported in June that Samsung and Perplexity were in discussions about joining forces, with a deal announcement potentially happening in 2025. Nothing was ever officially confirmed, but the report did state that the plan was for the two companies to blend their AI services, with Perplexity potentially taking over as the default assistant on the Galaxy S26.

Although a Galaxy S26 partnership has not been confirmed, we have seen the two companies work together throughout 2025. Earlier this year, Samsung offered a 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription, valued at $200, to all Galaxy phone and tablet users in the U.S.

Then, in October 2025, Samsung announced that the new Perplexity TV app is available on all Samsung TVs and smart monitors, with all signups also receiving a free year of the AI service’s Pro subscription.

It’s not clear what this integration means for Google’s partnership with Samsung on the Galaxy S26, from which Gemini took center stage as the de facto AI assistant in the Galaxy S25. However, it is understandable why Samsung would take this path considering Perplexity’s established focus on search result accuracy, a contrast to Google’s more open-ended Gemini.

Why Does Samsung Want To Partner With Perplexity AI For The Galaxy S26?

If you’re new to Perplexity, it’s an AI chatbot—similar to Gemini, Copilot, or ChatGPT—designed to prioritize research accuracy, the company claims. Crucially, it cites its sources so users can easily verify responses.

While Gemini, ChatGPT, and others can perform similar searches, they frequently produce factual errors. Experienced users know this issue well. It’s one reason Google and OpenAI now often emphasize their chatbots’ creative skills—like image generation and human-like conversation—over factual reliability. Because of its accuracy focus, the company heavily targets students with free subscription giveaways or deep discounts.

Samsung seems to believe Perplexity’s accuracy will give the Galaxy S26 the crucial edge. Samsung isn’t alone; the same Bloomberg story reported that Apple was considering an acquisition of Perplexity, but as far as we know, no formal offer has been made.

Forbes