Samsung Reportedly Plans to Introduce AirDrop Support on Galaxy S26 Series Later This Year

Samsung is reportedly planning to add support for Apple’s AirDrop file sharing to its Galaxy smartphones, starting with the Galaxy S26 series. A senior company executive said the feature will be available through software updates, allowing Galaxy devices to share files directly with iPhones without needing third-party apps. The move should be expected to help cross-platform compatibility and simplify file transfers between Android and Apple devices. There were also some hints of similar functionality in earlier leaks and reports, suggesting that Samsung has been working on making this possible for the past.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series to Allow File Sharing With iPhones Without Apps

A report (in Korean) by EBN News Centre said at a recent press conference in Japan that Won-joon Choi, President and COO of Samsung’s mobile division, “the rollout will be phased” according to he said. With Samsung’s Quick Share feature, users will be able to send photos, videos and documents between Galaxy phones and Apple devices once they are available.

The feature could be compatible with iPhone, iPad and Mac computers (users required to enable AirDrop visibility on Apple devices), previous leaks suggest that it may work with the device’s ability to temporarily disconnect from Wi-Fi during transfers; Galaxy phones will only briefly connect when using a phone.

The most popular features of Apple’s ecosystem, for example, is AirDrop which allows rapid file sharing across iPhones, iPads and Mac. Its ease of use has also helped maintain users in Apple’s ecosystem, particularly in groups where iPhones are common. It argues that the report suggests this convenience has often been an important factor in buying decisions, even when rival devices have strong hardware.

Samsung will remove one of the most important friction points for users thinking about switching from iPhone to Galaxy with this change, as it does so. Also highlighting its Smart Switch tool, which allows users to transfer apps, photos and other data from an iPhone to a Galaxy device, the company has also been promoting it. It is also expected to expand beyond the Galaxy S26 line and may be available for older devices with future software updates like One UI 9.

Google has already taken a step in this direction with Pixel devices last year, which allows for file transfers between Android phones and Apple devices via ‘peer connection’ without routing data through external servers. The company has said it will continue to expand this support into more Android devices.

It also suggests that changing market trends may be a key factor in Samsung’s favour, the report add. Increasingly, younger users are taking more importance to the practical features and AI capabilities of brand loyalty over their own loyalty. Samsung’s new Galaxy devices include AI-based call systems and improved camera systems, which have received positive reviews for their recent Galaxy phones. The report also said switching between Android and iOS would be easier if it was better cross-platform sharing.