How Samsung Is Bringing Some S22 Features to Older Phones

Each year, Samsung's latest and greatest phones in the Galaxy S series launch with exciting features targeting high-budget spenders. However, as has been the case in the past, the company is now adding some of those new features to its older Galaxy smartphones via a software update.

Here's everything you need to know, from the features to the lucky Galaxy phones that will receive the new capabilities.

Which Galaxy S22 Features Are Coming to Older Phones?

Samsung's Galaxy S22 series launched with a host of features exclusive to the trio of devices. Now, the company is bringing some of its exclusive S22 features to even more Samsung phones. Here are six key features Samsung is adding to more Galaxy phones:

1. Object Eraser Tool

Object Eraser is a handy tool that enables you to remove unwanted background objects, reflections, or people that you'd rather not have in your image. If this sounds familiar, you're not wrong.

It's Samsung's version of Google Pixel's Magic Eraser feature, one of the best Pixel 6 camera features.

2. Expert RAW App

This is a photo-editing app that gives you more freedom when editing images. In addition to the basic photo-editing functionalities, Expert RAW lets you adjust exposure, contrast, shadows, vibrance, white balance, and more.

The only caveat is Expert RAW will only be available to Samsung's 2021 flagship phone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Thanks to the new update, you can now share your screen when video calling using Google Duo on your Galaxy phone. However, this feature doesn't support every other app.

At launch, you can share your screen during a call in a handful of Samsung and Google apps, including YouTube, Samsung Notes, Google Arts & Culture, Jamboard, Google Maps, and Samsung Gallery. Check out our beginner's guide to Google Duo to get familiar with the app.

Samsung is streamlining the photo-sharing experience on older Galaxy phones. With the update, your device automatically adjusts your images for sharing. Your Galaxy device will prompt you if there are any adjustments you should make when you want to share an image,

5. Grammarly-Powered Keyboard

Grammarly's amazing writing-assistant capabilities are now baked inside Samsung Keyboard. Due to this integration, you don't need to download Grammarly's keyboard app to enjoy its tools. However, since Grammarly is a paid tool, you will still need to pay to access the premium features.

Samsung says eligible users will get a three-month trial to use Grammarly. Here's a guide on how to enable and disable Grammarly in Samsung's Keyboard app.

6. Enhanced Camera Features

Samsung's update also includes several camera-enhancing features. These include support for night mode portraits, pet recognition capabilities in portrait mode, telephoto portrait videos, lighting position editing, Snapchat integration, and an enhanced Director's View. Also, the telephoto lens now supports Pro Mode.

However, don't hold your breath. The availability of these camera features varies from device to device. Night mode portraits, for instance, will only be available on the Galaxy S21, Z Fold3, Z Flip3, S20, Note20, Z Fold2, and Z Flip 5G, according to a Samsung's post in Korean community forums (via Android Police).

Which Older Samsung Phones Are Getting the S22 Features?

Galaxy S21 Ultra Vs. Note 20 Ultra — Image Credit: Samsung

All the features mentioned above are part of Samsung's One UI 4.1 update. In the Galaxy S series lineup, eligible devices include all the flavors of the Galaxy S21, S20, and S10. However, only the Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, Note 10+ 5G, and Note 10+ are eligible in the defunct Galaxy Note series.

Samsung will roll out the update to its foldable line, with eligible phones including the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Fold 5G, Fold, Z Flip 5G, and Z Flip. Apart from these flagship-grade phones, the South Korean tech company plans to bring some of these features to its tablet line, including the Tab S7 FE, as well as some of its budget Galaxy A series phones.

Enjoy Galaxy S22 Features on Your Old Galaxy Smartphone

Samsung's One UI 4.1 update is not a massive software update per se. However, it introduces lots of new features to older Galaxy phones that have been exclusive to its 2022 flagship Galaxy S22 series.

Samsung plans to prioritize the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. Then, the company will update the S21 series, as-yet-unnamed Galaxy A series phones, and one of its tablets, the Tab S7 FE. Other eligible devices will follow from there. Unfortunately, there's no One UI 4.1 rollout timeline at the time of writing.