Samsung’s free Galaxy AI ride may be coming to an end
Samsung is reportedly preparing to charge for its Galaxy AI tools. According to a report by SammyGuru, first published on 8 November 2026, the company is testing a new Samsung Galaxy AI Premium subscription that would put some artificial intelligence features behind a paywall. References found inside an unreleased Samsung app point to a monthly price of $4.99, or $47.99 a year — about Rs1,400 a month at current exchange rates.
The report has since been picked up by SamMobile, Gadgets360, Android Police and several other technology publications, all describing the same structure: a free Standard tier that stays, and a paid Max tier with higher usage limits and access to new tools. Samsung has not officially announced the subscription, and the leaked prices and features could still change before anything reaches the public.
For Galaxy phone owners, the news matters because Galaxy AI has been free since it launched with the Galaxy S24 series in early 2024. Samsung originally said the features would remain free until the end of 2025. That deadline has now passed — and the company appears to be building the paid tier it always left room for.
What the Samsung Galaxy AI Premium subscription would include
The Samsung Galaxy AI Premium subscription is expected to come in two tiers. The free Standard plan would keep tools such as Photo Assist, Browsing Assist, Now Brief, Creative Studio, Smart Capture, Samsung Keyboard and Personal Agent — but with usage limits. Once a user runs out of their free allowance, they would need to buy a credit pack to top up, or subscribe to the Max plan.
The Max plan, priced at a reported $4.99 a month or $47.99 a year, would offer four times the usage of the free tier. It would also unlock new features that free users would not get, including a Gen Video tool for creating AI-generated video from pictures and new Bixby automation tools. App strings also point to an early access programme: users would opt in to test the subscription, and any money spent during the test period would be refunded once testing ends.
The leaked app code also contains a gate for an AI version labelled “20271”, which SammyGuru reads as a sign that the paid plan may start with the Galaxy S27 series, expected early next year. Samsung is expected to give more clarity when it launches the Galaxy S27, possibly alongside One UI 9.5.
Samsung says the core features will stay free
Samsung has moved quickly to reassure Galaxy owners. In a statement reported by Tech Advisor on 9 November, the company said its core Galaxy AI features will remain free of charge. The statement added that as AI capabilities continue to evolve, certain advanced capabilities or new services may be offered as paid options or separate services in the future.
That wording leaves the door firmly open for a paid tier while promising that the basics will not suddenly disappear behind a subscription. The question for users is where Samsung draws the line between a core feature and an advanced one — and whether tools that are free today become limited tomorrow.
The shift is not unique to Samsung. Running advanced AI features costs a great deal of computing power, and phone makers across the industry are looking for ways to pay for it. Google already charges for its most advanced Gemini features, and Apple has tied some of its AI capabilities to paid services. Samsung charging for Galaxy AI would follow the same pattern — but it would still be a change for millions of users who bought Galaxy phones partly because the AI tools came free.
What it means for Galaxy users in Pakistan
Galaxy phones are among the most popular premium smartphones in Pakistan, and Galaxy AI features such as live translation, photo editing and browsing summaries are widely used here. If the Samsung Galaxy AI Premium subscription arrives, Pakistani users would face the same choice as everyone else: stay on the free tier and live with usage limits, buy credit packs when they run out, or pay the monthly fee for four times the allowance.
There is no word yet on when — or whether — the paid tier would reach Pakistan, or what it would cost in rupees. Samsung has not announced a launch date anywhere, and the early access programme appears to be a limited test rather than a global rollout. For now, the practical advice is simple: the free tools are not going away, but heavy users should expect limits to appear, and the most powerful new AI features may soon carry a price tag.
The story also matters for buyers choosing their next phone. Samsung and Jazz signed a partnership in South Korea to bring affordable Galaxy AI phones to more Pakistanis, and Galaxy AI has become a selling point in the local market. If the best AI features move behind a subscription, the value of that selling point changes — and buyers will want to know exactly what is included in the price of the phone, and what costs extra, before they pay.
Sources: SamMobile and Gadgets360
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