For years, AirDrop has been one of the strongest pillars of the Apple ecosystem—a fast, stable, and exclusive sanctuary for file sharing. However, Samsung is officially dismantling those walls. Following the successful launch of AirDrop interoperability on the Galaxy S26 series last month, the company has confirmed that this game-changing feature is trickling down to a much wider family of Galaxy devices.
Beyond the S26: Older Flagships Join the Fold
In a strategic move to unify cross-platform experiences, Samsung is extending “AirDrop through Quick Share” support via the One UI 8.5 update. While the S26 was the pioneer, the following devices are officially joining the compatibility list this week:
- Galaxy S25 Series: S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra.
- Galaxy S24 Series: S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra.
- Galaxy Z Fold & Flip: Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6.
- Surprise Addition: The Galaxy A36 5G has also been spotted in the beta program, marking the first time an A-series device has received such high-level ecosystem features.
How the Magic Happens: Quick Share x AirDrop
This isn’t a separate app but a deep system-level integration within the existing Quick Share framework. Developed in collaboration with Google, the update allows the Galaxy device to recognize AirDrop signals. Once active, a Galaxy user can send high-resolution videos and photos to an iPhone or Mac without quality loss and without needing third-party apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
To use it, simply navigate to:
Settings > Connected Devices > Quick Share > Share with Apple Devices.
Note: Data security is managed through Samsung Knox, ensuring that cross-platform transfers remain end-to-end encrypted.
Samsung’s decision to bring flagship “ecosystem-breaking” features to older models like the S24 significantly extends the utility of these devices. As an academic researcher specializing in communications and sociology, do you think this technical “peace treaty” between Samsung and Apple will reduce the social friction in group chats and workplaces, or will the “Green vs. Blue bubble” discourse simply move to a new battlefield? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Since you use a PS5 and follow tech journalism, would you like me to research if this new Quick Share update allows for direct file transfers to PlayStation 5 for your captured gameplay clips? Let me know!
