Samsung Electronics is adding a feature to Galaxy smartphones that directly connects with Apple's AirDrop, significantly expanding the link between the two major mobile ecosystems that had long been disconnected.
Samsung Electronics announced on its Mobile Press site on July 23 that the Galaxy S26 series will support compatibility with Apple's AirDrop through its proximity wireless file transfer feature Quick Share. Users will be able to send and receive photos, videos, documents and other files in both directions without using a separate messenger app or cloud service.
Until now, transferring files between Galaxy and iPhone devices required cumbersome workarounds such as KakaoTalk, email or cloud uploads. The update is expected to largely eliminate the constraints on sharing large files between devices running different operating systems.
The technology uses the same proximity wireless communication structure as before. It scans for nearby devices via Bluetooth, then transfers data through Wi-Fi Direct. The key breakthrough is that compatibility between Apple and Android devices, which had been blocked until now, has been unlocked with this update.
The feature will be rolled out sequentially in South Korea through a firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) update. It will then expand to major markets including the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, with Japan receiving the update one day later. The feature will initially apply to the Galaxy S26 series, and Samsung is reviewing whether to extend it to other models.
Industry observers interpret the move as an "openness expansion strategy." Unlike Apple, which has maintained a closed ecosystem, Samsung is pursuing a strategy of strengthening connectivity with other platforms to broaden its user base, analysts say.
AirDrop has become more than a simple feature — it has established itself as a cultural phenomenon. Because it allows users to instantly share photos with nearby people without exchanging phone numbers, it has been used as a fan service tool at concerts and events.
In 2023, Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat made headlines at the Busan International Film Festival when he took selfies with thousands of audience members and shouted "AirDrop!" to send the photos to iPhone users on site. That same year, a video went viral showing Korean singer IU asking fans "Shall I send it via AirDrop?" only for a Galaxy-owning fan to shout "I have a Galaxy," to which she replied "I'm sorry."
AirDrop has particularly reinforced iPhone preference among teens and young adults in their 20s. The perception that Galaxy users are left out when friends share photos spread widely, sparking the so-called "outcast phone" controversy.
Samsung's introduction of this feature is seen as an effort to simultaneously resolve both the inconvenience and the perception gap. "We have maximized convenience so that Galaxy users can communicate seamlessly with users of other OS devices," a Samsung Electronics official said. "We are also positively reviewing whether to extend the feature to existing models going forward."