Apple Intelligence vs Galaxy AI: which phone AI does more in Germany?

What does the AI cost? (as of October 2026)

Apple: according to Apple, Apple Intelligence is included automatically on eligible devices once you update to version 27 of iOS, iPadOS or macOS. There is no surcharge. For features that run on Apple’s servers, such as Siri AI, the smart photo editing tools and Image Playground, Apple does state daily usage limits. Apple also announces that extended access will be offered for a fee in future. Apple has not named a price yet.

Samsung: for a long time the small print for Galaxy AI said the features might cost money after a free period. According to inside digital, Samsung clarified in early 2026 that the basic features stay free. Samsung’s German page nevertheless still reserves the right to charge for the service or individual features.

Our assessment: with both, you currently pay for the AI through the device. What matters most is whether your phone is supported at all.

Which devices you need

Apple: according to Apple, Apple Intelligence runs on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, all iPhone 16 models and newer iPhones, the iPhone Air, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, the MacBook Neo with the A18 Pro chip, and iPads and Macs with an M1 chip or newer. The standard iPhone 15 and older iPhones are left out. The AI takes up to 8 gigabytes of storage, up to 14 gigabytes on some new devices.

Samsung: according to Samsung, Galaxy AI runs on smartphones, tablets, Galaxy Watches and Galaxy Buds. The range of features depends heavily on the model and software version. According to Samsung’s German compatibility list, Interpreter, Photo Assist and Writing Assist, for example, also work on the Galaxy S22 and S23, including the S23 FE. For the new features from the One UI 9 update, the sources disagree: SamMobile lists Now Nudge and My FanCam for the S24, S25 and S26 series. Samsung’s German support page, however, lists Now Nudge only for the S26 series and My FanCam only for the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8, saying it is “currently not supported” on the S series.

So before buying, check the exact model name on the manufacturer’s page.

What the AI can do in German

Apple: according to Apple, Apple Intelligence supports German. This includes Writing Tools, summaries of mail, messages and notifications, Live Translation in Messages, Phone, FaceTime and with AirPods, photo editing such as Clean Up, image ideas with Image Playground and Genmoji, and the ChatGPT extension. Some features, such as suggestions in Mail, are English-only according to Apple. Device language and Siri language must be set to the same supported language.

Samsung: according to Samsung, all major feature groups support German: Photo Assist, Creative Studio and Writing Assist, Interpreter for conversations, live translation during calls, Note Assist and Transcript Assist, Call Screening, and Now Nudge and Now Brief. Call Screening filters calls from unknown numbers, shows in advance what the call is about and ends spam and scam calls. The voice assistant Bixby also understands German.

Our assessment: translating, summarising, rewriting text and tidying up photos work in German on both systems. This page is not based on our own quality test.

The big difference: Siri AI is missing in the EU

According to Apple, its new, much more conversational Siri AI is initially not available in the EU on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and it also launches in English only. According to heise, Apple had still not agreed with the European Commission in early October 2026 on how Siri AI can comply with the Digital Markets Act. On the Mac, Siri AI can be switched on in the EU with language restrictions. Our article on Siri AI in Germany has more details.

Samsung, by contrast, offers its voice assistant Bixby in Germany too, with natural language and web search according to its own page. For iPhone users in Germany, this means the very part Apple currently advertises most is missing.

Privacy and age limit

Apple: Apple stresses that a lot is computed directly on the device. For larger models Apple uses its own servers called Private Cloud Compute. According to Apple, your data is not stored there and is only used for the request in question. This is a manufacturer claim.

Samsung: according to Samsung, you decide in the privacy settings whether Galaxy AI may process your data only on the device or in the cloud as well. Many features need an internet connection and a Samsung account, some also a Google account. According to inside digital, data for these features is processed on Samsung and Google servers. Samsung says Galaxy AI can be used in Germany from age 16, and images edited with Photo Assist get a visible watermark.