Is every smartphone an AI phone now?

Technically yes – in 2026, virtually every smartphone has AI features built in. But there’s a crucial difference between a phone that has AI and a proper AI phone. Most smartphones offer basic AI features, such as auto-enhance on photos, voice assistants for simple commands or predictive text. AI phones, on the other hand, take this further. They use dedicated neural processors to run complex AI models locally, understand your personal context across apps and anticipate what you need. Virtual assistants like Siri have been around since 2011, offering voice commands and basic queries. Today’s AI phones, however, don’t just respond to commands – they anticipate your needs: Each brand has different AI innovations included in their newest phones: Samsung’s Galaxy AI analyses each photo and suggests AI-generated enhancements automatically. Apple Intelligence remembers your personal context across apps, so Siri can recall that coffee shop your friend mentioned three weeks ago. Google’s Gemini scans your emails and calendar to surface your boarding pass right when you reach the airport. Yet, we’re only scratching the surface. Over the next few years, we can expect AI to become a genuine game-changer, with: Accessibility improvements – real-time sign language translation, advanced voice control for mobility challenges and AI-powered scene descriptions for blind users. Effortless content creation – rough ideas transformed into polished presentations, voice memos into formatted documents, custom images generated from simple descriptions. Advanced speech recognition – near-perfect accuracy across accents and languages, with instant translation that preserves tone and context.

How often do AI phones need updating?

Just like any smartphone, AI phones also receive regular software updates. These typically consist of monthly security patches and annual major OS upgrades. These updates are particularly important for AI devices – apart from fixing bugs, they actively improve how your phone’s AI features work. Updates can: introduce entirely new AI capabilities, refine existing features based on real-life usage, improve processing speeds as the underlying AI models become more efficient. When choosing an AI phone, look for devices with at least five years of guaranteed software support – though most premium models now offer even more. Samsung and Google currently provide seven years of updates for their flagship devices, while Apple typically supports iPhones for six to seven years. A phone purchased today will receive significant AI improvements throughout its lifespan via software updates, ensuring your smartphone stays capable for years to come.

Best AI phones

Overview

AI on today’s smartphones has transformed from a helpful extra into a must-have for many users. The latest devices don’t just take better photos and videos – they help you work faster with AI assistants, stay organised with intelligent scheduling, and connect with the people who matter most through improved call quality and instant translation.
Our guide makes it simple to choose your next AI-powered phone. To find the one that fits your life, explore:

Top AI phones

About AI phones

Compare AI Phones

The best AI phones in the UK

As of 2026, three tech giants are leading the way in AI smartphone innovation: Samsung, Apple and Google. Each manufacturer offers distinct AI features tailored to different needs:

Samsung excels with Galaxy AI for on-device processing, photo editing and advanced camera AI
Apple delivers privacy-first AI integration across iOS with cloud-based Private Cloud Compute
Google’s machine learning powers everything from real-time translation to predictive assistance

Here’s our breakdown of the best AI smartphones from each brand:

Pre-order for Samsung Galaxy Fold Series, and Flip8 ends in:

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AI-powered Samsung phones

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

Built for content, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is designed with Galaxy AI¹ built in. Now Nudge² surfaces context-aware suggestions when you need them, while Circle to Search with Google³ lets you search anything on screen in seconds. Capture stunning shots with dual 50MP cameras and the all-new Follow Cam⁴.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

Meet the ultimate multitasking standard with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. Unfold an immersive 8-inch screen and run apps side-by-side in Multi Window, while Now Nudge² proactively suggests split views and pin locations, no switching required. Snap your best shots with the 200MP main camera, then edit to perfection with Photo Assist⁵.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8

Fit AI in your pocket with Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8. Even before unfolding your phone, the FlexWindow keeps you one step ahead with the Now Brief⁶, while Google Gemini⁷ lets you complete complex tasks with a single voice command. When you do open it, FlexCam unlocks hands-free shots, smooth Nightography⁴ videos and content that’s unmistakably you.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8

AI-powered Apple iPhones

iPhone 17 Pro Max

The most powerful iPhone ever, featuring a brilliant 6.9-inch display within an aluminium unibody design, A19 Pro chip, all 48MP rear cameras, and best-ever battery life.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro

The most powerful iPhone ever, featuring a brilliant 6.3-inch display within an aluminium unibody design, the A19 chip, all 48MP rear cameras, and breakthrough battery life.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Air

The thinnest iPhone ever. 6.5-inch display, durable Ceramic Shield front and back, A19 Pro chip, 48MP Fusion camera system and Centre Stage front camera.

Apple iPhone Air

AI-powered Google phones

Google Pixel 10a

Whether you’re streaming or capturing what matters, Pixel 10a keeps up with you. The 6.3-inch Actua display refreshes at 120Hz for smoother, sharper visuals. The dual camera system, featuring a 48MP lens and 8x Super Res Zoom, delivers stunning photos, even for far-away shots. The Tensor G4 perfectly tailors smart AI features to your needs. With over 30 hours of battery life¹ and fast charging², Pixel 10a truly brings brilliance to your pocket.

Google Pixel 10a

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Get more out of your new Pixel with three months of ad-free videos and music from YouTube Premium, six months of personalised fitness guidance with Fitbit Premium, and a year of more access to new and powerful features with the Google AI Pro plan.¹

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 10 Pro

Gemini Live understands context and responds in real time, perfect for quick searches and brainstorming ideas¹. Magic Cue connects the dots across your apps to find information and suggest actions². Set your creative ideas in motion with Veo 3 – describe your idea and it’ll create a high-quality short video with natural-sounding audio³.

Google Pixel 10 Pro

What is an AI phone?

An AI phone is a smartphone powered by artificial intelligence that learns from your habits, anticipates your needs and enhances your mobile experience.
Today’s AI smartphones – particularly those featuring generative AI capabilities – can create original content, edit images intelligently, compose messages, summarise information and more.
Unlike traditional phones that simply respond to commands, AI phones powered by advanced machine learning adapt to how you use your device, making everything from photography to productivity faster, smarter and more personalised.

Here are some examples of generative AI features in smartphones:

Improved current features	AI camera	Improved AI processors for gaming	AI-powered replies
Expect better battery management and more sophisticated biometric authentication.	Google’s AI phones with Gemini have tools to choose the best facial expressions from people in your group shot and swap them between images.	Personalised gaming experiences, including adaptive difficulty levels and dynamic storytelling.	iPhone models with Apple Intelligence offer Smart Reply suggestions and summarised previews so you can respond faster and stay focused.
AI voice	Virtual assistants	Improved search	Ultra customisation
An AI-powered answering assistant ready to reply to calls in your voice.	Samsung phones with Galaxy AI can transcribe and summarise calls automatically, plus generate call notes for later reference.	Circle anything in an image and get instant search results.	Your phone will be more personal than ever before. Think dynamic wallpapers, menus and designs.

How do AI phones differ from ‘normal’ phones?

AI phones go beyond traditional smartphones by using on‑device intelligence to:

learn from your habits,
simplify everyday tasks,
offer more personalised experiences.

Leading manufacturers are now integrating AI capabilities – from new, generative models to intelligent processing – directly into their latest hardware, combining on-device processing for speed and privacy with cloud computing for complex tasks.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI focuses on practical, everyday benefits. It supports intelligent photo editing, live call translation and note‑taking that auto‑formats summaries.
Google Gemini powers Pixel devices with smart features that enhance search, clean up photos and suggest context‑aware replies across apps.
Apple Intelligence integrates seamlessly across iPhone apps for intuitive writing and editing, tidying images and automating actions through Private Cloud Compute.

How we chose the best AI phones

We’ve evaluated the smartphones showcased on this page based on independent benchmarks and expert reviews across key criteria:

AI performance – advanced processors, neural engines and dedicated AI chipsets to power intelligent features.
Daily benefits – camera intelligence, productivity tools, gaming optimisation and accessibility features that make life easier.
Practical factors – competitive pricing, UK network compatibility, widespread availability and long-term software security updates.

AI phones compared

Device	Best for	Stand-out AI features	Release date
Galaxy Z Fold8	AI-powered discovery	Now Nudge² suggestions based on the content on your screen Bixby⁸, Galaxy AI¹ and Perplexity⁹ all available Powered by the new One UI 9	August 2026
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra	productivity	Proactive split-view and calendar suggestions in Multi Window with Now Nudge² Enhance, crop and remove objects by voice or text prompt with Photo Assist⁵ Multi-step voice commands completed seamlessly across apps	August 2026
Galaxy Z Flip8	self-expression	Personalised daily insights and suggested actions before you open it with Now Brief⁶ Complex tasks completed instantly by voice with Google Gemini⁷ Hands-free selfies, FlexCam⁸ angles and smooth video with AI AutoZoom	August 2026
Galaxy S26 Ultra	overall performance	Improved ProScaler that scales up image clarity and precision One UI 8.5 for enhanced productivity and security Comprehensive Galaxy AI3 , Google Gemini⁴ and built-in Perplexity⁵	March 2026
Galaxy S26+	balanced flagship	Enhanced Nightography⁶thanks to the Advanced ProVisual Engine AI Image Signal Processor to define the finest details in portraits Intelligent help with Gemini Live, the upgraded Bixby⁸ and Circle to Search with Google⁹	March 2026
Galaxy S26	compact flagship	Galaxy AI³ that learns your habits and anticipates your needs Context-aware suggestions by Now Nudge¹ Editing suite with tools like Photo Assist², Audio Eraser⁷ and Generative Edit¹⁰	March 2026
iPhone 17 Pro Max	marathon AI workflows	Context-aware Siri maintaining conversation history On-device AI processing for extended battery life Adaptive Power Mode for optimised AI performance	September 2025
iPhone 17 Pro	content creation	ProRes RAW AI-powered video recording Advanced computational photography with AI night mode Generative image editing with Image Playground Professional camera AI enhancements	September 2025
iPhone Air	lightweight portability	Full Apple Intelligence suite despite ultra-thin design AI chip with Neural Engine for fast processing Visual Intelligence for instant real-world object recognition	September 2025
Pixel 10 Pro Fold	multitasking	Gemini Live conversational AI across dual screens Magic Cue contextual assistant for automatic task switching Dual Screen Preview for side-by-side AI-powered content comparison	September 2025
Pixel 10 Pro	learning photography	Camera Coach that provides real-time photography guidance Best Take AI photo selection Machine learning composition tips AI-powered technique improvement suggestions	August 2025
Pixel 10 Pro XL	streaming	ProScaler AI video upscaling for enhanced streaming quality Real-time live captions with instant AI translation Smart Reply AI messaging without interrupting playback Adaptive AI brightness optimisation	August 2025

Frequently asked questions

Technically yes – in 2026, virtually every smartphone has AI features built in. But there’s a crucial difference between a phone that has AI and a proper AI phone.
Most smartphones offer basic AI features, such as auto-enhance on photos, voice assistants for simple commands or predictive text. AI phones, on the other hand, take this further. They use dedicated neural processors to run complex AI models locally, understand your personal context across apps and anticipate what you need.
Virtual assistants like Siri have been around since 2011, offering voice commands and basic queries. Today’s AI phones, however, don’t just respond to commands – they anticipate your needs: Each brand has different AI innovations included in their newest phones:

Samsung’s Galaxy AI analyses each photo and suggests AI-generated enhancements automatically.
Apple Intelligence remembers your personal context across apps, so Siri can recall that coffee shop your friend mentioned three weeks ago.
Google’s Gemini scans your emails and calendar to surface your boarding pass right when you reach the airport.

Yet, we’re only scratching the surface. Over the next few years, we can expect AI to become a genuine game-changer, with:

Accessibility improvements – real-time sign language translation, advanced voice control for mobility challenges and AI-powered scene descriptions for blind users.
Effortless content creation – rough ideas transformed into polished presentations, voice memos into formatted documents, custom images generated from simple descriptions.
Advanced speech recognition – near-perfect accuracy across accents and languages, with instant translation that preserves tone and context.

It depends on how you use your phone. AI features can genuinely save time and improve results if you:

regularly take photos,
work on the go,
juggle multiple tasks throughout the day.

The price difference between base and premium models (like standard vs Ultra or Pro versions) can be substantial – often amounting to several hundred pounds. What you’re paying for isn’t just AI branding, though. Higher-tier models typically include neural processors with additional RAM to handle multiple AI tasks simultaneously, as well as superior thermal management that allows intensive AI features to run smoothly for longer periods.
Premium models generally offer enhanced camera systems where AI makes the biggest difference: better computational photography, upgraded night mode, advanced zoom capabilities powered by AI upscaling and professional-level photo editing tools. You’ll also find larger displays ideal for AI-powered productivity features, bigger batteries and more storage for AI-generated content.
Base models still deliver solid AI capabilities, such as smart replies, photo enhancements, voice assistance, but premium smartphones offer the full suite. If AI features align with your daily needs, investing in a premium AI phone could pay off in time saved and output quality.

Just like any smartphone, AI phones also receive regular software updates. These typically consist of monthly security patches and annual major OS upgrades. These updates are particularly important for AI devices – apart from fixing bugs, they actively improve how your phone’s AI features work.
Updates can:

introduce entirely new AI capabilities,
refine existing features based on real-life usage,
improve processing speeds as the underlying AI models become more efficient.

When choosing an AI phone, look for devices with at least five years of guaranteed software support – though most premium models now offer even more. Samsung and Google currently provide seven years of updates for their flagship devices, while Apple typically supports iPhones for six to seven years. A phone purchased today will receive significant AI improvements throughout its lifespan via software updates, ensuring your smartphone stays capable for years to come.

Terms and conditions

¹Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.

²Samsung account login required. Supported apps only. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

³Compatible with select languages only. Google Account login and network connection required. If Gemini UI or Google apps are in view: Google and Gemini / YouTube / Maps etc are trademarks of Google LLC. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Check responses for accuracy.

⁴Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.

⁵Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.

⁶Samsung account login and network connection required.

⁷Compatible with select languages only. Google Account login and network connection required. Check responses. Compatibility and availability vary. 18+

⁸Samsung account login and network connection required.

⁹Pre-installed on Galaxy Z Fold8 Series devices. Requires network connection and a Perplexity account. To initiate Perplexity from the side button, users must assign it to the side button in device settings.

¹Samsung account login and network connection required. Supported apps only. Supports 13 languages from launch (English, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese)
²Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.
³Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.
⁴Compatible with select languages only. Google Account login and network connection required. If Gemini UI or Google apps are in view: Google and Gemini / YouTube / Maps etc. are trademarks of Google LLC. Check responses. Setup required. Compatibility and availability vary. 18+.
⁵Pre-installed on Galaxy S26 Series devices. Requires network connection and a Perplexity account. To initiate Perplexity from the side button, users must assign it to the side button in device settings.
⁶Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions.
⁷Samsung account login is required. Six types of sound can be detected: voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise. Results may vary depending on audio source and conditions of the video.
⁸Samsung account login and network connection required.
⁹Compatible with select languages only. Google Account login and network connection required. If Gemini UI or Google apps are in view: Google and Gemini / YouTube / Maps etc. are trademarks of Google LLC. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Check responses for accuracy.
¹⁰Samsung account login is required. Requires network connection.

The display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 6.27 inches (iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro), 6.55 inches (iPhone Air) or 6.86 inches (iPhone 17 Pro Max) diagonally. Actual viewable area is less.

All battery claims depend on network configuration and many other factors; actual results will vary. Battery has limited recharge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. See apple.com/uk/batteries and apple.com/uk/iphone/battery.html for more information.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro, 10 Pro Fold

¹The Google AI Pro plan, Fitbit Premium and YouTube Premium trial offers are available to eligible users of each service in the United Kingdom with the purchase and activation of Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Must be 18 years or over. Offers expire at 11:59pm GMT on 31 October 2026. Offers are only available to customers who are not current or past Google One, Fitbit Premium or YouTube Premium subscribers. Valid method of payment required at sign-up, but you will not be charged the £18.99 a month for Google AI Pro, £7.99 a month for Fitbit Premium or £12.99 a month for YouTube Premium until the respective trial period expires and the subscriptions auto-renew. You can cancel your trial at no charge at any time before the trial is over. No refunds for partial billing periods, except as required by applicable law. Return of purchased device may result in cancellation of subscription. Fitbit Premium content and features may change, are not available in all countries and may be in English only.

Google Pixel 10 ² The Google One Premium 2TB plan, Fitbit Premium, and YouTube Premium trial offers are available to eligible users of each service with the purchase and activation of Pixel 10. Offers expire at 11:59pm GMT on 31 October 2026. Valid form of payment required at sign-up, but you won’t be charged the £7.99 a month for Google One, £7.99 a month for Fitbit Premium or £12.99 a month for YouTube Premium until the respective trial period expires and the subscriptions auto-renew. Cancel anytime. Return of purchased device may result in cancellation of all subscriptions. Fitbit Premium content and features may change, are not available in all countries, and may be in English only.

¹ Results may vary. Check responses for accuracy. Compatible with certain features and accounts. Internet connection required. Available in select countries and languages, and to users aged 18+. Features may differ depending on subscription and account. Some apps require setup.

² Results may vary. Available to users aged 18+. Check responses for accuracy. Not available in all languages or countries. Not available for all media or apps. Translation may not be instantaneous. Find out more

¹ Samsung account login and network connection required.

² Compatible with select languages only. Google account login and network connection required. Google and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC. Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.

³ Samsung account login is required. Requires a network connection. Must meet length requirements to activate feature. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results isn’t guaranteed.

¹ Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions.

² Samsung account login required. Six types of sound can be detected: voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise. Results may vary depending on audio source and condition of the video.

³ Motion Photo must be activated. Actual UI may differ. Samsung account login required.

⁴ Samsung account login and network connection required.

¹ Live Translate requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Live Translate is only available on the pre-installed Samsung Phone app. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results isn’t guaranteed.

² Galaxy AI features by Samsung will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.

³ Results may vary depending on visual matches. Requires internet connection. Users may need to update Android to the latest version. Product functionality may be dependent on your app and device settings. Some functions may not be compatible with certain apps. Availability of the service varies by country and language. Accuracy of results isn’t guaranteed.

⁴ Optical quality zoom is enabled by the Adaptive Pixel sensor. 2x zoom must be enabled in the Camera Assistant app settings. Camera Assistant can be downloaded from the Galaxy Store. 30X Space Zoom includes 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom with Super Resolution technology. Zoom distances past 3x zoom may express some image deterioration. AI Zoom is applied to distances between digital zoom lengths. Accuracy of results isn’t guaranteed. Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting conditions including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.

⁵ Generative Edit requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Editing with Generative Edit results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output isn’t guaranteed.

⁶ The note must include a minimum of 200 characters for the Auto format function to work.

⁷ The note must include a minimum of 200 characters for the Summarize function to work.

⁸ Accessing the Browsing Assist AI feature will require you to be connected to a network and signed into your Samsung account. To use Browsing Assist, update to the latest Samsung Internet app version.

⁹ Translation and On-device mode require language packs to function. Please be aware that some languages are not available yet. Summary and translation results may vary each time.

¹⁰ Transcript Assist requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Transcript Assist is only available on the pre-installed Samsung Voice Recorder app or files recorded using the pre-installed Samsung Phone app. Voice recording feature in the pre-installed Samsung Phone app may not be supported in some countries. Audio files must be under 3 hours in duration to be processed. Summarizing feature in Transcript Assist can be activated when a certain number of characters is met. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results isn’t guaranteed.

¹¹ Active service is required to use Chat translation.

¹² The Galaxy Enhance-X app is supported on phones running Android 14 and One UI 6.0.

¹³ Compatible with selected languages only. Google account login required. Requires network connection. Availability of search functions and its supported apps may vary by country, language and device.

¹⁴ Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.

¹⁵ Samsung account login and network connection required.

¹⁶ Samsung account login required.

¹⁷ Maximum length per clip to be edited using Auto Trim for Photo Assist is 90 minutes. Maximum length of combined clips to be edited using Auto Trim for Photo Assist is 180 minutes. Maximum number of clips to be edited per video project is 60 clips. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

¹⁸ Supported on Galaxy S25+ and S25 Ultra. Image quality can be enhanced up to QHD+, depending on the screen resolution setting of the device.

¹ Gemini mobile app is available for selected devices, languages, and countries. Internet connection is required. Check responses for accuracy.

² Data rates may apply when you use Magic Compose. Check with your carrier for details. Only available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Korean on Android phones.

³ Available only on Pixel 8 Pro and in developer options on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a, in English.

⁴ Requires internet connection and compatible devices, apps, and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches.

⁵ Results may vary.

⁶ May not work on all images.

⁷ Not available for all cameras, apps, or modes. Results may vary.