Samsung's airdrop rival now coming to older galaxy phones – but is it ready?
Samsung’s ambitious push to challenge Apple’s AirDrop dominance just took a significant turn. After a recent rollout to Galaxy S22 and newer devices, the highly anticipated Quick Share update, designed to seamlessly share files with iPhones, is reportedly heading to older models—including the Galaxy S25, Z Fold 7, and even the S24 series. But the initial reception suggests a bumpy road ahead.
One ui 8.5 beta: the key to wider availability
According to reliable One UI insider Tarun Vats, the feature's arrival hinges on the upcoming One UI 8.5 beta release. This beta, slated to begin rolling out around April 9th for Galaxy S25 users, promises to bring the “Share with Apple devices” option to a broader range of devices, potentially resolving the inconsistent experience reported by early adopters. The ZZD1 internal test build, Vats claims, is already functional, hinting at a relatively swift integration process.
The significance of this move cannot be overstated. For years, Galaxy users have struggled to share files with iPhone owners without resorting to cumbersome workarounds like messaging apps or cloud links. Quick Share aims to eliminate that friction, offering a direct and intuitive transfer experience—a feature Apple users have enjoyed with AirDrop for quite some time.
However, the initial rollout hasn't been entirely smooth. Last week’s update for Galaxy S22 and newer devices revealed a fragmented experience. Some users found the “Share with Apple devices” option readily available in their system settings, while others were left searching. Even now, reports are surfacing among S26 owners indicating the feature’s absence, likely due to regional limitations.
Samsung initially announced the rollout would be staged, beginning in Korea before expanding to Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. A simple Google Play Services and Quick Share update might rectify the issue for those still waiting, but it's far from a guaranteed fix.
The fact that users are being forced to manually update apps to get the feature to appear underscores a lack of polish. While Samsung’s eagerness to bring AirDrop-like functionality to older Galaxies is commendable, the rushed rollout has undoubtedly dampened the initial excitement. A bit more time spent refining the experience before unleashing it on the public would have spared countless users from frustration. It's a reminder that even the most well-intentioned features can fall short if not thoroughly vetted.
Ultimately, Samsung’s aspiration to bridge the gap between Android and iOS ecosystems is a laudable one. But until the friction truly disappears, the Quick Share feature remains a work in progress—a promising glimpse of a more connected future, slightly marred by its current imperfections.