Samsung May Soon Put Its Best Galaxy AI Tricks Behind A $5 Paywall
by
Aaron Leong
—
Monday, November 09, 2026, 11:52 AM EDT
Get ready to pay for advanced Galaxy AI features - Image: Samsung
Leaks of Samsung’s upcoming One UI 9.5 update indicate that the Korean tech giant is preparing to roll out a paid Galaxy AI Premium tier alongside major upgrades to DeX mode.
Leaked plan pricing page for Galaxy AI Premium (Standard and Max) - Image: Sammy Guru
If you have been enjoying Samsung’s AI suite without opening your wallet, things might be changing. Uncovered code bubbling within One UI 9.5 test builds points to a brand-new subscription model called Galaxy AI Premium, sitting right around $4.99 a month ($47.99 annually). Worry not though, users won't be losing AI live translations and photo editing tools—what's likely happening here is that core basic features are staying free while heavier, more advanced capabilities will be placed behind the paywall.
As for what these advanced AI features are, there's something called Gen Video, which lets users generate full AI videos from photos. We are also looking at advanced multi-tasking capabilities through Bixby Action that can automate complex, multi-step tasks across various native and third-party apps without needing individual queries to be made. Toss in a customized Daily Briefing feature and higher usage limits with credit top-up options, and one can see that Samsung is clearly trying to milk the generative AI cow for all its worth.
New Samsung Browser experience in DeX - Image: Sammy Guru
At the same time, Samsung is pouring love into an area that power users care deeply about: DeX mode. One UI 9.5 is bringing a change to the Samsung Internet browser experience; rather than a mere mirrored mobile version on a connected display, leaks show a desktop-style sidebar and a dedicated Galaxy AI panel (similar to what we've seen in Samsung Browser for Windows). You will be able to run web pages side-by-side while pulling up AI tools to summarize articles, translate text, or answer complex questions on the fly.
As Samsung gears up to debut One UI 9.5 alongside the upcoming Galaxy S27 flagships, the big question is whether consumers will actually bite. While a fiver a month might not sound like much on paper, subscription fatigue is real, and convincing users to pay for more advanced AI features (that most honestly don't use) is a tough uphill battle.
