Samsung has begun rolling out Gemini AI support to its Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, giving select users hands-free access to Google’s advanced assistant. The capability is not built into the earbuds themselves but is enabled through a free software update to supported Samsung smartphones. Currently, the feature is available to owners of the newly released Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, both running Samsung’s One UI 8 on Android 16. Other Galaxy device owners will have to wait until the latest software becomes available to their models.
AI Capability Comes Through Connected Devices
According to Samsung, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro do not have the processing power to run Gemini AI directly. Instead, the earbuds connect to compatible smartphones or tablets that handle all processing. This integration allows users to activate Gemini AI through voice controls while wearing the earbuds. The feature requires Android 16, the upcoming major version of the operating system, alongside Samsung’s One UI 8.At present, only the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 ship with One UI 8 preinstalled, enabling immediate use of the new functionality. While Galaxy S25 devices are part of the rollout, One UI 8 remains in beta for them. Samsung stated that the public release for S25 owners will arrive later in the year.
Limited Rollout and Device Requirements
The update is currently only limited to devices with the final build of One UI 8 on Android 16. That keeps a lot of Galaxy users in anticipation as most of the qualified phones are still utilizing older versions. One UI 8 has verifiably been placed on a firmware schedule to be arriving in the Galaxy S25 series by late September 2025.An early beta of the update is already accessible to a select number of S25 users and shall extend to additional models next week, such as the Galaxy S24 models, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. Samsung hopes to expand the beta to include older flagship models including its Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5 and a few of its A-series models by next month.
Samsung has explained that after installing One UI 8, people have to check the most recent firmware updates on their galaxy buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro. The Gemini AI integration is evident on a new option named Set up Google digital assistant in Samsung Wearable app, under Voice Controls settings inside the application. Once clipped, the smartphone or tablet on which the earbuds are paired starts the connection process with the Gemini AI.Other clients claim that the rollout is not always consistent, with the setup option not being offered to clients that fulfill all the prerequisites. 9to5Google reported that this was possible even by pairing a Galaxy Z Fold7 with Galaxy Buds 3 Pro using the right software. Samsung accepted that there is a problem and that it is keeping track of the reports as the update proceeds to cover more gadgets.
Broader Implications for AI-Powered Audio Devices
Though the Gemini AI support will appear first on the Galaxy Buds 3 family, Samsung stated that it is not limited to its earbuds. Since Gemini is an application of the Google technology, the same ability can potentially be available on any wireless earbuds which are compatible with an Android 16-qualified device in the future.According to industry analysts, having AI assistants be part of the user audio workflows might have become the new standard of high-end devices. With this new Galaxy Buds 3 line, the company already known for powerful active noise cancellation, has added another competitive advantage, direct access to the latest AI model of Google.
Samsung underlined that the implementation is staggered and can be adjustable depending on feedback of performance and stability. Availability is likely to be many months, with the update still in beta on most of its devices. When stable iterations of One UI 8 become available to more Galaxy devices, the company should see more users having access to Gemini AI by accessing it via their earbuds.Until now, early adopters of Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 are the first to enjoy hands-free integration of Gemini AI. Other Galaxy owners will also see how soon the feature comes to the devices and how unproblematic it may be in the next several months.
