GoKawiilZac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority
TL;DR One UI 8.5 on Galaxy S23 phones is missing a key feature: AirDrop compatibility.
Users allege that the Galaxy S23 has hardware capable of the feature, and Samsung is simply choosing to ignore it.
It’s possibly because Samsung and Google would need to devote additional resources, which they may be hesitant to do.
Samsung recently started rolling out the stable One UI 8.5 update for older flagships, including the Galaxy S23 series. With the update, owners of the Galaxy S23 series and other eligible devices receive improvements such as a more customizable Quick Settings Menu, lock screen customization options, more visually cohesive system menus, new, useful Galaxy AI features, and much more. Another key feature Samsung brings to certain top-tier devices is the ability to share files with Apple devices via AirDrop, a feature Google first introduced on Pixel phones last year. But in the process, Samsung has also upset users who are not receiving this feature, even though the hardware in their phones meets the requirements.
Several Galaxy S23 owners are livid about the lack of AirDrop support on their devices, and many of them have taken to online forums, including Reddit, to express their frustration. Users, including Redditor Big-Salary9046, allege this is part of “planned obsolescence,” a tactic brands are often accused of using to shorten the lifespan of devices by intentionally limiting features and performance and prompting owners to upgrade sooner.
Do you care about AirDrop compatibility on your Galaxy device? 163 votes Yes, I want it bad 46 % No, I don't use AirDrop 21 % It would be nice to have, but it's not a dealbreaker 33 %
Even though upgrading from a Galaxy S23 to a Galaxy S26 series phone makes sense, it may not be necessary, given that the S23 still has one more year of software updates. So, being left out for a major feature is bound to upset users.
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