Galaxy S26 provides cross-brand sharing

We all know AirDrop stands out as top-of-the-line options throughout Apple units, but it surely retains you tied to the Apple ecosystem. I like to recommend MacBooks with out hesitation, however I battle with iPhones at occasions (my iPhone 15 Pro battery drains quick, and I received’t get into that right here). With AirDrop on Samsung units within the Galaxy S26 collection, telephone alternative begins to really feel extra open and fewer locked into one model.

Samsung’s new telephones share information with Apple {hardware} house owners

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

512 GB

Samsung’s newest telephones now let you ship pictures, movies, and different information to iPhone customers via Apple AirDrop. That form of connection between rival corporations felt unattainable to me a couple of years in the past.

Samsung began rollout for the Galaxy S26 collection on March 23 in South Korea. The firm plans enlargement into Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra customers will ship information to iPhones, iPads, and Macs via Quick Share as soon as updates attain every area.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: What’s new and what’s the identical

Reports from customers present Galaxy S22, S23, S24, and S25 units additionally obtain the replace in some areas. My teammate Lauren in Athens, Greece, checked her Galaxy S23 settings menu and nonetheless didn’t have the “Share with Apple devices” possibility.

Why Apple opens file sharing to different units

In 2024, the US Department of Justice and several other states filed an antitrust case against Apple. They argued Apple broke competitors legislation via practices that preserve customers tied to iPhones and cut back switching between units. Regulators targeted on ecosystem lock-in, service bundling, and limits on cross-platform instruments.

The European Commission pushed Apple to open iPhone and iPad programs underneath the Digital Markets Act. That rule forces Apple to permit platforms to ship and obtain knowledge via AirDrop when linked with Apple units. It additionally requires iOS to assist various file sharing providers that may compete with AirDrop in the long term.

Before Samsung made a step, Google had already built a workaround that lets Pixel telephones ship photographs and different information to iPhones via AirDrop-style sharing. Apple didn’t participate in both effort. At least, the Cupertino firm hasn’t issued a public assertion on Android units utilizing AirDrop protocols.

I discover the timing attention-grabbing. Samsung and Google push these options whereas Apple faces strain from regulators internationally to open iOS to third-party entry. The shift hints at a future the place file sharing throughout manufacturers feels regular, not locked inside one ecosystem, and customers acquire extra management over how units join.

Before you go

I nonetheless choose Apple {hardware} in some instances, however I additionally see worth in cross-platform sharing when it simply works. You may really feel the identical if you happen to swap between manufacturers or share information with individuals on totally different telephones. When Samsung’s rollout reaches full scale, you would find yourself selecting a telephone based mostly on what suits you, not what locks you in.

Grigor Baklajyan is a copywriter overlaying know-how at Gadget Flow. His contributions embody product opinions, shopping for guides, how-to articles, and extra.