Samsung reveals nine features coming to Galaxy phones soon with a free Android upgrade – including new camera tricks

SAMSUNG has revealed that a raft of new camera tricks, including a Astro Portrait feature, are being rolled out to older devices soon.

The features will be included in the jam-packed the One UI 6.1.1 update, which arrived hand-in-hand with two new phones.

It’s the software that will come pre-installed on the new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 that were recently unveiled by Samsung.

Beyond the X new features coming to older devices, there’s been some updates to existing ones, a Samsung community moderator

“We have improved the Instant Slow-mo feature that was newly introduced in the Galaxy S24,” they wrote.

“And we would like to provide Samsung Members with a variety of usage experiences by using the Gallery feature, including AI experience.”

Camera

The camera app alone is getting three new features, including an Astro Portrait trick to capture portraits and star photos at the same time.

The Astro Portrait feature will be available on the Galaxy S23/S24 series.

The Flex Camera mode is also getting an AI-assisted Auto Zoom feature that recognises people and pets and automatically adjusts the zoom.

A Flex mode is also coming to the Camcorder, which lets users open their phone 90 degrees and hold it like a camcorder to shoot.

Flex features are only available on Samsung’s bi-fold devices like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and 6.

Video

Instant Slowmo is coming to six different handsets, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6.

The option will appear at the top left of the gallery screen, and once selected, will turn a clip slow motion – even it wasn’t recorded in Slowmo mode.

This will be available on the following devices:

• Galaxy Z Fold5/Flip5
• Galaxy S23 series
• Galaxy Tab S9 series
• Galaxy Z Fold 6/Flip6

Gallery

The Galaxy gallery is also getting an injection of generative AI, which lets users with compatible handsets change portraits into different art styles.

For example, you can run a selfie through the special portrait effects to create a comic, 3D character, watercolor, or sketch version of the image.

Generative AI can also be used to bring a sketch to life on a photo.

For example, if you draw a heart on the snap, AI will take that and make it look colourful or 3D.

A new Live Effect can turn 2D images of people and animals in 3D snaps.

Beyond the newest Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 phones, this feature will be available on the following devices:

• Galaxy Z Fold4/Flip4
• Galaxy Z Fold5/Flip5
• Galaxy S22/S23/S24 series
• Galaxy S23FE
• Galaxy Tab S8/9 series

Editing

Two new editing tools include Motion Clipper and the ability to crop the part of the photo you want to cut out by long pressing it.

Motion Clipper lets users create GIF files and moving stickers by long-pressing on a person or object (thing) in a Motion Photo.

These stickers can then be sent inside messenger apps like WhatsApp or social apps.

These features are also included on the: Galaxy Z Fold4/Flip4, Galaxy Z Fold5/Flip5, Galaxy S22/S23/S24 series, Galaxy S23FE, and Galaxy Tab S8/9 series.