Galaxy S26 provides cross-brand sharing

Everyone knows AirDrop stands out as probably the greatest options throughout Apple gadgets, nevertheless it retains you tied to the Apple ecosystem. I like to recommend MacBooks with out hesitation, however I wrestle with iPhones at occasions (my iPhone 15 Professional battery drains quick, and I gained’t get into that right here). With AirDrop on Samsung gadgets within the Galaxy S26 collection, cellphone selection 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 Extremely

512 GB

Samsung’s newest telephones now allow you to ship photographs, movies, and different information to iPhone customers by Apple AirDrop. That sort of connection between rival firms felt inconceivable to me a number of years in the past.

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

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

Reviews from customers present Galaxy S22, S23, S24, and S25 gadgets 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 gadgets” choice.

Why Apple opens file sharing to different gadgets

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

The European Fee pushed Apple to open iPhone and iPad methods beneath the Digital Markets Act. That rule forces Apple to permit platforms to ship and obtain information by AirDrop when linked with Apple gadgets. It additionally requires iOS to help different file sharing companies that may compete with AirDrop in the long term.

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

I discover the timing attention-grabbing. Samsung and Google push these options whereas Apple faces stress from regulators the world over 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 achieve extra management over how gadgets join.

Earlier than you go

I nonetheless desire 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 change between manufacturers or share information with individuals on totally different telephones. When Samsung’s rollout reaches full scale, you possibly can find yourself choosing a cellphone based mostly on what suits you, not what locks you in.

Grigor Baklajyan is a copywriter overlaying know-how at Gadget Movement. His contributions embrace product critiques, shopping for guides, how-to articles, and extra.