Samsung Galaxy phones are getting a great free software upgrade from the Google Pixel 9

This is a nifty feature

Samsung Galaxy S24 review
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
Quick Summary

One of the coolest new Android features has started landing on Samsung handsets.

That will be music to the ears of audiophiles, as the feature brings song recognition capabilities.

If you're a fan of the best Android phones on the market, you're really spoiled right now. New models from a wide range of brands have made the market a really exciting place to be for fans.

Now, one of the most popular features from that launch event is coming to Samsung phones. While Circle to Search won't be news to anyone in that sphere, the new element of that allows users to search for music.

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That enables users to identify music playing on device or in the surrounding area. Think of it as a kind of built-in Shazam and you're basically there.

Far from just recognising official tracks, though, the app will also pick up sang or hummed tunes. I'm eager to test this out, as I'm quite sure my atonal drawl would offer a tough test for the system.

It's a great upgrade for users. While it's not a massive leap, it does bring all of your music recognition needs in-house. That will be a benefit for users who don't like to install lots of additional apps on their devices.

One thing it doesn't do, though, is integrate the Now Playing feature. That can be found on Pixel handsets, allowing users to keep a log of all of the music played around them. 

That's a really handy thing to have, and it's something which I'd love to have seen rolled out to more devices. Integrating it with this feature may well have been a great opportunity, but it's not one which has come to fruition.

While the first users of Samsung handsets are seeing this feature on their phone, don't be alarmed if you don't get it right away. The update is being pushed out, but will likely happen in batches over the coming days and weeks.

Sam Cross
Senior Staff Writer

Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.

Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.

He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.

Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.