These Galaxy S25 AI Features Run On-Device And These Ones Need The Cloud

TL;DR

Samsung has revealed which Galaxy S25 series AI features require the cloud and which ones run on-device.
Some of the more notable features that run locally include the Audio Eraser and Routine Suggestion capabilities.
You’ll need an internet connection for cross-app actions, Draw Assist, and Sticker Generation.

Samsung has just revealed the Galaxy S25 series, and these phones bring even more Galaxy AI features to the table. Some of the more notable additions this time include cross-app actions in Gemini Live, an Audio Eraser feature akin to recent Pixel phones, and Routine Suggestions.

Which Galaxy S25 AI features require an internet connection, though? Which ones run locally without needing the cloud? Fortunately, Samsung has answered these questions. Check out our table below.

Feature	On-device or cloud processing?
AI Select	On-device
Audio Eraser	On-device
Call Summary	Both
Cross-app actions/Gemini Live	Cloud
Draw Assist	Cloud
Natural language search in Gallery	On-device
Now Brief/Now Bar	On-device
Read Aloud	Both
Routine Suggestions	On-device
Sticker Generation	Cloud
Writing Assist	Both

The company confirmed that AI Select, the Audio Eraser, the Now Bar/Now Brief tools, natural language search in the Gallery app, and Routine Suggestions all run on-device. However, an internet connection is required for cross-app actions/Gemini Live, Draw Assist, and Sticker Generation. Meanwhile, the Call Summary, Read Aloud, and Writing Assist features use both local and cloud processing.

The Galaxy S25 phones still offer a toggle to disable cloud-based AI features, restricting you to on-device AI capabilities only. We’re glad to see this option return once again, giving users some peace of mind if they’re worried about privacy.

These new features join a host of other AI-related additions, such as Instant Slow-Mo (using frame interpolation to turn any clip into a slow-motion video), live call translation, summarization capabilities, and Sketch To Image functionality to turn your doodles into AI-generated pictures.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

Snapdragon 8 Elite power • 12GB RAM • 7 years software support

A powerful 6.7-inch phone, with 7 years of updates

The middle offering of Samsung’s 2025 flagship launch, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is a 6.7-inch QHD+ device with a 50MP camera, 12GB of RAM, 256GB+ of storage, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. UWB connectivity, a 4,900mAh battery, and ProScaler for QHD+ round out the upgrades over the base model phone.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

100x zoom • Big battery • 7 years software support

Samsung’s best for 2025

Simply put, this is Samsung’s very best phone in 2025. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a 6.9-inch QHD+ device with 12GB of RAM, 256GB+ of storage, embedded S Pen, and the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The key upgrade over the lower S25 models is a 200MP main camera and 100x Space Zoom.

Samsung Galaxy S25

12GB RAM • Vastly improved software • 7 years of support

Refined software, AI smarts, and next-gen hardware

With an emphasis on AI features, and a move to Gemini, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is an exciting update to the Galaxy S line. Equipped with a 6.2-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, 12GB of RAM, a powerful 50MP camera, and updated hardware materials, we expect big things from the base model of Samsung’s 2025 flagship phone.

Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at [email protected]. You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it’s your choice.