Samsung Galaxy S26 May Gain Google's Scam Detection

Code in the Phone by Google app names Galaxy S26 models and references Scam Detection's codename 'sharpie', suggesting Samsung may add Google's on-device scam protection to the S26 series — possibly via One UI 8.5.

Chloe Nakamura Chloe Nakamura . Comments
Samsung Galaxy S26 May Gain Google's Scam Detection

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A new leak hints that Samsung's Galaxy S26 family could soon include Google's Scam Detection feature. Code buried in the Phone by Google app names S26 model numbers and even references the feature's codename, suggesting deeper Android integration may be on the way.

What the code actually shows — and why it matters

Researchers digging through the Phone by Google app found direct mentions of Galaxy S26 model numbers in the dialer code: SM-S942 for the S26, SM-S947 for the S26+, and SM-S948 for the S26 Ultra. The Scam Detection feature appears under the internal codename 'sharpie', a telltale sign that support for the system could be baked into the phone's calling stack.

Scam Detection today is powered on some Pixels by an on-device Gemini Nano AI and has been a Pixel-first capability. Officially, the Gemini Nano variant ships on Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 phones and is available in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, the UK and the US. There is also a non‑Gemini version that relies on on-device machine learning and is supported by the Pixel 6, 7 and 8 series.

That makes the S26 mention intriguing for two reasons. First, Samsung phones don’t normally use Google’s Phone app as the default dialer. You can install it from the Play Store, but as a user-installed app it may lack the system-level permissions needed to access on-device AI engines for real-time call analysis. Second, the presence of S26 model entries hints at a closer partnership or a software shift rather than a simple sideloaded app feature.

  • Model tags found: SM-S942 (S26), SM-S947 (S26+), SM-S948 (S26 Ultra)
  • Scam Detection codename in code: 'sharpie'
  • Gemini Nano variant currently on Pixel 9 and 10; limited to several countries
  • Alternate ML variant supports Pixel 6, 7, and 8

One plausible scenario is that Samsung could adopt Google’s Phone app more tightly with One UI 8.5, shipping it as a system component on the Galaxy S26 line so it can request the deeper permissions and on-device AI access required. The other possibility is that Google builds a path for third-party dialers to leverage Gemini Nano or other on-device models — but that would likely need OS-level support.

Until Samsung officially unveils the S26 series next month, this is educated speculation. Still, the code clues are clear: either way, callers and carriers should pay attention — the next Galaxy could be smarter about identifying scams than previous generations.

Source: gsmarena

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