TL;DR: The Cheapest Samsung Phones That Support Galaxy AI (My Picks For 2026)

The Galaxy S24 256GB (Unlocked) is the sweet-spot Galaxy AI phone right now: full feature support, clean unlocked stock, and noticeably cheaper than new.
Want flagship-grade AI tools? The Galaxy S24 Ultra 256GB (Unlocked) gives you the complete Galaxy AI experience including Note Assist, Chat Assist, and the AI-powered S Pen tools.
Most Galaxy AI features need Samsung’s servers, not just raw hardware. So the cheapest phone on this list still runs the same prompts as the most expensive one.
Avoid carrier-locked S24 base variants. Verizon-locked units show up in search results regularly. Stick to the unlocked stock linked here.

Galaxy AI is Samsung’s suite of on-device and cloud AI features, and you don’t need to spend full price to get it. Any Samsung Galaxy S23 or newer supports Galaxy AI after a One UI update, meaning a refurbished S23 or S24 gets you the same AI tools at a fraction of the new price. Right now, that’s the smartest buy in Android.

What Is Galaxy AI, And Which Phones Actually Support It?

Galaxy AI launched with the S24 series in early 2024, then Samsung rolled it back to the S23 lineup via a One UI 6.1 update. It covers a range of tools including Live Translate, Chat Assist, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, Circle to Search, and Generative Edit in the photo editor. Every Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, and S25 Ultra supports the full set. That’s the headline: you can get Galaxy AI on a refurbished Galaxy S23 that costs a fraction of what an S25 Ultra goes for today.

The key thing to understand is how Galaxy AI is split between on-device processing and Samsung’s cloud. Features like Circle to Search rely on Google’s infrastructure. Others, like Generative Edit, use Samsung’s servers. A handful, like interpreter mode, can run fully on-device. None of this changes based on which Galaxy AI phone you own. The S23 and S24 Ultra run the same feature set.

Did You Know? Samsung committed to seven years of OS and security updates for the S24 series. That’s a meaningful number. It means a refurbished S24 you buy today should still get software support into 2031, keeping Galaxy AI features active for the long haul. Check the full picture on how software longevity affects refurbished value.

The Best Refurbished Samsung Phones For Galaxy AI Right Now

All models below are unlocked stock confirmed in our live inventory. No carrier-locked variants. Here’s where the value sits at each tier.

Galaxy S23 — The Budget Entry Point

The S23 is the cheapest route into Galaxy AI and it holds up well in day-to-day use. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset handles the on-device AI workloads without breaking a sweat. The main trade-off versus the S24 is the slightly slower refresh rate display and no titanium frame, but if Galaxy AI tools are the goal rather than the absolute best screen, the S23 does the job.

Storage tip: go for 256GB if you plan to use Generative Edit heavily. AI photo editing writes large files and 128GB fills up faster than you’d expect.

Galaxy S23 Ultra — Serious AI Tools, Serious Savings

The S23 Ultra adds the S Pen, and that changes the Galaxy AI equation. Note Assist, which summarises your handwritten notes using AI, is genuinely useful on this device in a way it simply isn’t on a phone without a stylus. If you write a lot of notes or work with transcripts, the S23 Ultra is worth the step up in price over the base S23.

Galaxy S24 — The Sweet Spot

The S24 is where Galaxy AI runs at its smoothest. Samsung optimised the feature set for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip inside the S24 series, so response times on AI tasks like Live Translate and real-time transcription feel snappier than on the S23. The 7-year update commitment also means you’re not buying a phone that’ll be left behind by future Galaxy AI feature drops.

One warning: you’ll see S24 256GB Verizon-locked units floating around in search results. Don’t bother. Every link above is unlocked stock.

Galaxy S24+ — More Screen, Same AI

The S24+ gets you a larger 6.7-inch display and a bigger battery over the base S24. Galaxy AI feature support is identical. If you spend a lot of time with Transcript Assist or you use your phone for reading through AI-generated summaries, the extra screen space is genuinely nice to have.

Galaxy S24 Ultra — The Full Galaxy AI Experience

The S24 Ultra is where Samsung’s AI tools feel most complete. You get the S Pen back (Samsung dropped it from the S24 and S24+), plus the most powerful camera system in the S24 range. The AI photo editing features, including Generative Edit and Edit Suggestion, get more to work with when you’re shooting on a 200MP sensor. If you’re using Galaxy AI for content creation, this is the one to go for.

Does Galaxy AI Actually Work Well On Older Hardware?

Yes, with a small asterisk. The S23 series runs every Galaxy AI feature that Samsung has made available on it, and in normal use the performance gap versus the S24 is hard to notice. Where you might feel the difference is with longer transcription tasks or when using AI Live Translate in a fast-moving conversation. The S24’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has a more capable neural processing unit, and Samsung tuned the Galaxy AI software around it first. Day to day though, the S23 holds its own.

If you want a fuller look at how software support windows affect the long-term value of any refurbished phone, our iOS update lifespan guide covers the principles that apply across both platforms.

What Galaxy AI Features Are Worth Actually Using?

Let’s be real: not every Galaxy AI feature is going to change your life. Some are novelty, some are genuinely useful. Here’s the honest breakdown.

Worth Using Every Day

Live Translate: Real-time call translation that works even without a bilingual app. It’s one of the most practically useful AI phone features Samsung has shipped.
Circle to Search: Draw a circle around anything on screen and get a Google Search. Sounds gimmicky. It isn’t. Once you start using it, you use it constantly.
Chat Assist: Rewrites your messages in different tones (professional, casual, etc.). Useful if you’re drafting messages at speed and want a quick polish.

Useful In The Right Situations

Transcript Assist: Converts recordings to text and summarises them. If you’re in a lot of meetings, this earns its keep fast.
Note Assist: Summarises and formats handwritten or typed notes. Best on the Ultra models where you can use the S Pen to write quickly.
Generative Edit: AI photo editing that removes objects or extends backgrounds. Results are hit or miss, but the hits are impressive.

Tech Tip: Circle to Search is a Google feature, not a Samsung-exclusive one. It works on any Android 9+ device running a recent version of Google Search. But Samsung was first to put it front and centre on the Galaxy S24 series and it’s where it feels the most native. The S23 after its Galaxy AI update gets it too.

Refurbished S23 vs S24: Which One Should You Buy For Galaxy AI?

Feature	Galaxy S23	Galaxy S24
Galaxy AI support	Full (via One UI 6.1+)	Full (native)
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
OS update commitment	4 years OS / 5 years security	7 years OS + security
AI performance	Good	Faster on intensive tasks
Value for AI specifically	Best price-to-AI ratio	Best long-term buy
Unlocked refurb stock	Available ✓	Available ✓

If budget is the main concern, the S23 gives you Galaxy AI at the lowest possible entry price. If you want the phone to last longer and run AI features at their best, the S24 is the smarter long-term buy. Both are among the best refurbished phones you can pick up right now for Android.

What About The Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The S25 Ultra does appear in our inventory in refurbished form. It’s newer, runs Galaxy AI natively on Snapdragon 8 Elite, and adds Gemini integration alongside Samsung’s own AI features. It’s a step up from the S24 Ultra in every measurable way. But the price point is still significantly higher than the S23 and S24 range, so it earns a mention here for anyone who wants the most capable Galaxy AI device without paying full retail. Check the Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB (Unlocked) if that’s where your budget sits.

Know Your Mobile Verdict

Galaxy AI is a genuine suite of useful features, not just marketing. And right now, refurbished Samsung phones are the cheapest route in. The S23 is the budget floor, the S24 is the smart long-term pick, and the S24 Ultra is where the full experience comes together for power users. Stick to unlocked stock, check battery health before you buy, and you’re getting a lot of phone for your money.

If you’re still weighing up your options across all brands, our refurbished phone guide and FAQ hub covers everything you need to make a confident decision. For the best current prices, browse the latest refurbished phone deals as stock moves quickly.

Pro Tip: Galaxy AI features that use Samsung’s cloud servers (like Generative Edit) require a Samsung account and an active internet connection. They’re not storage-heavy to enable, but if you’re privacy-conscious, check which features run fully on-device before you commit to using them daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Samsung phones support Galaxy AI?

Galaxy AI is supported on the Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S25 Ultra, and the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 series (via software updates). Samsung rolled Galaxy AI back to the S23 lineup through the One UI 6.1 update in 2024. All of these models can access the full Galaxy AI feature set including Live Translate, Circle to Search, and Chat Assist.

Does a refurbished Samsung phone still get Galaxy AI updates?

Yes. Galaxy AI updates are delivered through One UI software updates, which apply to the device regardless of whether it’s new or refurbished. As long as your phone is within Samsung’s update window, it will receive Galaxy AI feature additions. The S24 series has a 7-year update commitment, giving it the longest runway of any Samsung phone currently available refurbished.

Is there a performance difference running Galaxy AI on an S23 vs an S24?

In most day-to-day use, no. The S23’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 handles Galaxy AI features without visible lag. Where you might notice a difference is on longer transcription jobs or when using multiple AI features in quick succession. The S24’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has a more capable NPU, so processing-intensive tasks run slightly faster on it.

Are Galaxy AI features free to use?

Samsung currently offers Galaxy AI features at no extra cost on supported devices. Some cloud-based features require a Samsung account. Samsung has indicated it may introduce subscription tiers for advanced AI features in future, but as of 2026 the core feature set remains free for S23 and S24 series owners.

What should I check before buying a refurbished Samsung for Galaxy AI?

First, confirm the phone is unlocked. Carrier-locked units are common in the refurbished market and will restrict your network flexibility. Second, check battery health: anything below 80% is a dealbreaker for a phone you’ll use AI features on, as they draw more background power. Third, confirm the model is Galaxy AI-compatible (S23 or newer). The links in this article all point to confirmed unlocked stock in our vetted refurbished phone database.

Read More: Browse the full refurbished smartphones hub for more buying guides, model comparisons, and the latest stock updates.

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In 2026, This is The Cheapest Way To Get Galaxy AI