Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Could Feature AirDrop Compatibility with Apple Devices

The upcoming Galaxy S26 series is expected to add a major connectivity feature, with a late leak suggesting that Samsung’s new phones will share files directly with Apple devices through Quick Share. The leak appears hours before the launch event scheduled for 1 PM EST.

The information surfaces as Samsung prepares to reveal the Galaxy S26 lineup, even though many specifications are already public. The new detail centres on AirDrop compatibility, which has so far been limited to certain Pixel models, and could now extend to Samsung’s flagship phones.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Will Support AirDrop with Apple Devices

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Galaxy S26 Quick Share AirDrop leak and how the feature works

Leaker chunvn8888 posted on X that the Galaxy S26 series could exchange files with Apple hardware using AirDrop. According to the leak, this link between Samsung and Apple ecosystems is handled through Samsung’s Quick Share service, which has evolved in partnership with Google’s own Quick Share implementation.

Shared screenshots in the leak show Galaxy S26 phones sending files to iPhones, iPads and Macs, along with other devices that use AirDrop. For transfers from Samsung to Apple devices, the AirDrop setting on the receiving Apple device must be configured to "Everyone." That is the only way the Galaxy S26 appears as a visible sender.

Galaxy S26 Quick Share AirDrop support for older Samsung phones

The same leak claims this AirDrop support is "most likely" coming to existing Samsung phones through the One UI 8.5 update. That suggestion indicates Samsung may not reserve the function only for the Galaxy S26 range, although no official software rollout roadmap has been shared.

When files move in the opposite direction, from an Apple product to a Galaxy S26, Quick Share needs to be enabled on the Samsung device. With Quick Share active, an iPhone, iPad or Mac using AirDrop can detect the Galaxy S26 on the same network and send content to it.

Google and Samsung previously merged their separate Quick Share solutions, so Android’s Quick Share and Samsung’s Quick Share now operate as a single system across many devices. Despite that merger, direct AirDrop support has remained restricted to recent Google Pixel flagships, even after Google promised that Quick Share’s AirDrop compatibility would reach more Android phones.

Neither Samsung nor Google has confirmed that the Galaxy S26 line will ship with AirDrop compatibility through Quick Share, or that One UI 8.5 will extend it to earlier models. If the leak proves accurate, many more Android users would gain easier file sharing with Apple devices, especially as Samsung’s flagship phones ship in large volumes worldwide.