You’re switching from an iPhone to a Galaxy. It’s a big move. You’ve got the sleek hardware, the stunning screen, and then you realize—wait, where is she? You press the side button looking for that familiar "Siri" glow, and instead, you’re met with a different vibe entirely.
Honestly, the term Siri for Samsung is a bit of a misnomer, but I get why people search for it. You want that hands-free, "hey-do-this-for-me" magic. On a Samsung phone, you aren't just getting one replacement; you're actually stepping into a bit of a power struggle between three different AI personalities.
The Short Answer: Who is the Samsung Equivalent?
If we’re being technical, Bixby is the direct "Siri for Samsung" because Samsung built it from the ground up to live inside the hardware. But if you want the one that actually understands you when you're rambling about brunch plans, it's Google Gemini (formerly Google Assistant).
Here is the current state of play in 2026:
- Bixby: The "Hardware Mechanic." It’s incredible at touching things inside your phone you can’t find in the settings menu.
- Google Gemini: The "Brainiac." This is the default on the newest S26 and S25 models. It handles the complex "why is the sky blue" stuff.
- Galaxy AI: The "Invisible Hand." This isn't an assistant you "talk" to as much as a suite of features that translates your calls in real-time or circles things on your screen to buy them.
Why Everyone Hated Bixby (and Why It’s Making a Comeback)
For years, Bixby was basically the relative nobody invited to the party. Samsung even put a physical button on the side of the S8 and S9 that you couldn't remap easily. It was frustrating.
But things changed. Recently, Samsung stopped trying to make Bixby a search engine and started making it a phone controller. If you say, "Hi Bixby, change my screen timeout to 5 minutes and turn on eye comfort shield," it does it instantly. Siri still struggles with deep system deep-dives like that.
In early 2026, Samsung started rolling out a massive reboot powered by Perplexity. Now, when you ask Bixby a hard question, it doesn't just give you a "here's what I found on the web" link. It actually researches the answer for you. It’s trying to be the assistant Siri always promised to be.
Google Gemini: The Real Heavyweight
Most people who ask for "Siri for Samsung" actually just want Google Gemini. Since the launch of the Galaxy S25, Google’s AI has become the default.
Gemini is scary smart. It can read your Gmail to tell you when your flight is, summarize a 20-minute YouTube video in three bullet points, and generate images of a cat wearing a space suit. It feels much more "human" than Siri. If you’re a long-time Apple user, Gemini is going to feel like a massive upgrade in IQ.
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Can you use Siri on a Samsung?
Kinda, but no. You can’t install the Siri app on Android. It’s locked in Apple’s walled garden. If you see an app in the Play Store called "Siri for Android," stay away. It’s almost certainly malware or a junk app filled with ads.
Making the Switch: How to Setup Your New Assistant
If you just unboxed a Galaxy and you're looking for your voice-activated buddy, here is how you get things moving. Don't worry about sticking to just one. You can actually use both.
- The Side Button: By default, holding the power button usually wakes Bixby. You can change this in Settings > Advanced Features > Side Button.
- The Swipe: On the newest One UI 8.5, swiping inward from the bottom corners usually summons Gemini.
- The "Hey" Command: You can have "Hi Bixby" and "Hey Google" active at the same time. Bixby handles your alarms and settings; Google handles your trivia and navigation.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think having multiple assistants is a mess. It used to be. Now, it’s a toolkit.
I use Bixby for Routines. It’s this underrated feature where the phone automatically changes settings based on where you are. When I get to the gym, Bixby sees the GPS location, turns on my "Gym" Spotify playlist, and sets my notifications to "Do Not Disturb." Siri’s "Shortcuts" can do this too, but Bixby Routines is much more intuitive for regular humans who don't want to write "if-then" logic.
Actionable Steps for Your New Samsung
Don't just let the AI sit there. If you want the best "Siri-like" experience on your Galaxy, do these three things right now:
- Switch to Gemini as Default: If your phone is still using the old Google Assistant, download the Gemini app from the Play Store. It will ask if you want to replace the old assistant. Say yes.
- Enable Bixby for System Tasks: Keep Bixby on for "offline" stuff. It’s faster at opening apps or finding a specific photo from "last Tuesday in San Diego" than any other tool.
- Set up "Circle to Search": Hold down the home button (or the gesture bar). Circle anything on your screen. It’s the fastest way to "Siri" a question without actually speaking.
The reality is that Siri for Samsung isn't a single app. It’s a choice. You’ve got the hardware control of Bixby and the raw intelligence of Google. Once you get used to having both, going back to just Siri feels a little bit like moving back into a house with fewer windows.