SEOUL, Jan 25, 2026, 22:26 (KST)
- Code within Google’s Phone app suggests that the Pixel-exclusive Scam Detection feature could soon be available on Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series
- The feature flags potential scam patterns during calls, with all analysis happening locally on the device
- It’s still unclear if Samsung plans to preload the Google Phone app by default
Samsung’s next Galaxy S26 lineup could soon include Google’s “Scam Detection” feature, which Pixel phones have used for a while to flag suspicious calls immediately. This tip surfaced from recent code found in the Google Phone app. (Android Authority)
Phone fraud is on the rise, with scammers moving away from obvious robocalls toward longer, more subtle conversations where the danger often appears midway through. Google’s approach focuses on flagging these risky points without sending the call’s audio to its servers. (Google Store)
This move highlights a closer tie between Samsung and Google, as Android makers push AI-driven security features to stand out. Android Central reports the tool on Pixel runs on Gemini, Google’s AI model that Samsung has also built into its newest Galaxy phones. (Android Central)
Android Authority spotted Samsung models SM-S942, SM-S947, and SM-S948 listed in the Phone by Google app, version v206.0.857916353. They show up next to Pixel device IDs in code linked to “Sharpie,” Google’s internal name for Scam Detection. These model numbers typically connect to the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra in past leaks.
An “APK teardown” means probing the code inside an Android app package to spot features still in the works. That said, it doesn’t ensure these features will actually roll out or become widely available.
The leak raises a key question: Samsung Galaxy phones use Samsung’s own dialer, not Google’s Phone app. Android Authority and TechRadar pointed out it’s unclear whether Samsung will ship the S26 series with Google’s dialer preinstalled, or if Scam Detection will work at all if users install Google Phone themselves from the Play Store.
TechRadar reports that Scam Detection is off by default. Once enabled, it scans calls and texts from numbers not saved in your contacts, helping reduce false alarms from known contacts. This feature is available on Pixel 6 and newer models in the US. For Pixel 9 and later, it’s also launched in places like Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and the UK, with the latest devices running on Gemini Nano. (TechRadar)
In a March 2025 Pixel update post, Google Pixel product manager Aisha Sharif outlined Scam Detection as a feature exclusive to Pixel devices. It “detects conversation patterns” frequently used by scammers and warns users if something suspicious pops up. (Blog)
Lyubov Farafonova, product manager for Phone by Google, clarified on Google’s security blog that call audio is processed “ephemerally,” meaning no recordings or transcriptions of conversations are stored or shared with Google or anyone else. (Google Online Security Blog)
Samsung has made similar shifts before. Back in 2024, PhoneArena noted that Samsung dropped its proprietary messaging app, switching to Google Messages to better support RCS—a richer texting protocol with features like read receipts and higher-quality media on compatible networks. (PhoneArena)
The S26 info is pieced together from bits hidden in the app code, with no official confirmation from Google or Samsung. It’s possible Google will limit Scam Detection to select regions, languages, or devices—or keep it exclusive to Pixel phones after all.
