The Galaxy S26 series is arriving in the hands of consumers, and as we continue our testing of the devices here at Android Central, we find ourselves impressed by a variety of its features. Some of these are quite familiar, like the Privacy Display on the Ultra, while others are gradually being introduced, such as screen automation with Gemini. Nonetheless, one aspect that I believe has gone unnoticed is the enhanced Audio Eraser, which was already remarkable from the start.
At the Galaxy S26 launch, Samsung revealed that Audio Eraser would now be compatible with third-party apps, allowing you to modify the audio while watching a show or scrolling through reels on Instagram. I’ve been experimenting with this feature on the Galaxy S26 Plus, and I must say it’s becoming my favorite new capability in Samsung’s latest flagship devices!
Audio Eraser and the One UI 8.5 update
Samsung’s Audio Eraser may ring a bell for anyone with a more recent Pixel smartphone, and rightfully so. This feature debuted with the Galaxy S25 series, and similar to the Pixel, certain Samsung phones can evaluate videos and distinguish the audio into various segments, such as voices, music, noise, and crowd. After a video is assessed, you can modify each audio segment for the desired outcome, whether it’s to muffle the sounds of a crowd to better hear the main speaker or to enhance the background music so that voices are less prominent.
The outcomes are quite impressive, and devices like the Galaxy S26 can even perform this on videos not originally recorded on the phone, like those saved to the device.
However, with One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung elevates this with support for third-party apps. When using applications like YouTube, Netflix, Instagram, and more, you can modify the audio so that the speaker is clearer, effectively muting any background noise or music for better comprehension.
The features aren’t as detailed as those available in the Gallery app, but the core function operates exceptionally well across third-party apps.
How to use Audio Eraser in the Gallery app
1. Choose a video in your Gallery app.
2. Tap the Galaxy AI sparkle icon. Wait for the app to analyze the video.
3. Adjust the audio categories to your preference, or tap the Auto button for the app to make adjustments automatically. You may also tap Hear original at the top to compare the original audio with the modified audio.
4. Tap Save edits once you are satisfied.
How to use Audio Eraser in third-party apps
1. Launch an app such as YouTube, Netflix, Instagram, Prime Video, etc., and start playing a video.
2. Swipe down to access the quick settings menu. Tap Audio eraser at the top.
3. Enable Audio eraser and adjust the intensity of Audio eraser to minimize background noise in the video.
4. If you’re listening to music and aim to amplify the main vocals while decreasing the music volume, set the strength to the maximum level, then activate Voice focus. This option will be greyed out and inaccessible until the strength is maximized.
5. When finished, tap Done.
One of Samsung’s most useful AI features
Many of Samsung’s Galaxy AI capabilities are entertaining to use, like generating stickers or editing images, but Audio Eraser has become one of those features I find indispensable. I often notice that for various reasons, I have difficulty hearing properly while watching TV shows. Consequently, I frequently enable captions to fully grasp the dialogue, particularly when viewing “The Expanse,” which includes a lot of action and instances where characters speak over crowds.
In the example mentioned, I struggle to hear Colm McGuinness’s voice distinctly in his exceptional performance of Ed Sheeran’s “Nancy Mulligan.” By activating Audio Eraser, his words come across much more clearly and are easier to comprehend (my only challenge then being his strong Irish accent).
That being said, Audio Eraser isn’t flawless in this aspect, especially when Voice Focus is turned on. Yes, it provides a nice lift to voices, making them much easier to hear, but occasionally the voices can become unclear as the AI attempts to keep pace, and sometimes it can have the opposite effect, making voices more difficult to understand. Therefore, this specific feature might be best utilized sparingly.
Still, I can see how this feature could also serve as a great accessibility tool, benefiting those who are hard of hearing. Some of the alterations may seem subtle, but they can significantly impact the difference between hearing something clearly and not. Even though Voice Focus has its imperfections, it dramatically enhances the experience when watching videos or listening to music, and I hope Samsung extends this to music applications like YouTube Music.
For now, Audio Eraser has