For years, AirDrop has been one of Apple’s stickiest ecosystem advantages: a seamless, instant way to share files between iPhones, iPads, and Macs that Android simply couldn’t match. That advantage is quietly disappearing. Samsung confirmed this week that the Galaxy S26 series will gain AirDrop compatibility via Quick Share in an upcoming software update and the broader Android ecosystem is following close behind.
The confirmation came from Samsung’s COO of the Mobile eXperience division, Choi Won-jun, during a press conference in Japan. The feature wasn’t ready at the S26’s launch; a leaked One UI 8.5 screenshot had teased it, but Apple devices weren’t showing up as share targets on launch-day software. That’s now officially changing, with the rollout expected alongside the One UI 8.5 update.
The mechanics are straightforward. Galaxy S26 users will see nearby iPhones, iPads, and Macs appear directly inside the standard Quick Share menu. The receiving Apple device needs AirDrop set to “Everyone” after that, sharing photos, videos, and large documents works exactly like sending to another Samsung device. Discovery runs over Bluetooth Low Energy; the actual transfer fires over a high-speed Wi-Fi Direct link. Fast, lossless, no third-party apps required.
This isn’t Samsung building the feature from scratch. Google quietly cracked AirDrop compatibility for the Pixel 10 late last year without Apple’s involvement and Samsung is tapping into that same solution. Oppo confirmed at MWC 2026 that its devices are getting the same treatment this month, suggesting a coordinated Android-wide push. Apple hasn’t responded.
Android holds roughly 70% of the global smartphone market. When 70% of the world can AirDrop to the other 30%, it stops being an Apple advantage entirely.
The update is coming. If you regularly swap files between Galaxy and iPhone, this one’s worth watching for.
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