Samsung To Sunset AR Doodle and Quick Measure Apps by End of 2026

Samsung is set to discontinue two of its long-standing augmented reality (AR) applications, AR Doodle and Quick Measure, as the company continues to refine its software ecosystem. According to official notices posted on the Galaxy Store, both applications will reach their end-of-service date on December 31, 2026. After this deadline, Samsung will cease all support for the apps, including new downloads and future software updates. While the company has not provided a specific reason for the move, the decision reflects a broader industry shift away from standalone AR marketing as artificial intelligence becomes the primary focus for mobile software development.

These applications were once central to Samsung’s push into augmented reality, often bundled within the "AR Zone" suite that debuted on the Galaxy S20 series in 2020. By 2025, Samsung transitioned these features into standalone apps available via the Galaxy Store. The upcoming sunsetting process has already begun in practice; users on newer hardware, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, have reported that the apps are no longer visible or supported, suggesting that Samsung is already phasing out compatibility ahead of the official 2026 cutoff. While existing installations may continue to function for some time, the company has warned that future One UI updates will likely break core features, rendering the tools unreliable for long-term use.

The decision to retire AR Doodle and Quick Measure marks a significant pivot in how Samsung presents its software capabilities. For years, the company heavily promoted these tools as flagship examples of its hardware's spatial awareness and camera prowess. AR Doodle allowed users to draw in three-dimensional space, with digital strokes anchored to real-world objects or faces, while Quick Measure utilized the device's depth-sensing capabilities to estimate physical dimensions without traditional tools. These features were designed to showcase the potential of mobile AR, a technology that was once a primary marketing pillar for smartphone manufacturers.

However, the rise of generative AI has fundamentally altered the tech landscape. As AI features have become the dominant selling point for new devices, legacy buzzwords like "metaverse" and "augmented reality" have seen a decline in marketing emphasis. Samsung’s move to consolidate or remove these apps suggests that the company is moving toward a more streamlined software experience. Rather than maintaining separate, niche AR applications, the company appears to be folding essential spatial computing capabilities directly into the core camera software, rather than promoting them as distinct, standalone experiences.

For users who rely on these tools, the transition will be gradual but definitive. Samsung has confirmed that while the apps will remain functional on devices where they are currently installed, they will not receive further updates or maintenance. The company’s official statement regarding the Quick Measure app noted: "Please be advised that service for the Quick measure app is scheduled to be terminated on 31 December 2026. After this date, new downloads and update support for the existing app will be discontinued. You may continue to use the app if it is already downloaded, but please be aware that some features may not function properly."

This approach mirrors the company’s strategy for other legacy software, where support is slowly deprecated rather than abruptly disabled. However, the lack of future compatibility with upcoming versions of One UI—specifically those beyond the current iterations—means that the apps will eventually become obsolete as users upgrade their operating systems. Samsung has explicitly stated that it is "committed to returning with improved services in the future," though it has not provided a timeline or specific details regarding what those replacements might look like or if they will be integrated into the primary camera interface.

While AR Doodle and Quick Measure are scheduled for removal at the end of 2026, the broader cleanup of the AR Zone ecosystem includes at least one other application with a different timeline. According to service notices identified by industry observers, the "Deco Pic" app—which allows users to add digital masks and effects to their camera feed—is slated to remain active for an additional year, with its support ending on December 31, 2027. This staggered approach suggests that Samsung is evaluating its AR portfolio on a case-by-case basis, likely prioritizing apps with higher active user counts or those that align more closely with current social media-focused camera trends.

This extended runway for Deco Pic highlights the complexity of managing a legacy software suite that was once pre-installed on millions of devices. By separating the sunset dates, Samsung is likely attempting to mitigate user frustration while systematically reducing the maintenance burden on its software engineering teams. For power users who still utilize these tools, the next sixteen months provide a window to transition to third-party alternatives or to adjust their workflows before the official support ends for the entire AR Zone-derived collection.

The discontinuation of these apps does not necessarily signal the end of AR functionality on Galaxy devices. Instead, it points to a change in delivery. Modern smartphone software is increasingly moving toward integrated experiences where features are embedded within the primary camera app rather than requiring separate, standalone downloads. This shift is consistent with the broader trend of "feature consolidation," where manufacturers aim to reduce the bloat of pre-installed applications to improve system performance and user interface clarity.

As Samsung prepares for the rollout of future One UI versions, the focus remains on AI-driven enhancements that offer more immediate utility to the average consumer. While AR Doodle and Quick Measure were innovative for their time, they occupied a specific niche that is now being superseded by more advanced, AI-integrated camera tools. The company’s promise of "improved services" suggests that the underlying technology may reappear in a more polished, integrated form, potentially leveraging the advanced neural processing units found in the latest Galaxy S and Z series hardware to provide more accurate measurements and more stable AR overlays.