As Android 15 gears up for its launch later this year, Google is making final adjustments to its new features. One notable addition is Instant Hotspot, a handy tool that enables Android tablets and Chromebooks to effortlessly connect to a phone’s hotspot. However, recent findings indicate that this feature will not be accessible on Samsung Galaxy devices.
Instant Hotspot enhances the ease of connecting your tablet or Chromebook to your phone’s internet. When nearby and lacking Wi-Fi, a prompt will appear on your device, urging you to connect to the phone’s hotspot. It’s a straightforward and user-friendly experience.
Familiar Territory for Galaxy Users
For those using Galaxy devices, this might seem recognizable. Samsung’s One UI already includes a similar function named Auto Hotspot. Both features serve the same purpose of linking your tablet or Chromebook to your phone’s internet.
The main distinction is in compatibility. Google’s Instant Hotspot is compatible with any Android tablet and Chromebook, whereas Samsung’s Auto Hotspot is restricted to Galaxy devices that are part of the same Samsung account or family group.
Impact on Galaxy Users
Although Samsung users have been benefiting from Auto Hotspot for some time, the lack of Instant Hotspot in Android 15 won’t significantly impact their experience. If you exclusively use Samsung Galaxy devices, you won’t miss out on the advantages of Instant Hotspot.
However, if you were looking forward to using Auto Hotspot with other Android tablets or Chromebooks, you might be disappointed when Android 15 is released.
Speculations on Feature Exclusion
The reason why the Instant Hotspot feature won’t be available on Galaxy devices remains unclear. The feature is part of Google Play Services, which is accessible on all Google-certified Android devices, including Samsung’s.
Samsung probably chose to exclude this feature due to its overlap with their existing Auto Hotspot. Nonetheless, with the introduction of Instant Hotspot, the practicality of Auto Hotspot seems somewhat diminished.
