Samsung One UI 9's AI Network Guard blocks in-app ads
A how-to piece from Android Authority highlights AI Network Guard, an underrated One UI 9 feature that blocks ads inside free apps. The writer says several ad-heavy free apps on their Galaxy phone became far more usable after enabling it, and walks through how to turn it on.
A system-level ad blocker on Galaxy phones could affect revenue for ad-supported free Android apps and reignite friction between platforms and developers.
Most free Android apps typically show ads. It’s one of the few ways to generate revenue and keep the app free. However, some apps overdo it and hijack the entire screen every few minutes, which makes them really unpleasant to use.
I have a handful of free apps on my Galaxy phone that do this. Some of them are so bloated that I had almost stopped using them until I upgraded my phone to One UI 9. The latest Android version for Galaxy phones has an underrated feature that lets you block in-app ads. It’s called AI Network Guard, and it has made free apps on my phone more usable.