Since its first generation, Samsung has forced users of its Galaxy Fold series to enroll their fingerprint with the device in its opened state. Finally, that’s come to an end.
Starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 series, Samsung has tweaked the fingerprint enrollment process for its book-style foldable to allow users to add their fingerprint whether the display is closed or open. The animation has even been updated to properly show this.
Previously, and with every prior Fold, Samsung required users to open the device to add a new fingerprint, whether during or after setup. This was still in place on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Samsung’s reasoning for this was requirement was never particularly clear, but we’re glad it’s finally come to an end. While adding one fingerprint while the device is open makes sense, it prevents the user from naturally placing their second fingerprint for the grip they have while the device is closed. As such, this new setup should allow for faster, and potentially more accurate enrollment.
Meanwhile, though, a bug in Samsung’s software prevents users from setting up the fingerprint during the initial device setup process.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 are available for pre-order now with up to $1,200 in trade-in value, doubled storage for free, and other perks. You can also get up to $150 more offer with our link to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at Samsung.com.
“Live” will let you have a two-way conversation with Gemini when it arrives this summer. Shown as a fullscreen experience at I/O 2024, Gemini Live might also work in the background, including on your lockscreen.
Strings in Google app 15.27 (beta) mention how a “background_mode” will let you “continue [Gemini] Live chats while using other apps or while your screen is locked.”
For the most part, Google Assistant and Gemini will stop after the accompanying UI is off the screen.
Allowing Gemini Live to accept input and reply as you’re doing other stuff on your device could lead to a more immersive and natural experience. In that regard, Gemini Live is basically a phone call. One possible use case is looking through your apps for more information to manually add to a conversation with Gemini.
Once done, you can say “Stop” to Gemini Live or end the chat by looking for a persistent notification.
Meanwhile, Google is working to let Gemini do more when your device is locked. Today, enabling that setting allows you to set alarms and timers, with most other commands — including something as basic as asking for the weather — requiring device unlock.
Moving forward, as we enabled below, setting up “Gemini on lock screen” and “extensions on lock screen” will let you get “answers to general questions and more.” Your options are Messages, Workspace, and Home Automation.
Google Maps, YouTube, Google Flights, and Google Hotels extensions are turned on by default on lock screen. Any future extensions that don’t require user credentials or don’t access private data will be on by default. You can turn them off in settings at any time.
Finally, “Gemini will read your messages to you” if you enable “Spoken message notifications.”
After announcing sequel foldables last month, Motorola has finally provided an Android 14 update to its 2023 Razr and Razr+ devices.
Motorola first launched the Razr+ in June 2023 to wide praise from critics and users alike. The later release of the more affordable Razr (2023) in the second half of the year was similarly met with good impressions. However, one worry was Motorola’s iffy track record in software support.
Despite offering a solid timeline for updates, Motorola left a long delay in bringing the next major version of Android to its 2023 Razr foldables. As we pointed out recently, Motorola still hadn’t pushed or even really talked about Android 14 for its previous Razr models.
That’s finally changed.
As spottedbysome users, Motorola has started rolling out Android 14 for the Razr+ (2023) and Razr (2023) in the US. The update is rolling out to both devices and carries the May 2024 security patch along with it. For the larger Razr+, the update brings various upgrades for the cover display that are present on the 2024 models. There’s also now support for AOD.
The update doesn’t seem to be widely available to all users just yet, but is starting to appear. One user who bought a Razr and also bought one for their spouse says that one of the two has received the Android 14 update, but the other has not.
Motorola seems to be rolling out Android 14 to 2023 Razr models gradually. We’ve not been able to get the update on our Razr+ (2023) yet.
YTechB also spotted that Motorola has quietly put up a support page detailing new features in Android 14 on the Razr 40 series, though the international update doesn’t seem to be available yet.
This comes almost immediately after Motorola launched the Razr (2024) and Razr+ (2024) with Android 14 available out of the box, but around nine months after Google first released the update on Pixel phones.
The Galaxy S24 series has finally launched after numerous rumors, speculations and daily leaks. And the trio is what we expected – a solid but incremental update over the S23 models. Today, we will be exploring the runt of the next generation Galaxy phones, the smallest of the bunch, and Galaxy mini, if you will – the Galaxy S24.
The new Galaxy S24 introduces a refreshed, refined, even design, with flat Victus 2 panels and a flat aluminum frame with a new matte finish. The Galaxy S24 keeps the same size as the S23, but thanks to the LTPO screen panels, it manages to fit an even larger 6.2-inch display with thinner bezels into the same space.
And that is the first upgrade – the Galaxy S24 now comes with a 6.2-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2x with extended 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It has 2,600nits of peak brightness, up from 1,750 on the S23.
The chipset upgrade is the next improvement, and the hardware fragmentation is back! The S24 employs the Exynos 2400 chipset in most markets with a 10-core CPU and a new AMD GPU, while the US, Canada and China get it with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The S24 has two storage versions for the global model – 128GB UFS 3.1 and 256GB UFS 4.0, both with 8GB RAM. There is a limited 512GB version in some countries, too.
Left: Galaxy S24+ • Right: Galaxy S24
The entire camera kit has been lifted from the S23. There are three imagers at the back – a 50MP OIS primary, a 10MP 3x tele, and a 12MP ultrawide. A 12MP front camera with autofocus will take care of selfie capture.
Left: Galaxy S24+ • Right: Galaxy S24
The battery capacity has increased from 3,900mAh to 4,000mAh, while the charging capabilities remain the same – 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The Galaxy S24 base version is still 128GB – something we hoped Samsung would drop as there are no UFS 4.0 chips for this capacity. This model still has no Ultra Wideband, and the charging is still limited to 25W. None of these is a deal breaker, but they would have sat nicely as small upgrades on the spec sheet.
Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy S24
The eco-friendly retail box is here to stay, of course. The Galaxy S24 bundle contains a 3A USB-C-C cable and a SIM ejection tool.
And that’s all.
At least the pre-order campaign for the Galaxy S24 included a 25W fast charger and a clear, transparent case. Even better, Samsung was selling the 256GB model at the price of the 128GB one to those who had pre-ordered.
The competition
The MSRP for a vanilla Galaxy S24 will vary from region to region, and you can get different carrier and vendor deals and bundles. The most popular tier will probably be the 8GB/256GB ($860/€960/£860) one. We recommend against getting the 8GB/128GB ($800/€900/£800) version as the storage is the slower UFS 3.1 variety.
It’s pretty hard to shop for a compact flagship nowadays. But putting all of the requirements together, last year’s Galaxy S23 comes up first on the list. The highlights of the new model include seven years of software updates, a new LTPO display, slightly bigger battery, and a newer chipset, but hardly any of these is a groundbreaking upgrade. Especially considering that the overall battery life hasn’t improved compared to the S23. You can get most of the same experience out of a last-gen model and at a nicely discounted price. Around $390/€655/£465 for a base 8GB/128GB model and $560/€695/£480 for a 8GB/256GB model.
Of course, Apple caters nicely to the compact market as well. While we would love to recommend the iPhone 15 Pro unless you are shopping in the US and are willing to settle for a 128GB unit, it is probably not in the same budget as the vanilla Galaxy S24. Still, the regular iPhone 15 offers a great experience. You will be missing a telephoto cam and you will have to settle for a 60Hz refresh rate too. And, of course, there is the elephant in the room – iOS versus Android, which is a deeply subjective decision.
A vanilla Google Pixel 8 won’t get you anywhere near the performance of a Galaxy S24, but the compact aspect is definitely there. You will be missing out on a telephoto camera, but other than that, there are arguably no major omissions. You also get extended software support, courtesy of Google and plenty of Google-powered AI features. Also, a bigger battery. And the Pixel 8 is notably cheaper.
Throwing the whole “compact” bit out the window and speaking of Google devices, you might want to look into the Pixel 8 Pro as well.
Also, you can swing an entry-level 8GB/256GB or even a much more future-proof 12GB/256GB Galaxy S23 Ultra unit. And sure, you won’t be getting the seven years of updates and Samsung AI, at least not initially, but other than that, you are getting “a lot more phone” for your money. A bigger and higher resolution display. An S Pen. You get a more potent main camera and two telephotos. Also, an autofocusing ultrawide and selfie. So, a better camera setup as a whole. The bigger battery and faster charging are also quite nice to have. There is also Ultra Wideband (UWB) if you care about that.
Pricing on the OnePlus 12 also makes it nicely competitive. The larger 6.82-inch display on the OnePlus matches most of the features of the Galaxy S24 and even exceeds it by offering things like 10-bit color and higher brightness. The OnePlus 12 also arguably has a higher-quality camera setup, though that point can be argued. There is autofocus on the ultrawide, at least. The much bigger 5,400 mAh battery is nice to have, much like the faster charging, both wired and wireless.
Our verdict
As mentioned, the Galaxy S24 offers a nice little incremental upgrade over its S23 predecessor without really innovating or breaking the mold in any major way.
The new, much brighter and a bit larger LTPO, 120Hz, Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is a great little step up from last year. The same goes for the new Armor Aluminum 2 frame, which is now complete with a matte finish. We also appreciate the slight bump in both battery capacity and actual battery endurance.
One UI 6.1 is also a nice incremental step up when it comes to general functionality, even if you ignore the major Galaxy AI injection, which, admittedly, is still an “acquired taste” for most users and will take some refinement and normalization before becoming an unquestionable and established value-add.
The allure of seven whole years of software support is far less debatable, though.
Now slightly louder, the hybrid stereo speaker setup remains a highlight of the multimedia experience. The same goes for the solid and versatile camera setup. Samsung didn’t make any sweeping changes in this department but arguably didn’t really need to either.
It’s also hard to argue with the build quality and durability up on offer here. Neither IP68 nor Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 are new things, but both remain noteworthy highlights.
As for the whole chipset situation, we see how returning to a two-chip, segmented approach rubs many people the wrong way. We acknowledge that Samsung’s own Exynos parts have a pretty bad reputation (deserved, at least in part). Still, from our first batch of testing, the Exynos 2400 variants of the Galaxy S24 and S24+, we can at least say that this year, the Exynos 2400 does seem pretty close in overall performance to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
We are not particularly impressed with how the Exynos-equipped S24 and S24+ handle heat over time. While the thermal-throttling is still perfectly reasonable, we are interested in seeing how the Snapdragon variants of these devices fair in the same department once we eventually get the chance to test those out as well.
That, however, might be a bit of a comparison for “scientific purposes” only since most people won’t get the chance to pick and choose their chipset. Plus, at least from an experience standpoint, there doesn’t appear to be any major difference one way or the other.
Going into wishful thinking for a bit here, we would have loved to see the vanilla S24 join its bigger siblings and get 45W charging this year. Ultra Wide Band (UWB) would have been a nice extra too. And Samsung just needs to stop offering the UFS 3.1 128GB base storage variant. We get why it’s there, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it. The same goes for the 8-bit displays, by the way.
In keeping with tradition, the Galaxy S24 continues to be a mighty yet surprisingly compact package. It is one of the few small flagships left out there, and that alone will ensure its popularity with buyers. Also, as usual, it is the cheapest way to get into Samsung’s latest flagship line and for better or worse, that appeals to a particular crowd.
If you fall into either camp of interested buyers, we can confidently say that Samsung played it safe yet again and ensured that the Galaxy S24 won’t disappoint.
If, however, you crave something other than the Galaxy S “norm” or are deeply bothered by the return of Exynos, you might want to look elsewhere instead. Until the S24’s price settles a bit, we’d say the Galaxy S23 provides better value around.
Pros
No-nonsense, sturdy, grippy, compact design. The new matte finish looks great.
Even better durability than last year with V2 aluminum frame and still Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68.
Outstanding OLED screen, slightly bigger and even brighter than last year.
Great battery life from a slightly bigger battery than last year.
Awesome stereo speakers.
Top-notch performance.
Solid photo and video quality across the board with a camera carried forward from last year.
Exciting One UI is now infused with plenty of AI; DeX support, and great connectivity options.
Cons
Hardware fragmentation is back, with some markets getting Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and some Exynos 2400 chips.
128GB uses UFS 3.1 instead of UFS 4.0 storage.
Still no UltraWideBand (UWB) support.
No 10-bit color depth support for the screen.
The CPU and GPU both throttle down in performance quite aggressively under load.
Charging is still capped at 25W and there is no charger in the box.
The Galaxy S Plus is probably the least popular device of the Galaxy S trio, but it has its fans. It caters to those who want a bigger Galaxy S screen and don’t want to overpay for Ultra features they will not use. Today, we will be meeting with the Galaxy S24+, which finally returns to its former glory with a Quad HD display!
Indeed, this has to be the biggest change since the Galaxy S21 series! The Galaxy S24+ brings back the 1440p OLED display we last saw on the Galaxy S20+ in 2020. And it’s as premium of a panel as it can get – a 6.7-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with 513ppi, 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, HDR10+ and up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness.
Quick note – we are reviewing the Exynos model of the Galaxy S24+ here.
The refreshed design is the next thing on the list of upgrades – the aluminum frame is now tougher, flatter and all matte! This makes the Galaxy S24+ look new and feel new, too.
Just like the Galaxy S24, the S24+ hardware varies depending on the market. The global models employ the Exynos 2400 chip with a 10-core CPU and new AMD graphics, while the US/Canada/China models run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The S24+ is available in 256GB and 512GB variants, both with UFS 4.0 chips and 12GB of RAM.
Left: Galaxy S24+ • Right: Galaxy S24
The camera system is identical to the one on the Galaxy S24, S23+ and S23. There are three cameras on the back – a 50MP OIS primary, a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 12MP ultrawide. The front camera is a 12MP shooter with autofocus and 4K capturing.
The Galaxy S24+ specs also include Ultra Wideband (UWB) support and a larger 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The Galaxy S24+ seems like it has it all. Maybe it deserved a better zoom camera, or at least one of higher resolution, so it can allow for lossless/hybrid zoom. But we guess this incremental update will now be reserved for the Galaxy S25 next year.
Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy S24+
The Galaxy S24+ ships inside a thin black box containing a USB-C cable and a SIM ejection tool.
Those who pre-ordered the S24+ also get a 25W power adapter, a 15W charger pad, and a clear case. Those extras are market-dependent, of course.
The cable that ships inside the retail boxes of the Galaxy S24 series is officially rated as 3A or up to 25W. This means if you buy a 45W charger or similar and it doesn’t include a proper cable, you will need to shop for a compatible cable so you can enjoy faster than 25W charging.
The competition
The Galaxy S24+ has gone up in price a bit in some regions compared to its predecessor. That being said, gone is the 8GB RAM, and you get to choose between a 12GB/256GB model and a 12GB/512GB one. And we’re not even mentioning some of the other great updates this year, like the brighter, higher-resolution LTPO display and the larger battery. As for any potential concerns regarding the Exynos 2400 chipset, it is comparable to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with no obvious performance downsides.
Even with the potential price hike in some regions, the savings of going for Plus instead of Ultra are quite notable. Other than the cameras and S Pen, this is closer to the Ultra than any S Plus model has been since the S20 generation. Many people on older Galaxy devices do seem to be considering the S24+ as a good upgrade path.
As far as actual pricing goes, at MSRP, a base 12GB/256GB unit should cost you around $1,000/€1,150/£1,000, and a 12GB/512GB one should set you back about $1,120/€1,270/£1,100. Of course, local pricing will vary, and so will packages and deals with retailers and carriers. However, let’s say that if you are looking into an S24+, you have a budget of about €1,300. That’s plenty to spend on a smartphone, and there are at least a few good options out there.
Here is an interesting idea: why not consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra? Sure, it is a generation older, and you won’t be getting quite the same performance. You will also notably be missing out on the seven years of OS updates and the Galaxy AI features, at least initially. Besides that, you get a comparable package, plus an S Pen, arguably a more versatile camera setup with a second telephoto and ultrawide with autofocus – all for a lower price than the S24+.
If you find yourself drawn by the allure of longer software support and AI features in particular, then perhaps the Google Pixel 8 Pro might be a good fit. It is notably cheaper at current pricing than the S24+, too. You will have to settle for lower overall performance, though, if that is something you particularly care about.
The OnePlus 12 is also a pretty popular choice. Pricing on the OnePlus 12 also makes it nicely competitive. The larger 6.82-inch display on the OnePlus matches most of the features of the Galaxy S24+ and even exceeds it by offering things like 10-bit color and higher brightness. The OnePlus 12 also arguably has a higher-quality camera setup, though that point can be argued. There is autofocus on the ultrawide, at least. The usefullness of the bigger 5,400 mAh battery is not up for debate, though. Neither is the much faster charging, both wired and wireless.
Finally, we should mention the options over at camp Apple, in case iOS is up your alley. While we would love to point you in the direction of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it is a bit too pricey. The iPhone 15 Pro gets you the same top-tier chipset and a telephoto camera. However, it is on the small side and more of an alternative for the vanilla Galaxy S24 than the S24+. Enter the iPhone 15 Plus. You get a very comparable device size and features. No telephoto, as we mentioned, but notably better battery life on the iPhone, as per our testing.
Our verdict
While the vanilla Galaxy S24 is more or less a simple incremental upgrade over the S23, we would say that this year, the S24+ brings a bit more to the table. An argument can be made that it is now closer to the “Ultra” than ever.
The S24 Plus gets its QHD resolution back. Not to mention that the new panel is both slightly bigger and much brighter than last year. Gone are the 8GB of RAM from last year. The S24+ gets 12GB across the board. The battery has grown notably in capacity and now, at 4,900 mAh, is almost as much as the S24 Ultra has. However, our testing did show that the extra resolution does seem to eat into the actual endurance this year.
And sure, Samsung could have graced the S24+ with a better or at least higher-resolution telephoto this year so that it could pull off impressive digital zooms on top of the optical one. But other than that, and of course the S Pen and a few other smaller things like Wi-Fi 7, the Galaxy S24+ is almost all the way there to an “Ultra” this year.
To quickly fire off some other upgrades for 2024, we have moved to the stronger and more scratch-resistant Armor Aluminum 2 material for the now matte middle frame. And that’s on top of the excellent IP68 and dual-sided Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection carried forward. Gorilla Glass Armor does remain an S24 Ultra exclusive this year.
Of course, we can’t fail to mention the allure of seven years of software support and One UI 6.1. It offers a nice incremental step up when it comes to general functionality, even if you ignore the major Galaxy AI injection, which, admittedly, is still an “acquired taste” for most users and will take some refinement and normalization before becoming an unquestionable and established value-add.
Now slightly louder, the hybrid stereo speaker setup remains a highlight of the multimedia experience. The same goes for the solid and versatile camera setup. Samsung didn’t make any sweeping changes in this department but arguably didn’t need to either.
As for the whole chipset situation, we see how returning to a two-chip, segmented approach rubs many people the wrong way. We acknowledge that Samsung’s own Exynos parts have a pretty bad reputation (deserved, at least in part). Still, from our first batch of testing the Exynos 2400 variants of the Galaxy S24 and S24+, we can at least say that this year, the Exynos 2400 does seem pretty close in overall performance to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
We are not particularly impressed with how the Exynos-equipped S24 and S24+ handle heat over time. While the thermal-throttling is still perfectly reasonable, we are interested in seeing how the Snapdragon variants of these devices fair in the same department once we eventually get the chance to test those out as well.
That, however, might be a bit of a comparison for “scientific purposes” only since most people won’t get the chance to pick and choose their chipset. Plus, at least from an experience standpoint, there doesn’t appear to be any major difference one way or the other.
All things considered, there is a lot to like about the S24+. With its QHD display, 12GB of RAM, and seven years of software updates, it arguably makes more sense than its S23+ predecessor.
Then again, the Plus has never really enjoyed much attention from buyers, which is unlikely to change. While you definitely won’t be disappointed in any way by picking up a Galaxy S24+, there might be better options to consider. For one, the Galaxy S23 Ultra can offer an S Pen, notably better cameras and no Exynos uncertainty for less than what you would pay for the S24+. The Galaxy S23+ seems like an even better deal while offering much or less the same user experience.
Pros
No-nonsense, sturdy, grippy design. The new matte finish looks great.
Even better durability than last year with V2 aluminum frame and still Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68.
Outstanding OLED screen, QHD once again, slightly bigger and even brighter than last year.
Awesome stereo speakers.
Top-notch performance. RAM is upgraded to 12GB this year.
Solid photo and video quality across the board with a camera carried forward from last year.
Exciting One UI is now infused with plenty of AI; DeX support, and great connectivity options. UWB support.
Cons
Shorter battery life than last year’s S23+, though still solid.
Hardware fragmentation is back, with some markets getting Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and some Exynos 2400 chips.
No 10-bit color depth support for the screen.
The CPU and GPU both throttle down in performance quite aggressively under load.
No charger in the box and ships with a 3A Type-C cable, which cannot do 45W charging.
Following QPR3 last month, the Android 14 July security patch is rolling out today for the Pixel 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, and 8a. Compared to the delays last month, it’s coming sooner, though the Pixel Watch update rolled out first on Monday.
There are 10 security issues resolved in the Android 14 July patch dated 2024-07-01 and 19 for 2024-07-05. Vulnerabilities range from high to critical. The dedicated bulletin for Google devices lists 4 additional security fixes.
The Pixel 8 series has its own .005 build, while everything else is on .004 this month. There’s a separate Telus Australia build for the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and 8a.
Google’s Pixel phones have never really held up to the competition in regards to using the latest and greatest specs, but the company has been stepping it up in certain areas. After the debut of “Actua” displays on the Pixel 8 series, Google is reportedly looking to use the same Samsung OLED display in the Pixel 9 series as Apple will use in the iPhone 16 Pro.
The Pixel 8 series saw Google jump from lagging well behind in display quality to putting out what was briefly the best smartphone display in the US market. That was thanks to an OLED panel from Samsung, which offered excellent brightness and colors.
According to a new report, Google will again be turning to Samsung for its display.
ETNews reports that Google will utilize an updated “M14” OLED panel from Samsung. The new panel is said to be brighter and have an improved lifespan. According to the report, Google will be utilizing this new generation of OLED panel in the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Something worth noting, though, is that Google won’t be alone here. The iPhone 16 Pro lineup is also expected to use this same new panel. Apple has, for the past couple of years, been using Samsung’s top-of-the-line displays in its “Pro” iPhones, with the “M12” being used in previous releases. That same generation will still be used in the base iPhone 16 models, but iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will both use “M14” like the Pixel.
Google is set to launch the Pixel 9 series on August 13, way ahead of the company’s usual schedule. Apple, meanwhile, is still expected to launch new iPhones in September.
Google announces early August 13 event for Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3
Last June 25, 2024 announced that its annual Pixel hardware event will be taking place on August 13. This is incredibly early for 2024 with Made by Google usually taking place in October.
Instead of New York City, Made by Google 2024 is taking place at the company’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. The first two Made by Google events were held in San Francisco before the East Coast shift.
This year’s keynote starts at 10 a.m. PT, with the invite announcement coming 1.5 months before the actual event. Last year, Google announced the event a month before it took place.
The invite is very telling for highlighting Google AI, Android, and Pixel:
You’re invited to an in-person Made by Google event where we’ll showcase the best of Google AI, Android software and the Pixel portfolio of devices.
Meanwhile, we previously reported on a 41mm and 45mm Pixel Watch 3, with renders confirming how it looks like the first two generations. We also reported on Pixel Buds Pro 2.
While we’re looking forward to Samsung’s next batch of foldables, new reports are offering some insight into Samsung’s plans for the Galaxy S25 series including design changes and the possibility of a MediaTek chip.
Over the past couple of generations, Samsung’s “Ultra” Galaxy S flagship has taken on the identity of the Galaxy Note. That’s delivered significant changes to the design including the iconic squared off design that the Note was well known for.
Apparently, though, the Galaxy S25 Ultra may shift back.
Ice Universe says that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will ditch squared off corners, going back to a more rounded design which is compared to the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7. That implies the display may also no longer be flat, something that Samsung just finally adopted in the latest generation.
Beyond that, other rumors are swirling about what will be inside of the Galaxy S25 series. Financial News reports that Samsung is considering using MediaTek chips in some Galaxy S25 variants due to the increased cost of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. It’s highly unlikely this would affect the Ultra model, but it’s a interesting to hear, as MediaTek chips have never made their way to Samsung flagships. The Galaxy Tab S10 is also rumored to be using a MediaTek chip in some capacity.
What about Exynos? While it was previously rumored that the Exynos 2500 would play a role, this latest report suggests that issues with chip yield may prevent Samsung from relying on the chip.
A little over a year since the OnePlus Pad debuted, the company is ready to announce a more capable version under the moniker OnePlus Pad Pro.
The OnePlus Pad was met with lackluster reviews after it hit the market. In many respects, it was simply just another entry into the Android tablet market that lacked enough flair to consider it groundbreaking. But maybe that’s just because it wasn’t a “Pro” model.
The OnePlus Pad Pro carries a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC – the same chip used in the company’s flagship Android phone. In total, there will be four RAM and storage combinations – 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB, and 16GB+512GB. To power the SoC, OnePlus is also packing a 9,510mAh battery, which we imagine would do well to give the OnePlus Pad Pro enough juice for several days.
The main attraction of the Pad Pro is the display, which hits a 3000 x 2120 resolution and 900nits of peak brightness. The display also looks to certified for Dolby Vision. At 12.1 inches across, it’s a large device. Well enough for drawing with OnePlus Stylo, which we assume it included in the package.
The company took to announcing the tablet on Weibo but has not yet included plans to launch the device globally. For now, the OnePlus Pad Pro is only available in China at a starting price of ¥2,799. It’s likely the Pro version will launch on a global level in a matter of weeks or months.
In addition to announcing the August 13 event, Google today is out with the first Pixel 9 Pro tease.
At store.google.com/us/magazine/google_pixel_9_pro, you’ll find a 12-second video that starts by animating “Google Pixel” with a Gemini-esque color palette leveraged. The text disappears save for “ix” — or the Roman Numeral for 9.
We then see a shimmer show off the perimeter of the device, as well as the camera bar. Featuring three lenses, this is definitely a Pro model in a lighter color.
This Pixel 9 Pro tease ends on August 13, 2024 in Roman Numerals.
The keynote takes place on Tuesday, August 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. PT. As always, there will be a YouTube livestream. In announcing the event, Google has repeatedly mentioned Android, Gemini, and Pixel.
Made by Google will showcase what happens when we bring the best of Google AI and our mobile platform together. Tune in to see the latest exciting updates across Android, Gemini, and the Pixel portfolio of devices.
It comes as Android and Pixel are now part of the same division: Platforms & Devices. The hope is that this leads to an even more integrated software/hardware experience. Meanwhile, Google teased at I/O 2024 that Pixel this year would get Gemini Nano with Multimodality to power experiences like spam call detection.
Google also demoed Gemini Live and the Pixel 9 series might be one of the first devices to get the conversational experience, which is slated to get Astra’s live camera capabilities later this year.
There are also a few references to “magic,” including “Don’t miss the magic” on the Google Store homepage.
