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Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE tipped for Unpacked release thanks to a new case leak

Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE tipped for Unpacked release thanks to a new case leak

Tom's Guide4 days ago
We know the next Galaxy Unpacked is happening next week, with Samsung set to unveil at least two new foldables — the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. But, if details spotted by a major casemaker are to be believed, we may be seeing the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE at the same time.
As spotted by Android Central, case maker Spigen has published listings for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Z Flip 7 FE a little too early. The listings were removed pretty quickly, and didn't show any images of the phones in question, but that doesn't mean much on the modern internet.
The most important thing here is that Spigen seemingly confirmed Samsung will be calling the cheaper foldable the Z Flip 7 FE, rather than just the Z Flip FE. It doesn't really make a difference either way, but considering the Galaxy Z Fold SE was released last year without any numbering meant that the names given to the rumored phone were always a little contentious.
It also suggests that the Z Flip 7 FE will be arriving at Galaxy Unpacked alongside the flagship foldables. Not "several months later," as some early rumors first claimed.
Rumors about the Z Flip FE have been few and far between, so there isn't a whole lot we really know about the phone just yet. What is clear, though, is that this should be a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 — complete with some compromises and hardware nerfs to justify the lower price.
How much? We don't know, but the Korean model is rumored to cost 1 million won — which is about a third less than the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Leaked CAD renders also suggest we'll see a design similar to the Z Flip 6, complete with a 6.7-inch display and a 3.4-inch cover screen paired with two camera lenses.
The screen itself is said to be FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. Internally we've heard that the phone could run off an Exynos 2400e chipset, alongside 8GB of RAM and base storage of 128GB.
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But it sounds like we don't have long to wait before we find out for sure. In the meantime, be sure to check out our Samsung Galaxy Z fold 7, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FE hubs for all the latest news and rumors about the three new foldables.
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Samsung's One UI Made Me Fall Out of Love With Stock Android
Samsung's One UI Made Me Fall Out of Love With Stock Android

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Samsung's One UI Made Me Fall Out of Love With Stock Android

A lot of people praise stock Android for being clean and light, often comparing it to One UI, which is deemed bloated. While certain pre-installed Samsung apps are indeed not very useful, I'm willing to argue that One UI is by far the best Android skin, and the minimal aesthetic of stock Android is highly overrated. Stock Android purists often use the term bloatware to refer to anything non-Google, and since One UI comes preloaded with a lot of Samsung alternatives, it's labeled bloated. However, if you've actually bothered to use Samsung apps and not immediately dismiss them simply because they're not from Google, you'll notice that many of them have ample merit. Take Samsung Notes, for instance. It's not some half-baked, redundant app like the kind you'd expect from a budget OEM. It's genuinely feature-rich, supports handwriting recognition, has all the formatting tools you'll need, does a better job than Google Keep at organizing your notes, and syncs seamlessly with Samsung Cloud. And if you have one of Samsung's Ultra phones, you can use the S Pen to instantly take notes on the screen without even unlocking the device. The same goes for Samsung's mobile browser. I use it as my default browser, and I can assure you that Samsung Internet is better than Chrome in almost every way. It's far more feature-rich, more customizable, has more privacy controls, better dark mode implementation, built-in ad-blocking support, and a dedicated video assistant to avoid inconsistent video interfaces across websites. Samsung Internet's incognito mode (called Secret Mode) is also far superior to Chrome. Files downloaded while in Secret Mode can only be viewed within Secret Mode, and aren't visible anywhere else on your phone—this is such a no-brainer feature, I'm surprised Google hasn't added it to Chrome yet. Also, to make sure no one can see these files other than you, Secret Mode is also password-protected. On the privacy dashboard, you can block annoying pop-ups and backward redirections, and prevent apps from opening new browser tabs so you're not redirected to web pages you didn't mean to visit. You can also block automatic downloads and trackers, and receive warnings about malicious sites as a precaution. The only area where I'd say Samsung Internet falls behind Chrome is cross-platform sync. If you like to have your bookmarks synced when moving from your phone to laptop, Samsung Internet will not be able to serve that purpose for you since it's limited to mobile. Does it suck that the app lacks this feature? Yes. Does it make the app bloatware? Absolutely not. Similar is the case with many other Samsung apps. Being given a choice is not the same as having bloatware. Many preloaded Samsung apps can be uninstalled, so if you don't like them, you can get rid of them. True stock Android—like what you'd find on an AOSP build—is basically dead in the consumer market. These days, when people say "stock Android," they're mostly talking about Pixel phones. And while Pixels aren't technically stock Android, they're still the closest thing to it. But even with Google's added features, Pixels feel limited in ways that One UI doesn't. Granted, Pixel phones offer an adequate level of personalization, but the core interface and behavior can't be altered. Want to change how your recent apps screen looks? App icons? Home screen layout? Status bar? Nope. Samsung, through One UI and its in-house customization suite Good Lock, gives you control at a system-deep level—without root, without third-party hacks. You can not only customize the look and feel of your phone, but also add extra features. On my phone, I used Good Lock to add a back-tap gesture, a delete button to the screenshot toolbar, a more granular volume slider, and make multi-window show more content so I don't have to scroll as much when using split screen or pop-up view. The Pixel experience is curated, yes, but curated to Google's tastes. If that aligns with you, great. But One UI is more malleable in comparison and can be made to look, feel, and function exactly the way you want. It's your phone, after all. Alongside split screen, which is available on all Android phones, One UI allows opening apps in a resizable pop-up window, the same way you open app windows on your laptop, and if you know how to take advantage of it, this feature can be really useful. For instance, I've made it a habit to open notifications in pop-up view, so whatever app I'm currently using isn't interrupted. If the notification is not important, I just close the window and carry on, but if it's important, I minimize the window into a floating bubble and come back to it once I'm done with the current app. If you're savvy, you can even use gestures to quickly access split screen or pop-up view while using an app. Edge panels are another feature I use very frequently. It's used primarily to store your favorite apps (further reducing clutter on your home screen), but also allows you to check the weather, view and add reminders, access your clipboard items, and more. Edge panels can be accessed anytime, other than during gaming, by swiping inward from the panel handle. A piece of software doesn't automatically become cluttered just because it has more features in it. One UI separates core and advanced functionality in a way that keeps the interface clean for casual users while offering depth for power users. You won't even notice half the features unless you go looking for them, which is exactly how it should be. Think of it this way: the software rewards you for exploring it, instead of overwhelming you with options from day one. With One UI 7, Samsung's biggest software update in years, the company organized these settings into "topics" accessible from the search bar within the Settings app, making it easier for casual users to navigate them. What people call 'clutter' in this context is really just capability. It's not clutter if it's neatly filed and easy to ignore until needed. Apps you don't need can be hidden from the app drawer and home screen, too. Minimalism for the sake of aesthetics is overrated. I'm yet to see a more comprehensive mobile automation system than Samsung's Modes and Routines. Through the app, you can create simple IFTTT (If This Then That) applets that perform a sequence of actions when set conditions are triggered. For instance, you can create a routine that enables Bluetooth whenever you open YouTube and Netflix, so you can quickly connect your earbuds without having to enable this setting each time manually. Similarly, you can create a routine that enables Location whenever you open Google Maps or ride-sharing apps. Most of the tasks you do on your phone are repetitive in nature, like enabling Do Not Disturb before bedtime or power saving mode when you're running low. Since these actions are recurring and predictable, your phone should be smart enough to just do them without requiring your input as a user, and that's exactly what Modes and Routines are for. Once you get familiar with the feature, you can come up with all sorts of creative ideas to make new routines. On my phone, for instance, I've set a routine that keeps Battery Protection enabled overnight, so I never need to worry that my phone is sitting fully charged throughout the night, damaging its battery health. All of this and more is simply not possible on stock Android. Pixel has its own automation system, called Rules, but its functionality is nowhere near as capable. Android didn't have a proper AirDrop alternative for a long time. Eventually, Google launched Nearby Share in 2020, right after Samsung launched its own implementation, Quick Share, the same year. 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I'm a Nothing Phone fan — but here's why the Phone 3 is a non-starter for me
I'm a Nothing Phone fan — but here's why the Phone 3 is a non-starter for me

Tom's Guide

time2 hours ago

  • Tom's Guide

I'm a Nothing Phone fan — but here's why the Phone 3 is a non-starter for me

One of my favorite things about using one of the best Android phones over an iPhone is that you can still root for an underdog. Sure, a Samsung or Pixel phone will always come with better specs but with a lesser-known brand you're more likely to get a unique feature that reminds you why you didn't just give in and get one of the best iPhones like everyone else. After Google ditched its more collaborative Nexus phones for the in-house-designed Pixel, I, like many other Android users, was left twisting in the wind for a bit. I eventually moved to OnePlus phones, which promise flagship-level specs for less. Things were good for a while there, until the company integrated Oppo's ColorOS with its own OxygenOS, at which point it felt like the magic was gone. I did consider just getting a Pixel for a brief moment since, for me, nothing (no pun intended) tops stock Android. Then I came across a new startup founded by OnePlus' co-founder, Carl Pei. This seemed like a return to the Nexus days, but with a twist. While Nothing's devices feel like they're running near-stock Android, Nothing OS takes things to a new level. It's fast, responsive and well thought out, so I've never felt the need to install a third-party launcher. I've now had my Nothing Phone 2 for almost two years, and while it has certainly served me well, I've been eagerly waiting to see what the company does next. Well, this week, I found out that the rumors and leaked renders of the Nothing Phone 3 were real. Though I was more than ready to hand over my hard-earned cash for Nothing's latest device, one big omission with its new design is holding me back. What immediately set the original Nothing phone and then its follow-up apart from the crowd was the distinct Glyph Interface on the back. Along with the company's trademark transparent designs, these strips of LED light serve as a constant reminder that in a sea of all too similar looking smartphones, Nothing is actually thinking differently. As the company has evolved, so too has the Glyph Interface on the back of its phones. Phone 1 debuted these one-of-a-kind lights and Phone 2 improved upon them by adding more lighting zones and giving you greater control over them. Even when Nothing decided to court the budget phone market with the Phone (2a) and then later with the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro, the Glyph Interface came along for the ride, albeit in a smaller and simpler way. While many people thought the next logical step would be to add RGB lighting to the Glyph Interface, Nothing clearly likes subverting expectations. I thought we might see more lighting zones, more customization options or something else entirely with the Phone 3. As it turns out, I was right. Just not in the way that I had hoped for. Instead of improving upon the company's now iconic Glyph Interface, it decided to ditch it entirely with the Nothing Phone 3. The only regular light that remains is actually a new one: a small red square underneath the phone's cameras which lets others know that you're currently recording a video. Instead, the Glyph Interface has been replaced with the new Glyph Matrix. The Phone 1 and Phone 2's light strips were featured prominently throughout the back of each device, but the Glyph Matrix is relegated to the top right corner. This tiny dot-matrix display does have a few tricks up its sleeve. It can show you the time, how much battery life you have left, and a number of other practical and entertaining widgets which Nothing is calling Glyph Toys. I have to admit, at first, I thought a dot-matrix style display on the back of my phone would be a cool feature to have. That was until I learned that this new addition would mean giving up what has become my favorite hardware feature of the Nothing Phone 2, one that I use every single day. I'm sure if you were out in public and someone caught a glimpse of the Phone 3's Glyph Matrix doing its thing, they'd be intrigued. From acting as a selfie mirror to flagging your notifications, there's already quite a lot it can do. Likewise, you can also play games on it with others or even with the phone itself. For instance, there's a Glyph Toy for Spin the Bottle that completely foregoes the potential for broken glass, along with a Magic 8 Ball one that can give you quick, albeit vague, answers to all your burning questions. Then there's Rock-Paper-Scissors where you and the Phone 3 go head to head in the zero-sum game. That's not all though, as Nothing has opened up its new Glyph Matrix to developers so that they can create their own custom Glyph Toys. While the Phone 2's Glyph Interface did have third-party support, it was only with the device's Glyph Progress feature which used one of the light bars to let you know when your Uber or food delivery from Zomato were arriving. I could easily see both seasoned and new developers alike creating some really cool Glyph Toys down the line. However, with what's available now, the Phone 3's Glyph Matrix feels more like a gimmick than a true replacement for Nothing's Glyph Interface. When I decided to buy the Phone 2, I thought that its Glyph Interface was a gimmick too. There's no party trick quite like turning on the lights on the back of your phone or even having them sync to the music you're playing using Nothing's Music Visualization feature. As I got acquainted with my Phone 2 though, its light strips quickly became more than a gimmick and turned into an essential feature I rely on daily. Besides seeing the progress of your rideshare or your food delivery, you can also use the Phone 2's Glyph Progress feature with Google Calendar, though this integration did come quite a few months after the phone's release. As someone who works remotely and is constantly jumping from one video call to the next, this light that gets smaller as my next meeting approaches has really come in handy. I still get regular notifications from Google 10 minutes before each of my meetings, but seeing the light slowly get smaller on the back of my phone is less obtrusive and definitely a bit more fun. Using your phone's camera flash as a flashlight is something we've all grown accustomed to over the years, but through its Glyph Interface, Nothing gives you another way to quickly light up a dark room. You can still use the phone's flash to light your way, but you also get the option to use its Glyphs as a torch too. And yes, I do mean torch: Nothing is based in the UK, so we have to use the correct terminology. What I like about the Glyph torch is that it's a softer, less glaring light that I can quickly enable without blinding myself or others. As I'm a night owl by nature, I often find myself working late or doing other things around my house well after everyone else is asleep. Even with the best smart lights installed throughout my home, turning them off and on at night can be disruptive. This is why I've grown accustomed to using my Phone 2's Glyph torch to light up the kitchen or even the garage in a pinch. Before there was Music Visualization on the Phone 2, there was Glyph Composer. If you're the type that still uses ringtones instead of leaving your phone on vibrate at all times like I do, then you can have the Phone 2's Glyph Interface light up along with your ringtone. There are pre-set animations for the pre-installed ringtones, but with Glyph Composer, you can also make your own custom ones. Even though I don't personally use ringtones, I absolutely love Glyph Composer. Not only is it a great way to kill time while making your own music using a number of different sound packs, it's also the perfect way to distract an upset toddler as I've learned from experience. I don't let my son use or play with my phone normally but every now and then, I either show him the lights on the back of my phone as I try my best to play something close to a song, or if he's being really good, I let him have a go at it. In fact, while waiting to buy a SIM card during my recent trip to Taiwan for Computex 2025, I got incredibly bored in line. There was a little one a few people ahead of me and when I saw her getting fussy, I took out Glyph Composer and played for a bit. In a minute or so, she was giggling and soon enough I was up next at the sales counter. Is the Phone 3's polarizing design enough to make me abandon Nothing entirely? Absolutely not. However, my next phone upgrade is now more up in the air than I thought it would be just a few weeks ago. I get that Carl Pei and Nothing are trying to do something new with the Phone 3, but I don't understand why they dropped the Glyph Interface entirely in favor of the new Glyph Matrix. The smaller Glyph lights on the company's cheaper a-series phones show that you can still do quite a lot with only a few strips of light. If you look at the back of the Phone 3, there's still plenty of empty space where a smaller but just as capable Glyph Interface could have fit nicely. Besides the touch capacitive button on the center-right that you use to control its Glyph Toys or swap between them, the middle and entire bottom half of the phone's back is completely empty. I understand why the Glyph Matrix is in the top right corner for practical reasons, but given the device's unconventional camera array, I think things could have been shifted around to incorporate both this new dot-matrix display and some familiar Glyph lights. In addition to the lack of Nothing's iconic Glyph Interface, there's another elephant in the room with the Phone 3: its price. I expected to spend more for a phone that's inching closer to flagship territory, but like with the Nintendo Switch 2, the Phone 3 is priced a bit too high in my opinion. With a starting price of $799, you're at entry-level flagship pricing alongside phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9. However, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset that Nothing picked for the Phone 3 is less capable than the top-grade silicon used in these other phones. Waiting for a sale will take some of the sting out of the Phone 3's price, but if I'm paying more than I did for my Phone 2, I shouldn't be swapping a very useful feature for one that has yet to appear as more than a gimmick. Who knows, maybe we'll see a Phone 3 Pro with the best of both worlds that has the new Glyph Matrix and Nothing's Glyph Interface on the back. If not though, I might just hold out even longer to see what the company has in store for the Phone 4a or maybe even the Phone 4a Pro. I haven't lost hope in Nothing yet but ditching the Glyph Interface for the new Glyph Matrix is a decision that hasn't won me over so far. Only time will tell, though and until then, I'll be proudly rocking my Nothing Phone 2 until its last Android update.

Why Google's Unbeatable Pixel Upgrade Is Bad News For Android
Why Google's Unbeatable Pixel Upgrade Is Bad News For Android

Forbes

time2 hours ago

  • Forbes

Why Google's Unbeatable Pixel Upgrade Is Bad News For Android

All change for Android? Android has a problem — and this one is not easily fixed. There's a conflict at the center of the world's most popular operating system, and it's getting worse. What happens next is down to Samsung to decide. But it could change everything. I have warned about this before. Google supplies Android to other manufacturers, but it also competes with those OEMs through its own Pixel devices. And while Pixel has a small market share compared to those others, it's first to new features and upgrades. Security and privacy were central to Android 15 and it's the same now with Android 16. And that makes this more critical for users than regular feature updates. Samsung is the largest OEM, and yet it suffered the most during the rollout of Android 15, trailing Pixel by almost an entire upgrade cycle. Pixels were moving to Android 16 just as many Samsungs got their first taste of Android 15. And while Samsung's Android 16 rollout is expected to be faster, we're still waiting to see that actually goes. Now that warning has been echoed by Android Authority. with 'five reasons why Google's Pixel software is better than Samsung's One UI.' But one of those reasons matters more than all the others. 'No matter what Samsung does to One UI,' it says, 'the one advantage that Google will always have is faster updates.' Samsung Vs Pixel In short, 'as the creator of Android, it's easier for Google to optimize its Pixel lineup.' While this is an especially acute time to have this debate, given 'the mess that was One UI 7,' it goes beyond OS upgrades. Seamless and efficient security updates month after month and access to innovative new security features both come to mind. While 'Samsung has fixed its flawed One UI 7 update,' Android Authority says, 'it's done so just in time for everyone to turn their attention to One UI 8.' The reality is that Google has made Pixel unbeatable when it comes to the pace and efficiency of updates and upgrades, and as AI becomes ever more intrinsic to Android, this will become more critical to users and will remove some of Samsung's differentiation. We're seeing the same in the narrowing gap between Android and iPhone, and again with Google's suite of AI-driven apps available across different operating systems, the mobile space race changes and it's half-life significantly reduces. Whole Samsung will determine what happens next, the trigger may come from China rather than Korea. Huawei is now pushing a third mobile OS, bringing real competition to iOS and Android for the first time in decades. The pressure is on other Chinese OEMs to jump onboard, rebalancing away from U.S. tech. You can be certain that's what being pushed in quiet corridors in Beijing and Shenzhen as being in the national interest. While Pixel's unbeatable upgrades are certainly bad news for Samsung, it could well be that they're even worse news for Android.

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