Save on soundbars: This Samsung 3.1-channel soundbar has a great deal this week
For a limited time, you'll be able to get the Samsung HW-B650 3.1ch Soundbar at Best Buy or Walmart for only $230, a $170 markdown from its $400 MSRP.
Why you should buy the Samsung HW-B650 Soundbar
The Samsung HW-B650 is an absolute godsend for lackluster TV speakers. Once connected to your TV via HDMI ARC or digital optical, all AV components and TV audio will be routed through your Samsung bar. Classed as a 3.1 setup, the HW-B650 features a discrete center channel and left-right channels, resulting in powerful front-of-the-room performance that holds up well in small to medium-sized spaces. And thanks to the wireless sub, this Samsung system even brings a fair amount of bass to the party!
Thanks to Dolby Digital and DTS support, the HW-B650 can also downscale surround sound signals to virtualize a larger speaker system. It's not as immersive as a true surround setup or object-based tracking you'd get from a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X-compatible soundbar, but you can always add a Samsung rear speaker kit down the line for improved emulation.
There's even a Bluetooth input for streaming music and podcasts wirelessly from a phone or tablet to your Samsung soundbar. This model has been out for a few years now, so we're not sure how much longer you'll be able to find it brand-new and for a discounted price.
Take $200 off the Samsung HW-B650 3.1ch Soundbar when you purchase today. We also recommend taking a look at our lists of the best soundbar deals, best Samsung TV deals, and best TV deals for even more discounts on top AV devices.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
2 minutes ago
- Fast Company
What legacy brands can learn from the hype cycle
Back in 2015, Microsoft claimed our attention spans had dropped to eight seconds—shorter than that of a goldfish. No one's definitively proven it, but it feels about right in the age of TikTok. Ten years later, goodness knows how long we're able to hold it. It's one of the major social shifts of our lifetimes, and it's one that a new generation of start-up brands—and their investors—have jumped on. These 'dopamine' brands, such as Starface, Graza, and Poppi, provide younger generations with striking visual hits to draw them in with an instant high. Their packages, messages, and social content all pop, their drops sell out in minutes, and their fans queue virtually just to get their hands on them. Those limited drops, seasonal flavors, and unexpected collabs fuel hype and scarcity. These aren't just products; they're events. But with every dopamine hit comes a comedown, and many challenger brands are now struggling with staying power. Meanwhile the legacy brands languish on the sidelines, wondering what to make of it all as a chunk of their audience is tempted away. There's a lot to learn in creating fresh news for these classic heroes, but they shouldn't feel threatened by the dopamine gang; rather, they should see an opportunity in it. If you've got iconic assets and built emotional trust over decades, you're more than halfway there. The nudge is to deliberately disrupt yourself by bringing ideas in from the outside, while finding ways to retain what it is people love about you at the core. Packaging is a powerful touchpoint to do it. It's your shop window, your sensorial hook, your cultural signal. When you get it right, it should create not just fleeting excitement, but a deep connection that creates a lasting memory. Here's how to do dopamine design, without right. Inject hype at the edges, don't break the system Limited editions are an obvious, and often fruitful, place to start, but legacy brands can sometimes get overexcited here. Often there is a temptation to create disruption by sidelining the rule book and going crazy with the new news. When limited editions aren't rooted in what people already love about the brand, they land as lazy, insincere. They often fall flat with consumers, who see straight through it. Smart design evolves from what's already there; celebrate the core brand essence by coming from a place of authenticity, then create the disruptive newness. So, when Jaffa Cakes was developing a limited-edition flavor, they began by acknowledging the product truth: the joy is in the jammy center. To make it feel more special than the established orange, an unexpected idea came about in cola-bottle flavor. This delivered an exciting dose of 'I'm not sure that'll work' intrigue mixed with reassuring nostalgia for the consumer. Crucially, we restrained ourselves with the packaging design in responding to this. We retained the existing layout and the brand's visual consistency, while dramatizing the new story within it to create something new. It's a simple but effective technique, all too often brushed aside in favour of total 'pack takeover' disruption. Short-term impact, long-term value Limited editions from brands work best when they riff on the thing people already love about them, whether it be format, flavor, origin story, or something else. These kinds of designs don't just deliver a momentary dopamine hit. When a drop gets it right, it builds trust and respect with consumers. Moreover it builds a momentum that has a positive halo effect back into the main brand. Look at Johnnie Walker's Squid Game Limited Edition—another entry from a brand that continues to cross-pollinate categories to deliver the unexpected. Here it's bringing popular culture in to give its audience exactly what they never knew they needed. While the launch design felt dopamine, the core pack design confidently fused both brands' assets together with mutual respect and consideration. It was a wisely thought through approach and showed us that the brand can deliver both quality whisky and moments of playful humor simultaneously. The total effect of such one-offs is that the entire brand benefits from them. Collaboration should amplify, not dilute The Heinz x Absolut collaboration was a good example of how good design can multiply brand value. Its success lay in both brands celebrating their distinctive assets in tandem in the launch collateral (Heinz's silhouette and red tones, Absolut's bottle shape and stripped-back typography). The creative idea—vodka pasta sauce—was playful, but it was the campaign work and the packaging that sold the credibility, where the two brands came together in a way that felt creative and made sense for each partner. The most effective collaborations aren't necessarily about giving each brand equal space, or one giving way for the other. It's putting egos aside to create something entirely new together, the genius child of both. Legacy brands at the center of culture Legacy brands don't need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant, but they do need to stay alert to what's happening around them. Packaging is a hugely impactful area to showcase this. It is the most visceral, sensorial, and tangible touchpoint a brand can have. A good idea at the heart can be taken to the next level when form, finish, and feel are also taken into account. Legacy brands should be more confident in the strength of their assets. Changing them creatively just a little can a have a powerful outcome. Building both brands' assets through co-respect can help place a brand in the center of culture effectively enough for the audience to reappraise it on a deeper, more lasting level. It can reenergize products and brands, putting them in front of new audiences who will become the next generation of loyalists. A design that is oversaturated in dopamine can have the opposite effect, creating confusion around your brand's identity, leaving your crowd alienated and cynical. The key is to build from what people already know and love. That's what gives brands the permission to try something new on their packaging, and the credibility to be taken seriously when they do. Once you've cracked the code in an authentic way and succeeded at it, the stage is set for a future of endless creativity that people will come back for time and again. The super-early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is tonight, July 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Android Authority
2 minutes ago
- Android Authority
I loved the Galaxy Z Flip 7's new cover screen until the software ruined it
I love flip phone foldables. More specifically, I love flip phones with big cover screens. Being able to comfortably reply to texts, check notifications, and use apps on a large, high-quality cover screen is one of my favorite things about the flip phone form factor — and it's why I was so excited to get my hands on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. For the last couple of years, Samsung's cover screen tech has paled in comparison to its competitors, namely Motorola in the US. For all Samsung has gotten right with the Z Flip series, its small, low-resolution, and low-refresh-rate cover displays have always lagged behind the competition. But not so this year. I've had the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for just about a day, and I've spent most of my time playing with the new cover screen. It's a massive improvement over Samsung's previous attempts and by far the best we've seen on a Z Flip yet. But as much as I love the hardware, Samsung's software greatly holds everything back. Do you think the Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen was worth the wait? 0 votes Yes, it's exactly what I've been waiting for. NaN % I love the hardware, but the software is disappointing. NaN % No, I'm not impressed by it at all. NaN % Other (let us know in the comments). NaN % The Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen hardware is exceptional Joe Maring / Android Authority I want to start by talking about what Samsung got right, which, admittedly, is a lot. The most obvious upgrade over the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the display size, which has increased from 3.4 inches to 4.1 inches. That new full-screen design, combined with impressively thin bezels, is a truly impressive sight to behold. Apps, like Telegram and Slack, are easy to navigate and don't feel cramped in the slightest. I can see a long list of notifications without scrolling, and typing on the cover screen's keyboard is far more comfortable than it was on the Flip 6. An extra 0.7 inches may not sound like much, but in practice, it's a night-and-day difference. And as much as I've enjoyed the cover screen's extra real estate, that's not the only hardware upgrade I've been thrilled with. The resolution jump from 720 x 748 to 948 x 1048 is immediately noticeable. Where the Flip 6's cover screen looked grainy and fuzzy to my eyes, the Flip 7's is as sharp as a tack. Joe Maring / Android Authority The upgrade from a 60Hz refresh rate to 120Hz is even more apparent, making the cover screen feel fluid and responsive in a way no Z Flip cover screen has felt previously. Additionally, the brightness increase (from 1600 nits up to a staggering 2600 nits) has been immensely helpful when using the Flip 7 in direct sunlight. I've been waiting for the day that Samsung finally released a Z Flip with a cover screen that didn't feel stuck in the past. Having now used the Z Flip 7, I can confidently say that day has finally come. At least, it has from a hardware perspective. But the software is another story Joe Maring / Android Authority Unfortunately, it's a different conversation we need to have about the cover screen software. In Samsung's efforts to springboard the Flip 7's cover screen hardware into the modern era, the software was largely left behind. Samsung created a big, bright, and sharp display I want to interact with, but numerous roadblocks create a lot of unnecessary friction. The most obvious complaint is that of using apps on the cover screen. Samsung still requires you to jump through extra hoops and use Good Lock if you want to use anything other than Google Maps, Messages, Netflix, or YouTube. It is annoying, though Samsung has slightly simplified the process this year, and it's only something you have to do once. However, this perfectly highlights a far bigger issue. Why create such a high-quality and capable cover screen yet withhold such basic functionality from it? Once the Good Lock widget is on your cover screen, you see all of the apps you've chosen, along with a + icon to add more. Presumably, tapping that icon would allow you to add more apps directly from the cover screen. But no. Instead, it displays an 'Open phone to continue' pop-up, forcing you to open the Flip 7 to proceed. Unfortunately, this is something you see a lot of. Want to customize your current clock face? You need to open the Flip 7. Want to add a new clock design? Open the Flip 7. Want to edit widgets on one of your home screens? Time to open the Flip 7! Even some app notifications refuse to display the notification content on the cover screen, instead telling you to 'Open the phone and check the notification panel for details.' There are other issues, too. You can't customize the quick settings panel on the cover screen, and the toggles that are present are extremely limited compared to the main display (such as only being able to toggle Wi-Fi on/off and not being able to select a specific Wi-Fi network). Also, while you can reply to texts and emails, you have to use the terrible, horrible Samsung Keyboard even if you've set something like Gboard as your default keyboard. I just have one question for Samsung: Why? Why create such a high-quality and capable cover screen yet withhold such basic functionality from it? These are limitations carried over from previous Z Flips, and it feels lazy on Samsung's part not to fix them for the Flip 7's upgraded cover screen. What could have been Joe Maring / Android Authority Sometimes while using the Galaxy Z Flip 7, I'm thrilled with the phone's cover screen. The bigger size is terrific, the resolution and refresh rate upgrades are fantastic, and every interaction is better than one on the Z Flip 6's cover screen. But when I see that 'Open phone to continue' pop-up or am forced to type a typo-ridden message with Samsung Keyboard, the magic fizzles. Samsung finally has a cover screen that's just as good as the competition, and it's a damn shame it's still held back by frustrating software like this. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 easily has the best cover screen of any Z Flip to date, and I wish I could thoroughly love it. But considering how much more it could have been, I'm left feeling a bit disappointed. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Largest ever Flex Window • 6.9-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X folding screen • 7 years of updates MSRP: $1,099.00 Melds Galaxy AI with the new edge-to-edge FlexWindow With a 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow outer display, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 focuses on putting AI smarts in your pocket. Measuring just 13.74mm thick when folded, it's the slimmest Z Flip phone yet. Packed with a 50MP camera and a suite of AI tools, Samsung calls the Z Flip 7 a "pocket-sized selfie studio." See price at Amazon See price at Samsung See price at Amazon Save $200.00 Limited Time Deal! Follow
Android Authority
2 minutes ago
- Android Authority
After Facer, Pujie and WatchMaker announce Wear OS 6 support
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR After Facer, watch face distribution apps Pujie and WatchMaker are extending support for Wear OS 6. The updated versions comply with Google's mandate to switch to the new Watch Face Format. While Pujie is separating development into two apps (for new and old watches), WatchMaker is likely to continue using just one. With Wear OS 5, Google introduced a new standard to make watch faces more power-efficient. And, to ensure watch face designers and developers running distribution apps like Facer, Pujie, or WatchMaker make the switch to Watch Face Format (or WFF), it effectively blocked support for legacy watch faces on newer Wear OS versions. Starting 2026, legacy watch faces cannot co-exist with WFF ones on these distribution apps, which is why Facer recently announced an updated phone app that works with Wear OS 6 watches. That will include support for the Watch Ultra and the newly launched Galaxy Watch 8 — with many more to follow. Now, other apps, Pujie and WatchMaker, are also making the switch, bringing similar solutions with Wear OS in mind. Pujie is bifurcating its efforts into two apps: one to apply watch faces to smartwatches running Wear OS 6 and future versions, and another to support watches running Wear OS 4 or older versions. This separation ensures that the older app continues to support legacy watch faces while the newer version works only with WFF. Pujie's approach differs from Facer's, which does not require you to download two separate apps if you have two different smartwatches. However, you need to select the smartwatch within Facer's Android app where you wish to apply a new watch face, and the app dynamically refreshes to support only one of the two kinds — legacy or WFF — faces. To put it simply, Facer is running two versions of the apps in a broader environment. In contrast, Pujie's approach might make sense for its use case, since it allows extensive customization of watch faces, including a system where you can create your own watch faces using different building blocks. Among other changes to the new app, it introduces a real-time simulator to reflect changes immediately and supports animation preview and will also let you transfer watch faces between two versions of the app. Meanwhile, WatchMaker did not clarify in its blog post which approach it is taking, although it appears to be proceeding in the same manner as Facer. This approach is suggested by a single app listing on the Google Play Store by WatchMaker's publisher, 'androidslide.' Additionally, WatchMaker's blog post notes that more than 130,000 watch faces have already been adapted to support WFF, and all you need to do to use those is sync them to the new watch again. What's with Google's Watch Face Format? Google's Watch Face Format takes a modular approach, where designers and developers only need to work on the front end and upload the details in a lightweight XML file, while the Wear OS system automatically handles the execution. Although this allows for lighter watch faces that are quicker to sync and consume less battery, it also limits visual effects such as depth or shadow, rendering very artificial-looking visuals. This approach can be especially detrimental to watch faces that simulate analog watches, and has also resulted in enthusiasts, including my colleague Rita El Khoury, lamenting these limitations. Follow
