HTC quietly launches a sub-$100 smartphone with a lot of compromises
The Wildfire E5 Plus has a sleek, more modern appearance that would look right at home alongside most flagships. A few telltale details, like the larger camera bumps and thicker bezels, are the only indicators that it's a lower-end phone. The 6.75-inch display has an impressive 90Hz refresh rate but only supports a resolution of 720p.
The phone is powered by a Unisoc T606 chipset. While it was a solid chip at one time, the T606 is relatively underpowered now compared to other, more popular options on the market, like the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It has 6GB of RAM — and that means it has little to no AI functionality — alongside 128GB of internal storage, but this can be expanded through a microSD card.
The Wildfire E5 Plus has a 50MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 16MP selfie camera on the front.
One area where the Wildfire E5 Plus does stand out is its battery. With a 5,000mAh capacity, its battery is larger than any found in Samsung's current flagship lineup and on par with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, given the lower power demands of the E5 Plus, it will likely last a great deal longer.
The phone runs on Android 14 and is currently available in Vietnam for the equivalent of around $93. Like we said earlier, HTC hasn't given details on a global rollout yet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
22 minutes ago
- Business Insider
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 cases
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 cases provide reliable protection in slim, lightweight forms that don't inhibit features like wireless charging. Below, we've put together a list of some of our favorite cases from our testing experience with options from Samsung themselves and trusted third-party brands. Our top pick among the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 cases is the TORRAS Magnetic Shockproof case, a robust case that adds MagSafe compatibility and an S Pen holder to the Fold 7. For a budget option, our favorite is the Samsung clear case, with its minimalistic design that really lets your phone's color take the spotlight. FAQs Does the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 need a case? Like many of the best Android phones, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is well constructed and sturdy. However, no smartphone ever constructed is impervious to damage, and it's worth equipping the expensive Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a reliable case that will provide long-term protection for your investment. What should I look for in a Galaxy Z Fold 7 case? As with any of the best Samsung phones, when looking for a case for your brand-new Galaxy Z Fold 7, there are always a few important factors to consider. You always want to make sure that the case you're choosing is reliable, fits within your budget, and doesn't hinder any features that you might want to use. Ideally, cases might even add features not otherwise present — like MagSafe compatibility. If you're a manual laborer or person on the move, it is a safe bet to recommend a more sturdy case like the TORRAS Magnetic Shockproof case or a case from Otterbox. However, if you're a minimalist who can't stand the bulk of Otterbox, you would probably want a thinner, more stylish case like the clear case from Samsung. Will a Galaxy Z Fold 6 case fit the Galaxy Z Fold 7? A case meant for the Samsung Z Fold 6 will not fit the Galaxy Z Fold 7 due to their differing dimensions and screen sizes. For instance, whereas the Z Fold 6 features a 7.6-inch main display, the Z Fold 7's main display is 8 inches. If you have a Galaxy Z Fold 6, you can refer to our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 cases to help you figure out what works best for you.
Digital Trends
4 hours ago
- Digital Trends
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 proves foldables have reached peak design
Ask most average people why they weren't willing to buy one of the best folding phones, and the answer often includes the price, size, or weight. The new Galaxy Z Fold 7 addresses two out of these three issues and, in turn, resolves one of the key problems with folding phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner than any previous folding phone available in the US, measuring 4.2mm thick when unfolded, and is only second in thickness to the Honor Magic V5, which is 0.1mm thinner when unfolded. Yet, that phone has a much larger circular camera hump, so it feels similar, if not slightly thicker, in the hand. Recommended Videos The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is also considerably lighter, weighing 215 grams, compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which weighs 24 grams more. The Magic V5 is just two grams heavier than the Samsung; the Oppo Find N5 is a further 12 grams heavier, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the heaviest at 254 grams. Ultimately, the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 raises one key question: has folding phone design peaked? How the Galaxy Z Fold 7 gets the design so right When designing the new Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung began with a primary goal that has proven essential: can they build a folding phone that is indistinguishable from a regular phone when folded? The Galaxy Z Fold 7 mostly ticks this box, as although it's 0.7mm thicker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it's three grams lighter. When we showed the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to 30 average users, more than a third commented on the thickness when they first felt the device, and almost another third commented on its weight. These in-hand improvements have made the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feel nearly identical to a regular phone, to the point where many of those same people were surprised when they unfolded it. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn't the first device to achieve this, but it's the first folding phone that feels distinctly normal in the hand. This makes it a stunning alternative for those who want the folding form factor, but don't want the added heft that has accompanied folding phones from Samsung, Google, and others. The epitome of the perfect foldable design The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so enjoyable in the hand that it raises the question of what comes next, at least in terms of design. Samsung itself mentioned that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be around 0.2mm thinner without affecting the USB-C port, but no thinner, so just making it thinner wouldn't justify an upgrade. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a worthy upgrade over last year's Galaxy Z Fold 6 or any previous Samsung folding phone, but a Galaxy Z Fold 8 that's 0.2mm thinner wouldn't be as newsworthy. One area that could be improved further is the camera. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 camera features the same 200MP main camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and our testing has proven that the camera is just as capable. However, the camera bump is considerable — albeit less pronounced than the Magic V5 — and its position on the left side of the phone means it rocks noticeably when laid flat on a table. The Magic V5 and Oppo Find N5 both address this wobble with a circular camera design on the rear, ensuring it lies flat, but this design results in a thicker overall phone. Then there are the subtle, rounded corners, or lack thereof, on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Most of its rivals feature subtle rounded edges on the front display, which reduces the screen size but makes it easier to reach the far corners. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features squared edges to the display, and while it's uncomfortable for some, it nestles perfectly in the palm of my hand. All of these complaints ultimately nitpick a fundamentally excellent design, raising the question of whether the foldable design has now reached its peak. At least in terms of design, there's nothing I would change about the Galaxy Z Fold 7 design that I think would fundamentally change the design or form factor, so the answer seems to be yes. However, while the design is perfect, there are still areas Samsung can improve. The non-design parts that could be improved As I covered in our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review, Samsung's newest folding phone offers numerous improvements over the previous generation, but there is still room for improvement. First, there's the battery; the 4,400 mAh battery is smaller than the Honor Magic V5 (5,820mAh) and the Oppo Find N5 (5,600 mAh), yet both of those are almost as thick as the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Then there's the camera. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 200MP main camera, but its 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto cameras are not as competitive as those of its rivals. However, each of these improvements shouldn't come at the expense of the design. It's the key reason I recommend the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Samsung would do well to ensure it doesn't stray from this design in the future. It's so good that I hope other phone makers follow suit. This Galaxy Z Fold 7 proves foldables have reached peak design
Android Authority
4 hours ago
- Android Authority
Samsung plans to make Now Bar more useful by nearly doubling app support
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung's Now Bar, a lock screen carousel of glanceable app cards, is expanding its app support and is now available on the Galaxy Z Flip's cover screen. Samsung plans to increase the number of apps and services that support the Now Bar from around 20 to up to 35 by the end of 2025. This expansion will be available on devices with One UI 8, which is based on Android 16 and adds a new API that allows any app to create 'Live Notifications.' One of the biggest new features that Samsung added to One UI this year is Now Bar, a swipeable carousel of cards you can access from the bottom of the lock screen without unlocking your device. These cards contain key information and controls from various apps and services, including Samsung Clock, Google Maps, and Uber. As of last month, the Now Bar supported just 20 apps, but we've learned that Samsung may nearly double that number by the end of the year. Samsung launched the Now Bar with its Galaxy S25 series earlier this year before bringing the feature to other devices in the One UI 7 update. While the Now Bar wasn't available on the cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip in One UI 7, Samsung has addressed this with the new One UI 8 software release. Joe Maring / Android Authority Now Bar in One UI 7. In the 'Device Experience Guide' for the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which ships with One UI 8, Samsung highlights that the Now Bar can now display real-time app alerts right on the cover screen. The document also reveals that app support for the Now Bar is set to expand from 20 services in One UI 7 (as of June 2025) to up to 35 in One UI 8 by the end of 2025. Here is the list of apps and services that support the Now Bar in One UI 7 as of June 2025. Notably, while Samsung stated there are 20 supported apps, its official list only contains 19 items, and it's unclear which one is missing. List of apps that support Samsung Now Bar in One UI 7 (as of June 2025) Samsung apps Now Brief Media Player Timer Stop watch Interpreter Voice Recorder Notes During exercise Current Mode Emergency Sharing SmartThings TV remote control Call Do Not Disturb Wallet (tickets) Google apps Google Sports Google Maps Third-party apps Uber Uber Eats Waymo While Samsung's document didn't reveal which specific apps will gain support, the company's One UI 8 release opens the floodgates to greatly expanded support. One UI 8 is based on Android 16, which introduces a standardized API allowing any app to create 'Live Notifications.' Although One UI 8 currently doesn't show Live Notifications from most third-party apps right now, if Samsung enables this in the future, the number of compatible apps could expand significantly as more developers adopt the new Android 16 API. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
