Latest news with #DeX
GSM Arena
9 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Deals: Galaxy Z foldables with storage upgrade and gift cards, OnePlus challenges Nothing
Week one of the Galaxy Z pre-orders is over and we're now heading into week two with additional incentives to pick up a next-gen foldable. Last week, you could get a free storage upgrade – and you still can. On top of that, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 comes with a $300 Amazon Gift Card. The phone may be the thinnest-ever horizontal foldable – it certainly is in the US market – and brings large displays (6.5' cover, 8.0' main), a 200MP main camera (plus 10MP 3x/67mm tele and 12MP ultra-wide) and DeX capabilities. It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite in a 12/512GB configuration for the price of a 256GB unit. What's not so great is the battery (4,400mAh capacity, 25W/15W charging) and the lack of S Pen support. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 comes with a $200 Amazon Gift Card. Samsung managed to keep the same pricing as last year's model – you can find a detailed Galaxy Z pricing breakdown here – but part of that involved using the Exynos 2500 chipset over the pricey Snapdragon. The Z Flip7 also has larger displays (4.1' cover, 6.9' main) and is thinner than its predecessor, while also equipping a larger battery – almost as large as the Z Fold7 at 4,300mAh (with the same 25W/15W charging). What's lacking is camera upgrades, the phone only really got HDR video support (as did the Fold). To answer the need for cheaper foldables, Samsung built the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE. It's basically a Z Flip6 with a different chipset, last year's Exynos 2400, and less memory – the base configuration is 8/128GB, but you get a free upgrade to the 8/256GB unit during the pre-order period. And this week you also get a $100 Amazon Gift Card. The Z Flip7 FE is thicker, slower and has a smaller battery than the Z Flip7. That folder-shaped 3.4' cover screen is a bit limiting and the 6.7' inner screen is smaller. The 4,000mAh battery is smaller too. That said, you spend $200 less and get basically the same cameras as the Z Flip7. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone (3) didn't get the best reception from fans, but maybe a free storage upgrade will help you look past its design. This is the first high-end Nothing phone and has a 6.67' 1260p+ OLED display (LTPS), a 5,150mAh battery with 65W/15W charging and four 50MP cameras. This includes a large 1/1.3' sensor in the main, a 3x periscope and an ultra-wide on the back, plus a selfie camera on the front. Hold up. The OnePlus 13 has dropped to its lowest price in a while – $830 for a 16/512GB unit or just $30 more than the Nothing. This comes with a better display, a 6.82' 1440p+ LTPO panel, a proper flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and a 6,000mAh battery with 80W/50W charging. The rear cameras all have 50MP sensors – a 1/1.43' in the main, a bigger 1/1.95' in the 3x periscope (vs. 1/2.75' in the Nothing tele camera) and a 120° ultra-wide. OnePlus 13 $170 off Read our review 16/512GB - $830 at Amazon US You can also get the OnePlus 13R for $300 less. It has an LTPO display too, a 6.78' 1264p+ panel, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is actually faster than the 8s Gen 4 inside the Nothing. Not by much, but it's faster. The 6,000mAh battery with 80W wired-only charging is bigger too. The camera is not as good with a 50MP main (1/1.56'), 50MP with a 2x lens and an 8MP ultra-wide. Still, this costs $270 less than the Nothing flagship. OnePlus 13R $70 off Read our review 12/256GB - $530 at Amazon US The new Watch8 series from Samsung is in short supply for some reason. You can still pick up a Samsung Galaxy Watch8 (40mm, Bluetooth) with a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Or a Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic (46mm, 4G) if you want a rotating bezel. Both have the new squircle design and the same screen size, 1.34', despite their different body sizes. You can also pick up the Samsung Galaxy Watch7 for less than half the price of the Watch8. It has a round body and uses the same Exynos W1000 as the Watch8 models. The battery is slightly smaller, but only slightly (300mAh vs. 325mAh). We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I just tried the new Samsung DeX on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 to replace my laptop — here's the good and the bad
Last year when Samsung launched its foldable phones, it was a no-brain decision on which one I wanted to make my new daily driver. Since it offered support for Samsung DeX, I chose the Galaxy Z Fold 6 without hesitation over the Galaxy Z Flip 6. In fact, I even managed to ditch my laptop for 2 weeks with the Z Fold 6. Samsung has long neglected to bring DeX to its flip-style phones, but that all changed this year with the reveal of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 — and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. Ever since the first Flip, I've been wanting to use one as my daily driver, but no support for DeX was a big dealbreaker. In my Galaxy Z Flip 7 hands-on, I say how it feels like perfection due to the bigger upgrades it's been given over previous years. I've been testing out the new Samsung DeX for the last few days now, so here's the good and bad about it. Samsung DeX has been a long time coming for the Galaxy Z Flip line, so needless to say I'm stoked for its arrival. First and foremost, Samsung DeX on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 supports either a wired or wireless connection. I'd recommend the former since I've seen some latency issues whenever I connected it to my Amazon Fire TV OMNI. Just like DeX running on other new phones, like my Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 6, I get access to that PC-like desktop experience that lets me run multiple apps simultaneously. It makes me almost as productive as using my Windows 11 laptop, complete with the ability to have apps running side-by-side with one another. When I do this, I can even resize one of the windows and the other will dynamically adjust to fill out the rest of the screen. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Apart from the new set of wallpapers included with this version of DeX, which is running on top of One UI 8, there's nothing visually or functionally different. The bottom left corner of the task bar has buttons for the home, back, and recent apps; the middle packs buttons for the apps panel, pinned apps, and opened apps; and the icons on the right lets me access different settings. I've even connected my Galaxy Z Flip 7 to my Xreal Air 2 Pro glasses for that private experience when I'm in a public space. The beauty of Samsung DeX in this particular situation is that I can continue to use DeX even when my phone's turned off. Unlike the traditional screen mirroring feature in many of today's best phones, it's a totally separate experience from my phone — so I can even watch something on Netflix without the need to keep my phone on. As much as I'm thankful for the utility that Samsung DeX brings to my Galaxy Z Flip 7, I was hoping for Samsung to bring new features and changes. Just not long ago, Google revealed how it was building a desktop mode for Android 16 with help from Samsung, but it doesn't influence the DeX experience on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Considering how it's running One UI 8 on top of Android 16, I was hoping for bigger changes with the experience. Unfortunately, the bad thing about DeX on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is that Samsung does nothing to refine it — and I think it's a big missed opportunity — much like the sentiments I had when I tried DeX on the Galaxy S25 Ultra earlier this year. Samsung's the only one who's really offering this kind of feature, even though Motorola has something similar with its Smart Connect feature in some of its phones like the Razr Ultra (2025). The difference is that DeX can run through a wired connection, whereas Smart Connect is exclusively a wireless one. One particular feature I was hoping to see would be something along the lines of Snap Layouts with Windows 11, which would allow for better snapping between the open windows. You're only able to snap two windows at one time, leaving others to float on their own. This continues to be my biggest criticism about DeX because it has the potential to make me more productive if it could do this, but it doesn't. Despite the lack of anything new, Samsung DeX on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a big deal. Although I'm disappointed by the lack of innovation around it, there's still time for Samsung to work on it with subsequent updates. It's one of those features you can't appreciate until you begin to use it and realize how much it can satisfy your daily routine. More work is obviously needed before it can totally replace my laptop, but I can tell you from experience how helpful it is to use as a fallback. I like to travel as light as possible, and given the compact size of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 over the Z Fold 7, it proves a point that you can still have the power of a computer in your pocket.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Google is merging ChromeOS and Android, and this is what it means for users
Google is finally merging ChromeOS and Android into a unified operating system . Sameer Samat, president of Google's Android ecosystem, revealed the merger during an interview with TechRadar, stating: "We're going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform." Samat, per TechRadar, expressed particular interest in understanding how users interact with their laptops, suggesting the merger aims to enhance productivity across devices. The exec's comments are Google's most direct acknowledgment of the platform consolidation, which industry observers have anticipated for nearly a decade. The merger is expected to streamline development resources while creating a more cohesive user experience across smartphones, tablets, and laptops. This unified approach mirrors Apple's integrated ecosystem , where devices seamlessly work together through consistent software experiences. What changes for ChromeOS and Android users The merger isn't entirely surprising given Google's recent strategic moves. In June 2024, the company announced that ChromeOS would be "developed on large portions of the Android stack," effectively beginning the integration process. Chromebooks already support many Android applications, creating a foundation for the unified platform. Meanwhile, Android has been adopting desktop-friendly features, including improved window management, external display support, and a desktop mode reminiscent of Samsung's DeX interface. So, one could say that these developments in Android 16 have been signal to Google's preparation for the merged platform. While nothing major changes for users, especially Android users, ChromeOS users could benefit from a larger app library. Developers won't have to develop separate apps for ChromeOS anymore, and Android apps should work seamlessly on ChromeOS devices. Google's move could significantly strengthen its position in the large screen devices market, where both ChromeOS and Android currently lag behind Apple 's macOS and Android on Tablet. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Android Authority
09-07-2025
- Android Authority
The Galaxy Z Flip 7's best new feature is one that other Samsung phones have had for years
TL;DR The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the first in the clamshell foldable series to finally get full support for Samsung's DeX desktop mode. DeX transforms the phone into a portable PC when connected to an external display, providing a desktop interface with a taskbar and windowed apps. Samsung previously omitted DeX from the Flip lineup due to thermal concerns, an issue it has seemingly resolved for the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Clamshell foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip are gaining popularity by balancing portability and power. When folded, they become compact squares that easily fit into any pocket or purse. When unfolded, they function just like regular smartphones. However, achieving that compact, folding form factor requires some compromises, and for the Galaxy Z Flip lineup, Samsung has consistently left its DeX desktop mode on the cutting board. That omission ends now, as Samsung is finally making the new Galaxy Z Flip 7 the first in the lineup to fully support the feature. If you aren't familiar with it, Samsung DeX is a robust desktop experience built into One UI. When you connect a compatible phone or tablet to an external display, DeX transforms it into a portable PC, showing a desktop-like interface instead of simply mirroring the screen. A taskbar at the bottom provides navigation buttons, the date and time, a notification shortcut, and a dock for your apps. You can launch apps in floating windows with familiar controls to minimize, maximize, close, or snap them to the sides. DeX is a powerful productivity feature that's useful in a pinch or can even serve as a primary computing interface. To date, however, it has only been available on the flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Z Fold series. Despite the Galaxy Z Flip lineup featuring flagship chipsets and ample memory, Samsung excluded DeX due to thermal concerns. The company worried that running DeX — especially while powering a portable display, various accessories, and multiple intensive apps — would cause the Flip to overheat. With the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung has seemingly solved these thermal issues, finally allowing the device to use DeX like its S and Z Fold siblings. While we don't have a video of DeX running on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung confirmed the feature's availability in a press release and during our briefing. We also spotted DeX's settings page during our hands-on time with the device. Samsung says that both wired and wireless DeX work on the Z Flip 7, though wireless DeX still only works with external displays that support Miracast. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn't seem to have enabled DeX on the new Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, which is a shame. When we searched for the feature on the device, nothing appeared in Settings, unlike on the regular Z Flip 7. We don't know why the feature isn't enabled on the Z Flip 7 FE, but it could be due to product differentiation reasons or the same thermal concerns that prevented it from being enabled on older devices. Left: Samsung DeX settings on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Right: The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE missing Samsung DeX settings. Speaking of older devices in the Z Flip lineup, don't get your hopes up for DeX coming to your device. The Z Flip 5 was the first in the series to even support display output, and the Z Flip 6 was the first to add a vapor chamber for cooling. When the Z Flip 6 launched, we noticed it had a rudimentary desktop mode — somewhere between Android's stock experience and full DeX — which gave us hope Samsung might eventually bring the full feature to the device. While we still hope that's the case, we wouldn't hold our breath. Perhaps we'll find out for sure when One UI 8 arrives for the Z Flip 6. 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.
Stuff.tv
05-07-2025
- Stuff.tv
I've used Android 16's desktop mode – and now I'm frustrated with my iPhone
Black Mirror suggests a future where we'll never be free from computers, because they'll be inside our heads. Today's headset manufacturers salivate at that thought, but (for now) at least let you peel off the digital layer when you've had enough of their gadgets being glued to your face. Me? I'd settle for something less dystopian: a smartphone as the 'one device to rule them all'. The dream's long felt elusive – until now, because Android 16's desktop mode might finally usher in the future I've long wanted. For years, the whole phone-as-desktop idea was largely the preserve of Samsung's DeX, a feature that sounds more like a washed-up console mascot than revolutionary tech. That's about to change, because Samsung and Google have been in cahoots, welding DeX to vanilla Android. The result now has a far less silly – and far more descriptive – name: connected displays support. I love it (the feature, that is, not the name), and I'll never look at my iPhone in quite the same way again. Mostly because I'm now looking at it with disappointment over this one really big thing it can't do. Windows of opportunity I apologise for nothing. Except perhaps the dust. Setting up the Android 16 desktop mode was surprisingly painless. I'd half expected a womp womp noise and a smallish number of fires and explosions as I cobbled together a mess of tech so visually offensive it made my iMac recoil in horror. Instead, everything just worked. I installed the latest Android beta on my Pixel 9a, unlocked the developer options, turned on 'Enable desktop experience features' and rebooted. Then I dug out a USB-C hub, jammed it into the Pixel, and connected a Raspberry Pi mouse, a portable display, and a Bluetooth Logitech keyboard. The screen lit up rather than blew up. Result! The windowing was stable, simple and responsive. I spent a happy hour resizing apps, setting up multiple desktops, and even getting some work done. All powered by nothing more than my mid-range Android blower. To which I'm sure sceptics are now waving their 'WHY BOTHER, YOU MASSIVE IDIOT?' hats. After all, Android rolls out glacially, so who knows when most people will see this? And who would want to plug a load of junk into a phone rather than just use a laptop anyway? To which I say: pfft! Glass half full Fortunately, my Android desktop is less of a mess than the jumble of tech powering it. OK, I should say more or my editor will shout at me. So, yes, Android rollouts are slow, but desktop mode will now be part of Android's core, not limited to one manufacturer's gear. Laptops are great, but plenty of folks will appreciate the 'use your phone as a PC' approach, simply plugging a smartphone into a telly when they need a bigger screen. And that's arguably greener too, because you may end up buying fewer gadgets, instead more often plumping for cheaper (and long-lasting) peripherals. But even if you disagree, remember this: Android devs will now be strongly encouraged to make apps that support all sizes, shapes and setups of windows – which means they'll support all sizes, shapes and setups of device. Folding phones. Tablets. Keyboards. Mice. That's a win. It may even push Apple to rethink. The company's currently busy congratulating itself for finally fixing iPad multitasking, but I don't expect iPhone to 'do a DeX' – Apple wants you buying more Apple gear, not one device. But if Android 16's desktop ambitions catch on, Apple could follow suit. So don't be surprised if during the iOS 30 keynote, Apple claims it invented the whole thing. We're not there yet, though – even on Android, where the beta remains a bit rough. But as a hint of what's to come, it's exciting. And in the meantime, this feature might just find me using my Android phone a little more and my iPhone a little less.
