Latest news with #GalaxyUnpacked2025
Mint
18 hours ago
- Mint
Samsung may reintroduce S-Pen support in foldables after Z Fold 7 snub: Report
Samsung may be preparing to bring back S-Pen support to its Galaxy Z Fold series in future iterations, following the stylus' conspicuous absence from the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 7. According to a recent report from South Korean publicationETNews, the company is actively researching new technologies to make this possible. The development was reportedly confirmed by Kang Min-seok, Head of Smartphone Product Planning at Samsung, who allegedly revealed that the tech giant is working on next-generation S-Pen capabilities. The move is said to be part of a broader effort to improve the user experience on its foldable smartphones, with the possibility of even integrating a dedicated slot for the stylus in future models. This could mark a potential reversal in Samsung's recent trend of scaling back stylus-related features. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, which was officially unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event earlier this month, became the first book-style foldable from the brand in years to omit support for the S-Pen. Samsung defended the move at the time by pointing to low usage figures, claiming that less than one per cent of users made regular use of the advanced stylus functions. However, growing consumer demand and evolving hardware design may prompt a change in direction. Kang noted that the company is now focusing on achieving a better balance between form and function, rather than simply pursuing thinner and lighter devices. 'We are developing thinner and more innovative technologies for the S-Pen,' he reportedly stated, adding that the stylus will return once its functionality and integration reach a satisfactory level of refinement. While there is no official timeline yet, the comments suggest that Samsung has not abandoned its iconic stylus altogether. If these developments materialise, future versions of the Galaxy Z Fold could once again cater to power users and note-takers looking for productivity tools within a foldable format.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Galaxy Watch8 Series Unveiled at Unpacked 2025: Smarter Sleep, Fitness & Daily Health Tracking
With personal wellness taking on greater importance in everyday life, Galaxy Watch8 comes with smarter health Galaxy Watch8 features in the thinnest design ever, to help support daily well-being. Experience a daily health coaching session with Galaxy Watch8 series first look, which is equipped with sleep coaching, running coach, and insights on antioxidant and vascular levels to help users track, form and develop their healthy habits. A soft-edged cushion design and built-in Gemini, Google's AI assistant, provide sophisticated design language and convenient, hands-free experience. The editorial team from Samsung Newsroom got a sneak peek at the Galaxy Watch8 launch 2025 at Galaxy Unpacked 2025. Galaxy Watch8 series highlights: Bedtime Guidance: Goodnight to Monday Blues Monday blues don't just happen because of fatigue from the weekend but are also linked to the changing sleep cycle. To reset their daily routines, users can try Bedtime Guidance which suggests the ideal bedtime after the smartwatch analyzes sleep data for the past three days. Vascular Load: Track Vascular Health While Sleeping Galaxy Watch8 series is loaded with the Vascular Load feature that keeps users updated with their cardiovascular load during sleep and offers a greater understanding of stress levels from the advanced Galaxy Watch8 sleep tracking. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 specs also considers related data — like sleep duration, physical activity, and stress levels — to provide a more comprehensive look at overall health and wellness. Running Coach: Get Real-Time, Personalized Tips Correct pacing and real-time feedback are two of the keys to running safely without injury. Galaxy Watch8 series' Running Coach analyzes running performance and gives real-time feedback after a 12-minute run. The Galaxy Watch8 health features determine the user's running ability on a scale of 10, followed by an automatically customized training plan over the course of three to five weeks for improvement.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Galaxy AI will remain free, but Samsung's wording hints at something different
At its July Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, Samsung was quick to reassure users that its Galaxy AI platform, the suite of artificial intelligence tools powering many of its latest devices, will continue to be free of charge. But the language used during the keynote has raised eyebrows, with some analysts suggesting the company is still laying the groundwork for a future AI subscription model. During the event, Samsung stated it has 'no plans to charge for Galaxy AI experiences that are provided by default.' As AI features become a selling point across devices, from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, to the new Galaxy Watch 8, the cost of running these advanced services is bound to rise. Samsung, like its competitors, knows this. Tech giants like Google and OpenAI already charge for premium AI access, and Samsung has reportedly held internal discussions on monetising Galaxy AI. During the event, Samsung stated it has 'no plans to charge for Galaxy AI experiences that are provided by default.' That line, especially the inclusion of 'default', has sparked speculation that non-default or premium features may eventually carry a price tag. To clarify, Samsung later reiterated that it currently has no plans to charge for any Galaxy AI features. This lines up with its earlier commitment that Galaxy AI would remain free on supported devices until the end of 2025. Features powered by third-party providers, however, may be subject to different terms. Among the most popular Galaxy AI tools are Live Translate for calls, Note Assist, and Generative Edit for photos, all of which currently ship free with Samsung's flagship models. But with the increasing compute costs associated with on-device and cloud-based AI, it remains unclear whether Samsung can sustain that promise beyond 2025. It's also worth noting that Samsung is offering hefty pre-order bonuses for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. That could be an attempt to lock in early adopters before any AI-related policy changes take effect. For now, Galaxy AI remains free. But Samsung's careful phrasing and industry trends suggest that the era of free generative AI on smartphones might not last forever.
News18
7 days ago
- News18
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 And Watch 8 Classic With Gemini AI Unveiled: Price, Features
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic get a major design change , more health features and the One UI 8 version, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series is also part of the latest Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event this week. The new Watch 8 series gets a Class model and a design overhaul that will surely have you interested in the new smartwatches. This is also the first Galaxy Watch lineup to get Gemini out of the box. Samsung bringing the Classic variant back in 2025 with the 8 series means you get a new display form with the popular rotating bezels to control and navigate through the screen. The new watches are also getting the latest One UI 8 Watch version based on Wear OS 6 platform from Google. The Watch 8 Classic has all these and the 3D Hall sensor. For connectivity you have Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, 5G, NFC, dual-frequency GPS. The Watch 8 series gets 5ATM protection against water, IP68 rating and military standard grade durability. The Watch 8 comes with a 325mAh battery, while the Watch 8 Classic has a 445mAh unit. Both the smartwatches come with fast charging support but the speeds are not mentioned. About the Author S Aadeetya First Published: July 10, 2025, 09:45 IST
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung takes margin hit to strengthen foldable leadership
Tech giant holds firm on prices amid rising costs, tariff threats, looming Apple foldable Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 — at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in New York on Wednesday, drawing attention for keeping price hikes to a minimum despite upgraded features and rising trade tensions. Samsung has decided to maintain the price of the Flip7 in both Korea and the US, while the Fold7 saw a modest increase of around 150,000 won ($109), or about 6 percent, from its predecessor — a smaller hike than the 10 to 20 percent anticipated by industry watchers ahead of the launch. 'Pricing is always a key consideration with new product launches,' Roh Tae-moon, acting head of the device experience division, said in a press briefing following the unveiling event. 'There were significant innovations in this year's models, which increased production costs. To expand foldable phones and democratize AI experiences, we decided to absorb those costs internally.' The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 come with slimmer designs and enhanced AI capabilities, placing additional pressure on the tech giant's pricing strategy. Industry watchers said that Samsung internally debated the necessity of price hikes, balancing the products' upgraded value against concerns over market share erosion. 'Given the Z Flip series' recent sales decline, a price hike could further dampen its competitiveness,' said an industry source who requested anonymity. Sales of the Z Flip6 last year reached 2.89 million units, a 21 percent decrease from the 3.66 million sold for the previous year's Z Flip5. In contrast, Z Fold6 sales rose 11 percent on-year to 2.32 million units. Another major variable was the potential impact of new US tariffs. US President Donald Trump recently announced plans to impose tariffs of at least 25 percent on smartphones and appliances manufactured in countries like China and Vietnam — a move that would affect smartphone-makers such as Samsung and Apple. While the Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 are largely produced at Samsung's facilities in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, the latest negotiations between the US and Vietnam have reportedly reduced the expected tariff rate on Vietnamese-made products from a planned 46 percent down to around 20 percent. That allowed Samsung to mitigate drastic price fluctuations in the US market. Samsung held global pricing steady for its Galaxy S25 lineup earlier this year, even amid rising material costs and exchange rate volatility. Referring to growing US pressure for onshore semiconductor and electronics production, Roh said, 'Samsung's key strength has long been its globally distributed manufacturing network. We are fully prepared to respond swiftly to changing trade dynamics in the US and other major markets.' Apple is rumored to be preparing its first foldable iPhone for release in the second half of next year. Industry watchers expected the device to carry a premium price tag of $2,000 to $2,500 even before potential US tariffs were factored in. If current trade policy conditions worsen, prices could surge further, potentially reshaping the competitive dynamics of the global foldable market. Another anonymous industry source said, 'With Apple relying on China for about 80 percent of its iPhone production, the potential implementation of reciprocal tariffs could make the US tech giant's foldable phone about $100 to $300 more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold7." "It would place Apple in a dilemma — either risk losing market share due to higher prices or absorb the additional cost internally, thereby compromising profitability," the source added. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 will be released sequentially in global markets, including Korea, starting from July 25. Preorders in the domestic market are to begin Tuesday.
