Samsung

Samsung is expanding its feature that translates phone calls in real time to cover 16 languages in July and 20 languages by the end of the year.

Google and Samsung confirmed that their deal for Gemini AI features on Galaxy devices will bring updates (announced at I/O earlier this year) that let it read and respond to what’s on your phone screen or in a video you’re watching, as well as new Circle to Search features.

Yeah, they’re kind of gimmicky, but I’ll admit that I was entertained when playing around with them the other day during our hands-on experience. The FlipSuit cases for the Z Flip 6 were also fun, especially the ones with LEDs.

Somewhere in Seoul, I think our former laptop reviewer Monica Chin is fangirling. BTS is still mostly going through their military service, but K-pop stars making an appearance at Unpacked is a time-honored Samsung tradition.

She was in the audience at last year’s Unpacked, too, and is now being subjected to Galaxy AI creating an uncanny portrait of her. Sydney, blink if you need help.

Gemini is available on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, and Google is touting a bunch of new AI features it previewed earlier this year, like homework help in Circle to Search and contextual suggestions. But they’re still coming “soon,” so it doesn’t look like we’ll get to try them out right away on the new foldables. Bummer.

I say yes. No, I say HELL YES.

Now six generations into its foldable devices category, Samsung just showed a video about the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s display, which has a new coating, a less noticeable crease, fewer layers between the screen and your eyes, and smaller bezels. And apparently it’s even flatter than before when open.

Here’s a gallery of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra’s detail shots. That strap connection looks pretty familiar!

A lot of these features look awfully similar to the Apple Watch Ultra. Samsung isn’t shy about where it got its inspiration for this beefy squircle watch from.

This is an industrywide first. Fitbit first started working on this back in 2017! It’s not meant to be a diagnostic tool — these features never are. Rather, it’s meant to alert you and encourage you to talk to a doctor.

I got a chance to play around with the Galaxy Ring, but here’s the gist: it’s made of titanium, comes in three colors, has up to seven days of battery life, and will be a really great, discreet way to track your sleep.

The Energy Score uses four health metrics to tell you how ready you are to tackle the day, while the Wellness Tips feature gives you personalized advice based on those metrics. Annnnd these metrics get us into the Galaxy Ring.

Samsung says yes, you can. The company’s kicking this event off with a video about how its new phones, particularly the Z Flip 6, can live translate “Can I kick it” and “Yes you can” in a number of languages.

Watching the intro to today’s Galaxy Unpacked event, I’m reminded of this great David Imel video answering the most important question of our time: why did everyone decide that the official logo of AI is ***sparkles***?

Just days after it reported a 15x increase in operating profit, over 6,500 workers are taking part in a three-day walkout at Samsung Electronics over pay and conditions. According to the FT:

The August update for the S24 Ultra will tweak things like how it handles HDR, processing, and exposure, but so far doesn’t touch “telephoto and night mode above 10x,” writes Samsung leaker Ice Universe in a post spotted by SamMobile.

Earlier this week, a leaked spec sheet revealed an odd hardware downgrade for Samsung’s incoming Galaxy Z Flip 6. The specs listed an IPS LCD for the outer display.

They won’t even be announced until next week, but this Redditor says they walked into a US Walmart, paid $250, and walked out with the Apple look-a-likes.

Just saying “AI” is good for business but it’s even better if you make chips, especially for Samsung after suffering a major slump in 2023. Here’s Reuters with the year-on-year comparison:

The new ice blue Z Flip 6 that Evan Blass just leaked? Now that’s color — shiny blue hinge, shiny blue sides, shiny blue camera lens rings. I own the mint green Flip 5 (see next image in gallery) and it’s mostly just black and silver. Too bad I couldn’t wait a year!

Good news for anyone who is tired of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s sharp corners digging into their palms: Samsung might round them off again for the S25 series.

The marketing whiplash in this press release announcing the availability of the Galaxy Book4 Edge is really something.