This week we had two major phone reveals at opposite ends of the price spectrum, with Galaxy Unpacked revealing high-end foldables and CMF by Nothing’s showcase giving us a cheap and cheerful (but surprisingly well-specced) new smartphone.
We also saw other Samsung gadgets, I have one Google and Samsung XR are teasing (again), and have been promised big Prime Day deals, including three free PC games.
We’ve covered these top stories and more in this roundup in case you missed it, so let’s get you up to speed on the biggest tech news of the week.
7. We were blown away by Samsung Unpacked
The long awaited Galaxy Ring maybe he got first place this week Samsung Galaxy unboxed showcase, but two new entries in Samsung’s foldable lineup – namely the Galaxy Z Fold 6 And Galaxy Z Flip 6 – proved equally popular with the Parisian audience present.
Sure, this year’s upgrades are more iterative than revolutionary, but they might still be enough to rank the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 among the best foldable phones of 2024. The older device benefits from a sharper design and a brighter screen than its predecessor, while the Galaxy Z Flip 6 The Xiaomi Mi 11 features a new 50MP camera and a bigger battery. Both new foldables also get a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a host of durability improvements.
We currently have the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in our testing labs, but for an early verdict on each new device, check out our hands-on reviews Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review and practical Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review.
6. Samsung Unpacked was something you had to watch
The biggest news in wearables is that Samsung has finally discontinued its Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Watch 7, and its new flagship, the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy RingSamsung’s first foray into a new category of wearables, it looks like a small, discreet fitness tracker that’s really packed with smarts thanks to the Samsung Health app, and unlike some of its competitors, it doesn’t come with a subscription.
THE Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Watch is from Samsung Apple The Watch Ultra rival: a rugged smartwatch with a titanium body and extended battery life. Finally, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a sleek smartwatch that barely deviates from the design of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. You can read all of our reviews of the new devices by clicking the links above.
5. Samsung and Google talked about AI updates and showed off XR
Continuing the hottest tech trend of 2024, Samsung made AI a central focus of its Unpacked presentation, even bringing a Google executive on stage to explain how Gemini would make Samsung (and other Android devices) forces to be reckoned with.
This includes a new Sketch to Image feature that lets the device transform your raw drawings into more artistic images as a standalone image or as a new element in an existing photo. The Z Flip 6 even has a unique live translation feature which displays the translated text on its inner and outer screens so that you and the person you are conversing with can understand each other without you having to constantly turn your phone screen.
Right at the end of that segment, though, we got another glimpse of the Samsung and Google XR collaboration (a catch-all for VR, AR, and MR) with Samsung president and head of the Mobile Experience (MX) business TM Roh stating that “the new XR platform is coming this year.” We didn’t get an exact date, but all eyes are on the Samsung Developer’s Conference (SDC), which is scheduled for October 3, 2024, as the venue for an announcement where we might finally see the Samsung XR/VR Headset.
4. Nothing’s CMF gave us a cheap but cheerful new technology
Nothing’s CMF (which stands for Color, Material, Finish) sub-brand is known for combining quality design with attractive prices. And it did it again this week with a trio of new launches: the Phone 1, Buds Pro 2, and Watch Pro 2.
All three bring something new to their respective tables, whether it’s the Phone 1’s removable back covers, the Buds Pro 2’s fancy case with an integrated dial, or the Watch Pro 2’s modest $69 / £69 / AU$119 price tag.
With their bright orange accents and respectable spec sheets, they might confound some of our budget-focused buying guides, such as the best budget wireless earbuds and the best cheap smartwatches. Stay tuned for full reviews very soon.
3. YouTube Music brought AI gaming to Spotify by testing AI radio
AI isn’t just for creating weird art and boosting your resume, you know. It’s also capable of creating radio stations — and it’s not part of the companies owned by Google. Youtube Music knows it? Shortly after introducing a “You hum it, we play it” audio recognition systemThe lesser-known streaming service is now testing an AI playlist feature that will create a personalized radio station just for you. Once – or if – the feature is rolled out to your account, you’ll see a new card in your home feed that says: “Request music any way you want it” (make us sing: “Any way you want it”). It is as you need it” directly to our phones).
Either way, a chat window opens, allowing you to enter a prompt by typing or speaking. The app suggests example prompts like “epic soundtracks,” “catchy pop choruses,” and even “surprise me.”
So far, the new feature doesn’t appear to be widely tested, but YouTube Music’s now-dual AI experiments could become important and defining features in its fight to become one of the best music streaming services on the way.
2. Amazon promised free gifts for Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day Deals are fast approaching, and while the early deals we’ve seen so far can help you save on Sony Headphones, OLED TVsAnd smart watches is there a better discount than 100% off? (well i guess it’s 200% which means they pay you but i mean a discount you will actually see)
That’s right, Prime members will be getting free gifts on July 16 in the form of three PC games: Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Chivalry 2And Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20th Anniversary Celebration (which includes the Season Pass DLC).
We know Kill the Justice League is a terrible game (we gave it two stars in our review), but since it costs you nothing and its next expansion Mrs. Freeze is coming very soon, this might be the perfect time to jump in? That or just play The Rise of the Tomb Raiderbecause it’s a great game.
Speaking of deals, we can’t not mention this terrible offer launched by Meta for its 512 GB Meta Quest 3because even though Meta claims that you will “end up spending less than if you bought each item individually,” that’s not true.
This week, Meta launched a buy now, pay later program, which allows eligible US-based customers to get a Meta Quest 3 headset, a 24-month subscription to Meta Quest+and a 24-month Meta Plus warranty, and pay for it in 24 monthly installments. The 128GB Meta Quest 3 pack costs $24.99 per month and will save you money overall (costing $599.76 instead of $659.96). However, the 512GB pack would cost $839.76 instead of just $819.96, allowing you to pay for it all on your own.
Meta didn’t respond to our request for comment, but we suspect the issue is with how it calculates the cost of a 24-month Meta Quest+ subscription. Since you’re locked into the program for two years, we think it’s fair to compare the cost to two one-year subscriptions at $59.99 each (or $119.98 total), while Meta calculates it using the monthly cost of $7.99 (or $191.76).
It’s always best to think carefully before agreeing to a buy now, pay later plan, as you can’t change your mind later. This is another reminder to double-check that it’s a good deal before you commit.
