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Rumors are floating around that we’re (finally) approaching the start of Samsung’s Android 15 beta.
Well-known X tipsterIce Universeclaims that Samsung is preparing to launch its One UI 7 (Android 15) beta later in November (via9to5Google). The tipster’s post reads, “it will take another half month before Beta starts.” As others on X have started to guess, thatcouldput us around mid-November (fingers crossed).
While this might seem too good to be true, another tipster spotted more evidence.
Another tipster, Tarun Vats, discovered Samsung’s official One UI 7 beta forum pages have started appearing. Samsung has placed forum pages for the Galaxy S24 and S23 series under its “One UI Beta Program” tag. Users chimed in, asking questions about specifics such as the timing for each Galaxy model. Vats states they “don’t think” the One UI 7 beta will begin simultaneously for the S24 and the S23.
It’s unclear how much of an increased delay the past-gen series could see if this proves true. Additionally, Vats states these forum pages have appeared on Samsung’s U.S. community forums, furthering suspicions behind an upcoming Public Beta start for One UI 7.
Breaking News š„One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24/S23 series is confirmed, as the Beta forum page has been created for it.Repost š#OneUI7 #GalaxyS24 #GalaxyS23 #Samsung pic.twitter.com/0RFTHRS9YnOctober 31, 2024
With Samsung’s forum pages reportedly created for the S24 and S23 series, the company might hit that “later this year” estimation for the beta. Samsung’s Sally Hyesoon Jeong appeared at SDC 2024 where they stated users could “preview” the software in an upcoming beta. While a test period for developers was confirmed, regular users will have a chance once a “schedule is confirmed” by Samsung.
Seeing how the rumors have progressed, perhaps there’s hope that a confirmed schedule will be shared soon. Samsung’s One UI 7 experienced a more substantial delay than we expected. While the update isn’t expected until next year with the Galaxy S25 series, the company demoed the software during SDC 2024. The major OS upgrade was shown off on a Galaxy S24 Ultra, shedding light on a change: the separation of its notification and Quick Settings panels. It seems users may have to swipe on the left or right side of their device to access either panel.
That demo also clued us into the Apple-like vibes Samsung is pushing for with One UI 7 and its UI changes. However, 9to5 highlights Samsung’s next SDC event in Korea on November 21. There’s a chance that we’ll either hear more about One UI 7 there or, perhaps, that’ll kick off its beta.
More recently, a massive One UI 7 leak surfaced, showing Samsung’s parental and AI-focused features. It seems parents will have more built-in ways of protecting their children from harmful online content on their Galaxy devices. Samsung isn’t letting go of AI advancements as the leak showed One UI 7 may incorporate Circle to Search and tools to enhance photography.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is set for release in a few months and one of its upgrades will mark the end of an era. It will bring a completely different look yet much closer to the iPhone.
Itās about the āCurveā Samsung was the first company to introduce curved edge screens in smartphones. The company picked up this display as a revolutionary technology to offer something different. The Galaxy S and Note series introduced curved display variations from 2015 to 2018.
Since then, the unique display outlook has been well received by customers. However, it isnāt the only thing in previous flagships, it is also the frame.
These devices were sold with a curved/rounded frame, creating an arc between the rear and front. This build helps to support device grip and improve aesthetics.
This was certain However, the upcoming change was not imminent, instead, it was gradual. That brings me to the S9 and S10+. These two models are the turning point for this entire conversation.
The Galaxy S9 and Note 9 have the largest curved edges in Samsungās flagship lineup. This display feature was highly noticeable and the same goes for the Galaxy S10+ but for a different reason.
Its display curves shrunk to almost 30-40% alongside the frame. Afterward, these curves keep on shrinking not only for display but also for the frame to date.
In the meantime, thereās one more thing that happened, Samsung ended the Note series and merged its features into the S flagship including the S-Pen.
S24 Ultra ā The Final Milestone Earlier this year, Galaxy S24 Ultra unveiled a flat screen, which completed the last step in this flat device transition.
Compared to Ultra, the standard and Plus models already received a new makeover and a similar frame. Compared to these two phones, the S24 Ultra retained its curved frame but the message was clear for the successor.
S25 Ultra ā Completing the Circle A month ago, OnLeaks collaborated with Android Headlines to share the first Galaxy S25 Ultra CAD renders. These images have revealed a whole new chapter for the Ultra model and the entire S series lineup.
Samsung introduced titanium with the S24 Ultra but still looks identical to its predecessor. The S25 Ultra has implemented this material with a flat side but no curves in either direction.
The rear, the front, and the frame are creating a complete flat phone experience just like the s24 (base and Plus model).
This new design has also removed those clear sharp corners. Instead, S25U has rounded all four corners. This gives us an iPhone vibe but thereās another side to look at it.
Existing and previous Ultra models come with low bezels but its round frame completely overshadowed this display feature. That means the frameās radius (curve) contributes as an extra bezel outside of the display.
With a flat frame, the phone looks thin on corners and sides. This change will highlight the slim bezels and full-view visuals. The phone maker has already experimented with this change with the S24 and S24 Plus and well received by customers.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Release Samsung decided the end of this curve era years ago and the S24 Ultra set the course straight. Now, Samsung is ready to complete this flat-screen flagship transition with the S25 Ultra and thereās a high chance that weāll see this change in action with the phoneās release early next year.
We know that Apple is expected to replace what would have been the iPhone 17 Plus with a new ultra-thin phone that was at first dubbed the iPhone 17 Slim and has since been given the possible moniker of iPhone 17 Air. While the early rumors call for this phone to have the highest starting price among all of the iPhone 17 models, this pricing must be due to the design since there is nothing in the rumored spec sheet that would act as an incentive for buyers to pay up for the device.
Alao:EB-BS928ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra For example, instead of being powered by the A19 Pro application processor (AP), the iPhone 17 Air is said to be equipped with the A19 AP. While the phone will have 8GB of RAM, enough to support Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will both feature 12GB of the stuff. And there will supposedly be just one rear camera on the phone which leads us to believe that the design of the iPhone 17 Air will be spectacular.
Now, we’ve often seen other smartphone manufacturers copy Apple when it comes to a major change. For example, after Apple removed the 3.5mm headset jack from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, other smartphone firms followed. Five years later, Apple decided to remove the battery charger from the boxes for the iPhone 12 line and this also w copied by other companies.
(Render of the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air expected during Q3 2025. | Image credit-FPT)
Apple’s decision to offer an ultra-thin iPhone could be the next big change to Apple’s most important product that other companies will copy. For example, ETNews reports that Samsung is reportedly working on an ultra-slim phone that would be based on the Galaxy S25 model but would be released after the launch of the regular Galaxy S25 flagship device in January 2025.
The report adds that Samsung would produce a limited number of Galaxy S25 Slim units in order to get a read on the demand for such a device. Samsung would then decide whether it should make any changes to the Galaxy S26 series. The Galaxy S25 Slim could hit the market during the second quarter of 2025 ahead of next year’s Q3 release of the iPhone 17 Air. If that’s the case, Samsung might be copying Apple even though Samsung’s slim phone would be released first.
Samsung is taking an aggressive approach to its products and offerings. It is constantly working on improving its technology to better compete with others in the smartphone industry. The company is said to be contemplating a new branding strategy that could mark a significant evolution from its classic approach. It is said to be considering moving away from the Galaxy branding for its flagship phones, which has been there since 2009, in an attempt to create a distinct identity.
Samsung might drop its Galaxy branding for its premium phones and is aiming to revamp the brand identity
When it comes to Samsung’s Galaxy lineup, the company is best known for its flagship models. However, the past year has seen the competition intensify. This year, the lineup of products did not manage to leave a lasting impression on users, who were rather left dismayed by the lack of innovation for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 models that rolled out in July.
The South Korean tech giant did not hold back from accepting their shortcomings. It even extended an apology and started developing other products to make up for it. It seems that the company will not stop here when it comes to rebuilding the brand, as a report by E-Today shared by a South Korean publication mentioned that Samsung is considering dropping the Galaxy branding for its top-of-the-line smartphones and most likely would include the S-series as well as Z-series.
Samsung’s shift in branding approach is to build a more premium image for its top-tier devices and put them in a better position to compete with Apple and Google’s flagship models. It is not just Samsung that is putting more head on its high-end products to appear more premium. This seems to be an overall trend in the industry where the focus is on building a strong brand identity that resonates with users, especially for the premium models.
The report points towards the discussions regarding a pivoting in a new direction that has been ongoing in the company for a year now. The Head of Global Marketing at Samsung, Lee Young-hee, at CES 2024 said:
Galaxy has so many lineups that I understand people are expecting a new name when there is an innovative turning point.
Given that the Galaxy branding has an array of devices under it, this move does seem important for the premium devices to truly stand out. While many factors would need to be considered before undergoing this change, it could be a game changer for the company.
Samsung has now presented the W25 and W25 Flip, which line up as the company’s fourth and fifth foldable smartphones of the year. While the W25 Flip is a new version of the Galaxy Z Flip6, the W25 is the long-awaited stablemate of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.
Samsung has now officially introduced its new W series foldables, shortly after the pair were both seen in a handful of leaked render images. As expected, the W25 is the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition by another name. By contrast, the W25 Flip effectively serves as a more luxurious version of the Galaxy Z Flip6.
Please note that the W25 and W25 Flip have only been presented in China, where they will also likely remain. Incidentally, Samsung already sells its other current generation foldables in China with which these new models share plenty of hardware. For example, the W25 and W25 Flip contain Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipsets and the same underlying hardware as the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition and Galaxy Z Flip6, respectively.
With that being said, the W25’s quoted weight of 255 g is almost 20 g heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. However, it seems that no technical differences exist between the two devices. By contrast, it appears that the W25 Flip shares all its hardware with the existing Galaxy Z Flip6. Thus, Samsung has distinguished the W25 and W25 Flip from their regular counterparts with their black and gold finishes, which mirror those of their predecessors. While Samsung has not confirmed pricing for either model yet, we imagine that it will do so in the next few days.
These are the best foldable phones you can buy right now
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to the best foldable there’s a lot to look at, but all our favorites share something that makes them special. Whether it’s the overall fantastic quality of the OnePlus Open, the wealth of features in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the value of the Motorola Razr 2024. Meanwhile, other devices impressed us due to more specific reasons like the overwhelming brightness of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or the style of the Motorola Razr Plus 2024. Each of these phones has something to love about them and all offer a generally great user experience.
I got my first foldable relatively recently, and frankly, I love it. While it might have taken some getting used to, it is undoubtedly the best in-between for a phone and a tablet. Honestly, I barely watch YouTube or Disney+ on my other standard phone as the experience on a foldable phoneās screen is just so much better. Not to mention the experience of using one to play games from the Xbox library and more.
We have compiled all our reviews and thoughts about all the foldable phones available to help you figure out which is the best for you.
(Image credit: Future) 1. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Best foldable camera phone Specifications Main screen size: 6.7 inches (2640 x 1080) Secondary screen size: 3.4 inches (720 x 748)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 RAM/Storage: 12GB/ 256GB, 512GB Size, opened: 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches
Size, closed: 3.4 x 2.8 x 0.58 inches Weight: 6.6 ounces Reasons to buy +Durable design +Excellent Galaxy AI features +Excellent low light camera performance Reasons to avoid -Rise in price -Battery life could be better
Samsung makes a second appearance in this guide, this time for the Galaxy Z Flip 6. There is a lot to love about this little device, firstly just the size of it. The Z Flip 6 looks like any other phone normally, but it folds horizontally across the middle, making it tiny when folded. That alone might make it a slam dunk for you, but thereās a bit more to be excited about.
In our review, we praised the overall durable design and the excellent low-light camera performance, not to mention the overall speed of the phone. Our biggest praise was easily for the upgrade from a 12MP main camera to a new 50MP main sensor. It offers brighter visuals, and the ability to simulate a 2x zoom. When we compared it in our 200 photo shoot out between the Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Motorola Razr Plus (2024) it pulled ahead with ease.
Obviously, we also need to mention the Galaxy AI features which, while missing some of the Foldās AI abilities, are still pretty impressive. Finally, this is easily the flip foldable with the best camera options, and with the added AI, itās a dream to shoot and edit images and videos. However, all this does come at something of a premium, that’s because it’s more expensive than the previous Galaxy Z Flip 5 and MOTOROLA Razr 2024.
2. OnePlus Open The best foldable phone you can buy Specifications Main screen size: 7.8 inches (2440 x 2268) Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (2484 x 1116)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 RAM/Storage: 16GB/512GB Size, opened: 6.03 x 5.63 x 0.22 inches
Size, closed: 6.03 x 2.88 x 0.46 inches Weight: 8.4 ounces Reasons to buy +Outstanding thin and light design +Long-lasting battery with fast charging +Cheaper than comparable foldables Reasons to avoid -Low-light photos are subpar -No wireless charging As our best overall foldable there is a lot to love about the OnePlus Open, which we hope to see recreated in the OnePlus Open 2. When Phones Editor reviewed the OnePlus Open he stated that the phone should be āa wakeup call for everyone.ā And I can only agree that the phone comes with so many amazing design choices that it should be the baseline for any future foldable phone.
OnePlus tried to put in as much as it could in this device, including some impressive cameras. If you want to go even further then you could grab the OnePlus Open Apex Edition. Compared to the base model the Apex Edition boosts the storage and adds pretty cool AI cutout features to make stickers from any photo you take. It also features a VIP mode that lets you turn off the camera and microphone for a little extra privacy.
Regardless of which model you pick the phone comes with everything you could want. Both models feature the same thin and light design, the Dynamic Open Canvas multitasking or the frankly amazing battery life (which is great when watching series on some of the best streaming services) and the chance for a pretty good trade-in deal. However, no phone is perfect as the lack of wireless charging might be a turn-off for some and the camera isnāt amazing in low light.
Most feature rich foldable phone Specifications Main screen size: 7.6 inches (2160 x 1856) Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (2376 x 968)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB, 512GB, 1TB Size, opened: 6 x 5.2 x 0.22 inches
Size, closed: 6 x 2.7 x 0.48 inches Weight: 8.4 ounces Reasons to buy +Thinner and lighter design +Impressive AI features +Great Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance Reasons to avoid -Battery life gains not as big as we hoped -Price rise
Samsung is probably the most well-known phone maker when it comes to foldable phones and it knows what it is doing. This is no more obvious than with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which builds and improves upon the prior Galaxy Z Fold 5 and stands as our most feature-rich foldable phone. When TG global editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer reviewed the phone, he had a lot of positive things to say, especially about the new design, durability and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
While there might be some disappointment about the cameras, as they are basically the same as the prior model, thereās a noticeable difference in actual image quality. If we look at the difference in quality during our 200 photo shoot out with the Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 4 we can see a marked improvement. While you might not buy a foldable for the camera, it’s certainly an addition that you want to see.
We also canāt talk about a new Samsung phone without mentioning the Galaxy AI features, including the Sketch To Image feature. This allows you to draw anything you want into the Samsung Notes app and then the Galaxy AI will turn it into anything from water art to a 3D cartoon. The results are, as Mark says, āpretty frickinā impressive.ā
Best foldable phone value
4. Motorola Razr 2024
Best flip phone-style foldable Specifications Main screen size: 6.9 inches (2640 x 1080) Secondary screen size: 3.6 inches (1066 x 1056)
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 7300X RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB Size, opened: 6.74 x 2.91 x 0.28 inches
Size, closed: 3.46 x 2.91 x 0.62 inches Weight: 6.63 ounces
Reasons to buy +Long lasting battery life +Larger, more usable outer screen +Affordable close Reasons to avoid -Camera struggles under low light -Short 3 years of software support Motorola might not be the dominant force it was in the past, but it can still create a great phone for good value. This is obvious in the Motorola Razr 2024, which is upgraded in all the right areas compared to the prior Razr and is easily our best-value phone. In our review, we noted that the bigger screen offered far more functionality than before, while also being brighter.
Now, it should be noted that there are two variations of the Motorola Razr 2024, and both appear in this guide. What puts this foldable ahead of its larger cousin is the balance it strikes between features and cost. Everything from the design to the 50MP camera and 13MP ultrawide for as little as $699 is a real steal.
If that was the only change then it would be more than enough for a value phone, but there’s even more thanks to the outstanding battery life and surprisingly snappy performance. When Technical personnel reviewed it he stated that even the Galaxy Z Fold 6 āfaces a tough competitor.ā However, there are some issues as there is no ultrawide camera, which might be a turnoff for some, as well as shorter software support compared to other Samsung devices.
Best display in a foldable
5. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Brightest foldable screen Specifications Main screen size: 8 inches (2076 x 2152) Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (1080 x 2424)
CPU: Tensor G4 RAM/Storage: 16GB/ 256GB, 512GB Size, opened: 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
Size, closed: 6.1 x 3.0 x 0.4 inches Weight: 9.1 ounces Reasons to buy +Smart AI features +Thinner, lighter design +Longer battery life Reasons to avoid -Underwhelming Tensor G4 performance -Camera upgrades are minimal Google’s foldable game has made a massive leap in quality with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold after the Pixel Fold ā despite Googleās new awkward naming conventions. Thereās a lot to love about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, especially the much bigger and brighter 8-inch main display which is the main reason why it’s managed to snag a spot on this list. When we tested the phone in the TG lab, the display was easily the best of any of the foldables we tested. However, that isnāt the only thing to love about the phone.
In his review, John Velasco mentioned that he loved the longer battery life, durable redesign and the host of AI features that help the phone to stand out from the competition. While it is a pretty great phone, there are a few issues namely the lackluster Tensor G4, although honestly, the average user wouldnāt notice that issue in everyday use.
Having used the Pixel 9 Pro Fold myself a little, I really canāt emphasize just how bright the screen is. When we tested it the screen reached as high as 2,319 nits. Now, normally I would expect this level of brightness to mean that the phone would have a pittiable battery life. However, when we tested the phone it reached 11 hours and 36 minutes, which is more than enough time to watch or play anything you please.
Best flip-style phone
6. Motorola Razr Plus 2024 The best flip-style phone Specifications Main screen size: 6.9 inches (2640 x 1080) Secondary screen size: 4 inches (1272 x 1080)
CPU: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB Size, opened: 6.74 x 2.91 x 0.27 inches
Size, closed: 3.46 x 2.91 x 0.6 inches Weight: 6.66 ounces Reasons to buy +The least expensive foldable ever made +Excellent design +Long-lasting battery Reasons to avoid -Tiny cover display -Older Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip While the base Motorola Razr 2024 might have been our best-valued phone, its larger cousin easily has the best style compared to the other phones here. Like other flip phones the Razr Plus folds into a compact little square, but where it stands apart is the outer screen, which is much larger than other devices. Not only is it larger, but it also offers way more functionality since you can run any app you like on it rather than simple widgets like the Galaxy Z Flip series. Plus you can even customize the screen to mimic the iPhoneās StandBy Mode with different images and backgrounds when the Razr is set to a tent position.
It’s not just the screens where the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 excels. It offers an improved camera array featuring a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and a 50MP main camera. This meant that when we compared it to its smaller brother in our 200 photo shoot out between the Razr Plus (2024) vs. Razr (2024) it blew it out of the water.
The design also has a smaller hinge, meaning that the crease in the phone is much less noticeable than on other foldable phones (primarily Samsung) and the performance is nothing to sneeze at. However, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 has some of the same issues as the other Motorola Razr, including no ultrawide camera and a shorter-than-average software support window.
Least expensive foldable phone
7. Nubia Flip 5G Least expensive flip phone Specifications Main screen size: 6.9 inches (2790 x 1188) Secondary screen size: 1.4 inches (466 x 466)
CPU: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 RAM/Storage: 8GB, 12GB/256GB, 512GB Size, opened: 6.69 x 2.97 x 0.28 inches
Size, closed: 3.45 x 2.97 x 0.59 inches Weight: 7.3 ounces Reasons to buy +Incredible value for a foldable +Fast charging +Attractive and unique design Reasons to avoid -Photography is limited in scope and quality -Lacks performance power the Nubia Flip 5G is a bit of a surprise model from a lesser-known company, but it stands as easily the cheapest foldable you can currently grab for a staggering $499. It’s a great starter device for anyone who doesn’t want to drop hundreds.
When Technical personnel reviewed the device he praised the stylish design and smudge-resistant matte texture. The overall look of the phone suggests you paid a lot more for this flip phone-style device than you did. You’ll also appreciate the 6.9-inch display that’s available when you open up the Nubia Flip 5G.
Battery life seemed so-so in our everyday use, but at least the Nubia Flip 5G offers peppy 33W charging that can top off the phone’s battery quickly. If you want a foldable phone, but can’t afford a more premium model, you certainly won’t feel short-changed by this option.
While the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra offers plenty to be excited about, a new report indicates it will fall short in one particular area.
In the past, Samsung was known for shipping the Galaxy series with some of the best and brightest displays. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series shipped with the M13 OLED panel which was, at the time, one of the best available. However, both the iPhone 16 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 were later released with Samsung’s M14 OLED panel, which offers a higher brightness and better power efficiency. We would expect the Samsung Galaxy S25 series to come with the same option, but a recent report indicates this may not be the case.
According to ET News (via Android Police) Samsung will continue to use panels based on the M13 for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The report suggests Samsung intends to upgrade its displays every two generations from now. This is reportedly due to the current performance of OLED and the saturation of the smartphone market. A suggestion seemingly backed up in a post on X by Ross Young, the CEO of Display Chain Consultants.
(Image credit: OnLeaks / SmartPrix / MacRumors)
In our tests, we found the M13 OLED on the Galaxy S24 Ultra managed a max brightness of 1,363 nits, while the iPhone 16 Pro with the new display hit a peak of 1,553 while the Pixel 9 Pro hit as high as 1,938 nits. However, most average users won’t really notice that kind of difference in day-to-day use. The reality is that, as speculated, this is a cost-cutting measure to help keep the Galaxy S25 series affordable. Part of the issue is that the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips will reportedly increase the phone’s price. However, the power of the chip could help the S25 to stand against the iPhone 16 Pro, with leaked benchmark scores exceeding Apple’s latest iPhone in the multicore score.
For the time being, we can only wait for the official release of the Galaxy S25 series. At that point, we will be able to test it ourselves to see if this is a major downgrade, or if the phones will still find a place in our best phones list.
Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition in South Korea, and the W25 Fold, based on the same foldable phone, is expected to launch soon in China alongside the W25 Flip. A new leak has now revealed the design of both smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy W25 Flip and W25 Fold will have gold accents like their predecessors (Image source: Evan Blass on X – edited)
Initially launched in July, the Samsung Z Fold 6 now has a refreshed Special Edition in South Korea. It’s the same phone but with some noticeable upgrades. Among the improvements is an upgraded 200 MP primary camera on the rear and a slightly thinner and lighter form factor.
Samsung is expected to launch the same phone in China as the W25 Fold, and a new leak has revealed the Chinese variant alongside the W25 Flip, which will reportedly debut at the same time. In the leak, the new W25 Fold is shown to feature a black and gold design similar to its predecessor.
As the W25 Fold is said to be based on the Z Fold 6 Special Edition, its specs will be slightly better than the regular edition. Besides the better form factor and camera, the foldable phone will have larger internal and cover displays, measuring 8.0-inch and 6.5-inch, respectively. However, it won’t reportedly have S Pen support, which is something that the normal version has.
Moving to the W25 Flip, it’s not expected to see any major changes compared to the Z Flip 6 as Samsung hasn’t refreshed it as a new fancy Special Edition yet. However, just like the W25 Fold, it will launch in China with a sleek black and gold design.
The leaked images show that the packaging of both the foldable phones will include a charger and a protective case, which is another difference from the regular versions. However, it’s worth noting that a W-series foldable tends to be more expensive than its regular Z-series counterpart in China .
More support for Samsung’s “Flex Window,” after it was clear that it needed to be more flexible.
What you need to know
A discovery in the YouTube Music app’s code suggests the company is working on bringing “Flex Window” support to Samsung’s clamshell foldable, the Flip.
The widget will likely give users quick playback controls like play/pause and skip forward/back buttons.
When Samsung debuted “Flex Window” in 2023, it was clear that it needed some work as users were limited through this “curated, optimized experience.”
YouTube Music could be working on support for clamshell foldable phones to refine its user experience.
According to Android Authority, the YouTube Music mobile app’s latest version (v7.24.51) holds clues that point toward a “FlipWidgetProvider.” The publication conducted an APK teardown of the app and found a string that directly mentions a widget for a “flip” device, which is reportedly confirmed to be Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series.
The post states the app’s code shows that the “music player” widget can be enabled via Settings > Cover Screen > Widgets once YouTube rolls it out. Users may find this useful as such a widget isn’t supported on the Flip series. However, it is on your standard slab phone like the Galaxy S24 series for the home screen. The widget gives options like play/pause, skip forward/back, and thumbs up/down options. With its expected arrival on the Flip series’ cover display, users can have enhanced access to their music without opening the phone. Considering the size of the Galaxy Z Flip cover display, this widget will give users more mileage. Speaking of, it’s unclear which devices will grab YouTube Music’s widget support.
The widget will likely debut on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Flip 5; however, it’s unclear how far back Samsung is willing to go.
Samsung dubbed the larger screen of its Flip series the “Flex Window” when the Flip 5 launched in 2023. It was clear from the beginning that the “window” needed to be more flexible. Users couldn’t open any app they wanted on the cover display. Samsung implemented a “curated, optimized experience,” limiting your options. Originally, the Flip 5’s cover screen supported the following apps: Google Messages, Samsung Messages, WhatsApp, YouTube, Netflix, and Google Maps.
The ability to open more apps was tucked behind Samsung’s Good Lock app launcher. The launcher gave users control over almost every app they had. This YouTube Music widget with Flex Window support will likely give users a more refined music control experience. In other news, YouTube Music was busy rolling out a Gemini Extension for desktop and Android users. Users will find a series of suggested commands for the AI for music lookup, album discovery, or specific radio genre. After Gemini locates the song, users are thrown into YouTube Music for the playback or continuous radio stream.
Samsung is gearing up to expand its foldable lineup with a new tri-fold smartphone, potentially launching in 2025. The device, featuring a screen that folds twice, has already seen its components developed, indicating readiness for commercialization. However, the final decision rests with Samsungās Mobile eXperience division led by TM Roh.
Samsungās tri-fold could be the first tri-fold for global market
Currently, Huaweiās Mate XT is the only tri-fold on the market, currently limited to China. If Samsung releases this model globally, it could be the first tri-fold available worldwide. The new form factor would transform from a tablet-sized display to a compact phone, providing versatile usage for various scenarios.
Thereās no word yet on specifications, but industry patents suggest innovative hinge mechanisms and sensor integration, hinting at a device designed for flexible use casesā.
Recommendedļ¼EB-BF741ABE Battery for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Based on Samsungās track record of foldable phones, the premium tri-fold will also likely use the latest Qualcomm flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
For those curious about the multitasking capabilities, key advancements in the Snapdragon 8 Elite include a 40% boost in GPU performance and a 35% enhancement in ray tracing capabilities as compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 of the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6. These improvements, coupled with a 44% increase in power efficiency, make the chipset ideal for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking, ensuring a reasonable performance upgrade for the upcoming Samsung tri-fold.
The chipset features an upgraded NPU (45% improvement in AI capabilities), ensuring more complex Galaxy AI features for the tri-fold phone.
However, the tri-fold will also likely need to be slimmer than the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6, so no larger camera sensors are expected inside as well. Readers should expect a camera setup similar to the companyās existing book-style foldable. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 6ās camera setup is noted below:
