Samsung Galaxy A57 to launch with Exynos chipset
For now, the focus remains on the Samsung Galaxy A56, which is currently the top offering in the Galaxy A series. Ever since Samsung discontinued the Galaxy A7x line, the Galaxy A5x models have taken the lead position in the mid-range category.Speaking of which, the current-generation Samsung Galaxy A56 is retailing in India at a starting price of Rs 38,999 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The phone is also available in two other variants: 8GB RAM + 256GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage, priced at Rs 41,999 and Rs 44,999, respectively.Some of the key highlights of the Galaxy A56 include a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ and supports up to 1,200 nits of brightness in High Brightness Mode. The smartphone is powered by the Exynos 1580 chip and packs a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast wired charging support. In terms of cameras, there's a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup, along with a 12-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. The phone is available in two colours: Awesome Graphite and Awesome Olive.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
A $2,000 foldable iPhone can take the heat off Tim Cook
Picture the life of Samsung hardware engineers: Day after day, they toil at the cutting edge, devising almost inconceivable ways to defy physics. Components are shrunken, twisted, bent against their will. And then their work is unveiled to the world: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 , an unfathomably thin folding smartphone. The company eagerly awaits the reaction of American smartphone buyers. 'Meh,' they say. Harsh? Maybe. But the sales won't lie. At this point, I don't know what it would take for Samsung Electronics Co. to engineer its way to a bigger slice of the US market, where Apple Inc. has a 56% share compared with Samsung's 25%. The consumer lock-in of iOS and the Apple product range is just too great. People love their iPhones. And yet, ask a Wall Street investor and she'll tell you the iPhone segment is tired. Revenue growth (globally) has softened — 1.9% in the last quarter, down 0.8% in the all-important holiday quarter before that. The predicted upgrade 'supercycle' from artificial-intelligence features has failed to materialize because they are delayed. That's had some close observers half-heartedly questioning Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook 's position. He can quiet at least some of that talk with the coming folding iPhone, which, according to Bloomberg News' Mark Gurman, is expected by the end of next year. That's a long way off but not too long. From a hardware standpoint at least, Samsung's Fold 7 is a blueprint for where the iPhone can and will go next. The Korean giant's foldable efforts began in 2019 with the introduction of the Galaxy Fold. The head-turning engineering achievement was held back by obvious limitations: The screen was fragile and quickly developed a prominent crease at the fold. When closed, it was rather fat — 15.5 mm. The release was delayed after reviewers found severe reliability issues. The devices have improved since, but the foldable market is still less than 2% of the overall smartphone pool, CCS Insight's Ben Wood estimates — 22 million foldable units sold in 2024. But with the Fold 7, announced at an event in Brooklyn earlier this month, there's more than a whiff of a suggestion that Samsung has made a foldable phone that everyday users might finally find appealing. The device has been well received in review circles. The $2,000 price tag is huge, granted, though that can be heavily discounted with trade-ins and other perks. And again, it's remarkably thin: When shut, the device is only six-tenths of a millimeter thicker than the latest iPhone 16 Pro. None of this alters the challenge, however, which is that anyone who might be tempted away from the iPhone has too many practical considerations that overrule the novelty or utility of a folding phone. The years of photos, videos and messages; the effortless syncing with MacBooks and iPads; the commitment to never be the one who turns the group chat green. Above all, iOS' straightforward familiarity, and the fact that Apple has never wavered on the quality of its software, is what makes the huge majority of its customers transition from one iPhone to the next without hesitation. Switching from iOS to Android is like asking someone to learn to write with their other hand. They see no compelling reason to put themselves through the effort. Some think that AI is the force that can break Apple's grip, given the company's well-publicized struggle to grasp the technology's potential. It's one reason, in addition to tariff fears, that Apple investors have been in a tizzy since the start of the year, worried that Cupertino has been asleep at the AI wheel and has put at risk the lasting appeal of the most successful consumer product in history. Shares are down more than 14% this year. These concerns are overblown as both a short- and medium-term threat. No AI company is likely to build a device that competes with the iPhone, given the supply chain mastery required, within at least the next five years or longer. There's little to worry about from existing players, either. While watching Samsung's keynote presentation to launch the Fold 7 and other new devices, it was notable that for all the talk of Apple's intense struggle to introduce AI to the iPhone, Samsung hasn't exactly achieved much to get truly excited about either. The standout AI functions were created by Google, a company that aims to get its AI into as many affluent hands as possible, which means making much of the functionality work on the iPhone as well. In addition to this, the most impressive AI functions on Samsung devices require sending data to the cloud — something Apple has been steadfastly opposed to for privacy and performance reasons. That's not to say Apple's AI problem isn't urgent. Seasoned Apple watchers rightly consider the recent fumbles an embarrassment. However, what investors seem to be overlooking is that Apple is on the cusp of a once-in-a-decade moment. The iPhone is about to receive a genuinely significant upgrade, a giant leap from the incremental changes consumers have grown accustomed to in recent years. The last time Apple did this, with the all-screen iPhone X in 2017, analysts underestimated the consumer appetite to drop $1,000 on a smartphone. They shouldn't make the same mistake again — a foldable iPhone is expected to go for $2,000 or more, from which the company is expected to enjoy strong margins. Volumes may be low at first but, from the offset, 'the allure of a folding iPhone would immediately lift the market by many millions,' Wood said. Investors should also consider what happened when Apple introduced its 'Max' models with larger screens in 2014, which some at the time considered to have niche appeal. 'Apple was late in launching a large form factor compared to Samsung and other manufacturers,' wrote analysts at Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. 'Now, large-format displays account for over one-third of Apple iPhone US unit sales.' There's a small chance the folding device will eat into other product lines, most obviously the iPad, though Apple has already started to reposition that device as a small computer rather than a large smartphone. There were cannibalization fears with the iPhone X, too, but its introduction led to the average selling price increasing by $118 over the subsequent two years, according to CIRP's weighted sales data (Apple has stopped disclosing its own figures). And, with more users carrying larger screens on the go, Apple can expect a bump in subscriptions to its streaming and gaming services. All of this amounts to a real upgrade supercycle, if not with Apple's first foldable next year, certainly with the iterations to come. I'm confident it won't take much to persuade a great number of Apple users to start buying what ultimately amounts to one device for the price of two.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Draft telecom policy proposes incentives for using made-in-India gear
New Delhi: The government is looking to incentivise telecom operators for using indigenously designed and manufactured equipment, according to the draft National Telecom Policy (NTP), 2025. The move could boost local gear makers such as Tejas Networks, HFCL, STL, and startups in the domain and level the playing field with global manufacturers, including Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung and Cisco. Currently, private telecom operators largely rely on global companies to provide network equipment for rolling out their 5G services and expanding their 4 G network. The proposal echoes a similar provision in the 2018 policy that saw little implementation, raising concerns about execution this time. 'Incentives for telecom operators to buy domestic telecom products was also part of the last National Digital Communications Policy – 2018. However, we did not see any implementation of the same,' said Rakesh Bhatnagar, director general of Voice of Indian Commtech Enterprises (VoICE), which represents local gear makers. Bhatnagar said several Indian startups and companies are capable of supplying quality telecom equipment, but operators need support, including lower levies, so they can start using locally made gear. The draft NTP 2025 does not detail the kind of incentives to be given to telecom operators for using locally designed and manufactured equipment. 'Incentivising the use of locally designed and manufactured telecom gear is a welcome move, but we've seen similar efforts before. The telecom PLI scheme, despite good intent, saw limited uptake: by FY25, only around half of the approved companies reportedly received payouts," said Sumeysh Srivastava, associate director at the public policy firm The Quantum Hub (TQH). According to Srivastava, without clear demand signals, streamlined procurement, and better alignment across policy levers, manufacturers will continue to face scale and cost challenges. The policy needs to go beyond incentives. Starting from building trust in Indian R&D, ensuring timely disbursements, and fostering an ecosystem designed to compete globally, not just comply locally, he said. On 23 May, Mint reported that out of the 42 companies that were shortlisted for the telecom PLI scheme, only half claimed incentives. Citing a Right To Information (RTI) request, Mint reported that the scheme disbursed ₹1,162.04 crore by the end of FY25, against the ₹12,195 crore approved for five years. The scheme was introduced in February 2021 to incentivize the local manufacture of equipment such as network switches, transmission gear and set-top boxes. Also Read | How Samsung and 20 others missed out on an ambitious incentives scheme Policy goals The draft policy focuses on six strategic missions for the telecom sector with certain goals for the next five years. This includes universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity, promoting innovation and research and development, domestic manufacturing, secure and trusted telecom network, ease of doing business and sustainable telecom. The draft NTP 2025 is open for public consultation for the next 21 days. Among its local manufacturing goals, the government aims to increase domestic telecom manufacturing output by 150%. It aims to achieve 50% import substitution through telecom products designed, developed, and manufactured in the country, according to the draft policy. According to a 2024 report by NITI Aayog, more than 40% of telecom equipment such as 4G/5G signal processing units and antenna, are imported from China. The draft outlines 10 objectives for the next five years. This includes universal and meaningful connectivity for all, doubling the contribution of the sector to India's GDP, and achieving an annual investment of ₹1 trillion in the sector. It also plans to double the export of telecom products and services, and double the number of telecommunications startups. Besides, the government is also looking to double the sectoral research and development spending on emerging telecom technologies, create 1 million new jobs, upskill/reskill 1 million workers to meet the future demand, and strengthen security using quantum communications. The government also aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the sector by 30%. On 27 May, Mint reported that the five-year National Telecom Policy 2025-2030 will have a key focus on R&D on new telecom technologies, specifying details on the draft policy. Also Read | Trai wants more enforcement teeth to rein in telcos, may ask govt to amend rules Trai wants more enforcement teeth to rein in telcos, may ask govt to amend rules Universal connectivity As part of the universal connectivity goal, the government is looking to cover 100% of the population by 4G and 90% by 5G, with accessibility of devices for all. The goal is to also increase fiberization of towers from 46% to 80% and achieve fiberization of all gram panchayats (GPs) under BharatNet with an uptime of over 98%, according to the draft policy. To be sure, the government had set a target to achieve 70% tower fiberization by FY25. Tower fiberization refers to the process of connecting mobile towers to high-speed fiber-optic networks. This ensures quality of services for consumers. In fact, the 2018 policy had set targets to provide universal broadband connectivity, increase the digital communications sector's contribution to GDP to 8% from 6% in 2017, create 4 million jobs, and fiberization of at least 60% of towers, among other areas, by 2022. According to industry executives, in some of the areas such as public Wi-Fi hotspots, tower fiberization, targets for BharatNet connectivity, and home broadband penetration, the progress has been slow. Over the next five years, the government plans to enable the provision of fixed-line broadband networks to 45 million to 100 million households in the country, deploy 1 million public Wi-Fi hotspots, and use community Wi-Fi networks as an alternative for last-mile connectivity. According to Srivastava of The Quantum Hub, the policy consciously avoids thornier questions around regulating OTT communication platforms, a long-standing ask from the industry. In the emerging technology area, the government is looking to handhold 500 tech startups and MSMEs specializing in emerging technologies. The goal is to attain 10% global share in 6G-related intellectual property rights (IPRs). '(The government will) introduce innovative financing models like funds of funds, blended finance etc, to expand funding opportunities for the pool of telecom startups in India,' the draft policy said. For safety and security of telecom networks, the government has also talked about conducting analysis of telecom and networking equipment deployed in telecom network to demarcate and segregate equipment from non-trusted sources.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Nvidia, AMD CEOs rally behind President Trump's AI ‘action plan'
WASHINGTON—The chief executives of chip giants Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices stood behind the Trump administration's new artificial-intelligence 'action plan" on Wednesday, welcoming a set of moves that could serve as a further boon for the American chip sector. The plan, which also has been embraced by the broader tech and business community, promises to clear away red tape around the development and use of AI and boost exports of American tech—including semiconductors essential for AI. Additionally, it aims to streamline the creation of data centers and make energy for them more readily available. On stage Wednesday at a Washington tech industry event, Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang proclaimed that the unique advantage America has that other countries don't is President Trump. 'On the first day of his administration, he realized the importance of AI and he realized the importance of energy," Huang said. 'For the last, I don't know how many years, energy production was vilified." AMD Chief Executive Lisa Su told The Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration's AI plan is excellent and heralds an era where the U.S. stands to win the global AI race. 'For the U.S. to lead in AI, we have to run fast, and the AI action plan is a great way of just laying out all the various pieces that will be helpful for us to run fast," said Su, who also spoke at the event. 'It's a great day for those of us, like us, who are really trying to get technology adopted as fast as possible, in partnership with the government," she added. The administration's new AI plan—the first step of which involved President Trump signing AI-related executive orders late Wednesday—could further bolster the businesses of both Nvidia and AMD. Trump also spoke at the tech event, and he took a moment to recognize Huang and Su as leaders vital to helping America win the AI race. Huang recently lobbied President Trump to remove restrictions the Commerce Department had placed on selling Nvidia's H20 AI chip to China. The administration reversed course after a meeting Huang had with the president. AMD also is expected to resume shipments to China once licenses for a restricted chip are approved. Exports of the company's MI308 accelerators to China were similarly halted in April. 'We understand the sensitivity," Su said, referring to the restriction. 'I think the balance was found in a good place with the new policies." Speeding up the construction of data centers and getting energy to power them also is a key win for the U.S. chip sector. Powerful AI chips called graphics processing units, or GPUs, are the engine behind AI models like the ones that power OpenAI's ChatGPT. They run inside of data centers and require immense amounts of power to keep them running. During his remarks, Trump said the administration would use 'every rule at our disposal" to ensure that the country could build AI infrastructure like data centers and chip-manufacturing facilities. Those moves will likely involve deregulation—a message that was received warmly by tech execs. 'How do we clear the regulatory environment so it's easier to build, it's easier to permit, and get more power throughout the distribution network? All of that is enabling," Su said. Trump officials said Wednesday that the U.S. needs to sell homegrown chips and software to allies so their AI is dependent on American companies, not Chinese ones. The plan is to use the U.S. Export-Import Bank and Development Finance Corp. to help spread American technology in other countries. Daniel Castro, vice president at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, said the administration's AI action plan is incredibly promising for businesses. The ITIF is a think tank backed by tech companies that promotes innovation. 'The [AI] plan's focus on clearing regulatory red tape, supporting American workers, and accelerating adoption is huge for businesses that are ready to embrace AI-driven productivity growth," Castro said. While Nvidia and AMD have a heated rivalry in building the advanced chips that power AI, Su said the administration's package of moves are beneficial for both. 'We have very similar principles, which is, we want American technology to be as capable as possible, and we want to get it proliferated as much as possible," Su said. 'It is really about doing what is good for the overall industry, which happens to also help all of our competitive positions globally." Write to Belle Lin at
