A budget Samsung Galaxy foldable is definitely happening this year
Accessory maker Spigen accidentally listed cases for the Flip 7 FE, promptly removing them soon after. The listings were noticed by Android Central, which managed to get screenshots of the Google results before the pages disappeared.
This basically confirms that the FE is happening this year, likely slated to be unveiled alongside the Flip 7 and Fold 7 in a few days from now. The inclusion of the number in the name also suggests that it's going to become a yearly tradition, and isn't just a one-off.
Leaked Flip 7 renders — which also included the FE — show that the Flip series is ditching the camera cutout in favor of more screen real estate. However, the FE will resemble the Galaxy Z Flip 6. The FE series may just become a repackaged older Galaxy clamshell with a better chip inside.
Google results showed Spigen's Flip 7 FE case listing. | Image credit — Android Central
If previous reports are to be believed, the Flip 7 FE will cost around $736, if U.S. tariffs don't end up inflating the price Stateside. The phone will also be powered by Samsung's own 3 nm Exynos 2500 chip, which will also be present in the standard Flip 7 . After failing to get it ready on time for the Galaxy S25 series, it's time for Samsung to show the world what Exynos can do. For those who want the best of the best, the Fold 7 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Furthermore, Samsung has reportedly improved the crease, and also made so many other technical improvements that the Fold 7 makes the Fold 6 look ancient. The Flip 7 itself, though sharing the same chip as the FE, will have bigger displays and better cameras.
If you can stretch your budget by $100, the recently released Xiaomi Mix Flip 2 is also an excellent alternative to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. It's got a bigger battery as well as a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. However, if you can't live without Samsung's One UI, or just really need the seven years of updates, then the Flip 7 FE is the correct choice.
One of the reasons that the foldable industry has been in a decline is the fact that foldable smartphones are just too expensive. I'm glad that Samsung has realized that, and is taking steps to provide alternatives that are easier on the wallet, but no less exciting. Secure your connection now at a bargain price!
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19 minutes ago
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Honor 400 vs Honor 400 Pro
If you are eyeing Honor's latest upper midrangers, the official Honor online store will be happy to offer you the 512GB Honor 400 for around €500 and the 512GB Honor 400 Pro for around €650. So how much better is the Honor 400 Pro to deserve its price premium? Let's take a closer look. Table of Contents: Design Display Battery Life Charging Speaker Test Performance Cameras Verdict For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor's assessment in the following text. Size comparison Honor 400 5G Honor 400 Pro 5G At first glance, the Honor 400 and 400 Pro share a similar design DNA, but there are key differences in execution and ergonomics. The vanilla model is noticeably more compact and lighter at 184g versus the 205g of the Pro. The Honor 400 also has flatter sides and a slimmer profile, making it a bit easier to handle, especially with one hand. The Pro, in contrast, features slightly curved glass on both the front and back, lending it a more premium feel in hand but also making it a bit more slippery. While both phones offer a glass back, the Pro steps up to an arguably more refined finish. The Pro's overall design is more reminiscent of a flagship, while the vanilla model feels more utilitarian—though still modern and attractive in its own right. When it comes to buttons and controls, both devices feature the standard volume rocker and power button arrangement on the right-hand side. Both phones lack a 3.5mm headphone jack, and neither includes a microSD card slot, though you do get dual SIM support. There's official ingress protection rating on both phones but the vanilla Honor 400 has to settle for market-dependent IP65/IP66 protection, while the Pro has IP68/IP69 certification. Connectivity is mostly equal between the two, with both phones offering 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi (though the Pro does come with tri-band Wi-Fi in some markets), Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and USB-C 2.0. Visually, both phones feature large camera islands on the back, but the Pro's is a bit more stylized, with more emphasis on lens detailing. Despite the similarities in branding, the Honor 400 Pro clearly positions itself as the more luxurious and refined device in both appearance and feel. Display comparison Honor 400 5G Honor 400 Pro 5G Both phones feature AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and support for 10-bit color, offering vibrant visuals and smooth animations. The Honor 400 Pro has a slightly larger 6.7-inch screen compared to the 6.55-inch panel on the regular Honor 400. Despite the difference in size, both panels deliver similar sharpness, with a matching pixel density of around 460ppi. The regular Honor 400 actually achieves a slightly higher max brightness of 1,550 nits, compared to 1,481 nits on the Pro model, but the difference is really small. Both displays perform well outdoors. Both are well-calibrated and support HDR10+, making them equally capable for multimedia consumption. Battery life Both phones come with identical 5,300mAh battery capacities in Europe, but their real-world endurance differs significantly. The Honor 400 Pro outlasts its sibling with an impressive Active Use Score of 13:54h, while the regular Honor 400 manages a still respectable but shorter 12:29h. This advantage is particularly notable given the more powerful chipset in the Pro, which appears to be well-optimized for power efficiency. In day-to-day use, both phones deliver solid longevity and can easily get you through a full day of mixed usage. However, the Pro model holds a slight upper hand when it comes to screen-on time. If battery life is a priority, the Honor 400 Pro offers a bit more peace of mind. Charging speed Honor 400 5G 5300 mAh Honor 400 Pro 5G 5300 mAh Charging is quick on both devices, but the Honor 400 Pro edges out with its 100W charging support, reaching a full charge in just 38 minutes. The standard Honor 400 isn't far behind with its 80W charging, taking 41 minutes for a full top-up. Neither phone comes with a charger in the box, at least not in Europe. Speaker test Both the Honor 400 and 400 Pro come with stereo speakers, but the 400 Pro is louder and delivers slightly more bass and fullness. The regular Honor 400 performs reasonably well but it falls behind in sound quality. Neither phone includes a headphone jack, though, so it's wireless or USB-C audio all the way. Performance The performance gap between the Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro is significant and immediately noticeable. The vanilla model is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset - a competent mid-range platform built on a 4nm process. It delivers smooth day-to-day performance and handles multitasking and moderate gaming well, but it's clearly not aimed at power users. Honor 400 5G Honor 400 Pro 5G The Honor 400 Pro, on the other hand, steps into flagship territory with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This is one of the fastest mobile chipsets currently available, also built on a 4nm process, but with vastly superior CPU and GPU performance. It handles demanding 3D games, intensive workloads, and high frame rate usage with ease. In synthetic benchmarks, the Pro achieves roughly double the scores of its vanilla sibling, especially in GPU-heavy tasks like 3DMark Wild Life. As for memory configurations, the base Honor 400 ships with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the Honor 400 Pro ups the ante with 12GB of RAM in its base variant, also paired with 256GB of storage. Neither phone includes a microSD slot, so internal storage is all you get. Both phones ship with nearly identical Android 15 builds with MagicOS 9 on top and promise up to six major OS updates. If raw performance and long-term fluidity are important to you, the Honor 400 Pro easily justifies its premium with cutting-edge hardware. The Honor 400, while perfectly adequate for casual users, simply can't compete in this department. Benchmark performance Honor 400 5G Honor 400 Pro 5G The numbers speak for themselves. The Honor 400 Pro posts nearly double the benchmark scores of the regular Honor 400 across the board. In AnTuTu 10, the Pro reaches an impressive 1.9 million points compared to the 864K of the vanilla model. Geekbench 6 further highlights the gap with single-core and multi-core scores practically doubling on the Pro, and 3DMark Wild Life showcases the raw GPU muscle of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, scoring over three times higher than the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in the Honor 400. These synthetic benchmarks translate into real-world differences in speed, responsiveness, and sustained performance. The Pro feels snappier in general navigation and loads games more quickly. It also handles multitasking more gracefully thanks to its larger RAM. The regular Honor 400 performs fine for casual use and light gaming, but it begins to show its limitations when pushed. If you're looking for a phone that will stay fast and smooth for years, the 400 Pro is the obvious winner. Camera comparison Both the Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro capitalize on a flagship-grade Samsung ISOCELL HP3 sensor for their 200 MP main camera. However, their secondary sensors differ significantly. The Honor 400 just has a 12 MP ultra-wide camera (112° FOV, f/2.2), relying on cropping from the main sensor for any zooming. The Honor 400 Pro is much more well-rounded: it adds a Sony IMX856 50 MP telephoto camera (3x optical zoom, OIS) alongside the same 12 MP ultra-wide. That telephoto lens allows the Pro to produce true optical zoom shots and extends clarity up to 6x hybrid and even 10x with AI upscaling. Selfie-wise, both models sport the same 50 MP front camera with 4K video recording, but with fixed focus. The results here are essentially identical—sharp and well-exposed, though the Pro's extra depth sensor on the front offers marginally better portrait separation. Image quality Both the Honor 400 and 400 Pro leverage the same Samsung ISOCELL HP3 200 MP main sensor (1/1.4″ with OIS+EIS), and in daylight, they deliver crisp, high-detail shots with pleasing dynamic range and vivid yet natural colors. The large sensor consistently produces rich textures and accurate exposure in well-lit environments. The ultrawide on both devices, a 12MP shooter with a 112° field-of-view, handles wide shots reasonably well but shows a notable drop in detail and contrast when compared to the main cam. That said, it remains serviceable for landscapes and group shots. The Honor 400 Pro adds a real differentiator: its 50 MP Sony IMX856 telephoto with 3x optical zoom and OIS. This unit succeeds in delivering sharp, clear zoomed-in images up to 3x, maintains usable quality up to 6x with hybrid zoom and AI assist. The vanilla Honor 400 lacks this capability and relies on digital crops, which, while surprisingly decent thanks to the high-res main sensor, don't match the Pro's optical clarity. Honor 400: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x Honor 400 Pro: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x In low light, the Pro takes a small lead. Its main camera produces sharper shots with more preserved texture and less aggressive noise reduction. Night Mode kicks in automatically on both phones and does a good job of balancing highlights and shadows. The vanilla Honor 400 holds its own with good exposure and respectable detail, but darker areas can become mushy, and fine textures are often lost. Honor 400: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x Honor 400 Pro: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x Video quality Video capture from the main cameras on both the Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro is generally quite good, thanks to the shared Samsung ISOCELL HP3 200MP sensor. Daylight footage from either phone is sharp, detailed, and features balanced colors with a slightly saturated but pleasing tone. Dynamic range is respectable. Stabilization is available on both models and works well, but footage from the Pro appears a bit steadier during panning and walking shots. Low-light video is pretty comparable across both phones. You can count on solid clips from the main cameras and probably want to avoid the ultrawide after dark altogether. Honor 400: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • low-light Honor 400 Pro: 0.6x • 1x • 3x • low-light The presence of a dedicated 50MP telephoto camera on the Honor 400 Pro gives it a clear advantage when it comes to zoomed videos. The optical zoom delivers noticeably sharper and more stable results than the digitally cropped zoom from the main sensor on the vanilla model. The Honor 400 lacks this versatility and quickly loses detail once you move beyond a basic crop. Verdict While the Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro share a name and several core components—including their main, ultrawide, and selfie cameras—they are ultimately targeting very different users. The regular Honor 400 offers great value for its price. It's compact, lightweight, and its display is as bright as the Pro's plus some. With the same high-resolution main camera and solid overall performance for day-to-day tasks, it covers the needs of most casual users without overspending. If you're after the core Honor experience at a more accessible price point, the vanilla 400 is easy to recommend. The Honor 400 Pro, on the other hand, makes a compelling case for those willing to spend more for a true flagship experience. You get top-tier performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, longer battery life, faster charging, and a far more versatile camera system that includes a dedicated telephoto lens. It's the better phone overall, and the premium feel, higher ingress protection, and superior zoom and video quality justify its cost - assuming your budget can stretch that far. In the end, the Honor 400 Pro wins on features and performance, but the Honor 400 remains a strong contender for users seeking value without sacrificing core quality. The decision comes down to what you're willing to pay for - and whether you'll really take advantage of the Pro's extra horsepower and optics. The more compact and lighter design. The identical user experience. The same display, as well as main, ultrawide, and selfie cameras. The lower price. The more powerful chipset. The more RAM (12GB vs 8GB). The longer battery life. The faster charging. The dedicated 50MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom. The better video quality with sharper zoom. The higher ingress protection (IP68/IP69 vs IP65/IP66).
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What's missing from Samsung's next Unpacked might say a lot about its 2026 plans
Samsung's next major launch event is just around the corner, and we're all expecting to see the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 — possibly alongside the rumored Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. But one thing that likely won't show up on stage is a new pair of flagship earbuds. According to a new report, the upcoming Galaxy Buds 4 are now expected to launch next year — not this summer, not this fall, but early 2026, right around the expected unveiling of the Galaxy S26 series. That's somewhat unusual for Samsung, as in previous years the company launched its premium earbuds like the Galaxy Buds 3 during its foldable Unpacked events mid-summer. So, what gives? The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. | Image credit — PhoneArena The delay might indicate that Samsung is planning something more ambitious for the Buds 4. A patent filed earlier this year suggests the company is exploring Ultra Wideband (UWB) tech for earbuds — which could open the door to features like real-time spatial audio positioning, ultra-precise Find My-style tracking, or even smarter auto-switching between Galaxy the Buds 4 aren't mentioned in the patent, it's easy to imagine Samsung holding back a release to integrate something meaningful — especially as Apple and Google push their own spatial audio also the question of branding: Will Samsung stick with a standard vs. Pro tier like it did with the Buds 3 lineup, or unify everything into one new Buds 4 model? So far, no reliable leaks have clarified this. Samsung isn't leaving fans completely empty-handed in 2025. The company recently launched the Galaxy Buds Core — a basic, budget-friendly option for users who just want the essentials. But these are clearly not meant to replace the Galaxy Buds 3 or Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Instead, it looks like Samsung is holding its true audio refresh for the next big phone cycle. And pairing the Buds 4 launch with the Galaxy S26 series makes strategic sense. That way, Samsung can bundle them, show off new AI-powered audio features tied into One UI, or simply kick off 2026 with a full ecosystem refresh. If the Buds 4 do arrive in January or February, we're hoping for improved ANC, smarter integration with Galaxy AI, better microphone quality, and more premium sound — especially after seeing what rivals like Sony and Apple have brought to the table. For now, though, it looks like audio fans will need a bit more patience. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
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3 features that'll make me upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple might be cooking up a fresh new look for the iPhone 17 Pro Max – and by "fresh", I mean the camera bump could turn into a full-on camera island. Not exactly a beauty queen, but hey, it's what's inside that counts, right? Rumors and leaks are already swirling, and honestly… this might just be the year I finally iPhone 17 Pro Max is going to be a huge phone. And that's exactly why I like Pro Max models: because with this huge size comes a huge battery. And actually, battery life is everything for me. Or, almost. Here's the three features that'll make me upgrade this year.I am currently rocking an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Even though this phone still has some juice left in it (plenty), next year will mark 5 years after its release. I'm starting to think of upgrading. The main reason why I got the iPhone 13 Pro Max at the time was the battery. Rumor has it, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may become thicker so it can fit even more battery in itself. As in, the biggest battery life on an iPhone, ever. And for me, that's key – I'm this peculiar person who hates charging every night (it's related to bad memories and a gray iPhone 8), and I love to go out freely, do whatever I want on my phone, and still have battery to roam the streets at night and take nighttime photos. Especially in the summer. And I'm a very heavy user, able to drain the battery of my iPhone 13 Pro Max in less than half a day (well, it's old and not at full capacity, but you get my drift). The iPhone 16 Pro Max. | Image Credit – PhoneArena Another thing that's attractive to me with the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the rumored 48MP telephoto camera. Recently, I've been appreciating more and more zoom shots (well, when the camera is good) and their use cases. You can do all kinds of fun, creative stuff with a good telephoto camera. I mean, I almost caught a squirrel the other day – with my iPhone 13 Pro Max – but it slipped away just out of range. With better zoom, I could've snapped a crisp, high-quality close-up and actually posted it instead of just telling people about "the one that got away". Instagram deserves that squirrel. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is also rumored to get a boost in videography. Specifically, the phone is rumored to be able to have cameras on both sides work together with dual video recording. This is a super cool feature for reactions or just your simple blog, all things I've been looking into lately. This was achievable before, but it wasn't a thing in the default Camera app. Of course, nothing is ideal, and I harbor no expectations that the iPhone 17 Pro Max would be, either. We have that, to put it mildly, ugly redesign of the camera bump into a camera island or into a camera village, more like it. And the potential Apple logo move, which wouldn't sit right with a MagSafe transparent case, if tipster Majin Bu is right. Design is pretty big for me, but there's almost nothing that I wouldn't accept for a huge battery in an iPhone. iOS 26 and its redesign would balance the ugly outside looks (if the redesign is even true, I find it hard to believe even after months of leaks) for me, so I can live with it. Another potential trade-off could be the weight of the phone. With a bigger battery and thicker body, it may come on the heavier side. However, I'm trained on the iPhone 13 Pro Max and it may not bother me. Of course, on this one, I'll have to first hold the phone in my hand to know if the weight would be acceptable for me. There's also the elephant in the room: a potential price hike. It is not certain if the price hike would happen and the exact prices are yet to leak, but rumor has it that the entire iPhone 17 series may come at a higher price than the 16. Depending on how high it ends up being, I may consider a 16 Pro Max for an upgrade. But it's more likely I'll go for the 17. I never buy iPhones straight out of pocket anyway, I'm not that rich. If the rumors about a battery size upgrade, it would definitely be worth it. Pro Max models are already exceptional with battery life, but at least for me, more is more. Additionally, I'd be delighted with an upgraded telephoto camera and new video features. Are you due for an upgrade this year or next, and would you go for the iPhone 17 Pro Max and why? Share with us in the comments! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
