Latest news with #GalaxyS
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Forget iOS 19 — Apple may change the name of its upcoming iPhone software update
When Apple opens up its WWDC 2025 developers conference in a couple of weeks, we expect to see an interface overhaul of all the software that controls its phones, computers, tablets and wearables. And it may not just be the look of the software that's changing. Along with aesthetic changes, Apple will reportedly rebrand its many operating systems, in an effort to have consistent names across its lineup. That comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who is reporting that Apple wants to switch to year-based names. That means the iPhone software update we were expecting to be called iOS 19 would instead go by iOS 26 — as in 2026. The rest of Apple's software — iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, macOS 26 and visionOS 26 — would follow the same pattern. The name changes would accompany a more unified approach to the interfaces of Apple's software. Codenamed Solarium, the refresh is expected to introduce more translucent panels and rounded icons, taking its cues from visionOS on Apple's Vision Pro headset. The idea behind the common look is to deliver a more unified experience across different Apple devices. And that same thinking apparently applies to what the software should be called, too. Currently, the various OSes all have different version numbers — iOS 18, macOS 15 and watchOS 12, to name a few. Under the new system, you wouldn't have to remember what version number a particular OS was on — you'd just have to refer to the year. The potential rebrand is reminiscent of a similar move rival Samsung made in 2020 when it change the Galaxy S line to a launch year naming convention with the Galaxy S20 series. The previous year's devices were the Galaxy S10, the 10th generation of Galaxy S phones. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The difference here though is that Apple is using the upcoming year, rather than the launch year. Despite its new operating systems likely launching in September around the release of the iPhone 17, they'll be named for 2026, similar to how car companies label the latest iterations of their vehicles which also tend to launch in the fall. Gurman has a good track record of reporting on Apple developments, so we're inclined to believe that this will be the case in a couple of weeks. That said, Apple has declined to comment on the name change, and allegedly the plan is still in the works. We'll know more about Solarium and the rebranded OSes starting June 9 when Apple has set WWDC 2025 to take place. It should be one of the most important WWDCs in over a decade.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung faces pricing dilemma in US amid Trump's 25% tariff plan
US President Donald Trump's latest announcement of a minimum 25 percent tariff on all smartphones manufactured overseas and imported into the US has sent ripples through the global tech sector, with Samsung Electronics bracing for potential fallout. A 25 percent tariff could raise retail prices of Galaxy smartphones by 30 to 40 percent in the US, significantly undermining Samsung's ability to generate the usual post-launch momentum, according to industry sources on Wednesday. Samsung produces about half of its smartphone volume in Vietnam. This includes a wide range of flagship devices — from the Galaxy S series and foldable Z Flip and Z Fold models to the more affordable Galaxy A series — many of which are exported directly to the US market. While Trump argues that American companies can avoid tariffs by shifting production to the US, sources say such a move is far from feasible for Samsung. High labor costs and lower operational efficiency make large-scale manufacturing in the US economically unviable. The most immediate concern is Samsung's upcoming foldable lineup, scheduled for launch in the second half of this year. If Trump's proposed tariffs are enforced, the Galaxy Fold series could face substantial import duties, directly affecting pricing strategies in North America — one of the world's most lucrative markets for premium smartphones. Apple continues to dominate the US smartphone market, maintaining a market share of 50 to 60 percent each quarter. This sustained dominance poses a challenge for competitors such as Samsung, which already struggles to gain significant ground and finds it difficult to compete on price alone. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Apple led the US smartphone market in the first quarter of this year with a 57.1 percent share, followed by Samsung at 26.5 percent. Motorola came in third with 4.2 percent. The pressure is compounded by a stark profitability gap. Samsung's smartphone division posted an operating profit margin of 9.1 percent, far below Apple's robust 31 percent. This means the tariff shock would hit Samsung harder, limiting its capacity to absorb the added costs. In a bid to protect its US market share, Samsung may consider offsetting the cost burden by slightly raising smartphone prices in other markets, including Korea. 'Samsung might avoid raising US prices too sharply to defend its market position and instead spread the cost across global markets,' said an industry source who requested anonymity. 'But that could trigger backlash from domestic consumers, who may question why they're being made to share the cost of a US-specific policy.' As of now, Samsung has not made an official comment regarding its pricing strategy or contingency plans in response to the tariff announcement. yeeun@
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge starts early delivery for pre-orders ahead of the sale date
Samsung has started delivering the Galaxy S25 Edge to customers in India who placed pre-orders. This early shipping lets buyers receive the phone before the official sale begins. The Galaxy S25 Edge was launched earlier this month and is noted for being the thinnest model in Samsung's Galaxy S series. Customers who pre-ordered the device can expect delivery ahead of the general availability date. Samsung will continue accepting pre-orders until May 30. Along with early delivery, the company offers a storage upgrade deal. Buyers can get the 512GB version of the phone at the price of the 256GB model. Additionally, Samsung provides no-cost EMI options for up to nine months. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: New featherweight champion The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge starts at Rs. 1,09,999 for the version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 512GB storage variant with the same RAM costs Rs. 1,21,999. The phone comes in Titanium Jetblack and Titanium Silver colours. Samsung manufactures this device at its factory in Noida, India. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S25 review: Flagship features in a handful package Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with quad-HD+ resolution (1,440×3,120 pixels) and supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The display uses Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 for added protection. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and has up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage capacity. The device runs on Android 15 with Samsung's One UI 7 interface. Also read: Alcatel V3 Ultra, V3 Pro and V3 Classic launched in India with NXTPAPER display tech - Details For optics, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge includes a dual rear camera setup. It has a 200MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultrawide camera. It also features a 12MP front camera for selfies and video calling. Furthermore, the handset houses a 3,900mAh battery with 25W wired charging and Qi wireless charging support. It also carries an IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Samsung begins early deliveries of Galaxy S25 Edge in India
Samsung has commenced early deliveries of its Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone in India, targeting customers who pre-ordered the device ahead of its official launch. The Galaxy S25 Edge, manufactured at Samsung's Noida facility, is slimmest smartphone in the Galaxy S series lineup at just 5.8mm thick. Pre-order customers receive bonuses, including a free storage upgrade worth Rs 12,000 that allows them to purchase the 12GB+512GB variant at the price of the 12GB+256GB model. The company is also offering no-cost EMI options for up to nine months. Pre-orders remain open until May 30, 2025. Galaxy S25 Edge features, specifications, and price in India The Galaxy S25 Edge features a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, housed within a titanium frame that weighs only 163 grams. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Roar into Style! Leopard Print Slim Fitting Dress! Undo Unleash Your Wild Side: Leopard Print Slim Dress! Undo Level Up Your Look: Men Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Get the Look: Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit - Shop Modefash! Undo Complete Your Look: Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit - Undo Chic Comfort! Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit. Undo Shop Exclusive Deals & Save Big! Undo Modefash: Ultimate Comfort - Men's Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Sparkle & Shine: Trending Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit! Undo Don't Miss Out! Exclusive Deals at Undo The smartphone has a 200MP wide-angle camera that delivers 40% improved brightness in low-light conditions compared to previous models. The S25 Edge includes a 12MP ultra-wide sensor with autofocus for macro photography and benefits from Samsung's ProVisual Engine with AI-powered editing features like Audio Eraser and Drawing Assist. The S25 Edge is by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform , the same processor used across the entire Galaxy S25 series. The phoneintegrates Galaxy AI throughout its interface, offering personalized experiences while maintaining data security through Samsung Knox Vault's on-device processing. The phone boasts a 3,900mAH battery with support 25W wired charging. The Galaxy S25 Edge is available in Titanium Silver and Titanium Jetblack colors, priced at Rs 1,09,999 onwards. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I review Samsung phones for a living — and the company's Galaxy lineup is starting to look a little crowded
I don't know what reaction you had when a report claiming to reveal the camera specs of the Galaxy S25 FE dropped this past week. But I certainly remember what crossed my mind as I read that Samsung would equip this year's FE model with the exact same camera setup as last year's Galaxy S24 FE. "Wait, Samsung's still doing this?" I said to myself. "Didn't they just release a phone?" Indeed, it's been about two weeks since Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 Edge, with that ultra-thin phone going on sale in the U.S. this coming Friday (May 30). It's a good phone, as you can read in our Galaxy S25 Edge review, delivering an incredibly thin design, even if it is at the expense of battery life. Adding the Edge to the Galaxy S25 models released in January, Samsung now has four different Galaxy S flagships to choose from. The Galaxy S25 FE will bring that number to five whenever it comes out. (The rumors say sometime in the fall.) But wait, there's more. In the U.S., Samsung has already released the Galaxy A26 and Galaxy A36, and we're awaiting the U.S. release of the Galaxy A56 that's shipped in other parts of the world. On top of that, this summer figures to bring new versions of Samsung's foldables — at least, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 and possibly a lower-cost version of the flip phone. All told, that's 11 different phones when you add up the flagships, foldables and midrange models, with prices ranging from $299 for the Galaxy A26 all the way up to whatever four-figure price tag Samsung slaps on the new Fold. (The current model starts at $1,899.) I typically applaud companies that offer consumers a lot of choices, particularly if those choices accommodate a wide range of budgets, so it pains me to say this. I think Samsung needs to consider that it's making too many phones. This is no knock on the FE series, which Samsung positions as a lower-cost way of getting the flagship Galaxy S experience, including a full complement of Galaxy AI features. Indeed, my colleague John Velasco actually recommended the Galaxy S24 FE over some of Samsung's other S24 models, arguing that its lower price and Galaxy AI support made up for the lesser camera specs and shorter battery life compared to Samsung's entry-level flagship. The Galaxy A phones serve their purpose, too, offering solid phones for $500 or less. The phones even have some of the AI capabilities you'll find on the more expensive Samsung flagships, though those features get peeled off as you descend down the Galaxy A lineup. I think the issue is forced by the arrival of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which brings a thin design to the mix, but not much else that you can't get from the rest of the Galaxy S25 offerings. And you could even argue that it's a more compromised experience than even the Galaxy S24 FE delivers. After all, there's no telephoto lens on the Edge like you'll find on the other Galaxy S models, including the FE. Our battery tests had the Galaxy S25 Edge lasting three hours less than the entry-level Galaxy S25. And yet, Samsung charges more for the $1,099 Edge than either the $799 Galaxy S25 and the $999 Galaxy S25 Plus. Presumably, when it comes along in the fall, the Galaxy S25 FE will cost even less. And that presents a dilemma for people trying to find the best Samsung phone for their needs. Do you pay up for the Edge's thin design, or get the standard model or the Plus, which seem more fully featured? And is it worth holding out for the FE or opting for one of the Galaxy A models to save even more? We can probably excuse the foldable phones from this exercise, as these remain niche devices with a self-selecting audience. You could even argue that the addition of a lower-cost Samsung flip phone would help the phone maker take on Motorola, which now offers three different Razr models to choose from for 2025. (And two of those are cheaper than the Galaxy Z Flip 6.) That puts the focus squarely on the increasingly crowded Galaxy S lineup, where Samsung is either going to have to figure out a way to distinguish some of its models or cull the herd. Samsung could be solving this issue on its own, if rumors about next year's lineup are accurate. A report out of Korea suggests that Samsung is considering dropping the Plus from the Galaxy S26 lineup next year, with the Edge taking its place. The move would certainly solve a lot of problems, as the Plus has always been the odd phone out in Samsung's flagship lineup. It's more expensive than the standard model, but really just offers a bigger screen, longer battery life and faster charging speeds. Everything else — including the camera setup — is the same. The Edge would not only offer that bigger screen than the standard Galaxy S phone, but a thinner design, too. Yes, Samsung would have to figure out a way to improve battery life, and it should seriously consider bumping up the charging speed on future Edge models to 45W, matching the Plus and Ultra. Do that, and the Edge slots in very nicely as a Galaxy S Plus replacement. Samsung's bigger question is whether there's enough difference between its high-end Galaxy A model and the FE version of its Galaxy S phone to satisfy the different audiences for those phones. With the Galaxy A56 offering a more limited array of AI features, I think there is. Budget-minded shoppers can opt for the Galaxy A and not feel like they're getting short-changed, while people who want Galaxy AI can pay a little bit more for the Galaxy S25 FE, should it arrive this year. I'm not as convinced that the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26 are doing enough to justify their place in Samsung's midrange lineup. Certainly, our Galaxy A36 review found that there wasn't much to recommend the phone beyond a solid design and low price. Unless you were wed to the Samsung brand, you'd be better off turning to the Pixel 9a or Nothing Phone 3a for a more fully featured design. And if you were insistent upon a midrange Samsung phone, why not just pay a little more for the superior Galaxy A56? So if I were making the decisions at Samsung, I'd make a decision between the Edge and the Plus models for next year's lineup — I might lean toward keeping the former, given that its design seems ot have people excited. And I'd probably pare down my Galaxy A lineup to one $499 and a $299 offering to appeal to people who value a low price over everything else. Of course, Samsung has done pretty well for itself without my advice, so we'll see what shape the company's phone lineup takes very soon.
