Latest news with #GalaxyUnpacked
The Verge
a day ago
- The Verge
Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in 11 minutes.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Everything announced at the July event See all Stories Posted Jul 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM UTC
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Samsung Brought Back My Favorite Feature for Its Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic
While competitors release predictable updates to their smartwatches, Samsung isn't afraid to surprise us (for better or worse) with design and feature changes each year. And with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic in particular, announced at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event, my favorite feature has made a welcome reappearance: the physical rotating bezel, a touch of romantic elegance that made me fall in love with Galaxy Watches in the first place. The Galaxy Watch 8 also has a new look and thinner frame, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra keeps the same functional, squared-off frame as before with a new Titanium blue color that will appeal to people who want a more rugged timepiece. But it's not just aesthetics that have changed in this year's revisions. The company is also stepping things up when it comes to health tools, including several features I've never seen on a smartwatch, like noninvasive skin analysis and AI-powered coaching for sleep and running. The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic also have a smarter voice assistant and are the first smartwatches with Google's Gemini AI baked right inside, ready to handle complex tasks. Watch this: The Rotating Bezel is Back! A Look at Samsung's New Galaxy Watch 8 and Classic 04:31 Pricing and availability The Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $350 for the 40mm model and $380 for the 44mm one. The LTE versions are $50 more: $400 for the 40mm model and $430 for the 44mm watch. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, with its rotating bezel and physical crown, comes in a single 46mm size and costs $500, or $550 for the LTE model. The Titanium Blue version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is $650, the same price as the original 2024 model. This version gets the same internal upgrades as the Watch 8 lineup, including a 64GB storage bump. All models are available for preorder now with shipping starting July 25. If you reserve early from Samsung you can get $50 in Samsung credit; your wireless carrier may also have deals on the watches and Samsung's just-announced phones. The 40mm version of the Galaxy Watch 8 has a new design with a circular screen and squircle frame. Joseph Maldonado/CNET Health and fitness features Samsung continues to expand the Galaxy Watch's role as a health and wellness tool, building on existing features like ECG, SpO₂ (shorthand for peripheral capillary oxygen saturation), sleep tracking and its AGEs Index, which reflects your metabolic aging process. The headliner is a new Antioxidant Index, which measures carotene (one type of antioxidant) levels in your skin with a simple five-second press of your thumb on the sensor (no needle needed). Since antioxidants help clear toxins from the body, knowing your levels can offer actionable steps for improving your health. The watch will rate your levels on a scale from low to high and then offer generic recommendations on the Samsung Health app on how you can improve your levels if they're on the lower side. It's important to note that this metric isn't clinically verified and isn't meant to replace a medical-grade test. It's designed to offer a baseline reading that may help you make real-time lifestyle adjustments, but it won't provide the detailed or precise results you'd get from a traditional blood test. The Antioxidant Index on the new Galaxy Watches. Joseph Maldonado/CNET There's also a new metric called Vascular Load, which measures strain on your heart during sleep. These readings are translated into a low-to-high scale to help you understand how behaviors (like sodium or alcohol intake) may be contributing to long-term heart disease risk. Sleep tracking gets a serious upgrade, too. A new Bedtime Guidance tool uses a three-day analysis of your circadian rhythm and sleep pressure (aka sleep debt) to recommend an ideal bedtime window. It factors in heart rate, HRV, skin temperature, and even environmental cues like room temperature or brightness (if you've got connected SmartThings devices). The goal: Improve your sleep quality, recovery and energy throughout the day. The new Running Coach gives you a personalized training plan to help meet your goals. Samsung The coaching isn't just for sleep; the new Galaxy Watches are also debuting a Running Coach feature. It starts with a 12-minute running assessment that scores your fitness from level 0 (beginner) to level 10 (marathon-ready). From there, it builds a personalized four-to-six-week training plan tailored to your distance or performance goals. Similar to Apple's new Workout Buddy, Samsung's Running Coach offers real-time, contextual feedback while you're running, like pointing out a major milestone. But unlike Apple's version, Samsung's tool goes a step further by actually adapting your future training plans based on your progress. Design The two new Galaxy Watches take a page out of the Galaxy Watch Ultra's playbook ditching the traditional circular watch face for a "cushion" design that has a round screen set inside a "squircle" frame (square with rounded edges). As someone who thought the Ultra looked too big and masculine for my wrist, I'm still not totally sold on the design shift. But I'm a sucker for that rotating bezel on the Classic (the Ultra's is static), so I can't help but love the look, even if it doesn't feel like it was made for me. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic brings back the rotating bezel in two color options: white or black. Joseph Maldonado/CNET The Classic also adopts the customizable quick-action button of the Ultra that also doubles as a crown wedges between the two navigation buttons. Despite my preference for the sleeker, edgeless circular design of past Galaxy Watches, there may be some benefits to the new design, including a slimmer form factor. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Watch 8 is 11% slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. When trying it on, I was blown away by how light it felt on my wrist without the usual belly bump bulge of the body. Pair that with a new band system, which reduces the gap between the watch and your wrist and you have a noticeably more comfortable fit. Thanks to the tighter sensor-to-skin contact, it's also more accurate at capturing heart rate data. This is still subject to testing, but if it holds up, it may be a justified design trade-off. Width comparison between the Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic and Galaxy Watch Ultra. Both the Ultra and the Classic have the crown that doubles as an action button. Joseph Maldonado/CNET The Galaxy Watch 8 comes in silver and graphite with an aluminum frame, while the Classic opts for a stainless steel finish in just silver. Size-wise, the regular Watch 8 comes in 40mm and 44mm options, while the Classic is only available in 46mm, which looks pretty large on my 6-inch (15cm) wrist and definitely leans more masculine. I can't help but miss the days when Samsung offered more feminine options like rose gold or even just plain gold, though it's been a while since those were part of the lineup. The new Galaxy Watches are the first smartwatches to debut Google's Gemini AI assistant out of the box. Joseph Maldonado/CNET Gemini on the watch The new One UI 8 software brings a refreshed user experience that is easier to navigate. Notifications are separated by app and instant access to your six most-used apps. The Watches also takes a page from the Galaxy phone with a new "Now bar" at the bottom of the screen for quick access to active apps like timers or media controls. But the most important software update is the addition of Gemini AI. The new Galaxy Watches are the first with Google's AI assistant built-in, bringing more complex commands and contextual understanding to your wrist. You can ask it to check your most recent running pace, start a five-mile run and launch your workout playlist simultaneously, set a timer to boil pasta based on a recipe in your notes, adjust the font size on the watch, or have it draft a text letting a friend know you're running late. Since Gemini requires an internet connection to work, you'll need to have your phone paired nearby or use an LTE version of the watch. Battery and storage Let's set expectations: Just because the Galaxy Watch 8 looks like the Ultra doesn't mean it matches the Ultra's three-day battery life. But there's still good news to share. Samsung says the Watch 8 has an 8% larger battery than the Watch 7: 325 mAh vs. 300 mAh (for the 40mm), and 435 mAh vs. 425 mAh (for the 44mm). The Classic tops out at 445 mAh, which is still well below the Ultra's 590 mAh battery. How much that translates into real-world use remains to be seen, but any boost is welcome, especially paired with the efficiency gains from the new Wear OS 6 update. Storage also doubles across the board, with 64GB now standard (up from 32GB), including a new Titanium Blue version of the Ultra. This is just a first look based on hands-on time. We'll find out if these features live up to the hype when put to the test in our full review, coming soon.
GSM Arena
2 days ago
- GSM Arena
European pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Z Flip7 FE have begun
In case you were out of town this week, here's the recap of the Galaxy Unpacked event. Samsung opened a new chapter with slimmer Z foldables and also the first FE foldable that targets a lower price. It also launched new smartwatches with a 'cushion' design. All new devices went on pre-order after the event and that will continue for a couple of weeks. During the pre-order period, the phones get a free storage upgrade. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is super slim (8.9mm folded, 4.2mm unfolded) and light (215g, it weighs less than an S25 Ultra). You can check out our hands-on for a closer look and don't miss the camera samples that show off what the new 200MP camera can do. The phone also has bigger displays – 6.5' cover and 8.0' main display (up from 6.3' and 7.6' on the Z Fold6). One thing that wasn't upgraded was the battery – you're still looking at a 4,400mAh cell. Samsung says that Z Fold buyers had other priorities, demanding a slimmer build, better cameras and larger displays. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 offers the best of both worlds – a slimmer design (13.7mm folded, 6.5mm unfolded vs. 14.9mm/6.9mm on the Z Flip6) and a bigger 4,300mAh battery. That's 300mAh more than the previous model and almost as big as the Fold battery. This one has larger displays too, an edge-to-edge 4.1' cover display and a 6.9' inner one (vs. 3.4' and 6.7' on the 2024 model). However, all Z Flip7 models will be powered by the Exynos 2500 – at least it's the same for European and American models. Also, the cameras didn't get any real upgrades besides 10-bit HDR video support. Check out our Z Flip7 hands-on and camera samples for more info. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is the more affordable clamshell foldable – its MSRP is $200 less than the Z Flip6 was last year. Anyway, you are essentially looking at the Galaxy Z Flip6 except with the old Exynos 2400 chipset replacing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. Also, memory was cut back to 8/128GB and 8/256GB configurations, but the free storage upgrade gets you the latter. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is the slimmest in the family, measuring only 8.6mm, while getting a small bump in battery capacity. The squircle shape – or 'cushion design' as Samsung terms it – is said to be more comfortable to wear and more stable (this enables more reliable readings during exercise with a lot of movement). The Watch8 has a 50% brighter display (now boosting to 3,000 nits), but it is powered by the same Exynos W1000 as last year's Watch7. Check out our Galaxy Watch8 series hands-on for a closer look at the Watch8 and Watch8 Classic. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic brings back the rotating bezel and introduces the Quick Button, similar to the Watch Ultra. This one is available only in 46mm size and comes with a relatively small 1.34' display. There are no discounts yet, but the watches come with a free Duo Wireless Charger and an extra band (valued at £138 total) in the UK and a €150 cashback in Germany. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra didn't get a sequel, but Samsung refreshed the existing model with a new color, Titanium Blue, and it doubled the storage to 64GB (bringing it on par with the new Classic). Even with the $100 gift card, unless you need the extra storage for podcasts or something, you may want to go with the older Ultra – 32GB is still a lot of storage for a watch. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Missed these 6 key checks after a Samsung security update? You could be at risk
Samsung regularly releases security patches to keep devices safe from threats like malware and data theft. While these updates might not grab headlines like new operating system releases, they play a crucial role in protecting your phone and personal information. Once a security patch has been installed, Samsung users should review certain settings to ensure that their device continues to run smoothly and securely. Samsung users should check these key settings after every security update to maintain device security and performance.(Samsung) Samsung devices benefit from Samsung Knox, a security platform offering multiple layers of protection, including data encryption and real-time threat monitoring. Still, security updates can sometimes reset or change settings, which is why users should perform a quick check after each patch. Here are six key things Samsung users should verify after installing a security update: 1. Review App Permissions Although app permissions typically remain unchanged after a security patch, it's wise to review them regularly. Check permissions for any new apps or those you've recently reactivated. Limiting unnecessary permissions reduces the risk of data exposure through third-party applications. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7 FE, and Watch 8: Here's everything announced at Galaxy Unpacked July event 2. Check Biometric Authentication Biometric data like fingerprints and facial recognition usually stay intact after updates, but confirming this is a good habit. Some updates improve biometric algorithms, so if you experience recognition issues, try resetting your biometric data or ensuring your phone's software is fully updated. 3. Re-check Charging Settings Security patches can sometimes reset charging preferences. Review settings like fast charging and super fast charging, especially if you own devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus or Ultra. Disabling fast charging can help extend battery lifespan when you don't need a quick boost. Also read: OpenAI prepares to take on Google Chrome with AI-driven browser, launch expected in weeks 4. Review Battery Settings Battery optimisation settings might revert to default after an update, potentially causing faster battery drain. Check features like battery protection, which manages charging thresholds to avoid overcharging. Samsung offers options that limit charging to 80% while you sleep or prevent constant 100% charging, both helping preserve battery health. 5. Re-evaluate Security Settings Security settings might reset to default after updates. Double-check important features such as two-factor authentication, Find My Mobile options, and theft protection tools like Identity Check and Remote Lock. These settings help safeguard your device and personal data. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S25 review: Flagship features in a handful package 6. Verify Update Success Finally, confirm that the security patch was installed correctly. Go to the Software Information section to see the current security patch level. You should also check Google Play system updates to ensure your apps receive the latest vulnerability fixes and performance improvements. In short, by taking these post-update steps, Samsung users can make the most of their device's security features and avoid disruptions. Also, regular checks after security patches will help you maintain optimal performance and strengthen your defence against digital threats.
GSM Arena
2 days ago
- GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Z Flip7 FE go on pre-order in the US
In case you were out of town this week, here's the recap of the Galaxy Unpacked event. Samsung opened a new chapter with slimmer Z foldables, but also the first FE foldable that targets a lower price. It also launched new smartwatches with a 'cushion' design. All new devices went on pre-order after the event and that will continue for a couple of weeks – open sales begin on July 25 (Friday two weeks from now). During the pre-order period, the phones get a free storage upgrade. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is super slim (8.9mm folded, 4.2mm unfolded) and light (215g, it weighs less than an S25 Ultra). You can check out our hands-on for a closer look and don't miss the camera samples that show off what the new 200MP camera can do. The phone also has bigger displays – 6.5' cover and 8.0' main display (up from 6.3' and 7.6' on the Z Fold6). One thing that wasn't upgraded was the battery – you're still looking at a 4,400mAh cell. Samsung says that Z Fold buyers had other priorities, demanding a slimmer build, better cameras and larger displays. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 offers the best of both worlds – a slimmer design (13.7mm folded, 6.5mm unfolded vs. 14.9mm/6.9mm on the Z Flip6) and a bigger 4,300mAh battery. That's 300mAh more than the previous model and almost as big as the Fold battery. This one has larger displays too, an edge-to-edge 4.1' cover display and a 6.9' inner one (vs. 3.4' and 6.7' on the 2024 model). However, all Z Flip7 models will be powered by the Exynos 2500, including the US one. Also, the cameras didn't get any real upgrades besides 10-bit HDR video support. Check out our Z Flip7 hands-on and camera samples for more info. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is the more affordable clamshell foldable – its MSRP is $200 less than the Z Flip6 was last year. That said, you can't depend on carrier deals for this one – the Z Flip7 FE will be sold only by retailers and not carriers. Anyway, you are essentially looking at the Galaxy Z Flip6 except with the old Exynos 2400 chipset replacing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. Also, memory was cut back to 8/128GB and 8/256GB configurations, but the free storage upgrade gets you the latter. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is the slimmest in the family, measuring only 8.6mm, while getting a small bump in battery capacity. The squircle shape – or 'cushion design' as Samsung terms it – is said to be more comfortable to wear and more stable (which offers more reliable readings during exercise with a lot of movement). The Watch8 has a 50% brighter display (now boosting to 3,000 nits), but it is powered by the same Exynos W1000 as last year's Watch7. Check out our Galaxy Watch8 series hands-on for a closer look at the Watch8 and Watch8 Classic. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic brings back the rotating bezel and introduces the Quick Button, similar to the Watch Ultra. This one is available only in 46mm size and comes with a relatively small 1.34' display. There are no discounts yet, but Amazon throws in a $50 and a $100 gift card for the Watch8 and Watch8 Classic, respectively. There is no new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, but Samsung refreshed the existing model with a new color, Titanium Blue, and it doubled the storage to 64GB (bringing it on par with the new Classic). Even with the $100 gift card, unless you need the extra storage for podcasts or something, you may want to go with the older Ultra – 32GB is still a lot of storage for a watch. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
