It's been three years since Sony debuted the ZV-E10, a camera it targeted at vloggers, so it's high time that model got some upgrades. The company just announced the mirrorless ZV-E10 II. Sony says this variant adds some new features while retaining those that creators liked from the original, including a background defocus capability and the vari-angle flip screen.
The ZV-E10 II has a 26MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, an upgrade from the 24MP sensor in the original model. The larger-capacity battery (the NP-FZ100 found in some full-frame Sony cameras) may be a more compelling update. Sony claims that, with this battery, users will be able to shoot up to 195 minutes of video continuously.
Other features include a cinematic vlog setting that automatically optimizes the aspect ratio, frame rate and autofocus transition speed for a more cinematic look to videos, Sony claims. There's also a new vertical-oriented user interface and upgraded "connectivity for easy live streaming and data transfer," according to the company. All of this and the camera still weighs just 377 grams.
The ZV-E10 II will be available at the end of this month and it will cost $999 for the body only. If you'd prefer a $1,099 bundle with a new PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II lens, you'll need to wait until early August. The lightweight kit lens offers autofocus and video performance improvements over the previous version, according to Sony.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-reveals-the-more-vlogger-friendly-zv-e10-ii-163122315.html?src=rss
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra will be the very first smartwatches to receive access to Wear OS 5, Google’s latest operating system for wearables. This was unveiled at today’s Unpacked event, alongside a slew of major product announcements. These product announcements also happened to include the aforementioned smartwatches.
That means that Samsung’s recently-announced gadgets are the very first smartwatches to get Wear OS 5, even before Google’s own products. This will change later in the year when the Pixel Watch 3 is likely to drop. Interestingly, this is exactly how it went down with Wear OS 4. The operating system first came to the Galaxy Watch 6 before being included with the Pixel Watch 2.
Google officially revealed Wear OS 5 two months ago at I/O 2024 and the new software is filled with useful updates. The UI is mostly the same as Wear OS 4, but the software has been optimized to improve battery life by up to 30 percent. There are some new health monitoring features, including analysis of stride length when walking or running.
The operating system includes some efficiency upgrades, with Google saying that, for instance, running a marathon will consume 20 percent less power on Wear OS 5 when compared to OS 4. There’s a new grid-based app launcher and additional options for watch faces. This software update doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but that extra efficiency is sure to be a boon for many consumers.
Incidentally, there’s no information as to when the operating system will be ported to Samsung’s older smartwatches. We’ll just have to wait and find out. For now, you have to plunk down $300 for the Galaxy Watch 7 or $650 for the Ultra to access the OS.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-galaxy-watch-7-and-ultra-will-get-first-dibs-on-wear-os-5-151009264.html?src=rss
Strava turns 15 this year, and it is ensuring its first generation of users can include their kids who have grown up along the way. The fitness tracker app has launched its family plan, a subscription tier allowing up to four accounts on one plan. It includes everything an individual plan has, such as route building and sharing, activity recording and safety tools.
The family plan starts at $140 annually, compared to $80 annually for an individual plan, so it could even be worth it for two people. But, there's one big catch: Users have to pay for the plan upfront, unlike the individual plan, which offers a $12 monthly option. Also, anyone who has already subscribed but wants to join a family plan will have to cancel their membership in order to join it. Strava claims that all of their data should be transferred once they have joined a family plan.
Despite the name, anyone can come together to create a family plan — as long as they're all based in the same country. Members can leave, and new members can join at any time. However, unlike the rest of Strava, a family plan is only available on the company's website for now, not the apps.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/strava-launches-a-family-plan-170002189.html?src=rss
Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity is typically a core feature for the best wireless earbuds and headphones these days, but that's not always the case. When Bose introduced its QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and its Ultra Open Earbuds, neither model offered the tool. This meant that you couldn't connect to more than one device at a time and you couldn't quickly switch from your computer to your phone when you were getting a call. Well, the company has released a software update for both sets of earbuds that will add the convenient functionality via the Bose app. This addresses a key complaint from both of my reviews and will improve the overall experience of using either of these earbuds.
Additionally, Bose says it's rolling out improvements to voice pick-up and connectivity on the Ultra Open Earbuds as part of the software update. The company explains that there are some general bug fixes for that model in this release as well.
Bose says the update for the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Ultra Open Earbuds will be begin rolling out today and will reach customers worldwide over the next two weeks. You can look for the new firmware version under the Product Update section in the Settings menu of the Bose app.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bose-adds-multipoint-bluetooth-to-its-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-and-ultra-open-earbuds-143830749.html?src=rss
Samsung wrapped up its summer Galaxy Unpacked event yesterday, and there weren’t too many surprises. Leaks before the event pointed to fresh Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold phones, along with a pair of new watches and more info on the Galaxy Ring. What we got was... announcements of the Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Galaxy Watch 7, the Galaxy Watch Ultra and a proper unveil of the Galaxy Ring. Leakers — is there anything they can’t do?
Kicking things off is a brand new product category for Samsung: a smart ring. The company had already made it clear that this device (much like the Oura Ring) is focused on health and wellness, and now we've got a clearer idea of how that might work, as well as how much you'll need to pay to snap up the Galaxy Ring.
Samsung claims it's been able to cram its existing sensor tech into the smaller form factor of a ring. The titanium Galaxy Ring has an accelerometer, PPG sensors to measure blood flow and skin temperature detection. It can track metrics such as sleep score, movement during your slumber, heart rate, respiratory rate and menstrual cycles. Samsung will give you an overall Energy Score to help give you a snapshot of your overall health and offer suggestions on how to improve things. There's no subscription required for any of this, by the way, which is welcome news.
Along with automatic workout detection, the ring can deliver heart rate alerts and nudge you to move around a little if it hasn't picked up much movement from you recently. Oh, and you can use the smart ring to remotely snap a photo with your Galaxy phone.
The Galaxy Ring, which is said to run for up to seven days on a single charge and has a quick charging case, will run you $400. Pre-orders start today in the US. The wearable will start shipping on July 24. One other thing worth noting is that if you wear a Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch together, the battery life of the former will last for up to 30 percent longer, Samsung claims.
Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Samsung's foldable phones are getting their annual refresh just in time to take them to the beach, perhaps to test how well those creases hold up these days. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are the slimmest and lightest models in their respective lineups yet, and Samsung says they're more durable than ever. The company says there's a strengthened folding edge to help support the dual-rail hinge, while "enhanced layers" for the main screen help improve the crease without diminishing strength. Both smartphones have Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to help make them more durable too.
The handsets run on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. On the cooling front, the Z Fold 6 has a larger vapor chamber than its predecessor. The Z Flip 6 is the first Z Flip to include a vapor chamber, which should improve cooling.
Because it's 2024, the phones have a ton of AI features (some of which appeared in the Galaxy Ultra S24), including a fully integrated Google Gemini app. They can generate a more detailed image based on a sketch and draft emails based on a prompt, while there are a bunch of AI-powered camera upgrades.
One admittedly cool feature for the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 is that the Interpreter app makes the most of the dual screen format, so both the main and cover screens feature translations with the aim of fostering more natural conversations. The translations are handled on-device, rather than through the cloud.
Speaking of the displays, those are slightly larger this year. The 7.6-inch main screen is 2.7mm wider, while the cover screen is 1mm wider. At 2,600 nits, the displays are also the brightest seen on a Galaxy Fold, matching that of the Galaxy S24.
When it comes to the Z Flip 6, one of the major upgrades is a new camera system. The foldable boasts 50MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide sensors (the same as the base Galaxy S24). The former has 2x optical zoom with artificial intelligence powering a zoom function of up to 10x. Samsung has also bumped up the base memory from 8GB to 12GB.
Both smartphones are available to pre-order today and general availability starts on July 24. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,900, while the Z Flip 6 starts at $1,100. Those who pre-order a Z Fold 6 will get a storage bump from 256GB to 512GB or 512GB to 1TB, while you can get a free 256GB to 512GB storage increase with a Galaxy Z Flip 6 pre-order.
If you're interested in finding out more about the devices before taking the plunge though, you may be pleased to learn that we've had some hands-on time with them. You can read our first impressions of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 now or watch the video above.
Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Of all the possible words Samsung could have chosen for its new premium smartwatch, it had to plump for "Ultra." It's not like any of Samsung's major competitors has a smartwatch bearing that moniker or anything.
Anyway, there's a new high-end Samsung smartwatch in town and it's called the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Wear OS 5-powered device employs a new cushion design to bolster protection and what Samsung calls "visual completeness." The Watch Ultra is designed for durability, perhaps with extreme athletes in mind.
For one thing, it's said to work at a wider range of altitudes, from 500 meters below sea level to 9,000 meters above it. It's water resistant to a depth of 100 meters and has a titanium frame. Adventurers should not have to worry about the device running out of juice in a hurry as Samsung says it will run for up to 100 hours in power saving mode and 48 hours when exercise power saving is enabled. Either way, it should have the longest battery life of any Galaxy Watch.
Other features include multi-course workout tracking (for things like triathlons), advanced Personalized Heart Rate Zone and an emergency siren to bolster safety. The screen has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, so it should be visible in very sunny conditions, and there's a night mode too. Samsung says the Galaxy Watch Ultra can even look for signs of sleep apnea. On top of all that, there's a new programmable Quick Button.
For those who just want the latest Samsung smartwatch without too many bells and whistles, there's the Galaxy Watch 7. This model is the first with a 3nm processor, which Samsung says can deliver three times faster CPU performance and 30 percent better power efficiency. It has a dual-frequency GPS system to boost location accuracy, health tracking upgrades and the ability to control the device via double pinch gestures. Hmm, where have we heard that one before?
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is only available in a 47mm size and costs $650. As for the Galaxy Watch 7, that comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes. It starts at $300. It's the same deal as with all the other new gear: pre-orders are open now with shipments and general availability starting on July 24.
We've also had the chance to go hands on with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, so you can read all about our first impressions of Samsung's stab at a higher-end smartwatch.
Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
We have some new Galaxy Buds to go with the ring, watches and foldables. When the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are paired with a Z Flip 6 or Z Fold 6, the Interpreter app can translate audio live into your ears. That might be helpful for anyone studying abroad or taking a foreign language class.
Both models use their mics to analyze internal and external sound to optimize audio quality and active noise cancellation. The Buds 3 Pro can automatically adjust for noise via the adaptive noise control, siren detect and voice detect features.
The in-ear Buds 3 Pro have a new blade (i.e. stem) design with lights built in. You'll be able to control the audio by pinching or swiping up or down. They boast dual amplifiers, planar tweeters and a super-wideband call feature too.
Once again, pre-orders for the earbuds are open today, with general availability starting on July 24. Galaxy Buds 3 start at $180, while a pair of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro will run you $250.
Update, July 11, 1PM ET: This story was updated after publishing to include links to the Samsung store and more links and references to Engadget's stories from the Galaxy Unpacked event.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-unpacked-2024-everything-announced-including-galaxy-ring-z-fold-6-z-flip-6-galaxy-watch-ultra-and-more-141618394.html?src=rss
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked might have been more like a recap of its recent leaks, but it does mean one exciting thing: pre-orders are now available on Samsung's website. For starters, you can order Samsung's new phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Maybe you're more interested in getting new earbuds and want to check out the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Then there are Samsung's latest wearables, the Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Ring.
You can pre-order any of these items now through Samsung or pick one up starting July 24 directly from them or companies like Amazon and BestBuy. If you missed it, the live stream is available on demand, but we've summed up all the best bits for you here. Check out every Samsung product announced, its prices and any extra goodies you can get by pre-ordering now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-order-samsung-galaxy-unpacked-devices-fold-6-flip-6-watch-ultra-galaxy-ring-and-more-131513366.html?src=rss
Ever since the original Galaxy Fold came out in 2019, Samsung has enjoyed a commanding lead over the market for flexible screen phones. But with the introduction of challengers like the OnePlus Open, the Pixel Fold and the 2024 Moto Razrs, the gap between Samsung and its biggest competitors has been shrinking quickly. So while the new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 — two of several devices announced at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris — are lighter, faster and more durable than before, I’m not sure if that’s enough to keep Samsung’s latest generation of bendy handouts at the top of the growing mountain of foldable rivals.
The biggest changes for 2024
Improvements to the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip can largely be broken down into two main categories: The expansion of Samsung’s Galaxy AI features – which first launched on the S24 series earlier this year – with some tweaks to take advantage of the phones’ convertible form factor and an assortment of upgraded components including new camera sensors and faster silicon. However, those looking for major design changes will need to keep waiting, as these devices feel more like refined versions of last year’s models than a full rework.
Both phones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and come with 12GB of RAM, a major boost for the Z Flip 6 which topped out at just 8GB on the previous model. The Flip 6 also packs a 4,000mAh battery, which is the largest ever on any Z Flip, so it should see a noticeable boost in longevity as well. But perhaps the biggest change on the Z Flip is its two new camera sensors that are the same as those on the standard S24: a 50MP main shooter and a 12MP option for the ultra-wide lens.
Unfortunately, despite a higher price tag and a larger body with seemingly more room for fancy camera hardware, the Z Fold 6 is only getting a new 12MP ultra-wide sensor while retaining the same 50MP main cam 3x telephoto used on the Z Fold 5. Samsung has also boosted the peak brightness of the Z Fold 6’s interior and exterior displays to 2,600 nits, just like on the S24. Sadly, only the Z Flip 6's main screen is getting that same boost to max luminance.
Elsewhere, the frames of both models are made from Enhanced Armor Aluminum, which the company says is 10 percent stronger than before. Samsung claims it has also refined the folding edge of its flexible screens to better withstand pressure and contact from sharp objects. But the most valuable upgrade for long-term usability may be the company’s new Z Assurance program, which will provide owners of the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 with a free one-time replacement of Samsung’s factory-installed screen protector.
As someone who has suffered from bubbling screen protectors acrossseveralgenerations of past Z Folds, I believe this should bring some extra peace of mind to those concerned about committing to a phone with a more delicate flexible screen. Furthermore, Samsung is also offering a one-time discount on screen replacements, with the goal of making repairs cost about the same as fixing the display on a standard S24.
Z Flip 6 impressions: A more photo-friendly compact foldable
One subtle but stylish design change on the Z Flip 6 is color-matched lens housings on the phone's cameras.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Unlike most years where the Flip takes a backseat to its bigger sibling, this year it feels like Samsung's smaller foldable has gotten the most significant changes. The two new cameras can’t be understated, especially on a phone that caters towards more fashion-conscious and social-friendly buyers. I really love that by using the same sensors used in the S24, Samsung is bringing more parity between its traditional candy bar-style handsets and its most compact foldable.
On top of that, there’s a new auto-framing mode that allows you to prop the phone up on a flat surface and it can zoom in and out depending on how many people are in view or how far you move away. However, during our demo, I did notice that it took a second or two for the viewfinder to adjust, so you will need a bit of patience.
Meanwhile, on the Z Flip's outside screen, Samsung has increased the number of widgets you can see on a single page to four while also adding support for a wider range of widget sizes and functions. This makes it even easier to check apps or launch timers without needing to open the phone, which is great for general usability. There are also new interactive wallpapers that you can use as fun timewasters.
When it comes to AI, in addition to existing features like browsing assist, dictation and Circle to Search, there’s a new on-device texting feature that will read up to seven previous messages to provide you with more useful and contextual smart replies. The idea is that if you’re on the go, you can more accurately respond to friends and family without needing to type things out yourself. And even though the Z Flip 6 has a much smaller exterior display than the Z Fold 6, Samsung also included the ability to do multi-screen real-time translation. This allows you to face the cover display towards someone else, so they can see messages translated in their language while you see their responses in yours.
Then, when you factor in significantly more base RAM, a larger 4,000mAh battery, a brighter main display and the new Z Assurance program, it really feels like Samsung is eliminating a lot of the shortcomings of the Z Flip when compared to the standard S24. That means people who want a truly compact device don’t need to make any compromise, potentially opening up the Z Flip to a much larger audience. The Z Flip 6 is also getting a vapor chamber for the first time to help provide better sustained performance. And if that’s not enough, Samsung has a huge array of accessories including new cases with built-in LED lighting, you know, in case your foldable phone wasn’t drawing enough attention.
Z Fold 6 impressions: Sharper and sleeker
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
With an extra generation under its belt, you could argue that the Z Fold 6 didn’t need as many upgrades as the Flip and Samsung seemingly agrees. There’s not much change in terms of memory, storage capacity or general design. That said, the switch to a new dual-rail hinge and the use of Samsung’s enhanced Armor Aluminum means that the Z Fold 6 now only weighs 239 grams (8.43 ounces). That’s 14 grams lighter than last year’s model and only a few grams heavier than the S24 Ultra. That might not sound like a lot, but its something you notice immediately as soon as you pick it up.
Furthermore, while the Z Fold 6’s main screen is staying pat at 7.6 inches across, it's actually around 3mm wider and 1mm shorter to deliver a better viewing experience when watching movies. And it’s a similar story for the exterior display, which is about 1mm wider. This change provides more room for the phone’s onscreen keyboard and makes typing easier. Meanwhile, to better support gamers who often gravitate towards the Z Fold’s roomy internal display, Samsung increased the size of its vapor chamber by 60 percent to ensure graphics remain smooth even during longer sessions.
As for AI, Samsung is expanding the Z Fold 6’s toolkit with a few new features including dual-screen translation and translation overlay, the latter of which can change words in place instead of spitting things out into a big blob of unformatted text. On the more fun (but frivolous) side of things, the new Portrait Studio feature allows you to generate a stylized image (comic, watercolor, 3D cartoon, etc.) from an existing shoot. Alternatively, the Sketch to Image tool allows you to doodle a rough drawing of an object on top of a photo (like a crown or sunglasses) before generating a more realistic replacement using on-device processing. The results were surprisingly lifelike, though I’m not sure how useful it is aside from possibly pranking your friends.
My concern with the Z Fold 6 is that while it still feels very much like a flagship foldable thanks to brighter screens (2,600 nit peaks for both), a lighter design and an upgraded processor, there are a handful of long-awaited features we still didn’t get. This includes things like a built-in stylus and S-Pen slot and better main and telephoto cameras. With the Pixel Fold, Google proved that big flexible phones don’t need to be saddled with downgraded photography. Samsung also hasn't made any changes to the under-display camera beneath the Fold's main screen. But my biggest gripe is that both Z Fold and Z Flip 6 cost $100 more than last year’s phones. Price has long been the biggest barrier to entry for people curious about foldables, which goes double for premium models like the Fold that go for just shy of $2,000. And after five generations, I was really hoping to see Samsung leverage its scale to deliver a more affordable big-screen option.
An example of Samsung's new AI-powered Portrait Studio feature.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 will be available for pre-order today starting at $1,900 and $1,100 respectively, with official sales beginning on July 24. The Z Fold 6 will be available in three main colors: Silver Shadow, pink and navy, with two additional colors (Crafted black and white) available exclusively from Samsung. The Z Flip 6 will be available in four main colors: Silver Shadow, yellow, blue and mint with Crafted Black, white and peach variants only available on Samsung.com.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-and-z-flip-6-brighter-lighter-and-faster-but-is-that-enough-130027947.html?src=rss
At Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung has today announced the Galaxy Ring, a finger-worn wearable bolstering its ecosystem of health-tracking gear. Yes, this is the thirdorfourth time it’s been announced, but today is the day it’s actually available for you to pre-order. It’s a conscious attempt to corner a market held by plenty of smaller players in the space, most notably the Oura Ring. You’ll also get the usual AI woo insights to help you take better care of your body when you think things might not be going well.
The company boasts that it has embedded its existing sensor technology into the far smaller space a ring affords. It’s carrying an accelerometer, PPG / heart rate and skin temperature sensor, which will feed data to Samsung Health to build a portrait of your body. In the app, you’ll be able to look at your sleep score, how much you move during sleep, your heart and respiratory rate as well as your menstrual cycle. An overall Energy Score will track how well it thinks you’re feeling every day and offer suggestions on what to change.
You’ll also benefit from Heart Rate Alerts should your ticker get too slow or too fast, and give you a heads-up to avoid any trouble. There’s the table-stakes stuff, too, like automatic workout detection and alerts when the ring doesn’t think you’ve moved enough of late. Not to mention the ring can be used as a remote shutter trigger for your Galaxy-branded smartphone.
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Of course, there's only so much a smart ring can do given the constraints inherent in the form, an issue I outlined in detail back in April. But if you're already in Samsung's ecosystem and want to ensure that you are always getting the most detailed insights on your body possible, this is a no-brainer.
Galaxy Ring is made from titanium and is rated for depths of water up to 100 meters, with an IP68 for water and dust ingress. Depending on the size of ring you opt for, it’ll weigh between 2.3 and 3 grams, with a quoted battery life of up to seven days on a single charge. Galaxy Ring is available in Titanium Black, Silver or Gold, and will cost $400. Pre-orders in the US begin on July 10, with general availability starting July 24.
Samsung just announced the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at its most recent Galaxy Unpacked event. The company’s latest high-end foldable is filled with both hardware and software upgrades. As usual with modern tech, AI is the name of the game here.
It’s getting pretty much all of the fancypants AI features first included with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. These include the interpreter mode for in-person conversations in another language and the live translation feature for calls. There’s chat assist to check spelling, grammar and tone of messages, complete with a glut of emoji options.
These AI tools extend to the Notes app, which allow for automatic summaries, formatting, spell checks and translations. The foldable is also getting a circle to search feature for images and an instant overlay that translates language. Finally, there’s AI-assisted photo editing.
Engadget
As for construction, there’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, so this thing should take a licking and keep on ticking. The dual-rail hinge features a refined folding edge with enhanced resistance to pressure and sharp objects. Samsung says the aluminum used in the Z Fold 6 is ten percent stronger than the previous iteration.
There’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and 12GB of RAM. The main screen is a 7.6-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, while the cover screen is a 6.3-inch AMOLED. The 50MP main camera is similar to last year’s model, though there’s a new 12MP ultra-wide sensor. The Z Fold 6 can still handle 3x optical zoom. It’s also the brightest device in its category, with a maximum of 2,600 nits.
The Z Fold 6 is available for preorder right now in a wide variety of colors, including pink, navy and silver. There are two colors exclusive to Samsung.com, which are white and crafted black. The foldable starts at a jaw-dropping $1,900.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-new-galaxy-z-fold-6-is-swiping-many-of-the-ai-features-from-the-s24-ultra-130044113.html?src=rss
Have you heard the song that goes “anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you?” Well, it seems like the folks at Samsung have been listening to that on repeat. At its Galaxy Unpacked event today, the company unveiled a slew of products, including a few wearables that look remarkably familiar. The Galaxy Ring, which was teased in January, appears to be inspired by the Oura Ring. Meanwhile, the new Galaxy Watch Ultra seems to have borrowed many traits from a competing product at Apple, right down to its name.
The resemblance doesn’t end there, but there are a few key differences between Samsung and Apple’s high-end smartwatches. From my recent hands-on experience, though, Samsung’s latest wearables don’t seem to bring many new things to its familiar-looking products.
The Korean company has a long history of aping Apple, and has even had to pay the iPhone maker millions of dollars as part of a multi-year patent infringement case. With everything from its name to appearance to features being so obviously similar to the Apple Watch Ultra, I don’t think it’s too far for me to outright say that Samsung is copying the iPhone maker, and pretty brazenly so. In fact, even with the Galaxy Watch 7, Samsung seems to be bringing features that already launched elsewhere.
What’s new on the Galaxy Watch 7
Most of the changes on the Watch 7 aren’t immediately visible. There is a new 3nm Exynos processor under the hood, which Samsung says is three times faster than its predecessor. It’s also supposed to deliver 30% improved power efficiency, which should translate to better battery life. The Watch 7 also has a dual-frequency GPS system for more accurate location tracking. Apple brought dual-frequency GPS to its watches in 2022 with the original Watch Ultra.
The similarities don’t end there. Samsung is also offering new watchbands, including one in a very familiar-looking ripple style. The Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra will also support a new “double pinch” gesture that will let you do things like trigger the camera or dismiss an alert by bringing your thumb and forefinger together twice. Apple formally launched Double Tap on the Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 last year, though the bones of the gesture-based navigation has existed as an accessibility feature for longer.
I wasn’t able to test double pinch at the hands-on event for myself, though Samsung reps onsite showed me how it would work. To be fair, it also took Apple weeks before it actually rolled out Double Tap to the public.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The Galaxy Watch 7 also comes with the usual set of new watch faces, and has a second-gen bioactive sensor that allows for faster and more-accurate readings. There’s also new software features like an AI algorithm for sleep analysis and a “De Novo FDA-authorized Sleep Apnea feature” that checks for “potential signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.” The Galaxy Watch 7 (and Ultra) is also one of the first to run Wear OS 5, which was first teased at Google I/O back in May.
I’m recuperating from a recent injury and did not take a nap at the hands-on event, so I wasn’t able to check out the new sleep features or really even jump about to see how long my heart rate changes might take to register. I can only say that on the outside the Galaxy Watch 7 looks a lot like the Galaxy Watch 6.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs the Apple Watch Ultra
I spent more time checking out the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which is, to give Samsung at least a little credit, the most different looking smartwatch it’s made in years. When rumors were rife that both Samsung and Apple were readying “Pro” models of their watches to launch in 2022, I was seriously underwhelmed when I finally saw the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. It was nothing like the Apple Watch Ultra, and seemed to be just a slightly more durable and souped-up version of the classic Galaxy Watch.
With the Galaxy Watch Ultra, Samsung has managed to successfully change up the look of its long-standing series of smartwatches. This thing’s appearance definitely makes a statement, and it’s not just “Watch Ultra for Android!” One thing Samsung did differently from Apple is that it kept the circle display, but framed it in a rounded square case, resulting in what the company described as a “cushion” design. Supposedly this “enhances protection and visual completeness,” but I suspect it has more to do with a round screen being easier for Samsung’s manufacturing.
The “cushion” style goes a long way in making the Galaxy Watch Ultra look different from other Samsung watches, but it still comes off like a slightly wider version of the Apple one. Both wearables have titanium cases and screens that can go up to 3,000 nits of brightness. They also offer water-resistance of up to 100 meters.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Apple does have a depth gauge and can be used for recreational diving at up to 40 meters, though, while Samsung doesn’t have similar software. There are other small differences in dust- and water-resistance between the two Watch Ultras, with Samsung’s rated at IP68 and Apple’s at IP6X dust-resistant.
Though it looks bulkier, the Galaxy Watch Ultra actually has a smaller 47mm case compared to Apple’s, which is 49mm. The latter is also a hair heavier, weighing 61.4 grams (2.16 ounces) compared to Samsung’s 60.5 grams. On my relatively small wrist, the Galaxy Watch Ultra looked a bit overwhelming, just like the Apple version did. If you have bigger bones and thought the Apple Watch Ultra was an alright size, you won’t have an issue with Samsung’s version. I will say that in my brief time with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, it never felt too heavy, and I almost forgot I was wearing it.
I already described how Samsung is bringing double pinch to the Galaxy Watch series this year, which is basically Apple’s double tap but less sophisticated. In my brief experience, Apple’s implementation is more thorough and works in more parts of the interface (like for jumping through individual widgets in its smart stack, for example). Samsung’s approach is fairly limited, since it appears to only be able to do one or two things.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra does have one notable difference from the Apple Watch Ultra — buttons. It has three on its right edge: the Home button on top and the back button at the bottom, just like previous models offered. But a new Quick Button sits in the middle and can be customized to launch an app or workout with a press. You can also determine what it does when you click it twice, but by default holding it down for five seconds will trigger the emergency siren, which is another feature that Apple also launched with the original Watch Ultra. A lot of Samsung’s interface also looks similar to Apple’s here, though its alarm sounds more monotonous and shrill than the iPhone maker’s.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
One thing about the Galaxy Watch Ultra annoyed me more than anything else. Although it’s a dial that can turn, rotating the Quick Button doesn’t scroll through the interface. There’s also no physical spinning bezel here, so the only way you have to scroll through Samsung’s software is by dragging your finger across the screen. For a smartwatch company that’s best known for its rotating bezel that allows for easy scrolling, this seems like a glaring omission and a missed opportunity. Oh and just like the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button, the Quick button is easy to accidentally press into when you bend your wrist backwards while doing pushups, for example.
There’s a lot more of the Galaxy Watch Ultra I’d like to test properly, like whether its 3nm processor truly translates to speedier performance and longer battery life. Samsung claims the Galaxy Watch Ultra can last up to 60 hours of typical use, 100 hours in Power Saving and 48 hours in “Exercise Power Saving.”
I’m also curious to see how Samsung’s double pinch feature compares to Apple’s version, even though I don’t find myself using the latter much in the real world anyway.
Has Samsung really done anything better than Apple with the Galaxy Watch Ultra? Though I’m skeptical at the moment, it’s a little too early to tell. It’s definitely a good thing that Samsung has priced its Watch Ultra at $650, which is $150 less than the Apple Watch Ultra and certainly more palatable. But I can only wait till after I’ve put the device to the test in the real world to know if it’s worth spending any money on. If you’re already intrigued, you can pre-order the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch 7 starting today on Samsung.com and they’ll be available on July 24.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra-hands-on-didnt-fall-far-from-the-apple-tree-130030349.html?src=rss