Tag Archives: galaxy

Samsung’s new patent hints at tablet with expandable screen – goodbye foldable displays

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Visualized using AI

In the unrecorded race for perfecting the foldable smartphones, and even tablets – in some distinct parts of the world, – Samsung is taking a leap of faith. The South Korean tech company, if the leaked patent filing is to be believed, is planning a flexible display tablet, which would be capable of expanding in either direction, on the same plane, giving the user the freedom to control the size of the display at will.

Imagine you are in the middle of searching the mysteries of Mariana Trench and suddenly the tablet buzzes with a notification, your friend’s ready to take you on a game of chess. From a usual-size tablet, you pull the device’s shell and expand the screen in both directions and place your pieces on a digital perspective not fathomed before. Knock-knock, back to reality! Samsung only has a patent application filed for such a tablet.

Designer: Samsung

Visualized using AI

Samsung has filed a patent application for a new tablet with an expandable display on the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) website. Such a display device should “solve the issues” that users generally face with foldable smartphones that compel one to choose between a larger display or a smaller one when folded. The tablet – with a shell capable of expanding – Samsung would give the user convenience to pick their size according to the need of the application they are interacting with.

According to the patent drawing shared by Patently Apple, the display mechanism of such a tablet has been vividly explained. The device will include a flexible screen arranged in its shell, so when the user needs, the exposed display screen on the outside can be expanded and shrunk on the same plane, effortlessly increasing or decreasing the size on both sides or independently on either side (later made possible with a diagonal mechanism used, according to the patent).

Of course, the applications of such a tablet-like device featuring a flexible screen with adjustable size is manifold. Samsung has been at the forefront of mobile display technology and it’s evident from those used in its fold and flip series. We can back Samsung to pull off a screen like this, but for now, it’s only in a patent and no one knows if and when Samsung will reveal the new form factor for a tablet.

The post Samsung’s new patent hints at tablet with expandable screen – goodbye foldable displays first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 Leak: Complete Specs and Features

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Samsung is gearing up to reveal its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. With the Samsung Unpacked event just around the corner, detailed specs for both devices have already leaked, giving us a sneak peek at what’s coming.

Designer: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes with some exciting upgrades. The 7.6-inch inner screen now boasts a max brightness of 2,600 nits, up from 1,750 nits, making it much easier to see in bright daylight. The outer screen remains a useful 6.3 inches, with slight improvements in size and resolution for a better overall viewing experience.

Image via Evan Blass

Under the hood, the Z Fold 6 is powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which promises faster and more efficient performance. You’ll also get an extra hour of LTE internet use and two more hours of video playback, perfect for those long days out. Design-wise, the Fold 6 is 14 grams lighter and a bit more compact, making it easier to carry around. It’s 1.4mm shorter, 1mm wider, and 1.3mm thinner when folded, and 1.4mm shorter, 2.7mm wider, and 0.5mm thinner when unfolded. The improved Armor Aluminum frame ensures better durability without adding extra weight. A minor yet noteworthy change is the secondary screen being 0.1 inches larger. The main display resolution has slightly changed to 2160×1856 from 2176×1812. However, the cameras, battery capacity (4400mAh), and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass remain the same.

Image via Evan Blass

The design of the Z Fold 6 also focuses on functionality and portability. Despite its large display, the device is slim and lightweight, making it pocket-friendly. Samsung has improved the hinge mechanism, offering a smoother folding experience. The Z Fold 6 also supports the S Pen, making it a versatile tool for note-taking and productivity on the go.

Image via Evan Blass

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is also getting some cool updates. The main camera is now a powerful 50MP, up from 12MP, while retaining the same f/1.8 aperture for stunning photos. Another significant change is the switch to an IPS display from OLED, which might affect color quality slightly but could improve durability.

Image via Evan Blass

Equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and upgraded to 12GB of RAM from 8GB, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 ensures smooth multitasking and performance. The higher capacity 4,000mAh battery (up from 3,700mAh) extends internet usage by two hours and video playback by three hours, making it a reliable companion for prolonged use. When folded, the device is 0.2mm thinner, with other dimensions and weight remaining unchanged. A notable aesthetic update is that the entire phone reflects your chosen color, not just one panel on the back, for a more unified and stylish look. Like the Fold 6, the Flip 6 is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Display Comparison: Z Flip 4, 5, and 6

We see some exciting changes when comparing the display sizes across the Z Flip series. The Z Flip 6 has a 6.7-inch inner screen and a 3.4-inch outer screen, consistent with the Z Flip 5, but a significant jump from the Z Flip 4’s 1.9-inch outer screen. This increase provides a more useful and interactive external display, enhancing functionality without unfolding the device. Additionally, the Z Flip 6’s switch to an IPS display for the outer screen, from OLED, indicates a focus on durability and other display qualities.

Image via Evan Blass

New Features and Improvements

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 introduces several innovative features. The front cover screen now supports Samsung’s language-translating Interpreter Mode, allowing you to communicate more effectively in different languages. It also has Chat Assist, which lets you send messages directly from the front display with suggested replies curated by context-sensitive AI. The Circle to Search with Google feature enables users to instantly circle an object or text and get search results.

Image via Evan Blass

On the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the AI Note Assist helps summarize notes, making organizing your thoughts and ideas more accessible. The device also offers an immersive gaming experience with its high-brightness display and improved performance. The ProVisual Engine on both devices enhances camera capabilities, providing clear zoom and detailed photos powered by AI.

Image via Evan Blass

With the official launch on July 10th, these leaks have given us a comprehensive look at what to expect. Whether you’re after better performance, enhanced camera features, or stylish design tweaks, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are shaping up to be great new additions to the foldable phone market.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 Leak: Complete Specs and Features first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Evolution of Smartphones: What Are GenAI Phones?

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Generative AI, or GenAI, has been making waves in the software industry for several years, proving its potential to revolutionize various sectors with its ability to generate new content and provide insightful analyses based on existing data. However, it is only recently that this technology has started to transition from software applications to consumer hardware, specifically within the mobile phone market. This transition marks the beginning of a new era in consumer electronics, where smartphones are not only smart in name but are endowed with the capability to perform complex AI tasks that were once reserved for powerful servers.

The term “GenAI smartphone,” or “GenAI phones” for short, began to gain traction in the last six months, emerging prominently in reports from leading market research firms. These devices are distinguished from standard smartphones’ ability to harness large-scale, pre-trained generative AI models to create and modify content directly on the device. This capability isn’t just a marginal upgrade to existing features. Still, it represents a fundamental shift in how mobile technology interacts with users, offering distinctive personalization and functionality directly from one’s hand.

As these GenAI smartphones prepare to enter the market, they promise to redefine user interactions with mobile devices. With the potential to handle tasks ranging from real-time language translation and complex content creation to intuitive personal assistants that understand and predict user needs, GenAI phones aim to set a new standard in mobile computing. This evolution from a communication tool to an intelligent companion stresses a pivotal shift in the mobile industry, driving consumer excitement and industry innovation. As we stand on the brink of this technological leap, it is crucial to understand what precisely a GenAI smartphone is, how it differs from traditional smartphones, and what it promises for the future of mobile technology.

What is a GenAI Phone?

A GenAI phone represents a new category of smartphones that embed generative artificial intelligence (AI) at the core of their functionality, offering previously unimaginable capabilities in a handheld device. These devices integrate large-scale, pre-trained AI models to provide unprecedented personalization and functionality directly from one’s hand.

At the heart of a GenAI phone are AI-driven applications capable of generating original content. Whether it’s composing personalized emails, designing unique artwork, or creating music from simple user prompts, these applications dynamically produce outputs tailored to user interactions. Unlike traditional apps that operate within their confines, AI tools in a GenAI phone are embedded system-wide, enhancing the user experience across all functionalities. This integration ensures that AI capabilities improve everything from the camera and messaging apps to system settings, adapting to the user’s behavior to predict and automate actions like app selection or environmental adjustments.

GenAI phones are equipped with specialized CPUs explicitly designed for intensive AI tasks to power these sophisticated features. These processors perform billions of operations per second, enabling the device to run complex AI models directly on the device. This capability of processing data locally speeds up operations by eliminating the latency associated with cloud computing. It significantly enhances user privacy and security, as sensitive data does not need to be transmitted over the Internet.

GenAI phones must remain elegantly designed and user-friendly despite the advanced technology embedded within them. Consumers expect their devices to combine functionality with aesthetic appeal, mirroring the sleekness and minimalism of products like the iPad Pro M4. The challenge for manufacturers is integrating these powerful AI capabilities into slim, attractive, and intuitive devices, ensuring that technological advancements enhance rather than complicate the user experience.

What Isn’t a GenAI Phone and Current Market Scenario

Understanding what isn’t a GenAI phone is crucial in distinguishing it from the myriad of smartphones equipped with basic AI functionalities. Although many modern smartphones boast AI capabilities, having AI features doesn’t automatically make a device a GenAI phone. This distinction is required to set realistic expectations about the device’s capabilities and understand smartphone technology’s evolution. A GenAI phone fundamentally differs from standard smartphones because it integrates advanced AI functionalities directly into the device’s core systems and processes data locally rather than relying heavily on cloud computing. This integration means that GenAI phones are equipped with specialized hardware to handle complex AI tasks independently, thereby enhancing privacy and functionality by keeping the processing on the device itself.

In contrast, many smartphones on the market today, often mistaken for GenAI devices, do not meet these criteria. For example, while devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max offer AI-driven features like facial recognition, predictive text, and enhanced photography tools, these features, although advanced, do not necessarily qualify the device as a GenAI phone. This is because a true GenAI phone not only uses AI for specific tasks but integrates AI deeply across all system operations, processing complex AI tasks entirely on the device. In other words, even though iPhones process a significant amount of data on-device to ensure user privacy, the breadth and independence of AI integration in terms of generative capabilities might not be as extensive as in dedicated GenAI devices. Similarly, many Android devices boast impressive AI-powered photo editing and voice assistant features; however, these tasks are often processed with the aid of cloud servers, making them less autonomous and, therefore, not true GenAI phones. These smartphones might utilize AI for specific applications like optimizing battery life, managing screen brightness based on ambient conditions, or even offering user behavior-driven app suggestions. Yet, because they lack the hardware to independently process complex AI tasks directly on the device, they fall short of the GenAI classification. The reliance on cloud processing raises concerns about data privacy and limits the device’s functionality when offline or in areas with poor connectivity.

Thus, while many current smartphones are marketed with the allure of AI, only a select few truly qualify as GenAI phones by virtue of their ability to perform sophisticated AI operations natively and independently. Among the notable examples that set the benchmark in this emerging category are the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and the Google Pixel 8 Pro. These devices display the integration of AI at a foundational level, equipped with the necessary hardware to process complex AI tasks directly on the phone. This enables a range of innovative applications, from enhanced image processing to real-time language translation without cloud dependency.

For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S24 series demonstrates its generative AI capabilities through features that enable sophisticated on-device content creation and personalization, enhancing user interaction in ways that were previously only achievable with server-based computing. Similarly, the Google Pixel 8 Pro leverages its specialized hardware to deliver advanced AI functionalities like next-generation assistant features and more nuanced user engagement through AI, all processed locally on the device. This focus on native processing is a crucial aspect that boosts performance and efficiency and significantly enhances data privacy, a growing concern among consumers. By minimizing data transmission to external servers, these GenAI phones offer a more secure environment for users to enjoy the benefits of AI without compromising their personal information.

Transitioning into the Apple ecosystem, recent developments indicate a significant shift that could redefine the landscape of GenAI phones. Rumors of Apple’s potential partnership with OpenAI and the integration of an advanced Siri capable of leveraging OpenAI’s technologies suggest a significant upgrade in Apple’s AI capabilities. Such a collaboration could bring about a new iteration of Siri that is far more advanced than its current form, potentially incorporating the ability to understand and generate human-like text, engage in more dynamic conversations, and offer personalized suggestions with a higher degree of relevance and context.

If these speculations hold, this move could be a game-changer for the Apple ecosystem, integrating more deeply with iOS, macOS, visionOS and iPadOS. It could enhance the Apple suite of products with a level of AI sophistication previously unseen in its devices. For Apple, known for its tightly integrated ecosystem and emphasis on user privacy, the challenge will be to balance these advanced capabilities with the need to maintain data security, especially considering the potential use of cloud-based processing to support more complex AI tasks.

Apple iPhone Concept

This anticipated development could position Apple to catch up with and potentially surpass its competitors in the race to refine and expand the capabilities of GenAI phones. Integrating such advanced AI could transform how users interact with their devices, making Apple’s ecosystem even more intuitive and integrated and potentially setting a new standard for what smartphones can achieve in personal technology.

The Future of GenAI Phones, Market Impact, and Consumer Adoption

The future of GenAI phones is anticipated to transform our daily interactions with mobile devices radically. Integrating generative AI features into mainstream smartphones is becoming more prevalent as technology advances. Companies like Apple, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Microsoft, Samsung, and Google are at the forefront of this evolution, actively developing ways to incorporate GenAI capabilities into future models and through updates to existing devices. This push towards more intelligent smartphones will likely enhance how we communicate, create, and interact with our devices daily.

Apple M4 and Snapdragon X Elite

The impact of these developments on the market cannot be understated. After years of incremental upgrades that have seen diminishing consumer excitement, GenAI phones promise to inject new life into the somewhat stagnant smartphone market. According to insights from Counterpoint Research, incorporating GenAI technologies is expected to boost smartphone sales significantly. Their data projects a notable increase in market share and adoption rates for GenAI smartphones over the next few years, with these advanced devices set to account for a substantial portion of total smartphone shipments by 2027.

This shift is expected to reshape consumer expectations and drive demand for smartphones that are smarter, more intuitive, and capable of independently performing complex tasks. As GenAI phones become more common, they are anticipated to influence a broad spectrum of consumer electronics, setting new standards for functionality and interactivity. Integrating AI into everyday technology promises to make our digital experiences more personalized and efficient, fundamentally changing our relationship with technology.

In essence, the rise of GenAI phones indicates a new era in personal technology, where our devices understand and anticipate our needs better than ever. For everyday users, this means smartphones that can offer real-time translations, sophisticated content creation, and proactive personal assistance—all processed locally on the device for faster, more secure interactions. As these technologies mature, they are expected to become integral to our digital lives, making advanced AI a luxury and a standard component of future smartphones.

The post The Evolution of Smartphones: What Are GenAI Phones? first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G: A New Era of Awesome Experiences

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Samsung has always been committed to providing top-quality devices to meet the needs of all its users. The company has once again lived up to its reputation with the release of the new Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G smartphones. These new additions to the Galaxy A series offer a unique and awesome experience that is sure to impress. The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G come with a range of features that are designed to make your everyday life easier and more enjoyable. With their sleek and stylish design, these devices are sure to turn…

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Samsung launches China-specific ‘luxury’ versions of their foldables, called the W23 and W23 Flip

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It seems like China is the place to be if you’re a fan of foldables. While the flexible smartphone trend hasn’t really caught fire globally, it looks like the Asians have an affinity for bending electronics. Samsung just announced two foldables that will be exclusive to their Chinese audience. Dubbed the W23 and the W23 Flip, the smartphones are ‘high-end’ versions of the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4. Priced at 9,999 yuan (US$1,386) and 15,999 yuan (US$2,217), respectively, the models have higher specs than their global counterparts and come with a modified design that showcases golden accents, a China-specific theme, and even a redesigned S-Pen with black and gold highlights.

Designer: Samsung

The Samsung W23 and W23 Flip are the results of a collaboration with China Telecom, offering unique premium versions of Samsung’s flagship foldables. Both phones sport rose-gold-tinted metal frames, with ceramic backs instead of the traditional glass ones. There’s also a “Heart of the World” logo emblazoned on the back of each phone, and themes and wallpapers that celebrate the porcelain work of the Song Dynasty in China.

In their new avatar, the W23 and W23 Flip have a few distinct visual and hardware differences. While the phones are essentially the same as far as dimensions go, Samsung gave the upgraded models a few design tweaks, including textured spines with a diamond pattern, and ceramic backs instead of glass panels. The Samsung W23 and W23 Flip both sport 16GB of RAM (an upgrade over the 12Gb in the Z Fold4 and 8GB in the Z Flip4), along with 512GB of internal storage.

It isn’t new for smartphones to create high-end luxury models of their popular smartphones. While most phone companies go down the themed limited edition route (like the Realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition), companies like Huawei have also doubled down on the luxury aesthetic with their P50 Pocket foldable.

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Samsung Galaxy Wireless Headphones concept was designed to rival the Apple AirPods Max

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Samsung makes everything from tiny TWS earbuds to massive refrigerators… but for some reason, the company’s never made a smart over-ear wireless headphone. The Korean tech conglomerate even owns Harman Kardon, JBL, and AKG, making the lack of a smart pair of headphones even more absurd. The Samsung Galaxy Level concept, however, visually fills in that void in their catalog, giving the tech giant a smart over-ear wireless headphone that serves as a larger sibling to the Galaxy Buds, but more importantly, that directly rivals the Apple AirPods Max.

Designers: Aleksandar & Lucio Caruso Stefanini

While the Samsung Galaxy Buds are named because of their ‘bud’-shaped design (they look like kidney beans, personally), the Level headphones are named the way they are more because of how calibrated their sound is. The headphones have a slick outer design that comes with buttons located on the rim around the leather ear-cups, although touch-sensitive surfaces on the sides allow you to better interact with your multimedia, doing things like increasing or decreasing volume, answering/rejecting calls, cycling through music, or invoking Bixby or your phone’s own Voice Assistant.

The slick design comes with a Stormtrooper-inspired finish which, frankly though, seems quite unlike Samsung. Perhaps a few metallic color options, like the ones seen on Samsung’s phones and TWS earbuds, would hit the sweet spot. The B/W combination works on its own, but not really within Samsung’s family of products. One could, however, draw some comparison between the Level headphones and Samsung’s Odyssey G9 gaming monitor, which sports a similar color-way. Could the Galaxy Level work as gaming headphones? Oh absolutely, considering that aside from being entirely wireless, the cans also sport a 3.5mm audio input on the side for an AUX cable.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 concept has a bezel-less folding screen and the S21’s camera module

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Why is it called the Z Flip 3? Where’s the Z Flip 2? Irrelevant questions!

Not sure if it’s the design of the phone or the render quality, but 3D artist Giuseppe Spinelli really seems to have outdone himself with this concept phone. Spinelli’s rendition of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 sports the best parts of all of Samsung’s past phones. On the inside, it has even thinner bezels than its 2020 counterpart, a hole-punch camera for good measure, and that gorgeous vertical folding screen. Flip the phone over and it’s reminiscent of the Moto Razr, with a pretty neat secondary display, and a camera module with three lenses (a first for vertical folding phones).

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes as a collaboration between Spinelli (also known by his internet alias Snoreyn) and LetsGoDigital. Rumor is, it’ll be accompanied by the Z Fold 3 as well, allowing Samsung to finally become a veteran in the folding phone space. LGD reports that the Z Flip 3 will feature an improved hinge and even points out that Samsung was awarded a patent for a Z Flip with triple cameras back in 2020.

The phone’s clamshell folding design makes it incredibly compact when folded, allowing it to occupy much less space in your pocket as compared to a Z Fold-style book-shaped folding design. Samsung’s also rumored to be working on a pamphlet-style smartphone with a triple-panel double-hinge setup, but there’s really no word of when the company will officially announce it.

The thickness can often be a deterring factor for consumers. Aside from the visible crease seen in most folding smartphone screens, the thickness becomes a bone of contention between manufacturers and consumers. However, Samsung recently even registered a trademark for the term ‘Armor Frame’, implying a slimmer yet more durable outer body. This would effectively make newer devices slimmer than their older counterparts, hopefully ‘slimming’ the gap between regular smartphones and foldables.

Some of the most interesting features of the Z Flip 3 include its small secondary screen, which actually works as more than just a notification center. Just like the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the larger secondary screen is touch-sensitive, and can be used when the phone is shut. You could potentially watch videos, navigate music apps, browse through notifications, and even use the screen as a viewfinder while clicking images with that stellar 3-camera setup. Another thing that makes the Z Flip 3 interesting is its format, which allows you to use it in an L-shaped mini-laptop mode. The vertically elongated screen may be great for browsing content or scrolling, but when split in half, provides ample real estate for media on the top, and a keyboard at the bottom. It would make sense for the Z Flip 3 to continue exploiting this feature. Moreover, the Z Flip 3 could even feature virtual buttons, as suggested by Spinelli and LGD. This essentially boosts functionality and makes it easier to control volume without constantly having to reach the upper left corner of the phone. Samsung is slated to debut the Z Flip 3 at its Galaxy Unpacked event in the summer of 2021, with as many as 8 different colors to choose from.

Designer: Giuseppe Spinelli for LetsGoDigital

This folding iPhone explores a clamshell format like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and the Moto RAZR

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Here’s what we know so far. Apple’s patents ranging back as far as a decade cover technologies revolving around folding phones. The company has even been patenting hinge details, flexible glass technologies, and people ‘close to the matter’ claim that Apple’s even created working prototypes that have been tested by Foxconn to fold and unfold as many as 100,000 times… but there’s really no guarantee whether these prototypes will really become mass-manufactured ‘folding iPhones’. Up until they do (if they do, that is), all we can do is imagine what a folding iPhone would look like, and it seems like designer and YouTuber Technizo Concept may have an idea in mind.

The iPhone Flip (created by Technizo Concept in collaboration with LetsGoDigital) shares the same nomenclature and folding format as the Galaxy Z Flip from Samsung, albeit with a few key differences. The device measures about the same size as your current iPhone 12 Pro Max, but it sports a folding line across its ‘waist’, which allows the iPhone to fold in half like a clamshell phone from the 90s. This folding structure allows the smartphone to become more compact and easier to carry (although the resulting folded form would be twice the thickness of the phone), while also giving you the option to use the iPhone as a miniature laptop by folding it halfway in an ‘L’ shape. However, the most noteworthy detail on the iPhone Flip is the presence of a secondary screen right beside the camera bump. Designed to match the camera bump’s shape identically, this secondary screen is perfect for reading notifications on the fly, or even using as a preview window while clicking selfies with the main camera module. You could even shut the iPhone Flip halfway and prop it up against a surface, essentially being able to click distant selfies without a tripod.

Notable leaker Jon Prosser mentioned that even if Apple does release a folding iPhone, it won’t be before 2023. Prosser even went on to say that the iPhone would opt for an inward-folding screen over an outward-folding one, and the likelihood of a smaller, clamshell-type iPhone was more than a larger, book-shaped iPhone inspired by the Galaxy Fold. I’m just here to say that you better start saving up money if you want to buy a folding iPhone when it drops… because there’s no way it’ll be cheap!

Designers: Technizo Concept & LetsGoDigital

Image Credits: LetsGoDigital