Dive into the future with the Galaxy Z Flip5 Maison Margiela edition – where cutting-edge tech meets haute couture, redefining individuality.
The post Galaxy Z Flip5 x Maison Margiela: Tech Meets Couture first appeared on Trendy Gadget.
Tag Archives: smartphone
OnePlus 12 design revealed with a very familiar face, no wood grains in sight
Without much fanfare, OnePlus revealed the design that would mark its newest flagship, the OnePlus 12. While that two-digit number proves it’s no longer a young upstart, the brand is famed for outside-the-box thinking when it comes to design and materials. That’s not to say it always comes out with guns blazing, and zeal sometimes has to be tempered with practicality. Take for example the upcoming OnePlus 12 which is now officially confirmed to be using pretty much the exact same design as its predecessor. While that might not make for a sensational launch, it does give a sense of familiarity and stability. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of an earlier wooden grain shell, which could probably dampen a few excited expectations.
Designer: OnePlus
At this point, it might be difficult to pinpoint which company really started this camera design trend, but OnePlus has been doing some rather interesting experiments in the past years. In order to make the usual camera bump a little more interesting visually, the OnePlus 10 last year adopted a rather unique style where the camera’s raised bump actually continued and curved off to the side. This year’s OnePlus 11 mixed that up with the circular camera island design that made the phone look like it was wearing a monocle or an eyepatch.
The OnePlus 12 uses this exact same design with one small but important change. There are four sensors now, though one is most likely an RGB or 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor, so the flash had to move out of the enclosure, giving the camera a more symmetric appearance. Other than that, there are no big visible changes, which means that OnePlus is able to preserve its brand identity for one more generation. Admittedly, the design doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it’s hard to deny that it’s a distinctive one.
What OnePlus has officially revealed so far, however, doesn’t yet include the earlier leaked “wood grain shell,” which could either be a new variant or an official protective case. Instead, the OnePlus 12 will come in three colors with subtly different textures despite all being made from glass. White is compared to silk, black is likened to ceramic, while the green variant seems to be trying to pull off another marble-like aesthetic.
OnePlus hasn’t yet completely spilled all the beans regarding its upcoming flagship, so it’s a little too early to say if that’s all there is to it. Of course, in terms of hardware, it will have the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor to lead the way, and its photography roster is expected to include a 50MP main camera and a 64MP telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom. The OnePlus 12 is scheduled to be officially announced in China next week, but a global date is expected on December 15.
The post OnePlus 12 design revealed with a very familiar face, no wood grains in sight first appeared on Yanko Design.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition dips its toes into the haute couture world
It was only recently that smartphones stopped being geeky gadgets and fashionable accessories, and that paradigm shift hasn’t been lost on the fashion and design industry. Smartphones have, in a way, become status symbols, or at the very least expressions of one’s tastes, interests, and even aspirations. In other words, they can become perfect fashion statements, and there have indeed been a few phone designs that try to present themselves as such with mixed results. After all, not all manufacturers are expert fashion designers, so it sometimes pays to have a collab with an industry giant, like this Maison Margiela edition for one of Samsung’s most fashionable phones yet, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable.
Designer: Samsung x Maison Margiela
Clamshell or flip phones have always had this air of style surrounding them even back in the day. They appeared in plenty of TV shows and movies, and they have retained this image throughout the years. It’s no surprise then that phone manufacturers have been trying to revive design but with a slight twist: a foldable screen. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the latest iteration of that design, and one that has a very clear focus and target audience. Thanks to its design and accessory ecosystem, the foldable phone is aimed at fashion-conscious owners who love to express their style through their phones and might even change their preferences from time to time.
It is thanks to that customizable design that this Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition was made possible. It’s actually the second time that the atelier lent its name to this class of smartphones, but this is perhaps the most comprehensive set so far. In addition to the specially-themed phone itself, there is a Flap Leather Case and a Flipsuit Case with interchangeable plates, a.k.a. “Cards,” to match. It doesn’t stop with the contents of the box either, because the packaging itself is designed like an archival sample storage for fabric samples and threads. Everything about it screams fashion, including the paper-based woven book cloth fabric that covers the box.
Of course, most people will be focusing on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 itself, which comes with a striking and unique exterior right out of the box. It shows Maison Margiela’s iconic jacket underneath a transparent glass, revealing the structure and details of the garment. The Flipsuit Cases, on the other hand, come with two cards, one with a minimalist silver plate and another with paint splatters. Attaching either of these cards automatically changes the phone’s theme taken from Maison Margiela’s artisanal collection to match. Last but definitely not least, the Flap Leather Case represents the marque’s craftsmanship, incorporating handwoven stitches into the black leather cover and woven fabrics. When the phone is unfolded, it reveals a pocket design that adds a touch of flair to the design.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition is meant to showcase the fusion of technology and fashion in a way that’s not so different from how haute couture garments are made. It tries to push the boundaries of how smartphones are perceived, not just as productivity tools but also as tools of self-expression. The Galaxy Z Flip5 Maison Margiela edition will be available from November 30 in select markets.
The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition dips its toes into the haute couture world first appeared on Yanko Design.
iQOO 12 Legend Edition design brings the BMW M Motorsport racing spirit to smartphones
There are very few things that can make your heart stop with their speed, and motorsport race cars are one of those. The suspense, tension, and adrenaline you feel as these four-wheeled demons pass by is enough to put people on the edge of their seats, literally. There seems to be an innate human fascination for speed and power, and race cars have long been the symbol of those aspirations. Of course, such qualities can also be found in other things, like the impressive pieces of technology that we call smartphones. It’s not surprising, then, that these two very different worlds would eventually meet, such as in the iQOO 12 Legend Edition that embodies the BMW M Motorsport spirit through its power and style.
Designer: iQOO x BMW M Motorsport
This isn’t the first time you might have heard of an automotive brand lending its clout to a smartphone, whether in name or in design. In fact, the partnership between iQOO and BMW M started way back in 2019, resulting in the gaming-oriented iQOO 7 BMW M edition as well as an iQOO-branded BMW DTM car during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. This year, that partnership was again witnessed at the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship, and 2024 will see iQOO’s presence on a BMW M Hybrid V8 Hypercar at the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Of course, BMW M Motorsport is also leaving its own mark on the iQOO 12, specifically the special Legend Edition that will bear that exclusive branding. This year’s design, however, is a bit different and actually a little more subtle. The overall motif is still predominantly white, of course, just like many race cars. But instead of tall stripes in BMW M’s iconic blue, black, and red colors, the tiny stripes are actually embossed in a Clous de Paris pattern and located off the right side instead. In a way, the BMW M Motorsport is less in-your-face, subtler, and more elegant, allowing viewers to draw the associations between the two brands through the smartphone’s own prowess.
The iQOO 12, after all, is definitely a speedster, being one of the first phones to be powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It has a large and powerful camera system that is designed in the likeness of ship portholes, conveying the spirit of exploration. It isn’t just for show either, boasting a team that includes an Astrography Camera with an ultra-large main sensor, a periscope telephoto lens, and a wide-angle shooter. Despite the power it holds inside, the iQOO 12 Legend Edition still exudes beauty, grace, and comfort with its ergonomic contoured glass and nano-textured finishes. The flat edges and flat display perfectly complement each other, giving the phone a contemporary aesthetic that belies its nature a smartphone equivalent of a performance car.
With first-class features and a striking design, the iQOO 12 Legend Edition perfectly embodies BMW M Motorsport’s mantra of “Fascination Meets Innovation.” It delivers the performance to satisfy users’ need for speed while subtly capturing the visual and spiritual essence of a roaring race car. Already available in China, the iQOO 12 Legend Edition is slated to launch globally by the end of this year.
The post iQOO 12 Legend Edition design brings the BMW M Motorsport racing spirit to smartphones first appeared on Yanko Design.
Top 10 Apple MagSafe Accessories To Give Your iPhone A PowerPacked Upgrade
The reinvention and return of MagSafe were an instant hit! There is a great sense of satisfaction, in my opinion, to have things just stick to your phone. Be it a pair of earphones (maybe that’ll be the next generation of AirPods) or have your phone just conveniently stick to a charging pad – it’s almost like magic. The reintroduction of the MagSafe led to a whole new world of accessories being unleashed. Designers and creatives were racing to create a whole range of products for the repurposed MagSafe. And we’ve been loving every bit of it! From an ingenious new iPhone MagSafe case design to a Gameboy-inspired MagSafe power bank – there’s a MagSafe accessory out there for your every need. And, we’ve curated many products that we truly believe are worth buying and investing in. This army of accessories will truly amp up your Apple experience!
1. UPRO Ostand Case
Winner of the iF Design Award, the UPRO Ostand case gives your iPhone’s MagSafe feature a bunch of super cool upgrades. This includes the ability to make your phone stand, hang, or stay securely in your hands when you click a selfie or scroll through Instagram. Although the UPRO Ostand looks like your everyday average iPhone case, the familiar magnetic ring on the back gives it that innovative upgrade!
2. Oakywood’s MagSafe iPhone Stand/Charger
Oakywood’s MagSafe iPhone Stand/Charger features a simple form factor and dual-shade wood construction. It is quite aesthetic inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian designs, the trend which is fondly known as Japandi. Oakwood’s MagSafe iPhone Stand/Charger is a clean and minimal accessory for your iPhone.
3. Apple MagSafe Grip Stand
This unique Apple MagSafe Grip Stand takes inspiration from the Japanese art of paper folding! You can fold it flat and vice versa without the trouble of assembly and disassembly. The innovative accessory is thin, card-size, and lightweight, and you can swiftly attach it to your phone and slip it into your pocket without the worry of snagging or looking weird in your pocket. The stand won’t dislocate from your phone, even if you jump around!
Click Here to Buy Now: $38 $45 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!
4. Belkin’s 2-in-1 BoostCharge Pro MagSafe Charger
Belkin’s 2-in-1 BoostCharge Pro MagSafe charger for the iPhone 15 is an interesting mix of contemporary sand or charcoal elements and organic minimalism. It is a compact silicone charging stand marked with soft and round shapes on the charger base, including a new flip-up 15W MagSafe pad, allowing it to merge with any modern space.
5. Shin & Han’s MagSafe Accessory
This innovative MagSafe-compatible accessory is designed to help you get over digital addiction. You can stick the accessory to the back of your smartphone, and it features a real clock with a single-hour hand to keep you aware of the passing time, ensuring you don’t spend too much time on your smartphone. The accessory also doubles up as a holder for your cards and quick cash.
6. Ice Speed Freezemat Magsafe Wireless Charger
Called “Ice Speed Freezemat Magsafe Wireless Charger” this proposed Apple accessory uses a very interesting method to dissipate heat, keeping the innards at optimum temperature while gaming or during fast charging rituals. Built out of aviation-grade cooling material, Ice Speed Freezemat has an interesting cooling mechanism inspired by the way the human body sweats to dissipate heat.
7. HiRise 3 Deluxe
Called the HiRise 3 Deluxe, this MagSafe certified accessory can charge your iPhone at up to 15W, and features an adjustable MagSafe pad that allows a 35-degree angle shift for optimal viewing. The charger has a front-to-back arrangement, which ensures that crucial desk real estate isn’t consumed or wasted.
8. 6-in-1 MagSafe Charger
This is the world’s first Apple-Certified 6-in-1 MagSafe Charger from ESR that is equipped with a GaN semiconductor, and it doesn’t just charge your small Apple devices, but it also delivers up to 100W of power to your MacBook, providing an all-in-one solution for all your modern day charging requirements. It has three dedicated slots for your iPhone, AirPods, and Watch, as well as three output ports for charging your laptop, tablet, and power bank.
9. Side Note
Dubbed Side Note, this compact leather-bound notebook is equipped with an integrated pen and a MagSafe-compatible design that lets you snap it onto your iPhone or onto any magnetic surface. The Side Note allows you to always have an analog notepad by your side, letting you quickly note down ideas and journal.
10. The MAG.L MagSafe Powerbank
Designed by Neo Bie and Leigui Lui for Stylepie, the MAG.L MagSafe Powerbank with its 10000mAh capacity aims to improve the wireless charging and power bank experience for anyone. It features the usual four operation buttons: SELECT, START, A, B, and a d-pad (directional pad). The lower part of the yellow power bank has a cover that slides to work as the stand of the power bank.
The post Top 10 Apple MagSafe Accessories To Give Your iPhone A PowerPacked Upgrade first appeared on Yanko Design.
7 Surprising Google Pixel 8 Pro Features You Won’t Find on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro
The idea of being an Apple or Android superfan made a lot of sense 10 years ago when there were substantial differences between the two brands. Today, the two operating systems share an entire host of similarities. Both have overlapping features that make them compelling alternatives to each other, and the only truly defining difference at this point is their individual ecosystems or walled gardens… that was until today when Google revealed their Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
While outwardly, the Pixel 8 series and the iPhone 15 series share a ton of pretty great features, it’s remarkable what Google’s managed to achieve with its AI-first approach. Both phones run on custom silicon (the iPhone on the A17 Bionic chip and the Pixel on the Tensor 3 chip), but Google’s strong AI background has resulted in a few surprising new features that set it in a class apart. These features are so game-changing that not only are they not available on any other Android phone, but you won’t find them even on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Temperature Sensor
The first on this list isn’t an AI-powered feature but rather a hardware one… and a pretty funky one to begin with. The Pixel 8 Pro is the first Pixel phone to come with its own temperature sensor that measures the temperature of anything you point it at. Almost working like an IR thermometer, this sensor lets you see if your drink’s chilled or if your barbecue grill or cast iron is ripping hot. You can measure the outer temperature of food items to know if they’re cooked properly or if your coffee is too hot for consumption. Google has even filed an application with the FDA to allow the sensor to monitor human temperature data, allowing you to check if you have a fever, and sync that data with your fitness device. The temperature sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro is mirrored by a LiDAR sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro, which performs 3D scanning rather than temperature gauging. Sure, they don’t compare given how wildly different they are, but one could argue that the ability to instantly measure the temperature of anything has much more of a real-world impact than the ability to 3D scan.
Best Take
Last year, Google unveiled some pretty impressive AI-powered editing features within its Photos app, like the ability to unblur photos, to erase objects you didn’t need, and to move certain elements within the photo for a better composition… but what do you do when you click a group photo at the wrong moment when someone’s eyes are closed, or a family photo with the kid making faces while everyone says cheese? Best Take is Google’s answer to that unique problem – if you’re unhappy with someone’s expression in a photo, Best Take simply changes their expression for you. The camera records facial expressions long before you hit the shutter button, giving you multiple options to choose from. The AI simply replaces the ‘bad’ face with a better one, resulting in a computationally altered photo that looks much more appealing. In Google’s words, it replaces the photo you just clicked with the photo you wish you clicked.
This feature, although highly impressive, has a lot of people up in arms because it destroys the very concept of a photograph. Most purists will argue that such a high level of editing pretty much takes away the true beauty of a photograph because it completely alters reality. There’s a significant difference between altering a photo’s white balance and flat-out changing someone’s face… but that vitriolic debate aside, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro both tout this rather incredible feature that isn’t just missing on the iPhone, it’s probably against the very belief system of the people at Apple.
Audio Magic Eraser
If last year’s magic eraser for photos wasn’t good enough, Google debuted a new Audio Magic Eraser feature for video too! Sort of like noise canceling for videos, the new Audio Magic Eraser feature lets you edit the audio in the video files captured on your phone. Tensor’s powerful AI analyzes the audio and separates the waveforms into multiple categories that you can then either mute or reduce. Recording a vlog on a noisy road? The AI can eliminate the car and crowd noises and keep just your voice (without any fancy microphone or equipment). Trying to sing a song and your dog’s barking away in the background? You can mute your dog entirely in post by simply ‘erasing’ that sound from the overall video! The Audio Magic Eraser is a brilliant example of how far Google’s come with its AI endeavors, and is a major sign for Apple and other companies to jump aboard the AI train.
Video Boost and Night Sight Video
Google’s made some massive improvements to the Pixel’s video-shooting abilities too. The iPhone has somewhat been a bit of an undisputed champion in the video department, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s latest features fire direct shots at Apple. Video Boost is Google’s latest feature for enhancing videos AFTER you’ve shot them. Sort of like how photos get computationally enhanced after you click the shutter button, Google now extends this feature to videos too, processing every single frame individually to tweak the colors, highlight the skin tone, enhance HDRI, and make the output much more vibrant and beautiful than the original footage. Video Boost works retroactively, but only if you’ve got the feature enabled before you shoot your video. Once shot, the video is sent to Google’s cloud servers to process, and then the boosted video is sent back to your phone, available directly in the Photos library.
Enable Video Boost in a low-light environment and you instantly get access to Google’s new Night Sight Video feature. Night sight, whether on Android or iOS, has been limited to photos, but what Google proposes is literally mind-boggling. Just like Video Boost, Night Sight Video enhances every single frame of your low-light video file, enriching it and bringing out details that were previously hidden in the darkness. I imagine somewhere an Apple exec is furious at the fact that the Pixel 8 can now record low-light videos, because after its astrophotography mode, this is yet another significant win for Google over Apple!
Zoom Enhance
If you don’t have upwards of $1,099 to spend on the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s tetraprism camera that shoots 5x optical zoom, this new feature for Pixel phones should impress you. Announced alongside the new Pixel 8 phones, Zoom Enhance is a feature within Google Photos that uses AI to upscale your photos for you. The feature, on its own, might not sound as revolutionary as the Audio Magic Eraser, but it’s the first time a smartphone’s had a generative AI upscaler built right into it. Just pinch to zoom into an existing photo and you’ve now got the option to enhance it using generative AI upscaling technology that felt like science fiction just a few years ago. What’s truly impressive is that the Zoom Enhance feature runs on-device and doesn’t need to use a massive cloud-based AI model. This on-device foundation model is specific to the Tensor 3 chip, and although the Zoom Enhance feature isn’t available immediately, Google promised to roll it out later this year.
Recorder Transcribe + Summarize
Another feature powered by the Pixel’s on-device foundational model is its ability to transcribe and summarize your recordings. Google did announce a Live Transcribe app over 5 years ago, but with the birth of LLMs, the new Recorder is a pretty potent tool that takes the effort out of transcribing all your recordings. It works off the bat, without needing a separate subscription to an AI service. Just hit the record button and the phone creates an audio recording while simultaneously transcribing every recording into an in-depth text file. A summarize button helps condense the entire transcription into actionable pointers. The service runs locally, is free, and makes a strong case for why anyone should choose a Pixel 8 over an iPhone 15.
Call Screen
The Pixel’s impressive AI model also helps sort robocalls from real ones with stunning accuracy. Hit the Call Screen button when your phone rings and the phone’s AI ‘chats’ with the caller to identify the purpose of their call. If it’s spam, the Pixel 8 automatically declines the call for you without you needing to answer, but if it’s important, you can either answer the call or get the AI to respond for you. Perfect for calls that just need small actions from you, the Call Screen feature lets you quickly go about your business instead of being on a call that takes minutes when it should have taken seconds. The Call Screen feature is touted to even work on the Pixel Watch when connected to a Pixel phone.
7 Years of Software Updates (Bonus)
Rick Osterloh also made a pretty surprising announcement at the end of the keynote, stating that the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro would get a whopping 7 years of software updates to keep them running for longer. Most phones get 3 years of updates, the iPhone gets 5, but 7 years is pretty unprecedented for any smartphone. It shows that Google is (at least on paper) serious about what the Pixel means to them and that they want consumers to benefit from it for as long as possible. It also means people will hold onto their Pixel phones for longer, hopefully reducing e-waste and Google’s carbon footprint significantly. Sure, Apple’s got its Carbon Neutral program… but let me know when they offer software support for their iPhones for more than half a decade!
The post 7 Surprising Google Pixel 8 Pro Features You Won’t Find on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro first appeared on Yanko Design.
Samsung unveils lucrative ‘Fan Edition’ Galaxy S23, Galaxy Buds and Tab S9
Samsung Electronics has just announced the ‘Fan Edition’ series for this year and that should attract the attention of prospective buyers. Those who want to experience the flagship Galaxy devices with small compromises but at a lower price tag should be elated. After some speculations that the series is gone for good, and the South Korean giant gave it a miss last year, this is more than welcome news.
The value flagship theme combined with the lower price tag has been more sensibly balanced out this time around after the shenanigans of the S21 FE which was a bit overpriced at $699. This time around the line-up of Galaxy S23 FE smartphone, Galaxy Tab S9 FE/FE+ and Galaxy Buds FE make much more sense.
Designer: Samsung
All these gadgets have been designed keeping in mind the environment. Longevity of use is also insured with four years of OS and five years of security updates. The mobile devices will all be available from tomorrow onwards in select markets and the Galaxy Buds FE will be available from October 6.
Galaxy S23 FE
Galaxy S23 FE adapts the big brother’s 6.4-inch 120Hz OLED display and the IP68 rating for water and dust resistance which is impressive. Of course having this Fan Edition device in peppy color options like mint, cream and purple does make the buying decision. Understandably the phone has the Snapdragon Gen 1 SoC which is not known for its battery efficiency, but then, trade-offs are expected. A minimum of 8GB of RAM and a maximum of 256GB internal storage, should make sure you can play AAA mobile gaming titles.
Samsung has included the wireless charging option for this phone which is another big plus. For camera fanatics, the S23 FE has a 50MP primary sensor paired with an 8MP Telephoto lens and a 12MP ultrawide shooter. That keeps it well above the mid-range devices out there. The front-facing camera however disappoints with a 10MP sensor, knowing that the previous generation had a 32MP sensor. The Galaxy S23 FE smartphone is priced at $599.
Galaxy Buds FE
The most affordable wireless earbuds in Samsung’s line-up, the Galaxy Buds FE have a design similar to the Buds Plus and come in two color options – graphite and white. The IPX2-rated buds have a standalone playback time of six hours with ANC on and 21 hours with the charging case. They come with AAC and SBC audio codec support, and each one of them has 3 microphones for better calling and ANC. Multi-device connectivity with Bluetooth 5.2 is another noticeable feature. The only downside is the lack of wireless charging capability.
The comfy earbuds carry a price tag of around $115 which should be a good choice for fans looking to experience the balanced sound signature of the brand.
Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE Plus
The budget tablets – Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE Plus both have LCD panels with 90Hz refresh rate, measuring 10.9-inch and 12.4-inch respectively. They are powered by the Exynos 1380 SoC compared to the Qualcomm chipset on the regular variant. Thankfully both get the IP68 rating and the S pen stylus like their big brothers.
The S9 FE comes with 8,000mAh and the Plus model has 10,000 mAh battery. In terms of cameras, both of them have 12MP ultrawide front-facing shooters with a 120-degree FOV and an 8 MP primary rear module. The Plus variant gets the extra 8MP ultrawide shooter on the rear. Both variants have 45W fast charging support and will be available in gray, mint, silver, and lavender colors.
Pricing for the Tab S9 FE starts at $550 in Europe while the Tab S9 FE+ is priced at $735. For the 5G models, you’ll have to pay $105 extra.
The post Samsung unveils lucrative ‘Fan Edition’ Galaxy S23, Galaxy Buds and Tab S9 first appeared on Yanko Design.
What to expect from the October 4th Made by Google event
It’s finally October, which means we’re immersed in the barrage of next generation handheld devices from every major manufacturer. Now, it’s Google’s turn to bring out their own next-gen lineup at tomorrow’s Made by Google event at 10 AM ET – where you can watch the live keynote on YouTube in several languages, including American Sign Language, Japanese, German, and Spanish.
You don’t have to wait that long to learn all about Google’s new flagship phones and smart watches. Thanks to a recent slew of leaks from 91mobiles back in September, there’s already plenty of information floating around the net about the new designs and specs expected with the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2, both of which are slated to officially debut at the upcoming event.
Designer: Google
The upcoming Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro designs (showcased above) appear to retain the stylish, thin and rounded form of their predecessors, but there are some recognizable key differences between the existing Pixel 7 Pro and its successor. The first detail that might jump out in the reveal trailer is the layout of the third (telephoto) lens included at the center of the new Pixel 8 Pro camera. Previously, Google separated it off to the side, but it arguably looks neater this way. We already know a few details about the new camera as well – thanks to those aforementioned leaks. For instance, it’s rumored that both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro are equipped with a 50MP camera, much like the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A lineup that came before it. But both Pixel 8 devices could use the upgraded Samsung ISOCELL GN2 lens for better performance in low-light conditions. The new camera could come with an array of filters and features that leverage Google’s increasingly advanced AI technology.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are coming alongside the new Pixel Watch 2, which is also just as sleek and bubble-shaped as the original, award-winning Pixel Watch from 2022. It’s rumored that the new watch will use the same wrist straps as the original, meaning current owners won’t need to go out and re-buy all their accessories. It’s also supposed to have a new Snapdragon W5 processor and 2 GB of RAM, making it even faster and quicker than the original.
Google already had its design locked down with a really unique and rounded aesthetic and high build quality, making Pixel a competitive alternative to Apple and Samsung devices. Whether or not the new Pixel lineup is a real improvement over its predecessors, the Made by Google event is worth analyzing when it goes live tomorrow.
The post What to expect from the October 4th Made by Google event first appeared on Yanko Design.
Samsung Galaxy S24 design leak is very flat, raising concerns over ergonomics
Design trends tend to be cyclical, especially in fashion where the old becomes new again, eventually. It might take decades or it could just be a matter of years before old designs resurface. In the fast-paced world of smartphones, it was really only a matter of time before the “classic” look became the modern aesthetic. Flat is the new black, so to speak, and proponents of the curved movements have slowly but surely moved over to the old-new trend. That, of course, includes Samsung, though its embrace of flatter sides and edges hasn’t been instant. It seems that it has finally gone all in with next year’s Galaxy S24 flagship, though there are now some questions about whether that shift is sacrificing comfort and ergonomics in exchange for a sleek and more contemporary appearance.
Designer: Steve Hemmerstoffer/OnLeaks (via SmartPrix and GizNext)
Galaxy S24 Plus
Some of the very first smartphones opted for flatter sides, as exhibited by the earliest generations of iPhones. To differentiate, some brands started challenging design and manufacturing practices and employed curved backs, curved sides, or even curved edge screens. Even Apple would start to use some curves at the sides, but it has reverted to its old iconic look to some extent. Unsurprisingly, Samsung has started to do the same and might be finally taking the last step in that direction.
According to renders based on leaked information, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus will almost be completely flat on all sides. Compared to the Galaxy S23 this year, which had a flat back and a flat screen but with rounded edges, the Galaxy S24’s sides will be flat all throughout. The only curves you’ll see on its body are the corners, which help soften the phone’s harsher appearance just a little bit.
The rest of the Galaxy S24’s design, however, remains largely the same, if the unofficial data is to be believed. There are still only three cameras, and rumors claim they won’t get a significant upgrade next year. These cameras still live on their own, without a camera island to visually group them together. It’s admittedly a simpler and more minimalist design, a small breath of fresh air compared to the growing sizes of camera bumps on phones today.
While this design admittedly has a classic elegance to it, it may also resurrect a still ongoing discussion around the comfort of these flat edges in your hand. Some criticize its sharp corners for cutting into your skin, while others argue that curved edges then to make the phone harder to grasp confidently. Unfortunately, there is no definite answer yet, but at least for now, it seems that flat is back for a good while.
The post Samsung Galaxy S24 design leak is very flat, raising concerns over ergonomics first appeared on Yanko Design.
This nostalgic Samsung smartphone is handheld gaming and entertainment hub in one
Smartphone designs have lately got monotonous if we keep out exorbitantly priced foldable phones out of consideration for this discussion. Perhaps the right opportunity to go a full circle and revisit the old phone form factors of the early 2000s.
This Samsung phone design is the perfect amalgam of a mobile device, handheld gaming gadget and entertainment hub for the young generation. Freshening up the boring landscape with a nostalgic form factor that everyone will love to use.
Designer: Mark Choi
Reviving memories of the Nokia N-Gage, this smartphone comes with a 3.5mm jack for purists who love to listen to audio in the purest form. Dubbed Samsung Young Entertainer, this mobile device implements the basic phone functions, topped with the GUI (Graphical User Interface) to accelerate learning in a fun way. When it’s time for pure entertainment, the device can play most of the current generation graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact, Grid Autosports and Call of Duty Mobile. Of course, moderation is prime here and the device comes with an in-built time-out alert if you engage in gaming for long hours in one go.
The phone connects seamlessly to the big screen to enjoy content or gaming. In this mode the menu options can be easily navigated with the joystick, the shoulder trigger buttons and the D-pad buttons. How this gadget will make itself stand out from the likes of Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go? Well, the integrated phone function. If it can deliver a smooth UI and the ability to play future titles with ray tracing, then there is a compelling reason for this one to materialize into a commercially available Samsung product. Whether the South Korean electronics giant has any plans to foray into the steeply growing mobile gaming market is still a burning question.
The post This nostalgic Samsung smartphone is handheld gaming and entertainment hub in one first appeared on Yanko Design.