Original article: Samsung might be better known for its high-end flagships, but it has also produced quite a few budget-minded Android phones in recent years. One of the more intriguing alternatives to a Samsung flagship is its “FE” series, formerly known as “Fan Edition” phones. These phones typically offer specs and performance similar to the mainline Galaxy S series but at much more aggressive prices, thanks to concessions like a polycarbonate body and a few minor spec downgrades. With the next FE on the horizon, here’s everything we know about the Galaxy S24 FE.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: At a glance

Update: August 19, 2024 (1:40 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy S25 series rumor hub with a leak about the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s purported screen size.

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series launched in the middle of January 2024, arriving a little earlier in the year than the last couple of generations. Along with it, the company introduced Galaxy AI, a titanium frame, new camera tricks, and a number of other features. But now that the Galaxy S24 launch has come and gone, it is time to start thinking about the next iteration in the series. How will the Galaxy S25 series set itself apart from its predecessor? What new features will Samsung come up with for the next generation? Will 2025 finally be the year we see a major shift in the Galaxy S design philosophy? Here, we’ll break down everything we know so far about the Galaxy S25.

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy S25?

Samsung releases a new Galaxy S series phone on an annual cadence, and there’s no reason to believe it will stop at the Galaxy S24. But if that’s not enough to convince you, there have already been plenty of leaks and rumors about the incoming family of handsets that we’ll get into later on. Obviously, nothing is official until Samsung announces it. The company could always suddenly decide to shut down development, but that is extremely unlikely given how profitable its smartphones are. We would say it’s less of a question of whether Samsung will release a Galaxy S25 and more of a question of when it will launch in 2025.

What is the most likely Samsung Galaxy S25 release date?

• Galaxy S22 — February 9, 2022
• Galaxy S23 — February 17, 2023
• Galaxy S24 — January 31, 2024

The Galaxy S24 lineup launched in January, so we’re still a fair distance away from the expected release of the Galaxy S25 series. As such, it will be a while before Samsung provides an official launch date for the device. As far as leaks and rumors are concerned, there’s not really anything on that front, either. Given the lack of information, we’ll need to speculate on what the date could be.

The South Korea-based firm usually launches its Galaxy S phones near the beginning of the year. For the last three years, the release date has fallen in the months of January and February. We assume Samsung will keep the same cadence for the Galaxy S25. Unfortunately, we’ll need to wait to find out the exact date.

What rumored specs and features could the Samsung Galaxy S25 have?

Even before the Galaxy S24 launched in January 2024, we were hearing rumors about the Galaxy S25. Now that it has been a while since the release of 2024’s Galaxy phones, the rumor mill for next year’s phones has picked up a lot of steam. These rumors and leaks span the gamut from the SoC to the design and more. Let’s take a moment to break down all of the available information.

Name

It stands to reason that the Galaxy S25 series will consist of the Galaxy S25, the Galaxy S25 Plus, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. After all, Samsung has used this naming convention since the Galaxy S20 series.

Tipster Yogesh Brar made a rather interesting claim on August 16, though. The leaker claimed that Samsung could be thinking about a name change for the Plus and Ultra models. More specifically, Brar asserted that the Galaxy S25 Ultra could become the Galaxy S25 Note, while the S25 Plus could become the S25 Pro.

We’ve previously seen Apple offer the iPhone 15 Pro, which has more features than the iPhone 15 Plus. So we’re guessing an S25 Pro could be a more feature-packed offering than an S25 Plus. But this is just a rumor for now so you shouldn’t hold your breath for this change.

Design

The design of the Galaxy S series has hardly changed in the last few generations, but we might finally be in store for something a little different with the next iteration. Leaker Revegnus said that Ilhwan Lee, a former Mercedes-Benz designer, has been tasked with making the Galaxy brand feel “fresh” and that design changes are expected.

With the release of Samsung’s 2024 flagship devices, the company introduced titanium to the Galaxy S line, specifically for the Ultra model. There is reason to believe Samsung will continue to use the same metal in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The question, however, is whether the firm sticks with the same type of titanium that appeared in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It is also unknown if this build material will come to the regular and Plus models in 2025, though that seems unlikely.

In a now-deleted social post from PandaFlash (via Android Headlines), the tipster claimed, “I have doubts about the rumors of the Highest-Grade titanium in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.” In case you didn’t know, titanium comes in different grades. For example, Apple gave the iPhone 15 Pro series Grade 5 titanium, which is an alloy made of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, uses Grade 2 titanium, which is all titanium. The difference is that Grade 2 titanium is softer, cheaper, and easier to work with than the Grade 5 version. If PandaFlash is correct, then it looks like the tech giant may stay on the same path.

Another rumor, this one originating from a now-deleted social post from PandaFlash (via Android Headlines), suggests Samsung is testing four prototypes for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Although the tipster didn’t have renders of these prototypes, they did create mock-ups of what they thought the Ultra might look like based on their information:

According to the rumor, the main changes seem to revolve around the frame and bezels. We could see thinner bezels but the same frame as before, a thinner and flatter frame with slimmer bezels, thinner sides but a thicker top and bottom, or a thinner frame with rounded edges. Outside of that, it appears the front of the device will look mostly the same as the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Leaker Ice Universe claimed in late June that the Galaxy S25 Ultra could gain a more rounded design, saying it would be “as round as the Galaxy Note 7.” The tipster also asserted that the Ultra phone will measure 8.4mm thick, making it thinner than all previous Galaxy S Ultra phones. Later on, the tipster claimed that the frame would be more rounded towards the back panel and straight on the display side. It’s said this design will make the frame thinner than the one on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and reduce the bezels on the sides.

Ice Universe would go on to post an apparent mock-up showing the front of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in August, and it indeed shows a phone with a more rounded design. The leaker also posted a mock-up comparing the S25 Ultra design to the boxier S24 Ultra design. Check out the images below.

Meanwhile, leaker Bennett Buhner claims that Samsung might increase the display size of the Galaxy S25 Ultra to something closer to 6.9 inches. This could mean that the device will be slightly bigger, but it could also just mean the screen has smaller bezels, giving it a slightly different aspect ratio.

Ice Universe posted the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s apparent screen size on Weibo on August 17, claiming it will have a 6.86-inch screen which “can be considered as 6.9 inches.”

The Ultra isn’t the only model rumored to see some design changes. Korean blogger yeux1122 has claimed on Naver that the base Galaxy S25’s screen size could grow by 0.16 inches, putting it at 6.36 inches. If this is true, it would be the second time in the last three generations that Samsung has increased the diagonal screen size of the base model.

Specs

One of the first pieces of information to leak about the S25 was the camera specs. Early rumors were very conflicted, with some claiming massive overhauls (such as going with a simple, triple-lens setup) and a big upgrade for the primary 200MP lens. However, as the year has gone on, most of those early rumors have been shot down. The most recent info points to a few upgrades for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but not a complete overhaul.

Ice Universe posted a load of apparent Galaxy S25 Ultra camera specs on Weibo on May 27. They claimed that the Ultra phone would stick with a 200MP main camera and 50MP 5x periscope telephoto zoom but would switch to a 50MP 3x camera and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The 50MP 3x camera would be a big upgrade over the current 10MP 3x lens, which has been used since 2021’s S21 Ultra.

Later, leaker Sperandio4Tech posted info on sensor upgrades for those two upgraded lenses. Allegedly, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s ultrawide lens could get “a new version of the 1/2.76-inch JN1 sensor.” Meanwhile, the 3x telephoto lens could get “a new 1/3-inch Isocell sensor.” These upgrades would be combined with the previously mentioned resolution upgrades to 50MP for both lenses.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra could offer upgraded 3x and ultrawide cameras, according to one significant leak.

On June 27, we finally got a closer look at what is likely to be the sensor for the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus, as the company announced several new sensors, but it was the ISCOELL GNJ that caught our eye. The GNJ has a sensor that’s roughly on par with the main camera sensor in the S24 and S24 Plus at 1/1.57-inches, versus the 1/1.56-inch sensor found on the two S24 handsets. The new sensor also sports one-micron pixels, much like the sensor used on the S24 and S24 Plus.

Moving on to the display, not much is currently known about display specs outside of the rumor that the series could go bigger. However, Samsung has been working on next-generation OLED displays that would allow fingerprint scanning anywhere on the screen, as well as open up the ability to scan multiple fingerprints simultaneously. At the time, the CEO of Isorg, Dieter May, predicted that Samsung would be ready to deliver these displays by 2025.

Samsung itself made some promises regarding Galaxy S25 series upgrades during its Q2 2024 earnings call on August 1. Executive Daniel Araujo promised that the S25 series would get “top-of-the-line” camera and display upgrades, although he didn’t issue any specific details.

The Samsung representative also issued vague AI plans for the new phones:

So looking forward, we expect to be able to understand the context of conversations and provide a natural conversation and experience across our devices. To achieve this, we’ll strengthen partnerships and collaborations while developing our AI technologies further.

Some of the biggest Galaxy S25 rumors so far have related to the processors. Samsung brought back its tradition of offering the Galaxy S series with a Snapdragon processor in selected markets and an Exynos chip for the rest of the world with the S24. This was after the much-welcome shift in 2023 of abandoning Exynos and offering Snapdragon processors for all handsets around the world.

While a few previous rumors suggested Samsung might return to its all-Snapdragon-everywhere policy in 2025, a conflicting report says Samsung is hoping to improve its Exynos 2500 chip yields so it can once again offer multiple chip configurations depending on the market. Furthermore, at least one leak claims the company could also utilize a MediaTek Dimensity SoC for select models. This seems less likely and it’s important to mention the sourcing is a bit questionable with this one, so a grain of salt is necessary. Still, it seems likely Samsung isn’t happy paying Qualcomm’s high pricing for its chips and is actively looking for other options.

This means that every Galaxy S25 phone, regardless of location, would have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This is reportedly due to Samsung’s manufacturing issues with the supposed Exynos 2500 chipset, which would appear in the Galaxy S25 series. As of now, this is the strongest rumor we have, so it’s looking likely we could see only Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S25 phones next year.

It's possible we could see a return to all-Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S25 phones in 2025.

If Samsung does go all-in on Snapdragon, it looks like the Galaxy S25 could get a nice speed boost. Tipster Digital Chat Station claims that “Tongzi” — supposedly the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4’s codename — chips will hit 4GHz. This would be a notable improvement from the Gen 3 processor, which is capable of reaching 3.3GHz.

On to battery specs, it’s possible Samsung could be planning to use stack technology for the battery in the S25 series, according to a report from The Elec. This tech is commonly used in electric vehicles, but it appears Samsung’s research and development department is considering bringing it over to smartphones. Stacking refers to the way cells in the battery are arranged, which can lead to a higher energy capacity inside a smaller volume. According to the report, the arrangement could provide a 10% improvement in energy density.

Meanwhile, a report from GalaxyClub says the standard Galaxy S25 could have the same 4,000mAh capacity as the Galaxy S24. This isn’t bad news, but it might be disappointing for anyone hoping to eke out a bit more juice from the Galaxy S25. As for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, tipster Digital Chat Station says to expect a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging.

In a reply to a social post from Samsung, tipster Ice Universe claims that the base Galaxy S25 will once again have 8GB of RAM. Presumably, the leaker is suggesting that only 8GB of RAM will be available, regardless of the configuration. If true, this would mean the S25 will have the same amount of memory as Samsung gave the S24 and S23.

While it is possible we won’t see a change in the amount of memory, the storage story could be different. Samsung Semiconductor released a roadmap for the next generation of UFS. That roadmap states the company will release UFS 4.0 4-lane CS in 2025 before jumping to UFS 5.0 in 2027.

Based on the roadmap, UFS 4.0 4-lane CS will double the read/write rates of the current UFS 4.0 standard. The additional speed will provide a number of benefits, like faster load times and more efficient on-device AI applications.

What might the Samsung Galaxy S25 price be?

• Galaxy S22 — $799 (base), $999 (Plus), $1,199 (Ultra)
• Galaxy S23 — $799 (base), $999 (Plus), $1,199 (Ultra)
• Galaxy S24 — $799 (base), $999 (Plus), $1,299 (Ultra)

When it comes to pricing, Samsung has stayed fairly consistent over recent years. For the last three years, in fact, the base and Plus models have remained at $799 and $999, respectively. The only price change that happened during this time span was with the Ultra model, which went up by $100 in 2024. The good news is there’s not enough information to suggest there will be a price increase for any model. On the other hand, the bad news is that there’s also not enough information to suggest that Samsung won’t implement a price bump. If we had to guess, however, we believe the cost will be the same as it was in 2024.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy S25?

Unless you’re dead set on getting the latest and greatest from Samsung, there’s not really any reason to wait. The exception to that is if you’re not in immediate need of a new phone. In that case, it might be worth waiting to see how the Galaxy S25 series pans out.

If you need something now, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 (), Galaxy S24 Plus (), and Galaxy S24 Ultra () can likely serve all your needs. Likewise, you have your choice of perfectly capable non-Samsung handsets that range anywhere from premium to budget-tier and everything in between. For example, the Google Pixel 9 Pro () is a solid device that has great cameras and neat AI features powered by Gemini. There’s also the Nothing Phone 2 () if you want a flagship smartphone that won’t hurt your wallet.

Before the Samsung Galaxy Fold 6 ever became official, rumors were suggesting the company would launch a larger model called the Galaxy Fold 6 Ultra. While this model didn’t appear at Samsung Unpacked, the rumor mill claims another Fold variant is on its way. Let’s jump right in and discuss everything we know about the alleged Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim.

Keyword: At a glance

Update: August 2, 2024 (5 PM ET): We’ve updated our Pixel Watch 3 rumor hub with the latest leaks, including official promo material, expected US pricing, and information on every type and color of band that will be available.

Original article: Google got off to a slightly rocky start when it released its first smartwatch in 2022, but it didn’t take the company long to find its way. While the Google Pixel Watch 2 remains a great watch, it’s only a matter of time before a successor arrives. Below we discuss all the Google Pixel Watch 3 rumors we know so far, as well as changes we hope to see from the next-gen watch.

Will there be a Google Pixel Watch 3?

It’ll be a little while before Google officially confirms its plans for a successor, but there will definitely be another Pixel Watch. The company has invested heavily in wearables with its acquisition of Fitbit, and it’s clear it has big ambitions for its in-house watch. Lending even further support to this notion, there are already a few rumors about the Pixel Watch 3. While we still don’t know a ton about it, rumors suggest it will look very similar to its predecessor, though it will allegedly come in two sizes this time around. This would be a welcome change for those who prefer more options.

What is the most likely Google Pixel Watch 3 release date?

• Google Pixel Watch — October 13, 2022
• Google Pixel Watch 2 — October 12, 2023

Although there have only been two releases so far, the Pixel Watch has thus far always launched alongside the Pixel series in October. However, this year, the Pixel 9 series is launching on August 13, so we expect the Pixel Watch 3 to make an appearance at this event too.

What will the Google Pixel Watch 3 look like?

Recently leaked renders have finally given us a closer look at the Pixel Watch 3 design. If you were hoping for something new, the next watch looks virtually identical to what came before it. There’s the same 1.2-inch display and rotating crown, though the body is slightly thicker now as a result of the slight battery increase and likely due to the addition of new components like UWB.

Initial reports claimed that the Pixel Watch 3 may measure 40.79 x 40.73 x 14mm, versus the Pixel Watch 2‘s body size of 41 x 41 x 12.3mm. However, we eventually learned that Google is making a second, bigger model. There will still be the same 41mm variant as always, but the bigger model is said to have a 1.45-inch screen and a 45mm dial. Though Google has yet to confirm it, rumors claim the bigger model will go by the name Pixel Watch 3 XL.

One thing that sticks out with the Pixel Watch’s design is the massive bezels. But thankfully, Google will be reducing the size of these bezels in the third iteration. According to our own sources, both models of the Pixel Watch 3 will feature 4.5mm bezels. In comparison, the Pixel Watch 2 had 5.5mm bezels. In the graphic below, you can see how much of an upgrade this will be.

Staying on the subject of the screen, we’re hearing that both models will sport a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. This bumps the total nits up by 1,000 compared to the last generation. We’ve compiled all the display specs we have so far below:

As for colors, you’ll have a couple of options to choose from. You can see these options included in the table below.

In late July, a leak corroborated the case colors and bands we reported in the table above. However, that leak went a step further by revealing every band that will be available for Google’s next smartwatch. These bands include:

What rumored specs and features could the Google Pixel Watch 3 have?

There have been a few rumors and leaks about the Pixel Watch 3, including our own original reporting. Let us dive into everything we know about actual hardware and software changes.

More than one report suggests the Pixel Watch 3 will include an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip for short-range communication and location tracking. If you remember, UWB was also rumored to be in the Pixel Watch 2, but it was removed at the last minute. However, a source inside Google confirmed to Android Authority that it will indeed be in the Pixel Watch 3. Moreover, UWB support was recently spotted in FCC listings as well.

We still don’t have any information on how Google plans to use the technology, but we can speculate. One of the more obvious use cases would be precise device finding. As we recently reported, Google might be working on adding UWB support to the Find My Device app. Another possibility could be unlocking your car using Digital Car Key, which is already supported by BMW, Hyundai, and Kia, and many other manufacturers. Additionally, it may even be used to unlock the device, as indicated by teardown of the Play Services app.

The Pixel Watch 3 may also feature a slightly increased battery capacity. Before you get too excited, Android Headlines claims the new standard model will include a 307mAh battery, which is only 1mAh higher than its predecessor. However, our own report mentions a 310mAh battery, which still isn’t that much of a difference. The bigger model, on the other hand, is believed to have a 420mAh cell.

These increases alone won’t amount to drastically improved battery life; however, a more efficient SoC might do the trick. It’s believed that the Watch 3 will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 with a customer processor. This makes sense since Qualcomm has yet to make a W6 chip. Maybe someday we’ll see an in-house Google chip hit the Pixel Watch too? Again, that’s all just speculation and definitely unlikely for the Pixel Watch 3, at least.

In the last few days, Android Headlines has leaked the official promo material for the Pixel Watch 3 series, confirming many of the rumors we have been hearing so far. It’s all but confirmed that the Pixel Watch 3 will be available in two sizes: a 41mm model, matching the current Pixel Watch 2, and a larger 45mm variant. The 41mm model will feature a 10% larger screen (presumably owing to the thinner bezels), while the 45mm variant is touting a “40% larger screen” compared to the Watch 2.

Both models will utilize Google’s “Actua” display technology, offering 2,000 nits of peak brightness, double that of the Pixel Watch 2. The leaked images also mention an “ultra-responsive” display, suggesting a potentially higher refresh rate. Battery life is expected to remain consistent with previous models, offering up to 24 hours with always-on display and 36 hours in Battery Saver Mode. The 41mm model claims 20% faster charging compared to the Pixel Watch 2, which is a welcome addition.

Software changes

Leaked images also reveal new software features for the Pixel Watch 3, such as Nest doorbell and camera feeds directly on the watch face, allowing for convenient real-time monitoring. Runners will benefit from creating custom runs, competing against previous workouts, and receiving live feedback on their form, cadence, and stride.

Existing features like controlling the phone’s camera and using Google Wallet for contactless payments will remain. A new “Morning Brief” feature will summarize key health and fitness data each morning. While the leak does not mention Gemini-based AI features, it’s likely that the Pixel Watch 3 will incorporate Google’s AI capabilities in some way.

What might the Google Pixel Watch 3 price be?

• Google Pixel Watch — $349
• Google Pixel Watch 2 — $349

The Pixel Watch series has cost $349 since the beginning, though the LTE variant is always slightly higher at $399. Despite recent price increases in the tech industry due to the current economic environment, we initially anticipated that the Pixel Watch 3 would maintain its usual pricing. After all, most watches of this caliber continue to hover around this price range.

There might be bad news, though. Our first price leaks came via French outlet Dealabs, and an increase could be on the cards for Europe. The outlet reported that the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 Wi-Fi model will set you back €399 (~$436), while the 45mm Wi-Fi model could cost €449 (~$491). Want cellular connectivity? Then these prices could increase to €499 (~$546) and €549 (~$601) respectively.

Thankfully, a more recent leak, courtesy of Android Headlines, did give us some good news about the Pixel Watch 3’s US pricing. The report suggests the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will be priced at $349 for the WiFi-only model and $449 for the LTE model in the US. While the WiFi model’s price remains the same as last year’s, the LTE model’s price is a $50 bump over its predecessor. Google could be doing this to make space for the Pixel Watch 3 XL, which is said to be priced at $399 for the WiFi model and $499 for the LTE model.

Should you wait for the Google Pixel Watch 3?

If you’re interested in a Google-made watch, the Pixel Watch 2 is already a great watch and has plenty of life ahead of it. However, with just a few days left until Google’s August launch event, it would be wise to wait and see what Google has in store for us. If nothing else, the introduction of the Pixel Watch 3 could certainly give you an even better deal on the Watch 2.

Not impressed by the Pixel Watch series? The most obvious alternative on the Android side of the fence is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series (). For those who don’t mind switching to an iPhone in the process, the Apple Watch Series 9 () is also a worthwhile alternative.

Google Pixel Watch 3: What we want to see

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is one of the best smartwatches on the market and has a long list of great features. Of course, nothing is perfect. Here’s our wishlist for what I’d like to see from the Google Pixel Watch 3.

Durability could use improvement

The Pixel Watch faced significant durability issues, particularly with its display, mostly due to the relatively thin glass used. The Pixel Watch 2 saw slight improvements in glass quality, yet there have been numerous reports from consumers and reviewers indicating that the watch remains fairly easy to damage. Compounding the issue is the watch’s nearly impossible self-repair process, forcing owners to rely solely on Google Pixel Watch Customer Support for repairs. This not only adds inconvenience but also results in being without the watch for an extended period.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 presents an opportunity to address these durability concerns definitively. Opting for thicker, more durable glass appears to be the most straightforward solution. Although this may slightly increase the device’s bulk, weight, and cost, it represents a worthwhile trade-off for enhanced durability.

The Pixel Watch 3 needs more sizes

Garmin, Apple, and Samsung all typically offer multiple sizes for their watches, but the same can’t be said for Google. The Pixel Watch 2 comes in just one size: 41mm. While that might be perfect for many, some of us have big wrists or just want a larger display or better battery life, even if it means it’s slightly heftier to wear.

The solution is simple, Google should add a 45mm option to the Pixel Watch 3. This would appeal to those who want a bigger display or a larger size that better complements their wrist size.

The good news is that, as we mentioned in the rumor section above, Google is very likely to do just that.

While we’re at it, how about more colorways?

The Google Pixel Watch 2 adopts a fairly reserved approach to case colors, opting for metallic shades of gold, black, and silver. Personally, I align with Henry Ford’s sentiment, believing black to be the only color anyone ever needs (half kidding), though I suspect my opinion might be a minority. Several smartwatches on the market offer a more diverse palette of unique shades. Apple, in particular, excels in this area with its Apple Watch Series 9, which is available in shades like Product Red and Pink.

If Google aims for the Pixel Watch 3 to stand out, incorporating a splash of color seems like a straightforward strategy. Perhaps Google could draw inspiration from its Pixel phone series and introduce colors such as Rose or Bay Blue, or bring back old Pixel favorites like Oh So Orange. I had the latter color on my Pixel back in the day, despite the fact I almost always get black phones. It just stood out in a way that was hard to ignore.

Here’s hoping the Pixel Watch 3 can do the same with its case colorway in 2024. Unfortunately no rumors indicate this is happening, but it’s still early enough that we can’t say for sure.

Safety Signal is a great idea, but it shouldn’t cost a dime

I really appreciate the Safety Signal feature on the Pixel Watch 2. In essence, it allows you to use SOS cellular features in an emergency without needing an active LTE cellular plan. Although this feature necessitates an additional $50 for the LTE model, it’s a minor sacrifice for the peace of mind it provides.

It’s always possible to find yourself on a hike or run with a dead phone. Having a backup solution for emergencies is reassuring. However, the requirement to pay for the Fitbit Premium subscription is less appealing. Although Premium costs only $10 a month, there are cellular plans for watches that start at a similar price point. Moreover, unlike a full cellphone plan, this service is only functional in emergencies.

I believe Google should cover the costs for emergency services and offer this feature for free to Pixel Watch 3 LTE users. This would position Google uniquely in the market, providing a standout feature that no other brand offers for free. While Apple and a few other brands have SOS features, they all require an active (and paid) cellular connection.

GPS accuracy needs to be improved

In our own Pixel Watch 2 review, we found the watch’s GPS to be fairly inconsistent compared to other fitness trackers and devices. For example, during our testing, we found that the GPS would disappear and yet still keep claiming it was tracking. The distance reported would be inaccurate compared to devices like the Apple Watch. Not a great look for a watch that is clearly aimed at fitness thanks to its association with Fitbit technology. Simply put, I feel Google needs to upgrade its GPS sensor for the Pixel Watch 3.

Update: August 2, 2024 (2:00 AM ET): We have updated our Google Pixel 9 rumor hub with newly leaked information about the Pixel 9 line’s release date and more renders.

The Google Pixel 8 series is Google’s best flagship series to date, topping the charts for some of the best Android phones you can buy. But we’re mere weeks away from the launch of the Pixel 9 series, and four of them are expected this time around. What is new with the upcoming generation, and are they exciting upgrades? Let’s jump right in and discuss everything we know about the Google Pixel 9 series!

Update: August 2, 2024 (5 PM ET): We’ve updated our Pixel Watch 3 rumor hub with the latest leaks, including official promo material, expected US pricing, and information on every type and color of band that will be available.

Original article: Google got off to a slightly rocky start when it released its first smartwatch in 2022, but it didn’t take the company long to find its way. While the Google Pixel Watch 2 remains a great watch, it’s only a matter of time before a successor arrives. Below we discuss all the Google Pixel Watch 3 rumors we know so far, as well as changes we hope to see from the next-gen watch.

Will there be a Google Pixel Watch 3?

It’ll be a little while before Google officially confirms its plans for a successor, but there will definitely be another Pixel Watch. The company has invested heavily in wearables with its acquisition of Fitbit, and it’s clear it has big ambitions for its in-house watch. Lending even further support to this notion, there are already a few rumors about the Pixel Watch 3. While we still don’t know a ton about it, rumors suggest it will look very similar to its predecessor, though it will allegedly come in two sizes this time around. This would be a welcome change for those who prefer more options.

What is the most likely Google Pixel Watch 3 release date?

• Google Pixel Watch — October 13, 2022
• Google Pixel Watch 2 — October 12, 2023

Although there have only been two releases so far, the Pixel Watch has thus far always launched alongside the Pixel series in October. However, this year, the Pixel 9 series is launching on August 13, so we expect the Pixel Watch 3 to make an appearance at this event too.

What will the Google Pixel Watch 3 look like?

Recently leaked renders have finally given us a closer look at the Pixel Watch 3 design. If you were hoping for something new, the next watch looks virtually identical to what came before it. There’s the same 1.2-inch display and rotating crown, though the body is slightly thicker now as a result of the slight battery increase and likely due to the addition of new components like UWB.

Initial reports claimed that the Pixel Watch 3 may measure 40.79 x 40.73 x 14mm, versus the Pixel Watch 2‘s body size of 41 x 41 x 12.3mm. However, we eventually learned that Google is making a second, bigger model. There will still be the same 41mm variant as always, but the bigger model is said to have a 1.45-inch screen and a 45mm dial. Though Google has yet to confirm it, rumors claim the bigger model will go by the name Pixel Watch 3 XL.

One thing that sticks out with the Pixel Watch’s design is the massive bezels. But thankfully, Google will be reducing the size of these bezels in the third iteration. According to our own sources, both models of the Pixel Watch 3 will feature 4.5mm bezels. In comparison, the Pixel Watch 2 had 5.5mm bezels. In the graphic below, you can see how much of an upgrade this will be.

Staying on the subject of the screen, we’re hearing that both models will sport a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. This bumps the total nits up by 1,000 compared to the last generation. We’ve compiled all the display specs we have so far below:

As for colors, you’ll have a couple of options to choose from. You can see these options included in the table below.

In late July, a leak corroborated the case colors and bands we reported in the table above. However, that leak went a step further by revealing every band that will be available for Google’s next smartwatch. These bands include:

What rumored specs and features could the Google Pixel Watch 3 have?

There have been a few rumors and leaks about the Pixel Watch 3, including our own original reporting. Let us dive into everything we know about actual hardware and software changes.

More than one report suggests the Pixel Watch 3 will include an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip for short-range communication and location tracking. If you remember, UWB was also rumored to be in the Pixel Watch 2, but it was removed at the last minute. However, a source inside Google confirmed to Android Authority that it will indeed be in the Pixel Watch 3. Moreover, UWB support was recently spotted in FCC listings as well.

We still don’t have any information on how Google plans to use the technology, but we can speculate. One of the more obvious use cases would be precise device finding. As we recently reported, Google might be working on adding UWB support to the Find My Device app. Another possibility could be unlocking your car using Digital Car Key, which is already supported by BMW, Hyundai, and Kia, and many other manufacturers. Additionally, it may even be used to unlock the device, as indicated by teardown of the Play Services app.

The Pixel Watch 3 may also feature a slightly increased battery capacity. Before you get too excited, Android Headlines claims the new standard model will include a 307mAh battery, which is only 1mAh higher than its predecessor. However, our own report mentions a 310mAh battery, which still isn’t that much of a difference. The bigger model, on the other hand, is believed to have a 420mAh cell.

These increases alone won’t amount to drastically improved battery life; however, a more efficient SoC might do the trick. It’s believed that the Watch 3 will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 with a customer processor. This makes sense since Qualcomm has yet to make a W6 chip. Maybe someday we’ll see an in-house Google chip hit the Pixel Watch too? Again, that’s all just speculation and definitely unlikely for the Pixel Watch 3, at least.

In the last few days, Android Headlines has leaked the official promo material for the Pixel Watch 3 series, confirming many of the rumors we have been hearing so far. It’s all but confirmed that the Pixel Watch 3 will be available in two sizes: a 41mm model, matching the current Pixel Watch 2, and a larger 45mm variant. The 41mm model will feature a 10% larger screen (presumably owing to the thinner bezels), while the 45mm variant is touting a “40% larger screen” compared to the Watch 2.

Both models will utilize Google’s “Actua” display technology, offering 2,000 nits of peak brightness, double that of the Pixel Watch 2. The leaked images also mention an “ultra-responsive” display, suggesting a potentially higher refresh rate. Battery life is expected to remain consistent with previous models, offering up to 24 hours with always-on display and 36 hours in Battery Saver Mode. The 41mm model claims 20% faster charging compared to the Pixel Watch 2, which is a welcome addition.

Software changes

Leaked images also reveal new software features for the Pixel Watch 3, such as Nest doorbell and camera feeds directly on the watch face, allowing for convenient real-time monitoring. Runners will benefit from creating custom runs, competing against previous workouts, and receiving live feedback on their form, cadence, and stride.

Existing features like controlling the phone’s camera and using Google Wallet for contactless payments will remain. A new “Morning Brief” feature will summarize key health and fitness data each morning. While the leak does not mention Gemini-based AI features, it’s likely that the Pixel Watch 3 will incorporate Google’s AI capabilities in some way.

What might the Google Pixel Watch 3 price be?

• Google Pixel Watch — $349
• Google Pixel Watch 2 — $349

The Pixel Watch series has cost $349 since the beginning, though the LTE variant is always slightly higher at $399. Despite recent price increases in the tech industry due to the current economic environment, we initially anticipated that the Pixel Watch 3 would maintain its usual pricing. After all, most watches of this caliber continue to hover around this price range.

There might be bad news, though. Our first price leaks came via French outlet Dealabs, and an increase could be on the cards for Europe. The outlet reported that the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 Wi-Fi model will set you back €399 (~$436), while the 45mm Wi-Fi model could cost €449 (~$491). Want cellular connectivity? Then these prices could increase to €499 (~$546) and €549 (~$601) respectively.

Thankfully, a more recent leak, courtesy of Android Headlines, did give us some good news about the Pixel Watch 3’s US pricing. The report suggests the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will be priced at $349 for the WiFi-only model and $449 for the LTE model in the US. While the WiFi model’s price remains the same as last year’s, the LTE model’s price is a $50 bump over its predecessor. Google could be doing this to make space for the Pixel Watch 3 XL, which is said to be priced at $399 for the WiFi model and $499 for the LTE model.

Should you wait for the Google Pixel Watch 3?

If you’re interested in a Google-made watch, the Pixel Watch 2 is already a great watch and has plenty of life ahead of it. However, with just a few days left until Google’s August launch event, it would be wise to wait and see what Google has in store for us. If nothing else, the introduction of the Pixel Watch 3 could certainly give you an even better deal on the Watch 2.

Not impressed by the Pixel Watch series? The most obvious alternative on the Android side of the fence is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series (). For those who don’t mind switching to an iPhone in the process, the Apple Watch Series 9 () is also a worthwhile alternative.

Google Pixel Watch 3: What we want to see

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is one of the best smartwatches on the market and has a long list of great features. Of course, nothing is perfect. Here’s our wishlist for what I’d like to see from the Google Pixel Watch 3.

Durability could use improvement

The Pixel Watch faced significant durability issues, particularly with its display, mostly due to the relatively thin glass used. The Pixel Watch 2 saw slight improvements in glass quality, yet there have been numerous reports from consumers and reviewers indicating that the watch remains fairly easy to damage. Compounding the issue is the watch’s nearly impossible self-repair process, forcing owners to rely solely on Google Pixel Watch Customer Support for repairs. This not only adds inconvenience but also results in being without the watch for an extended period.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 presents an opportunity to address these durability concerns definitively. Opting for thicker, more durable glass appears to be the most straightforward solution. Although this may slightly increase the device’s bulk, weight, and cost, it represents a worthwhile trade-off for enhanced durability.

The Pixel Watch 3 needs more sizes

Garmin, Apple, and Samsung all typically offer multiple sizes for their watches, but the same can’t be said for Google. The Pixel Watch 2 comes in just one size: 41mm. While that might be perfect for many, some of us have big wrists or just want a larger display or better battery life, even if it means it’s slightly heftier to wear.

The solution is simple, Google should add a 45mm option to the Pixel Watch 3. This would appeal to those who want a bigger display or a larger size that better complements their wrist size.

The good news is that, as we mentioned in the rumor section above, Google is very likely to do just that.

While we’re at it, how about more colorways?

The Google Pixel Watch 2 adopts a fairly reserved approach to case colors, opting for metallic shades of gold, black, and silver. Personally, I align with Henry Ford’s sentiment, believing black to be the only color anyone ever needs (half kidding), though I suspect my opinion might be a minority. Several smartwatches on the market offer a more diverse palette of unique shades. Apple, in particular, excels in this area with its Apple Watch Series 9, which is available in shades like Product Red and Pink.

If Google aims for the Pixel Watch 3 to stand out, incorporating a splash of color seems like a straightforward strategy. Perhaps Google could draw inspiration from its Pixel phone series and introduce colors such as Rose or Bay Blue, or bring back old Pixel favorites like Oh So Orange. I had the latter color on my Pixel back in the day, despite the fact I almost always get black phones. It just stood out in a way that was hard to ignore.

Here’s hoping the Pixel Watch 3 can do the same with its case colorway in 2024. Unfortunately no rumors indicate this is happening, but it’s still early enough that we can’t say for sure.

Safety Signal is a great idea, but it shouldn’t cost a dime

I really appreciate the Safety Signal feature on the Pixel Watch 2. In essence, it allows you to use SOS cellular features in an emergency without needing an active LTE cellular plan. Although this feature necessitates an additional $50 for the LTE model, it’s a minor sacrifice for the peace of mind it provides.

It’s always possible to find yourself on a hike or run with a dead phone. Having a backup solution for emergencies is reassuring. However, the requirement to pay for the Fitbit Premium subscription is less appealing. Although Premium costs only $10 a month, there are cellular plans for watches that start at a similar price point. Moreover, unlike a full cellphone plan, this service is only functional in emergencies.

I believe Google should cover the costs for emergency services and offer this feature for free to Pixel Watch 3 LTE users. This would position Google uniquely in the market, providing a standout feature that no other brand offers for free. While Apple and a few other brands have SOS features, they all require an active (and paid) cellular connection.

GPS accuracy needs to be improved

In our own Pixel Watch 2 review, we found the watch’s GPS to be fairly inconsistent compared to other fitness trackers and devices. For example, during our testing, we found that the GPS would disappear and yet still keep claiming it was tracking. The distance reported would be inaccurate compared to devices like the Apple Watch. Not a great look for a watch that is clearly aimed at fitness thanks to its association with Fitbit technology. Simply put, I feel Google needs to upgrade its GPS sensor for the Pixel Watch 3.

Update: August 2, 2024 (2:00 AM ET): We have updated our Google Pixel 9 rumor hub with newly leaked information about the Pixel 9 line’s release date and more renders.

The Google Pixel 8 series is Google’s best flagship series to date, topping the charts for some of the best Android phones you can buy. But we’re mere weeks away from the launch of the Pixel 9 series, and four of them are expected this time around. What is new with the upcoming generation, and are they exciting upgrades? Let’s jump right in and discuss everything we know about the Google Pixel 9 series!

Update: August 1, 2024 (3:10 PM ET): We have updated our iPhone 16 series rumor hub with a new leak about possible color options across the iPhone 16 lineup and information regarding Apple’s preventative overheating measures for the iPhone 16.

Apple’s iPhone 15 series came out in September 2023. Now that the hype for those has died down, we’re moving on to the 2024 models — and there are already plenty of iPhone 16 rumors and leaks going around.

Apple made some significant changes to the 2023 iPhone lineup, including the addition of USB-C, the mute-switch-replacing Action Button, Titanium bodies instead of Stainless Steel on the Pro iPhones, Dynamic Island on the non-Pro iPhones, a periscope camera for the Pro Max model, and more. If you’ve been following Apple long enough, you’d know that most of these new features from the iPhone 15 series would most certainly be coming to iPhone 16 models. Additionally, what’s exclusive to the 2023 Pros would likely trickle down to the non-Pro variants this year. Keeping all that in mind, here’s what you can expect from the iPhone 16 lineup in 2024.

Will there be an iPhone 16 series?

There’s no doubt Apple will launch new iPhones in 2024. The iPhone is not only the company’s best-selling product, but the cornerstone of everything it does. You can’t depend on a lot in this world, but a yearly iPhone upgrade is something we can expect almost as much as we can expect the rising of the sun.

A better question might be: will these new iPhones be called the iPhone 16 series? This is not nearly as assured, although we are pretty confident that’s what will happen. It’s been a long time since Apple didn’t use a new number for its yearly iPhone upgrade. In fact, the last time there was an “S” series iPhone was the iPhone XS and XS Max in 2018, nearly six years ago. Since then, it’s been a brand new number every year, so we’re pretty confident there will be an iPhone 16 release this year.

What is the most likely iPhone 16 series release date?

• Apple iPhone 13: September 14, 2021
• Apple iPhone 14: September 7, 2022
• Apple iPhone 15: September 12, 2023

Apple has been launching new iPhones in September since the iPhone 5. Barring the iPhone SE models, September is Apple’s preferred month for flagship announcements. It was only during the pandemic that Apple went off course and launched the iPhone 12 series in October. But if all goes as planned and there are no last-minute manufacturing hitches, the iPhone 16 series should arrive like clockwork in September 2024. It’s too early for even leaked details about a specific iPhone 16 release date, but we’ll update this article as and when we hear anything about it.

What rumored specs and features could the iPhone 16 series have?

Apple doesn’t reinvent the iPhone every year, but it almost always launches significant changes. Here are the things we expect to see later this year with the iPhone 16 series.

Design, display, and buttons

Apple made several notable design changes on the iPhone 15 series, and we expect the company to refine these going forward. We think Apple’s newly launched Action Button will make its way to the non-Pro iPhone 16 models this year. As we said earlier, bringing Pro features to base iPhone models is a practice Apple has followed for years. The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus (previously reserved only for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max) is a prime example of that. So, if you prefer the classic mute switch over the new Action Button, know that it will most likely disappear for good after the iPhone 16 lineup goes official.

Apple could equip the iPhone 16 series with yet another new button.

If one new button wasn’t enough, rumor has it that Apple will equip the iPhone 16 series with yet another button. According to a MacRumors report and frequent Apple leaker Mark Gurman, Apple internally refers to this new button as the “Capture Button.” It is expected to appear on the right side of the device, and Gurman says it could be used to shoot images and record videos. The Information says that the button will be a physical button that will be sensitive to both pressure and touch. The report mentions that lightly pressing the button will allow you to focus, while a firmer press will capture an image or start recording. It is said that you will also be able to swipe left or right on the button to zoom in or out.

All-in-all, it looks like the iPhone 16 series may come with as many as five buttons, including the power button, two volume buttons, the Action Button, and the new Capture Button. The button is said to be in testing across all four models within the iPhone 16 series, so it’s possible this will not be a Pro-only feature.

For the designs of the base iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, we expect Apple to stick to the same screen sizes as last year. Display analyst Ross Young also suggests that Apple is only expected to bring high refresh rate screens to base iPhones in 2025. That means we might be stuck with 60Hz displays on the cheaper iPhones in 2024, which is profoundly disappointing, especially when you consider you can get a budget Android phone with a 90Hz display for less than $400 these days.

The overall footprint of the new 2024 iPhones could also be larger than ever

As for the Pro models, they could be larger than ever. Gurman and Young concur that Apple plans to increase the size of its two iPhone 16 Pro models by “a couple of tenths of an inch diagonally.” The new displays are expected to measure 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, respectively, making the Pro Max the largest iPhone ever. However, the Pro Max name might not stick around. According to 9to5Mac, the top-of-the-line iPhone could adopt the “Ultra” branding in 2024, which we heard in 2023, too — so take that rumor with a grain of salt.

Speaking of the displays, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to get Samsung Display’s new M14 OLED panels, ET News reports (h/t: Phandroid). As a result, they should be brighter than ever, last longer, and could be more energy efficient.

A rumor from Ice Universe (via MacRumors) suggests that the bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro will be even thinner than the bezels on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If true, this would mean that the bezels will be narrower than 1.52mm. To accomplish this, it is rumored that Apple will rely on Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology. A newer rumor suggests the iPhone 16 Pro Max (or Ultra) might also have crazy-thin bezels — so small it will be almost like they’re not even there. Ice Universe, the source for this leak, says the iPhone 16 Pro Max might end up being “the world’s closest smartphone to a borderless sci-fi form factor.”

We have also seen a few dummy units around, giving us a fair idea of what the lineup will look like. Leaker MajinBu reshared comparison pics of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro as against the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, and the size difference on the Pro iPhone is very apparent year-on-year.

Sonny Dickson also shared dummy units of the entire iPhone 16 series, corroborating the difference in screen sizes, the vertically placed cameras, the Action button, and the Capture button on all four phones.

Dickson later shared better-quality dummy units of the series, which you can see at the top of this section. Those dummy units show off the redesigned camera modules on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, as well as just how large the Pro Max (or Ultra) is.

If you’re wondering about the colors coming to the series, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared that he believes most of the existing colors will be brought over from the iPhone 15. However, he claims that the iPhone 15 Pro’s “Blue Titanium” could be replaced by a rose color on the iPhone 16 Pro models, and the iPhone 16 could drop yellow in favor of white.

Sonny Dickson‘s latest leaks show us what the color options on the iPhone 16 might look like. The images showcase a new set of iPhone 16 and 16 Pro dummy units, which appear more refined than previous ones Dickson has shared, indicating that they might closely resemble the final product.

Among the colors shown for the non-Pro iPhone 16, there’s a rich green and an appealing blue alongside Apple’s staple pink/rose gold option. Even the traditional black and white colors look more saturated this time around, reminding us of the iPhone X.

As for the colors on the Pro iPhones this year, we can see the return of a white and a natural titanium color variant. What’s new this year is the deep black option, which could be a stark departure from the subtler hues that Apple’s Pro iPhones generally go for. Interestingly, Disckson’s leak only shows three colorways for the iPhone 16 Pro phones, but we can expect the fourth color to be a variation of the Gold/Rose Gold/Purple colorways that we’ve seen in the past.

It’s worth remembering that these dummy units might not perfectly represent the final finish, but they give a good idea of the color palette we can expect.

iPhone 16 series camera specs

There are a number of rumors already swirling around about iPhone 16 camera specs. Apple introduced a new tetraprism zoom lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023, which, according to Apple analyst and trusted informer Ming-Chi Kuo, could come to both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, The Information claims the tetraprism zoom lens could also appear in the cheaper models.

Meanwhile, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu claims that Apple will add a 48MP ultrawide shooter to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Ming-Chi Kuo also reiterates this with more details, noting that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could jump to a 48MP 1/2.6-inch sensor with 0.7µm pixel size and 6P lens assembly for its rear ultrawide camera. The output would be 12MP, so with pixel binning, the effective pixel size would be 1.4µm. If true, this would be a significant resolution upgrade compared to the 12MP ultrawide sensor currently used on iPhone models with a 1µm pixel size.

Further supporting the possibility of an ultrawide upgrade to 48MP is a rumor from Weibo tipster OvO Baby Sauce OvO. In addition to an improvement to the ultrawide, the tipster also says the Pro Max’s main camera will be based on an advanced custom 48MP Sony IMX903 sensor.

Other expected specs and features

Based on Apple’s behavior in the past two years, we expected that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus would get the A17 Pro chip Apple is now using in the iPhone 15 Pro phones, while the iPhone 16 Pro lineup could see a brand new A18 chip.

However, Jeff Pu (via MacRumors) has suggested Apple might change up its strategy this year. He claims that all four new iPhone 16 series phones might be equipped with A18 series chips. Pu also expects the chips to be manufactured by TSMC on its second-generation 3nm process instead of the first-generation 3nm process used on the A17 Pro chip.

More recently, code discovered in Apple’s backend by MacRumors seems to confirm that all four iPhone 16 models will feature the new A18 family chips. The code uses internal model numbers to refer to the new iPhones, and this time they all start with “iPhone17,” indicating a unified chip generation across the lineup.

That being said, there could still be a difference in the processors that the non-Pro and Pro iPhones 16 models get. Even within the same generation, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus could get the A18 chip, while the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max could come equipped with an A18 Pro chip with better or more GPU cores.

We’re inclined to think all iPhone 16 models could get new chips because iOS 18 is expected to lean heavily into Apple Intelligence features. Many of these features will work on-device, which will require powerful specialized chips called neural processing units (NPUs). The A17 Pro already has an NPU, but we think Apple would want all iPhone 16 models to have something better to make them powerful AI machines.

Elsewhere, the battery capacity of at least the base iPhone 16 is expected to increase. Thanks to leaked images of the iPhone 16 battery, we can see its capacity is about 200mAh more than the iPhone 15. Also, we see that the battery is encased in metal, which could help cut down on overheating problems users faced with the iPhone 15 series:

Meanwhile, the storage tiers of the iPhone 16 series could remain the same as the iPhone 15 series, but there may be some shuffling in RAM. Pu suggests that the base iPhone 16 could finally get 8GB of RAM, compared to the base iPhone 15’s 6GB of RAM. The iPhone 15 Pro models already have 8GB of RAM, so Apple would probably stick with the same for the iPhone 16 Pro models.

The base iPhone 16 could also make the jump to Wi-Fi 6E, finally.

The iPhone 16 Pro, instead, could get an upgrade to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem, as Pu notes. The base iPhone 16 could retain the Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem, which is present on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.

We also expect Apple to infuse generative AI into its products in 2024. The company is reportedly integrating AI features in iOS 18 in partnership with OpenAI (owners of ChatGPT). While that deal is essentially done, there have also been rumors of Apple working with Google to bring Gemini features to iPhones, too. Given that the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series all heavily focus on AI smarts, it’s pretty much a given that Apple will need to respond in the iPhone 16 series, but we don’t know yet what that will look like.

When the iPhone 15 series launched, it was initially plagued with overheating issues. Apparently, Apple has learned its lesson as The Information reports the company is adding a larger graphite sheet inside the chassis to prevent the issue from reoccurring.

What might the iPhone 16 series’ price be?

• iPhone 15: Starts at $799
• iPhone 15 Plus: Starts at $899
• iPhone 15 Pro: Starts at $999
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199

In 2023, Apple increased the price of its Pro Max model by $100. You could buy the base 128GB iPhone 14 Pro Max for $1,099 in 2022, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max underwent big changes and starts at $1,199 for a 256GB model. We expect Apple to stick to the new $1,199 price and higher base storage for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

As for the rest of the lineup, it’s tough to say if Apple will keep prices unchanged or increase them. We aren’t hearing about huge upgrades just yet, so the iPhone 16 series could also end up starting at $799. We’ll be better positioned to predict prices later this year. For now, though, it’s probably a safe bet to assume pricing will remain unchanged. You can be assured that Apple will not lower any prices.

Should you wait for the iPhone 16 series?

If you’re looking to pick up a new flagship iPhone right now, you don’t need to wait until September. The current iPhone 15 lineup has plenty to offer and will not be dramatically outdated when the iPhone 16 series launches. There are also some terrific Android alternatives out there, should you be interested in switching teams.

You can buy the iPhone 15 (), iPhone 15 Plus (), iPhone 15 Pro (), or iPhone 15 Pro Max () depending on your budget and what you need. You may also find good deals on the new iPhones at major carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, or you could pick up the phones for free with some carriers.

If you are interested in making the jump to Android, there are also plenty of great options. The Google Pixel 8 () would be a great Android alternative to the iPhone 15, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus () or OnePlus 12 () will deliver a lot more than an iPhone 15 Plus. If you want an iPhone Pro model, the Pixel 8 Pro () or Galaxy S24 Ultra () will really impress you.

Update: June 22, 2024 (4:00 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Watch 7 rumor hub with apparently leaked pricing, confirmation of the Galaxy Watch Ultra name, and more.

Original article: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is easily one of the best smartwatches you can buy, though it’s not a dramatic improvement from its predecessor. We’re eagerly awaiting the release of the next iteration of Samsung’s smartwatches in the form of the Galaxy Watch 7 series, and we hope to see a lot more dramatic changes that catch it up to the competition, like the OnePlus Watch 2 and even the Apple Watch Series 9. But how is the Galaxy Watch 7 shaping up so far? Here’s what we know about the Galaxy Watch 7, what we can expect, and what we want it to be!

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Watch 7?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch series is one of the premier smartwatch lineups for Android devices. While competitors like the OnePlus Watch 2 and the Pixel Watch 2 exist in the Android space, the Galaxy Watch series (like the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic) dominates the charts thanks to Samsung’s popularity and marketing and distribution channels.

Samsung has also been very invested in smartwatches, with a lot of notable smartwatches over the years, like those on Tizen OS. Samsung has immense goodwill in this space, and it is unlikely that the company will give up this advantage any time soon, at least not without a good fight.

So even though Samsung has not officially announced anything yet, we’re very confident that the company will release a Galaxy Watch 7. Based on past trends and current leaks, this could take the form of the Galaxy Watch 7 series with multiple products.

A leak from Kro on X suggests that Samsung is planning three smartwatches: a Classic, a Pro, and a “new one.” SamMobile followed up on this by revealing that the Galaxy Watch 7 series will have the following model numbers:

• SM-L300 and SM-L305
• SM-L310 and SM-L315
• SM-L700 and SM-L705

Here, the xx0 models could represent the Wi-Fi-only variants, while the xx5 models could represent the Wi-Fi plus eSIM variants. These variants were also spotted in an official FCC listing, further confirming the existence of the Galaxy Watch 7 lineup.

To sum it all up, Samsung seems to be well underway in the Galaxy Watch 7 development cycle.

We also know that an Ultra watch is in the works. Samsung itself accidentally confirmed the “Galaxy Watch Ultra” name on its own regional websites in June 2024. This comes after regulatory filings mentioned the “Galaxy Watch Ultra” too.

What is the most likely Galaxy Watch 7 release date?

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series — Announced August 11, 2021; released August 27, 2021
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series — Announced August 10, 2022; released August 26, 2022
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series — Announced July 26, 2023; released August 11, 2023

Samsung has maintained a fairly predictable release cycle for its smartwatches in recent years, choosing to launch them alongside its foldables around August. So you can expect the Galaxy Watch 7 series to be released at the same Galaxy Unpacked event where Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z series fold and flip phones.

According to SamMobile, Samsung could launch the Galaxy foldables in early July 2024, possibly in the second week. Since Samsung usually launches its devices on a Wednesday, that would give us a date of July 10, 2024, as the possible launch date for the Galaxy Z foldables. This is supported by a leak from tipster Evan Blass who shared a GIF of an official countdown clock with the event scheduled for July 10 at 10 PM Korean Standard Time (KST). By extension, this could also be the day and event where Samsung launches the Galaxy Watch 7 series.

Chosun corroborates an early release rumor, suggesting that Samsung wants to take advantage of marketing around the 2024 Summer Olympics, which are scheduled to be held in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. Consequently, the launch could be held in Paris, France.

What will the Galaxy Watch 7 look like?

So far we had very little to go on about what the Galaxy Watch 7 would look like, but we do have a new leak courtesy of Onleaks that gives us our first look at what’s supposedly Samsung’s first “Ultra” smartwatch.

Based on the leaked render, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is set to feature a distinctive squircle design, combining a circular display with a square frame. This peculiar choice creates a visually jarring appearance, as the circular display seems awkwardly placed atop the square base. Despite the unconventional shape, the round 1.5-inch display means the watch would retain the familiar user interface seen in previous models.

A standout feature visible here is the third button (or Quick Button, per Android Headlines), which may function similarly to the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action Button. With dimensions slightly larger than the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, the Galaxy Watch Ultra also seems to sport a redesigned watch band mechanism and larger speaker grilles. Its rumored colorways include Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Beige.

While Samsung is clearly venturing into new and somewhat questionable design territory with its first “Ultra” smartwatch, we can expect the rest of the lineup to not stray too far away from last year’s Galaxy Watch 6 in terms of design. We don’t have officially confirmed information from Samsung yet, nor do we have any leaked renders that give us any idea of what the standard Galaxy Watch 7 would look like.

Speculatively from our end, some of the variants in the Galaxy Watch 7 (most likely the base variant) could continue on with the looks of the Galaxy Watch 6, which has also largely carried forward the look of its predecessor. Further, the middle Galaxy Watch 7 variant could look like a Galaxy Watch 6 Classic successor with a rotating bezel, as this feature has been loved by fans, and we don’t imagine Samsung would like to remove it again.

What rumored specs and features could the Galaxy Watch 7 series have?

A new Samsung wearable with the model number SM-L305U was recently spotted on the Bluetooth SIG database. When analyzed alongside earlier leaks, it appears that this device could be the LTE-enabled 40mm version of the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7, geared towards the US market. The Bluetooth certification confirms the Galaxy Watch 7 will retain the same Bluetooth 5.3 with LE technology as the Galaxy Watch 6, but the exciting upgrades likely lie beyond connectivity.

According to TheGalox on X, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch series could feature a new Exynos SoC that promises 50% better efficiency and 30% faster performance. While initial reports hinted at this chip being called the Exynos W940, a recent report from SamInsider points towards the W1000 designation instead. This aligns with Samsung’s recent trend of simplifying the naming schemes for its flagship mobile CPUs as well.

A report from the Korean website New Daily suggests that Samsung could be using Samsung Foundry’s 3nm process for its SoC on the Galaxy Watch 7 series. Connecting the dots, it could mean that the Exynos W940/W1000 could be a 3nm SoC powering the Galaxy Watch 7 series. If correct, this would be a decent upgrade over the 5nm Exynos W930 that is present on the Galaxy Watch 6 series. The switchover to a 3nm process would also explain the claimed efficiency improvements.

A report from SamMobile suggests that Samsung could also increase the internal storage of the watch. The Galaxy Watch 6 series has 16GB internal storage, while the Galaxy Watch 7 series could double it to 32GB.

Galaxy Club reported in early April that one of the watches (model number SM-L70x) has a battery with a rated capacity of 578mAh. The outlet suggested that this would translate into a typical capacity of 590mAh, which would be in line with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

The FCC listing of the Galaxy Watch 7 series suggests Samsung might increase wireless charging speeds by 50% this year. The listing mentions 15W wireless charging on the smartwatch, up from 10W on the Galaxy Watch 6. As far as the new Galaxy Watch Ultra model is concerned, we don’t have any specific information about its features.

Leaked specs from Android Headlines corroborated the info above but offered additional details surrounding the watches’ displays and materials. The Galaxy Watch Ultra may offer a panel capable of 3,000 nits, with the Galaxy Watch 7 peaking at 2,000 nits. Both may come slathered in sapphire crystal. Other details included the use of titanium for the Ultra’s shell and aluminum for the Galaxy Watch 7. Both watches reportedly pack IP68 water and dust resistance with a MIL-STD-810H durability rating, while the Ultra offers a 10ATM rating, too.

Galaxy AI on Galaxy Watches

In terms of software features, Samsung has now confirmed that Galaxy AI (as part of One UI 6 Watch) is coming to “the next Galaxy Watch line-up,” which obviously means the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra should be launching with Galaxy AI. The AI features confirmed as of now include an “Energy Score” providing daily insights into your overall condition, personalized “Workout Routines” for seamless exercise transitions, and a “Race” feature allowing runners and cyclists to compare performance on the same routes.

Additionally, users can anticipate tailored “Wellness tips,” more comprehensive sleep analytics with detailed “Sleep Score” metrics, and advanced running metrics like “Aerobic Threshold (AT) / Anaerobic Threshold (AnT) Heart Rate Zone.” While these are the currently confirmed features, Samsung may introduce additional AI capabilities when One UI 6 Watch is officially released.

What might the Galaxy Watch 7 price be?

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, 40mm: Wi-Fi-only: $299.99 / 4G: $349.99
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, 44mm: Wi-Fi-only: $329.99 / 4G: $379.99
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, 43mm: Wi-Fi-only: $399.99 / 4G: $449.99
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, 47mm: Wi-Fi-only: $429.99 / 4G: $479.99

We can draw some reasonable conclusions about the Galaxy Watch 7 series pricing by looking at the predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 6 series.

The Galaxy Watch 6 series started at $300 in the US for its smallest 40mm and Wi-Fi-only variant (though it is often discounted below this these days). One can presume that Samsung would like to stick close to this price tag for the entry-level Galaxy Watch 7. Upgrading to the 4G LTE eSIM variant adds a $50 bump to the price, and we presume this will continue with the Galaxy Watch 7 series.

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic starts at $400 in the US for its smallest 43mm Wi-Fi-only variant. You can expect one of the other two Galaxy Watch 7 variants to target this price band.

It looks like the Galaxy Watch 7 could share the same price as the Galaxy Watch 6. But what about the Watch Ultra model?

91mobiles reported in June 2024 that the Galaxy Watch 7 will apparently cost $299 to $310. That would put it on par with the Watch 6 in the US.

A European retailer leak from June 2024 also gives us purported price details. It mentions a €314.49 (~$336) price for the 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 Bluetooth model. Meanwhile, the 44mm model is said to cost €344.99 (~$369). This is apparently a slightly discounted price by the retailer compared to the recommended price. European prices tend to be more expensive than US prices though, so it’s worth keeping this fact in mind.

Now that it’s likely that Samsung is also releasing a brand-new Galaxy Watch Ultra, it’s highly likely that the company will also follow Apple’s strategy and price the Galaxy Watch Ultra much higher than the rest of its smartwatch series. We are expecting a starting price well above $500, to say the very least.

The aforementioned 91mobiles leak revealed that the Galaxy Watch Ultra could actually retail for $699 to $710. Meanwhile, that European retailer leak pegs the price at €688.99 (~$737). That’s way above our $500+ expectation but cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7?

If you’re looking for a great smartwatch right now, the Galaxy Watch 6 still remains a solid choice. However, if you can hold out for a couple of months, the Galaxy Watch 7 might offer significant upgrades that make the wait worthwhile. Plus, even if you decide the Watch 6 is perfect for you, the Watch 7’s release will likely bring tempting price drops on the older model.

Alternatively, if you’re open to exploring beyond the Galaxy ecosystem, there are several impressive smartwatches to consider, such as the Google Pixel Watch 2 ( ), the OnePlus Watch 2 ( ), or the Garmin Venu 3 ( ). While the latest Apple Watch ( ) is a top recommendation, it’s worth noting that it’s only a feasible option if you’re contemplating a switch to an iPhone, as Apple’s smartwatch does not support Android.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 wishlist

While there’s still more than a month before we get newer watch hardware, we’d love to see Samsung make a few bolder moves in 2024 with the next Galaxy Watch. There are certainly more than a few things on our Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 wishlist, so let’s jump right in.

The sensor data needs big improvement

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is a good smartwatch, but its health and fitness features could use some work. Specifically, we’re focused on the accuracy of its sensors. As noted in our Galaxy Watch 6 review, the heart rate data on the Watch 6 is extremely inconsistent. The same applies to GPS accuracy in runs and other activities. While it can be reasonably accurate in many neighborhoods, it sometimes produces wonky and unexpected results.

Samsung needs to focus on improving its sensor accuracy. A bigger Health feature push could attract fans who are interested in Samsung’s watch but find its health features lacking compared to Garmin watches, Fitbit, or the Apple Watch. Hopefully, the newly confirmed Galaxy AI features will help bridge the gap for health enthusiasts.

Improve support for Android phones that aren’t made by Samsung

Samsung prioritizes its Galaxy phones over other Android devices, which isn’t too surprising, but it’s something we’d like to see change. The Galaxy Watch is easily one of the best, if not the very best, Android watches for generalist users, so Samsung shouldn’t limit its appeal.

What kind of features are currently unavailable to non-Samsung phone owners? There are three main features that are only for Samsung phone owners: on-demand ECG readings, blood pressure detection, and irregular heart rate notifications. To use these advanced features, you need the Samsung Health Monitor app, which isn’t available outside of the Galaxy Store on Samsung phones and tablets.

Samsung should embrace more styling options

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Pixel Watch 2 are basically the gold standard products for Wear OS, largely thanks to their decent features and mainstream appeal. While the Galaxy Watch 6 comes in a few fun colorways, there’s always scope to add more colors or band options. We’d like to see that change with the Galaxy Watch 7 series. This is especially needed for the new Pro model, which is the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra. Instead of just offering black or silver, give us a splash of color in the watch body itself. Or at least throw in a few new funky watch band options for the entire series.

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 has only been around about five months, and even a bit less than that in the United States. So far, it’s gotten great reviews and is easily looking to be one of the best phones for gaming to date. Not only does it build on everything that comes before it, but it adds new features like dust resistance that help make it a bit more mainstream-friendly. Even if it’s one of the best Android phones around, no phone is perfect. There are certainly a few things that could be improved upon next year with a new model. With that in mind, here is my ROG Phone 9 wishlist.

Continue to blend mainstream with gaming

It’s no secret ASUS has struggled with its smartphone division recently, with many questioning even if we’d see the ASUS Zenfone 11. ASUS has since clarified it’s not done with phones yet, but it is pretty clear which of the two product lines has the most potential to bring in new customers if ASUS plays its cards right at least.

The ROG has always been the more exciting of the two, but this year the phone received a substantial design update that added water and dust resistance for the first time. The design also has a much more mainstream look than previous iterations. There’s still plenty of gaming flare, but it’s a much more reserved experience that reminds me of the now-defunct Razer Phone series.

I think ASUS should continue to lean on this. A quick look around Reddit and other communities makes it clear that a portion of older ROG Phone owners are quite disappointed by the change, but those who prefer more reserved designs have much more positive things to say. Even better, first-time buyers are finally sitting up and taking notice. Interestingly, it’s not all just from gamers either. After all, the ROG Phone 8 stands out for those looking for something powerful and different from the pack.

There's still plenty of gaming flare, but the new-look ROG Phone reminds me of the now-defunct Razer Phone series.

I’m not saying that the ROG Phone 9 could ever compete at the same level as other mainstream phones, the point is that balancing mainstream appeal with hardcore gaming appeal might provide ASUS with a larger target audience than they have now. A less flashy design could also appeal to gamer types (like myself, actually) who love powerful hardware but don’t want it to be overly flashy. For example, my ROG Phone Zephyrus G14 straddles the line between the gaming machine and productivity beast, and that’s what I love about it.

The ASUS ROG Phone 9 doesn’t need to shake up this new design much at all. Instead, it should work on diversifying its lineup to satisfy all budgets, from the most modest mobile gamer to the hardcore gamer who’ll use emulators, streaming services, and more. That leads to the next point.

A lower-tier option might appeal to more users than you’d think

The ASUS ROG Phone series finally has the chance to appeal to more than just hardcore mobile gamers. Yes, that might feel a bit ironic but the talk around the web makes it clear that this is a phone that is eye-catching and interesting enough to appeal to a slightly wider audience. Granted this pales massively in comparison to the audience for Apple, Samsung, or really even Google’s Pixel series. Still, it’s an opening ASUS could work with by introducing a more wallet-friendly base version of the ASUS ROG Phone 9 that’s more aimed at casual gamers.

Right now, the ROG Phone 8 family starts at $1,099 for a phone with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. Imagine if there was a base model that had only 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, akin to devices like the base Galaxy S24. This change would allow the ROG Phone 8 to compete a little better for those who are just fans of the ROG laptop series (like myself) but aren’t necessarily looking for a mobile gaming powerhouse. It could also be great for those looking for more options in the US outside of the usual suspects.

Bigger battery

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 dropped the battery down a bit with this generation, opting for a 5,500mAh battery instead. While the 500mAh drop sounds like a lot, the good news is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and other optimizations mean you’ll get roughly the same battery life as the older model. But, this is a gaming phone! More battery life is never a bad thing, as games can drain battery life pretty fast compared to other activities.

I’d like to see the ASUS ROG Phone 9 continue improving battery life through optimization while also returning to form with a 6,000mAh battery.

Continue to refine the camera

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 is actually a pretty decent camera phone, especially compared to its predecessors. It has decent color saturation, white balance, and exposure. Of course, it also has some lens flare issues and a pretty inconsistent zoom experience.

It’s true that gamers don’t typically care about the camera as much but that’s slowly changing. Mobile gaming is improving on the whole, largely thanks to Apple and its push, and as these games improve they will no doubt attract new audiences that might not consider themselves your typical hardcore gamer. I believe ASUS may have a limited recipe for success if the ROG Phone 9 can balance these high-end gaming features with a camera that’s close to as good as Samsung, Google, and Apple.

Better update policy

This last point is extremely important. Two years of OS updates in 2024 is absolutely crazy. This is a high-end gaming machine that would absolutely benefit from having the latest and great improvements from Google.

ASUS might not want to commit to the same crazy seven-year promise that Samsung and Google are starting to offer, but I’d settle for any improvement. Heck, even a promise of just three to four OS upgrades and five years of security would really go a long way. This is especially true for those who have never bought an ASUS phone and are a bit nervous about its long-term life support.

Will there be a ROG Phone 9?

ASUS has had its share of struggles in the smartphone space and it’s clear that nothing about its future here is certain. There are still whispers that the Zenfone series might be heading toward the grave, and it’s equally possible the ROG series could also be in trouble. As it stands, I can’t say with 100% certainty there will be a ROG Phone 9. That said, I’d say it’s still very likely.

The ROG Phone 8 has been extremely well reviewed so far and has seen equally positive attention from the online community. All that bodes well for the future of the ROG Phone 9. If it does arrive, when might we see it? That’s a bit complicated as the phone doesn’t have the most consistent launch history, as you can see:

• ROG Phone 8 — February 29, 2024
• ROG Phone 7 — April 13, 2023
• ROG Phone 6 — July 5, 2022

For now, all I can really say with any certainty is the ROG Phone 9 won’t surface until 2025 barring some major change in their strategy, which seems pretty unlikely.

Should you wait for the ROG Phone 9?

Absolutely not! Odds are the ROG Phone 9 will continue the legacy built by the ROG Phone 8’s major design change, just with further refinement. If you want a gaming phone now, we highly recommend the ASUS ROG Phone 8.

Just want a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phone and don’t care if it’s gaming-centric? The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ( ) would be a wonderful alternative and is one of the best Android phones on the market.

Update: June 20, 2024 (01:00 PM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy S25 series rumor hub with apparent camera specs, more chip leaks, possibly battery specs, and more!

Original article: Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series launched in the middle of January 2024, arriving a little earlier in the year than the last couple of generations. Along with it, the company introduced Galaxy AI, a titanium frame, new camera tricks, and a number of other features. But now that the Galaxy S24 launch has come and gone, it is time to start thinking about the next iteration in the series. How will the Galaxy S25 series set itself apart from its predecessor? What new features will Samsung come up with for the next generation? Will 2025 finally be the year we see a major shift in the Galaxy S design philosophy? Here, we’ll break down everything we know so far about the Galaxy S25.

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy S25?

Samsung releases a new Galaxy S series phone on an annual cadence, and there’s no reason to believe it will stop at the Galaxy S24. But if that’s not enough to convince you, there have already been plenty of leaks and rumors about the incoming family of handsets that we’ll get into later on. Obviously, nothing is official until Samsung announces it. The company could always suddenly decide to shut down development, but that is extremely unlikely given how profitable its smartphones are. We would say it’s less of a question of whether Samsung will release a Galaxy S25 and more of a question of when it will launch in 2025.

What is the most likely Samsung Galaxy S25 release date?

• Galaxy S22 — February 9, 2022
• Galaxy S23 — February 17, 2023
• Galaxy S24 — January 31, 2024

The Galaxy S24 lineup launched in January, so we’re still a fair distance away from the expected release of the Galaxy S25 series. As such, it will be a while before Samsung provides an official launch date for the device. As far as leaks and rumors are concerned, there’s not really anything on that front, either. Given the lack of information, we’ll need to speculate on what the date could be.

The South Korea-based firm usually launches its Galaxy S phones near the beginning of the year. For the last three years, the release date has fallen in the months of January and February. We assume Samsung will keep the same cadence for the Galaxy S25. Unfortunately, we’ll need to wait to find out the exact date.

What rumored specs and features could the Samsung Galaxy S25 have?

Even before the Galaxy S24 launched in January 2024, we were hearing rumors about the Galaxy S25. Now that it has been a while since the release of 2024’s Galaxy phones, the rumor mill for next year’s phones has picked up a lot of steam. These rumors and leaks span the gamut from the SoC to the design and more. Let’s take a moment to break down all of the available information.

Design

The design of the Galaxy S series has hardly changed in the last few generations, but we might finally be in store for something a little different with the next iteration. Leaker Revegnus said that Ilhwan Lee, a former Mercedes-Benz designer, has been tasked with making the Galaxy brand feel “fresh” and that design changes are expected.

With the release of Samsung’s 2024 flagship devices, the company introduced titanium to the Galaxy S line, specifically for the Ultra model. There is reason to believe Samsung will continue to use the same metal in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The question, however, is whether the firm sticks with the same type of titanium that appeared in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It is also unknown if this build material will come to the regular and Plus models in 2025, though that seems unlikely.

In a now-deleted social post from PandaFlash (via Android Headlines), the tipster claimed, “I have doubts about the rumors of the Highest-Grade titanium in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.” In case you didn’t know, titanium comes in different grades. For example, Apple gave the iPhone 15 Pro series Grade 5 titanium, which is an alloy made of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, uses Grade 2 titanium, which is all titanium. The difference is that Grade 2 titanium is softer, cheaper, and easier to work with than the Grade 5 version. If PandaFlash is correct, then it looks like the tech giant may stay on the same path.

On March 19, 2024, a tipster who goes by Kro on X (formerly Twitter) posted a brief but interesting statement. That statement simply reads, “S25 Series CAD Drawings in Development.” While these drawings have yet to leak, this would suggest Samsung is currently working on the design.

Another rumor, this one originating from a now-deleted social post from PandaFlash (via Android Headlines), suggests Samsung is testing four prototypes for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Although the tipster didn’t have renders of these prototypes, they did create mock-ups of what they thought the Ultra might look like based on their information:

According to the rumor, the main changes seem to revolve around the frame and bezels. We could see thinner bezels but the same frame as before, a thinner and flatter frame with slimmer bezels, thinner sides but a thicker top and bottom, or a thinner frame with rounded edges. Outside of that, it appears the front of the device will look mostly the same as the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Meanwhile, leaker Bennett Buhner claims that Samsung might increase the display size of the Galaxy S25 Ultra to something closer to 6.9 inches. This could mean that the device will be slightly bigger, but it could also just mean the screen has smaller bezels, giving it a slightly different aspect ratio.

The Ultra isn’t the only model rumored to see some design changes. Korean blogger yeux1122 has claimed on Naver that the base Galaxy S25’s screen size could grow by 0.16 inches, putting it at 6.36 inches. If this is true, it would be the second time in the last three generations that Samsung has increased the diagonal screen size of the base model.

Specs

One of the first pieces of information to leak about the S25 was the camera specs. Early rumors were very conflicted, with some claiming massive overhauls (such as going with a simple, triple-lens setup) and a big upgrade for the primary 200MP lens. However, as the year has gone on, most of those early rumors have been shot down. The most recent info points to a few upgrades for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but not a complete overhaul

Ice Universe posted a load of apparent Galaxy S25 Ultra camera specs on Weibo on May 27. They claimed that the Ultra phone would stick with a 200MP main camera and 50MP 5x periscope telephoto zoom but would switch to a 50MP 3x camera and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The 50MP 3x camera would be a big upgrade over the current 10MP 3x lens, which has been used since 2021’s S21 Ultra.

Later, leaker Sperandio4Tech posted info on sensor upgrades for those two upgraded lenses. Allegedly, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s ultrawide lens could get “a new version of the 1/2.76-inch JN1 sensor.” Meanwhile, the 3x telephoto lens could get “a new 1/3-inch Isocell sensor.” These upgrades would be combined with the previously mentioned resolution upgrades to 50MP for both lenses.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra could offer upgraded 3x and ultrawide cameras, according to one significant leak.

Moving on to the display, not much is currently known about display specs outside of the rumor that the series could go bigger. However, Samsung has been working on next-generation OLED displays that would allow fingerprint scanning anywhere on the screen, as well as open up the ability to scan multiple fingerprints simultaneously. At the time, the CEO of Isorg, Dieter May, predicted that Samsung would be ready to deliver these displays by 2025.

Some of the biggest Galaxy S25 rumors so far have related to the processors. Samsung brought back its tradition of offering the Galaxy S series with a Snapdragon processor in selected markets and an Exynos chip for the rest of the world with the S24. This was after the much-welcome shift in 2023 of abandoning Exynos and offering Snapdragon processors for all handsets around the world.

Now, the most recent rumors suggest Samsung might return to its all-Snapdragon-everywhere policy in 2025, meaning that every Galaxy s25 phone, regardless of location, would have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This is reportedly due to Samsung’s manufacturing issues with the supposed Exynos 2500 chipset, which would appear in the Galaxy S25 series. As of now, this is the strongest rumor we have, so it’s looking likely we could see only Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S25 phones next year.

It's possible we could see a return to all-Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S25 phones in 2025.

If Samsung does go all-in on Snapdragon, it looks like the Galaxy S25 could get a nice speed boost. Tipster Digital Chat Station claims that “Tongzi” — supposedly the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4’s codename — chips will hit 4GHz. This would be a notable improvement from the Gen 3 processor, which is capable of reaching 3.3GHz.

On to battery specs, it’s possible Samsung could be planning to use stack technology for the battery in the S25 series, according to a report from The Elec. This tech is commonly used in electric vehicles, but it appears Samsung’s research and development department is considering bringing it over to smartphones. Stacking refers to the way cells in the battery are arranged, which can lead to a higher energy capacity inside a smaller volume. According to the report, the arrangement could provide a 10% improvement in energy density.

So far, the only battery capacity rumor we have relates to the vanilla model. A report from GalaxyClub says the standard Galaxy S25 could have the same 4,000mAh capacity as the Galaxy S24. This isn’t bad news, but it might be disappointing for anyone hoping to eke out a bit more juice from the Galaxy S25.

Meanwhile, in a reply to a social post from Samsung, tipster Ice Universe claims that the base Galaxy S25 will once again have 8GB of RAM. Presumably, the leaker is suggesting that only 8GB of RAM will be available, regardless of the configuration. If true, this would mean the S25 will have the same amount of memory as Samsung gave the S24 and S23.

While it is possible we won’t see a change in the amount of memory, the storage story could be different. Samsung Semiconductor released a roadmap for the next generation of UFS. That roadmap states the company will release UFS 4.0 4-lane CS in 2025 before jumping to UFS 5.0 in 2027.

Based on the roadmap, UFS 4.0 4-lane CS will double the read/write rates of the current UFS 4.0 standard. The additional speed will provide a number of benefits, like faster load times and more efficient on-device AI applications.

What might the Samsung Galaxy S25 price be?

• Galaxy S22 — $799 (base), $999 (Plus), $1,199 (Ultra)
• Galaxy S23 — $799 (base), $999 (Plus), $1,199 (Ultra)
• Galaxy S24 — $799 (base), $999 (Plus), $1,299 (Ultra)

When it comes to pricing, Samsung has stayed fairly consistent over recent years. For the last three years, in fact, the base and Plus models have remained at $799 and $999, respectively. The only price change that happened during this time span was with the Ultra model, which went up by $100 in 2024. The good news is there’s not enough information to suggest there will be a price increase for any model. On the other hand, the bad news is that there’s also not enough information to suggest that Samsung won’t implement a price bump. If we had to guess, however, we believe the cost will be the same as it was in 2024.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy S25?

Unless you’re dead set on getting the latest and greatest from Samsung, there’s not really any reason to wait. The exception to that is if you’re not in immediate need of a new phone. In that case, it might be worth waiting to see how the Galaxy S25 series pans out.

If you need something now, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 ( ), Galaxy S24 Plus ( ), and Galaxy S24 Ultra ( ) can likely serve all your needs. Likewise, you have your choice of perfectly capable non-Samsung handsets that range anywhere from premium to budget-tier and everything in between. For example, the Google Pixel 8 Pro ( ) is a solid device that has great cameras and neat AI features powered by Gemini. There’s also the Nothing Phone 2 ( ) if you want a flagship smartphone that won’t hurt your wallet.

Update: March 20, 2024 (1:41 PM ET): We have updated our NVIDIA RTX 5090 rumor hub with rumors about the release date, performance improvements, and the price.

While the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 might be the very next graphics card from the company, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 will likely be the next major high-end graphics card on offer. While the RTX 4090 is still quite a while off, here’s everything we know so far.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090: At a glance

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Apple’s iPhone 15 series came out in September 2023. Now that the hype for those has died down, we’re moving on to the 2024 models — and there are already plenty of iPhone 16 rumors and leaks going around.

Apple made some significant changes to the 2023 iPhone lineup, including the addition of USB-C, the mute-switch-replacing Action Button, Titanium bodies instead of Stainless Steel on the Pro iPhones, Dynamic Island on the non-Pro iPhones, a periscope camera for the Pro Max model, and more. If you’ve been following Apple long enough, you’d know that most of these new features from the iPhone 15 series would most certainly be coming to iPhone 16 models. Additionally, what’s exclusive to the 2023 Pros would likely trickle down to the non-Pro variants this year. Keeping all that in mind, here’s what you can expect from the iPhone 16 lineup in 2024.

Original article: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is easily one of the best smartwatches you can buy, though it’s not a dramatic improvement from its predecessor. We’re eagerly awaiting the release of the next iteration of Samsung’s smartwatches in the form of the Galaxy Watch 7 series, and we hope to see a lot more dramatic changes that catch it up to the competition, like the OnePlus Watch 2 and even the Apple Watch Series 9. But how is the Galaxy Watch 7 shaping up so far? Here’s what we know about the Galaxy Watch 7, what we can expect, and what we want it to be!

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 series: At a glance

The ASUS ROG Ally transformed the way I played games, but now it’s time for a refresh. The ASUS ROG Ally X will be an iterative but important update to the Windows device, fixing a few minor issues and pushing the handheld experience even further.

It’s still at least a few days away, but here’s what we know so far about the ROG Ally X and what we want to see from the 2024 update.

Update: May 30, 2024 (07:55 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Z Fold 6 rumor hub with a report about the Fold 6 Slim/Ultra and the hands-on image of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 next to an image of the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Original article: We’re deep into 2024, and it’s about time we learn more about Samsung’s next wave of foldables. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 are expected to be the highlights of Samsung’s foldable ambitions, refreshing its lineup a bit past the middle of the year. Leaks and rumors have begun flowing in, and we now have a fair idea of how the book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, will shape up. Read on to learn more about this upcoming device!

Update: May 29, 2024 (3:00 PM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Z Flip 6 rumor hub with the latest leaked details about the device’s battery capacity, processor and more.

Original article: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has been a very popular smartphone amongst consumers, more so than the larger, book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The lower price and the accessible size are some of the reasons why users prefer this clamshell foldable. With 2024 now underway, we can look forward to Samsung refreshing this lineup with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Here’s what we know about the Flip 6, what we can expect, and what we want it to be!

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6?

The Galaxy Flip lineup has been well appreciated by consumers. While glass slab smartphones are still more popular than foldables, clamshell foldables like the Galaxy Flip 5 have been instrumental in changing public perception. Samsung has an immense lead in this market despite the presence of good competition, thanks to its marketing, distribution, and headstart on foldables. It is unlikely that Samsung will give up this advantage in this space with such immense potential. So even though the company has not announced anything officially yet, we’re confident that it will release a Galaxy Z Flip 6, even if it is a minor refresh.

Tipster Max Jambor has spotted references to the codename “B6” that Samsung is using internally for the device. For reference, the codename for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was B5.

Will there be a cheaper Galaxy Z Flip 6?

Leaks and rumors indicate that Samsung wants to reduce the entry point for its foldables. The Galaxy Flip lineup is the cheaper foldable compared to the Galaxy Fold lineup, so it would make sense to release an even cheaper version of the clamshell foldable.

However, most leaks suggest that Samsung could be launching a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 instead. Reports have not yet refuted the possibility of a cheaper Galaxy Z Flip 6, but most of them so far are inclined towards a cheaper Fold 6 launching this year.

What is the most likely Galaxy Z Flip 6 release date?

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 — August 27, 2021
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 — August 26, 2022
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 — August 11, 2023

Samsung has a fairly predictable release cycle for its foldables, but the company could be aiming for an earlier launch for the Galaxy Z Flip 6. According to Sammobile, Samsung could launch the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in early July 2024, possibly in the second week. Since Samsung usually launches its devices on a Wednesday, that would give us a date of July 10, 2024 as the possible launch date for the Galaxy Z Flip 6.

The Bell corroborates an early release rumor, suggesting that Samsung wants to take advantage of marketing around the 2024 Summer Olympics that are scheduled to be held in Paris, France from July 26, 2024. Consequently, the launch could be held in Paris, France.

ETNews suggests that the foldable will be launched alongside the Galaxy Ring in the second half of July 2024.

Samsung has consistently unveiled its next generation of foldables every year in early August, with the new phones typically becoming available for shipping in mid-to-late August. However, these rumors indicate that Samsung has a change in plans for 2024.

What will the Galaxy Z Flip 6 look like?

We don’t have officially confirmed information from Samsung yet, but early leaked renders paint a good picture of what we can expect from the Galaxy Z Flip 6.

According to leaked renders from OnLeaks and Smartprix, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 could look very similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It could have a similar clamshell shape and boxy design, and the overall aesthetics also could be very similar.

If you observe these leaked renders very closely, you will notice that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a shape that is boxier than the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The edges of the device end more sharply, while the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a slight bevel along its edge.

Another point to notice is that there are two microphone holes on the top of the device in these renders, albeit this is another minor change.

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is said to have a 3.4-inch cover display, while the inner folding display is said to be 6.7-inch in size, though a different report from display analyst Ross Young suggests that the Flip 6’s cover display could be approaching 3.9-inch.

The render leak from OnLeaks suggests that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will measure about 165.0 x 71.7 x 7.4mm, compared to the 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm measurements on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The only noteworthy change is a very slightly thicker body, indicating that we could see a marginal increase in battery.

Young also claimed on March 7 that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 colors are Light Blue, Light Green, Silver, and Yellow. He later clarified that the Light Green option will be known as “Mint,” while the silver variant will likely be called “Silver Shadow.”

What rumored specs and features could the Galaxy Z Flip 6 have?

As for other changes, GalaxyClub has reported that Samsung is testing early versions of the Galaxy Z Flip 6, with prototypes sporting a 50MP main camera. This could be a major photography upgrade for the Flip series if it’s indeed confirmed. Samsung has stuck with a 12MP primary camera since the first Galaxy Z Flip model launched in 2020, though the Galaxy Z Flip 4 did sport a larger sensor.

According to Ross Young, the Flip 6 will offer 256GB and 512GB storage options.

The Elec reported on May 17 that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 could gain thicker ultra-thin glass (UTG) on the folding screen. This would enable improved surface hardness and a reduced display crease. The Korean outlet also asserted that the Z Flip 6 will use the Z Flip 5’s hinge.

The Elec also claimed on May 22 that the Flip 6 will be exclusively powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This report comes after some sources asserted that Samsung’s new foldables could be powered by a Snapdragon chip or Exynos processor, depending on the region.

What might the Galaxy Z Flip 6 price be?

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 8GB/256GB: $999.99
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 8GB/512GB: $1.119.99

We don’t have price leaks for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 yet. However, we can draw reasonable conclusions based on the predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s price.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 started at just about $1,000 in the US. Many consider $999 a magic number that consumers look upon favorably, and Samsung has aimed to price its clamshell foldable under $1,000 (ignoring the rounding up). Considering that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 does not appear to have too many changes over its predecessor, it remains to be seen if Samsung could keep the pricing of the Flip 6 competitive.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6?

If you have a Z Flip 3 or 4, you might be better off waiting and picking up the Galaxy Z Flip 6 when it launches. These older phones are still plenty fast, and the only major upgrade will be the Flex Window. What about those who have an even older Flip or are thinking about getting a foldable for the first time? Honestly, the Z Flip 5 is a great phone already, and I don’t see any reason to wait, especially if your non-folding phone is still doing the job well enough.

If you’re not impressed by the Z Flip 5 but want a smart flip phone you have other options aside from waiting to see what Samsung does with the Flip 6. The best alternative to the Flip will be the Motorola Razr Plus ( ), though there’s also a cheaper Razr ( ) if you’re on a tighter budget but still want a foldable device. For even more options check out our guide to the best foldable phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 wishlist

Right when the Galaxy Z Flip 5 launched, we had a fair idea of what we would want from a successor. For the Galaxy Z Flip 6, we want Samsung to fix all shortcomings and then some. Here is our wishlist for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Better use of the cover screen

I love the Flex Window’s size, and it’s a big improvement over the display on my Galaxy Z Flip 4, but Samsung hasn’t done enough with it yet. While devices like the Motorola Razr Plus allow you to run full apps right on the smaller display, Samsung sticks mostly to widgets out of the box.

If you want to run actual apps on the smaller display, you’ll either have to pick from a limited selection of experimental apps via Samsung labs, or you’ll have to install the Good Lock launcher and the MultiStar plugin. Even if you find enough apps that work well, you’ll run into a few other limitations, such as there being no easy way to toggle between apps on the Cover Screen without jumping through hoops.

An upgrade to its camera package

Although the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a decent camera experience, it’s largely identical to the Z Flip 4’s hardware and nowhere near as good as the Galaxy S23. The Z Flip is very much a flagship device, so I don’t see why we have to settle for hardware that’s anything less than the base Galaxy S model. The good news is that one early rumor points to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 getting a new 50MP main camera, which hopefully will offer a similar experience to the Galaxy S24.

Beyond this, I’d love to see a telephoto camera as well. Even if it’s not quite as good as the one in the Galaxy S24, it would better suit the more premium nature of the Z Flip series and get it closer to the very best camera phones.

Better battery life and faster charging

The Galaxy Z Flip series has never had great battery life, and while it’s gotten a bit better, you’ll still find it hard to make it much more than just a day with moderate use. In my experience, heavy use will drain it even faster. There have been times when I’ve seen my Z Flip 4 drop down to as little as 10% hours before bedtime, requiring me to plug it in early for the night. It’s time for this to change with the Z Flip 6.

To be fair, there’s a reason the Z Flip 5 only has a 3,700mAh battery: space is a premium here. Thankfully, it looks like Samsung is indeed going to squeeze a bigger battery into the Z Flip 6, even if marginally so.

On a related note, I’d like to see quicker charging. The Z Flip 5 currently has 25W charging, which isn’t horrible but not nearly as good as the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 45W charging speed. Unfortunately, evidence suggests Samsung might stick with 25W yet again.

Dust protection

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 finally folds flat, which helps protect it a little, but there’s still no dust resistance. My brother-in-law is a farmer, and his Flip 3 died after only a year or so. This is a guy who takes great care of everything, which makes me wonder if the dusty conditions of farmwork might have played a role.

The good news is that Samsung has previously indicated it wants to eventually bring dust resistance to its foldable phones. The Motorola Razr Plus beat them to the job in 2023, which may further motivate Samsung to catch up here.

A bigger design shakeup

I have to say it, I think the Razr Plus is a more attractive phone, even if I prefer Samsung’s take overall. Although Samsung has refined its design and increased its coverscreen each generation, it’s also gotten more and more boxy.

I would like to see a design that’s a bit more rounded next time around. A slightly bigger display wouldn’t be bad either. I’d love to see anything that sets it apart beyond just increasing the screen and narrowing the hinge gap.

Update: May 29, 2024 (1:15 PM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Ring hub with information on a potential loss prevention feature.

Original article: Samsung’s watches are among the best smartwatches in today’s market. Despite the line’s success, Samsung doesn’t appear ready to rest on its laurels. Instead, the company is pivoting to a much smaller form factor (and a different body part). Possibly sliding soon onto fingers near you, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Ring?

It is now safe to say that Samsung is officially making a smart ring. On January 17, the company teased the ring at its Galaxy Unpacked event. Though details were limited at the time, Samsung displayed the first images we’ve seen of the device and dubbed it the Galaxy Ring. The company then showed off the ring at MWC 2024 while revealing more details about it, and you can check out our Galaxy Ring hands-on for these details.

Patents for the device were reported in 2022, and the Korean Intellectual Property Right Information Service (KIPRIS) granted a trademark for the Samsung Galaxy Ring. So Samsung has been eyeing this form factor for a while.

We’ve been ignoring Apple Watch ring rumors for years now, but the fact is that smart rings are gaining traction. The screen-free experience appeals to many users who just want to track their basics without distractions. Either way, Samsung’s ring is definitely coming.

What is the most likely Samsung Galaxy Ring release date?

Estimating a release date for Samsung’s first attempt is nearly impossible. Branching into new territory, Samsung won’t want to swing and miss. To compete with existing smart rings, the company must have the device well buttoned up before launch.

In the wake of the January 17 Unpacked event, analyst Avi Greengart went hands-on with Galaxy Ring prototypes and confirmed on Threads that it would launch in 2024. However, he didn’t give an exact timeline for the launch.

A Samsung executive on LinkedIn stated in early February that the Galaxy Ring would launch in the second half of the year. This was echoed by another Samsung executive at MWC 2024.

What about a specific launch date? Korean outlet ET News reported on February 20 that the Galaxy Ring would launch at an Unpacked event in the second half of July. SamMobile would later claim in April 2024 that the company’s Unpacked event would take place on July 10. The outlet also spotted the Galaxy Ring in Samsung’s battery widget back in March 2024, hinting that it was inching towards a launch. So there’s a good chance that Samsung could launch the Galaxy Ring at the rumored Samsung Unpacked on July 10, 2024, alongside other products like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Samsung’s Galaxy Ring made an appearance on the Bluetooth SIG website on May 17 (via 91mobiles). Products usually get listed a few weeks to a couple of months ahead of launch, suggesting that we aren’t far away from a full launch.

What specs and features could the Samsung Galaxy Ring have?

Samsung confirmed a variety of Galaxy Ring features at MWC 2024. The company says the smart ring tracks several sleep-related metrics (heart rate, sleep latency, night movement), will offer fertility tracking, and give you a readiness score for the day.

Samsung told journalists (ourselves included) at MWC that the Galaxy Ring has a battery life of more than a couple of days. However, the brand reportedly told Korean outlets to expect five to nine days of juice. Mobile chief TM Roh also apparently noted that you can’t take calls via the ring.

Speaking of the battery, Samsung told CNET that the smallest prototype present at MWC had a 14.5mAh battery. Meanwhile, the largest model was said to have a capacity of 21.5mAh. However, the company is still reportedly hammering out the details.

These prototypes that appeared at the event were notably lighter than the competing Oura Ring. Samsung told CNET that the smallest prototype model weighed 2.3g, while the largest model came in at 2.9g. For comparison, the Oura Ring weighs between 4 and 6 grams, depending on the size.

Analyst Avi Greengart, who saw a prototype of the ring in January 2024, noted that it will be available in sizes up to 13. The analyst also noted that Samsung planned to offer the smart ring in three finishes. Samsung would go on to confirm three finishes at MWC 2024, namely gold, silver, and black. The company also confirmed nine sizes.

Samsung has revealed a fair amount of Galaxy Ring details to date, but there are still loads of unknowns.

An early patent points to potential smart home integration. Samsung may offer Galaxy Ring users the ability to control connected devices such as a smart TV. Meanwhile, a July 2023 report by The Elec points to another patent by Samsung, which shows that a pair of XR glasses can use a smart ring to get positional information for your fingers and hands. That theoretically means accurate hand and finger tracking in XR applications, allowing for fine control over the UI and in apps. This is just a patent, though, so there’s no guarantee of this feature coming to the Galaxy Ring or any other Samsung ring.

The February 20 ET News report also points to the Galaxy Ring offering ECG functionality and blood flow measurement. The outlet also claimed that the smart ring would support wireless payments and let you control other devices. None of these details have been confirmed yet.

In the CNET report mentioned earlier, Samsung vice-president Dr. Hon Pak said they are working on making the Galaxy Ring compatible with other Android phones. While the smart ring will work with non-Galaxy handsets, it won’t support iPhone. “We recognize the iOS/Android challenge, and we ultimately hope that our devices are of such caliber that people will be willing to switch,” Pak told the outlet.

Korean outlet Chosun Biz claimed in March 2024 that the Galaxy Ring could recommend custom diet plans for users based on tracked health info. This functionality will apparently be available via integration with Samsung Food and Samsung e-Food Center. It’s worth noting that the latter service, which allows you to order grocery items, is restricted to Korea.

The aforementioned Bluetooth SIG listing also confirmed a variety of model numbers, namely SM-Q500, SM-Q501, SM-Q502, SM-Q503, SM-Q505, SM-Q506, SM-Q507, SM-Q508, and SM-Q509. This largely lines up with a Galaxy Club report from April 2024, with the exception of an extra model number (SM-Q503) in the new filing. This database listing also mentions that the smart ring has Bluetooth 5.4 support.

In an interview with CNBC in February, Samsung Electronics Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team Dr. Hon Pak mentioned that users will be able to get different health insights when they wear a Galaxy Watch and a Galaxy Ring together, indicating that Samsung is pushing for a wider ecosystem (and not a product alternative) with the Galaxy Ring.

An APK teardown we conducted in May revealed that the Galaxy Ring could have a feature called “Lost mode.” This feature would work with the Samsung Find app and use the smart ring’s embedded light to flash, making the ring easier to locate. In addition, Lost mode would allow the user to lock their Samsung account and prevent the ring from pairing to other devices.

What might the Samsung Galaxy Ring price be?

In a word: expensive. The advanced tech required to turn a tiny ring into a viable fitness tracker costs a pretty penny. Samsung has not detailed or confirmed any pricing or subscription details for the Galaxy Ring, but we have some leaks to give us a fair idea.

Leaker Yogesh Brar claims that the Galaxy Ring could cost between $300-$350 in the US. This will put it in competition against the Oura Ring 3, which starts at $299 for its Heritage variant and goes up to $549 for its Rose Gold Horizon variant.

In a conversation with us, Yogesh Brar also mentions that the Samsung Galaxy Ring could come with a monthly subscription that is “under $10” in the US market, according to his sources. For comparison, the Oura Ring 3 also requires a $71.88/year subscription to access its full range of features.

It’s not immediately clear what could be included in Samsung’s subscription. Dr. Hon Pak mentioned in the CNBC interview that the company is “considering” a subscription service for its Samsung Health app, but the capabilities and insights it offers need to be improved before that can happen. Samsung is also working on the Galaxy Watch 7 series, which is expected to launch at the same rumored Galaxy Unpacked event as the Galaxy Ring, so a broader Health subscription across both products sounds plausible, especially if it comes with some AI features for personalized health insights and coaching.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Ring?

There is a very good chance the Samsung Galaxy Ring will be worth the wait. On the other hand, with so many unknowns before we see the ring on shelves, I don’t recommend holding your breath. The best wearable is always the one that helps you pursue your fitness goals right now.

If a finger-based wearable is on your shopping list, there are a few other options. The Oura Ring 3 ( ) is our top pick with fantastic sleep tracking and a holistic approach to wellness. Meanwhile, the Circular Ring ( ) is the best Oura Ring 3 alternative. It tracks heart rate, sleep, and blood oxygen and doesn’t require a monthly subscription.

If you prefer to stay within Samsung’s ecosystem, it may be worth sticking with the company’s smartwatch line for now. The Galaxy Watch 6 ( ) offers a well-rounded smartwatch experience with all the basics in terms of tracking health and fitness. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic ( ) is slightly pricier but features a useful rotating bezel and an elevated aesthetic.

Update: May 20, 2024 (1:51 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Ring hub with information on the launch window, model numbers, diet plan functionality, and more.

Original article: Samsung’s watches are among the best smartwatches in today’s market. Despite the line’s success, Samsung doesn’t appear ready to rest on its laurels. Instead, the company is pivoting to a much smaller form factor (and a different body part). Possibly sliding soon onto fingers near you, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Apple’s iPhone 15 series came out in September 2023. Now that the hype for those has died down, we’re moving on to the 2024 models — and there are already plenty of iPhone 16 rumors and leaks going around.

Apple made some significant changes to the 2023 iPhone lineup, including the addition of USB-C, the mute-switch-replacing Action Button, Titanium bodies instead of Stainless Steel, Dynamic Island on the non-Pro iPhones, a periscope camera for the Pro Max model, and more. If you’ve been following Apple long enough, you’d know that most of these new features from the iPhone 15 series would most certainly be coming to iPhone 16 models. Additionally, what’s exclusive to the 2023 Pros would likely trickle down to the non-Pro variants this year. Keeping all that in mind, here’s what you can expect from the iPhone 16 lineup in 2024.

Android 14 officially arrived on October 4th to select Pixel devices but what about Android TV 14? While Android TV 13 never surfaced, Google has confirmed its plans for Android TV 14, though it hasn’t started rolling out just yet.

The VR market has experienced its share of ups and downs over the last decade, and while it has found its place among businesses and enthusiasts, the mainstream public has been a bit slower to adopt VR. This has started to change in the last few years with devices like the Meta Quest series, and more recently, Apple jumped in with its own Vision Pro headset. Not wanting to be left out of this newfound attention, Samsung will soon have its own take on virtual reality technology in the form of what’s currently being dubbed the “Samsung XR.”

Keyword: At a glance

While Europe and parts of Asia have experienced a variety of excellent foldable phones, the US had limited options beyond Samsung for years. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, as 2023 brought several compelling alternatives from Google, Motorola, and, more recently, OnePlus. The OnePlus Open, launched late last year, received a reasonably solid critical reception. As the first official foldable device to bear the OnePlus name, the Open is an outstanding product and feels much more polished than one might typically expect from a first-generation device. This is largely thanks to the brand’s association with OPPO. Of course, nothing is perfect, so here’s what I’d like to see improved with the OnePlus Open 2 when it hopefully arrives later this year.

Improved durability would be nice

Despite launching over four years ago, the Valve Index remains one of the most advanced PC VR headsets. Of course, there have been plenty of headsets since then, including cheaper options like the Quest 3.

High-end VR has certainly progressed a bit more slowly in the last few years but things are finally starting to change. Not only is Apple’s high-end Vision Pro up for available, there’s also the upcoming Samsung XR. Beyond that, there are rumors a Valve Index 2 could also eventually surface. Here’s everything we know about the Valve Index 2 from current rumors, as well as what we’d like to see from it.

Will there be a Valve Index 2?

The VR industry continues to be a growing and evolving market with its own unique ebb and flow. We often see new products like the PSVR 2 and Meta Quest 3 spark new interest from mainstream consumers, only for VR to somewhat fade into the background once more. Rinse and repeat. As we mentioned briefly above, the market is again starting to heat up with Apple and eventually Google and Samsung. This might drive Valve into releasing an Index 2.

While there aren’t any official details about Valve’s plans, at least a few rumors suggest Valve is working on something. For starters, a South Korean radio certification for a Valve product called 1030 has surfaced. This aligns with Valve’s previous internal labels for products, as the Steam Deck was listed as 1010, and the original Valve Index was previously listed as 1007. Judging by the numbers, this is more likely to be tied to the Steam Deck, but again we can’t say for sure. More compelling, Steam data miner Brad Lynch noted the Steam client’s September update included a number of VR-specific strings related to batteries, supporting the idea Valve might be working on a standalone VR headset.

Would this headset replace the Index or augment it as a cheaper mobile option? That’s harder to guess. What we do know is that the Valve Index is still considered one of the most powerful solutions for VR. This makes it not only popular with VR enthusiasts but also with businesses adopting VR for reasons beyond entertainment. That said, maybe they have seen the Quest’s success on the low end and want to go after a more mainstream audience.

Given this early evidence, we’d say it’s pretty likely an Index 2 will happen, it’s just much harder to gauge whether it will end up titled as a full successor or just the launch of a new product line. For now, we’ll continue to refer to it as the Valve Index 2 in this post, just for simplicity.

What is the most likely Valve Index 2 release date?

• Valve Index — June 28, 2019

The original Valve Index arrived in June of 2019 and is the first and only member of the Index family so far, making it hard to draw any conclusions on when the Valve Index 2 release date might be. There were rumors earlier in the summer of 2023 claiming an Index 2 launch would happen that year, but nothing ever came of it.

It’s now May of 2024, so if it’s happening it will likely be in the latter part of the year. While a June launch would have made sense, given that’s when the original arrived, if this were the case we’d likely have stronger rumors by now. Given that the rumor mill has been quiet recently, it’s more likely this will arrive in late summer at the soonest. It’s also possible we wouldn’t see the next Index headset until sometime in 2025.

What specs and features could the Valve Index 2 have?

So far, the rumors haven’t given us too many details, other than the previously mentioned code device suggesting it might have its own battery. It’s also hard to say whether this would be a true stand-alone or just something that doesn’t require direct tethering.

There have been a few recent patents for VR headset designs from Valve in 2023, but patents often are just about testing new things and don’t necessarily translate into real-world product changes. Still, it’s worth noting the most recent patent render didn’t look much different from the Valve Index — suggesting Valve is either playing its cards close to its vest, or it isn’t likely going to rock the boat too much on design.

Beyond that? If Valve is planning a more portable option, it’s possible it’ll make more modest changes to things like the display technology and field-of-view (FoV) to keep costs from ballooning too much. Valve is still one of the best with a 130-degree FoV, so it might not be necessary to revolutionize this aspect. Then again, if Valve is going all in, it might decide that keeping pricing down isn’t as important as staying on the bleeding edge of VR.

We also imagine Valve would at least want to match or slightly exceed the Quest 3’s 2,064 x 2,208 pixels per eye.

Tracking and controllers are other areas where Valve is likely to want to make improvements, which we’ll talk about a bit more in our “What we want to see” section.

What might the Valve Index 2 price be?

• Valve Index — $999

The Valve Index wasn’t the cheapest option when it was first released, and in the current landscape, the price of the Valve Index 2 could be even higher. For one, the economy has witnessed an increase in the pricing of VR headsets, as seen with devices like the Meta Quest 2, which increased by $100 long after its initial launch.

Additionally, we must take into account Apple and its Vision Pro. The Apple VR headset costs $3,499. Why is this important? The Valve Index was one of the most powerful VR headsets at its launch, so it’s possible that the company might delve even deeper and deliver a more expensive headset to better compete with Apple. If that’s the case, the price could easily range from $1,200 to $1,600 and still be considered a more affordable alternative. It’s also worth noting the Samsung XR is expected to also have high-end specs and pricing.

Taking a step back, let’s not forget the rumors about the next Valve Index VR headset having a battery, which would make it more portable. Currently, we don’t know if this means Valve is planning to compete with the new Quest 3 or if it’s more likely to align with something like the $1,099 Vive XR Elite. If it’s the former, we could expect Valve to keep the price around $500 to $750. If it is planning a more high-end standalone product like the XR Elite, a price tag of $999 or higher would make a lot of sense.

Should you wait for the Valve Index 2?

If you are absolutely interested in the Valve Index series, yes, we’d wait. The Valve Index is currently almost five years old, so it’s not worth the hefty investment when it’s likely in its twilight years. There’s also the fact Samsung has its own device in the works.

If you’re just looking for a high-end VR headset and don’t want to wait for something that might not come anytime soon, the HTC Vive Pro 2 ( ) would be a good choice as it’s only two years old and should have quite a lot of support left. You could also could consider the Apple Vision Pro ( ), though that’s a much steeper investment.

What if you’re hoping more for a stand-alone option? The Meta Quest 3 ( ) could be worth the purchase if you don’t want something high-end. If you’re holding out hope the Index will have a higher-end stand-alone experience, we would actually wait to see what Valve delivers before considering something like the Vive Elite XR.

Valve Index 2: What I want to see

The Valve Index was a good headset, but VR technology has advanced in the last four-plus years. Base stations and tethers are no longer popular. I really hope to see Valve ditch these older technologies with their next headset. Beyond that, some small controller improvements would be nice.

Base stations need to go away 

Credit: Valve

Most modern VR headsets have built-in cameras that help orient the device, eliminating the need for base stations in the process. In contrast, the Valve Index requires you to place base stations around a space in order for it to track the headset.

While base station tracking is arguably a bit more accurate, built-in camera solutions have come a long way recently. I’m hoping that the Valve Index 2 uses a camera solution that is effective enough to replace base stations altogether.

Controllers could use some refinement

Valve’s controllers are some of the best around, with great finger-tracking support and a fairly comfortable design. That said, they are a bit bulkier than other VR controllers and some buttons can be hard to reach for those with smaller hands. While I don’t want to see Valve dramatically change up its input devices, it would be nice to see a few refinements to make them more comfortable for all hand sizes. Better yet, Valve could give us two different controller sizes for those with larger or smaller hands.

I’d like to see a tetherless design this time, and possibly two models

We have already mentioned the rumored Valve Index 2 battery a few times, and for good reason. A tetherless, battery-driven design is much easier to use than something that has tons of wires running out of it. I used to trip on my HTC Vive’s cord from time to time and dreamt of the day that cords would go away on VR. We’ve already seen stand-alone designs that are truly tetherless, but we’re hoping that the rumor is true and Valve goes all-in with the tetherless approach.

At the same time, I’m really hoping that the Valve Index 2 isn’t a watered-down Meta Quest-style device. The Valve Index is one of the most powerful VR headsets even today, and so I hope to see the Valve Index 2 continue focusing on the high-end market. Of course, the best of both worlds would be to have a high-end Index headset that can still work stand-alone similar to the HTC Vive Elite XR, and a cheaper model that works more like the Meta Quest 3.

The Wear OS landscape is gaining traction with more names in the field than ever, including Google’s own smartwatch line. We’re only a few months out from the next round of major Wear OS device launches (looking at you, Samsung), and I’m already eager to see what a potential Wear OS 5 launch might look like.

Wear OS 5: Features I want to see

If I could have my way, there are several improvements I’d want to see on the next Wear OS update. Some of these are long shots. Others are niche and picky, but they’re also very doable.

Fitbit for all

My most obvious ask for Wear OS 5 is that Google generously makes Fitbit features available to all Wear OS users. At this point, the Google/Fitbit conglomerate has run its course, and it is time to stop treating Fitbit’s ecosystem as a separate entity. Many Wear OS users beyond the Pixel Watch would benefit from the option to access Fitbit’s approachable fitness tracking tools and fantastic sleep platform. Health Connect was an okay stopgap, but anyone double-fisting a Fitbit and a Wear OS device should be able to move between their devices without losing data.

Novelty in general

The second very general ask is just for something new and exciting. Wear OS 4 brought some helpful improvements to users’ wrists but wasn’t terribly imaginative or novel. I’d love to see Wear OS 5 reinvigorate Apple’s biggest rival in the same way Wear OS 3 did back in 2021.

More useful quick settings

Though the Galaxy Watch series offers customizable quick settings, this feature isn’t consistent across all Wear OS devices, and it should be. The panel is much more usable when your own priorities are given prime locations. I also wish the quick setting menu could be accessed from other screens, not just the home screen.

Double Tap for Android users

Though at first I doubted its necessity, Double Tap is now a feature I rely on regularly when wearing my Apple Watch Ultra 2. The gesture control makes the smartwatch more accessible with just one hand free. This may sound lazy, but I want the same convenience on my Wear OS watches. Single-handed use is applicable in many more situations than I anticipated, and not just when my other one is clutched around an oversized to-go coffee.

Accessible assistance

The voice assistant landscape is shifting, and frankly, it’s an exciting feature to keep an eye on. Between added AI capabilities and on-device processing, smartwatches offer more powerful assistance than ever. Within the Wear OS 5 update, I hope to see the platform keep up with the competition by expanding and refining the user experience. (Will we see Gemini on the wrist?)

Meanwhile, as voice assistants become more complex, I also want to see Wear OS manage the user experience with intention. For example, Wear OS 5 should make simple queries manageable offline and locally so users don’t need to be connected to a phone.

Improved arrangements and modes (niche but needed)

Finally, there are a few subtle but significant UI tweaks that would improve the Wear OS 5 user experience. AA’s own Rita El Khoury points out that currently, not all watches change orientation when charging, leaving your time displayed wonky when using a sideways stand or charger. Likewise, Bedtime and Do Not Disturb modes are coupled unnecessarily. Wear OS 5 should introduce the option to sync your bedtime mode so the device switches to bedtime mode when you charge your phone at night, but DND is kept separate.

Will there be a Wear OS 5 beta?

Just like last year, I expect Samsung to release a Wear OS 5 beta version leading up to the software’s official launch. This allows users to provide feedback about bugs and shortcomings while also getting a sneak peek at the new software. During Google I/O 2024, the company rolled out a developer preview, outlining a few of the improvements. We will keep this hub updated once the beta program is made available.

Wear OS 5 expected release date and name

• Wear OS 3: August 2021
• Wear OS 3.5: August 2022
• Wear OS 4: August 2023

There have already been some minor rumors about Wear OS 5 development based on Android 14, though I don’t expect the new software to arrive until August 2024. For the past three summers, new Wear OS builds have launched on Samsung’s Galaxy Watches. Wear OS 3 arrived in 2021 on the Galaxy Watch 4 series, and the 5 series launched with Wear OS 3.5 a year later. Then, in July 2023, shoppers were introduced to Wear OS 4 on the Galaxy Watch 6 Series.

We are most likely to see Wear OS 5 follow this same schedule and launch with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 this summer. It will likely be announced at Samsung’s summer unpacked event in mid to late July and hit shelves a few weeks later. Based on the past two years, Wear OS 5 will then be released in a more pure form on the Pixel Watch 3 in the fall.

Wear OS 5 rumored features

So far, rumors are sparse regarding what users can expect from Wear OS 5. Even if the new software lacks any showstopping updates, it’s safe to expect at least the same level of improvement users found in Wear OS 4. Wear OS 4 brought small but significant improvements to various Wear OS apps, added a few useful Google apps, and finally introduced backup and restore support.

During Google I/O 2024, a developer preview of the smartwatch OS was launched, followed by a few details about the OS. It appears one of the major points of focus for this upgrade was power efficiency. According to the firm, existing devices that run Wear OS 5 use 20% less battery than when they run Wear OS 4. And this is true regardless of what active tasks are being tracked, like running.

When Wear OS 5 becomes available, Health Services will support new data types for running, including Ground Contact Time, Stride Length, Vertical Oscillation, and Vertical Ratio. We’ll also see updates to apps like Health Connect and Health Services.

The last of the information to come out of Google I/O 2024 was focused on new features for Watch Face Format. This tool for building Wear OS watch faces is getting support for complications such as goal progress and weighted elements, weather, and forecasts. You can also expect to see new configuration presets called Flavors. Beginning in early 2025, all new watch faces published on Google Play will be required to use the Watch Face Format.

Wear OS 5 compatibility

Wear OS rollouts haven’t been especially smooth in recent years. Many Wear OS 3 compatible devices took much longer than expected to receive the update. Likewise, Wear OS 4 hasn’t yet made its way to every watch, though all compatible older Galaxy Watches and the original Pixel Watch have received the update. I expect Wear OS 5 to follow a similar trajectory, launching on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 and rolling back to older devices over time. It’s likely that any watch compatible with Wear OS 4, like the OnePlus Watch 2, for example, will also eventually receive a Wear OS 5 update.

Update: May 15, 2024 (4:15 PM ET): We have updated our ASUS ROG Ally X rumor hub with a rumor that may have revealed the specifics behind the RAM and battery life.

The ASUS ROG Ally transformed the way I played games, but now it’s time for a refresh. The ASUS ROG Ally X will be an iterative but important update to the Windows device, fixing a few minor issues and pushing the handheld experience even further.

It’s still at least a few weeks away, but here’s what we know so far about the ROG Ally X, as well as what we want to see from the 2024 update.

Will there be an ASUS ROG Ally X?

The ASUS ROG Ally X was first teased in a livestream on May 9, 2024, after a few weeks of rumors. However, the stream stopped short of actually showing the device, so there are a few things that are still up in the air. ASUS will give us a full reveal on June 2, so you won’t have to wait long.

Importantly, this is not an ROG Ally 2. It’s a mid-cycle refresh with relatively minor changes, and the existing model will still be on the market.

What is the most likely ASUS ROG Ally X release date?

• ASUS ROG Ally — June 13, 2023

The ASUS ROG Ally X will be officially announced on June 2, and the global release date will likely follow a few weeks later.

For reference, the first ROG Ally was announced on April 1, 2023, and launched on June 13. Considering this is a second-generation device, it’s a safe bet that there won’t be as much of a delay before the ROG Ally X hits stores around the world.

What rumored specs and features could the ASUS ROG Ally X have?

While a true successor to the ASUS ROG Ally is still at least a year away, the ROG Ally X is slated to have a well-rounded set of improvements that address most current users’ pain points. The biggest and most significant reveal in the livestream above is the larger battery size.

ASUS says the new battery is much, much, larger than before. Expect an increase of 50% or more on the current battery capacity. All that extra juice means the device is also physically larger and heavier. The company says it was surprised that most consumers prefer more longevity to portability, but we won’t know how much of a tradeoff this is until the device is officially unveiled.

A trusted tipster who goes by @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter) claims that this new battery will provide eight hours of playtime. For comparison, the original model lasts for about 2-6.8 hours.

The ROG Ally X will have the same chipset with more RAM, a bigger battery, and a few other tweaks.

The other big reveal in the livestream was an increase in internal RAM. No exact numbers were given, but considering the current model has 16GB, it stands to reason that the ROG Ally X could have 32GB. However, the rumor from @MysteryLupin alleges that the RAM goes up to 24GB. The chipset itself remains the same, so don’t expect crazy framerate gains, but it should help smooth things out, considering it’s a full Windows machine.

Another change to the internals is switching from an M.2 2230 slot to an M.2 2280 slot, making it easier to increase storage. The ASUS ROG Ally X will also pack 1TB out of the box, up from 512GB on the first-gen model.

Externally, we still don’t know what the ROG Ally X will look like. In an interview with The Verge, ASUS mentioned that the motherboard has been rearranged, implying that the SD card reader has been moved away from the heat vents. The interview also opened the possibility of other changes, such as a second USB-C port and better sticks.

Oh, and one more change: it now comes in black.

What might the ASUS ROG Ally X price be?

• ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme — $699
• ASUS ROG Ally Z1 — $499

With the original ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Edition costing $699, it’s a safe bet that the ASUS ROG Ally X will cost slightly more. One early rumor indicates a price of $799, which sounds reasonable for what’s on offer.

Should you wait for the ASUS ROG Ally X?

The ASUS ROG Ally X is in an interesting spot because it doesn’t fully replace the existing model. Instead, it’s a slight upgrade with a few drawbacks that might not be worth it for you. The now-year-old ASUS ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Edition ( ) can frequently be bought at a discount, so whether or not you should wait will depend on your needs.

The ASUS ROG Ally X’s larger battery size makes it a better choice if you’re primarily looking to play away from a power source. However, you’ll have to shell out quite a bit more for the privilege, and it will be significantly heavier.

The ROG Ally X is bigger, heavier, and more expensive.

Performance-wise, the two devices should be very similar, with the added RAM on the ROG Ally X giving it a slight edge. It also ships with a more storage capacity at 1TB, and it’s rumored to have a larger 2280 M. 2 slot for easier upgrades. The M. 2 2230 slot on the original ASUS ROG Ally makes it a bit more difficult to source and install a new SSD.

That said, if you already have an ASUS ROG Ally, the upgrade is probably not worth it. You’re better off waiting until the ASUS ROG Ally 2 in 2025, as the next-gen AMD APU will blow this year’s handhelds out of the water.

Elsewhere, the Steam Deck OLED ( ) remains a very strong alternative, with worse peak performance and much better battery life. Check out our ROG Ally vs Steam Deck comparison to learn more. The Nintendo Switch ( ) is another great alternative for handheld gaming, and the Nintendo Switch 2 is right around the corner.

ASUS ROG Ally X: What we want to see

While we’ve already had a taste of the ROG Ally X, there are a few more things that I’d like to see that have yet to be announced. Here’s a quick roundup.

Fixed SD card reader placement

At this point, it’s common knowledge that the first-gen ROG Ally has a serious problem with the SD card reader, and ASUS has admitted as much. Due to its placement near the heat sinks, extended periods at high temperatures can completely fry the SD card reader — and your MicroSD card along with it.

Personally, I haven’t struggled with this problem because I tend to avoid turbo mode whenever possible. Still, this isn’t something that can be fixed with a software update, so it needs to be addressed in the ASUS ROG Ally X. For what it’s worth, ASUS knows it screwed up here, so this one is all but guaranteed.

Better heat dissipation

One of the biggest downsides of the ROG Ally’s incredible performance is heat generation. Although the fans are mostly effective at preventing serious throttling and you can set custom fan curves if you take the time, lower temperatures would have benefits across the board.

I’d love to see the ROG Ally X make some strides toward keeping things cool, whether through redesigned cooling or more efficient software management. We already know that the chipset will remain the same, but the larger physical size could allow ASUS to make some magic happen.

Low-power battery improvements

While the ROG Ally still beats the Steam Deck when it comes to peak performance, it’s woefully behind when it comes to lower power performance. Since I spend far more time playing less demanding indie titles like Sea of Stars or retro titles via emulation, it would be nice to be able to play for more than two hours without having to reach for the charger.

ASUS has promised a significantly larger battery on the ASUS ROG Ally X, but I doubt that this will be enough to compete with the Steam Deck on longevity. Combined with better heat dissipation and a few more software tweaks to the low-power Silent power profile, I’d love to see it hit much longer gameplay times for low-lift titles.

Improved software

At launch, the ASUS ROG Ally’s software was in a rough spot. The Armoury Crate app is billed as an all-in-one UI that enables quick-launching of your favorite games, similar to the Steam Deck UI, but it’s still a bit of a mess. Some titles installed from third-party platforms like the Epic Games Store don’t always show up, and the menu system for software tweaks or updates is convoluted.

ASUS has already teased a “makeover” of the UI, but based on the preview, it might not go quite far enough. Time will tell how the software actually performs, but at the very least, it’s reassuring that ASUS is listening to feedback from existing ROG Ally users. I’m sure we’ll see more of the software at the June 2 announcement.

Apart from that, I’ve been very impressed with ASUS’ commitment to keeping the first ROG Ally up to date. New fps-boosting technologies like FSR 3 and AMD Fluid Motion Frames have already landed on the device, pushing performance further without any hardware upgrades. I hope and expect to see more of this going forward.

Samsung might be better known for its high-end flagships, but it has also produced quite a few solid budget and generally more affordable phones in recent years. One of the more intriguing alternatives to a Samsung flagship is the Galaxy S FE series. These phones typically offer specs and performance similar to the mainline Galaxy S series but at much more aggressive prices, thanks to concessions like a polycarbonate body and a few minor spec downgrades. Although the Galaxy S23 FE is still a good option, here’s what I’d like to see from the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.

Better heat management this time around

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a great phone, but its heat management could be better. Much of this is due to the choice of processor; the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 generates considerable heat. Even with aggressive thermal throttling, the S23 FE can become uncomfortably warm. While it won’t cause burns, it can still be slightly uncomfortable. The good news is that the Galaxy S24 FE is very likely to feature a more efficient processor, as newer generations of Snapdragon chips have addressed these issues.

At the very least, we can expect something like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (or a comparable Exynos chip). There are early indications that the Galaxy S24 FE might include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or an Exynos 2400 chip, depending on the region. This would mark a departure from the S23 FE, which utilized flagship chips that were a year old.

Better fingerprint scanner

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE utilizes an in-display fingerprint scanner, and while many of today’s ultrasonic scanners work wonderfully, the S23 FE unfortunately opts for a cheaper optical scanner. The result is an inconsistent log-in experience at best, and this is something I want to see changed for the Galaxy S24 FE. One possibility is upgrading to an ultrasonic scanner, which would certainly improve the experience, though it might also increase the price. Alternatively, I’d like to see Samsung integrate the scanner right into the power button, which is typically a much more cost-effective solution. There’s certainly precedent among Samsung phones for this, as the Galaxy Z Fold series uses this approach. Ultimately, I don’t care which method the Galaxy S24 FE adopts, but I do hope it offers a more consistent scanning experience upon its release.

Improved Gorilla Glass

The Samsung Galaxy FE series needs to cut costs, and one of the areas impacted is the type of glass used. While this is understandable, Gorilla Glass 5 is really starting to show its age, and there are better alternatives available. While upgrading to Victus 2 may be out of the question, the original Gorilla Glass Victus has been used in other mid-range phones before. Alternatively, there’s Gorilla Glass 6. Although these are older solutions, they offer significant upgrades over the glass currently used in the FE series.

Battery life

The 4,500mAh battery on the Galaxy S23 FE can make it through a whole day with moderate use but heavier use like gaming and extensive media viewing can easily drain the battery long before you are ready to plug in for the night. I’m hoping the Galaxy S24 FE addresses this. If the rumors of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 onboard prove accurate, we shouldn’t have much to worry about as long as the battery size stays at least the same as last year’s model. Even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 should provide a better experience. Still, budget buyers tend to value battery life for a variety of reasons, and bumping things up to 5,000mAh would be a welcome move.

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE?

Although Samsung has yet to officially confirm the Galaxy S24 FE, it’s all but inevitable that there will be another model. Not only is the series reasonably popular, but Samsung recently made the decision not to release the Galaxy A55 in the United States. That makes the Galaxy S FE series the best cheap “flagship” experience on offer, so it would be more than shocking if Samsung axed the series altogether, though it has certainly skipped releasing a model before. At the time this was largely due to the pandemic, however.

What’s harder to speak on is when we might see the Galaxy S24 FE. We previously covered a report claiming it could arrive as early as this summer. Since then there’s been one other conflicting report that claims it won’t be seen until late 2024 or even early 2025.  The latter report certainly fits with the company’s history.

• Samsung Galaxy S23 FE — October 26, 2023
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE — January 11, 2022
• Samsung Galaxy S20 FE — October 2, 2020

On the other hand, the claim of a summer release equally makes sense to me. After all, with the Galaxy A55 5G not shipping in the US (or at least not yet), it’s possible the Galaxy S24 FE could arrive earlier in its absence.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE?

Considering we don’t know when the Galaxy S24 FE will arrive, we wouldn’t recommend waiting for it. If you’re a Samsung fan on a budget, you’ll likely be better off finding a deal on the Galaxy S24 right now. Since the phone is now a few months old, you’ll be bound to find a few good deals. You could also potentially pick up the Galaxy S23 FE ( ), though you might want to wait as the S24 FE could likely have the same 7-year Samsung software policy as Samsung’s newest flagships.

Don’t mind looking outside of Camp Samsung? The Google Pixel 8a ( ) has recently launched, and its older brother, the Pixel 7a ( ), is about to receive a significant discount as well.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 (a.k.a. the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 in Europe) has an incredibly long list of features considering it costs under $50, which we currently recommend for budget shoppers in our best fitness tracker guide. Every year the next Mi Band arrives bringing further refinements to the series, often delivering features previously reserved for much more expensive devices. Although we still have plenty of time before a new model, here’s my wishlist for what I’d like to see next year from the Xiaomi Mi Band 9.

A hardware back button

The Mi Band 8’s entire UI is navigated through touch, which can be a bit tricky with such a small display. I’d wager this is mostly about cutting costs, but it’s also likely at least a little bit about sticking with the Mi Band’s very barebones, minimalist philosophy. Still, a physical back button would make navigating the UI significantly easier, even if it might add a tiny bit of bulk over the current model and would clutter up the design slightly.

Update: May 10, 2024 (06:05 AM ET): We’ve updated the OnePlus 13 rumor hub with an early outline depicting the phone’s rear camera placement.

Original article: April 24, 2024 (5:17 AM ET): The OnePlus 12 launched globally back in January, but we’ve already seen some OnePlus 13 leaks and rumors start to trickle in. So what do we know about the upcoming flagship phone? Read on to find out all the major details and leaks we’ve managed to gather.

Android 14 was publicly launched with the Pixel 8 series back in October 2023. We’re a few months into the new year, and Google has begun testing the next version of Android, now up to the Android 15 Beta 1.2. This is still only intended for early adopters, but things are coming along.

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything we know (and think we know) about Android 15 so far!

Original article: Even if you love it and still use it daily, there’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch is getting old. Launched in 2017, the hybrid console celebrated its seventh birthday in March, which means it’s getting close to retirement. With this in mind, one can’t help but wonder: where is the sequel, presumably called the Nintendo Switch 2?

Thankfully, Nintendo has confirmed that a successor is coming soon. There have also been some rumors and leaks surrounding the sequel to Nintendo’s best-selling home console. We’ve rounded up the most trustworthy of them here. Towards the end of the article, we also have a few wishlist items — things we hope to see but don’t have any evidence for quite yet.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 (a.k.a. the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 in Europe) has an incredibly long list of features considering it costs under $50, which we currently recommend for budget shoppers in our best fitness tracker guide. Every year the next Mi Band arrives bringing further refinements to the series, often delivering features previously reserved for much more expensive devices. Although we still have plenty of time before a new model, here’s my wishlist for what I’d like to see next year from the Xiaomi Mi Band 9.

A hardware back button

The Mi Band 8’s entire UI is navigated through touch, which can be a bit tricky with such a small display. I’d wager this is mostly about cutting costs, but it’s also likely at least a little bit about sticking with the Mi Band’s very barebones, minimalist philosophy. Still, a physical back button would make navigating the UI significantly easier, even if it might add a tiny bit of bulk over the current model and would clutter up the design slightly.

Update: May 10, 2024 (06:05 AM ET): We’ve updated the OnePlus 13 rumor hub with an early outline depicting the phone’s rear camera placement.

Original article: April 24, 2024 (5:17 AM ET): The OnePlus 12 launched globally back in January, but we’ve already seen some OnePlus 13 leaks and rumors start to trickle in. So what do we know about the upcoming flagship phone? Read on to find out all the major details and leaks we’ve managed to gather.

Android 14 was publicly launched with the Pixel 8 series back in October 2023. We’re a few months into the new year, and Google has begun testing the next version of Android, now up to the Android 15 Beta 1.2. This is still only intended for early adopters, but things are coming along.

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything we know (and think we know) about Android 15 so far!

Original article: Even if you love it and still use it daily, there’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch is getting old. Launched in 2017, the hybrid console celebrated its seventh birthday in March, which means it’s getting close to retirement. With this in mind, one can’t help but wonder: where is the sequel, presumably called the Nintendo Switch 2?

Thankfully, Nintendo has confirmed that a successor is coming soon. There have also been some rumors and leaks surrounding the sequel to Nintendo’s best-selling home console. We’ve rounded up the most trustworthy of them here. Towards the end of the article, we also have a few wishlist items — things we hope to see but don’t have any evidence for quite yet.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 (a.k.a. the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 in Europe) has an incredibly long list of features considering it costs under $50, which we currently recommend for budget shoppers in our best fitness tracker guide. Every year the next Mi Band arrives bringing further refinements to the series, often delivering features previously reserved for much more expensive devices. Although we still have plenty of time before a new model, here’s my wishlist for what I’d like to see next year from the Xiaomi Mi Band 9.

A hardware back button

The Mi Band 8’s entire UI is navigated through touch, which can be a bit tricky with such a small display. I’d wager this is mostly about cutting costs, but it’s also likely at least a little bit about sticking with the Mi Band’s very barebones, minimalist philosophy. Still, a physical back button would make navigating the UI significantly easier, even if it might add a tiny bit of bulk over the current model and would clutter up the design slightly.

Update: May 10, 2024 (06:05 AM ET): We’ve updated the OnePlus 13 rumor hub with an early outline depicting the phone’s rear camera placement.

Original article: April 24, 2024 (5:17 AM ET): The OnePlus 12 launched globally back in January, but we’ve already seen some OnePlus 13 leaks and rumors start to trickle in. So what do we know about the upcoming flagship phone? Read on to find out all the major details and leaks we’ve managed to gather.

Android 14 was publicly launched with the Pixel 8 series back in October 2023. We’re a few months into the new year, and Google has begun testing the next version of Android, now up to the Android 15 Beta 1.2. This is still only intended for early adopters, but things are coming along.

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything we know (and think we know) about Android 15 so far!

Original article: Even if you love it and still use it daily, there’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch is getting old. Launched in 2017, the hybrid console celebrated its seventh birthday in March, which means it’s getting close to retirement. With this in mind, one can’t help but wonder: where is the sequel, presumably called the Nintendo Switch 2?

Thankfully, Nintendo has confirmed that a successor is coming soon. There have also been some rumors and leaks surrounding the sequel to Nintendo’s best-selling home console. We’ve rounded up the most trustworthy of them here. Towards the end of the article, we also have a few wishlist items — things we hope to see but don’t have any evidence for quite yet.

Update: May 3, 2024 (4:05 AM ET): We’ve updated our Xperia 1 VI hub with a load of apparently leaked specs, ranging from horsepower and battery capacity to cameras and more.

Update: May 2, 2024 (04:50 AM ET): We’ve updated our Google Pixel 8a hub with the latest leaks, including leaked screenshots confirming specs, a super-long update policy, and more.

Google launched its first A-series phone in 2019 with the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. At the time, those were some of the best Android phones you could get for the price. Since then, Google has released a new A-series Pixel every year. We are now only a few days away from the expected announcement of the Pixel 8a.

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series launched in the middle of January 2024, arriving a little earlier in the year than the last couple of generations. Along with it, the company introduced Galaxy AI, a titanium frame, new camera tricks, and a number of other features. But now that the S24 launch has come and gone, it is time to start thinking about the next iteration in the series. How will the Galaxy S25 series set itself apart from its predecessor? What new features will Samsung come up with for the next generation? Will 2025 finally be the year we see a major shift in the Galaxy S’s design philosophy? Here, we’ll break down everything we know so far about the Galaxy S25.

Samsung Galaxy S25: At a glance