ICYMI: The 7 biggest tech stories of the week from Samsung Unpacked to YouTube Music’s AI radio to free Prime Day games
This week we had two big phone reveals that are diametrically opposed in terms of price point. Galaxy Unpacked unveiled high-end foldable phones, and CMF by Nothing presented a new cheap and cheerful smartphone (that is surprisingly well equipped).
We also saw other Samsung gadgets, got a sneak peek at Google and the Samsung XR (again), and were promised big Prime Day deals, including three free PC games.
We’ve covered these top stories and many more in this roundup, in case you missed it. We’re here to catch you up on the week’s biggest tech news.
7. We got totally freaked out at Samsung Unpacked
The highly-anticipated Galaxy Ring may have topped the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked showroom floor this week, but two new devices in Samsung’s foldable lineup – the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 – proved just as popular with the crowd in attendance in Paris.
Granted, this year’s upgrades are more iterative than groundbreaking, but they could still be enough to rank the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 among the best foldable phones of 2024. The former device gets a sharper design and a brighter display than its predecessor, while the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has a new 50MP camera and a larger battery. Both new foldable phones get a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and plenty of durability improvements, too.
We currently have the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in our test labs, but for an initial verdict on each new device, read our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review and hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review.
6. Samsung Unpacked was something you had to watch
The biggest news in wearables is that Samsung has finally released its Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Watch 7 and its new flagship, the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
The long-awaited Samsung Galaxy Ring, Samsung’s first foray into a new wearable category, looks like a small, discreet fitness tracker that’s actually smart, thanks to the Samsung Health app. Unlike some competitors, it doesn’t require a subscription.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s Apple Watch Ultra rival: a rugged smartwatch with a titanium body and longer battery life. Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a sleek smartwatch that barely deviates from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 in design. You can read all our thoughts on the new devices by clicking the links above.
5. Samsung and Google talked about AI updates and hinted at XR
Samsung continued the hottest tech trend of 2024 by making AI a central part of its Unpacked presentation, even inviting a Google executive on stage to explain how Gemini would make Samsung (and other Android devices) increasingly important.
This includes a new Sketch to Image feature, which allows the device to convert your rough drawings into more artistic-looking images as a standalone image or as a new element within an existing photo. The Z Flip 6 even has a unique live translation feature that displays translated text on the inner and outer screen, so you and the person you’re conversing with can understand each other without having to constantly flip your phone screen.
Right at the end of this segment, we got a sneak peek at the Samsung and Google XR (an umbrella term for VR, AR, and MR) collaboration, with Samsung President and Head of the Mobile Experience (MX) business TM Roh saying that “the new XR platform will be released this year.” We haven’t been given an exact date yet, but all eyes are on the Samsung Developer’s Conference (SDC), scheduled for October 3, 2024, where an announcement will be made and we may finally get to see the Samsung XR/VR headset.
4. CMF by Nothing gave us some cheap but cheerful new technologies
Nothing’s sub-brand CMF (which stands for Color, Material, Finish) is known for combining good design with tempting price tags. And it did so again this week with a trio of new launches: the Phone 1, Buds Pro 2, and Watch Pro 2.
All three bring something new to the market, whether it’s the Phone 1’s removable back cover, the Buds Pro 2’s beautiful case with built-in watch face, or the Watch Pro 2’s low $69 / £69 / AU$119 price tag.
With their bright orange accents and respectable spec sheets, they’re likely to trouble some of our budget-focused buying guides, like the best wireless earbuds on a budget and the best cheap smartwatches . Look out for some full reviews soon.
3. YouTube Music brought the AI game to Spotify by testing AI radio
AI isn’t just for bizarre artwork and boosting your resume, you know. It can also create radio stations – and doesn’t Google’s YouTube Music know that? Hot on the heels of introducing a “you hum it, we’ll play it” audio recognition system , the lesser-known streaming service is now testing an AI playlist feature that creates a bespoke, personalized radio station just for you. Once – or if – the feature rolls out to your account, you’ll see a new card in your Home feed that says, “Ask for music any way you want” (cue us singing, “Any way you want it that is “the way you need it” directly on our phones).
Either way, a chat window will open, allowing you to type or speak a prompt. The app suggests sample prompts like “epic soundtracks,” “catchy pop choruses,” and even “surprise me.”
So far, the new feature doesn’t appear to have been widely tested, but YouTube Music’s now-two-pronged AI experiments could become important and defining features in the battle to become one of the world’s top music streaming services.
2. Amazon promised free Prime Day gifts
Amazon Prime Day deals are coming and while the early offers we’ve seen so far can help you save on Sony headphones, OLED TVs, and smartwatches, is there a better discount than 100% off? (Well, I guess 200% off, which means they pay you, but I mean a discount you actually see)
That’s right, Prime members will get some free perks on July 16 in the form of three PC games: Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Chivalry 2And Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20th Anniversary (including the Season Pass DLC).
We know End the Justice League is a terrible game (we gave it two stars in our review ), but since it costs you nothing and the next Mrs. Freeze expansion is coming very soon, this might be the perfect time to jump in? That or just play Rise of the Tomb Raiderbecause that’s a great game.
Speaking of deals, we can’t help but mention the terrible offer Meta launched for the 512GB Meta Quest 3. Because despite Meta claiming that you “will end up spending less than if you bought each item separately”, that’s not true.
This week, Meta launched a buy now, pay later program, allowing eligible US customers to pick up a Meta Quest 3 headset, a 24-month subscription to Meta Quest+, and a 24-month Meta Warranty Plus subscription and pay for it in 24 monthly installments. The 128GB Meta Quest 3 bundle costs $24.99 per month, saving you money overall (costing $599.76 instead of $659.96). The 512GB bundle, however, would cost $839.76 instead of just $819.96, which you’d pay for separately.
Meta did not respond to our request for comment, but we believe the issue stems from the way it calculates the cost of a 24-month Meta Quest+ membership. Since the plan locks you into the two years, we think it’s fair to compare the cost to two one-year subscriptions at $59.99 each (or $119.98 all-in), while Meta calculates it using a monthly cost of $7.99 (or $191.76).
You should always think carefully before agreeing to a buy now, pay later arrangement, because you can’t change your mind later. This is another reminder to double check that it’s actually a good deal before you commit.