Android 15 is coming with several behavioral changes, one reportedly related to force-stop functionality. As you may know, when a particular Android app keeps nagging you or behaves weirdly, you tend to try clearing the app from memory by swiping the app card up from the Recent Apps section.
However, another alternative method is to kill the app completely by using the force stop feature. Force-stopping an app kills all the background activity, but the widgets related to the app remain unaffected and work fine.
Using the force stop function in Android 15 will temporarily disable the app’s home screen widgets
You may think, what’s wrong with it? Well, there’s a possibility that an app could be behaving weirdly due to the widget itself. And, in such cases killing an app by using the force stop method isn’t effective. Therefore, Android 15 will address this issue effectively. Today, Android Police reported that Google has recently updated the Android 15 behavior changes section of its developer website.
The section highlights when you force-stop an app, all the widgets related to it will be temporarily disabled “as the OS will terminate or cancel the app’s pending intent.” That’s not all, the related widgets will be grayed out on the home screen. As a result, the widgets won’t restart until you launch the app directly or indirectly.
This behavioral change may not directly affect you
It is a major behavioral change in Android 15 and will define how apps will function even if it may not directly affect you. As we mentioned earlier, one of the reasons behind a misbehaving app could be its widgets. Since many Android apps you may use don’t come with home screen widgets, you may not face this issue.
However, if there’s one that has widgets, the new changes offer peace of mind. With this change, Google wants to ensure that the force stop function remains effective for users in Android 15. That’s why Google wants app developers to use the new “ApplicationStartInfo.wasForceStopped()” method to confirm whether the operating system puts the app into the stop state.
Not to forget, Android 15 comes with several other behavioral changes, too. For example, apps will be able to run the “dataSync” foreground service for a maximum of 6 hours in a 24-hour window. Moreover, the next big Android update will include security features like Private Space, Theft Detection Lock, and more.
Currently, when you install an Android app from the Google Play Store, when the installation process ends you return to the Play Store listing for the app with three choices: Uninstall the app, Open the app, or continue browsing the Play Store for more apps. If you want to use the new app right away, you have to press Open, of course. But does this really make sense? After all, you just took some time out from your day to install this new app and that would seem to indicate that you might desire to use it immediately.
Soon, Android apps installed from the Play Store might open automatically after being installed. This is based on code found by AssembleDebug who wrote about it for Android Authority. In version 41.4.19 of the Play Store, code was discovered suggesting that Google is working on a feature called App Auto Open which, by automatically opening apps immediately after being installed, will save you a tap and some time.
A banner across the top of the screen will appear for five seconds once App Auto Open is activated. Besides visually notifying the user, the notification will also make a noise or vibrate depending on how the phone has been set up. The user can also set the feature not to play an alert or have the phone vibrate when the notification surfaces on the screen. Android users will be able to toggle the feature on or off although it will be enabled by default.
Code for App Auto Open is discovered in the Google Play Store
The code discovered by AssembleDebug will enable the App Auto Open UI, enable the notification mentioned in the above paragraph, show the App Auto Open notification for five seconds, and have the App Auto Open toggle on by default.
This feature will come in handy when you are looking for an app to install immediately to help you do something specific. Instead of installing the app and then tapping the Open button to use it, you’ll be able to install the app and have it ready to help you right away.
There is no telling when or if we will see this feature available for the Google Play Store but it is something that Google is seriously considering as a helpful addition for Android users.
Both Huawei and ASUS launched their most powerful smartphones ever in the first half of this year. Huawei’s arrived in April, while ASUS’ landed about a month earlier than that, in March. We’ll compare those two devices in this article, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra. They are quite different in many ways, so this should be quite interesting. Huawei’s handset is definitely more camera-centric out of the two.
It is worth noting that while both phones come in global variants, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does not include Google services. It comes with Huawei services out of the box, so no Google Play Store. We will first list their specifications, and will then compare them in various other ways. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, camera performance, and audio output.
Specs
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra, respectively
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Design
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is made out of aluminum and vegan leather aka eco leather. ASUS’ handset utilizes aluminum and glass. While both phones have flat displays, those displays feel entirely different to use. Huawei’s phone has quad-curved glass on top of its display, its curved on all sides, and thus feels rather unique to use. ASUS’ phone has slightly curved glass on top, but nowhere near the level of the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra.
The back sides are proportional, which makes the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra rather interesting to hold and use, it’s a rather interesting design. That phone is also considerably grippier of the two, eco leather really does help with that. It’s also the more comfortable of the two to use, at least that was the case for us. The two phones have very similar weights, the difference is only 2 grams between them. The ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra is ever so slightly taller, wider, and thicker, while the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra has a slightly larger display.
Both phones have a centered display camera hole up top. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s corners are more rounded, and its bezels are also thinner. They’re also uniform, unlike the bezels on the ZenFone 11 Ultra. Both smartphones have their physical buttons on the right-hand side, and they have similar placement. Both devices have their camera islands in the top-left corner on the back, though they look considerably different. Huawei’s is also considerably larger in comparison, that’s mainly due to more advanced camera hardware that can be found on the inside.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Display
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra includes a 6.8-inch 2844 x 1260 LTPO OLED display. That panel is flat, and it can project up to 1 billion colors. It also supports HDR content, while it has an adaptive refresh rate. Its refresh rate goes from 1 to 120Hz. The peak brightness of this display is at 2,500 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 89%, while the Kunlun Glass (Basalt-tempered) protects this panel.
ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra
The ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra, on the other hand, includes a 6.78-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) LTPO AMOLED display. This panel is also flat, and it supports HDR10 content. It has a refresh rate of 144Hz, but you’ll be able to use that for specific games only. It will run at a maximum of 120Hz in all other instances. The peak brightness here is also 2,500 nits, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 88%, and the display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
There’s not much to complain about here. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does have a sharper display, but that’s not something most of you will notice. They’re both vivid, have great viewing angles, and deep blacks. They’re also quite vivid and have good touch response. Huawei’s panel has a higher PWM dimming, in case you have sensitive eyes. Both panels do get bright enough regardless of where you use them. Sure, there are brighter panels out there, but both of these are bright enough.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Performance
Huawei’s handset is fueled by the Kirin 9010 SoC. That is a 7nm processor made by SMIC for Huawei. The phone also includes 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and it utilizes UFS 4.0 flash storage. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 fuels the ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra, that’s a 4nm chip. That smartphone comes with either 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It also utilizes UFS 4.0 flash storage. Neither phone offers storage expansion, though.
ASUS’ handset is the more powerful of the two, there’s no doubt about that. It has a more powerful chip, as Huawei is limited in that section due to the US ban. Despite the more powerful chip, both smartphones perform similarly well in day-to-day tasks. You would have never been able to guess that the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra has an inferior chip. They can both do equally well while jumping between apps, multitasking in various ways, browsing, consuming multimedia, and so on.
You will start seeing a difference if you end up running very demanding games. That’s where the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will show its prowess. If you’re not much of a gamer or don’t play the most demanding games you can possibly find, you’ll be fine with either phone. Neither of them gets too hot during use either. They both perform really well overall.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Battery
A 5,200mAh battery sits inside the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. The ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra is equipped with a 5,500mAh battery. The ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra does do a better job of keeping a charge than the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. With that being said, both phones do offer really good battery life. You can go the distance with both. We’ve been able to cross the 7-hour screen-on-time without a problem.
It’s possible to go over the 8-hour screen-on-time mark too, sure, if you’re careful, especially with the ZenFone 11 Ultra. We’ve even been able to push it up to 9 hours of screen-on time when we were really careful. It does offer a better battery life out of the two, there’s no doubt about that. Do note that graphically-intensive tasks will take a hit, and will mess up the battery life, of course. Your mileage may also vary, predicting battery life with different use scenarios and different signal strengths is… impossible. Do note that we’ve used both phones mainly on WiFi, with some mobile data use thrown in the mix.
When it comes to charging, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is a clear winner here. It supports 100W wired, 80W wireless, 20W reverse wireless, and 18W reverse wired charging. It also comes with a charger in the box. The ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra supports 65W wired, 15W wireless, and 10W reverse wired charging. It does not include a charger in the box, unfortunately. Huawei’s phone will charge considerably faster in every way.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Cameras
Both of these phones have three cameras on the back, though it’s worth noting the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does include better camera hardware/sensor. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra has a 50-megapixel main camera (variable aperture, sensor-shift OIS, retractable lens), a 40-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (3.5x optical zoom, macro). The ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 50-megapixel main camera (gimbal OIS), a 13-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV), and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom).
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
While the ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra does provide good camera performance, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is excellent in that regard. It’s regarded as one of the best camera smartphones in the market for a reason. Both phones provide really good images during the day, but the ones from the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra look more natural and have more natural processing. The ZenFone 11 Ultra images can often look overprocessed in comparison. The phone also tends to boost up the saturation a bit too much at times. HDR processing is also better on the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra.
Both ultrawide cameras do a good job, but the one from the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does provide more details. All three cameras on the ZenFone 11 Ultra suffer from too aggressive processing at times. The periscope telephoto camera on the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is miles ahead of the telephoto unit on the ZenFone 11 Ultra. Not only does it do a better job at shorter zooms, but it can do a much better job at high-zoom levels. The ZenFone 11 Ultra has a regular telephoto camera, not a periscope telephoto unit. Macro shots are also better from Huawei’s phone, thanks to that periscope telephoto camera.
Both devices do a great job in low light, though once again, shots from the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra look better overall. There’s basically no noise to be found, while the level of detail is high. There’s also no need to use night mode manually or anything like that. The colors are on point too, which is not something we can say for ASUS’ handset. We do advise you to stick to the main camera while shooting images in low light, however.
Audio
Both the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra and ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra include a set of stereo speakers. Both those sets provide good audio output, they’re well-balanced. The ones on the ZenFone 11 Ultra are a bit louder, however.
If you need an audio jack on your smartphone, you’ll be glad to know that the ZenFone 11 Ultra includes one. That’s not something we can say for the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, though you can always use its Type-C port. The Pura 70 Ultra comes with Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless audio, while the ZenFone 11 Ultra includes Bluetooth 5.4.
It seems that HMD is working on several phones to launch in the coming weeks. According to a recent leak, the HMD Skyline would be the most eye-catching. This device could bring back the Lumia-style design of yesteryear.
HMD Skyline leaked specs; a stylish mid-ranger
The leak says that the HMD Skyline will be built around an AMOLED screen. It would support Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz, and HDR10+ PureDisplay tech. It would be powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 mid-range chipset. Its battery would be a 4,900 mAh cell with support for 33W fast charging (wired). Other potential features include an NFC chip, Bluetooth 5.2, and IP67 certification.
The rear of the HMD Skyline would integrate a triple camera system. The configuration would have a 108MP main sensor, an ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro/depth sensor. Its front camera would be a 32MP sensor. The leak even reveals the possible price of the HMD Skyline. The device would cost €400 ($429 USD or Rs. 35,917) for the 8GB + 256GB version. On the other hand, the 12GB + 256GB model would cost €440 ($472 USD or Rs. 39,508).
HMD Atlas and HMD Ridge leaked too
The company would also be working on other, more affordable models. One of them would be the HMD Atlas, which would have a more humble IPS LCD screen. The 6.64″ display would support Full HD+ resolution and 120 Hz. This model would use the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip, along with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of expandable storage. It would have a triple rear camera system commanded by a 48MP sensor. It would also have a 5MP ultra-wide sensor and a depth lens.
Other features of the HMD Atlas would include Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, an NFC chip, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This smartphone would cost around $240 (about Rs. 20,054).
The other leaked device is the HMD Ridge. The source claims that it will have a 6.64″ IPS LCD screen with Full HD+ resolution, 90 Hz support, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. This model would use the old Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ chipset. It would be available in multiple variants with 4 GB, 6 GB, or 8 GB of RAM. Buyers would choose between 128 GB or 256 GB of internal storage (expandable).
The HMD Ridge would come with a 50MP main camera and an 8MP front camera. Its battery would be a 5,000 mAh cell.
More models are on the way
But that’s not all, as HDM has even more phones in development. The report mentions devices such as the HMD Waylay and HMD Xenon, but without revealing their specs. Lastly, the brand is expected to reveal info about these devices in July.
The New York Times warned several of its freelance contributors about a recent data breach. The company contacted those who have worked with them in recent years about the situation. The attack could have compromised much of their personal information.
The data breach occurred following an attack on the New York Times‘ GitHub repositories. The hacker obtained source code which included personal data from multiple freelancers. The hacker then posted this data on 4chan, a popular imageboard where users are anonymous. The leak includes around 5,000 repositories and 3,6 million files.
A hacker got and exposed personal data of New York Times contributors
All the data was available for download in a 4chan post using P2P networks. Sensitive information stolen from freelancers includes full names, phone numbers, nationalities, bio info, postal addresses, websites, phone numbers, and even social media accounts. The exposed data even includes bits useful to obtain certifications of multiple types and specialized equipment, among other things.
It is noteworthy that there is no exact number for how many freelancers were affected by the New York Times data breach. In this regard, a company spokesperson said that “The New York Times recently communicated to some of our contributors regarding an incident that resulted in the exposure of some of their personal information.” The spokesperson adds “We send this note to freelance visual contributors who have done work for The Times in recent years. We don’t have indications the data exposure extended to full-time newsroom staff or other contributors.”
Hackers often target the freelancer segment for their attacks. They can use this kind of personal data to organize massive frauds or for potential illegal activities. Therefore, these types of situations can be quite dangerous for those affected. Sadly, this time, the New York Times was not up to par when it came to protecting the personal data of its collaborators.
If you’re a Pixel 7 user who used the VPN provided with your Google One subscription, you’re probably disappointed that Google shut it down. Well, don’t fret, as Google’s new VPN is making it to your phone. VPN By Google is making it to the Pixel 7 series and the Pixel Fold.
Google pulled a pretty disappointing move with its VPN. Before, people with a certain Google One subscription gained access to the VPN provided by Google. It wasn’t as robust as the VPNs that you see in ads. It would still keep your data safe, but you couldn’t use it to change your location. So, no foreign Netflix movies for you.
In any case, it was still useful. However, Google moved to get rid of that VPN, and it introduced another one. The only thing is that the new VPN, called VPN By Google, was exclusive to the Pixel 8 series. So, if you are on an older phone, you’re out of luck.
VPN By Google is making it to the Pixel 7 and Pixel Fold
Google shifted gears with its VPN, and it didn’t want to leave Pixel 7 owners out of it. People using a Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, or Pixel 7a can now use this service. This is great news for people who care about their online safety. As noted by 9to5Google, you don’t need the latest Android 14 QPR3 to get this functionality. That’s a good thing.
Also, if you’re a Pixel Fold user, then you’ll be able to get the VPN as well. Just like with the Pixel 7 phones, you won’t need the latest QPR to get the service.
There are a few changes to the VPN. For starters, it’s no longer provided via Google One. Rather, it’s a Pixel-exclusive feature. In fact, Google ditched the “One” icon and went with a more generic shield icon.
If you want to take advantage of this VPN, you’ll need to be in either Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The UK, or The U.S.
Apple made a number of changes to the iPhone in Europe to adhere to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA has forced Apple to allow iPhone users to sideload apps from third-party app stores, and use third-party browsers that run on non-WebKit engines. The DMA also allows developers to give consumers in-app options for making payments that bypass Apple’s in-app payment platform.
According to the Financial Times, the European Commission is not happy with Apple’s Core Technology Fee and plans to charge the company for failing to be in compliance with the DMA. If Apple is found not to have complied with the DMA, it will face a fine of up to 10% of its average annual worldwide revenue. In fiscal 2023, Apple took in $383 billion which means that it could be on the hook for a hefty $38.3 billion fine. Companies that repeatedly infringe on the DMA face penalties of up to 20% of their global annual revenue.
The tech giant imposes the Core Technology Fee fee on developers who decide to be governed by Apple’s new App Store rules in the 27 EU countries. These new rules allow the developers to use alternative payment processors for their App Store apps in the EU listed throughout Apple’s various operating systems. The Core Technology Fee charges developers €0.50 (valued at approximately 54 U.S. cents) for each annual install over one million. Apple does have some rules to protect smaller developers.
U.K. Apple Store. But the U.K. is not part of the EU
Developers in the EU can avoid the Core Technology Fee as long as they continue to follow the old rules and have in-app payments directed to Apple’s in-app payment processing platform. Apple did reduce the so-called “Apple Tax” charged to developers who use its platform for in-app payments from a range of 15%-30% to a lower 10%-17% range.
Back in March, long-time App Store critics like Spotify and Epic Games, along with 32 other firms, wrote a letter to the EC accusing Apple of “making a mockery of the DMA and the considerable efforts by the European Commission and EU institutions to make digital markets competitive.” The letter adds, “The new fee structure in the proposed new terms seems designed to maintain and even amplify Apple’s exploitation of its dominance over app developers.”
While today’s report notes that the European Commission could formally announce charges against Apple during “the coming weeks,” these findings are preliminary and Apple might still have some time to make the necessary changes to iOS that would keep the European Commission off of its back.
Google is rolling out a fresh update for its Pixel VPN app through the Play Store. Interestingly, users of the Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, and Fold won’t need the Android 14 QPR3 update to install it. This is significant news for Pixel 7 users as it brings the replacement for the subscription-based Google One VPN service, which is set to be discontinued on June 20.The updated Pixel VPN made its debut with the Pixel 8 series in October of last year. It boasts a smoother integration compared to its predecessor, eliminating the persistent notification icon that previously occupied the status bar. Now, according to this report, users will only see a discreet key icon on the right side of the status bar when the VPN is active.
This update also includes a rebranding effort, changing the name of the app and service from “VPN by Google One” to simply “VPN by Google” across various areas within the app and system settings. Accompanying this change is a new blue shield icon with a “G” at its center, which will appear in specific locations like the Network & internet settings and the Recent apps screen.
New “VPN by Google” vs old “VPN by Google One” branding | Image credit — 9to5Google
The version number of this updated Pixel VPN app is 1.0.635841321, and it’s currently being rolled out to Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and 8a devices through the Play Store. If you have a Pixel 7 device running Android 14 QPR2 and haven’t received the June Feature Drop yet, you can still install the new VPN by visiting the Google Play listing directly. According to reports, it functions flawlessly even without the latest Android update.After installation, users can set up the VPN by opening it from the app listing and enabling notifications and mobile network usage. It’s important to note that adding the new Quick Settings tile and removing the old one must be done manually.
As a side note, while the Pixel VPN offers enhanced privacy and security for Google Pixel users, it does not allow users to select specific server locations, which may limit its ability to unblock geo-restricted content. It also lacks advanced features like a kill switch, split tunneling, or support for torrenting.
This latest update is a welcome addition for Pixel users, especially those on the Pixel 7 series who will continue to have access to a VPN service even after the Google One VPN is discontinued.
On Wednesday June 12, 2024, a well-known dark web data broker and cybercriminal acting under the name “Sp1d3r” offered a significant amount of data allegedly stolen from Truist Bank for sale.
Truist is a US bank holding company and operates 2,781 branches in 15 states and Washington DC. By assets, it is in the top 10 of US banks. In 2020, Truist provided financial services to about 12 million consumer households.
The online handle of the seller immediately raised the suspicion that this was yet another Snowflake related data breach.
Post by Sp1d3r on breach forum
The post also mentions Suntrust bank because Truist Bank arose after SunTrust Banks and BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust Company) merged in December 2019.
For the price of $1,000,000, other cybercriminals can allegedly get their hands on:
Employee Records: 65,000 records containing detailed personal and professional information.
Bank Transactions: Data including customer names, account numbers, and balances.
IVR Source Code: Source code for the bank’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) funds transfer system.
IVR is a technology that allows telephone users to interact with a computer-operated telephone system through the use of voice and Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling (DTMF aka Touch-Tone) tones input with a keypad. Access to the source code may enable criminals to find security vulnerabilities they can abuse.
Given the source and the location where the data were offered, we decided at the time to keep an eye on things but not actively report on it. But now a spokesperson for Truist Bank told BleepingComputer:
“In October 2023, we experienced a cybersecurity incident that was quickly contained.”
Further, the spokesperson stated that after an investigation, the bank notified a small number of clients and denied any connection with Snowflake.
“That incident is not linked to Snowflake. To be clear, we have found no evidence of a Snowflake incident at our company.”
But the bank disclosed that based on new information that came up during the investigation, it has started another round of informing affected customers.
Protecting yourself after a data breach
There are some actions you can take if you are, or suspect you may have been, the victim of a data breach.
Check the vendor’s advice. Every breach is different, so check with the vendor to find out what’s happened and follow any specific advice they offer.
Change your password. You can make a stolen password useless to thieves by changing it. Choose a strong password that you don’t use for anything else. Better yet, let a password manager choose one for you.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If you can, use a FIDO2-compliant hardware key, laptop or phone as your second factor. Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) can be phished just as easily as a password. 2FA that relies on a FIDO2 device can’t be phished.
Watch out for fake vendors. The thieves may contact you posing as the vendor. Check the vendor website to see if they are contacting victims, and verify the identity of anyone who contacts you using a different communication channel.
Take your time. Phishing attacks often impersonate people or brands you know, and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions, and security alerts.
Consider not storing your card details. It’s definitely more convenient to get sites to remember your card details for you, but we highly recommend not storing that information on websites.
Set up identity monitoring.Identity monitoring alerts you if your personal information is found being traded illegally online, and helps you recover after.
Check your exposure
While matters are still unclear how much information was involved, it’s likely you’ve had other personal information exposed online in previous data breaches. You can check what personal information of yours has been exposed with our Digital Footprint portal. Just enter your email address (it’s best to submit the one you most frequently use) to our free Digital Footprint scan and we’ll give you a report.
We don’t just report on threats – we help safeguard your entire digital identity
Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Protect your—and your family’s—personal information by using identity protection.
We’ve all been wondering just when Samsung’s going to launch its latest and most exciting phones. Well, wonder no more, as the date for the next Galaxy Unpacked event has just been leaked.
Samsung typically holds two main Unpacked events during the year. We already saw the first one where it introduced us to the Galaxy S24 phones and Galaxy AI. Now, with several major tech events behind us like Google I/O and WWDC, we’re looking forward to the next one.
The date for the next Galaxy Unpacked event just leaked
Evan Blass, the noted leaker, just gave us a nifty sneak peek at when Samsung’s going to host its next event. In the GIF, we see that it’s going to happen on July 10th. Also, there’s this large countdown counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds. It’s 25 days from today.
This confirms the theory that Samsung is pushing its Galaxy Unpacked events earlier in the year. Last year, Samsung’s second Unpacked event took place on July 26th. That’s more than two weeks later than this year. Also, the Unpacked event in 2020 took place on August 6th. So, Samsung is moving its launches earlier in the year. That might be a good move once Apple eventually launches its foldable devices. It’d be better for the company to create as much space between it and Apple’s launch event as possible.
What we’re expecting
Right now, we know that Samsung is going to announce its latest slew of flagship foldable phones; the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. We’re in the dark about what models to expect. We’ve been following rumors about Samsung announcing a more affordable Galaxy Fold under the FE series and a more premium model with the Ultra moniker. Also, we’ve been following rumors that the company will launch a more affordable Z Flip phone, but that one might have been squashed.
In fact, we got word that Samsung is raising the price of its Flip phones. The 256GB Galaxy Z Flip 6 could cost $1,099 and the 512GB model could cost $1,229.
Along with its foldable phones, we’re also going to hear about the company’s latest smartwatches. Samsung is most likely going to announce the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra. It just recently announced the Galaxy Watch FE, which is a rebadged Galaxy Watch 4.
Let’s not forget about AI. Of course, Samsung is going to be talking about what’s new with Galaxy AI and how it’s going to impact the Galaxy experience. So, if you’re excited about what Samsung has in store, mark your calendar!
