Samsung is getting ready to launch its next foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and leaks about its price have already started coming in. A new leak reveals that the starting price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 may stay the same as last year, but higher storage options could cost more.

According to the information via @TheGalox_, the base model of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to come with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, priced at around $1,999. This is the same starting price as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is good news for buyers who were worried about a price increase.

However, if you want more storage, you may have to pay extra this time. The 512GB version of the Fold 8 could cost about $2,199, while the top model with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage may go up to $2,499. These prices are higher than last year’s Fold 7, where the 512GB model was priced at $2,119 and the 1TB model at $2,419.

This means Samsung might be keeping the base model price steady but increasing the cost of upgrades. One possible reason could be the rising production costs.

For users, this means choosing the right storage will be important. If you don’t need a lot of space, the base model could still be a good deal. But if you want more storage, you should be ready to spend more money.

While nothing is official yet, these leaks give us a good idea of what to expect from Samsung’s next foldable phone. More details should be revealed soon. Stay tuned for more information.

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Google has added a new feature that lets people change their Gmail username. This means you can change the part before “@gmail.com” without making a new account. This feature is already available in the United States and is slowly coming to other countries.

Many people made their email accounts a long time ago. At that time, they chose fun or silly names. But now, those names may feel embarrassing or not suitable for work. Before this update, the only way to fix it was to create a new email account. But that also meant losing old emails, contacts, and important data.

Now, things are finally much easier. You can go to your Google Account settings, click on your profile picture, then select Manage your Google Account option. After that, go to Personal Info, tap on Email, and follow the steps to change your username. It is a simple process and does not take much time.

And the best thing is that your old email address will still work. It will be saved as another email linked to your account. You will still get emails sent to your old address, and you can also use it if needed. This helps you stay connected and not miss anything important.

However, there are a few limits. You can change your username only once every 12 months. Also, you can only create up to three new usernames in total. This new feature is very helpful. It lets you fix your old email name easily without losing your data.

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If you are thinking about getting a new phone, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is a great choice. Right now, Amazon is offering a free gift card when you buy any model. This is a nice bonus since the phones are brand new and don’t have big discounts yet.

The Galaxy S26 series has three models- Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Each one is designed for different users. The base Galaxy S26 is compact and easy to handle. The Galaxy S26 Plus is bigger with a stronger battery. The S26 Ultra is the most powerful with advanced cameras and extra features like the S Pen.

Right now, Amazon offers a free gift card with each model: $100 for the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus, and $200 for the S26 Ultra. Prices are $899.99 for the S26, $1,099.99 for the Plus, and $1,299.99 for the Ultra.

You can choose any color, and the gift card applies. These deals are only available for a limited time, so if you want a new Galaxy phone, it’s smart to grab the offer soon.

All three phones use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which makes them very fast. They deliver smooth performance, smart features, and great cameras. With Amazon’s free gift card offer, these stylish, reliable smartphones are a smart choice for anyone. Visit the deal page now and enjoy the deal.

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Samsung Card has introduced a new credit card – the Samsung iD STATION Card. It has been made together with HD Hyundai Oilbank to help drivers spend less on fuel and car services.

With this card, drivers can get a fuel discount of up to 10% at HD Hyundai Oilbank gas stations. The maximum discount is 35,000 won per month, depending on how much the card was used last month. 

Also, users earn 3 points per liter for regular gasoline and 4 points per liter for LPG. Points can be used later for fuel or car washes. There is also a special deal for premium gasoline like KAZEN and ULTRON, where drivers can earn up to 9 points per liter.

The card also helps save money on everyday purchases. Drivers get 5% off on phone bills, convenience store shopping, and online shopping, up to 5,000 won per month. Along with fuel discounts, drivers can save up to 15,000 won per month.

Samsung iD STATION Card also helps with car maintenance. Engine oil changes at Speed Mate cost 20,000 won less, and tire rotation or repair services are free when paying with the card.

The card costs 15,000 won per year, for both domestic and international versions. Samsung Card says this card can help drivers reduce fuel costs and get extra rewards for everyday spending and car care. People who want the card can check more details and promotions on the Samsung Card or HD Hyundai Oilbank websites and apps. 

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Hey Sammy Fans, if you are anything like me, a die-hard Samsung fan who has been using One UI since the very first day, you are probably checking your software update notifications every few hours, wondering the same thing: Is April finally the month my phone gets the stable One UI 8.5 update?

I have been writing about the One UI updates for years, discussing with many users in forums, and watching Samsung’s software update patterns, so let me give you my honest answer. No hype, just direct talk.

Let’s start. The One UI 8.5 has been in a beta testing program for the last few months. It is also available in stable form for the Galaxy S26 series. But for the rest of the people with older Samsung phones (like S25, S24, or even older ones), the update is taking longer than we expected.

We have been testing beta versions on the S25 phones and some foldable phones. These beta versions have been very smooth and bug-free for many weeks now. The latest Beta 8 feels so good, more like a stable version. So the big question everyone is asking is: Will the stable One UI 8.5 update start coming to older phones in April?

In my opinion, yes, most likely without any big delays. And here’s why I am feeling confident about that. Samsung knows that the Galaxy community is talking about new features of the One UI 8.5, like smoother animations, better battery improvement, enhanced Galaxy AI tools, and Quick Share improvements.

In addition, Android 17 beta has kicked off smoothly, with no major bugs reported so far. From what I know about how Samsung works, the company is already getting ready to launch the One UI 9 beta program pretty soon, probably in the next couple of months. I just want to add that nothing is officially confirmed yet.

Samsung will not continue the One UI 8.5 beta testing program forever because that would push everything back. By releasing the One UI 8.5 stable version, Samsung can focus on Android 17 features. I have seen this strategy before, and it usually means no unnecessary delay.

Now, let’s talk about the rollout date for your Galaxy device. Samsung follows the phased software update rollout plan for models, regions, and carriers.

If you are using a Galaxy S25 series phone, S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra, you will be first in line to get the stable One UI 8.5 update. These devices were the first to join the beta program.

It looks like mid-April will be a perfect time for the One UI 8.5 rollout. It most likely includes the latest April 2026 security patch. The latest beta is bug-free and also brings great battery life. For the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, these devices are right behind the S25 series and could see a stable One UI 8.5 update in the same April rollout.

The Galaxy S24 series and Fold6/Flip6 series could also get the stable update in some regions. In any case, the rollout should start by the end of April or by early May.

What about older flagships like the S23 or S22 series, or the mid-range A-series, M-series, and tablets? You should not expect the rollout of these devices in April unless you are one lucky Galaxy user. Most of these devices will probably start getting stable updates in May or June, with the full rollout completing by summer.

With One UI 9 beta on the horizon, Samsung should complete the rollout very soon. Before waiting for the stable update, make sure your phone is eligible. Most devices running One UI 8 should also receive the 8.5, but check the Samsung Members app for any official list.

The rollout also depends on where you live. The Galaxy users living in Korea and Europe often see updates first, while other regions follow. If you are using a Carrier-locked device, there could be a delay of a week or two when compared with unlocked ones.

In my experience, when Samsung has its eyes on the next beta program. If you have a recent flagship or foldable, mark April on your calendar and keep an eye on software update notifications. For everyone else, you should get the update soon after.

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The Weather Company is bringing its Storm Radar app to Android soon. Until now, it was only available for iPhone users. This app helps people check the weather simply and clearly. Weather is important for daily plans, so a good app can really help.

Storm Radar now has a new AI feature to make things easier. Users can ask simple questions like – Is it a good time to go outside? The AI will explain the weather in easy words. It also has detailed radar maps to show weather changes clearly.

Some features are free, but not all. To use advanced tools like the 72-hour radar, users need to pay. The cost is about $4 per month or $20 per year. There is also another plan with extra benefits at a higher price.

There are already many weather apps available for free. Still, Storm Radar wants to stand out by giving more accurate and detailed information. This can help people avoid problems like rain ruining their plans.

For some users, paying for better weather updates may be useful. Others may prefer free apps with basic features. When Storm Radar comes to Android, it will be interesting to see what users choose. 

Storm Radar will reportedly be available soon on Android, including Samsung devices. However, Samsung already offers a weather app, which offers amazing and smart features to provide a better experience. Stay tuned for more information.

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Google Pixel 11 Pro has appeared in early leaks, which gives us a simple idea of its design before launch. The phone is expected to arrive in August 2026, and it looks very similar to the previous model. Instead of big changes, Google is making small improvements to the design. It will compete with strong rivals, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which may offer more noticeable upgrades.

The new renders has been shared by Android Headlines. Looking at these renders, the Pixel 11 Pro looks very similar to the Google Pixel 10 Pro. The biggest change is the camera bar on the back. It now appears fully black, which makes the phone look cleaner and more modern.

The rest of the design, including the flat sides and display, stays mostly the same. The bezels are thin, but not as thin as some other flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Aside from this, the Pixel 11 Pro is expected to come with a 6.3-inch display. It may run on the new Tensor G6 processor for better performance. The phone could have 16GB RAM, but there is also a chance of 12GB. Storage might start at 256GB.

These images are based on CAD files, which are usually given to case makers before a phone launches. Because of this, they give a good idea of the phone’s size and shape. However, small details like colors or exact finishing may still change in the final version. Still, these renders are useful to understand the overall design. Stay tuned for more information.

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Samsung has officially launched its blood pressure monitoring feature for Galaxy Watch users in the United States. Starting March 31, 2026, selected users can now check and track their blood pressure directly from their wrist using a Galaxy Watch and the Samsung Health Monitor app.

The blood pressure monitoring feature is important because high blood pressure is a common health problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of adults in the US suffer from it. If not managed properly, it can lead to serious problems like heart disease and stroke.

The Galaxy Watch allows users to measure both systolic and diastolic blood pressure along with heart rate. However, it is not a complete replacement for medical devices. Users still need a regular upper-arm blood pressure cuff to set up the feature and recalibrate it every 28 days. This helps improve accuracy.

Notably, this feature is designed for wellness purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Users should always consult a doctor for proper medical advice.

The blood pressure tool adds to other health features already available on Galaxy Watches. These include ECG readings, irregular heart rhythm alerts, and sleep apnea detection, some of which are cleared by the FDA.

Samsung has also introduced new Galaxy Watch models, which include improved sensors and smart features powered by AI. These watches aim to give users better health insights and a more connected experience.

The rollout of the feature will happen gradually, so not all users will get the feature at once. Stay tuned for more information.

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Plenty of Samsung users have lost custom fonts setup on their Galaxy devices, following the latest update. Digging into details signals that it’s an intentional change, which could not be reverted in the following updates.

Samsung built a reputation on giving users control. Themes, icon packs, fonts, the whole playground. That freedom is part of what made One UI feel personal in a way stock Android never quite managed.

Now, with the March 2026 security patch rolling out across One UI 8 and 8.5, that promise just took a quiet hit.

Custom fonts are breaking after the latest patch

Over the past few days, Galaxy users have been flagging a strange issue across forums and Reddit threads. The pattern is consistent: install the March 2026 update, and custom fonts either refuse to apply or break entirely.

Some users report they cannot switch to third party fonts at all. Others say once they move away from a custom font, it becomes unusable afterward. The system throws vague error messages, leaving people guessing what went wrong.

If you have ever used tools like zFont 3, you already know how this feels. You set up your perfect typography, reboot, and suddenly it is gone. It is not just about fonts. It is about control being taken away without consent.

This is not some random glitch introduced by the update. March 2026 patch includes a fix for a vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-20989. The issue involved improper verification of cryptographic signatures in the font settings.

Samsung has now tightened that verification process. Fonts must pass proper signature checks before they are accepted by the system. Anything outside that boundary gets blocked, while fonts downloaded from the Galaxy Store still work fine.

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Samsung’s pricing strategy for the Galaxy S26 series has been under the microscope ever since launch. With all three Galaxy S26 models seeing a bump this year, the base variant quietly losing its 128GB option did not go unnoticed.

Now, a new discovery suggests that Samsung may not have killed the entry-tier Galaxy S26 with 128GB storage entirely. It just hid it where most consumers would never look, and selling it to partnering businesses.

The retail Galaxy S26 in the UK starts at 256GB and is priced at £899. But an Enterprise Edition listing tells a different story. Here is where things get interesting.

A 128GB Galaxy S26 Enterprise variant has surfaced on an IT supply chain platform, carrying a price tag of £660, over £239 cheaper than the standard retail model.

For a phone that just launched with higher prices across the board, this changes the narrative quite a bit. The 256GB Enterprise model itself is listed at £899, which lands right in line with the consumer version.

There is no catch in terms of hardware: you are still getting the same Galaxy S26 core setup. It includes the Exynos 2600 chipset, a 4,300mAh battery, and 25W wired charging.

The display remains a 6.3 inch 1080p OLED panel, and the rear camera system sticks to the familiar 50MP, 12MP, and 10MP. In other words, this is the exact same phone Samsung is selling at a higher starting price, just with less storage.

Before getting too excited, there is a reason this model is flying under the radar. Enterprise Editions are not meant for regular buyers. These are designed for corporate clients, bulk deployments, and long-term business contracts.

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Smartphones are supposed to get cheaper over time. That is how this industry works, but Samsung just flipped that logic on its head. Samsung is now hiking prices on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Galaxy S25 Edge.

According to newsway (via Jukan), Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and S25 Edge prices are getting hiked in South Korea. Memory prices have exploded: DDR4 went from $1.35 to $13 in a year, a steep 10x surge, while NAND is up fivefold.

Here is what the new reality looks like after conversion:

• Galaxy S25 Edge 512GB jumps to about $1,073
• Galaxy Z Fold 7 512GB climbs to about $1,662
• Galaxy Z Flip 7 512GB sits around $1,076

The hikes are roughly $65 (100,000 won) for 512GB models and up to $131 (200,000 won) for 1TB variants. Samsung is not absorbing the shock. It is passing the bill straight to its most loyal buyers. The ones still considering last year’s flagships.

It seems the decision is currently limited to South Korea. However, it might soon be applied to Global markets as well. Samsung hasn’t yet officially confirmed the price hike, but it’s going to impact the overall sales.

Late buyers usually get rewarded with discounts. Samsung is effectively telling consumers that timing does not matter anymore. Buy now or pay more later; that’s a dangerous message in a market already struggling with slowing demand.

Samsung already pushed prices higher with its Galaxy S26 flagships.

An industry official said, “With memory prices soaring to unprecedented levels, manufacturers’ profitability is expected to take a significant hit. Although companies are concerned about weakening demand, they have little choice but to adjust product prices due to mounting cost pressures.”

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Samsung just made a massive move on paper, but it’s actually pretty simple once you break it down. Samsung is retiring 87 million of its own shares, worth roughly $9.5 billion. In simple terms, it’s deleting them permanently.

These shares were sitting in Samsung’s treasury after being bought back earlier in 2025. Now you might be wondering, why would a company destroy something worth that much?

Because fewer shares can mean more value for the ones that remain.

By reducing the total number of shares in the market, each existing share represents a slightly larger ownership in the company. Samsung is getting rid of 87 million treasury shares, stock it had previously bought back from the market in early to mid-2025.

Out of those 87 million shares, about 73.36 million are common shares, while 13.6 million are preferred shares. Both categories are being retired, which keeps things balanced.

This move does not reduce Samsung’s capital. The company is using its distributable profits to carry out the retirement. So it’s not hurting its financial base. Instead, it’s reshuffling value in a way that benefits shareholders.

If you’re an investor, it’s generally seen as a positive signal. It shows Samsung is confident enough in its business to return value rather than just sitting on cash. It can also support stock prices over time, since supply is being reduced.

For Samsung fans, it’s another sign the company is playing the long game. Not flashy, not loud, but calculated.

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Samsung Galaxy A55 and A56, the next possible participants of One UI 8.5 Beta, have started receiving the March 2026 security update.

Galaxy A55 and A56 users in India are receiving the March 2026 update, which carries 67 patches (60 for Android and 7 for One UI). The update will gradually be expanded to more markets, while you can manually trigger it through:

• Settings > Software update > Download and install.

The update should soon be available for the Galaxy A53 and A54 devices. The former has already received the update in South Korea. The latter, meanwhile, is lagging behind others, probably due to its supported cycle.

At present, the Galaxy A56 and A55’s updates are rolling out in India (via RohitMisra93 and TarunVats). Users may be eligible for One UI 8.5 Beta Program next month as Samsung plans to expand the Beta testing.

It’s not just a security booster, but impacts overall performance. The OTA cleans the software system and removes temporary files. It results in smoother functioning, less lags and stable functional operations.

One UI 8.5 Beta

Started in December, Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Beta has significantly expanded in March 2026. The company brought the opportunity to the users of Z Fold 7/6, Z Flip 7/6, Galaxy S24 series, S24 FE and S25 FE in select countries.

There’s another expansion already planned for the next month. It’s expected that the early access would be opened for Galaxy S23 series, and select A series phones, including the A56, A36, A55 and A35 in South Korea and India.

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Samsung is more widely rolling out the March 2026 update to the Galaxy S23 and S24 series. Starting in South Korea, the latest security patch has been expanded to more countries in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Galaxy S23 and S24 phones received the March update first in South Korea. The update brings fixes for 67 problems, including 60 fixes from Google and 7 from Samsung. It aims to elevate the system security of your device.

Samsung brings new security updates to its flagship phones every month. Galaxy S23 and S24 series still have decent software support left in their lifespan. It’s decent on the S23 but impressive on the S24 lineup.

One UI 8.5 update is being prepared for Samsung fans. It’s already available for several devices as part of Beta Program. The company plans to expand the Beta activity to even more models in April, which is just around the corner.

If you own a Samsung phone, check for the latest updates. Open Settings > Software update > Download and install. Once fetched, the downloading will begin and you will need to hit Install now at last to finish.

Beta is available in limited countries, and Stable rollout is expected in May. That said, if you are not eligible for Beta testing, the next update will be April patch and you might also receive the May patch based on One UI 8.0.

Security updates often feel boring, but don’t avoid them. Being on the latest official firmware ensures the privacy and reliability of your device. OTAs also clean up system at core that eventually benefit users with better performance.

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Samsung looks set to benefit from AI chips; it has become the last hope for chip giants. TSMC’s foundry has reportedly been booked till 2028.

According to KoreaHerald, Samsung Foundry is the strongest contender to benefit from the surge in AI chips. Massive orders and long-term contracts have choked TSMC’s foundry, and there’s no other option but Samsung.

TSMC’s chip-making capacity has been fully booked till 2028. The Taiwanese company already has orders for the present year, the following year, and the year forward. It majorly includes Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek.

The shift to 2nm is scheduled for 2026, with key clients including Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple. TSMC will keep its 2nm process limited to Taiwan until the next semiconductor process shift takes place.

TSMC has gained trust and established its supremacy in the semiconductor sector. Even its planned Arizona fab, targeting mass production around 2030, is reportedly largely reserved before construction has begun.

If TSMC is unavailable, Samsung is the only other company capable of producing chips at the 2nm node. Samsung has a very small share in the foundry market, but the gap with TSMC is expected to narrow in the times ahead.

Over the past couple of months, Samsung has landed massive deals with prominent companies. The company is eyeing to secure clients for its 2nm process. Recent reports suggest Samsung has no intention to shift too quickly to below-2nm process.

Exynos 2600 that powers the Galaxy S26 series is the first product manufactured using Samsung Foundry’s 2nm process. The company has reportedly improved the process yields, with the recent information suggesting around 60 percent.

“Foundry bottlenecks have become severe as demand surges,” an industry official said. “Samsung is looking at ways to operate its facilities more flexibly to capture this demand.”

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Samsung Display and LG Display have begun preparations to respond to Apple’s OLED transition for the iMac (monitor). Apple is planning to apply OLED to the iMac for the first time around 2029–2030.

According to industry sources, Apple recently asked Samsung Display and LG Display to produce iMac OLED samples using their mass-production equipment.

Samsung Display plans to produce OLED samples with a pixel density of around 220 PPI on its large-size Quantum Dot (QD)-OLED production line and send them to Apple in the second half of this year.

The Korean tech giant has also been mass-producing a 5-stack (B-B-G-B-G) QD-OLED since last year. By adding an extra green (G) layer, it gains an advantage in brightness.

Previously, the iMac OLED specs requested by Apple were reported to include a 24-inch panel with 600 nits brightness and 218 PPI. The current LCD iMac sold by Apple has key specifications such as 500 nits brightness and 218 PPI.

LG Display also plans to respond to the iMac OLED using its large-size White (W)-OLED technology, but it is expected to lag behind Samsung Display.

It’s reported that LG Display is planning to respond to the iMac OLED not with its current 4-stack (B-G-B-R) W-OLED, but with a 5-stack (B-G-B-R-G) W-OLED that is still under development.

LG Display is also developing its ‘eLEAP’ technology, which does not use a fine metal mask (FMM), to target IT OLED applications such as the iMac and MacBook, which internally refers to eLEAP as “FLIP.”

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Samsung is upgrading Bixby across its 2026 home appliances, adding deeper language understanding and a new layer of contextual control.

The update centers on a built-in large language model. It allows Bixby to follow natural conversations, not just fixed commands. Users can speak casually, and the system interprets intent based on context and prior inputs.

LLM meets Perplexity Open Q&A

This version of Bixby goes beyond basic voice control. Samsung has integrated a large language model directly into the assistant, improving how it processes everyday language and multi-step intent.

There is also a new Open Q&A feature powered by Perplexity. It brings a generative AI layer into appliances, letting users ask general questions and get useful answers in real time.

Users can ask about food storage, travel ideas, or seasonal recipes. The appliance responds with relevant suggestions instead of redirecting them to a phone.

Natural commands, smarter responses

Samsung is rolling out these features to its 2026 lineup. That includes Family Hub refrigerators, air conditioners, robot vacuums, water purifiers, and new laundry appliances with a 7-inch display. You do not need exact phrasing anymore.

For example:

• Saying, “I’ve put beef and mackerel in the Family Hub, switch the mode,” will prompt the refrigerator to automatically set the “meat/fish mode.”
• Saying, “I’m going to have whiskey, make some ice,” activates the whiskey ball ice feature.

Similarly:

• “Turn on the AC without direct wind” starts cooling in wind-free mode.
• “Robot vacuum, clean quietly” activates low-noise mode.
• “I’m washing jeans, set the right course” sets the washer to the denim cycle.

Users can also easily set up appliance automation through Bixby. This allows devices to operate based on conditions like time, day, or weather.

For instance:

• “When the laundry is done, clean the floor” triggers the robot vacuum after the washing cycle ends.
  “If it rains, run dehumidification on the AC” sets automatic dehumidifying on rainy days.

Samsung also enhanced the “Device Q&A” feature, guiding product usage and troubleshooting. When users ask how to use or manage appliances, Bixby responds with voice guidance. On devices with screens, it also provides video guides.

Examples:

• “How do I reset the robot vacuum?”
• “How do I clean the ice water purifier?”
• “How do I clean the washing machine heat exchanger?”

Users receive both voice instructions and on-screen video guides, reducing the need for manual searches or customer support.

If a user asks, “My electricity bill is high, how can I reduce it?” Bixby suggests energy-saving options like SmartThings-based AI Energy Saving Mode. Users can then say, “Turn on AI Energy Saving Mode” to apply it across devices.

Bixby with Perplexity

Samsung has integrated Perplexity into Bixby, enabling a new “Open Q&A” feature that answers everyday questions. With Open Q&A, users can freely ask questions to appliances like refrigerators or air conditioners and receive accurate, useful responses.

Examples include:

• “Recommend a good place for a spring outing with family.”
• “Suggest seasonal spring foods.”
• “How can I store onions for a long time?”

Kim Yong-jae, Executive Vice President of Samsung’s Digital Appliances division, said that Bixby continues to evolve to enable natural conversations and convenient device usage. He added that Samsung will further enhance Bixby and its software capabilities so AI appliances can act as companions in the home.

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A new update in mobile messaging could make it much easier for iPhone and Android users to stay connected by adding a feature, Messaging-Initiated Video Calls (MIVC). This update is introduced by the GSMA and is called RCS Universal Profile 4.0.

Messaging-Initiated Video Calls means you may be able to start a video call directly from your chat screen. Instead of switching to another app, you could simply press a button inside the conversation and begin a video call.

This feature is expected to work for both one-on-one chats and group chats. It makes communication quicker and more convenient.

The most helpful part of this feature is that people can join the call even if they missed the start. Like, if someone is busy when the call begins, they can join later without any issue. Also, the call details can be saved in the chat, so users can easily see what happened. This keeps everything organized in one place.

This feature could allow smooth video calling between different phones and networks. This is mainly useful for users of Apple and Google devices, who currently do not always get the same features while chatting with each other.

However, there is still no clear answer on when this feature will be available. Neither Apple nor Google has confirmed their support yet. Stay tuned for more information.

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Google Maps on Android Auto is getting a major upgrade for electric vehicle (EV) drivers. Starting this week, the app will offer smarter trip planning for thousands of drivers using AI-powered battery predictions.

The new feature works with 16 major EV brands, including Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Toyota, Volkswagen, and others. It uses real-time data like traffic, road slopes, and weather to give better battery range estimates, helping drivers plan stops and reduce range anxiety.

Using the feature is simple. First, add your car’s make and model in the Google Maps app on your phone. Then, set your destination in the car, and the app will show how much battery your trip will need. You can also enter your current battery level, and Maps will suggest charging stops along the route.

Drivers can even choose how much battery they want left when arriving at their destination. Like, if you want to reach with 80% battery instead of nearly empty, Google Maps will plan extra charging stops and adjust your estimated arrival time to include charging.

Notably, this feature requires Google Maps version 25.44 or newer and only works with compatible EVs. The system does not connect directly to your car, so predictions are based on the information you enter and may not always match real-time driving exactly.

This update makes driving an electric car easier and more reliable. With AI-powered battery predictions on Android Auto, Google Maps helps EV drivers plan smarter routes, manage charging stops, and travel freely.

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Samsung is facing growing tension between its management and workers as talks over pay and bonuses have failed. The company’s largest union is now increasing pressure on employees to join a strike.

The union is planning a big strike in May. It said it will publicly share which teams and departments take part in the strike. This is meant to encourage more workers to join. The union also warned that teams that do not participate may not get benefits later, such as better bonuses or improved working conditions.

Earlier, the union had already said that workers who do not join the strike could face negative outcomes. Because of this, pressure is increasing on employees to take part.

Most union members, around about 70%, work in the semiconductor (DS) division, which is very important for the company’s business. The union is focusing on this division because a strike there could strongly affect operations. However, workers in the finished product division are less interested in joining the strike.

The main issue is about performance bonuses. Right now, bonuses are limited to 50% of a worker’s yearly salary. The union believes this limit is unfair and wants it removed so workers can earn more.

On the other hand, the company has offered a different plan. If the semiconductor division becomes the best in the domestic market, more than 10% of profits will be shared as bonuses. This could allow workers to earn more than the current limit through special rewards.

Even after several meetings in late March, both sides could not reach an agreement, and discussions have stopped for now. Stay tuned for more information.

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YouTube is finally available on Android Auto, but it doesn’t work the way you might think. You can’t watch videos like on your phone, and there are some important limits to know about.

The main reason behind the limitation is safety. Watching videos while driving is dangerous, so Android Auto restricts apps that could distract drivers. Until now, many people have used third-party apps like CarStream or Fermata Auto to try to play YouTube videos in their car, but it was tricky to get it working.

With the official YouTube app on Android Auto, you can play, pause, and skip videos, but only the audio will play. It means that YouTube works more like a music or podcast app rather than a video app. This makes it useful if you want to listen to podcasts, news, or music from YouTube while driving.

There are other limits too. You can’t skip to a specific point in a video, but the skip button only moves to the next video. You also can’t browse YouTube on the car screen, which is expected because Android Auto focuses on keeping drivers safe.

Notably, YouTube on Android Auto needs background playback, which means you must have a YouTube Premium subscription. Free users won’t be able to use it. The cheapest plan, Premium Lite, costs $7.99 per month in the US, while the full Premium plan costs $13.99 per month.

YouTube on Android Auto is mainly for listening to audio content while driving. It’s not for watching videos, and it needs a paid subscription. If you mostly use YouTube for podcasts or music, this update could be helpful.

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Samsung has announced that it is starting work on a new technology – silicon photonics. The company shared this news at the OFC 2026 event in Los Angeles.

Silicon photonics is a way to transmit data using light rather than electricity. Using light makes data travel faster and uses less power. This is very useful because AI data centers are growing and need to move a lot of data quickly.

Samsung reportedly announced it is ready to start making these new chips when customers send their designs. The company has already prepared everything needed for production.

First, Samsung will focus on making chips called photonic integrated circuits (PICs). These chips combine many small parts into one. These parts help turn electrical signals into light, send the light, and then turn it back into electrical signals. Earlier, these parts were made separately, but now they are placed on one chip. This makes the system faster and more efficient.

Samsung also said its technology can reach speeds of 224 Gbps per lane. This means future devices can be very fast, up to 1.6 Tbps. At the beginning, the company will sell these chips for optical modules, even though other companies are already in this market.

In the coming years, Samsung plans to improve its technology step by step. It aims to launch optical engines in 2027, better chip packaging in 2028, and full co-packaged optics (CPO) by 2029. This will help it compete strongly in the future. Stay tuned for more information.

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Samsung has introduced a new and simple way to help people deal with motion sickness during travel. Many people feel dizzy, nauseous, or uncomfortable when they are in a car, train, or airplane. This happens because the inner ear senses movement, but the eyes may be looking at something still, like a phone. This confuses the brain and causes uneasiness.

For this, Samsung has created the Hearapy app, which works with the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. The idea is very easy to follow. Before starting your journey, you just need to listen to a special low sound for 60 seconds. This sound is called a 100 Hz tone and is designed to help your body adjust to movement.

This process is based on research from Nagoya University in Japan. Scientists found that this special low sound can activate the balance system in the inner ear. When this system works properly, it reduces the chances of feeling motion sickness. In tests, people felt less stress and fewer symptoms while traveling.

The Hearapy app makes everything simple for users. It automatically sets the correct time and sound level, so there is no need to adjust anything. You just play the sound and get ready for your trip.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are designed to deliver this sound clearly. They also block outside noise, so the tone is not disturbed. This helps the sound work better and improves the results.

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Samsung has been ranked as the number one TV brand for 2026. This recognition comes from Consumer Reports, a trusted organization known for testing products and giving honest reviews. The ranking shows that Samsung is doing very well in the TV market and is ahead of many strong competitors.

According to the report released by Consumer Reports, Samsung scored 74 points overall. This score is based on several important factors like product reliability, customer satisfaction, performance, and price. Other major brands followed closely behind. LG Electronics scored 72 points, Roku got 71 points, and Sony scored 70 points.

The rankings have been created using a mix of lab tests and real customer feedback. The survey included people who bought TVs between 2015 and 2025. Experts also tested TVs for picture quality, sound, motion clarity, and HDR performance. Data privacy and security have also been considered in the final scores.

The main reason for Samsung’s top ranking is its strong TV performance. Its 65-inch OLED TV model (QN65S90F) received an excellent score of 91 points in performance tests. The TV is highly praised for its clear picture, wide viewing angles, smooth motion, and good sound quality.

Consumer Reports described it as a well-balanced TV that performs well in almost every area. This achievement shows that Samsung continues to focus on quality and innovation.

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Samsung has flipped the switch on the next Galaxy Watch. A firmware build tied to model number SM-L345U has surfaced on internal servers, pointing to the Galaxy Watch 9 entering active testing, via @Mohammed_K_2010.

Firmware sightings usually land after core development wraps. This is the phase where Samsung validates stability, connectivity stacks, and power behavior in real-world conditions. In plain terms, the upcoming puck is no longer just a lab project.

The SM-L345U identifier has already been linked to the Watch 9 in earlier leaks. Seeing it attached to live firmware strengthens that mapping. It also lines up with Samsung’s typical rhythm, where testing ramps up roughly two to three months before launch.

Snapdragon Wear Elite chip

The wearable is expected to run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, a step beyond the current generation. Qualcomm itself hinted at this upgrade, suggesting better efficiency and tighter AI-assisted health processing.

If true, Samsung may be leaning more on Qualcomm again after mixing its own Exynos-based solutions in recent cycles. Battery is still a question, but not a complete unknown. Early leaks point to a modest capacity bump over the Watch 8.

Samsung refreshed the Watch 8 alongside foldables last July. The same stage is likely reserved this year, with the Galaxy Watch 9 expected to debut next to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 at the July 2026 Unpacked event.

More leaks should follow soon.

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Samsung released Home Up v17.5.0.30 and Game Booster + v2.0.00.23 for Galaxy users. The latest versions bring functional improvements. They are available for download on Samsung devices through Galaxy Store app.

Both Home Up and Game Booster + belong to Good Lock. One UI 8.5 iteration of Good Lock continues to add useful new features. Samsung is also refining the experience by polishing the UI aspects and fixing bugs.

Home Up v17.5.0.30

Samsung bumped the Home Up version to 17.5.0.30 with the pre-April release.

The update brings fixes for the bug related to the Edge Panel. The personalization module will now function as intended, as it also carries improvements for other bugs.

• Fixed the bug with the Edge Panel
• Fixed other minor bugs

Game Booster + v2.0.00.23

Game Booster + is also getting some love before Samsung wraps March 2026.

This Samsung Good Lock module is getting a major update, which installs the Pilot Feature set. The changelog reveals the addition of Gamepad Touch Mapping, AP clock limitation, and Game Intro Fast-forward features.

• S26 Pilot Feature Release
  • Added Gamepad Touch Mapping, AP clock limitation, and Game Intro Fast-forward features

Update screenshot credits – KAILASH/X and Salian/X.

The updated versions are available on Galaxy Store. The rollout is underway, and availability may vary by model, operating system, and region.

Game Booster + update is primarily focused on the Galaxy S26 series. Samsung may bring these advancements to older models as well, but it could only happen after stability verification.

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Samsung Quick Share is quietly evolving, and with the latest updates, it’s beginning to play nice with Apple AirDrop.

For years, file sharing between Android and iPhone has been unnecessarily messy. If you’ve ever tried sending a quick photo from a Galaxy to an iPhone, you already know the pain. Now, things are starting to shift.

Not fully official yet, not widely rolled out either, but real enough that some Galaxy users can already try it today.

More Galaxy devices are getting “AirDrop-like” support

This change first showed up with the Galaxy S26 series, where Quick Share gained the ability to send files directly to iPhones. Back then, it looked limited. Now, it’s clear Samsung is expanding this behind the scenes, via GalaxyClub.

A few updated components are doing the heavy lifting here:

• Quick Share (v13.8.51.58)
• Quick Share Agent (v3.5.22.24)
• Quick Share Connectivity (v1.5.13.15)

Updating these alone won’t unlock the feature, though. The actual toggle, labeled “Share with Apple devices,” is currently tied to devices running the One UI 8.5. That said, there’s a workaround if you’re willing to tweak some settings.

Supported Galaxy devices

Based on early testing, here’s where things stand right now:

Galaxy S series

• Galaxy S25 series
• Galaxy S24 series
• Galaxy S23 series
• Galaxy S22 series

Galaxy Z series

• Confirmed on Galaxy Z Fold 7
• Likely supported on other Z models running Android 16

Galaxy A series

Working:

• Galaxy A56
• Galaxy A36
• Galaxy A55

Not working (so far):

• Galaxy A16
• Galaxy A17
• Galaxy A26
• Galaxy A54

Unclear:

• Galaxy A35

The key requirement across the board is Android 16. Even then, compatibility is not guaranteed.

How to enable AirDrop support

If you don’t want to wait for Samsung’s official rollout, there is a DIY method. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re comfortable with APKs, it’s fairly straightforward.

Method 1: Sideload the Quick Share Extension

1. Update all Quick Share-related apps via Galaxy Store
2. Download the “Quick Share Extension” APK from a trusted source like APKMirror
3. Install the APK manually
4. Restart your device
5. Check Quick Share settings for the new “Share with Apple devices” option

Method 2: Wait for One UI 8.5

Samsung is expected to roll this out officially with One UI 8.5, likely beginning in April 2026. The cleaner option is to simply wait. Once the rollout kicks off, the feature should appear natively, no workarounds needed.

Drop your experience.

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Samsung is preparing to offer its AI-derived Call Screening feature to the Galaxy S25 series with the One UI 8.5 update.

The confirmation did not come through a flashy announcement. Instead, it surfaced in a Samsung Community thread, where a moderator responded to user queries via TarunVats.

Samsung is bringing one of its newest AI-driven calling tools to last year’s flagship lineup. The Galaxy S25 series is now confirmed to receive the Call Screening feature, a capability that first debuted with the Galaxy S26.

Call Screening won’t remain exclusive to the S26; it is on its way to the S25 series. One UI 8.0 laid the groundwork with deeper Galaxy AI integration. One UI 8.5 appears to be the refinement phase, where Samsung backports newer capabilities.

Call Screening is part of Samsung’s broader push into on-device intelligence

Call Screening feature allows users to filter unknown calls in real time, using AI to identify intent before they even pick up. The S26 lineup set a new bar here, especially in markets where spam calls remain a daily annoyance.

The feature is expected to roll out with the stable One UI 8.5 update. Based on Samsung’s current update cadence, that places the release window around April 2026, but after the rollout of One UI 8-based April security patch.

There is still no detailed changelog or regional rollout plan yet, but the direction is clear. Samsung is closing the feature gap faster this cycle, and the Galaxy S25 is next in line to benefit.

Related article:

• Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Pixel 10 Pro XL: AI call assistants compared – One-sided win

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Samsung appears to be building Apple AirDrop-inspired Tap to Share feature, which could be rolled out as part of Android 17-based One UI 9 upgrade.

Android’s Quick Share has been inching toward something bigger for a while. The latest One UI 9 leaks finally make that direction harder to ignore.

What’s new is a “Tap to share” layer, spotted in system strings and app teardowns, built around NFC. Bring two phones close, let NFC establish the handshake, and then let Quick Share take over the actual data movement.

Back in One UI 8.5 Labs, Samsung was quietly testing NFC-based sharing. It looked experimental, almost parked. Now it is resurfacing with clearer UX language and deeper system hooks, signalling alignment beyond an experiment.

References to something called “Gesture Exchange” tie Samsung’s implementation to work happening inside Google’s ecosystem. Earlier, we have seen similar proximity-based triggers in Play Services, initially scoped for contact sharing.

Now those same hooks are appearing inside Quick Share, suggesting file transfer is being folded into the same framework. Early builds of Android 17 point to a system-level “TapToShare” service, which changes the conversation.

This is no longer about Samsung catching up to Apple. It looks like Android is standardizing the experience across brands. If this lands as expected, Quick Share stops being just Samsung’s answer to AirDrop.

Samsung’s role here is familiar.

The Korean tech giant prototypes fast, pushes features into user-facing builds, and often acts as the proving ground for Google’s broader platform ideas. We have seen this pattern with multi-device continuity, nearby sharing, and even foldables.

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Samsung has outlined a multi-year plan to bring silicon photonics (Dream Chip) into mass production, setting 2028 as the inflection point.

As disclosed by Samsung Foundry, the roadmap frames the Dream Chip as a lever to narrow its gap with TSMC, which still holds a clear lead in advanced manufacturing. The announcement surfaced at OFC 2026 in Los Angeles, where Samsung detailed a “turnkey” model.

It involves bundling silicon photonics with high-bandwidth memory, logic foundry services, and advanced packaging into a single, vertically integrated offering. Silicon photonics replaces electrical signaling with optical transmission.

2028 is when Samsung expects to align silicon photonics with AI accelerators in production environments. The architecture places photonics chips adjacent to switch chips, the point where inbound data traffic aggregates before distribution.

The layout echoes design directions seen in systems like NVIDIA’s Spectrum-X, developed alongside TSMC. Samsung’s 2029 roadmap points to photonics embedded within packaged AI modules, combining GPUs and HBM in integrated stacks.

Semiconductor industry estimates place Samsung roughly three years behind TSMC in this domain. That gap is not purely about process nodes. It extends to ecosystem maturity, design enablement, and customer trust.

Silicon photonics remains early in its commercialization curve, with yield, cost, and standardization still in flux. Yet the direction is hard to ignore. AI workloads are not slowing, and neither are the constraints of traditional interconnects.

One industry source put it bluntly: real competition begins when photonics moves from roadmap to wafer. For Samsung, 2028 is less a deadline and more a proving ground.

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Samsung is expanding One UI 8.5 Beta to Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 users in more countries. The initial rollout started in South Korea, with the latest expansion taking place in India and more markets following soon.

Users of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are receiving a huge firmware update, weighing over 4.5 GB. It carries the latest March 2026 security patch, and the build version ends with ZZCD.

One UI 8.5 Beta is expected to be available in Germany, Poland, the UK, and the US as well. The scope has just widened to India, from South Korea. Western countries should soon begin receiving Beta Program invites through Members.

If you are not from a Beta-eligible country, you may have to wait till the end of May to receive the update. The stable rollout may only commence after Samsung verifies the stability of the new One UI software version.

One UI 8.5 update introduces a polished user interface design. It also carries new personalization features, such as letting you tweak the Quick Panel. Good Lock and its plugins have also learned new tricks to elevate Galaxy experiences.

Samsung will have more waves of Beta expansion. In a major press release last week, Samsung announced that Beta will expand to even more devices. Stable update is expected to be available on S25 series by the end of April.

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If you’ve ever walked into Samsung service centers with your Galaxy device and braced yourself for a long wait, this update is for you. Samsung is finally addressing one of the biggest pain points in after-sales support, and it’s doing it at scale.

Starting April 1, Samsung is rolling out its reservation service across all service centers in South Korea. This reservation service, which covers smartphones, tablets, and wearables, lets users choose when they want their device inspected.

It’s designed to cut down queues and bring some predictability into what has traditionally been a chaotic experience. The company has been testing the system since September last year across 23 major service centers.

From April 1, reservations will be available from Tuesday to Friday at all Samsung service centers in South Korea. You can book your slot either through the official website or the contact center. There are a couple of catches, though, and they matter:

• Same-day bookings are not allowed
• If you’re more than 10 minutes late, your reservation gets canceled

Now, you might wonder why Monday is missing. Samsung says visitor traffic spikes by more than 40 percent on Monday mornings. Adding reservations into that mix could actually make things worse instead of better.

There’s a workaround: the same 23 pilot centers will now accept reservations from Monday afternoon onwards, starting at 1 PM. Samsung is watching how this plays out, and if it works smoothly, a broader rollout could follow.

Yeo Se-jung, Executive Vice President and Head of Operations at Samsung Electronics Service, said, “With the expansion of the reservation service, we expect customers to use Samsung Electronics products more conveniently. We will continue to provide differentiated services that customers truly need.”

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As expected, One UI 8.5 Beta is already rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 users. Samsung just expanded the Beta Program to the 2024 foldables, with the owners of the two models confirming the availability in South Korea.

Moments after the Galaxy Z Flip 6 user, a Galaxy Z Fold 6 owner grabbed the One UI 8.5 Beta update. The sign-up process involves Enrollment through Samsung Members app, followed by receiving OTA from Samsung.

Four months after debuting Beta, Samsung is still playing on the same field. Galaxy S26 marked the official rollout of One UI 8.5 Beta. Meanwhile, existing users are still waiting for the update, with an exact timeline also awaiting.

Samsung’s Beta Program lets you access the latest One UI software early. Galaxy S25 was the primary lineup for the One UI 8.5 Beta. They joined as the first models, with improvements applicable across all lineups.

One UI 8.5 introduces the Ambient Design system. It extends the content visibility on the screen and fills the interface with elegant blur and gradient. The customization kit is also updated, covering Quick Panel for personalization.

Well, One UI 8.5 Beta is expected to be available in limited markets. Galaxy S25 users get it in six countries, including Germany, India, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the US. If your country isn’t listed for Beta, the wait is a bit longer.

Samsung is expected to initiate the One UI 8.5 stable rollout in April. Galaxy S25 series is the first in line for the Stable update. Older phones, foldables and tablets should begin getting their updates in the month of May.

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Samsung is rolling out One UI 8.5 Beta to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 days after the official announcement. Starting in South Korea, the Beta Program is available on the foldable phone(s) released in 2024.

Galaxy Z Flip 6 usually receives software updates alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6. That said, the Beta Program may already be available on the book-style foldable model as well.

A Galaxy Z Flip 6 user confirmed in the Korean community that the One UI 8.5 Beta Program has been launched. The enrollment window is now open, providing users with the opportunity to access the latest software early.

How to get One UI 8.5 Beta

To join the Beta Program, just open the Samsung Members app. Scroll up to reach the Beta banner and tap to begin the process. Give your consent to the terms and conditions and hit Enroll to complete the process of joining Beta.

Now, navigate to the Software update page inside Settings. Tap Download and install to manually trigger the update fetching. Your phone will connect to the server and check if the Beta OTA is available for download.

One UI 8.5 Update

April is just around the corner, and Samsung is providing early access to its premium devices. Users of the Galaxy S25 series have received 8 Beta OTAs so far. Samsung is currently working on a security patch firmware for the devices.

The April 2026 patch may arrive soon, and then the One UI 8.5 rollout should start. The update already feels late, and Samsung may not stretch the delay to May. We just wrote Galaxy S25 users brace an important month ahead.

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Samsung is working on something exciting that could make life easier for smartphone users. Sharing files between different brands has always been a bit tricky, mainly between Samsung and Apple devices. But now, that might finally change in a big way on older devices too.

The new update brings support for AirDrop into Samsung’s Quick Share system. This means Samsung users may soon be able to send photos, videos, and files directly to iPhones, iPads, and even Macs without needing extra apps.

At first, this feature was only available on the latest Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup. But now, Samsung is expanding it to more devices. Instead of a full system update, the feature is being added through updates to Quick Share and its related tools.

These Galaxy devices received a new Quick Share update:

• Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, Galaxy S22 Ultra
• Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Ultra
• Galaxy Z Fold 7

But here’s the catch. Even though the feature is showing up on many devices, it’s not working properly yet. Some users can see the “Share with Apple devices” option, but it doesn’t actually connect to nearby Apple devices. Others don’t see the option at all.

This means Samsung is likely still testing the feature or gradually turning it on through its servers. Updates to apps like Google Play Services may help, but the experience is still not reliable. Stay tuned for more information.

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April is on the verge, and Galaxy S25 users awaiting the One UI 8.5 update brace for an important month ahead. Samsung seems to have a different plan for the owners of its last year’s flagship lineup, which already feels frustrating.

It’s all about the One UI 8.5 update.

Galaxy S25 users want One UI 8.5, but Samsung is still crafting a security booster. March patch has arrived recently, and the April patch is expected next. As of now, we are not seeing the rollout of another Beta update for the users.

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 is available in Beta, but it’s a harsh truth that Samsung’s Beta testing system is not competitive. Beta Program is indeed impressive, but its limited availability hurts user sentiments, covering millions.

If you are living outside any of the ineligible Beta countries, you are already months behind. The irony is, the Beta Program isn’t short, but extensive. And we’ve noticed in recent years that Samsung significantly extended the period.

For reference, One UI 8.5 Beta dropped first in December. March has almost ended, completing four months of Beta testing. Yet, the users of the Galaxy S25 series are still waiting for the Stable update around the world.

Well, the One UI 8.5 update isn’t too far now. Samsung has entered rapid testing mode, with the 8th Beta already feeling like Stable. April patch may set the foundation, before Samsung deploys the new features and UI tweaks.

If you are in the Beta team, the Stable release won’t be very exciting. The update is a big deal for those witnessing screenshots on social media since it started. Stay ready for an adventurous week, that is April, literally!

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Samsung has shipped the Galaxy S26 Ultra with an innovative Privacy Display feature, which aims to protect your on-screen content against prying eyes. Samsung is known for its display technologies innovation; it was the first to introduce OLED on smartphones and popularize it worldwide. However, the past few years have brought the phone maker criticism for being easy with new Galaxy S-series phones.

Yet, Privacy display marks a new milestone and has denounced those criticisms, especially since no other smartphone has this feature. The leaks and rumors around this feature have appeared on the internet long before the Unpacked event, but the picture wasn’t clear about the extent to which it would protect the screen.

However, hands-on experience has proved that Samsung’s words and actions are well aligned on this matter.

All the users need to do is enable the Privacy display feature from the quick panel, and it will block the majority of the viewing angles from all four directions. Yes, the feature will block the screen visibility based on the distance of the other person next to you or around you. Ultimately, it does a fantastic job of saving the screen from your nemesis.

Behind-the-scenes tech

The S26 Ultra’s AMOLED screen has two types of pixels – narrow, which emit light on the front, and wide pixels, which disperse light in broad angles (left, right, up, and down). The normal mode keeps these two pixel types enabled simultaneously.

However, the privacy mode dims wide pixels and keeps the narrow pixels in full effect. That’s how it creates a clear picture on the front and reduces visibility on the sides.

Reviews and user reports

Reviewers have praised this technology for its effectiveness in hiding the screen, which is a good thing for the company’s portfolio because getting genuine reviews isn’t an easy thing for a new tech.

However, there’s a side that we can’t ignore: eye fatigue. Some users report that the feature is causing eye fatigue and headaches on long runs. However, such reports differ from those of users who have been using the S26 Ultra since day one of their delivery.

With that said, Privacy display is proven as an innovation for Samsung, and it shows that the company is still doing new things in the background to improve user experience.

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Samsung may have been focusing on selling and promoting the Galaxy S26 series, but its next-gen foldable phones, including the Z Fold 8 Wide, have already started creating buzz online.

Recently, CAD renders of the upcoming Z Fold 8 surfaced online courtesy of Onleaks. The phone looked almost like the Fold 7 with the same size and shape. At the time when users called it a Fold 7 clone, another set of renders appeared, this time, it was Z Fold 8 Wide.

Similar to its name, the phone is wider than the Z Fold 8. The Wide version aims to go for a more tablet-like experience in folded and unfolded states.

But we’ve dived deeper into this new foldable and found five major differences you will find against the Fold 8.

It’s wide

The Z Fold 8 is 143.2mm wide, but the Fold 8 Wide measures 161.4mm when unfolded. Meanwhile, the Fold 8 Wide shrinks to 82.2mm, and the Fold 8 to 72.8mm when folded. It can be seen that the phone remains wide on both fronts.

This will directly impact the viewing experience with a revamped resolution that will be more horizontal, view-friendly for multitasking two apps on each side, or watching a YouTube video.

Wide cover screen

The cover screen will only be 5.4 inches, but it will be wider, like a vertical tablet. On the other hand, the Fold 8 will offer a 6.5-inch smartphone-like display.

The Fold 8 Wide’s display also goes corner to corner with small bezels, which will improve its hands-on experience. However, it may not be comfortable to operate with one hand.

Smaller

Despite increasing the width, the Z Fold 8 will be taller than its wide sibling. The former stands at 158.4mm (folded, unfolded) and the latter comes at 123.9mm.

The size reduction here will contribute to the horizontal experience that we’ve talked about earlier.

Small Internal screen

The Fold 8 Wide’s specs gave it a clear win over the Z Fold 8 in terms of overall width. Still, it has a smaller foldable screen; according to the leaked data, it will sport a 7.5-inch panel, compared to 8 inches on the Fold 8.

The size difference could belong to the bigger bezels on the wide fold, but the current picture looks gleaming.

Thicker

Furthermore, the wide fold will add around 0.4mm and 0.8mm thickness for unfolded and folded states, respectively.

Cameras

Samsung isn’t using an under-display camera on the internal screen, nor on the cover. On the rear side, you will see two cameras, and it kind of reminds me of the Galaxy S25 Edge. It means the phone might have a main 200MP and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, followed by an LED flash.

Conclusion

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 wide provides a new orientation to Samsung’s foldable device portfolio and will allow customers to choose a different version of what they currently have in the market.

Besides these revelations, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Wide will come with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, new AI features, the latest One UI  version, and other key improvements.

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Recently, Samsung released the 8th One UI 8.5 beta software for the Galaxy S26 series, bringing nearly dozens of bug fixes and improvements to the system. These fixes are applied to the gallery apps, camera app, Studio app, notifications, Now Brief, and some cross-device connection capabilities with Samsung’s notebooks.

Test programs are designed to provide insights into the upcoming features and software capabilities. Usually, the first changelog comes filled with a ton of features, but the next few have to be explored to find hidden gems.

Besides bug fixes, the company hasn’t mentioned any other system improvements. By doing so, I gave the system a free run on my Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Similar to my previous explorations, I compared it with the Galaxy S26 Ultra for task execution and touch response speed tests. This time around, the S25 Ultra performed even better in terms of opening apps and sending them back to the background. The scrolling and app loading have been improved as well.

The stability in the beta version is far better than any other OTA update released under the Galaxy S25 series’s beta program. It means that the software is ready to roll out for all Galaxy S25 series, but there’s a catch.

You know, Samsung might be fixing some more bugs before calling the program off for the S25 series users. However, we found that the software is working just fine with all of its features working without any issues.

Samsung has confirmed that the beta program will expand for more devices in April, and this should be an indication that the S25 series is likely to conclude its testing phase in the same month.

Did you install the 8th One UI 8.5 beta on your S25 series phone, and how’s your experience so far? Share it here on my dedicated thread on X.

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The past week was a joy ride for the One UI 8.5 beta program, with more Samsung devices joining the test phase, but without the Galaxy S25 Edge.

The Galaxy S25 FE, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE, Fold 6, Flip 6, Tab S11 series entered the beta in the latest round. Despite being limited to key markets, Samsung enabled these device owners to test the new features and prepare the firmware for the final release, which could happen in April.

Providing the beta slot to the S25 FE and not doing the same for the S25 Edge doesn’t make sense. The phone has a higher price point and also has high-end specs, which collide directly with the latest generation of S-series.

It also serves 7 generations of OS upgrades, which makes it worthy of a device to enter the beta program first. Yet, the decision to keep the phone in the dark is worth noticing. For now, Samsung hasn’t said anything on this matter, nor have its community moderators, but we’ll have to wait for the next major development in this story.

S25 Edge

This Galaxy phone brings aesthetics and power in one package. Samsung said it has to revisit internal component assembly and reduce the size of components, such as the charging port, to make it thinner than any Galaxy S-series phone.

The phone measures 5.8mm thin and weighs only 163 grams, which makes it easy to hold and operate at the same time. Despite this thin outlook, the phone doesn’t compromise on the specs. It has a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a smooth frame rate. The phone offers a 200MP main camera on the rear, the same as the S25 Ultra.

With these specs and a premium build, the Galaxy S25 Edge should have been included in the One UI 8.5 beta program, yet it is still missing that in action.

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Samsung’s HD Voice feature on the Galaxy Buds 4 aims to offer a crystal clear calling experience. Bluetooth calling has always had a ceiling. You hear it the moment you step into traffic or take a call on a windy street.

Voices get flattened, consonants blur together, and everything starts to sound slightly robotic. That is not just poor tuning, but a bandwidth problem, paired with weak noise handling.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 series tries to fix both at the same time. The company calls it HD Voice, and unlike typical marketing labels, there is actual engineering underneath.

Why traditional Bluetooth calls fall short

Most Bluetooth voice calls operate within a narrow frequency range. That limited bandwidth strips away detail from speech, especially the higher frequency components. These are the subtle cues that make words sound distinct.

Now add environmental noise. Standard earbuds rely on basic filtering, which often struggles in dynamic conditions like moving traffic or crowded spaces. The result is a compressed, noisy call that feels far from natural.

The shift to 16kHz super wide band

HD Voice on the Galaxy Buds 4 doubles the effective Bluetooth voice bandwidth to 16kHz. It expands the range of frequencies that can be captured and transmitted during a call.

More data gets through, and that directly translates to more natural-sounding speech. You start to hear the edges of words again; conversations feel less processed, more immediate.

AI, multiple mics, and VPU

The Galaxy Buds 4 series uses multiple microphones to capture sound from different directions. That part is expected, while the interesting bit is the Voice Pick Up Unit, or VPU.

The VPU acts as a dedicated sensor layer focused on identifying your voice. It works alongside the mic array to isolate speech patterns from surrounding noise.

HD Voice is not just about the earbuds; it is an end-to-end system. When paired with a Galaxy S26 series device, the Buds 4 can fully leverage Samsung’s optimized audio stack.

How to enable HD Voice on your Galaxy Buds

Getting started is straightforward, though the option is slightly buried in settings:

1. Open your Galaxy Buds case near your Galaxy smartphone
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap your Galaxy Buds settings
4. Select Sound quality and effects
5. Open Advanced quality options
6. Enable Super wideband speech

Once enabled, HD Voice kicks in automatically during calls.

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Samsung has released a new update for Quick Share, which makes sharing files easier and better for Galaxy users. The update enables AirDrop-like sharing on Galaxy devices. 

The fresh update brings a new option called “Your Devices.” It is added in the Who can share with you setting. With this option, you can choose to receive files only from your own devices. This helps keep your phone safe and gives you more control over who can send you files.

Samsung has also changed how things look in the Share Panel. Now, nearby devices are shown from left to right. This small change makes it easier to quickly find and select the device you want to share with.

In addition to this, the update adds the ability to share app content. Before, Quick Share was mainly used for sending photos, videos, or files. Now, you can also share things like reminders, camera presets, photo filters, and stickers. This makes sharing more fun and helpful in everyday use.

It also brings an AirDrop-like sharing experience to older Galaxy devices running One UI 8.5 Beta. This means even if you have an older phone, you can still enjoy fast and smooth sharing like newer devices. However, some One UI 8.0 users are also reporting receiving this feature.

You can easily get this update via Samsung Galaxy Store >> Menu option >> Updates. Install the update to enjoy latest features.

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It seems consumer reports have finally caught Samsung’s attention, with the representatives promising that a fix for Galaxy S26 Ultra display issues will be rolling out soon.

A Galaxy S26 Ultra owner submitted a bug report through the official means. In a recent development, the user AnthonyHershko received an update from Samsung, promising that fixes and improvements for Galaxy S26 display issues are coming soon.

Earlier, a Samsung moderator of the US community also acknowledged problems with the Galaxy S26 Ultra display. That response also signalled that an investigation is being conducted, but a resolution remains awaited.

Meanwhile, the most recent response includes two specific terms, “flickering” and “distortion.” Samsung may have found the bugs that are causing these problems on the Galaxy S26 display, with a fix rolling out with upcoming updates.

Galaxy S26 Ultra users have complained about eye strain and headaches. It’s happening because of the new pixel structure used in the S26 Ultra screen that powers Privacy Display.

However, the fix Samsung is promising looks related to flickering and distortion. It could not be the one that resolves eye strain problems, as it is driven by the Flex Magic Panel, a hardware difference.

What we expect are improvements to refine the display experience. Users of the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra should look forward to the April 2026 firmware. It should carry some important stuff tied to the display segment.

Samsung has released two software updates for the Galaxy S26 series so far. The flagships have yet to receive the March 2026 security patches. It remains to be seen April firmware brings March patches or jump directly to April.

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Google is finally loosening its grip on the Pixel home screen, and the latest Android 17 Beta suggests a bigger shift is underway. Buried inside Android 17 Beta 3 is an in-progress feature called “Organizer.”

It is not live yet, and based on what has surfaced so far, it is clearly unfinished. For the first time, Pixel users may get a proper tool to manage entire home screen pages without the usual friction.

Organizer is designed to let users create, delete, and rearrange home screen panels from a single interface. Right now, reorganizing Pixel layout requires you to move icons one by one, clear pages manually, and hope it all lines up the way you want.

Android 17 Organizer feature flips that process, as per the AndroidAuthority report. When creating a page, the system can automatically populate it using categories like Most Used, Games, Productivity, or Travel.

These categories appear to be pulled from Play Store data, which makes the suggestions more contextual than random. You also get layout choices, so the structure is not locked.

The leaked interface shows placeholder visuals, blue circles and pink rectangles standing in for actual app icons and widgets. That is developer-stage material, not something close to rollout, even the “Organizer” name feels temporary.

For years, Google kept the Pixel Launcher minimal. Android 17 shows Google is starting to respond. Beta updates have already introduced smaller but meaningful tweaks and if Organizer ships it would be the first real step toward structural control.

Meanwhile, Samsung has offered deep home screen control through One UI for multiple generations. Rearranging pages, managing layouts, and organizing apps into structured panels, this has been standard there for a while.

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