DIGITAL LIFE

Passkeys Vs Passwords: What's the difference and which offers better security?

Since the inception of the internet, website and app developers have relied heavily on passwords as a means of protecting user accounts. As hackers continue to develop more sophisticated techniques to circumvent security guardrails, however, it has become easier for passwords to be cracked, especially with the help of powerful GPUs and AI assistance. A recent study reported that some GPUs could crack passwords with as many as 10 characters in a second or less. The vulnerability of user accounts protected by passwords has motivated many companies to explore alternative methods for protecting user accounts. One such alternative is passkeys. But do passkeys really offer better security?

The Difference Between Passkeys And Passwords...Passkeys are different than passwords. Unlike passwords, which enable users to authenticate via a set of numbers, letters, and special characters, or a combination thereof, passkeys allow users to access accounts using a PIN, face recognition or fingerprint authentication. So you do not need to memorize any string of characters.

Both passwords and passkeys can incorporate multi-factor authentication (MFA). Passkeys protect users with built-in MFA, which requires you to prove at least two things. First, that you can access a device where your private key is stored, and second, that you can unlock the device or account with your biometric information or PIN. Depending on the design, the use of passwords sometimes requires MFA, which typically prompts users to input a code that is automatically sent via email, SMS, or an authentication app.

Do Passkeys Really Offer Better Security? Which is safer, password MFA or passkey MFA? Let's say you've been lured to access a fake website that mimics the interface of one of your social media accounts. If you input your password, malicious actors can steal it and capture your MFA code in real time and use these credentials to access your actual account. This can be done relatively easily, for experienced hackers. We have reported how hackers circumvent MFA restrictions by using sophisticated malware to create an illusion of a normal login process.

However, with a passkey, the outcome is different. Even if a bad actor successfully lures you into using your PIN, facial ID or fingerprint on a fake website, your device will detect that the site is fake, making it difficult or even impossible to steal your credentials.

To understand how passkeys identify fake sites, it's helpful to know about a process developers call "domain binding." When you create a passkey for a site, a public and private key are generated and bound to that site's domain. Unlike humans who may sometimes fail to differentiate between URLs such as Hothadware.com and Hothardware.com, your device will never release the private key needed for passkey authentication if the URL is not exactly the same. The public key is typically stored on a server, and the private key is usually kept locally on your device. In the event of a data breach on a company's server, hackers can successfully access your public key; however, this will be useless for them since they will also need to access the private key, which is safely stored on your device. As such, if a company suffers a data breach, it will not compromise your account.

Although a PIN can be used to activate a passkey, it serves a different purpose than a traditional password. When you use a PIN to authenticate with a passkey, it simply unlocks your private key, which is then combined with the public key to complete the authentication process. Unlike passwords, which are stored on servers as hashed values that can be exposed in the event of a cyberattack, your PIN and private keys are never stored on a company's server. Only your device knows your private key; it will remain unknown to everyone, including you, so it's incredibly difficult for it to be compromised. 

Final Thoughts: Passkeys vs. Passwords...Companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have embraced and promoted the use of passkeys. In April 2025, Microsoft optimized its login experience for the use of passkeys. While we are not suggesting that Passkeys are 100% secure, it is clear that they are generally safer than passwords, as they protect users from common social engineering techniques deployed by hackers.

by Victor Awogbemila

 

DIGITAL LIFE

Tech moguls enter the media to control the narrative

Heads of the world's largest technology companies have become frequent figures in podcasts and programs favorable to them. Some companies have even started their own blogs and channels as a way to project a positive image.

This trend was noted by the British newspaper The Guardian in an article published on Saturday (November 29). "Heads of the largest technology companies, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Satya Nadella and others, have participated in long and comfortable interviews in recent months," notes reporter Nick Robins-Early.

These appearances usually yield headlines that highlight the disruptive nature of the current wave of artificial intelligence. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, predicted that AI agents will replace SaaS in an interview for the BG2 Pod.

The BG2 Pod is presented by two venture capital investors. Brad Gerstner is CEO and founder of Alttimer Capital, one of OpenAI's investors and a shareholder in Meta and Nvidia, while Bill Gurley is a partner at Benchmark, which funds startups founded by former OpenAI executives.

Speaking of OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman also gave his opinion that Generation Z is privileged to live in the AI ​​age on the Huge If True podcast, which defines itself as "an optimistic show about science and technology" and "an antidote to sadness and pessimism."

Big tech companies are betting on their own blogs and magazines...In some cases, big tech companies and investors are cutting out the middlemen. Andreessen Horowitz, one of the largest venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, launched its blog on Substack, where it presents itself as an "independent voice" building a direct relationship with the public.

Palantir, a technology company that develops security solutions, founded a magazine called Republic. According to The Guardian, it mimics the style of academic publications like Foreign Affairs.

“Many people who shouldn’t have a platform do. And many who should, don’t,” says an editorial signed by company executives. Examples of Republic's content include articles against copyright laws and in favor of cooperation with the military.

As the Guardian notes, these initiatives echo a sentiment among technology companies: specialized magazines and websites have become increasingly harsh and critical in their coverage of the sector.

And, of course, we can't ignore Elon Musk, who bought Twitter, which became known as X. It remains open to any user, but there are some symptomatic episodes: the AI ​​Grok, which works in an integrated way with the social network, considers its owner to have the intelligence of Leonardo da Vinci and the physical conditioning of LeBron James.

Americans disapprove of big tech, CEOs and AI...Meanwhile, research shows that the United States public has predominantly negative views of technology companies, social networks and artificial intelligence.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, 78% of Americans believe that social media companies have more power and influence in politics than they should, and 64% believe that the platforms have had a negative impact on the country.

Pessimism reappears when the subject is AI. Among Americans, 53% believe that this technology will harm creativity. The view is also unfavorable regarding relationships, difficult decisions, and problem-solving—in this last aspect, there is some optimism, with 29% indicating that AI will improve this skill.

The Tech Oversight Project, in turn, reveals that the CEOs of big tech companies are personally disapproved of by the population. The worst case is Mark Zuckerberg: 74% of those interviewed have a negative opinion of him, 59 percentage points more than his approval rating.

Even in times of political polarization, the difference between the opinions of Democratic and Republican voters isn't that great—although Donald Trump's supporters are less reticent about technology, there's also significant rejection within this group.

Strategy doesn't always work...These numbers provide some context for initiatives to create communication channels and talk to interviewers who don't ask tough questions.

Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, recently gave a podcast interview where he talked about his childhood pet dog and answered questions like "If you were a cupcake, which cupcake would you be?". Meanwhile, there were no questions about privacy and human rights controversies in which the startup has been involved.

But even these situations can have the opposite result to what was expected. In some cases, the content attracts comments that show the public's dissatisfaction.

In Altman's interview with Huge If True, users joked about the lack of content in the conversation. "Now I understand why ChatGPT is like that. This guy can talk for hours without answering a single question," says one viewer.

Another is more critical and states that it's "crazy" to say that a 22-year-old recent graduate is lucky to live in the AI ​​age, considering that technology is destroying junior-level jobs.

Recently, Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, participated in a video on the Track Star channel. The page does a quiz to guess songs with celebrities and ordinary people, mixing game show and interview.

The reaction on Instagram was negative: users took the opportunity to criticize changes to the platform, scam advertisements, accounts banned without reason, and choices to supposedly addict users.

Not even Track Star itself was spared. "Honestly, this account was more fun when it was random people on the street trying to guess the songs," says the most liked comment on the video.

Reporter: Giovanni Santa Rosa https://www.linkedin.com/in/giosantarosa//

 

TECH

AI is growing, but can the planet handle it? The hidden cost of the digital revolution

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a hero in the fight against climate change, but its accelerated growth hides an environmental cost that almost no one sees. Between explosive energy consumption, thirsty data centers, and a new avalanche of electronic waste, the technology that can save us also threatens to worsen the crisis it is trying to solve.

Artificial intelligence is now at the center of major solutions to the planet's challenges. It anticipates catastrophes, optimizes energy systems, creates more sustainable materials, and revolutionizes science. However, behind this promising image, an invisible physical structure is growing that requires gigantic volumes of energy, water, and natural resources. As AI expands, its own environmental footprint is beginning to raise a global alarm.

Training large AI models requires colossal amounts of electricity. To give you an idea, large-scale text generation systems have already consumed volumes of energy equivalent to the annual consumption of dozens of homes. Today, with daily use on a global scale, this consumption is even greater.

This growth has led tech giants to seek their own energy sources, including contracts with nuclear power plants, to ensure the stable operation of their data centers. The problem is structural: the architecture of current computers constantly transfers data between memory and processor, generating heat and wasting energy. With physical limits approaching, efficiency is no longer growing at the same rate as demand.

Water, minerals, and waste: the invisible chain of AI...The impact of artificial intelligence goes beyond the electricity bill. Data centers use enormous volumes of potable water to cool equipment that operates non-stop. On average, each kilowatt-hour consumes liters of clean water, a resource that is increasingly scarce in many regions of the world.

In addition, the manufacture of chips requires rare minerals, often extracted under controversial social and environmental conditions. At the end of the life cycle of this equipment, another problem arises: the explosion of electronic waste, which is difficult to recycle and highly polluting.

Artificial intelligence lives in a profound contradiction. While contributing to the energy transition, precision agriculture, climate monitoring, and disaster prevention, it also increases the pressure on the planet's own resources.

Studies indicate that AI can help advance many global sustainability goals, but it can also delay several of them if its growth goes unchecked. It's not about rejecting the technology, but about recognizing that its impact is ambiguous.

The solutions are not just in more efficient software. The real leap will come from hardware. Research is advancing in in-memory computing, which eliminates unnecessary energy shifts, in memristors that process and store simultaneously, in photonic chips that use light instead of electricity, and in analog systems inspired by the workings of the human brain.

These technologies promise to drastically reduce energy consumption and device heat generation.

Governance: the decisive factor for the future of AI...The sustainability of artificial intelligence depends not only on technical innovation, but also on public policies, transparency, and corporate responsibility. "Green algorithm" programs and environmental requirements are already beginning to emerge in some countries.

AI has the potential to profoundly transform the world. But this transformation will only be truly positive if the technology itself is designed not to become yet another threat to the planet's climate balance.

The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) represents a significant challenge to the planet's sustainability due to its high consumption of energy and water resources, especially in the data centers that support it. However, AI also offers potential for energy efficiency solutions.

The Hidden Cost of AI

-Massive Energy Consumption: Data centers, the heart of AI infrastructure, already consume about 1% to 2% of global electricity. Intensive AI use could increase this consumption dramatically; some estimates predict that data center electricity consumption could more than double by 2030. This increase in demand often relies on non-renewable energy sources, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

-Intensive Water Use: The cooling systems needed to prevent servers from overheating consume vast amounts of water. Large data centers can use millions of gallons per day, the equivalent of the consumption of a medium-sized city. It is estimated that 20 to 30 questions to a generative AI can consume half a liter of water.

-Resource Extraction and Electronic Waste: The production of AI hardware requires the extraction of valuable minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, which have significant environmental impacts. The rapid planned obsolescence of this equipment also exacerbates the problem of electronic waste.

The Potential of AI for Sustainability...Despite the costs, AI can also be a powerful tool in the search for climate solutions:

-Energy Optimization: AI can optimize energy consumption in buildings, transportation networks, and data center management, increasing operational efficiency and reducing waste.

-Climate Forecasting and Resource Management: AI models can help predict climate patterns, manage water resources more efficiently, and better integrate renewable energy sources into the electricity grid.

mundophone

TECH

Rock 'n' research: Engineering student builds 3D-printed guitar

Timothy Tran '27 has a new guitar for jamming out to his favorite Jimi Hendrix tunes, and he didn't pick it up at a music shop—he printed it.

That's no rock 'n' roll fantasy. Tran, a Binghamton University, State University of New York junior majoring in mechanical engineering, has created a playable 3D-printed acoustic guitar. Unlike a traditional instrument, it's made out of thermoplastic filament, but it works. You can even play Hendrix's "Purple Haze" if you'd like.

And while most 3D-printed guitars have been electric, Tran's is unique for being an acoustic model.

"It wasn't something that people had really looked into," Tran said. "People have made 3D-printed electric guitars—that's probably easier because you don't have to worry about the vibrations as much. I just wanted to try something new."

A guitarist since his senior year of high school, Tran was looking for ways to apply his engineering skills over summer break when he stumbled upon his dad's old guitar up in the attic. Unfortunately, it was no longer playable, but Tim saw an opportunity.

"I saw it broke and I said, 'I can make a new one for you,'" Tran said. "I decided it would be a good thing to just try."

With that goal in mind, Tran started designing a prototype based on his father's guitar and sought out assistance from William E. Schiesser, a lecturer at the School of Computing. The project "struck a chord" with Schiesser.

"I just kind of pointed in the right direction and gave him some guidance," Schiesser said. "We've met every week since the beginning of the summer, and he's really done some great work with us."

String theory...You don't become a luthier (that's a person who builds stringed instruments) overnight, and you don't design a 3D printed guitar overnight either. Tran's design process took time and patience. He painstakingly measured the dimensions of his father's vintage guitar, a process that took a couple of weeks to get right.

"Design work is key," Schiesser said. "You have to do a lot of planning up front to make sure all the parts fit together."

Once the design was in place, Tran modeled the guitar in Fusion 360 design software and printed it on a Prusa MK4 3D printer. Because the printer was only 10 inches by 10 inches, pieces that normally would be a single unit had to be split up. For example, the fretboard was divided into two pieces.

Unlike a traditionally constructed guitar, the pieces fit together using a press-fit method. A special connecting plate allows the different pieces to slide together.

"Putting it together was pretty easy. It only took one or two days. It was more just waiting for the glue to dry," Tran said. "The longest part was probably just waiting for parts to print. Bigger pieces might take six or seven hours to print."

Fine-tuning...Tran can play some classical pieces like Pachelbel's Canon, scales and a few funky licks, but the guitar is not quite stage-ready. The action (that's how far the strings sit above the neck of the guitar) is a bit too high, and the guitar is hard to keep in tune. Tran and Schiesser are developing a second prototype to work out the kinks.

"I'm just trying to figure out a way to make the neck piece a little more uniform, and how to get the action lower," Tran said. "Just to get it to a more playable feel, because right now this is pretty tough to play. It doesn't feel that comfortable."

"It's an iterative process. You make one prototype, see how it works, then correct any issues," Schiesser added. Tran's father was excited about the project, regularly asking him for updates on when a new part was being made or which stage he had reached in the design process.

"Once I finished it, I gave it to him first, and he was overjoyed to play it; he texted all his siblings bragging about it!" Tran said.

Timothy Tran has been playing guitar since his senior year of high school. One of his favorite guitarists is Jimi Hendrix. Credit: Binghamton University, State University of New York

Guitars without borders...While it's cool to play Led Zeppelin riffs in a campus lab, Tran and Schiesser hope that this design can be made accessible to people around the world who can't afford to spend big bucks on an instrument. One of Tran's guitars costs just $25–$30 to print, which includes the price of one and a half rolls of filament, strings and tuning pegs.

"If it were to become something really successful, I want it to be just something that can be free access for everyone," Tran said. "Growing up, we didn't have that much money … so if it's just something that's easy and accessible for people who need it, I think that'd be really cool."

Schiesser, who has a background in patents and intellectual property law, said that the design could be like an "open-source guitar."

"Just like we share software and code by open source with license, this could be posted online, and anybody could access the design for free, as long as they have access to a 3D printer and can get it printed out," Schiesser said.

Tran, who will intern at GE Aerospace in spring 2026, wants to work on vehicles and engines once he graduates. But he's not counting out a gig in the guitar industry—if the opportunity is right. Whatever happens, he's happy that he was able to use his interest in engineering and apply it to another field that he's passionate about.

"It was good to put out into the world," Tran said. "It's just a good way to direct what I wanted to do, because I had a lot of ideas, but I didn't really know how to employ them. It was just really cool to see an idea I had just really come to life."

Provided by Binghamton University

 

TECH

The resurgence of an underground market challenging the Chinese communist government

Four years after a historic ban, an activity that many believed to be extinct has resurfaced. The state is tightening its grip, creating new control fronts, and hardening its rhetoric. Yet, the phenomenon persists in reappearing through paths that defy any system.

In 2021, China decreed a complete end to cryptocurrency-related activities. The decision seemed definitive: trading prohibited, mining deactivated, and platforms shut down. The objective was clear—to protect the financial system, contain capital flight, and prevent a parallel economy from consolidating outside of state control. But, four years later, unexpected signs are forcing the government to reinforce its offensive once again.

Faced with the recent growth of informal operations, the People's Bank of China convened a high-level meeting with judicial authorities, financial regulators, and technology agencies. All are part of a new inter-institutional coordination model focused on supervising digital activities considered risky.

The legal framework remains the same as in 2021, when cryptocurrencies were classified as "illegal financial activity." Exchanges were shut down, stablecoins were treated as a threat, and any type of intermediation was banned. What has changed now is the degree of urgency. According to the central bank itself, clandestine activity has once again grown in sufficient volume to trigger alert systems.

Authorities have reinforced that digital assets do not have legal tender status in the country and that the anonymity of transactions increases the risks of fraud, money laundering, and capital flight.

Mining is back on the radar — and reignites the maximum alert... The most sensitive data in this new moment is not so much in illegal trade, but in mining. Even though it has been prohibited for four years, the activity has reappeared in international measurements. The computing power originating in Chinese territory has grown slowly, indicating that old structures may have migrated to areas less visible from oversight.

Mining does not depend on direct sales, but it generates Bitcoin income that can circulate through routes that are difficult to trace. This point is particularly critical for the government: digital financial flows crossing borders without going through banks or traditional control systems.

This contradiction — formal prohibition and real activity on the rise — is the main reason for the new regulatory tightening.

A model that does not allow for flexibility...The government has made it clear that there is no sign of openness. The position remains aligned with the vision of financial stability advocated by the Chinese leadership, which sees cryptocurrencies as a structural threat to the control of currency and monetary policy.

Even so, the demand for digital assets persists, and mining has demonstrated the ability to survive even after massive shutdowns in 2021. This is a direct clash between a model of absolute control and a technology designed precisely to escape that control.

China is once again facing an adversary that never completely disappeared. The state is increasing surveillance, tightening oversight, and trying to close the loopholes that allowed the activity to return. But the very decentralized functioning of the crypto ecosystem continues to generate more questions than answers.

The big question now is whether the new offensive will be enough to contain this resurgence — or whether, once again, the system will find alternative ways to survive regulatory pressure.

More crackdown...The People's Bank of China (PBoC) emphasized that it will intensify its crackdown on cryptocurrency trading and speculation.

In a statement, the Chinese central bank reiterates that cryptocurrencies do not have "legal status equivalent to fiat currency" and that they are not legal tender, which is why "they should not and cannot be used as currency in market circulation."

The statement classifies activities linked to crypto assets as "illegal financial activities" and warns that, recently, speculation with crypto assets has started to grow again, bringing new scenarios and challenges to risk control.

The PBoC highlighted specific concerns about stablecoins, cryptocurrencies designed to maintain stable value, usually pegged to official currencies such as the dollar, stating that they "do not effectively meet the requirements for customer identification and money laundering prevention" and can be used in financial fraud schemes and irregular transfers of funds across borders.

The bank concluded by urging state bodies to maintain a prohibitive policy on cryptocurrencies, deepen coordination, strengthen monitoring, and share information to preserve economic and financial stability.

by Aleksandra Lima dos Santos

SAMSUNG

Samsung R20 Ultrasound: the South Korean brand's new premium ultrasound system

Samsung Medison, a medical equipment subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, chose the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2025 annual meeting in Chicago to present its new R20 ultrasound system. The equipment represents the brand's attempt to lead innovation in the sector, combining new imaging hardware with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and an independently validated ergonomic design.

The development of the R20 ultrasound system comes as a response to growing operational challenges in medical imaging. According to the company, the increase in obesity rates and chronic diseases complicates ultrasound examinations, requiring technologies with greater penetration capacity to avoid inconclusive results. Simultaneously, the sector faces a shortage of professionals and widespread complaints of strain injuries among sonographers.

Samsung Medison, a global medical equipment company and affiliate of Samsung Electronics, is set to unveil the Samsung R20 Ultrasound System during the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. The R20 represents a new era of ultrasound innovation, leveraging advanced hardware and new image formation technologies that power its elevated diagnostic precision and AI-driven technologies, while introducing ergonomic innovations independently validated to enhance user comfort and scanning efficiency.

On the technical level, the R20 ultrasound system integrates Samsung's "Advanced Imaging Engine". This architecture combines updated hardware with advanced software beamforming, aiming, according to the manufacturer, for superior image clarity and diagnostic accuracy.

The system incorporates more than a dozen AI-based tools. These features are designed to offer real-time guidance during the examination, diagnostic assistance, and measurement automation. The goal is to reduce examination time and increase clinical confidence in complex cases.

Rising obesity and chronic disease are making ultrasound exams more complex, leading to higher rates of inconclusive results and creating demand for advanced imaging technologies that provide deeper penetration, intelligent clinician support and diagnostic consistency. At the same time, widespread sonographer pain and workforce shortages highlight the importance of ergonomic design. The R20 was designed to meet these challenges head-on, combining imaging precision, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ergonomics in a single system.

Built for exceptional imaging performance, the R20 is powered by Samsung’s Advanced Imaging Engine: integrating cutting-edge hardware with sophisticated software beamforming to achieve remarkable image clarity and diagnostic accuracy. R20 offers more than a dozen AI-powered tools1 for real-time exam guidance, diagnostic assistance, workflow automation and automated measurements to help clinicians improve accuracy, save time and scan with greater confidence in complex cases. Complementing its clinical performance, the R20 achieved independent validation as a leader in ergonomic innovation, meeting 100% of recognized ergonomic guidelines and recommendations2 to promote clinician comfort and healthy scanning.

“The R20 embodies our mission to elevate diagnostic imaging through purposeful innovation,” said Tracy Bury, Chief Commercial Officer of Samsung Healthcare in the USA and Vice President of Global Growth Initiatives. “Driven by close collaboration with clinicians, the R20’s technologies are designed as practical tools that make a real difference in how clinicians work and patients are cared for. With the R20, we’re moving from a fast follower to a true technology leader, driving innovation at a pace that’s reshaping ultrasound.”

In addition to clinical performance, Samsung highlights the ergonomic aspect of the R20 ultrasound system as a competitive differentiator to mitigate pain and physical strain on professionals. The company states that the system has obtained independent validation as a leader in innovation in this area, meeting “100% of recognized ergonomic guidelines and recommendations” to promote clinician comfort and workflow efficiency.

Tracy Bury, Chief Commercial Officer of Samsung Healthcare in the US, positions the launch as a strategic game-changer: “With the R20, we have gone from a fast follower to a true technology leader, driving innovation at a pace that is reshaping ultrasound.”

The presentation of the R20 ultrasound system at RSNA 2020 signals Samsung's intention to compete more aggressively in the premium segment of medical equipment. The strategy is to use the parent company's expertise in semiconductors and AI to solve practical bottlenecks in hospitals, focusing both on the quality of diagnosis and the health of those operating the machines.

by mundophone

 

TECH

Samsung unveils tri-fold smartphone that will be cheaper than its rival, the Huawei Mate XTs

The race for the first smartphone that folds into three parts and becomes a true tablet is in its final stretch, and Samsung is preparing to make an aggressive entry. Contrary to expectations that this cutting-edge technology would cost an unattainable fortune, new rumors from South Korea indicate that the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold may arrive on the market at a significantly lower price than expected, positioning itself below its only direct competitor, the Huawei Mate XTs.

With a launch scheduled for the first week of December, Samsung seems to want to prove that it can not only innovate in the format, but also make the technology (relatively) more accessible than the Chinese competition.

That said, if a Fold costs around €2000, asking around €2500 for a Trifold makes some sense. These aren't perfect values, because it will still be a niche product, but it makes a lot more sense.

The most interesting thing is that the information supposedly came from an "internal sales channel announcement," which gives it some weight. That said, remember that Samsung usually offers free storage upgrades during the launch period. In other words, even if that value corresponds to the basic version, it's possible that those who buy in the first few weeks will receive more memory for the same price.

The tri-fold should arrive with a huge 10-inch screen when fully open and with a larger battery than the current Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is Samsung's top-of-the-line foldable. The three-segment design is the big novelty, and of course, the most expensive part to develop. That's why so many analysts predicted a prohibitive price.

This translates to about US$2,447 (approximately €2,350), a value that, while high, is notably lower than the US$2,520 that Huawei asks for its Mate XTs. This price difference, in an ultra-luxury segment, is a clear strategic move to steal the attention of early adopters.

The big difference between Samsung and Huawei will not only be the price, but the construction philosophy. While Huawei uses a "Z" format (one fold inwards, another outwards), leaving part of the screen exposed, Samsung has opted for a "G" shaped design with folds inwards.

This approach is crucial for durability. By folding the flaps inwards, the sensitive OLED panel is fully protected when the device is closed, reducing the risk of scratches and accidental damage to your pocket or bag. The biggest difference between Samsung and Huawei won't just be the price, but the construction philosophy. While Huawei uses a "Z" shape (one fold inward, another outward), leaving part of the screen exposed, Samsung opted for a "G" shaped design with folds inward.

This approach is crucial for durability. By folding the flaps inward, the sensitive OLED panel is fully protected when the device is closed, reducing the risk of scratches and accidental damage to your pocket or bag.

Until now, analysts pointed to a price of around US$3,000 for Samsung's first tri-fold phone. However, Korean blogger yeux1122, known for his leaks, reveals that Samsung is considering a starting price of 3.6 million won in its domestic market.

It remains to be seen whether this new foldable "triple book"-shaped phone will even reach the United States, or even Europe. Samsung has not yet confirmed its presence in Western markets, but everything indicates that the announcement is imminent. In fact, with this rate of leaks, the only thing that hasn't yet been completely removed from the picture is the surprise.

mundophone