SAMSUNG

Galaxy S25 Series: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Samsung’s Galaxy S series has long been the benchmark for Android flagship smartphones, and the upcoming Galaxy S25 series is shaping up to be no exception. We’re still a few weeks away from the launch, but most of the details are already out, thanks to leaks, which kept coming despite Samsung taking strict actions to stop them, including firing a bunch of its employees.

There will be hardware upgrades, like a new chipset, camera sensor, and more. But the software will also play a crucial part, as it’s undergoing significant improvements, probably the biggest in recent years. While we wait for the official unveiling, let’s look at what’s already known about the Galaxy S25 series so far.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Roundup: Everything You Need to Know...According to a leaked Galaxy Unpacked banner, the event may take place on January 22nd, where the much-anticipated Galaxy S25 series will be uncovered. One UI 7 will also be announced at the event, which will come preinstalled on the newest Galaxy flagships.

1. Rounded Corners, More Comfort...Samsung has been consistent with its design language for the Galaxy S series, and the S25 series will be no different. That means no major design changes. Leaked renders from reputed sources verify the same. However, there are notable upgrades to improve the look and feel.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra may have rounded corners, not the sharp edges you see on the S24 Ultra. While sharp corners give the S24 Ultra a stylish look, they tend to dig into the palm, making it uncomfortable to hold for a longer duration. The rounded design of the S25 Ultra gives it a refined look while also making it comfortable to hold.

The Ultra will get the titanium backing, again, while other models will have to satisfy themselves with an aluminum frame. We also expect an S Pen slot at the bottom for the Ultra model, just like its predecessors.

2. Bigger and Brighter Screen...The Galaxy S25 series, at least the Ultra model, is getting display upgrades. According to prolific tipster Ice Universe, the S25 Ultra’s screen measures 6.86 inches, slightly bigger than the S24 Ultra’s 6.8 inches.

Notably, the new smartphone will be 77.6mm wide (less than S24 Ultra’s 79mm), but Samsung has somehow managed to shrink the bezels to 2.3mm to achieve a bigger display. So, the S25 Ultra will have a higher screen-to-body ratio that will certainly improve the visual experience. The base Galaxy S25 might also have a slightly bigger 6.36-inch screen that matches iPhone 16 Pro’s.

Smartphone brands are emphasizing on screen brightness as a key feature to attract customers, and Samsung wants to leave no stone unturned. The S25 Ultra will reportedly match Pixel 9 Pro’s 3000 nits peak brightness while handsomely beating the iPhone 16 Pro’s 2000 nits offering.

In addition to a bigger screen, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will reportedly feature a more powerful second-generation Corning Gorilla Armor Glass with anti-reflective properties. The rest of the display specs will largely remain the same: an LTPO panel, 120Hz refresh rate, and a 1440p resolution.

3. No Exynos Chip This Time...Yes, you read that right. All S25 models, including the vanilla and Plus, are tipped to get the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for all markets, including India. While Samsung has not confirmed it, South Korean media reports believe the company has production issues with the Exynos 2500 chip, leaving Samsung no choice but to go for Snapdragon.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite is a powerful chip with strong CPU and GPU capabilities. It beats Apple’s fastest A18 Pro Bionic on popular benchmarking platforms, narrowing the performance gap between Android and iPhones.

Samsung is reportedly ditching the 8GB RAM version for the entire S25 lineup. All of them are likely to ship with 12GB RAM as standard, which would be a significant upgrade over the Galaxy S24.

4. Batter Cameras...Cameras are going to be better on the Galaxy S25 series as anyone would expect. According to a recent leak, the S25 Ultra would use the same 200MP sensor. The 12MP (with 3x optical zoom) and 50MP (5x optical zoom) are also identical to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

The only notable camera upgrade on the spec sheet is the new 50MP ultrawide sensor, a jump from the 12MP on the S24 Ultra. The sensor size looks to have increased as well, which would allow more light to pass through it, resulting in better images.

There are not enough details about the S25 and S25+ cameras. However, if leaks are to be believed, they will not receive significant camera upgrades.

5. Battery and Charging...Samsung will reportedly make no changes to the battery capacity and charging speed for the S25 series, not even for the Ultra model. So, we’re likely going to see the same (4000mAh, 25W) on the S25, (4900mAh, 45W) on the S25+, and (5000mAh, 45W) on the S25 Ultra.

There’s one big change, though. The Galaxy S25 models will reportedly support the Qi2 wireless charging standard, which is lacking in the S24 series. Tipster @chunvn888 revealed that the phones will support the EPP Qi2 (without magnet) profile with up to 25W wireless charging speeds, which is a considerable upgrade over the 15W limit on the S24 series.

Samsung is also said to be working on a new Battery AI feature that can extend the battery life by limiting the processor and the 5G modem. 

6. A Slim Model on the Way...Samsung might unveil four Galaxy S25 models at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event. The fourth one is not the S25 FE but the Galaxy S24 Slim. While we’re still waiting for an official confirmation on this, industry experts believe that a Galaxy S25 Slim might be in the pipeline to compete with the yet-to-be-announced iPhone 17 Air.

If you look closely at the leaked Galaxy Unpacked banner, it shows four Galaxy smartphones, which further leads to believe that there might be a Slim model as well.

7. Launch Date and Pricing...Samsung has not announced the launch date for the Galaxy S25 series. However, a recently leaked banner suggests that the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 might happen on January 22nd. This is when new Galaxy flagships might be announced. They might go on sale starting February 7th.

While there are no concrete details around pricing, some reports suggest a price hike as Qualcomm is reportedly charging up to $190 for each Snapdragon 8 Elite application processor (AP).

mundophone

 

TECH

Apple Watch Series 10 Is Slashed To An All-Time Low Price With This Deal

As we embark on a brand new year, hopefully the holiday season that just passed was kind to you all. We also hope that Santa brought you whatever gift(s) you were hoping for on Christmas morning. However, if one those gifts was a smartwatch and he didn't come through, you can take the matter into your own hands and save some jingle in the process.

There are several smartwatch deals in effect right now, one of which is an all-time low price for the Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS)—it's marked down to $329 at Best Buy (save $70). Or you can save even more by going the open box route, with Best Buy selling an open box Apple Watch Series 10 marked in excellent condition for $259.99.

The Series 10 is the latest generation model. It sits in between the 2nd Generation Apple Watch SE (lower end) and Apple Watch Ultra 2 (higher end). Compared to previous models, the OLED display on the Apple Watch Series 10 is both bigger and brighter (offered in both 42mm as linked and 46mm size options), and is also thinner and lighter.

Like most smartwatches, it offers a litany of features to keep on top of your overall health and fitness, including high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, sleep tracking , fall and crash detection, and a lot more.

Prefer a Wear OS model instead? You can find deals within the Wear OS ecosystem as well, including this Samsung Galaxy FE (40mm, LTE) that's on sale for $199.99 at Amazon (save $50)(https://amzn.to/4fPsTsy). It's marked as a limited time deal, and also represents another all-time low price.

The Galaxy Watch FE is Samsung's latest model too. What's nice about this deal is you're getting LTE connectivity without spending a big premium, which isn't always the case in real of wearables. It also features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display powered by a Exynos W920 processor and 1.5GB RAM, 16GB of storage, aluminum construction, and an array of sensors to help with your health and fitness goals.

• Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, GPS): $359 (16% off)
• Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS + Cellular): $249 (17% off)
• Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS): $199 (20% off)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm): $239 (20% off)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (47mm, LTE): $434.44 (33% off)
• Garmin Venu Sq 2 GPS: $136.45 (35% off)

mundophone

 

CES 2025

Strutt unveils ev¹ personal mobility vehicle with 360-degree object avoidance and 3D terrain mapping

The Strutt ev¹ personal mobility vehicle is designed for all types of users who want to travel across their neighborhoods faster and more conveniently. Built-in 3D sensors allow the Strutt ev¹ to automatically navigate around obstacles like a self-driving car.

Strutt has unveiled the ev¹ personal mobility vehicle that allows riders to travel more safely than e-scooters or e-bicycles with automatic obstacle avoidance.

Micromobility vehicles such as e-scooters and e-bicycles have become a popular choice for local transportation. However, research has shown that injuries from riding these naturally unstable, two-wheeled vehicles have increased by over 45% per year.

The Strutt ev¹ is stable with powered, all-terrain wheels at all four corners, so it cannot slip and fall over like e-scooters. The seated position is more comfortable, with the head closer to the ground. The safety of the ev¹ is further improved with 3D LiDAR sensors that map the surrounding terrain with lasers. Two drive modes are available that use Co-pilot computer-controlled obstacle avoidance similar to self-driving cars.

In Support mode, the rider uses a joystick to control the direction of the Strutt while the on-board computer controls the speed, braking, and object avoidance to prevent crashing and tip overs. In Glide mode, the Strutt adds auto-plotting to automatically adjust the path down the tightest of corners and through narrow passages. Riders can monitor what the ev¹ sees on the built-in Live-View touchscreen monitor.

The Strutt is powered by LFP batteries (lithium iron phosphate), which are less likely to catch on fire than traditional lithium-ion batteries. New York and San Francisco have seen increasing numbers of injuries and deaths from e-scooter lithium-ion battery fires.

Readers can sign up on the Strutt website for updates regarding availability and pricing.

mundophone

 

TECH

Android Under Attack—Users Warned As FireScam Threat Evades Detection

A new information-stealing Android malware threat has been revealed by security researchers who have warned that it exfiltrates sensitive data, including your notifications, and employs clever obfuscation techniques to evade detection. Here’s what you need to know about FireScam.

What Android Users Need To Know About The FireScam Threat...A technical report disclosing the FireScam Android malware threat has been published by researchers from threat intelligence specialists Cyfirma, and it looks particularly dangerous for a number of reasons. The report(https://www.cyfirma.com/research/inside-firescam-an-information-stealer-with-spyware-capabilities/) explores the mechanics of FireScam, which is described as being “a sophisticated Android malware masquerading as a Telegram Premium app.” 

The malware app has been noted as being distributed by way of a GitHub.io-hosted phishing site pertaining to be the genuine RuStore App Store, popular within the Russian Federation, which it most certainly isn’t. Which doesn’t mean that the attackers won’t move to other distribution channels and regions, so please do pay attention wherever you are based as Russian cyberattacks have a habit of spreading beyond the border. “By exploiting the popularity of messaging apps and other widely used applications,” the researchers said, “FireScam poses a significant threat to individuals and organizations worldwide.”

Key Findings Of The FireScam Android Malware Report...Like so much malware today, FireScam employs a multi-stage technique starting with a dropper mechanism and ending up with data exfiltration and on-device surveillance. “By capitalizing on the widespread usage of popular apps and legitimate services like Firebase,” the threat intelligence report said, “FireScam exemplifies the advanced tactics used by modern malware to evade detection, execute data theft, and maintain persistent control over compromised devices.”

Please do go and read the report itself for the complete technical analysis, but here are the key findings of interest to Android users:

The fake phishing app store website delivers a dropper to install the FireScam malware disguised as a Telegram Premium application.

The malware exfiltrates sensitive data, including notifications, messages, and other app data, to a Firebase real-time database endpoint.

FireScam then monitors device activities, including screen state changes, e-commerce transactions, clipboard activity, and user engagement.

Notifications are also captured across various apps, including system apps.

I have reached out to Google for a statement.

Security Experts Warn Of FireScam Dangers To Android Users...The FireScam malware campaign reveals a worrying development in the mobile threat landscape, according to Eric Schwake, director of cybersecurity strategy at Salt Security, who warned that malware targeting Android devices is becoming increasingly sophisticated. “Although using phishing websites for malware distribution is not a new tactic,” Schwake said, “FireScam's specific methods—such as masquerading as the Telegram Premium app and utilizing the RuStore app store—illustrate attackers' evolving techniques to mislead and compromise unsuspecting users.”

“As threats like FireScam continue to evolve, it is crucial for organizations to implement robust cybersecurity measures and proactive defense strategies,” Cyfirma said. It recommends users exercise caution when opening files from untrusted sources or clicking on unfamiliar links, use reputable antivirus software, keep all software up to date and stay vigilant against social engineering attacks.

I would add that all Android users should read this discussion regarding the best phishing mitigations—you can thank me later.

Davey Winder

 

TECH

Samsung's AI fridges will soon order groceries for you via Instacart integration

How much automation is too much? Premium Samsung refrigerators already offer impressive features, like tracking the expiration dates of food items both inside and outside the fridge. Now, they're taken it a step further by assisting with grocery shopping.

Samsung has announced a multi-year partnership with online grocery delivery service Instacart, aiming to bring seamless and convenient grocery shopping directly to your kitchen.

Starting with Samsung's 2025 Bespoke refrigerator models – including the 32-inch AI Family Hub+ and the new 9-inch AI Home – users will be able to restock their favorite grocery items effortlessly through Instacart's service. This integration leverages Samsung's proprietary AI Vision Inside food recognition technology alongside Instacart's product-matching API.

AI Vision Inside utilizes cameras installed inside the refrigerator to monitor its contents and track items running low. The system can identify up to 37 commonly purchased food items, with a particular focus on fruits and vegetables.

As items start running low, the refrigerator's screen will provide suggestions via Instacart's service. Users can review these suggestions, add needed items to their cart, and place an order – all without ever picking up their phone.

It's important to note that users must still approve actual purchases – the AI simply adds items to the list for consideration.

This feature marks a significant upgrade from previous Samsung models, which required users to manually track their food inventory using the Samsung Food app before sending items to Instacart.

For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, the Samsung Food app remains available on both smartphones and refrigerators, allowing users to manually manage their grocery lists.

"We've all dreamt of a refrigerator that could replenish itself, and now thanks to this partnership with Samsung, that's no longer the stuff of science fiction," said Daniel Danker, chief product officer at Instacart.

The Instacart integration for Samsung's AI-powered refrigerators will roll out later this year through a firmware update, with existing AI Family Hub+ units also set to receive the upgrade.

Still, one can't help but wonder: what if the next innovation automates restocking entirely? Imagine a robot smart enough to pick up deliveries and arrange them neatly in the fridge. Coming home to a fully replenished vegetable tray after a long workday would truly redefine effortless dinner prep.

mundophone

 

APPLE

iPhone SE 4 To Gain Surprise Name And New Design, Report Claims

Apple doesn’t like to be predictable, the company has said in the past. So, we shouldn’t presume that the name for the next version of the most affordable iPhone, likely to arrive in March 2025, would be iPhone SE 4th generation. That’s what’s been expected until now, but a new report says we’ve been wrong all along. And another report has now lent weight to the surprising new name.

I mean, the phone in the works definitely seems to be an iPhone SE, with cut-down specifications to hit a price point lower than any other iPhone. But a new report suggests that we need to call the next phone by an entirely different name and, perhaps, think of it in another way.

“SE4 may be gone... The name may be completely changed to ‘16e’,” according to a Weibo report from Fixed Focus Digital. And there are two sources in agreement here. “Based on what my source has reported, it seems that the new iPhone that Apple will unveil in 2025 will not be called iPhone SE4, but iPhone 16E. It should feature a design similar to the iPhone 14, with an OLED display and an action button. The available colors will be white and black,” according to a post on X from frequent leaker Majin Bu.

So, why on earth would Apple ditch a highly recognizable sub-brand, one that says, “yes, I’m an iPhone but I’m tremendous value”? At first glance, it seems daft.

But maybe there’s a logic here. After all, every previous iPhone SE has slavishly copied the design of an earlier iPhone. The first version looked near-identical to the iPhone 5s, the second-gen was a dead ringer for the iPhone 8 and the third, well, this looked like the iPhone 8 as well.

The differences were all internal, putting the latest-gen chip in the hardware each time.

But this new phone looks like it will take a different route. It’s thought to look like the iPhone 14, which isn’t dissimilar to the iPhone 16 design, at least from the front.

However, this handset will have just one camera, not the two found on the iPhone 14, it seems. It will certainly have a USB-C charging port, which the iPhone 14 did not, and the single camera may have a 48-megapixel sensor, again something the iPhone 14 didn’t match. A new design, then.

In which case, maybe a whole new name is needed. Something that teams it to the latest model could also make it seem appealing. And if, as thought, it is capable of Apple Intelligence, then that could be reason enough for the new naming convention.

Over at 9to5 Mac, Michael Burkhardt has written persuasively about why he thinks iPhone 16E could be the way Apple will go, pointing out that “It’d definitely be the biggest upgrade in the history of iPhone SE,” as he mentions the introduction an OLED screen with Face ID, USB-C port and Apple’s in-house modem.

But the reason he thinks the new branding might come is to do with the price. “Apple currently sells the iPhone 14 for $599, and the iPhone 15 for $699. Yet somehow, a newer phone with components from both of these (plus an even newer chipset) is apparently supposed to cost substantially less?”

His reasoning is that changing the name to 16E could mean there’s less backlash if the price goes up significantly.

I see this, though I suspect Apple will still want the next phone to be a lot cheaper than the iPhone 16 at $799 and, I’d argue, the iPhone 15. The SE or whatever it’s to be called, still needs to have clear blue water between it and the other iPhones available. The SE range has always had the latest chip in a less capable body and that will apply here. My guess is we can expect a price of $599 or less.

David Phelan

TECH

Robot with LiDAR laser explores danger zones

Robot systems explore unfamiliar terrain, buildings or danger zones with cameras. In the 3D-InAus project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE are using a LiDAR laser on a mobile robot, emitting laser pulses to measure distances. The results are used to produce geometrically accurate 3D environments.

In a disaster such as a chemical plant incident or flooding, emergency services need ways to quickly get an overview of the situation. But in many cases, they are not permitted to enter the scene itself in order to avoid putting themselves at risk.

Researchers at Fraunhofer FKIE in Wachtberg are working on a solution to this problem in the 3D-InAus project. A robot equipped with a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) laser explores the area. LiDAR technology uses pulses of light to scan the environment and measure distances. This creates a 3D model showing buildings, rooms, open space, objects and all of the associated dimensions and distances. Users can move freely around the 360-degree visualization using a joystick as they investigate the virtual environment.

Timo Röhling, a technical project manager from the Cognitive Mobile Systems department, explains, "Compared to robot systems that use cameras to explore a danger zone, our project goes a big step farther. The laser pulses supply measurements for precision 3D cartography of an area of terrain or building. Distances and dimensions are not estimated but instead determined with accuracy down to just a few centimeters."

Geometric point cloud derived from laser pulses...The centerpiece of the hardware is a LiDAR laser mounted on a turntable. A rotating mirror is built into the LiDAR module. It can scan an area made up of 16 vertical sections, or "slices," 10 times per second. The turntable rotates the laser so that the vertical sections cover an entire 360-degree view along the horizontal axis.

The system generates a total of 1.3 million laser pulses per second. These pulses bounce off the surrounding objects, and the time lag in between is used to calculate the relevant distance. The LiDAR module is mounted on a vehicle that moves through the area, either continuously or in stop-and-go mode.

Continuous operation is much faster but also less accurate. The result is a 3D point cloud in which each point stands for a laser pulse or distance measurement. There is also a camera system with up to six cameras. The images from the cameras are used to color the associated objects or shapes.

The LiDAR laser is attached to a rotating turntable. The laser scans an area of 16 vertical sections, or “slices,” per second. In total, the device emits 1.3 million laser pulses per second. This data is then used to produce a 3D point cloud of the environment. Credit: Fraunhofer FKIE

"You might think of us melding the camera images and point cloud together. This gives us a vivid, detailed and also geometrically accurate 3D environment showing buildings, open space and objects," Röhling says.

The raw data acquired by the LiDAR laser is pre-processed by a computer module inside the robot before it even finishes its mission. The final visualization is then produced on a stationary basis during post-processing. It takes about three hours to map an area measuring 400 x 400 m. In a disaster when time is of the essence, accelerated operation can be used to get an initial overview in as little as one hour. It is also possible to explore an area using multiple vehicles simultaneously.

This method of 3D mapping is also valuable to the Bundeswehr, which commissioned the research project. It can be used to generate complex situational overviews of unfamiliar terrain or a danger zone, and thus save service members' lives. The system's software is able to process the measurement values from sensors that detect gaseous toxic substances or sources of radiation and then place them on the 3D maps.

Virtual GPS inside the building...The robot system is generally radio-controlled by a user working with a joystick and tablet. If there is no radio contact, the robot systems could also move around the terrain autonomously.

Exploring buildings is a challenge, as there is no GPS reception there, but the researchers at Fraunhofer FKIE have found a solution for this as well. The building's position and size are already known from the mapping of the terrain, and the software uses that information to generate a virtual GPS for the interior of the building. That allows the robot system to navigate autonomously inside the structure as well.

The team from Fraunhofer FKIE drew on their years of expertise in robot-assisted modeling of 3D environments for their work on the project. "We came up with the concept, selected the components and implemented the algorithms," Röhling explains.

The team was careful to ensure that the robot system would be as versatile as possible. The laser module and turntable can be mounted on a wide range of different vehicles, for example. Depending on the terrain, vehicles with wheels or tracks or even drones could be used. Users assemble the specific components to fit each scenario.

Provided by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft