The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will have an S Pen onboard, as is tradition for all Galaxy S Ultra smartphones since the 2022's Galaxy S22 Ultra. What that S Pen won't have anymore is Air Commands, because it turns out barely anyone bothered with them.
Air Commands are a feature that allows Galaxy owners to assign various actions to pen gestures made, as the name implies, in the air rather than on the phone's screen. In a briefing, Samsung representatives told members of the media that less than one percent of customers with an S Pen bothered using Air Commands. Those who did mostly used them to trigger camera captures, a thing that can be done pretty easily without the S Pen. For those one percent of users perhaps sad to see Air Commands go, Samsung claims removing support for the gestures as well as Bluetooth LE will increase the pens durability and eliminate some weight.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-retires-s-pen-air-commands-because-no-one-was-using-them-180021197.html?src=rss
Samsung has announced the latest version of its flagship device, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and it will come with more AI-focused features than its predecessors like the other phones in its lineup. It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite that was customized specifically for Galaxy devices and comes with a RAM that starts at 12GB. Samsung says the new chip will enable the phone to process AI experiences on-device, including tasks that previously had to be processed on the cloud like Generative Edit, which can reframe shots, delete subjects in the photo and fill in backgrounds. Samsung designed a new heat dissipation structure for the phone, as well, so that on-device AI processes can run smoothly.
The new Galaxy S25 devices run One UI 7 on top of Android 15, which Samsung says can turn the phones into a true AI companion. It enables the new phones to understand text, speech, images and videos in a way that allows you to interact with your phone using natural language. You can ask your phone to find a photo or a video by describing certain elements you can remember, for instance, or tell it to change specific settings without having to manually navigate the device. There's also an AI feature called the Now Brief that sends you alerts throughout the day based on your schedule and pattern of activity. Those notifications will be visible on the Now Bar, the devices' new notification system.
If you want to access Google's Gemini AI assistant, you can simply press on the phone's side button. And, of course, the phones can use Google AI features, such as Circle to Search. The Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25+, in particular, come with ProScaler. That's a real-time AI upscaling feature that Samsung says can achieve "a 40 percent improvement in image quality" for what's shown the screen, as long as the display is set to QHD+ resolution. When it comes to AI tools for sounds, there's Audio Eraser, which you can use to isolate and erase certain sounds from your recordings, whether it's music, background noise or voices. Samsung says the new phones' Galaxy AI features will be "free through 2025," after which you may have to pay to be able to access some of them.
Like the previous Ultra devices, the new Ultra is still bigger than the Galaxy S25 and S25+ with a 6.9-inch display, but it now comes with a more rounded edge for a "comfortable grip." The company describes it as the "slimmest, lightest, and most durable Galaxy Ultra device ever," with a body made of titanium and Corning's Gorilla Armor 2. Corning's new material is composed of a glass ceramic that's treated with a proprietary anti-reflective that can help "ensure advanced drop protection" and scratch resistance. And while the Galaxy S25 Ultra still has a 200MP main camera sensor like the S24 Ultra before it, it has a 50MP ultrawide camera instead of a 12MP one.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will be available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray and Titanium Black. You can also get Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack or Titanium Jadegreen from Samsung's official website. Its prices begin at $1,300, and it's now available for pre-order.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-is-more-ai-focused-and-tougher-than-before-180018308.html?src=rss
In just a few years, Samsung has built up a substantial collection of artificial intelligence tricks, features and apps. While some of them have been impressive, like live translation and annotation, others (often involving generative AI) arent actually helpful or notable enough to warrant regular use.
The latest trio of Galaxy S flagship phones means another barrage of AI. Samsung has saved the best hardware for its S25 Ultra, of course, but the company also has smaller (and cheaper) flagships, with the Galaxy S25 ($800) and larger S25+ ($1,000) both launching at the same time.
And those AI features could be more crucial for the base S25 and larger S25+. Aside from the addition of a potent new chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, theres not a lot here to differentiate from last years Galaxy S24. In fact, you really have to look for changes.
Mat Smith for Engadget
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ are as premium and solidly built as any of their predecessors. Once again, the company has gone for aluminum frames, while the S25 Ultra gets the favorable titanium treatment. Theres also Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 across both the screen and the back of the devices, with a trio of cameras (the same again) standing out as the only detail on the otherwise smooth backs. All of the devices edges are flat just like their predecessors even the S25 Ultras design has caught up here too. Is this more comfortable than the curvier sides? I dont think anyone knows. Weve seen Samsung, Apple and many others flit from rounded to flattened edges. I dont know anymore.
But, boy, are they skinny. Does the Galaxy S25 slim exist? Im not sure it needs to: This years S-series models are the slimmest weve seen in nearly a decade barring Samsungs foldables ( unfolded). Both the S25 and S25+ are 0.4mm thinner than their predecessors. That makes the S25 the thinnest Galaxy phone since the 6.8mm Galaxy S6. Theyre both more pocketable because of this change, but I have an oversized affection for the base S25. Its bigger, but it reminds me of the Apple iPhone mini (RIP).
As youd expect from Samsung, the AMOLED displays on these new phones are vivid, bright and gorgeous, with refresh rates up to 120Hz. The smaller 6.2-inch S25 has an FHD+ resolution, which is fine for a screen this size. Fortunately, the bigger S25+ has a higher-res qHD+ 6.7-inch display.
So whats the biggest upgrade this year? Its a bit dry, but its the chip. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is the biggest hardware upgrade since last year. Samsung claims the S25s CPU is 37 percent faster than its predecessor, with 40 percent improvements on the NPU, and a 30 percent more powerful GPU. Those are substantial jumps.
Mat Smith for Engadget
Given the hardware has barely changed, AI improvements and upgrades are the core focus for the Galaxy S25 series. Some features were unavailable during my briefing or will require a closer look and deeper testing. Some are intriguing, though, like a new spatial-temporal filter on the camera app. Its a Samsung exclusive since it relies on the custom Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and adds more power to noise analysis, as well as the ability to apparently maintain crispness of photo and video subjects while taming blurring backgrounds and low-light noise.
Samsung says its new AI image processing with ProScaler offers 40 percent improvements to its AI images only on the S25+ and S25 Ultra. If youre looking for video upgrades, the S25 series all records 10-bit color profile video by default, while Audio Eraser offers some AI-augmented noise removal, although the benefits were difficult to discern during my brief time with the devices.
A new large language model is also part of the S25s camera processing, which the company says will improve Portrait mode results and generative AI editing like object removal. Sadly, there is no sign of the Pixels Add Me arguably the best application of AI and photography on a phone. However, Samsung has also used its AI improvements (and the more powerful chip) to substantially improve the generative AI selfies inside the S25s Portrait Studio. Just look at what it did with my face at our briefing. This is a pretty decent line drawing and yes I was wearing a neckerchief.
Mat Smith for Engadget
Like weve mentioned elsewhere, Samsung has refined its existing AI features. A new AI select button will appear when you tap on the side panel, suggesting what you might want to do, based on the context of what the S25 can see on screen; Circle to Search can now figure out what to search based on sound too, using Googles existing Shazam-like hum-to-search feature. Cross-app smarts that integrate Googles Gemini mean the voice assistant can dip in and out of multiple apps to add appointments, figure out routes and set reminders. From my brief testing, this appears to involve only core Samsung and Google apps, which could constrain exactly how useful this is. Im at least intrigued and want to test this out in real life.
Another feature that demands real-world testing is Samsungs new Now Bar and Now Brief, which is meant to collate your smartphone life and schedules into, hopefully, a single place. Itll offer up a morning and evening briefing, even pulling in sleep and wearable data for some wellness and health insights.
One feature Samsung mentioned but did not hugely elaborate on was the S25s Personal Data Engine, which will analyze user context, patterns and preferences to deliver a personalized way of using your new Samsung device. Id imagine that taps into "Now Brief," which seems similar to iOSs daily summaries, offering up a curated selection of your schedule, weather updates, travel plans and even fitness and health insights from all those Galaxy wearables. Whether this offers some truly personalized experiences within One UI 7 will only be clear once were using these phones, but its hard to imagine itll be all that game-changing. Lets see if the S25 can change my mind, Samsung.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-and-s25-hands-on-180017460.html?src=rss
As expected, Samsung used its first Unpacked shindig of the year to officially unveil the Galaxy S25 series. Although the Galaxy S25 and S25+ bring welcome hardware upgrades like more RAM (12GB) and a Samsung-centric flavor of Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, most updates revolve around new Galaxy AI features many of which are on-device and context-aware. Fortunately, you wont have to pay more: The phones cost the same as their S24 predecessors.
Its no surprise that Samsung put most of its eggs in the AI basket with this years flagships. The phones run One UI 7 on top of Android 15 a combination the company describes as a new AI-integrated OS. Samsung is trying to nudge its collection of features in the direction of a more personalized AI that understands the context of your needs and preferences, acting accordingly.
Like the Galaxy S24 series, the new phones Galaxy AI features will be free through 2025. That sounds like a pretty big catch: Unless Samsung decides to extend the free period, youll have to pay for at least some of the phones marketed AI features starting next year.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The long list of AI features includes what the company describes as a breakthrough in natural language understanding. For example, Samsung says you can ask the phone to find a specific photo in your gallery or adjust your displays font size saving you the time-consuming legwork of sifting through old pictures or drilling through settings.
One UI 7 includes the Now Bar, which hangs out at the bottom of the lock screen (and below the digital clock when unlocked), behaving similarly to the iPhones Dynamic Island. The Now Bars standout AI feature is the context-sensitive Now Brief, which proactively makes suggestions about your day (like forecasts, playlists or flight times for upcoming trips). Fortunately, this all stays on-device in Samsungs Knox Vault, a chipset-level security feature (introduced with the Galaxy S21) that separates sensitive data from the OS.
Pressing and holding the side button activates Googles Gemini now the default assistant instead of Bixby. It can handle multi-step queries and can work across apps. For example, you can ask it to find your favorite teams schedule and add their games to the Samsung Calendar app with a single command.
Theres also a new AI-powered call transcript and summarizing feature (something Apple recently launched in iOS 18) and an upgraded version of Googles Circle to Search. Meanwhile, AI Select is an outgrowth of Samsungs legacy Smart Select. The AI version is a multimodal series of tools that can recommend context-sensitive actions like creating a GIF from a YouTube video youre watching. The idea is to merge multiple steps (from multiple apps) into one quick action.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The phones display specs are unchanged from the S24 lineup: The Galaxy S25 has a 6.2-inch FHD+ screen, and the S25+ uses a 6.7-inch QHD+ panel. (Both are still Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with a 120Hz max refresh rate.)
Samsung says a new real-time AI upscaling feature called ProScaler can boost the screens image quality by 40 percent on the fly. But theres some fine print: The feature is only available on the Galaxy S25+ and S25 Ultra (not the standard model), and it only works when the screens resolution is set to the more power-efficient QHD+, not the phones native WQHD+. But if the feature works as advertised, it could offer a nice balance of image quality and battery life.
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ are better equipped to handle all that AI with 12GB of RAM, up from the 8GB in last years models. Storage options stand pat: 128GB or 256GB in the standard model and 256GB or 512GB in the Plus variant.
The 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy powers all Galaxy S25 and S25+ versions. The company says it worked with Qualcomm for its custom flavor of the processor. Compared to the S24 Ultra, the chip boosts performance by 40 percent in the NPU (for all those on-device AI tasks), 37 percent in the CPU and 30 percent in the GPU.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The phons camera specs are the same as last years models: a 50MP wide sensor, a 12MP ultrawide one and a 10MP zoom lens. But 10-bit HDR, which can better capture details in high-contrast scenes, is enabled by default on the new phones. Samsung says the Qualcomm chip makes the phones better at reducing noise in dimly lit videos.
Meanwhile, Audio Eraser sounds similar to Googles Audio Magic Eraser in the Pixel 8. The AI feature can isolate sounds in videos (like voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and general background noise) to make it easier to remove or reduce the volume of those you dont want.
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ are available now for pre-order ahead of their February 7 ship date. The standard S25 starts at $800 for 128GB of storage, and the S25+ begins at $1,000 for 256GB. Colors include Navy, Icyblue, Mint, and Silver Shadow. If you order from Samsungs website, you get a few extra options: Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-galaxy-s25-and-s25-have-more-ram-and-context-sensitive-ai-180013432.html?src=rss
Last year, none of Samsung's phones offered support for Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. However, there was hope that would change after Samsung said it would launch compatible devices in 2025. Unfortunately, it seems the world's largest phone maker still isn't fully committed as the new Galaxy S25 line is said to be "Qi2 ready" instead of fully Qi2 compliant. So what does that actually mean?
Similar to previous models, the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra can charge wirelessly at up to 15 watts. That falls neatly within the Wireless Power Consortium's (the governing body in charge of the protocol) specifications for Qi2. But what the Galaxy S25 lacks in order to offer true compatibility are magnets inside the phone itself designed to help attach and align related peripherals. This is why Samsung says the S25 is merely "Qi2 ready" instead of 100 percent compliant.
That means if you want to use Qi2 accessories with the S25, you'll need to pair the phone with a supported case that provides a built-in magnetic mounting system (like the one pictured above), with Samsung saying there will be a range of first and third-party options available at launch.
For people who always put their phone in a case, this might not be a big deal. You'll just want to make sure you buy one with magnets inside designed to work with other Qi2 peripherals. However, for people who prefer their phones to be caseless or simply want something a bit less bulky, there may fewer alternatives. Some manufacturers have created skins that come with included magnets to help out older phones that also lack full Qi2 support, so it's likely we'll see some variation of that for the S25.
Sadly, despite claiming that the company would release devices with Qi2 support in 2025, Samsung hasn't fully delivered on that promise with the new S25 family, which makes things a bit more complicated than they ought to be.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-samsung-galaxy-s25-doesnt-fully-support-qi2-on-its-own-180011574.html?src=rss
Today may seem like its all about the Galaxy S25, but if you use an older Android phone, theres something new for you too. Starting today, Google is rolling out an enhanced version of Circle to Search to all Android devices.
As a reminder, Circle to Search is an AI-powered feature Google released at the start of last year. You can access it by long-pressing your phones home button and then circling something with your finger. At its most basic, the feature is a way to use Google Search from anywhere on your phone, with no need to switch between apps. Its particularly useful if you want to conduct an image search since you dont need to take a screenshot or describe what youre looking at to Google.
As for those enhancements I mentioned, Google is adding one-tap actions for phone numbers, email addresses and URLs, meaning if Circle to Search detects those, it will allow you to call, email or visit a website with a single tap. Again, theres no need to switch between apps to interact with those elements.
In less exciting news, Google is bringing AI Overviews to Circle to Search. As long as your device is set to English, the companys AI-generated Search summaries will appear when relevant. Google said it was preparing to greatly expand the availability of AI Overviews when it debuted Gemini 2.0 at the end of last year, so the fact theyre now integrated with Circle to Search should not come as a surprise. As with any Google release, it may take a few days before you see todays update arrive on your device.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/circle-to-search-now-offers-one-tap-actions-for-phone-numbers-emails-and-urls-180005330.html?src=rss
Korg is a name that typically brings to mind synths, keyboards and production tools, but ahead of NAMM 2025, the company announced new turntables. These aren't just your typical shelf-bound, plugged-into-speakers vinyl spinners though. Under the Handytraxx brand, Korg will soon offer portable turntables for listening, archiving and DJing, and some are equipped with the company's Nutube vacuum tubes.
The series of turntables gets its name from the original Handy Trax from Vestax. Korg says former Vestax president and co-developer of that OG model, Toshihide Nakama, was working with the company on "an all-new kind of record player." Nakama passed away in 2023 during the development of the Handytraxx Play, but Korg continued to merge its digital processing and audio tech with "the spirit" of the Handy Trax.
The Handytraxx Play ($400) is the DJ-focused member of the group and appears to be ready for the masses after a cameo at NAMM last year. Designed for scratching, the turntable is equipped with a Nakama-designed fader as well as three types of filters, delay, playback control and a built-in audio looper. The tonearm was made to minimize needle skipping and the belt-driven motor has digital rotation correction to keep things in check. The Play supports both ceramic and MM cartridges (some soldering required to swap them) and Korg allows you to flip the control panel for right- or left-handed configurations.
Korg Handytraxx Play
Korg
If your vinyl habit is more listening than scratching, the Handytraxx Tube ($800) "bridges the gap between modern convenience and analogue fascination," according to Korg. This model gets its name from the tiny Nutube vacuum tube that lends its power to the phono amplifier and its warmth to the overall sound. A die-cast aluminum platter, balanced tone arm and MM cartridge serve as the main components. Bass and treble controls are right on the deck and there's a dedicated knob for fine-tuning the Nutube's output. And if you want to convert your records to digital files, the Tube connects to a computer via USB for that purpose.
There's also a special edition of the Handytraxx Tube that Korg calls the Handytraxx Tube J ($1,200). This model looks very similar to the Tube, but it's equipped with a JICO Clipper MM Cartridge. "The cartridges unique design balances the center of gravity between the left and right channels, while its Tapered-S Cantilever ensures accurate vibration reproduction, creating a truly immersive Hi-Fi soundstage," Korg explains. In other words, this is an option for audiophiles in of the group.
Lastly, the Handytraxx 1bit ($1,00) is what Korg calls the flagship model in the new series. The company explains that this unit blends high-quality playback with 5.6 MHz/1-bit recording for archivists. The 1bit works with Korg's AudioGate 4 high-res audio conversion software after you connect the turntable to your computer via USB. That complete setup supports both recording and playback in 5.6 MHz and 2.8 MHz DSD in addition to PCM formats up to 192 kHz/24-bit. The Handytraxx 1bit has a JICO J44A 7 MM cartridge and, like the Handytraxx Tube, there's a built-in Nutube. As is the case on that more affordable model, there are bass, treble and tube controls right up top on the 1bit version.
Korg Handytraxx 1bit
Korg
Like I mentioned, the entire Handytraxx series is portable thanks to built-in 2.5-watt speakers. You can power them with included AC adapters or employ six AA batteries for a true on-the-go kit. There are appropriate inputs and outputs on each model if you want a stationary setup, including an on/off switch for the speakers.
The Handytraxx Play, Tube and 1bit are scheduled to arrive in May with the Tube J following in June. All four are currently available for preorder from B&H Photo.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/korg-joins-the-turntable-craze-with-portable-options-for-archiving-djing-and-more-172443992.html?src=rss
Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy, has been cooking up a whole new fantasy universe, and the first book set in it is out now. Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown, is an anthology that reads like a collection of myths and folklore. The stories are macabre with a touch of whimsy (as in, occasional animal narrators), ranging from a boys bizarre adventure after he becomes the unexpected wielder of a powerful dead hand, to the creation of the world and gods in the eponymous Lands Unknown.
Mignola said when the project was announced last year that it all started with an Italian folktale about a boy who goes bowling with corpses, which he wanted to adapt, but also to play fast and loose in doing so. So I created a whole new world, he said. Bowling with Corpses hits comic stores today, and you can read a snippet from Una and the Devil (one of my favorite stories in the book) below.
Unsurprisingly, Mignolas style lends itself well to the concept of creepy folk tales, and there are some really stunning visuals that bring it all to life: a woman rising from a blood-filled casket; a man following a floating dagger through a forest bathed in red; a newly transformed creature of the night spreading her wings for the first time. The book contains eight stories across its 112 pages (and a promise for more to come!), so theres plenty of good stuff to sink your teeth into.
Mignola collaborated once again with Ben Stenbeck (Our Bones Dust) to create the Lands Unknown universe, and the book is the first to be published under Mignolas new imprint, Curious Objects, from Dark Horse Comics. Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown was written and illustrated by Mignola, colored by Dave Stewart and lettered by Clem Robins.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/heres-a-look-at-mike-mignolas-new-book-set-in-a-macabre-folklore-inspired-universe-170009280.html?src=rss
The clickety-clacking sounds of mechanical keyboards are satisfying for a lot of people, even if the prices of many such devices may not be. So its nice to see some discounts of up to 63 percent on select Keychron models at Woot. For example, the Q2 Wired keyboard has dropped by 63 percent from $200 to $75.
But why stop there? New Woot customers can get an extra ten bucks off through the end of this month by using the code KEYCHRONTEN at checkout.
If you prefer a split keyboard format, you can scoop up the Q8 Alice layout model for $95, which is $125 (or 57 percent) off the usual price. Again, the $10 offer applies for Woot newbies.
Keychron makes some of our favorite mechanical keyboards. In fact, the brand accounts for three of the five spots on our list of the best mechanical keyboards. None of the specific models we highlight in our guide are included in Woot's sale, unfortunately, but Keychron models are popular for good reason.
There is one major downside worth bearing in mind when it comes to Keychron mechanical keyboards. They only come with a 12-month manufacturer's warranty, which isn't ideal for products that have lots of moving parts. That said, the sale runs until 1AM ET on February 1, so you might have a little time to decide whether to pick one up while they're less pricey than usual. However, some models have already sold out.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/keychron-mechanical-keyboards-are-up-to-63-percent-off-right-now-164647272.html?src=rss
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (MCA), a watchdog agency which has repeatedly probed Amazon's business dealings, will now be run by former Amazon executive Doug Gurr. that makes sense, right? Gurr will serve as interim chair "in a bid to boost growth and support the economy. "The decision comes alongside reports that the UK government ousted former chair, Marcus Bokkerink, whose resignation was simultaneously announced.
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, explained the appointment in a statement. "This Government has a clear Plan for Change to boost growth for businesses and communities across the UK. As weve set out, we want to see regulators including the CMA supercharging the economy with pro-business decisions that will drive prosperity and growth, putting more money in peoples pockets."
The CMA is responsible for investigating any potential breaches of antitrust regulations, vetting mergers and protecting consumers from any unfair trading practices. It has taken action against Amazon multiple times, including the period Gurr worked there. Recently, the CMA has probed Amazon for not protecting customers from fake reviews and whether Amazon gives its own brands preference over third-party products in its marketplace the latter resolved with agreed upon changes from the tech giant. Last year, the CMA looked at Amazon's $4 billion investment into Anthropic, ruling it didn't qualify as a merger. The CMA is currently investigating Google for antitrust practices in regards to its search services.
Gurr joined Amazon in 2011, serving as the President of Amazon China from 2014 to 2016 and finally as Country Manager of Amazon UK until he left the company in 2020. Most recently, he served as director of the Natural History Museum in London. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/former-amazon-executive-to-run-uks-antitrust-agency-163433153.html?src=rss
