Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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What to anticipate on Wednesday


New Samsung Galaxy telephones are nearly right here. The corporate’s Galaxy Unpacked occasion will happen on January 22 at 1PM ET in San Jose, CA, the place Samsung’s “Subsequent Large Factor” (to borrow a 14-year-old advertising and marketing slogan) will probably be revealed. What will probably be revealed? Nicely, other than a couple of certain bets and a few doubtless leaks, solely these sworn to a blood oath below an NDA know for sure. However listed here are the probably merchandise and options we’ll see. Spoilers: There will probably be telephones.

Photo of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra phone sitting in the snow.Photo of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra phone sitting in the snow.

Galaxy S24 Extremely (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Very like Apple reveals its newest iPhones at its first fall occasion, Samsung sometimes launches its mainline Galaxy S flagships at its first Unpacked shindig of the yr. You possibly can wager the farm that there will be Galaxy S25 telephones at this occasion. And given Samsung’s current pattern of launching three tiers of flagships — normal, Plus and Extremely — you may wager we’ll see that once more. (Samsung may technically change the model names, however the three-layered lineup is virtually assured.) There’s even an FCC certification (first noticed by 91Mobiles) to dispel any doubts.

The diploma of certainty falls sharply as soon as we dig into the telephones’ options. A refined redesign with rounded corners, flatter edges and thinner bezels seems doubtless primarily based on a leaked video posted to Reddit and pictures from respected tipster Ice Universe. However this isn’t anticipated to be the era the place Samsung’s hiring of a former Mercedes-Benz designer will result in drastic aesthetic modifications.

Android Headlines additionally posted loads of photos of the purported Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Extremely that verify the comparatively minor redesign. The positioning additionally claims the display screen dimension for the Galaxy S25 and S25+ are unchanged from final yr at 6.2 and 6.7 inches, respectively. The Extremely will get an ever-so-slightly larger show at 6.9 inches.

Promo image breaking down the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite’s features.Promo image breaking down the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite’s features.

Qualcomm

Not less than within the US, the telephone is virtually assured to make use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which the chip-maker revealed in October. (Qualcomm even listed Samsung among the many firms launching gadgets with that processor “within the coming weeks.”) Like nearly each flagship processor nowadays, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is constructed for on-device generative AI, which aligns with Samsung’s Galaxy AI blitz in current fashions.

We don’t know whether or not the corporate will cut up its S25 processors between Snapdragon (US and different markets) and Exynos (in every single place else), however Ice Universe has claimed it is going to be all Snapdragon this era. That will be a superb factor, given what’s usually a obtrusive efficiency and battery life disparity favoring Qualcomm. There could be priority, too: though the overwhelming majority of Galaxy S generations have had completely different processors regionally, the S23 had the identical “Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy” chip globally.

Samsung is rumored to stay with last-generation OLED shows (made with M13 natural supplies) as an alternative of the brighter and extra environment friendly M14 OLED panels used within the iPhone 16 Professional and Google Pixel 9. Logic suggests Samsung would need its finest selfmade display screen in its finest telephones — particularly when its rivals are already utilizing it. But it surely may keep on with the cheaper panels to maintain the invoice of supplies down. Maybe it calculated that higher shows don’t make for higher generative AI (the obsession of practically each tech firm proper now), whereas the most recent Qualcomm chip does.

Talking of AI, anticipate Samsung to dedicate a maybe agonizingly lengthy portion of the occasion to generative AI options. The hit-or-miss DigiTimes reported final month that the Galaxy S25 collection will embody “an AI Agent that gives customized clothes solutions and transport info.” What that might seem like in follow is anybody’s guess, however I’m undecided I need to know.

Samsung Executive Vice President Sally Hyesoon Jeong onstage in front of the text Samsung Executive Vice President Sally Hyesoon Jeong onstage in front of the text

Samsung

The telephones will run Samsung’s One UI 7 on prime of Android 15. We all know this as a result of Samsung stated in October that its person expertise (primarily based on Android 15) will launch on the subsequent Galaxy S flagships. It’s already accessible in beta for Galaxy S24 telephones. Samsung has stated that One UI 7 will probably be its “first built-in AI platform.” It added that Galaxy telephones “will turn into true AI companions” which might be in a position to perceive pure language derived from speech, pictures and textual content. And to drive issues house, Samsung reaffirmed that the “One UI 7 will probably be formally launched with the upcoming Galaxy S collection gadgets.”

On the digital camera entrance, Ice Universe claims (through Android Headlines) it’s “confirmed” that solely the ultra-wide sensor will see an improve within the Galaxy S25 Extremely — to 50MP from 12MP in final yr’s mannequin. The leaker says the S25 Extremely will keep on with a 200MP essential sensor, 10MP 3x zoom and 50MP 5x zoom.

Photo of the back of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Closeup of the camera lenses.Photo of the back of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Closeup of the camera lenses.

Galaxy S24 Extremely (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Samsung will add the Qi2 wi-fi charging normal to its new flagships — and that comes straight from the horse’s (aka, the Wi-fi Energy Consortium’s) mouth. Nevertheless, leaker chunvn8888 (aka “yawn”) says Samsung’s telephones received’t have built-in magnets for Qi2’s native MagSafe in every part however identify charging. On condition that’s the primary good thing about Qi2, this could be disappointing information. As a substitute, the leaker says Samsung will promote a first-party case with a Qi2 magnetic ring to allow that. (Gotta transfer these equipment, child!) Is it actually Qi2 for those who want a case?

Rumors have buzzed about an alleged Galaxy S25 Slim with a — you guessed it — slimmer design becoming a member of the trio sooner or later this yr. That’s one thing Apple is additionally rumored to be engaged on. Leakers have posted quite a few renders this previous week evaluating how the completely different dimension choices could examine to one another. A submit from Ice Universe places the S25 Slim at 6.4mm. Nevertheless, given the FCC certifications solely seem to cowl the acquainted trio of flagships, that telephone (if it’s within the pipeline in any respect) could not arrive till later within the yr.

A hand wearing the Samsung Galaxy Ring.A hand wearing the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Galaxy Ring (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

DigiTimes reported in December that Samsung would exhibit (or perhaps simply tease) the Galaxy Ring 2 and augmented actuality (AR) glasses throughout its January Unpacked occasion.

The Taiwanese publication says the Galaxy Ring 2 will add two extra sizes to the 9 from the unique mannequin, which solely launched in July. The second-gen wearable well being tracker is claimed so as to add new AI options (shock!) and up to date sensors for extra correct measurements. The Galaxy Ring 2 can be rumored to last more than the present mannequin’s most of seven days.

A tech bro wearing a prototype of Android XR glasses in a modern posh office.A tech bro wearing a prototype of Android XR glasses in a modern posh office.

Google

DigiTimes additionally claims Samsung’s AR glasses — which the corporate has confirmed it’s engaged on — will seem like common prescription glasses and weigh round 50g. It says the futuristic glasses would use Google’s Gemini AI, which aligns with what we already find out about Samsung’s partnership with Google and Qualcomm on Android XR. However given the shortage of provide chain rumors surrounding the glasses, it’s doubtless that any point out on the occasion would quantity to little greater than a teaser, a la its grand reveal of… a stinkin’ render for the primary Galaxy Ring at Unpacked 2024.

We additionally know Samsung is co-developing an Android XR (prolonged actuality) headset — codenamed Challenge Moohan — alongside Google and Qualcomm. The “light-weight” and “ergonomically designed” headset can have a “state-of-the-art show,” passthrough video and pure multi-modal enter. Google’s renderings present a wearable harking back to Apple’s $3,500 Imaginative and prescient Professional.

Render of an Android XR headset.Render of an Android XR headset.

Challenge Moohan (Google / Samsung)

Since Google solely just lately started providing a developer equipment and API for the platform, any glimpse of it at Unpacked wouldn’t doubtless embody an imminent launch or deep dive into its {hardware}.

Engadget can have full protection of Samsung’s first Unpacked occasion of 2025. Extra to come back on January 22!

Replace, January 13 2025, 12:58PM ET: This story has been up to date with purported pictures and extra particulars on the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Extremely from Android Headlines.

Replace, January 14 2025, 3:20PM ET: This story has been up to date with some extra details about One UI 7.

Replace, January 17 2025, 12:45PM ET: This story has been up to date with extra particulars on the Galaxy S25’s processor and the historical past of processors within the Galaxy S collection.

Replace, January 19, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This story has been up to date with extra details about the rumored Galaxy S25 Slim.

Replace, January 20, 2025, 3:35PM ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate Samsung’s current affirmation that the One UI 7 interface will probably be current on new Galaxy gadgets.

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