The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025 offer a versatile experience: They can flip between a traditional laptop layout, a tablet, and anything in between using a 360-degree hinge. For those who constantly change their environments, this form factor is perfect.

After over five years of reviewing laptops, I've tested my fair share of 2-in-1 laptops, so I know what boxes a laptop needs to tick to earn a spot as one of the best. Plus, I have a personal love for convertible laptops. My first work laptop was the convertible Lenovo Flex 5, and the Lenovo Yoga 9i has been my daily driver for the last three years.

If you've decided a 2-in-1 laptop is the best option for you, you're likely looking for a laptop that can move with you throughout the day. Use it in traditional laptop mode to get your work done, flip it into tablet mode for drawing or graphic design tasks, and tent mode is perfect to end the night watching your favorite TV show or movie.

Every convertible laptop I've picked for this list is well-constructed, with sturdy hinges that'll stand up to daily rotation. Beyond great build quality, the best 2-in-1 laptops feature a battery that'll last all day, solid multi-tasking performance, and a gorgeous display. These 2-in-1 laptops are among the best laptops, period.

No matter what you're searching for in a 2-in-1 laptop, we have an option that'll fit the bill.

Update log

5/22/2025: Swapped the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition in for the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i as the best graphic design option and updated benchmark comparisons.

The Quick List

The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025

Through extensive hands-on testing and a series of thorough benchmarks, we decided that the products below are indeed the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2025.

Best 2-in-1 overall

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is a “compelling combination” of specs and features, according to Laptop Mag’s Madeline Ricchiuto, making it our favorite 2-in-1 laptop to recommend for most people.

Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor leading the pack, accompanied by 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics. For supporting multiple RAM-hungry browser tabs and even Photoshop and low-intensity games, this configuration is more than equipped.

For concrete proof of this convertible laptop’s performance abilities, let’s take a look at a few benchmarks. In our testing, the Vivobook 16 Flip delivered a great Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 10,987, completed the Handbrake conversion test in 7 minutes and 41 seconds, and maxed out at 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit, well below our comfort threshold of 95 degrees.

Despite impressive performance, this laptop promises healthy battery life. In our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits brightness, the Vivobook 16 Flip lasted a whopping 13 hours and 47 minutes, winning out easily over our previous overall pick: the HP Spectre x360 16 (11.07). That’s more than enough for a full work day, followed by a few hours of streaming or internet shopping.

And of course, for a 2-in-1 laptop, a stunning display is paramount — and this laptop doesn’t disappoint. The Vivobook 16 Flip sports a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re drawing, watching a TV show, or organizing your calendar, this laptop’s display will deliver vibrant colors and rich contrast.

As a bonus, you can even get some solid gaming performance out of this laptop. In our review, it handled Baldur’s Gate III at Medium, 1080p settings incredibly well, with stable frame rates and lush visuals. It’s not going to earn a spot as one of the best gaming laptops any time soon, but it’s an impressive feat for a convertible laptop.

See our full Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) review.

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Best budget

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a 2-in-1 Chromebook that'll save you a little more than a shiny penny and still provide a solid overall experience. It's packed with an Intel Core i3-1315U processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of eMMC storage, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 touchscreen display.

Mark Anthony Ramirez said, "The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i takes full advantage of Google's AI-infused Chrome OS and delivers potent performance that will impress you," in our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus.

For its performance, we tested it against the Geekbench 6 overall performance test where the IdeaPad Flex 5i scored 5,384, sliding past the 5,259 Chromebook average at the time. That's decent enough to get you through most less-taxing tasks. And thanks to the Chromebook's relatively light operating system, it won't suffer the same slowdowns as a Windows laptop.

The IdeaPad Flex 5i is also quite portable, measuring 12.4 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches and weighing 3.57 pounds. It lands somewhere between the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (3.02 pounds) and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (3.7 pounds). It also looks nice, featuring an aluminum storm grey colored lid — that's not common for a cheap laptop.

Adding to that portability is its battery life. It lasted 9 hours and 43 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. It's a bit shorter than the Chromebook average at the time (9:50). However, you'll get more than a workday or school day's worth of life out of this laptop. Close to 10 hours is still solid, especially for a laptop this affothat is rdable.

Unfortunately, you'll need to sacrifice the display. The Flex 5i's 14-inch, 1080p display covered a dismal 46.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and produced only 306 nits of brightness. This isn't too far from what we expect from a laptop at this price point. Still, both scores landed well below the Chromebook average at the time.

Despite that, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop if you are on a budget.

See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review.

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Best for graphic design

With its gorgeous OLED display, good performance, and a plethora of other premium features, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is one of the best laptops for graphic design you’ll find with a nifty convertible form factor. Though it's not a cheap 2-in-1 rig at $1,749 full price, you get a lot of value in exchange.

In our review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, Rami Tabari notes, “Between its battery life and punchy keyboard, and its OLED display and strong speakers, this thing is sure to be one of the best laptops I review this year.”

This laptop’s best-selling feature is, without question, its 14-inch, 2880 x 1800-pixel OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. We were “drooling over the colors” in testing, which makes total sense, seeing as the laptop covered an impressive 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Then, the display also clocked 421 nits brightness, plenty for working indoors or in direct sunlight.

On top of its enticing display, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also packs one of Lenovo’s famously clicky, satisfying keyboards, a well-balanced soundbar that lives between the laptop’s hinges and produces stellar audio, and an all-aluminum chassis that’s cool to the touch and rounds out the premium experience.

The only feature that falters slightly is performance, notching a Geekbench 6 score of just 11,059. For everyday tasks, this is perfectly fine. However, if you plan on tackling more intense projects, like video editing, it may struggle to keep up with you. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also lacks an HDMI port and more than one USB-A port, but this is easily remedied by adding one of the best USB-C hubs to your setup.

In exchange for average performance, this laptop is able to achieve a full workday of battery life and then some. In the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits brightness, this laptop held on for 12 hours and 47 minutes. It’s not going to beat the laptops with the best battery life, but it’s impressive nonetheless, considering the laptop’s power-hungry OLED display and its thin-and-light chassis.

See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition review.

Best foldable

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold model we reviewed is built with an Intel Core i7-1260U, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 16.3-inch OLED display at 2560 x 2024-pixel resolution. Of course, the main selling point of this device is that it's foldable. If you're unsure what that means, it essentially has the ability to act as a laptop with a keyboard magnetically attached to the deck, and if you remove the keyboard, you can extend it out into a single, full-sized tablet.

Madeline Ricchiuto said, "As a business machine, the ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 is perhaps positioned better than its competitors because its flexibility matches the current hybrid work environment better than a standard laptop might," in our review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

This means most people aren't going to need this laptop, but for those that do, our reviewer claimed that it's arguably the best foldable laptop available right now. It's shockingly thin and light, coming in at just 2.9 pounds in tablet mode and 4.3-pounds with the keyboard and stand attached.

Its design allows for a compelling all-in-one use case. You can turn the laptop into a makeshift monitor and then detach the keyboard to emulate a quick desktop setup in no time at all. Considering it's only 4.3 pounds, it can easily fit most bags and is perfect for on-the-go workers who prefer larger space for their projects.

It's important to keep in mind, however, that its Intel Core i7-1260U is a couple of generations old now, so don't expect the latest and greatest processing speeds. On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, its multi-core score of 7,953 is decent but notably slower than other laptops on this list, like the Yoga 9i's 9,954.

Its battery life also leaves a bit to be desired, coming in at 8 hours and 44 minutes in laptop mode and 7 hours and 22 minutes in tablet mode. Regardless, it has more than enough success in its execution to make for a great foldable.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 review.

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Best for travel

What makes a laptop great for travel is its physical portability. The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) is the lightest 2-in-1 16-inch laptop ever. The Gram Pro 16 comes in at 14.1 x 10 x 0.51 inches and 3.08 pounds, which is tiny compared with the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) (4.3 pounds, 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches) and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 (4.7 pounds, 14.3 x 10 x 0.7 inches).

Sean Riley said, "It can rattle around in your laptop bag on a trip or commute and come out unscathed," in our review of the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1.

Adding to its portability is its battery life. The Gram Pro lasted 10 hours and 41 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. That puts it in a tightly competitive spot with the HP Spectre (10:45), and it crushes the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (9:51). So not only is the Gram slim and light, but it'll also survive longer than your average workday.

The Gram Pro is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. On the Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test, the LG Gram Pro soared over the category average, which was a couple of thousand points lower at the time. It also hovered around the HP Spectre (12,370) and Yoga Pro 9i (12,141).

Its 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 Touch OLED display is absolutely stunning to behold, managing an 133.5% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut and a brightness of 392 nits. Its combination of brightness, color, and high resolution should be fantastic for artists who need to go in-depth with accuracy.

The keyboard is pleasantly bouncy despite its low key travel. The touchpad is also quite responsive. Unfortunately, the touchpad is quite mushy, so if you choose the Gram Pro 16, you might want to check out the best wireless mouse page.

Ports are also very important on a laptop for travel. The last thing you want is to be carrying a dongle or worse yet, forgetting to pack it, so make sure these ports suit your needs. The LG Gram Pro comes with two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB Type-A ports, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, if you need an SD or microSD card slot, you'll need a USB Type-C hub.

See our LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) review.

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Best business

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM is among the first batch of laptops that have earned our prestigious Editor's Choice badge in 2025, and it has shot its way up to the top as one of the best business laptops we've tested.

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and a 60Hz, 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution IPS touchscreen. Even while its display may seem underpowered on paper, it boasts solid color depth and decent brightness.

The MSI Summit scored 10,895 on the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, which is pretty solid, but you can definitely find better performance in competitors like the Asus Zenbook S 16 (13,282) or HP EliteBook Ultra G1q (12,717)

Its display performed solidly in our color tests, reproducing 85% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is about better than what we'd expect out of a business laptop. The MSI Summit was similarly decent in our brightness tests, as it managed an average of 366 nits, which is fine enough for most. We do think it might be a bit too dim for usage while outdoors, especially if it's a sunny day, but it will be more than enough for a majority of indoor settings.

Unfortunately, we were pretty let down by its speaker system, as it's underwhelming in both volume and quality, delivering audio that delivers an uneven sound.

The best part of the MSI Summit is its staggering battery life, lasting 16 hours and 52 minutes in Laptop Mag's test which involves continuous web browsing over wifi at 150 nits of brightness. We typically recommend laptops with more than 10 hours of battery life, and this absolutely crushes that metric.

You won't regret your purchase of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo if you're a business user. With its incredible battery life, solid performance, sturdy hinges, and satisfying keyboard, this is a great laptop.

See our full MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review.

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Benchmark comparisons

Recently reviewed 2-in-1 laptops

Not every laptop we review can make it onto our best 2-in-1 laptop buying guide, but just because they came up short of the guide doesn't mean they aren't worth checking out. Here's a look at some of our recent reviews that may still be a fit for you despite not making our buying guide, either for a minor fault or simply because it isn't a convertible laptop.

How to find the best 2-in-1 laptops

Finding the perfect 2-in-1 for you differs from a traditional laptop. After all, these are meant to be portable and must fulfill their name appropriately.

Display: You need something bright and sharp

While 2-in-1s aren't exclusively reserved for artists and designers, it's often used by them to make a quick and easy transformation from a traditional laptop to a tablet for illustrating. As a result, you absolutely need a display that can accommodate your creative endeavors, and if it's too dim to be taken on-the-go or too lackluster to accurately present color, you will absolutely be disappointed.

OLED is a great start if you're in need of a quality 2-in-1, but IPS displays can also feature excellent color in some cases. 80% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut should be your minimum if you're an artist, but if you can get closer to 100% or even go beyond, the better off you'll be.

We also recommend higher resolutions to let you get into the nitty gritty when illustrating, as it will present crisper detail for artists and designers. 2K should be your floor, but the higher, the better.

Design: Sturdy portability is a necessity

2-in-1 laptops are inherently all about flexibility, as their hinges support up to 360-degree angles. You don't want hinges that creak and a lid that feels like it'll snap off every time you lift it. Sturdiness is a necessity, and we've found that the best 2-in-1 laptops can support themselves in any position and require conscious force to move about. An aluminum chassis is a great start, but you'll want to read our reviews and see which ones feel the best in practice.

And since 2-in-1 laptops are frequently moved around quite a bit, we recommend something light. Anything around 4 pounds and under is recommended, but some can be a little heavier, depending on the size.

Battery life: Long-lasting is vital for being on-the-go

Battery life is another key component of any good 2-in-1 laptop. If you plan to take the notebook to class, work, or spend a whole day illustrating in a park, don't count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop with at least 11-12 hours of battery life, which should be enough to get you through most of the day without worry. In any case, the longer, the better.

FAQs

What does "2-in-1 laptop" mean?

It can mean different things for different laptops, but the core design philosophy implies that the product can transform from a laptop into a tablet. They're also all touchscreen laptops (because it would defeat the purpose otherwise).

Now, that can take many forms. The most common one is a traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge. But there are also detachable laptops, which feature a removable keyboard. There are dual-display laptops, which feature a discrete Bluetooth keyboard. Then there are foldable laptops, which feature a display that can fold in two and also may feature a discrete keyboard.

Do all 2-in-1 laptops fold the same?

No, and this is actually super important to research. Some 2-in-1 laptops are well-crafted with sturdy hinges and magnetic folds that snap in place when put in tablet mode. However, I've also reviewed laptops with sloppy hinges and no magnetic backing. It's important to take a look at the Design sections in Laptop Mag's reviews.

Additionally, there are foldable and detachable laptops. The former features a screen that folds in half, and the latter features a traditional tablet design with a detachable keyboard. Again, read that Design section to ensure you're getting what you need.

Do 2-in-1 laptops break easily?

Ideally, 2-in-1 laptops should not break easily. 2-in-1 laptops often feature the strongest hinges in comparison to traditional laptops, as they're designed to support their own weight when configured in various positions.

Whether you're in tablet mode or tabletop mode, it should be able to hold its own weight. If we review 2-in-1 with weak hinges, it's unlikely that we'd recommend it to begin with, as sturdy hinges is a necessary baseline requirement for a solid 2-in-1 laptop.

Are 2-in-1 laptops good for drawing?

It depends. 2-in-1 laptops are used for business, or casual use, and then some with a very specific focus on catering to artists.

Some are designed for illustrating, but you want to ensure that's one of its intended use cases. You'll also want to make sure it's compatible with a pen.

Are 2-in-1 laptops good for gaming?

No, 2-in-1 laptops are not generally good for gaming. The crossover between gaming laptops and 2-in-1 laptops is pretty much non-existent, but 2-in-1 laptops with discrete GPUs do exist, like the Asus ROG Flow X16. However, these are pretty rare.

Integrated graphics have gotten significantly better over the years. If you're using a laptop with a modern Lunar or Arrow Lake processor or even one of AMD's latest AI chips, you'll likely get some decent performance for casual gaming, but don't expect too much. The gaming-focused Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) is one of the only examples of a gaming 2-in-1 laptop with integrated graphics that we recommend.

Is a convertible laptop the same as a 2-in-1 laptop?

Generally speaking, the terms "convertible" and "2-in-1" are used interchangeably to describe a device that can be used as a traditional laptop and folded into a tablet.

However, more specifically, a convertible laptop typically involves a built-in keyboard. According to IT company CDW, the term "hybrid laptop" describes a laptop with a keyboard that can be removed, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

That said, any laptop with a 360-degree hinge that can fully fold backwards is typically lumped into the same broad category, whether it's technically a convertible or hybrid laptop.

How we test the best 2-in-1 laptops

We put 2-in-1 laptops through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5.4 and 6.3 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with high settings at 1080p resolution. Gaming laptops go through an entire library of games at high settings to see how their discrete GPUs keep up.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop's materials to the feel of its touchpad. For 2-in-1 laptops in particular, it needs a strong hinge and practical design to support its own weight. It's important that every part of the design feels sturdy so that no matter what position a user bends the hinge, it won't collapse.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

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Hoping to hear more about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7? You’re in luck. We’re just a week away from Samsung’s official unveiling of its latest foldable, with Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone expected to steal the show during July’s expected Galaxy Unpacked event.

Although Samsung’s upcoming smartphone promises to be the thinnest Galaxy Fold ever, the rumors surrounding it are anything but.

If you’d prefer not to wait, there have been more than enough leaks about the Z Fold 7 to form an early impression of what to expect from next month’s reveal.

So, let’s dive into what we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, early.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Release date and price rumors

Samsung hasn’t officially announced the Galaxy Z Fold 7 yet, but that doesn’t stop us from piecing together when it will, based on its usual routine for unveiling and releasing smartphones.

Samsung typically holds two Galaxy Unpacked events each year. The first of which takes place right at the start of the year, and will usually focus on its Galaxy S series smartphones. This year, it was the turn of the Samsung Galaxy S25.

The second of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked events takes place halfway through the year, and it’s here that we tend to see the company’s latest Galaxy Z Fold and Flip foldable phones.

Exactly when Samsung hosts these events can vary, but the second Galaxy Unpacked events of the last two years have both fallen within July. A Korean outlet, The JoongAng, claims the same will happen this year as well.

Samsung's summer Unpacked event is scheduled for July 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z series phones will typically go on sale within a few weeks of their announcement, meaning this year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be available for purchase as early as Wednesday, July 25.

While the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 both received a $100 price bump last year, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are said to remain at that price, with no further increases expected.

This means that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will likely be available to buy starting at a still-mighty $1,899.

While there are rumors of a price hike for the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, it seems more likely that Samsung will unveil a higher-end foldable, such as a Z Flip Ultra or Z Fold Ultra. However, we'll have to wait until Unpacked to know for sure.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Rumored specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Design and display rumors

From what we’ve heard so far, this year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 will reportedly take inspiration from last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 special edition, a limited edition of the foldable sold only in Korea and China that was larger, faster, thinner, lighter, and offered better cooling, speakers, and an improved primary camera.

These changes, along with the phone's super-narrow bezels, could translate to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 receiving a bigger ~8.2-inch foldable display (previously 7.6 inches), a 6.5-inch cover screen (previously 6.3 inches), and adopting a form factor that’s only 8.9mm thick (4.5mm when open) — though some reports suggest the phone could be as little as 3.9mm in thickness while open, making it the thinnest Galaxy Fold to date.

It’s suggested that the rest of the Z Fold 7’s build will largely remain the same, meaning it will presumably offer the same layout as the Z Fold 6 while touting a similar Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, rated at 2,600 nits of peak brightness.

Beyond raw specifications, Samsung’s display is also claimed to have a significantly less noticeable crease than other Galaxy Fold models, with Android Central reporting that the company showcased a creaseless panel at MWC 2025.

As for color choices, it appears the Z Fold 7 will be available in a few different shades. Android Central reported additional color leaks, including the sleek Blue Shadow, Jet Black, and Silver Shadow. But Samsung could save the more unique colors for its own storefront exclusive.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Camera rumors

Among the list of Galaxy Z Fold 6 special edition features that the Z Fold 7 is expected to inherit, a staggering 200MP upgrade to the typically 50MP main camera stands out the most.

It’s believed that the new Galaxy Fold will also feature the same 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical), 10MP front-facing selfie camera with a 100-degree wide-angle lens, and 4MP under-display selfie camera of last year’s model.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Performance and battery rumors

There’s no need to speculate over whether or not the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will go with an Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, as 91mobiles has already put that conversation to bed after uncovering an FCC certification confirming that the new Galaxy Fold will make use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (tailored for Galaxy devices) backed by up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite is a proven powerhouse, with Qualcomm exec Chris Patrick telling Tom’s Guide in October 2024 that the chip was “a desktop-class CPU [with] mobile-level power efficiency.”

That efficiency could make great use of the Galaxy Fold 7’s expected 4,400 mAh battery capacity, the same as previous models, utilizing 15W wireless charging and 25W of peak wired charging.

What's next

With leaks relating to Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 7 appearing thick and fast ahead of July’s rumored Galaxy Unpacked event, expect more news to follow on this device in the coming days as we get closer to the official reveal.

These rumored changes to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 suggest a device even more premium, durable, and attractive than before. Samsung has confirmed in a May 2025 post that One UI 8 “will debut on Samsung’s newest foldables this summer,” making the Z Fold 7 one of the first devices to use the new customized Android 16 UI.

It’s also been suggested that owners of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could get free access (for an unknown amount of time) to Google’s AI Pro subscription service (typically costing $19.99 per month).

For a full look at what the Z Fold 7 will be capable of, we’ll need to wait to hear it directly from Samsung during next week's Galaxy Unpacked event. But until then, there’s plenty of information here to digest, and the Galaxy Fold is looking stronger than ever based on these early reports.

More from Laptop Mag

• The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 might be the most beautiful phone to fail
• MWC Shanghai 2025 will actually be a pressure test for the next generation of tech
• Anker recalls 1 million power banks — here are five to buy instead

The next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is scheduled for July 9, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are likely to be the spotlight products. One of the biggest concerns fans are experiencing ahead of the event is yet another price increase on the already pricey foldables.

On Tuesday, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 pricing appeared early on an Italian electronics website, showing price increases of roughly €100-€200 on the phones.

However, on Wednesday, a potential reprieve emerged from a new price leak spotted by German tech site WinFuture.de, indicating that the prices for the new phones will remain the same as last year.

So, which rumor is to be believed?

The case for a price hike

Given the price increases that we've seen across laptops and other consumer tech over the last few months, it wouldn't come as a shock if Samsung saw fit to bump the prices on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Galaxy Z Flip 7 by $50-$100.

Samsung has never really managed to bring down the cost of the Galaxy Z Fold line, while the Galaxy Z Flip line got a substantial cut of almost $400 to bring it to a starting price of $999 with the release of the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but that was almost four years ago now.

On top of the general increase in manufacturing costs, there are multiple rumors suggesting potentially pricey upgrades to the phones.

For the Galaxy Z Fold 7, this includes a much thinner design, a larger and nearly creaseless display, a more durable design, and a massive camera improvement to match the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 200MP main sensor.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is similarly rumored to be thinner, lighter, and more durable, but with a slightly larger 6.85-inch internal display and a 4-inch cover display, up from 6.7 inches and 3.4 inches, respectively. No other major changes for the Z Flip 7, so at a minimum, the expectation would be a smaller price bump.

The case for a price hold

Last year, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 both saw a $100 price increase over their predecessors, moving to $1,899 and $1,099, respectively. Samsung is already at or near the top of the market with both of these phones, so increasing prices two years in a row would not be seen favorably.

While Samsung offers an abundance of deals on its phones for Unpacked, the Z Fold line in particular remains in a price category almost by itself, with other large foldables, such as the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and OnePlus Open, starting at $100 to $200 less.

I just ran down the list of upgrades anticipated for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but they are also potentially removing the digitizer from the display, which is a cost-saving move for them. And while it may match many of the Galaxy S25 Ultra features, it's doing so 6 months later, so component costs should be at least slightly reduced.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 faces considerable price pressure from Motorola's foldables, with the Razr line starting at just $699. And while there are a few design changes for the Flip 7, none of these are particularly expensive, and rumors of an Exynos processor and no changes to the cameras would make a price increase a tough sell.

What's the verdict?

Based on what I've seen so far, I'll be surprised if Samsung raises the prices on either phone. My one hedge to that bet would be if they announce a new high-end Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra or Galaxy Z Flip 7 Ultra, but that would likely mean a slight price drop for the base models as again Samsung is already at the ceiling of what the market will bear with the prices on its foldables.

I love Samsung's foldables, but pricing remains the biggest factor holding them back from mainstream success. Particularly the Galaxy Z Fold, where rumors of a more affordable version have been circulating for as long as the line has existed, but Samsung has never managed to crack the $1,799 price point. This doesn't seem to be the year for it either, but at least we can hope for the prices to stay the same.

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After weeks of rumors, leaks, and speculation, on Monday, Samsung finally locked in the official date for its next Galaxy Unpacked: July 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern in Brooklyn, New York. Just as rumors speculated, the in-person event will indeed take place in Brooklyn, New York.

Similar to every other Unpacked event, you’ll be able to livestream the event on Samsung’s official website or its YouTube channel.

The Korea-based giant launched its flagship S25 series during the January Unpacked and followed up with the S25 Edge (which it considers a flagship as well) during a May Unpacked event. And though the company hasn’t explicitly name-dropped the products it plans to announce during the event, all signs point toward new foldables and possibly updates to the Galaxy Watch line.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 are expected, but there might be more

Traditionally, Samsung announces its new Flip and Fold models during the summer Unpacked event, and this year is expected to follow suit. So, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 are almost certain to take the spotlight.

Samsung shared three separate teasers in June, all hinting at a new era of foldables. Leaks and teasers both suggest that 2025’s Z Fold series will sport thinner designs than ever. What stands out is this bit from a press release Samsung posted on June 9: “This year, that journey reaches a new milestone. The newest Galaxy Z series is the thinnest, lightest, and most advanced foldable yet – meticulously crafted and built to last.”

Thinner phones are no surprise in 2025, though. We’ve seen Samsung’s own S25 Edge, and the iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch this fall. Here’s the exciting bit: there may be more than just two foldables on deck.

The first teaser, posted on June 3 on Samsung’s Newsroom, was titled “Meet the Next Chapter of Ultra,” and focused on how an “Ultra experience” in a “smaller and more portable form factor” is what people have been demanding. The tech giant hinted that that’s exactly what it's working toward and ended it with: “The Ultra experience is ready to unfold.”

Traditionally, Samsung has used the Ultra branding for its most feature-packed and premium flagships, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. So, if the teasers are anything to go by, the upcoming Unpacked could mark the debut of Samsung’s first-ever Ultra-branded foldable, signaling a more premium and powerful take on the Z Fold lineup. The fifteen-second Galaxy Unpacked teaser seems to support that theory, too, and ends with the bold statement: “Ultra Unfolds.”

Speaking of the Unpacked teaser, it begins with a profile view of a device that sports a noticeably thin frame. The foldable aspect then sneaks in, with a beam of light slicing through the middle. Two halves (presumably of a phone) split apart, reunite at the corners, and the bottom half then unfolds like a book, likely hinting at the Z Fold 7 or possibly the rumored Ultra foldable.

At the same time, it’s entirely possible that the Z Fold 7 and the so-called Ultra foldable are the same device, and that Samsung is simply adjusting its naming convention to better reflect the device’s premium positioning.

What else to expect at Galaxy Unpacked 2025

Other than foldables, leaks also speculate that Samsung will announce an updated smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 8, which is expected to sport a redesigned display. Samsung might also shed more light on Project Moohan, the codename for its upcoming headset powered by Android XR.

We’ll surely also hear about Galaxy AI, which was mentioned in the official Unpacked July announcement. If you have even the slightest thought of purchasing one of the devices Samsung is expected to announce, the tech giant is offering a $50 credit simply for providing your name and email address ahead of the launch event.

Though you won’t be able to use the credit toward purchasing a pre-order device, you can put it toward additional eligible products (select Buds, Watches, Tablets, or Galaxy Ring).

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There is an expectation that next month Samsung will hold its annual Galaxy Unpacked event to show off its upcoming phones and other devices.

The stars of the show will likely be the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and a new Fan Edition Flip. The company will also show off its new Galaxy Watch with its wealth of new health features, but not all the features will be available for free.

Samsung’s new health features for the Galaxy Watch will keep track of a lot of health markers and even provide coaching to improve a wearer’s health. However, some of the advanced coaching may require a subscription, according to a report from CNET. The company says it’s exploring a monthly subscription model similar to Fitbit Premium and Garmin’s new Connect Plus and that new watch owners could get a subscription for free, likely for a limited time. Older watch owners will reportedly have to pay to access these coaching features.

Samsung didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on this possible subscription.

What are the new health features coming to the Samsung Galaxy Watch?

Samsung will release its upcoming One UI 8, its customized version of Android 16, soon, and will likely show it off at the Unpacked event. For the Galaxy Watch, the update will bring some health features that haven't been done before with a smartwatch.

One of the most interesting new additions is the Antioxidant Index. Antioxidants such as beta-carotene, found in carrots and sweet potatoes, can help the body fight off free radicals, which can cause damage and lead to severe health problems like cardiovascular disease or cancer. The Antioxidant Index feature measures the level of carotenoids, which are antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables that are stored in the skin. The measurement is done by placing a thumb on the back of the watch sensor, which will determine whether the levels are balanced or unbalanced.

Another health feature coming in the next update is the Vascular Load metric. The watch will use pulse-wave analysis and optical sensors to track arterial stiffness and overall cardiovascular strain. If the strain is above or below the baseline, the watch will recommend some changes, such as reducing sodium intake or stress.

Both the Antioxidant Index and Vascular Load will only be available to owners of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, as the premium watch has the sensors needed for these features.

Other health features coming to the Galaxy Watch are Bedtime Guidance and Running Coach. With Bedtime Guidance, the watch will use its sleep tracking tools to recommend the best sleep and wake time based on a wearer's sleep patterns.

Running Coach is a feature similar to Apple's Workout Buddy, announced at this month's Worldwide Developers Conference. For the Galaxy Watch, Running Coach will analyze a user's running for 12 minutes to develop a training plan to help the wearer complete a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or full marathon.

It's unclear which of these features will have the additional coaching that could be paywalled. The most likely is the Running Coach, but the other health features do offer their own coaching.

These health features will make the Samsung Galaxy Watch more of a competitor in the wearable market that has been dominated by the Apple Watch, which has been a focal point for Apple's health initiatives.

Galaxy Watch users can test out some of these features before they officially release by downloading the One UI8 beta.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked returns next month, with rumors speculating that it’ll take place in New York City on or around July 10. And while the company hasn’t officially revealed what’s coming, the leaks already tell a very clear story.

Foldables are front and center, yes, but they’re only part of what’s shaping up to be Samsung’s most ambitious summer showcase yet.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are headlining as expected, with a new Fan Edition Flip making foldables more affordable than ever. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 family is returning in three forms — standard, Classic, and Ultra — and everything is launching with One UI 8, a new Android 16-based skin packed with Galaxy AI upgrades.

But the real wildcard is a prototype headset: Samsung’s first spatial computing device, designed with Google and Qualcomm, and reportedly sharper and lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro.

Foldables grow up

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 might be Samsung’s most polished foldable yet, but it’s also the clearest example of why the category is still stuck. The new design is thinner than ever, measuring just 4.5mm when unfolded and 9mm when closed.

A wider outer display makes the phone easier to use one-handed, and the hinge now folds flat without the awkward gap of earlier generations.

The hardware is just as impressive. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. A 200MP main camera. Refined crease control. Titanium components. On paper, this is a foldable that finally lives up to the Ultra tag Samsung keeps teasing.

One UI 8 brings smoother animations and Gemini-driven AI features like “Live” interpreter and image editing tools. It even looks premium, and that’s part of the problem.

Because, for all its flagship beauty, the Z Fold 7 is still a phone without a clear audience. At a rumored $2,000+ price point, Samsung is building for a luxury niche while pretending it's building for the mainstream. Foldables were supposed to get more affordable over time, but seven generations in, they’re heading in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, the Flip 7 is getting a major usability upgrade with a larger 4-inch cover screen and a taller 6.8-inch internal display. It also adopts a more squared-off look, diverging from the rounded Galaxy S25 design.

Samsung is also prepping the first Galaxy Z Flip Fan Edition, expected to launch at under €1,000. That model will reportedly use the Exynos 2400e, with a near-identical design to the Flip 6. The FE is aimed squarely at bringing foldables to a broader audience.

Watches find their footing

Samsung’s smartwatch lineup is also expanding in a more deliberate way. The Galaxy Watch 8 will come in two standard sizes with a refreshed case design, and the Classic model will bring back the rotating bezel, a fan-favorite feature that’s been missing in recent years.

Both watches will run on the new Exynos W1000 chip, which promises better battery life and performance thanks to its 3nm architecture. They’ll also benefit from One UI 8 Watch, which brings AI-enhanced health tracking and new software features tied into Samsung Health.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) is expected to launch alongside the rest of the lineup. This year’s model will look familiar but will push further into fitness and durability territory, likely with upgraded water resistance, expanded activity tracking, and longer battery life.

With Apple’s Watch Ultra 3 expected in September, Samsung is aiming to stay competitive in the rugged premium smartwatch space.

One UI 8 and the AI layer

All of these devices will launch with One UI 8, Samsung’s customized version of Android 16. While the interface changes are relatively subtle, the feature list is growing fast. Quick Share is getting a clearer tabbed layout.

Samsung Internet, Weather, and Reminder are getting visual refreshes. Multitasking is improving with new split-screen configurations, including a 90/10 layout for apps that don’t need equal screen space. But the big story is Galaxy AI.

Samsung has confirmed that it will keep its core AI tools free, at least for now. That includes live call translation, generative photo editing, and new assistant features powered by Gemini. The Fold 7 will likely be the AI showcase here, but all new Galaxy devices will support the full set of tools out of the box.

The Vision Pro problem

Apple’s Vision Pro established a ridiculously high benchmark in spatial computing. Now, anything that follows will be judged through that lens — and it’s no secret that Samsung has been working behind the scenes on an extended reality headset for more than a year under Project Moohan. July’s Unpacked event will be our first real look at it.

Moohan is built on Qualcomm’s XR2+ Gen 2 platform and runs Android XR, Google’s long-anticipated spatial operating system.

It uses two 1.35-inch micro-OLED displays from Sony with a combined resolution of 3,552 x 3,840 per eye, pushing the pixel density to a staggering 3,800ppi. That’s sharper than the Vision Pro. It’s lighter, too, thanks to an external battery pack and ski-goggle-style frame.

If the headset makes an appearance at Unpacked, don’t expect Samsung to open pre-orders. It’ll be a preview, not a product launch. But the prototype should be real, functional, and visible on stage.

The plan, according to insiders, is to begin a limited release in South Korea in Q4, with a global rollout in early 2026. At this stage, Samsung doesn’t need to beat the Vision Pro; it just needs to show that it’s in the game.

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There’s nothing quite like using a foldable — and while they aren't for everyone, once you've used a large foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold, it’s hard to go back. As someone who regularly cycles through phones, I always find myself reaching for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 during the chaos of trade shows. That massive internal screen feels like having a tablet in my pocket, and when I’m juggling Slack threads, emails, and capturing photos and videos on a show floor, nothing else comes close.

This is the kind of futuristic convenience I dreamed of 15 years ago while lugging around a Motorola Droid and an HP TC1100 2-in-1. Foldables like the Z Fold finally deliver on that vision, but they’re still facing an uphill battle.

Fragility was a massive concern early on, and while it's largely eliminated now, the perception lingers. And the price? That’s the biggest obstacle by far. It’s tough to justify spending nearly $2,000 on a phone when excellent traditional flagships go for nearly half that.

Unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn’t expected to reverse that trend. If anything, we may see the price climb even higher in the U.S. due to new tariffs, as we reported earlier this week.

So what can Samsung do to make the sticker shock more palatable? Load up the preorder freebies and discounts. Based on rumors, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 may include a 6-month subscription to Google AI Pro — Google’s $20/month AI suite — as one of its launch perks.

But is a $120 AI freebie and a trade-in credit enough to sway new buyers to a foldable? Let’s tally up what Samsung might offer and whether that’s finally enough to bring foldables into the mainstream.

What's half a year of Google AI Pro worth to you?

The latest rumor, uncovered in an APK teardown by Android Authority, suggests that Samsung may include a free six-month subscription to Google AI Pro (formerly Google Gemini Advanced), valued at $120.

If you've avoided or only dipped your toe into the AI realm so far, Google’s AI Pro is more than a simple chatbot. Beyond access to Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Research for complex AI tasks, it offers image creation, video creation through Veo 3, and even AI filmmaking tools through Flow.

It's a robust AI offering that should pair well with power users who may gravitate to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Trade-ins and discounts

Samsung hasn't announced its next Unpacked event yet, but I expect that when it does, we'll see the typical $50 incentive if you provide your email, stacked with enhanced trade-in offers, possibly instant credits, and finally, free double storage.

The free AI offer is a nice appetizer, but these are the main course. The $50 is easy for anyone to get and carries no obligation; just make sure to register your interest when the offer pops up.

The trade-in offers are obviously dependent on what phone you have now, but Samsung always bumps up the values at launch. For the Galaxy S25 Ultra launch in January, the top trade-in offer was $900, while it was an astounding $1,200 for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 last year. If you are making the move from another recent flagship, that could take a lot of the sting out of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 price.

The instant credits are more of a wildcard. Sometimes these are only available to those not trading in a phone and can be up to $350. Other times, there are credits towards other Samsung devices.

For example, you may be able to get free Galaxy Buds 3 Pro or discounted offers on a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Tab. It's not direct money in your pocket (unless you sell them, of course), but it can be a nice way to save if you've been considering any of those other devices.

The last incentive is the double storage offer, which, assuming Samsung keeps the same pricing for storage upgrades, is another $120 value.

So, if we total all of those theoretical offers, that's a potential $1,840 in value. Heavy asterisks are in order, as this includes a maximum trade-in value and assumes that Samsung offers instant credit to everyone, which isn't always the case. However, it does provide a picture of the maximum possible offer.

Even dropping to a more common $800 enhanced trade-in and removing the instant credit entirely, the total incentives would still be $1,090, which feels a lot better than staring down that $2,000 price tag.

Not cheap, but a better value.

Let’s not overstate it — Google AI Pro isn’t going to suddenly make the Z Fold 7 affordable. But when you stack it up with all of the other discounts, a free six-month subscription to a $120 AI service is more than just a nice throw-in. It’s a subtle shift in how the value proposition is framed.

Samsung wants you to think of this phone not just as a luxury gadget, but as a legitimate productivity powerhouse. That messaging becomes a lot more convincing when it comes bundled with serious software to boost an already powerful smartphone.

That's on top of some more significant upgrades than we saw last year. Leaks suggest a redesigned hinge and slimmer profile, which would help address one of the Fold’s lingering issues: bulk. I consider it a fair trade for the versatility, but no one is going to argue against a thinner and lighter Galaxy Z Fold 7.

We’re also hearing buzz about camera upgrades, potentially rocketing to the 200MP sensor previously reserved for the Ultra lineup, a significant bump from the current 50MP sensor. While the Fold cameras have been solid for the last few generations, they’ve never reached flagship-tier, which is hard to stomach at its price.

Combine that with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, faster storage, better multitasking, and tighter AI integration, and the Z Fold 7 starts to feel at least like a better value, even if it isn't cheap.

Is it enough?

I’ve always believed foldables could offer something truly different, and the Z Fold series has come closest to delivering that vision. But even I’ll admit: the price is a tough sell.

If the Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes with thoughtful hardware refinements, flagship-grade cameras, new software perks like Google AI Pro, stacked on top of other solid discounts and freebies, it will be easier than ever to justify the investment, especially if you’re someone who values productivity and multitasking on the go.

This might not be the foldable that changes everyone’s mind, but it could be the one that finally makes longtime skeptics reconsider. For those of us already onboard, it’s shaping up to be the best Fold yet.

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Samsung’s next foldable phone might be its sleekest and smartest yet. But seven generations in, the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s biggest innovation may need to be ideological rather than industrial.

Over the weekend, fresh leaks offered the clearest look yet at the Galaxy Z Fold 7 — and, on paper, it’s a stunner that ticks all the right boxes. A thinner hinge, larger camera bump, and a 200MP sensor borrowed from the Ultra all make for a great device. So do the new “glow” lock screen transitions and Android 16 with One UI 8.

It’s everything we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s iterative annual polish.

And yet, the Fold 7 risks folding in on itself. Because even as Samsung engineers a more beautiful device, it’s drifting further from the mass-market success that foldables were supposed to achieve.

A design triumph in a vacuum

Let’s start with the good: The Fold 7 is reportedly slimmer than ever, coming in at around 4.5mm unfolded. It has titanium hinge components, refined crease control, and the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powering Samsung’s best. It’s not a “lite” model by any stretch. This is Samsung flexing (or, rather, folding…).

The Z Fold 7’s camera also leaps in the right direction. Samsung seems poised to drop the same 200MP sensor seen in the Galaxy S25 Ultra into the Fold 7’s frame, alongside AI-enhanced image processing. If that translates to S-line image quality in foldable form, it’s meaningful.

Add to that One UI 8’s smoother animations, upgraded multitasking UI, and glow-up flair. And yes, it’s a flagship; arguably the best foldable that Samsung has ever made.

But the bigger question remains: Who is this actually for?

Foldable, yes, but accessible?

Despite maturing hardware, foldables remain frozen in the early adopter phase. According to recent studies, foldables account for just 1% of smartphones in key markets. This is a shockingly small share for a product in its seventh generation. And it all comes down to pricing.

The numbers show just how off-trajectory Samsung’s foldable pricing has become. The original Galaxy Fold debuted at $1,980 in 2019. Analysts expected subsequent models to drop in price as yields improved and rivals emerged. But that curve reversed.

• The Z Fold 3 dipped slightly to $1,799
• The Z Fold 4 and Fold 5 held steady at around the same price.
• The Z Fold 6 jumped to $1,899.
• Now, the Z Fold 7 may top $2,000 (or even hit $2,500 in the U.S. due to tariffs!)

This goes well beyond the realms of sticker shock. Consumer tech lives or dies by the adoption curve, and Samsung seems to have taken a detour straight into luxury territory.

The Z Fold needs better pricing, not polishing

Here’s the kicker: Even users who do buy foldables often don’t stick with them. According to data referenced in the same report, over 50% of foldable owners switched back to traditional phones during their next upgrade cycle. These weren’t budget-minded downgrades either. They went to the S23 Ultra, Pixel 7 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max.

This tells us the issue isn’t just cost but value. If the tech doesn’t feel worth it after prolonged use, even premium buyers walk away. So while the Fold 7 is technically superior, its core premise (or gimmick?) — “look what this hinge can do!” — may no longer be enough.

Samsung needs more than just another foldable flagship. It needs a foldable strategy. To regain momentum, the company must rethink accessibility.

That could mean revisiting the rumored Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE (Fan Edition), a more affordable foldable meant to introduce new users to the form factor without the financial barrier.

If that phone exists and lands under $1,000, it might be a defining release for the foldable space.

Sure, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 looks incredible. But unless Samsung tackles the price-to-value gap plaguing the foldable category, it risks building a better product for a shrinking market.

After seven years, maybe it’s time to stop chasing thinness and focus on improving relevance.

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On Monday, the Trump Organization announced its plans to release a new smartphone, the T1 Phone, which will be supported on its new network, Trump Mobile.

The Trump Mobile network

Trump Mobile will offer 5G service through what the Trump Organization is calling “The 47 Plan” for a flat $47.45 per month, in reference to the U.S. president’s first and second terms.

Compatible with all three major U.S cell carriers, including T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, Trump Mobile will whitelist its services in much the same way as competitors like the Ryan Reynolds-backed Mint Mobile.

How the tech of Trump Mobile works

Both Mint Mobile and Trump Mobile operate on what are known as “mobile virtual network operators”, or MVNOs. These operators purchase network capacity from the major providers and are generally targeted at niche customer bases.

In an interview held in the same spot where Trump first rode down a golden escalator to announce his candidacy for president at Trump Tower — ten years ago today, by the way — his son Eric Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo that Trump Mobile would offer “international calling in hundreds of countries for free” on a phone that will be made “one-hundred percent in America.”

Will the Trump Phone be made in the USA? The details are fuzzy right now.

"We are going to be introducing an entire package of products where people can come and they can get telemedicine on their phones for one flat monthly fee, roadside assistance on their cars, unlimited texting to 100 countries around the world," said the president's son.

However, details on exactly how Trump’s Organization plans to manufacture these phones within the domestic U.S. remained scant.

Can we even make a smartphone in the United States?

As the tariff trade wars escalated last month and the President specifically called out smartphone manufacturers like Apple for manufacturing their products in China, much of the tech news media wondered whether it would even be possible to make a smartphone within U.S. borders.

A modern smartphone often contains hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of individual components sourced from an interconnected global supply chain: tin from Africa, chips from Taiwan, displays from South Korea, and so on.

The idea that all of these parts could somehow be repatriated before the phone’s supposed release date in September of this year is, put frankly, ridiculous, and may seal its fate as a product with a doomed launch.

For now, when Laptop Mag contacted Trump’s hotline for the phone at 888-TRUMP45 and emailed the company at care@trumpmobile.com, we were only told that the phone would be “made in America.”

This almost certainly means the company plans to assemble the phones domestically, but will still use the same global parts as every other smartphone provider. Until we know more, the only information we have on the underlying tech of the Trump T1 phone is a small collection of specs, seen below:

When can you buy the Trump T1 Phone?

Preorders for the T1 started Monday on the company's website, priced at $499 with a $100 down payment to secure your own model.

However, reports are already coming in that this process is anything but smooth. When Joseph Cox of 404 Media tried to order his own, the site automatically charged his card for the wrong amount ($64.70 instead of $100), and he was never even given an opportunity to provide Trump Mobile with a shipping address.

The phone is said to start shipping in early September of 2025, and a representative vaguely told us that some of the phones will be new, and “some will be refurbished.”

Given the mystery surrounding the Trump T1 phone’s actual components, construction, and distribution, we’ll update this story as additional information becomes available. Stay tuned for more!

This is not the first phone linked to Trump

In 2021, the Freedom Phone debuted, also costing $499. It is still for sale and is marketed as "a free speech and privacy first focused mobile device built on an open-source Android OS." As PC Mag reported, it gained popularity among supporters of Donald Trump, and not long after, The Daily Beast reported that the phone bore an uncanny resemblance to one made by a Chinese firm that was selling on AliExpress for $119.

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Samsung phone deals in June? Honestly, I'm surprised. I'd expect discounts this deep to show up in July once all the Prime Day deals kick in — but now? I love it.

This is a great time to upgrade your phone to a new Samsung. Aside from the Galaxy S25 Edge, all the models have been out for at least a few months, which means the initial hype is starting to fade, and less hype often means more discounts. I bought my last phone right at launch and ended up regretting it, because just a few months later, I could’ve paid a lot less. Now’s your chance to avoid making the same mistake and save hundreds of dollars. And yes, I literally mean hundreds.

Huge discounts usually only really happen if you trade in your device for some extra credit, but maybe you don't want to give up your old phone (but just in case you do, you can save up to $630 on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge). Fortunately, there are some superb phone deals even without trade-ins right now.

The biggest savings I found were on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is now $1,299, down from $1,899, at Amazon. The S25 Ultra is a great deal cheaper too, dropping down to $1,119 for $300 in savings.

If you just want a phone that works and doesn't cost a fortune, the Samsung Galaxy A16 is just $174 at Best Buy, saving you $25. That $25 can then go toward buying the Galaxy Buds FE to go with your new phone, and those are down to $65 at Walmart.

Whether you already own a Samsung and you want to upgrade, or you're giving up your iPhone and switching to Android, you're in luck. There are lots of exciting Samsung phone deals up for grabs this summer.

Let's check them out below.

The best Samsung phone deals — Quick links

• Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: was $199, now $174 at Best Buy
• Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: was $399, now $357 at Amazon
  
• Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: was $859, now $799 at Samsung (or $399 w/ trade-in)
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: was $1,099, now $899 at Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: was $1,419, now $1,119 at Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: was $1,899, now $1,299 at Amazon
  
• Samsung Galaxy Buds FE: was $79, now $65 at Walmart
• Samsung 15W Duo Fast Wireless Charger pad: was $69, now $41 at Best Buy

The best Samsung phone deals now

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Samsung Galaxy S25 / S25 Plus

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold

Samsung Galaxy — Other phones

Samsung phone accessories

A Samsung rep has made quite a bold claim about its thin phone. The S25 Edge, which you might think of as the lightweight version of the S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra, is actually a "flagship" model.

That's according to an interview with our colleagues at Tom's Guide published this week. While the definition of "flagship" in consumer tech can vary, calling a phone like the Edge, which you might associate with something light or airy, may take you by surprise. Despite the skeptics, Samsung might have a point. Here's why.

Samsung defends S25 Edge as the “Goldilocks” of phone

As its annual tradition, the Korea-based tech behemoth launched three devices in its flagship Galaxy S series earlier this year: the base S25, S25 Plus, and the S25 Ultra.

Though Samsung debuted the Galaxy S25 Edge back then, it was officially launched a couple of days ago.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is the thinnest S series phone the Korean-based giant has ever released, sporting a 5.8mm design and weighing 163g. Pre-orders went live on May 12, and the device starts at $1,099. For comparison, the standard S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra start at $800, $1,000, and $1,300, respectively.

Instead of focusing solely on the S25 Edge's slimness, critics have focused on the trade-offs Samsung made to achieve this design.

Blake Gaiser, the director of smartphone product management at Samsung Electronics America, believes the focus should be on the Edge's lightweight and the overall experience rather than just its raw specs.

When asked whether Samsung considers the Edge a true flagship, Gaiser said they do, describing it as an innovation piece where, despite cutting down on weight and thickness, the company isn’t compromising on what really matters to users.

This includes durability, chipset performance, and the Edge’s 200MP camera. Gaiser even called the Galaxy S25 Edge the “Goldilocks” of smartphones, saying it’s aimed at users looking for “a light, tech-forward, fashionable device” without compromising on performance.

Gaiser even addressed concerns critics have raised

One of the biggest concerns raised by critics is battery life. The S25 Edge packs a slightly larger battery than the base S25 (4,000 mAh vs. 3,900 mAh), but given that it’s 1.4mm slimmer, that’s still an impressive engineering feat.

The size difference isn’t all that significant compared to the noticeably thinner body. Besides, most users likely won’t notice much difference in day-to-day use, since the S25 and S25 Edge share the same processor: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy.

Gaiser addressed this, too, when asked about the Edge’s battery life being slightly shorter than the regular S25. He explained that “enough battery life for most customers is just an all-day usage,” and that Samsung defines a good experience as being able to get from “sun up to sun down without having any issues.”

Gaiser also told Tom's Guide that in internal testing, the Edge’s battery life held up as well or even better than the base S24 and very close to the base S25. The Edge also skips the 3x telephoto zoom found on other S25 models, but Gaiser justified that by pointing out that it’s not a feature most customers use every day or even every month.

When you consider why Gaiser considers the Edge a flagship, his point starts to make sense. While it might not tick every traditional flagship box, it delivers a premium experience for those who want a sleek, lightweight phone without any major compromises. The only caveat, really, is the price.

Starting at $1,099, the Edge edges dangerously close to the Ultra’s territory, just without the telephoto zoom and with slightly shorter battery life. Ultimately, this makes it a tough sell for many. Aside from the fact that Samsung did an incredible job shrinking the Edge’s size without stripping away too much, the phone doesn’t offer much else. It’s just another Galaxy S model, albeit a thinner one.

Perhaps the iPhone 17 Air will fix what the S25 Edge didn’t

Thin phones are starting to become a trend again and the S25 Edge may not stand alone for long. Apple is expected to launch its S25 Edge competitor, the iPhone 17 Air, later this year. Who knows — it might just piggyback off the Edge’s shortcomings and nail the formula better.

Rumors already suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will be just 5.5mm thick. While early reports hint at lower-than-ideal battery life, the iPhone 17 Air is still a few months away and its final performance remains to be seen. Besides, Apple has a track record of optimizing its hardware and software well enough to mask those gaps.

More from Laptop Mag

• Samsung's Galaxy S25 phones offer a big performance boost and even more AI
• iPhone 17 Air: Rumors are thick on the thinnest iPhone ever
• I'd throw money at Samsung's Galaxy S25 if it solved this one problem with mobile gaming

I mostly use my laptop to do my work, but I also have my Samsung and iPhone readily available for urgent notifications and two-factor authentication. However, because my phones also have all my games, social media apps, and streaming platforms, I easily get distracted whenever I get a ping on them. These disruptions can easily cost me an extra 15 to 30 minutes per task, which adds up to a lot of lost productivity per month.

Since these apps are still helpful for me outside of working hours (and I also occasionally use them for work), I cannot eliminate them. So, I put all my phones on silent, turned on Do Not Disturb, and hid them in my drawer. I installed the bare minimum apps I use daily on an e-ink device, reducing interruptions to near zero and bumping up my productivity.

Setting up the Onyx Boox Palma 2 as my main mobile device while working

While working, I used the Onyx Boox Palma 2, which I reviewed last year, as a substitute for my Samsung S24 Ultra and iPhone 14. It took me some time to get used to it, mainly because it wasn’t as responsive as those other phones, but it got the job done. I just installed Microsoft SwiftKey to replace the stock keyboard, allowing me to resize the keys and make them easier to press. But aside from that, it works just as well as any other smartphone, albeit much slower.

Since the Palma 2 uses Android 13, I can easily install the apps I need, like Slack, Gmail, OneDrive, and Microsoft Authenticator. It also has a fantastic battery life, with the e-ink reader lasting up to two weeks on a single charge. I do have some gripes about it, though, like the fingerprint reader sometimes not working or the automatic backlight not working as intended.

It’s great for reading and text communication

As a journalist and researcher, I read a lot of documents and primarily communicate through email and Slack. Because of this, the Palma 2 is ideally suited for my needs. It notifies me whenever I get a new email or message for work, but it also keeps me from seeing the latest drop from my favorite YouTube channel or that the repair of my car in Real Racing 3 is finally finished.

I must be patient when scrolling and typing, but it still gets the job done. Another positive side effect of using the Palma 2 is that I can rest my eyes from bright screens when looking at it. Finally, my e-ink device’s screensaver is a clock, allowing me to immediately tell the time at a glance.

Watching videos and scrolling social media is a pain

The Palma 2 only uses a black-and-white e-ink screen with a much lower refresh rate than your usual phone. So, don’t expect to enjoy photos and videos on it, and unlimited scrolling is sluggish at best and unusable at times. But that is the point of this device.

Since it only supplements my main workstation, these limitations benefit me as I do not get unwanted interruptions. But when I’m working away from my laptop, I still rely on my mobile phone for everything I need.

You must rely on Wi-Fi

Since the Palma 2 (and most other e-ink readers) are primarily designed for reading, finding one with a SIM card slot is challenging. If you mainly use SMS and voice calls to communicate, this is definitely not for you. It also won’t save you as a backup data connection if your primary service provider fails you.

One thing I like specifically about this device is that even if it has a black-and-white screen, it still comes with its own camera. Its quality is nothing to write home about, but it’s handy enough for capturing QR codes and taking quick snapshots. I can also install Spotify on it and play music via a cheap DAC or Bluetooth headphones, but I still prefer listening from my desktop speakers.

It’s not a replacement for your work smartphone

The Onyx Boox Palma 2 is a great device for basic communication without getting distracted by the myriad other apps you have on your phone. At $300, this is too expensive for the average person. But this is an excellent option if you’re a bookworm and want to reduce distractions at work. That way, you can keep your phones on silent and hidden while you’re getting things done.

If you want something larger, you can try using a larger e-ink tablet, like the Onyx Boox Note Air 3 or the mooInk V folding e-reader. These e-ink devices aren’t as powerful as many Android phones, but that’s their primary strength for productivity, not their weakness.

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It's no secret: Memorial Day deals offer some of the best discounts on the most popular tech around. That said, what you might not know is that the best Memorial Day deals show up well in advance of May 26.

While your average shopper waits for Memorial Day to arrive to start saving, those seasoned in sales know there's no sense delaying. In the calm before the Memorial Day sales storm, you can snap up some of the most-wanted devices around for a fraction of their usual price — and avoid any out-of-stock heartbreak along the way.

Not convinced? How about grabbing yourself a FREE 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G55C curved gaming monitor (valued at $300) when you purchase the wildly impressive 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor for just $799 at Samsung.com — that's $500 off its usual $1,299 asking price, and a total combined saving of $799.

Samsung's Odyssey gaming monitors are among the best on the market. A deal on the staggeringly immersive, ultrawide (32:9), curved (1000R) Odyssey G9 alone would be worth bringing to your attention. Its 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and dual QHD (5,120 x 1440) resolution are ideal for fast, smooth, high-definition gaming.

However, this deal goes the extra mile, bundling the typically $300 27-inch, curved (1000R) Samsung Odyssey G55C in for free, a monitor that's pretty impressive in its own right, boasting a 165Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and a QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution.

This kind of offer turns a deal into a steal, and if you want my advice, it's well worth taking advantage of Samsung's generosity before they have any second thoughts.

For a closer look at the Samsung Odyssey G9, check out the details below.

Today's best Samsung Odyssey G9 49-inch curved gaming monitor Memorial Day deal

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge, finally confirming what had been leaked months earlier — and the timing feels deliberate.

Packed inside the 5.8mm, 163-gram chassis is the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 200MP camera found in Samsung’s Ultra model. In other words, it’s not a “lite” edition; it’s a statement.

The big reveal was held in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday morning local time — still Monday evening on the East Coast of the United States.

While Apple hasn’t publicly commented, the Edge debut date feels quite intentional. With the iPhone 17 Air (or Slim) rumored to be Apple’s upcoming ultra-thin play, Samsung just got the first word in.

Edge-level performance, iPhone-level ambition

If you’ve followed Samsung’s recent strategy, the Edge is the natural endpoint: Strip everything non-essential to chase a singular design vision. Here, that means matching the Ultra’s internals but ditching the telephoto lens and reducing the battery capacity to 3,900 mAh.

In return, you get a Galaxy flagship that is lighter than anything Samsung has shipped in years. It’s also nearly 2mm thinner than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and more than a full millimeter thinner than the iPhone 15 Pro.

We’ve been here before, though. Phones got thin, they bent (a throwback to the iPhone 6 Plus), and manufacturers overcorrected with bigger batteries, bulkier camera islands, and the naming of “Pro Max Ultra.”

The S25 Edge hints at a design rethink: What if sleek, pocketable, and premium could coexist?

Samsung is betting that it can. If the rumors are accurate, Apple will think the same thing.

Enter the iPhone 17 Air

According to earlier leaks, Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup could include a brand-new Air model. This handset would be dramatically thinner, possibly as thin as 5.5mm, and built from titanium or aluminum to cut weight.

The Air may not ship with the full triple-lens loadout we’ve come to expect. Like the Edge, it might settle for fewer sensors, a smaller battery, and an emphasis on lightness. And much like Samsung, Apple’s design decisions will pose the same question: How much compromise are users willing to accept in the name of thin?

The S25 Edge’s biggest gamble isn’t its weight or thickness. It’s the battery. At 3,900 mAh, it’s down nearly 25% from what you’ll find in most 2025 flagships. That’s the price you pay for a device this slim.

Thermal management is another concern. Thin phones have less room for vapor chambers or graphite pads, and any passive cooling is limited by physics. Some users will notice if Samsung is throttling the Snapdragon 8 Elite under sustained load.

Apple’s Air may face the same scrutiny. The thinnest iPad Pro (5.1mm) already sparked debates about heat and battery performance. Now imagine a similar device in your pocket and how it might hold up after a day of heavy use.

Building a narrative?

Samsung has everything to gain from this category. Unlike Apple, which has been refining a single design language across devices, Samsung can afford to experiment.

The Edge isn’t replacing the Ultra or the base S25. It’s an option; a stylistic choice for users who value comfort over cameras or runtime. By being first, Samsung gets to frame the narrative: thinness is premium again. And if the iPhone 17 Air follows, Samsung can credibly say it set the trend.

The S25 Edge feels like more than a hardware announcement in many ways. It’s a provocation. If Apple responds with an iPhone 17 Air this fall, we could see thin become the new must-have spec, right alongside megapixels, refresh rates, and AI.

But for now, it’s Samsung’s turn in the spotlight. The company has built the world’s thinnest flagship phone. And in doing so, it may have kickstarted the industry’s next great design war.

Watch the Samsung 'Beyond Slim' event

More from Laptop Mag

• iPhone 17 Air: Rumors are thick on the thinnest iPhone ever
• Samsung's Galaxy S25 phones offer a big performance boost and even more AI
• Samsung Galaxy Edge first look: How thin is Samsung's ultra-slim phone? (January 2025)

On Tuesday, Samsung's launch event for the long-awaited S25 Edge kicks off at 9 a.m. Korean Standard Time (Monday, 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), which is expected to be "the slimmest Galaxy S series yet."

This will make Apple fashionably late to the budding thin phones market, with the S25 Edge arriving months ahead of the rumored iPhone 17 Air (or Slim). That could give Samsung a major edge over Apple and give us a look at what to expect from this new generation of ultra-thin phones, including potential drawbacks like battery life and durability.

Here's a look at everything we know so far about the Galaxy S25 Edge, what to expect from today's event, and how you can watch live.

See also: Best phone deals in May 2025

Samsung edges out Apple in thin phones market: What we know about the S25 Edge

It's clear that the perceived next frontier in the smartphone world is ultra-thin designs, and Samsung and Apple are both vying to rule that market. Unfortunately for Apple, it looks like Samsung will be crossing the finish line first.

Samsung's "Beyond slim" event will finally reveal the rest of the details regarding the Galaxy S25 Edge, which debuted on January 22 at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025. The first-gen ultra-thin phone will be the upcoming iPhone 17 Air's prime competition. While Samsung has saved most of the official details for today's event, there have been some leaks over the past few months that offer a sneak peek of what to expect.

As of April 2025, rumors indicate that the S25 Edge will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, and a 200MP main camera.

Additional spec rumors from May 1 point to a 3,900 mAh battery, which is probably still enough to get you through the day but is notably smaller than the battery in the Galaxy S25+.

Battery life could be one of the biggest drawbacks to thinner smartphones, so it will be a feature to watch once these phones hit our labs for testing. There's no getting around the lack of room for a large battery compared to a thicker phone. Apple will face a similar challenge with the iPhone 17 Air, but it will be interesting to see how the 17 Air's battery life compares to the S25 Edge.

Speaking of the Air, current spec rumors highlight a minor advantage Apple may have out of the gate. The S25 Edge is reportedly 5.8mm (0.23 inches) thick, making it a hair thicker than the iPhone 17 Air, which is rumored to be 5.6mm (0.22 inches) thick.

With a chassis that thin, durability is a clear concern, especially in light of past controversies like the infamous "bendgate" incident with the iPhone 6.

Samsung seems to be taking durability concerns seriously with the S25 Edge. Ahead of Monday's event, it announced that the S25 Edge will include the new Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 to protect the display. Hopefully, the chassis itself has similar durability features baked in.

How to watch Samsung's "Beyond Slim" event

Samsung's "Beyond Slim" event will be livestreamed starting at 9 a.m. Korean Standard Time on May 13, which is 8 p.m. Eastern or 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on May 12 for viewers in the United States.

The easiest way to watch, whichever timezone you're in, is through the official livestream on YouTube, where you can set yourself a notification for when the livestream kicks off.

If you can't wait to get your hands on an S25 Edge, you can reserve one now on Samsung's website and get a $50 credit.

We'll be unpacking everything Samsung unveils tonight, so make sure to stay tuned here for more updates, analysis, and the latest Samsung deals.

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We’ve all been talked at before. All sorts of colorful information is pointed directly at us, sometimes with the energy of a hairdryer. That’s sort of how gaming monitors have been.

With their incredible pixel density, high refresh rate, brilliant color, and eye-squinting brightness, these big rectangles are a one-way communication cannon.

After experiencing Samsung’s new Odyssey 3D monitor, I realized it gaming monitors don't have to be this way. What's on your monitor can feel more like an immersive, visual conversation — and not a blaring, optical broadcast.

The 27” Samsung Odyssey 3D monitor offers three-dimensional experiences that floored me when I went hands-on with it earlier this month. The images from video games or 2D movies floated off the screen and into my world — no 3D glasses required.

Two stereo cameras with lenticular lenses are embedded in the top bezel of the monitor to do the eye tracking, and the images pop off your screen. That’s the short version.

See also: Get $300 in Samsung credit when you pre-order any of these Samsung Odyssey 4K gaming monitors

The slightly longer version is that the cameras that were tracking my eyes sent those images into an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, which was connected to a Maingear gaming rig with 32GB of RAM and an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor.

And those 3D visuals only come to life if you have the Samsung Reality Hub app running.

In sum, this powerful experience is still at the high end for gaming monitors. While the minimum GPU required to operate the Odyssey 3D monitor is the now affordable Nvidia RTX 3080, which was launched in September of 2020, nothing about this brilliant bit of future tech says "budget." (But that's never been the point with brilliant bits of future tech.)

What's the future of 3D monitors?

A company official tells us that Samsung's 3D monitor is easy to be in awe of, and the company is optimistic about its future and 3D tech more generally.

"Samsung is bullish about the future of 3D monitor technology, as our studies have shown that more gamers are expecting the next generation of games to be more immersive and realistic," David You, Head of Product Marketing, Monitors, Samsung Electronics America, tells Laptop Mag.

"To capitalize on this growing demand, we are developing partnerships with key gaming studios such as Nexon and Round8 to offer our consumers 3D gaming experiences for top gaming titles such as Khazan and Lies of P and are working closely with other gaming studios to launch dozens of more titles by the end of this year.

"Samsung’s Odyssey 3D Monitor can also convert non-DRM protected video (YouTube) from 2D to 3D, expanding the use case for 3D monitor technology beyond just games."

Two ways this 3D monitor feels different than the 3D you're used to

The result of the Odyssey 3D monitor, though, is stunning. The 3D monitor concept isn’t new, nor is Samsung the first to bring this technology to market. But in isolation, the way the screen can suck you in will have you in awe.

If you grew up going to 3D movies — whether it was seeing Michael Jackson in Captain EO at Epcot or watching a swarm of bees fly off the screen in Jackass 3D — there are two main differences I noticed in experiencing the Odyssey 3D monitor:

1. You aren’t wearing glasses. Particularly if you already wear glasses like me, this is tremendous.

2. You are in control. You can rewind to move your avatar in a game, and even to dial down the 3D or crank it up. 3D can be a bit unnerving. Being able twiddle the knobs helps.

As for performance, a Samsung rep tells Laptop Mag that the Odyssey 3D won't set records.

“It will never be the fastest monitor in our lineup. It’s not for everybody, but it’s a unique piece that’s cutting edge for people who want future technology.”

At launch, Samsung says the Odyssey 3D monitor supports the games listed below — many of which are slow-burning, deeply immersive, and artful.

If you try to play Cyberpunk 2077 on the Odyssey 3D and expect similar performance as you might get on the also-new, souped-up, 240Hz Samsung 27" Odyssey OLED G8, don't say we didn't warn you.

• The First Berserker: Khazan ★
• Lies of P
• Stray
• Dragonball Z:kakarot
• Little Nightmares II
• F.I.S.T
• SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake
• Wigmund
• Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition
• Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed
• The Smurfs - Dreams
• PALWORLD

Samsung’s not alone in the 3D monitor market. Lenovo also offers a 27-inch 3D monitor — its ThinkVision display — that also uses cameras for eye-tracking, but a 3D engine embedded in the monitor makes it a bit more versatile for different computers.

That also means that 3D gaming on the ThinkVision — marketed to professionals and designers — may be difficult, if not impossible.

For example, the ThinkVision display has a 60Hz max refresh rate, while the Odyssey 3D monitor maxes out at 165Hz.

The talk isn't cheap

While this monitor offers an immersive experience that feels like a visual conversation, it turns out this kind of talk isn't cheap.

While there are a slew of discounts and add-ons that bring down the final cost significantly, the preorder price as of Wednesday, April 16, is $1,999.

What else did Samsung release?

In addition to the Odyssey 3D monitor, Samsung also released two other monitors.

There is the 27” Odyssey OLED G81SF gaming monitor, an update to the previous generation with an OLED screen and a 240Hz refresh rate. Samsung claims it's the "industry's first" 4K OLED gaming monitor.

The monitor features 166 PPI (pixels per inch) across its 27-inch size. Pair that PPI with a 4K UHD display, and you have specs that result in an incredible gaming experience.

The glare-reduction technology is also quite noticeable with the matte appearance we've come to expect. But in my viewing, this didn't seem to reduce to vivid colors of Cyberpunk 2077, and the OLED screen made it easy to spot the finest differences between black and very black in the dark corners of the game.

It starts at $1,299, and Samsung is offering a $300 credit as of this writing.

Samsung also released the 49" Odyssey G91F, a curved ultra-wide monitor that offers a split-screen feature for side-by-side gaming. It's a lower-priced option than the other 49" Odyssey monitors — it starts at $999, and you get a $300 Samsung credit.

When you compare this new 49" monitor to its higher-end sibling, the Odyssey OLED G9 Gaming Monitor G93SC, it's easy to understand the price difference. This new 49" monster doesn't have an OLED panel, and its 144Hz refresh rate isn't close to the 240Hz refresh rate. That said, an ultra-wide Samsung monitor for $999 — whether you're a gamer or not — is nothing to be sniffed at.

More from Laptop Mag

• The best gaming monitors in 2024
• Best monitor deals in April 2025: Cheap, 4K, gaming, and more
• Score! Get $300 in Samsung credit when you pre-order any of these Samsung Odyssey 4K gaming monitors
• Samsung’s 3D monitor transforms how you see games and videos without using glasses
• Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED (AW2725Q) gaming monitor review: 4K gaming has never looked better

More than a decade ago, 3D TVs were all the rage thanks to the rise of 3D movies. Then they quickly faded away, as few people were willing to spend the money on a gimmick that required glasses to even make use of it.

But it looks like 3D displays are back, at least for computer monitors.

Samsung opened preorders for its 27-inch Odyssey 3D G90XF 4K 165Hz gaming monitor, and it's doing something remarkable. Instead of just displaying 3D visuals from a 3D source like a movie, it can convert almost all content, whether it be games or videos, into 3D. And it's all done without the use of 3D glasses. There is, however, a catch.

The first big catch is that the computer hooked up to the Odyssey 3D G90XF must have an Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card or better. For games, the computer must also have Samsung's Reality Hub app installed as well. And lastly, the content can't be DRM-protected.

The 3D technology uses AI to add depth to a video or game. As for how it works without glasses, the front panel of the monitor features a lenticular lens. This tracks a user's eye movement and constantly adjusts the image to give the 3D depth perception.

Samsung says it's working with game developers to make use of the technology. Two titles the tech works with are The First Berserker: Khazan, which came out last month, and Lies of P. DLC Overture, which should be out later this year.

Even without the 3D technology, the Odyssey 3D G90XF still has the features of a high-end gaming monitor, with 165Hz refresh rate, 4K resolution, and 1ms response time. It also comes with a big price tag, although Best Buy does have the price at $2,000.

3D is all the rage again.

Samsung isn't the only company coming out with 3D monitors.

Acer showed off its SpatialLabs 3D technology at last year's Computex, while Lenovo has its ThinkVision 27 3D Glasses-free monitor. It remains to be seen if these monitors will win over gamers who are willing to drop two grand on a monitor.

Those prices, however, might be going up thanks to tariffs. On April 2, President Donald Trump announced a series of tariffs on countries the U.S. trades with, causing a global economic panic that cratered markets.

Trump has since changed his stance by putting a pause on tariffs for certain countries, with China being the big exception. Tariffs on China increased to 145%.

On Friday evening, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a list of products excluded from the tariffs that includes smartphones, laptops, and computer monitors. However, on Sunday morning, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ABC News that those products being excluded from tariffs is temporary.

On April 2, President Donald Trump laid out his list of reciprocal tariffs on countries, causing a global economic panic and sending stock markets across the planet into the red. A week later, on April 9, he announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for many of the countries on the list that didn't increase their tariffs on the U.S.

This pause gave some relief to companies worldwide that trade with the U.S. and are based in those countries, or who manufacture their products in a place like Vietnam, which was looking down the barrel of a 46% tariff. Gamers in the U.S. were especially worried, as there were concerns that the price of the recently announced Nintendo Switch 2 would jump due to the tariffs after the company halted pre-orders.

Late Friday evening, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection published a list of goods that would be excluded from the new tariffs. This list is primarily tech, such as smartphones, laptops, computer processors, memory, and hard drives. There was also a significant number products related to the manufacturing of semiconductors that were also included on the list.

What tech is being excluded from tariffs?

Here's a list of the products that won't be hit with tariffs based on the U.S. Customs' list:

• Computers and related devices
• Computer parts
• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
• Smartphones
• Networking equipment
• Solid-state storage
• Recorded media
• Computer monitor
• Low-power transistors
• Other transistors
• Thyristors and triacs
• Other diodes
• Optocouplers
• Other semiconductors
• Semiconductor transducers
• Integrated circuits
• Parts of semiconductor devices

Tech isn't out of the woods yet.

While this reprieve may give tech companies like Apple and Samsung a sigh of relief, it's unclear whether this will be the end of worry over tariffs.

On Sunday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ABC News that those products being excluded from tariffs is temporary. It's unclear if Lutnick was referring to only semiconductors or all the consumer tech that was on the list, since in the interview he continued to refer to semiconductors.

Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday, reaffirming that no one is getting a break on tariffs.

There was no Tariff “exception” announced on Friday," he wrote. "We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations. "

Computer manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, and HP reportedly halted shipments of their computers earlier in the week, according to TechSpot. To beat the rush of tariffs, some companies went so far as to quickly ship a lot of their product from China.

These companies are feeling the pressure from the tariffs put on China, which has jumped to a shocking 145%. China, in turn, increased its tariffs on the U.S. in retaliation to 125%. Trump reportedly requested that Chinese President Xi Jinping call him about the tariffs.

Timing is everything.

That's the lesson lots of tech companies have learned the hard way, and among those companies is Google.

In 2013, Google released Google Glass, a pair of smart glasses that had a camera slapped on the side and even featured a tiny display embedded in the lens. In some ways, Google Glass was revolutionary: it was futuristic, ambitious, and offered a new way of computing on the fly.

Ultimately, however, the glasses were one thing above all else: loathed. Despite Google's ambition with its pair of smart glasses, the wearable was ultimately felled by concerns over privacy, a bad battery, and their lack of functionality and support.

The journey for Google Glass was a messy ride that soured the company's interest in smart glasses for years, leaving in its wake a new pejorative for anyone bold enough to put a pair on their face; "glasshole."

That's why, naturally, Google appears to have real intentions of bringing its most hated wearable back in a big way.

Google Glass: The Glassening

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Google is in talks to acquire a company called AdHawk, which makes eye-tracking software that's used in AR devices likes smart glasses.

While the deal apparently hasn't been finalized, it gives even more credence to the company's unspoken intentions of pushing back into smart glasses for the first time since Google Glass.

On one hand, that's surprising, given how poorly its experiment with smart glasses went last time around. On the other hand, there's never been a better time to resurrect tech's most infamous wearable. Hear me out.

A lot has happened between 2013 and now, especially in the world of smart glasses.

Two major differences are people's willingness to use XR as well as the overall sophistication of XR as it exists now. Look at Meta, for example.

Last year, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the company sold more than 1 million Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses. That's not exactly in the iPhone range of devices sold, but for a category that was previously untapped, it's a lot more than you'd expect.

And as an owner of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, I get it. While they aren't anywhere near the final form of what smart glasses could be, Meta's Ray-Ban glasses do a lot well: they play audio, take pictures and videos, and they squeeze all of those features into a pair of glasses that look mostly like regular Ray-Bans.

What's even more surprising is that those smart glasses are sold by a company that doesn't exactly have a big hardware presence — a company that isn't so dissimilar from Google back in 2013.

So, needless to say, Google Glass may have been too far ahead of its time to work, but this is a different world and a different Google, meaning Meta may have some real competition.

A great time for Google Glass

Google has been hinting at a Glass revival for a while now.

Last year, it teased a Gemini-powered computer vision model called Project Astra that can identify objects in your surroundings, describe things, and act as a general AI assistant.

What's even more interesting is the device on which Project Astra is being envisioned: a pair of glasses. From that demonstration alone, it's clear that Google is interested in expanding into XR.

And who could blame it? Even with the not-so-rosy history of Google Glass, tech titans have been pushing toward XR in a big way. Meta isn't the only company, either. Samsung is also rumored to be developing its own pair of XR glasses to compete with Meta's Ray-Bans.

That's exciting for several reasons. First, more big companies pursuing XR likely means more sophisticated, fun, and useful smart glasses. Second, it would mark the first time a major smartphone company is offering its own pair of smart glasses, which opens up a world of possibilities through deeper integration with your phone.

Like Samsung, Google is now a major player in the smartphone world. It could theoretically offer an equally rich experience that tightly integrates features like navigation, search, messaging, calls, and more.

And then there's AI. While I'm not convinced AI will be essential to a full-featured smart glasses experience, Meta is already pushing in that direction, and the results are at least intriguing. With computer vision through Meta AI, Meta's Ray-Ban glasses are able to describe objects in your environment, translate, or even look things up.

If Gemini were geared toward a similar goal, I don't doubt that a renewed Google Glass could offer an equal, if not better, experience.

With all of that, it's clear that Google has the ingredients to cook up a pair of smart glasses that are worth considering. Whether it can pull that off is entirely different, but the seeds are there.

I, for one, would love to see Google Glass get a second shot at turning the smart glasses narrative around and vindicate "Glassholes" of yore once and for all.

More from Laptop Mag

• VITURE Pro XR Glasses review: These AR smart glasses add a new dimension to Windows and Mac computers
• You should swap your work or gaming monitor for a pair of AR glasses, and I'm not joking
• Smart glasses make me look like the Unabomber, but that's a you problem in 2025

Project Moohan, Samsung's upcoming mixed-reality headset following in the footsteps of the Apple Vision Pro, is a real spatial computing supergroup moment for the virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality market. But is it destined for the same fate as Apple's highfalutin headset — impressive, expensive, and quick to fade from memory?

Moohan is the result of a collaboration between industry giants Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm, each bringing their own portion of expertise to the table through hardware or software.

The headset will reportedly be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2+ Gen 2 chipset, a follow-up to the XR2 Gen 2 chip found within Meta's Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets, with new rumors (via 9to5Google) suggesting it packs some premier 4K display tech to secure the edge over Apple's mixed reality visor.

However, all that comes at a cost — both in price and the risk of burying Moohan's best feature, Google's new HorizonOS and VisionOS competitor and mixed-reality platform: Android XR.

Project Moohan: The more expensive they are, the harder they fall

Despite all evidence pointing to the contrary, companies like Apple and Samsung seem convinced that what the spatial computing market really needs is a headset of such incredible value that it's to be exclusively worn on the head of bankers like a high-tech crown rather than an actual product.

The Vision Pro, with its baffling $3,500 price tag, offered some impressive specs but appeared to have no idea who it was for when it launched in February 2024.

While insiders claimed that this was more of a developer-focused introduction of the tech, Apple's own ads pushed the illusion that this was a device for the average Joe or Jane as they virtually tippy-tapped their way through immersive home movies and engaged with putty-faced digital avatars over FaceTime.

Ultimately, Apple's headset has managed to impress with a pocketful of cool features but hasn't quite lived up to the potential suggested by its price tag. It's a warning you'd expect a company like Samsung to have observed and learned from.

However, Project Moohan looks to be heading in much of the same direction, with Korean outlet The Elec reporting that Samsung is aiming to incorporate some expensive display tech to push its headset beyond the Vision Pro's specs. This includes 1.3-inch OLEDOS panels that offer a pixel density of 3,800 PPI (Pixels-per-inch), over three times that of the Meta Quest 3 (1,200 PPI) and topping that of the Vision Pro (3,400 PPI).

Samsung's desire to produce the best headset with components like this may also lead to its being the most expensive. While Samsung may be able to shave some of the costs by not selling at a 100% markup (as Apple does), that won't stop it from becoming the kind of enterprise-only headset that flags for DOGE investigations when someone tries to expense it.

Android XR: How Moohan risks burying the lead

Meanwhile, Moohan's best feature risks being buried by its ballooning spec sheet. If Samsung truly wanted to make an impact, it would be by pushing Google's new spatial computing platform, Android XR, to the forefront — and into the hands of as many as possible.

Android XR has the potential to do for VR/AR/MX systems what Android did for smartphones. It offers an open ecosystem that breaks free from Apple and Meta's walled gardens, promoting a platform that all developers can take advantage of and that users of many different products within this market may benefit from.

However, if Samsung instead opts to chase what's flash for cash, Android XR's grand introduction may feel like a behind-closed-doors event, exclusive to the members of a big club, that most people aren't in or invited to.

The Vision Pro made mixed reality feel like an exclusive piece of tech far out of the reach of many. Meta's Quest headsets have gone some way to reversing that opinion, with much of that owed to the Quest 3S' impeccable $299 price tag. Samsung's Moohan looks to drag things back in the polar opposite direction. when what the spatial computing world needs right now, is a product everyone can get excited for.

Mixed reality needs momentum, not another overpriced executive tech demo. Moohan may be a move that costs Samsung the chance of leading this market but it could be a great opportunity for others to take the ball and run with it.

More from Laptop Mag

• Here's a brief look at Samsung's new XR headset
• One crucial feature could give Samsung an early victory over Apple in the headset wars
• Samsung's Moohan mixed reality headset eyes the Vision Pro, but should be targeting Meta Quest 3 and 3S

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is truly at the bleeding edge of performance for Windows on Arm laptops, challenging some of the best laptops overall, even powerhouses like the MacBook Pro M4.

That's in addition to one of Samsung's consistently excellent touchscreen AMOLED displays, a thin-and-light chassis for a 16-inch laptop, and Galaxy AI features that complement the Microsoft Copilot+ suite. The positives for the Book 4 Edge are building up fast.

But all that speed comes at a cost, and no, I'm not talking about the $1,749 retail price of the configuration we reviewed.

The Book 4 Edge's battery life falls short of our expectations, and when you push that impressive performance, the chassis heats up to an uncomfortable degree.

However, all is not lost for the Galaxy Book 4 Edge if you like the rest of what it offers. Read on for a complete picture of my time with Samsung's speedster.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Specs and benchmarks

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Price and configurations

I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge, which has a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1-84-100 processor, Qualcomm Adreno integrated GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 AMOLED touchscreen display. This is the top-end configuration for the 16-inch model. The full listed price is $1,749 directly from Samsung, but there’s an instant $300 savings, so you’ll pay only $1,449.

If you want to save money and still want the 16-inch display like my review model, you can upgrade to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1-80-100 CPU and 512GB SSD, which costs $1,449 ($1,149 with the same instant savings). That’s the mid-tier Snapdragon X Elite processor, so that the performance will fall slightly. However, based on our experience with this chip in other laptops, you should benefit from less heat concerns and longer battery life.

The Book 4 Edge also has a 15.6-inch FHD LED Display (1920 x 1080), the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. At $899 ($799 with an instant discount), it’s considerably cheaper, but the display and CPU are significantly downgraded. If you need to stay below $1,000, this configuration is worth considering, but the display and CPU upgrade make the base 16-inch configuration the best value.

If the Galaxy Book 4 Edge doesn’t fit your budget or needs, you can check our best 16-inch laptops or best AI PCs for some of our favorite alternatives.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Design

Samsung calls the color of the Galaxy Book 4 Edge “Sapphire Blue,” but I would be shocked if 100 out of 100 people surveyed on the street wouldn’t say it was silver. Regardless, it’s still a welcome break from the tired dark grey. The design of the Book 4 Edge otherwise sticks closely to that same Samsung look. Galaxy laptops have worn it like a comfortable sweater for several years, but it still looks good. The laptop flares slightly at the back to allow for the ports but tapers toward the front, which also makes it easier to pick up off a table.

Inside, there are minimal bezels on the top and sides, while the bottom bezel remains thicker than you might expect in 2025. I suspect that other components within the laptop chassis may be driving the size decision, but if the whole laptop could be reduced slightly along with that bezel, it would be a welcome change for the next generation.

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge falls on the lighter end of the scale for 16-inch laptops, at 3.38 pounds, and is pleasingly portable at 14 x 9.85 x 0.48 inches. That’s comparable to its rivals, with the exception of the HP Spectre x360, but that is a 2-in-1:

• HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): 4.3 pounds, 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.44 inches
• MacBook Air 15-inch M3: 3.3 pounds, 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches
• Asus Zenbook S16 UM5606: 3.3 pounds, 13.92 x 9.57 x 0.51 inches

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Ports

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge has all the typical ports most users need, but I have one complaint about their specific arrangement.

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Type-C
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
• 1 x HDMI 2.1
• 1 x headphone mic/jack
• 1 x microSD card slot

Credit to Samsung for not dropping the USB Type-A or HDMI 2.1 port in a laptop this thin and light. However, I would like a Thunderbolt 4 port on both sides of the laptop so that I can charge from either side. It’s not that Samsung doesn’t provide a long enough charging cable; I’d just prefer not to stretch the cable around the laptop depending on where I’m working, as it puts unnecessary stress on the cable.

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge isn’t short on ports, but if you need more, our best USB Type-C hubs or best laptop docking stations guides can help.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Battery life

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge’s battery life is an anomaly among the first wave of ARM-based Windows laptops that arrived in the summer of 2024, and that’s not a good thing.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite laptops were among the first to completely shift the standard for good battery life in a Windows laptop. At the time of publication, the longest-lasting laptop on our laptops with the best battery life page is the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1-78-100 chip, it delivered over 21 hours of battery life in our testing.

On the same Laptop Mag battery test, which involves surfing a set group of websites with video and static images while the display is set at 150 nits of brightness, the Galaxy Book 4 Edge lasted an average of 9 hours and 56 minutes. The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 isn’t as powerful as the Book 4 Edge, but it delivers over twice the battery life and only about a 9% drop in performance. I recently covered five powerful laptops that deliver over 15 hours of battery life to highlight that you simply don’t need to trade performance for battery life in 2025.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Display

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge features a 16-inch, WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800) touchscreen AMOLED display. A Samsung AMOLED display has yet to disappoint me. Watching the latest Marvel series on the Book 4 Edge was a pleasure.

I watched the first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+ for my real-world testing, and the thematically and visually dark show played to the OLED panel’s strengths. A close up of Charlie Cox as Daredevil with his face half in darkness and half bathed in red light retains fantastic detail. It illustrates the incredible color and contrast capabilities of this display.

Reproduction of the dark doesn’t mean this display can’t get bright. In our testing, it registered a solid 387 nits, so I could work in any environment with the Book 4 Edge. It passed my typical torture test of working next to an east-facing floor-to-ceiling window in the morning at my local coffee shop with flying colors.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Keyboard and touchpad

Samsung makes full use of the 16-inch chassis on the Galaxy Book 4 Edge, giving you an absolutely massive touchpad paired with a full-size keyboard and number pad.

While the key travel is fairly shallow, I found the keys bouncy and quick to type on. Turning to 10fastfingers.com to test my typing performance, I hit 92 words per minute with 99% accuracy. I slightly outperformed my average of 88 words per minute with 99% accuracy. That short key travel is not ideal if you spend all day typing. Our best laptops for writers include alternatives with up to 1.5mm key travel.

The touchpad measures 4.2 x 5.9 inches, which may be larger than it needs to be. However, touch rejection works effectively as I didn’t get any stray cursor movement while typing, and it makes Windows 11 gestures a breeze by allowing my fingers to glide smoothly over its surface. While I’m happy to use a touchpad on the go, I still like to pair one of the best wireless mice with my laptop when I can, but that comes down to personal preference.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Audio

The quad-speakers on the Galaxy Book 4 Edge create a solid soundscape, but aren’t as loud as I hoped. They filled my small 10’ x 7’ office, but at 100%, the audio does perceptibly distort, so you need to scale back slightly. Listening to my typical playlist of Creative Writing Scores, “S.T.A.Y.” from the Interstellar soundtrack sounded crisp and clear at about 85% volume, but pushing beyond that diminished the quality while still not completely enveloping the room in sound.

While the built-in speakers are perfectly fine for casual use, if you’re regularly trying to enjoy audio content through your Galaxy Book 4 Edge, I’d recommend picking up a pair of the best wireless headphones or best computer speakers for a superior listening experience.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Performance and heat

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is one of the few laptops to offer the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1-84-100 chip, which makes for blistering fast performance, but it may have you blistering too.

For years, Windows-on-ARM laptops were hampered by the weak performance of available ARM-based chips. That was finally put to rest with the arrival of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite in June of 2024.

The productivity performance of even the lowest X Elite chip is outstanding. While it isn’t a fitting comparison for other reasons, the Book 4 Edge’s top-of-the-line X Elite chip also beat the 14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro (and the newer 14-inch MacBook Pro M4) in the Geekbench overall performance test.

My laptop usage is a malstrom of multitasking with dozens of Chrome tabs across at least a few windows alongside Asana for task management, Slack for communication, and typically Photoshop. While it isn’t going to claim a spot among our best laptops for Photoshop or best video editing laptops, it dealt with my casual Photoshop usage without slowdowns.

Now, we get to the downside of all this performance muscle. One of the highlights of most Snapdragon X Elite laptops is their power efficiency, which typically rivals or surpasses Apple Silicon, representing the gold standard for that metric since 2020.

However, for fans of Greek mythology, Qualcomm may have flown too close to the sun, like Icarus. Its most powerful chip is a little too hot to handle.

The hottest temperature our lab testers recorded following a 15-minute video test was 112 degrees Fahrenheit behind the vent on the bottom right-center portion of the laptop. That’s well beyond our 95-degree comfort threshold. However, we see gaming laptops pass our much more rigorous gaming heat test with results lower than that.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Gaming and graphics

Do not buy this laptop with gaming or graphics work in mind. This is one clear weakness for the first generation Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips. You can look at our best gaming laptops or cheap gaming laptops for stronger options, including a few that are at or below the Galaxy Book 4 Edge price.

Our only gaming test that would run on the Galaxy Book 4 Edge is the Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark, and it delivered only 24 frames per second (30 fps is the minimum for playability). Civ 6 wasn’t even intensive when it debuted in February 2019, so unless your gaming sticks to much older titles, this isn’t the laptop for you.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: AI features

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge gets a full scoop of AI with the full Copilot+ PC suite of AI features and then sprinkles Galaxy AI features on top of the AI sundae.

If you've been shopping for a laptop online, you've undoubtedly seen ads for Copilot+ PCs AI features or AI features in general, but if you are currently on an older laptop, they may not be part of your routine just yet.

Samsung has a few features that are exclusive to its laptops, including Circle to Search, AI Select, Photo Remaster, and Chat Assist. The first two make searching the web on your laptop easier by allowing you to circle or highlight an image or text onscreen to search for information regarding that content. Photo Remaster tries to unblur hastily snapped photos, while Chat Assist gives you spelling and grammar help in Messages.

The Book 4 Edge also supports all of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC features. This includes Recall, which essentially records the activity on your laptop to help you find anything you've seen or done in the future.

If you need help creating an image, Microsoft's Cocreator will do it with a text prompt, allowing you to refine it as you go. Live Captions can translate audio from over 40 languages into English. Finally, Windows Studio Effects augments your laptop's webcam with extras like portrait lighting, automatic framing, and improved voice isolation.

One oft-ignored key to some AI features is that they offload tasks from your CPU. For example, using Windows Studio Effects won't impact your laptop's performance, which is a win for everyone.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Webcam

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge features a 2MP webcam, and it is no threat to the best webcams, which you will want to buy if you regularly do video calls. Turning the camera on in my well-lit office, the image was grainy and even had a slight blur or haze.

The colors are accurate, but the camera simply can’t produce a sharp, satisfying image. That's not a problem if you're using it occasionally for personal calls, but if you ever have more important video calling needs, you’ll want an external webcam.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: Software and warranty

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge comes with Windows 11 Home or Pro, which includes the typical array of Windows software, but Samsung really adds to the tally.

There are an additional 19 Samsung apps when you first boot up the laptop. To be clear, some of these apps, like Samsung Notes, are quite good, so I’m not calling these bloatware by any means, and you can uninstall most of them if you prefer to keep your laptop storage tidy.

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge ships with a typical one-year limited warranty, but it can be extended with Samsung Care+ or Samsung Care+: Extended Warranty, starting at $99.

Bottom line

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge may be the fastest thin-and-light Windows laptop we've ever tested, which is an incredible feat. However, this is not enough to overcome the poor battery life and thermal performance.

It simply doesn't have enough of a performance edge on the best AI PCs to justify its significantly lower battery life, and truly, you do not want to touch the bottom of this laptop when it's going all out.

Again, there's more to like here than just the performance. The display is outstanding, the keyboard is fast, and if you're in the Samsung ecosystem, it melds seamlessly with your phone or tablet.

But if you do opt for the Book 4 Edge, I strongly recommend the base model. It will unquestionably deliver longer battery life in exchange for a negligible dropoff in performance.

If you're unsure if it's the right choice for you, then consider checking our best laptops page for our current top recommendations across numerous categories.

The Discover Samsung Spring sale is here, and with it comes tremendous discounts on gaming monitors if you shop via Samsung. We found three outstanding deals on large-screen Samsung Odyssey gaming monitors, including a 34-inch OLED model that comes with a free Samsung 4K monitor. If gaming monitors aren't your thing, you can shop the whole sale for discounts on every category from Samsung.

The deepest monitor discount comes on the 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd Generation 4K Curved Monitor now $1,799 at Samsung. That's a massive $1,099 discount from the usual $2,899 price. We've seen this model drop a little lower in price during last May's Samsung sale, but this is 2025, and that's a terrific discount on a great mini-LED curved monitor. This display pivots from horizontal to vertical, has a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and can display up to four inputs easily thanks to the built-in KVM switch for sharing your mouse and keyboard among devices. Buy now to get an extra $50 of Samsung credit to use on your next Samsung.com purchase.

Arguably an even better deal is this limited time offer on the 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED Ultra-WQHD now $784 at Samsung. That's $814 off the usual price for this widescreen curved OLED monitor, plus right now it comes with a free 32-inch Samsung ViewFinity S7 (S70D) 4K monitor, itself a $399 value.

Our final pick is the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7, now $599 at Samsung. This model was $100 less on day one of Samsung's sale, but it's still a solid $500 discount from its usual $1,099 price. This 4K mini-LED curved gaming monitor has a 165Hz refresh time and a 1ms response time.

Act fast to grab these deals while they last at Samsung, especially if you're interested in the Odyssey G8 OLED + free ViewFinity S7 monitor deal. As the Odyssey Neo G7's sale pricing shows, Discover Samsung's deepest discounts don't last long.

Today's best Samsung gaming monitor deals

Rumors of Apple's foldable iPhone have been circulating for several years, first appearing in the news in 2017. Since then, whispers of its existence have occasionally sprouted, but recent leaks suggest that we're finally reaching a point where its launch is imminent.

A post last month from Digital Chat Station claimed that the dimensions of its two screens had been leaked. In its folded state, the screen would be 5.49 inches, but once it's unfolded, it reveals a 7.74-inch inner screen. The account also claimed that we could expect the phone within the next year or two, so it's rumored to be on the horizon.

Another report came on Thursday, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors) predicting the device will be priced at over $2,000 or potentially up to $2,500. Keep in mind, this figure is likely referring to the starting price, meaning its more luxurious configurations could get even more expensive.

He also corroborates the leak from last month, predicting that the device will have a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display. Other predictions include mass production beginning Q4 2026, 9-9.5mm thickness when folded, 4.5-4.8mm thickness when unfolded, and the device will be made with a mix of stainless steel (only in the hinge) and titanium alloy (some in hinge, and all in the casing).

While some might find this announcement exciting, all I see is more proof that the Apple tax is real and it might continue to fail. If people weren't convinced by the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro, what makes Apple think they'll invest in a $2,500 foldable iPhone, especially when there are far cheaper alternatives?

$2,500 for a foldable iPhone sounds absolutely absurd

Would you spend $2,500 on a foldable iPhone? There is definitely a market of consumers that would, but will it be any more significant than those who invested in the Apple Vision Pro?

According to The Information, the device was reportedly taken out of production as a result of reduced demand. Apple is apparently focusing on trying to develop a less expensive headset for its next generation.

While some might not think the Meta Quest 3 is comparable to the Apple Vision Pro, how can the latter's $3,500 price tag possibly expect to compete with the former's availability for as low as $499?

Applying this to foldable phones reveals the same truth: You can get a foldable or flip phone for far less than $2,500, so beyond just loyalty to Apple, what reason would someone have to spend nearly $1,000 more on a similar product?

Look at products like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, which starts as low as $1,099. To be fair, it is a flip phone and not necessarily the same book-style foldable phone that Apple is making. But even if we look at the Galaxy Z Fold6, its starting price of $1,599 is significantly less than the predicted price of Apple's foldable.

Apple has done a good job with both MacBook and iPhone at creating competitively priced products. While they're definitely not cheap, they're not so expensive that buyers feel they're suffering under the weight of the fabled Apple tax.

According to Tim Cook in a Wired interview, Apple Vision Pro was reportedly meant to be an "early adopter product." However, this doesn't change the fact that it wasn't quite as successful as expected and was wildly overpriced compared to its primary mixed reality rival, the Meta Quest 3. It's entirely possible that Apple's foldable iPhone will face a similar fate at such a steep price.

More from Laptop Mag

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Many companies bring out their wildest and wackiest concepts for tradeshows, and MWC 2025 was no different.

Lenovo had multiple laptop concepts: the Yoga Solar PC, the ThinkBook "Flip," a 3D-screen laptop, and a multi-screen concept for the Lenovo MagicBay ecosystem.

MediaTek and Xiaomi focused on the autonomous vehicle trend for MWC, and Anker opted for a solar-powered jacket concept that would charge devices from the built-in solar cells.

Samsung brought out Project Moohan but kept the highly anticipated headset behind glass at the company's main booth for the show.

But Samsung's Display team wasn't to be outdone. Between screens that crumpled and bulged to trifold smartphones, to a foldable handheld, the Samsung Display booth was a wonder for the eyes and a nightmare for my brain.

While I understand that many of my tech colleagues were fascinated by the Samsung Flip Gaming handheld concept, I can't stop looking at it for all the wrong reasons.

I have so many thoughts about this handheld

The Flip Gaming handheld concept is a foldable gaming handheld that utilizes Samsung's foldable OLED technology.

From a conceptual perspective, it makes sense for Samsung's display team to put foldable displays in all possible devices. Plus, Samsung manufactures the OLED screens used in the Steam Deck OLED.

And everyone loves gaming handhelds, so obviously, the Flip Gaming was going to find a solid audience at a mobile tech show.

But the Flip Gaming, unfortunately, looks like it's a pre-broken Nintendo Switch.

The D-pad and action buttons are designed to be circular, with open holes to allow the joysticks to slot into the opening at the opposite side once the handheld is closed.

While it makes sense to let the handheld fold flat, I can't help but think the gaping holes in between key control buttons on a handheld would be an absolute disaster while gaming.

The bright green and yellow colors and square buttons on the bottom of the handheld's handgrips aren't helping the Nintendo comparisons, considering the design of the Switch 2.

But perhaps my biggest issue with understanding the Flip Gaming is the foldable display. Sure, a handheld that can fold in half is theoretically more portable, but it doesn't offer much of a value to the handheld to have the screen fold in half.

Foldable smartphones at least have a front-facing display when folded, so you still have some phone functionality with the device folded. Samsung's Z Fold has a full display, while the Flip has a half-display that works more like the flip phones of the early 2000s.

But the Flip Gaming concept doesn't add anything to your gaming experience by folding, except offering a distracting crease in the middle and putting a shiny new failure point in the handheld design.

Samsung Display had several foldable concepts at MWC

The Flip Gaming concept was far from Samsung's only MWC concept. The Samsung Display booth also featured the Flex G and Flex S tri-fold smartphone concepts, which would theoretically give you a massive tablet-sized display when fully unfolded.

Combined together, all of the concepts at the Samsung Display booth reminded me of the phrase "just because you can, it doesn't mean you should."

Sure, you get a larger main display with the Flex concepts, and they have the same number of screens as the existing Fold and Flip phones. However, the trifold concepts add another hinge, offering another failure point and crease. They also increase the carrying footprint of the Fold by making it 3x as thick as a standard smartphone, while the Fold is just 2x the thickness.

Much like a trifold wallet, sometimes you just have to accept that fewer folds are better.

Then again, what are trade shows for except housing bonkers tech concepts? And the Flip Gaming certainly fits the bill as a wacky tradeshow concept idea.

Who knows, maybe if enough people think a foldable handheld is a good idea, Samsung will make an actual production model of the Flip Gaming handheld.

More from Laptop Mag

• MWC 2025: The best products to debut at Barcelona's iconic tech expo
• My Steam Deck 2 dreams just got crushed, now I have to crush yours too
• The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE just leaked and it might make you cancel your M3 iPad Air preorder

Portable tech in all forms takes center stage at the Mobile World Congress, an annual expo held in Barcelona, Spain. Whether it's the latest and greatest in laptops or the next wearable wonder, it can all be found across the MWC showroom floor.

At this year's event, we searched booth to booth to find the best tech on display, looking to award the products that stood head and shoulders above the rest with our Laptop Laurels, a signifier of quality, potential, and innovation in the tech space.

Our search wasn't in vain. Toss a rock in the bustling halls of MWC and you're practically guaranteed to hit a booth showcasing the potential next big thing in tech. From personal robots (and their pet dogs) to AR glasses that bring the big screen experience with you wherever you go, we saw it all.

But when it came to the best of the best, these products caught our attention above all others.

Welcome to the Laptop Mag MWC 2025 special issue! Read on to find out which devices we presented with our Laptop Laurels awards at MWC 2025.

MWC 2025: Laptop Laurels winners

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Gen 10

Best laptop debut

Lenovo’s Yoga Pro line is a favorite at Laptop Mag, and the new 10th Generation Yoga Pro continues the tradition of offering a powerful creator laptop in a slim, stylish package with a fantastic display and a great keyboard.

The Yoga Pro 9i (Gen 10) Aura Edition, offers a solid update to the CPU and GPU of the Yoga Pro and continues to deliver with Lenovo’s brilliant build quality — including the kind of excellent keyboard and display combo that resonates with the Laptop Mag staff. (Read more)

Lenovo Yoga Solar

Best concept debut

Sustainability is near and dear to our hearts, and the Yoga Solar PC Laptop Concept showcased at this year's Mobile World Congress expo is a fascinating look at how recent advances in solar technology and ultra-efficient processors intersect to make a laptop that is nearly self-sustaining in broad daylight.

While it's not the first solar-powered laptop we've ever seen (RIP Sol), it is an impressive revival of that concept that seems all the more fitting as companies chase down ways to minimize carbon footprints and bolster battery efficiency beyond making sure your devices come in recyclable boxes. (Read more)

Mudra Link

Best wearable debut

So much of the way we interact with our tech requires the usual suspect of interfaces, be that the click of a mouse, the tap of a keyboard, or the poking and swiping of our digits. But the future of tech interaction could be wildly different, like looking to tap into the signals from your brain for interaction cues.

That all sounds wildly sci-fi, but it's real. It's how Meta hopes to eventually handle control of its future Orion glasses. However, while Meta is busy promising this tech's arrival in the future, one company is bringing it to you right now. And it's doing so through the Mudra Link — our pick for the best wearable debut at MWC 2025. (Read more)

Samsung 500Hz QD-OLED panel

Best monitor debut

OLED displays have always been known as a great panel for gaming thanks to their near-instant response times and HDR-friendly pixel-by-pixel lighting with perfect contrasts. However, the slower refresh rates of most OLED panels made it difficult to sell a QD-OLED display to most gamers.

That said, QD-OLED is well on its way to getting over that hurdle. With refresh rates firmly on the rise, QD-OLED displays might just be on their way to becoming a gaming essential, and Samsung is leading the way with its latest breakthrough in display tech. (Read more)

Intel AI Assistant Builder

Best AI debut

Chatbots aren’t new, and they’re not always flashy. However, chat-based AI is on the rise, and Intel’s AI Assistant Builder, formerly known as Project SuperBuilder, intends to simplify the process of building and training a custom, small on-device AI assistant.

It could revolutionize how OEMs provide technical support, help you do away with those lengthy car manuals, and add a touch of human-like flair to just about any product. Can you imagine an AI talking you through your next IKEA build? We can, and we think that's just crazy enough to be considered brilliant. (Read more)

Samsung's spring sale features enhanced device trade-in deals that can save you hundreds on your upgrade. If you've been waiting for a price break on the sporty Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, your patience just paid off.

Right now, you can snag the Galaxy Watch Ultra for as low as $249 via Samsung's trade-in offer. Take up to $400 off instantly at checkout for your old Samsung, Apple, or Garmin watch. This is an excellent deal considering the Galaxy Watch normally costs $649.

Browse: Discover Samsung's spring sale deal.s

To receive the maximum credit, trade in a Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, Apple Watch Ultra, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 in good cosmetic and working condition. You'll get a trade-in mail-in kit with your order to send your watch in for inspection.

If you don't have an eligible smartwatch to swap, you can get the Galaxy Watch Ultra for $489 ($160 off). While it's not as massive as the trade-in discount, it's still a decent savings.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is one of the best smartwatches for Android users, Galaxy phone owners especially. It's a great companion device for the latest Galaxy S25, previous-gen Galaxy S24, and their predecessors.

Sister site Tom's Guide tested and rated the Galaxy Watch Ultra and gave it a solid 4 out of 5 stars. They said it's "the sportiest, longest-lasting Samsung watch yet, prioritizing training and fitness features with AI insights."

So if you're looking for a rugged sportswatch to help you achieve your health and fitness goals, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a solid buy.

Samsung's spring sale ends on March 9, so I recommend you grab this Galaxy Watch Ultra deal while you still can.

Today's best Galaxy Watch Ultra deal

Currently, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro is on sale for $1,149 ($200 off) for Discover Samsung Week. Our team of laptop experts tested and rated the Galaxy Book 5 Pro a solid 4 out of 55 stars. In our review, we praise its bright, vivid touchscreen, AI features, and more than 12 hours of battery life. Though it falls short in multitasking, its Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 chip delivers snappy performance for everyday computing.

If you want a laptop that can flip, fold, and convert like a Transformer, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 is on sale for $1,449 ($250 off). We took it for a spin and in our Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 hands-on review, praising its remarkable thin and lightweight design. Also impressive was the laptop's sturdy, convertible hinge design and battery life, which lasted 14 hours during our testing.

Samsung granted the biggest discount on the sale of our beloved Galaxy Book 4 Ultra. This Laptop Mag Editor's Choice Award-winning laptop is down to $1,749 for a limited time. It's the lowest price I've seen for this RTX 4050 laptop in a while and undercuts Best Buy's current price by $150.

If you're shopping around for a 16-inch touchscreen laptop for multitasking, creating, and gaming, the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra won't disappoint.

These are just a few of my favorite laptops from Samsung's spring sale. See the 5 best Galaxy Book deals below.

Today's best Samsung Galaxy Book deals

If you've had your eye on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus but its price gave you cause to pause, I bring good news. For a limited time, you can nab the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus for half off during Samsung's spring savings event.

Right now, you can get yourself the 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S10 Plus with S Pen for as low as $499 via Samsung's trade-in offer. It normally costs $999, so with $500 in savings and one of the best tablet deals of the day.

Here's how to save 50% on the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus

Scroll down Galaxy Tab S10 Plus's landing page under Samsung Trade-in, select "Yes". If you have a Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, or Galaxy Z Fold 6 to trade in, Samsung will take $500 off the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus at checkout.

You'll get the full trade-in value if your device is in good cosmetic and working condition, which drops the price of the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus to just $499. If you're switching from Apple, swapping a 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th to 6th gen), iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone Pro Max in good condition will also get you a $500 discount.

If you don't have a device to trade in, select "No" under Samsung Trade-in, and the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus can be yours for $869 ($130 off).

While we didn't get a chance to this this exact tablet, we took its 14.6-inch sibling for a spin. In our hands-on Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra review, we liked its quick, reactive performance, gorgeous display, and light, portable design. We're also fans of DeX support, which enables a desktop experience via monitor or TV. Plus, the included S Pen was useful for taking notes, sketching, and marking up documents.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus packs the same hardware and attributes as the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Just about the only key difference is that it has a smaller 12.4-inch screen size.

At up to 50% off, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is a tremendous value for the price. It's a wise choice if you want a versatile device that lets you get things done, stream content, and game from anywhere.

Samsung's spring sale ends March 9.

Today's best Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus deal

I was excited when the latest Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro landed on my doorstep to review, but its price creates a certain expectation, and its competition is as fierce as ever. Would I be impressed again?

There’s a lot to love about the Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Features like the touchscreen AMOLED display are as outstanding as I’ve come to expect from Samsung, and the 3.44-pound chassis is delightfully light for a 16-inch laptop. Gaming and graphics performance gets a noticeable bump from the newer Intel Arc integrated graphics. And finally, Samsung also gives you a double helping of AI with its own Galaxy AI stacked on top of Microsoft Copilot+.

However, a few drawbacks will keep the Galaxy Book 5 Pro from taking a top spot in our best laptops guide: The multitasking performance from the Intel Lunar Lake processor isn’t as snappy as I’d hope. While your mileage may vary regarding the limited keyboard key travel, the webcam and lack of facial recognition for Windows Hello login are nothing but disappointing.

Starting at $1,449, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro falls squarely in the premium laptop range, so the expectations are high, and the competition from other laptops in this category is ferocious. However, not everyone shares the same priorities on laptops, so let’s look closer at the Galaxy Book 5 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Specs and benchmarks

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Price and configurations

I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, an Intel Arc 140V GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 AMOLED touchscreen display. This is the mid-tier configuration for the 16-inch model, and it’s available for $1,649 directly from Samsung. At the time of publication, if you have a laptop from most major brands to trade in, you can get up to $500 off, though more common situations will see you get about $300. These enhanced trade-in values are only good for a limited time on new Samsung laptops.

As is typically the case with Samsung, you have limited configuration options. For example, dropping to a 512GB SSD will save you $200 ($1,449), and upgrading to 32GB of RAM while keeping the 1TB SSD will cost an additional $100 ($1,749) compared to our review unit.

The $200 premium for the 1TB SSD is an outlandish upcharge. I recommend sticking to the base model or jumping to the top configuration for the best value. If you don’t have a trade-in or the Galaxy Book 5 Pro isn’t on sale, it’s a premium-priced product. If it’s more than your budget will allow, look at our best Ultrabooks and 16-inch laptops, which include some more affordable choices.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Design

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro features a dark grey, traditional minimalist laptop design. Without the prismatic Samsung logo on the lid, you would be hard-pressed to differentiate it from at least a dozen other laptops on the market at a glance.

That may sound like a criticism, but it’s hard to argue that Samsung shouldn’t stick with a familiar design that people are used to. It just works.. The laptop is relatively thin and lightweight, and the beveled edge on the bottom means it's comfortable in your lap if a desk isn’t handy. If the exterior color bores you, consider picking up a laptop skin to liven things up.

On the inside, the display has fairly minimal bezels at the top and sides, but the bottom bezel is thicker than seems warranted. I have no doubt there are engineering or cost reasons why it wasn’t done, but Samsung could have shaved another half inch off the bottom bezel and the bottom of the laptop itself.

The Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro is impressively light at 3.44 pounds, but not quite as thin as expected at 14 x 9.93 x 0.5 inches. Here’s how that compares to some of its rivals:

• HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): 4.3 pounds, 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.44 inches
• MacBook Air 15-inch M3: 3.3 pounds, 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches
• Asus ProArt P16 (2024): 4.08 pounds, 13.97 x 9.72 x 0.59 inches

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Ports

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro should satisfy most people, although I wish there had been one change to its arrangement.

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Type-C
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
• 1 x HDMI 2.1
• 1 x headphone mic/jack
• 1 x microSD card slot

While you can quibble about whether it’s preferable to have a full-size SD card slot over a microSD, the one change I would have liked is having a Thunderbolt 4 port on both sides of the laptop for greater charging flexibility. Instead, Samsung stuck them both on the left side, so particularly when on the go, you may find yourself stretching the cord around the back of your laptop to charge.

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro offers a good-enough port array for a non-gaming laptop, but if you need more ports, our best USB Type-C hubs or best laptop docking stations guides can help.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Battery life

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro, which debuted last fall, is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V “Lunar Lake” processor, a chipset focusing on efficiency, which is good news for battery life.

Samsung put a 76.1Wh battery in the Galaxy Book 5 Pro, likely to maintain the light size and weight compared to many of its 16-inch competitors that are carrying a 99.9Wh battery inside. However, the trade-off was likely worth it, as you should still have no trouble making it through a typical day with this laptop. My standard workday has me juggling dozens of Chrome tabs, Photoshop, Asana, and Slack. Even at full brightness, I have battery life to spare at the end of the workday.

On the Laptop Mag battery test, which involves surfing a set group of websites with video and static images while the display is set at 150 nits of brightness, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro lasted 12 hours and 25 minutes. That’s not enough for it to challenge for a spot among our laptops with the best battery life, but it holds up well against its nearest competitors.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Security and durability

For the privacy-conscious, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro offers the typical array of Windows 11 security features and a discrete security chip that is part of the Samsung Knox platform to ensure your laptop’s safety from a chip level.

You have a fingerprint scanner on the power button for secure sign-in, but I miss facial recognition for Windows Hello login. I’m surprised Samsung still hasn’t integrated Windows Hello login into its laptops, the company has vast experience with it on the mobile side with its Samsung Galaxy phones. However, the fingerprint reader is reliable and quick, so it’s not something that I would let sway my purchasing decision.

The Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro doesn’t boast specific durability testing ratings, such as the common MIL-STD 810. Still, the chassis feels sturdy despite the laptop's thin profile, and there is no noticeable flexing or bending. An outright drop onto a hard surface likely won’t be kind to the aluminum chassis, but it should hold up fine to typical usage with the occasional bump and scrape in your laptop bag.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Display

The Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro features a 16-inch, WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800) touchscreen AMOLED display. Samsung is renowned for its displays, so it was no surprise to see the colors positively popping off the screen when I powered the Book 5 Pro on.

Obviously, this is most advantageous when watching videos. I watched the new 2025 Superman trailer to gauge how well it reproduced the much brighter version of Superman gracing the theaters this summer. The classic blue and red suit stood out prominently against the snowy backdrop, but what I noticed even more was how well the Galaxy Book handled gradients. In darker scenes, I could see an awkward blending of colors on my other monitors, while the Galaxy Book made it all seamless.

Brightness was similarly strong, with an average of 381 nits, which holds up well against anything but direct sunlight. I worked directly against a window at a local coffee shop on a sunny day (a rare thing in Wisconsin in February), and I never had any issues seeing the display.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Keyboard and touchpad

The Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro gives you an expansive touchpad and a full-size keyboard with a number pad, making full use of the larger chassis afforded a 16-inch laptop.

However, the thin chassis dictates that the key travel is limited, meaning you can’t depress the keys very far. This can be an issue when it comes to accuracy, which in turn can slow down your typing speed. I ran into this while testing on 10fastfingers.com, only reaching 82 words per minute with 97% accuracy. That’s below my average 88 words per minute at 99% accuracy. I’m sure this would improve over weeks and months with the Book 5 Pro, but if a great typing experience is of paramount importance to you, I’d recommend looking at our best laptops for writers to find better alternatives.

The massive touchpad measures 4.4 x 6.1 inches, offering smooth navigation and a satisfying click. This is about as large a canvas as you can ask for Windows 11 gestures, so you’ll have no trouble with even four-finger swipes. Depending on your needs, you may still want to invest in one of the best wireless mice, but this is as good a trackpad experience as you’ll find.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Audio

The bottom-firing speakers on the Galaxy Book 5 Pro are loud and deliver reasonable audio quality, but the best computer speakers will blow them away. Listening to my typical playlist of Creative Writing Scores, the swelling instrumentals easily filled my small office, but the soundscape is limited, so don’t expect to feel immersed in your audio with these speakers alone.

Whether you enjoy bass-heavy music, a more three-dimensional audio experience, or are regularly in shared environments, investing in wireless headphones will pay dividends for your ears.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Performance and heat

An Intel Lunar Lake processor powers Samsung’s Galaxy Book 5 Pro, precisely the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V. After reviewing several laptops with the chipset, we know what to expect from Lunar Lake since it debuted in 2024. Performance takes a backseat to battery life. That doesn’t mean you can’t churn through tasks with it. I spent days using the Galaxy Book 5 Pro and could carry out my work, but there are some caveats.

The primary trade-off with Lunar Lake is reduced multi-core performance compared to its competitors. This predominantly impacts more complex apps, like Photoshop, or if you juggle numerous apps simultaneously. I’m guilty of both, so Lunar Lake isn’t an ideal fit for me, but if you focus on one app at a time or largely web browsing and productivity apps, you’ll never experience any slowdowns. I loaded up my typical array of a dozen Google Chrome tabs in two windows without stuttering or dropped frames. However, piling on five tabs of YouTube videos playing at 1080p while playing YouTube Music created some stuttering.

If you have more aggressive performance needs for tasks like content creation, consider one of the best laptops for Photoshop or video editing. I want to be clear: it’s not that the Galaxy Book 5 Pro can’t do these tasks, so if it's only an occasional thing for you, then you’ll be fine, but there are comparably priced and even cheaper alternatives that are better suited to that sort of work.

Beyond battery life, the other positive impact of its power-sipping processor is that the Galaxy Book 5 Pro keeps its cool; the hottest temperature our lab testers recorded following a 15-minute video test was 86.8 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly below our 95-degree comfort threshold.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Gaming and graphics

While integrated graphics are improving, you will not mistake the Galaxy Book 5 Pro for one of the best gaming laptops or cheap gaming laptops. Unless your gaming consists largely of emulators, indies, or AAA titles from several years ago, this isn’t the laptop for your gaming needs.

It performed well in the Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark, managing 61 frames per second. To put that in perspective, that expansion debuted in February 2019, so if you have a Steam Library consisting of titles from the turn of the decade, the Book 5 Pro could knock the dust off those, but don’t expect much more.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: AI features

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro gets two dollops of AI with Samsung’s own Galaxy AI adding to the Copilot+ PC suite of AI features from Microsoft.

AI adoption is rising, but even if it’s not part of your workflow, it’s worth looking at some features. It’s a safe bet that you won’t use all of them, but it’s equally safe to bet that there’s at least one or two that could save you time, whether this laptop is for work or personal use.

First, look at Samsung’s Galaxy AI features, which are exclusive to Samsung laptops. For photographers, Photo Remaster uses Galaxy AI to clean up blurry photos you may have considered lost. AI Select is another Galaxy AI feature that makes searching the web quicker and easier with an AI-powered search triggered by selecting text, images, or QR codes.

Copilot+ features continue to expand, but you currently have features like Recall that can help you find anything you’ve seen or done on your laptop. Cocreator is Microsoft’s image-generation tool, allowing you to make custom images with just a text prompt. Windows Studio Effects augment your laptop's webcam, while gamers may appreciate Automatic Super Resolution boosting their frame rates without sacrificing visual fidelity.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Webcam

Run, don’t walk to pick up one of the best webcams if you are buying the Galaxy Book 5 Pro and need to appear on video calls regularly. Even in my office, where I have extensive control over the lighting conditions, the image looked grainy and somewhat blurry. None of the various AI features were able to improve on this, although I will say the blur detection is remarkably good, but the fact that I’m a little blurry too kind of ruins the effect.

If you never do video calls or it’s a rarity, then this will be a nonissue for you, but if you make regular video appearances and want to look your best, you’ll need to invest in an external webcam.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: Software and warranty

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro comes with Windows 11 Home, which is the typical array of bundled Windows software — Samsung heaps quite a few apps on top, 19 by my count. The good news is that most of them are pretty small, and you can uninstall them if you aren’t going to make use of them.

The Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro has a typical one-year warranty, but it can be extended with Samsung Care+ or Samsung Care+: Extended Warranty, starting at $99.

Bottom line

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro is a solid laptop with plenty to recommend, but there are just a few too many weaknesses for a laptop at its price point. There’s no question that the Samsung name carries some weight, and if you are deep in the Samsung ecosystem, that changes your value proposition, but for most people, there are better alternatives.

This is partly due to the highs for the Book 5 Pro not being sufficient to tip back the scales against its negatives. The display is bright and vivid, but not overwhelmingly, with options like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x beating it on both counts for much less. Twelve hours and twenty-five minutes of battery life is enough, but not near the top of the charts in 2025, where numerous laptops go to 15 hours and beyond. The added Galaxy AI features are potentially interesting, but the best AI PCs share the same features as Copilot+ PCs.

Now, the negatives aren’t that bad. Performance doesn’t match the strongest alternatives, but for most typical tasks, it’s snappy. The keyboard is not my favorite, but I would adjust to it over time. The webcam is the only indefensible piece to me, but not everyone uses their webcam.

Now, using Samsung’s trade-in deal or finding the Galaxy Book 5 Pro on sale will change the equation. At under $1,200, it would compete against very different competition than its full $1,449-$1,749 price tag. But at full price, I recommend you skip the Galaxy Book 5 Pro and peruse our best laptops page for some of our top-rated alternatives.

A great tablet can enhance both your productivity and entertainment options, all in a highly portable design. The biggest questions to consider are screen size and OS. If you're searching for a large-screen Android tablet, this Samsung Galaxy Tab deal is for you.

Currently, Amazon has the 11-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 with 256GB of storage on sale for $669 (the price is for the beige colorway, graphite costs another $10).

That is 27% off the usual price and $250 on Samsung's 11-inch competitor to the Apple iPad Pro. This price marks the best we've seen outside of the 2024 Black Friday shopping season.

This deal makes this upgraded model cheaper than the baseline Galaxy Tab S9. It doubles the storage and ups the RAM from 8GB to 12GB, making it a very attractive configuration.

If you plan to create content or anticipate needing more space, the microSD card slot allows you to expand the storage by up to 1TB.

The Galaxy Tab S9 is a 2023 model with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which gives it plenty of power for productivity, gaming, and content creation.

Like the rest of the Galaxy Tab S9 series, it supports Galaxy AI features, which means you'll have access to some (but not all) of Samsung's latest AI capabilities.

The Galaxy Tab S9 includes Samsung's S Pen stylus, which makes it easy to take notes and make sketches.

If you've been considering a powerful tablet with a big screen, the Galaxy Tab S9 is a good choice. Thanks to this Amazon deal, it's now available at a great price.

Today's best Galaxy Tab S9 deal

I frequently work outside of my office, so portability and long battery life are quite important to me. While I already have a MacBook Air as my travel laptop, I decided to try using Samsung Dex on my S24 Ultra for a week as my primary work device.

Dex (styled as "DeX" and short for "Desktop eXperience") is a bit of a software wonder and largely has been since its debut in 2017 (here's our 2020 Dex guide). Essentially, Dex enables you to create a desktop experience from your Galaxy phone. Connect your phone to a monitor wirelessly but with lag or via a USB-C-to-HDMI cable, and voilà, your productivity is significantly boosted. You can also connect a mouse and keyboard and an Ethernet cable.

In the years since its launch, there have been a slew of changes — the latest among them is that the DeX Windows app may no longer be supported.

The bottom line is that Dex remains an ever-evolving key differentiator for Samsung phones. And critically, for me — and maybe you — Dex can do most of the things people need.

The biggest surprise about Dex was how little difference there was from my regular laptop experience — my phone could practically do everything I asked. As a tech journalist, most of the apps I need are already available on the Google Play Store, while I could use the browser to access all the other tools I can’t download.

Aside from that, my phone is powerful enough to let me do light multi-tasking with no issues at all. I can run multiple instances of apps I need, allowing me to easily communicate, research, and write. Samsung Dex even runs Adobe Lightroom, so I can edit photos on my 55-inch TV using my phone, although I’m still disappointed that we don’t have full-fat Photoshop on Android.

Most of my files are also readily available on my OneDrive or Google Drive account, so I don’t have to worry about not getting access to what I need. Of course, I had to modify my workflow, and I’m probably a bit slower than when I’m working on my triple-monitor workstation. But I could use Samsung Dex and my phone to get things done if I'm in a pinch.

Samsung Dex uses up your phone’s battery power

One thing you need to worry about if you’re using Samsung Dex is battery power. I set up my phone with a 15-inch portable monitor with its own power, but it still drained 20% of my battery after 90 minutes.

The inverse is that I could work for nearly six hours without needing to find an outlet — which is actually quite respectable. However, I also realized that I will still use my phone before and after work, so I had to ensure that I’m charging while working to ensure that I don’t run out of juice while I’m working out or driving home.

You still need to bring accessories

You get a lot of power in such a small package with the Samsung S24 Ultra — and with the Samsung S25 Ultra arriving with the even more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, you won’t find yourself wanting for processing performance.

However, the computing experience isn’t just about how fast a processor is or how much RAM you have. You also have to consider how you interact with the device, and this is where Samsung Dex is at a disadvantage compared to laptops and even some tablets.

For one, you need an external monitor to run Samsung Dex. This won’t be a problem if a screen is already waiting for you, like when you’re at home, in your office, or in a hotel room with a TV. But if you want to work at a coffee shop, you must bring a portable monitor, which is about the size of a laptop or larger. (We suggest the Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display.)

Alternatively, you can substitute a portable monitor with a pair of AR glasses — we recommend the XREAL smart glasses — which are far more compact but more expensive than a portable monitor.

Aside from your display, you need an external keyboard and mouse to effectively work on the Samsung Dex. These should ideally be Bluetooth devices, so you don’t have to deal with a hub and cables. However, that also means you have two additional devices to keep charged. I also lug around a power bank to ensure I don’t run out of power while in the middle of work.

Let’s not forget the USB-C to HDMI cable (or a hub and HDMI cable) you need if you want to physically plug your phone into your TV if it doesn’t have a USB-C input. While you can use Samsung Dex wirelessly, it introduces a noticeable lag — which can get frustrating.

All these accessories mean that setting up my Samsung phone for work is a bit more involved than using my laptop. If I want to get something done with Samsung Dex, I have to take out three items or more and place them on a desk; but with my MacBook Air, I just have to pull it out of my bag, put it on my lap, open the lid, and I’m good to go.

It could potentially save me money

Despite these drawbacks, Samsung Dex could help me save in the long run, as I do not need to maintain and purchase two expensive devices. My MacBook Air costs $1,299, while the brand-new Samsung S25 Ultra is priced similarly.

If I continue using Samsung Dex, I could save around $1,300 every five years (my intended upgrade cycle for laptops). Thanks to my carrier, I upgrade my phone every two years, so I essentially have a new phone and computer every two years.

Samsung Dex turns your phone into a great all-in-one device, but laptops are still more convenient

If the apps you frequently use on your laptop are readily available on the Google Play Store or have a web-app equivalent, you can easily substitute them with a Samsung Dex device. This is especially true if you keep most of your files in the cloud and already have a set workstation with a screen and peripherals.

But suppose you’re thinking of leaving your laptop behind to work as a digital nomad using just your Samsung phone. In that case, you still need to bring a portable monitor (or AR glasses), a keyboard, and a mouse, which is obviously more individual itesm that a single laptop. You might even need a hub if you want to charge your phone while working (or if you want to plug other accessories).

On the other hand, a laptop already has everything you need in one sleek and compact package. The opposite view is of course you’re able to switch out the pieces more easily. You can’t upgrade a trackpad that’s built into your laptop, but you can switch out a mouse.

You could substitute all three with a laptop-like dock, such as the NexDock. However, if you do this, you’re basically bringing a laptop or Chromebook with you at this point, which kind of negates the idea of having just one device for everything you need.

More from Laptop Mag

• I replaced my MacBook Air with an iPad Air. Here's what happened.
• Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display review: Instantly indispensable
• I gave up my laptop for this XREAL spatial computer and smart glasses combo, and I felt like I was living in the future

Although it's been overshadowed by the Galaxy Book 5 series, the Galaxy Book 4 is still one of the best Windows laptops to buy in 2025. If you're shopping around for a new personal computer under $600, here's a deal I recommend.

For Presidents' Day, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 is down to $599 at Best Buy. That's $300 off and undercuts Samsung's direct price by $100. This is one of the lowest prices I've seen for the Galaxy Book 4 since it launched in February 2024.

Browse: Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale

As far as Presidents' Day laptop deals go, this is one of the best worth your while.

Last year, we reviewed and rated the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra 4.5 out of 5 stars. We found its overall performance, fingerprint security, and battery life so impressive that we cosigned it with our Editor's Choice Award.

I expect the entry-level Galaxy Book 4 to be on par with its pricier sibling and deliver capable, reliable performance.

The Galaxy Book 4 is a wise choice if you prioritize intelligent processing, strong security, and up to 22 hours of battery life.

Today's best Samsung Galaxy Book 4 deal

Samsung TV deals slash up to $6,000 off for Super Bowl Sunday this week. Super Bowl 2025 is this Sunday and watching the Big Game at home guarantees you the best seat in the house. If you want to upgrade the centerpiece of your Super Bowl watch party, don't miss today's Samsung Super Bowl TV deals .

Samsung's mega-TV sale offers massive savings of up to $6,000 on its latest top-rated OLED and QLED big screen TVs. Act now to save up to $1,100 on Samsung 95D QD-OLED TVs from 55 to 77-inches and score savings up to $2,100 on the Samsung S90D OLED TV series.

I've watched movies and played PS5 games on the 83-inch model in a friend's living room and was blown away. The true-to-life 4K picture quality, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast provide an outstanding viewing experience.

If you really want to really go big, save up to $6,000 on Samsung Neo QLED 4K TVs up to 98-inches in size. Or step into the future of visuals and save up to $2,500 on select Samsung Neo QLED 8K TVs from 65-to 85-inches in size.

The 2025 Super Bowl 59 airs Feb. 9 at 6:30 pm ET on FOX and streams live on Tubi, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Hulu with Live.

See my favorite Samsung Super Bowl TV deals below.

15+ Samsung Super Bowl TV deals — Quick links

• Shop: Samsung's entire TV sale
• 55" Samsung S90D OLED TV: was $1,599 now $1,199
• 65" Samsung S90D OLED TV: was $2,599 now $1,499
• 77" Samsung S90D OLED TV: was $3,699 now $2,199
• 83" Samsung S90D OLED TV: was $5,399 now $3,299
• 55" Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV: was $2,499 now $1,899
• 65" Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV: was $3,399 now $2,299
• 77" Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV: was $4,599 now $3,499
• 55" Samsung The Frame QLED TV: was $1,499 now $899
• 65" Samsung The Frame QLED TV: was $1,999 now $1,299
• 75" Samsung The Frame QLED TV: was $2,999 now $1,799
• 85" Samsung The Frame QLED TV: was $4,299 now $2,999
• 55” Samsung QN90D QLED TV: was $1,999 now $1,199
• 65” Samsung QN90D QLED TV: was $2,699 now $1,499
• 75” Samsung QN90D QLED TV: was $3,299 Now $1,799
• 85” Samsung QN90D QLED TV: was $4,799 now $2,299
• 98” Samsung QN90D QLED TV: was $14,999 now $8,999

Top Samsung Super Bowl TV deals 

Samsung's recent Galaxy Unpacked event was a letdown if you were dead set on learning more about its mysterious new XR headset.

While the company expounded on Galaxy AI, gaming, a new lineup of Galaxy phones, and even a teaser of the Galaxy Edge, Project Moohan, as it's been dubbed, got only a passing mention — that is until this week.

In a recent exclusive with YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Samsung showed off Project Moohan and, well... it looks a lot like Apple's Vision Pro.

It has a glass front, similarly grey head straps, an external battery pack, and an input method similar to VisionOS. That's to say, a lot of Project Moohan is about what you would expect from a Vision Pro competitor.

A lot, but not everything, and there's one difference in particular that could put Apple on notice.

It's all about AI

AI might be in everything now, but I've long maintained that headsets are — buzz aside — actually the perfect place for it.

As Brownlee's exclusive video shows, Samsung seems to agree, which is why it integrates Google Gemini and some of its best features.

In the video, Brownlee walks through how Samsung integrates Google's Gemini to do quite a few things.

Much of that involves using the headset's interface. That means integrating features like Circle to Search, which will allow users to circle something and then automatically conduct a web search for it, as well as sophisticated voice commands.

Voice-controlled on-device AI could be a massive boon for headset UI.

Meta has already begun exploring that territory with Meta AI, but Gemini seems to be even more integrated and, most likely, more sophisticated.

That's great news for anyone who plans on buying a headset made by Samsung, but for competitors like Apple, it may spell trouble.

Due to on-device AI and other advantages, Samsung's early lead in this era's headset wars could propel it to victory over Apple. At least until Apple has an opportunity return fire with its on on-device AI.

The Vision Pro still hasn't taken the AI plunge

Apple has slowly but surely started integrating Apple Intelligence, its suite of ChatGPT-powered AI features, into all of its products, but one product is suspiciously absent: the Vision Pro. (The Vision Pro does have Siri, but not Apple Intelligence.)

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, new AI-powered VisionOS features are on the way, but there is no specific deadline.

In the meantime, both Meta and Samsung seem to be moving forward. Meta introduced Meta AI to the Quest a few months back, and while we don't know for sure, it likely has plans to expand.

And Samsung's headset, though there's still a lot we don't know, might be even more of a competitor to the Vision Pro than the Quest 3, especially if looks are any indication. There are rumors that it might even enter the field at a price point between Meta's Quest 3 and the Vision Pro, which means (effectively) it's gunning more at the latter.

If Samsung can make a headset with a UI and display quality that rivals the Vision Pro (preferably less heavy), consumers can decide which one to buy based on these factors.

While brand loyalty is strong, Apple might be unable to justify a $1,000 premium, especially if Project Moohan is easier to use and, thanks to AI, feels more cutting-edge.

The race is on

Again, there's still a lot we don't know about Project Moohan and Apple's AI plans, but if Apple delays using AI to streamline Vision OS or fails to connect the dots in a way that makes sense to users, a Gemini-powered headset could give Samsung the edge.

And maybe even scarier for Apple is that it's likely that not just Samsung's headset would gain an advantage. Android XR, the operating system for Project Moohan jointly developed by Google and Samsung, will likely be used in other headsets once it finally rolls out.

That's huge for anyone not named Apple who makes a headset. However, for Apple, it might be more of an existential threat.

We'll have to wait and see what transpires in the XR and AI world — a lot can change quickly — but it looks like Samsung and Android XR could have the upper hand right now.

AI might not be a great fit for everything we do, but Apple might want to consider whether Samsung can deliver a headset and a genuinely easier platform.

It's a Samsung tradition to have amazing launch deals for new Galaxy phones, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is no exception. Right now, if you pre-order your phone via Samsung, you can save up to $900 with a trade-in, and you get a free storage upgrade, along with an instant $80 Samsung credit.

If your trade-in qualifies for the maximum discount, you can score the 512GB Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for just $399. Again, that's a massive $1,020 savings and a terrific deal if you can max out the trade-in offer. The deal applies to all seven colorways, among them the three Samsung-exclusive colors.

The Samsung savings stack up as you move through your choices. To start, select the 512GB capacity, which gives you double the memory for the same price as the baseline 256GB model. That free storage upgrade saves you $120.

Then move on to trade-in and select your phone. Samsung currently offers enhanced trade-in values, which means you can get up to $900. The maximum value goes to Samsung's latest flagship phones, specifically the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy S24 Ultra, or Galaxy Z Fold 5. From there, the values scale based on the phone's age. For example, the Galaxy S23 Ultra garners $750. And so on. To qualify, the device must turn on, and the screen must work normally, with no cracks on the body (front and back) or camera lenses; the device is factory reset, with activation locks removed; the phone's charging port works, and its battery holds a charge. Oh, and the device can't be on a banned list.

Finally, you also earn yourself an instant $80 Samsung credit, which can be applied to Samsung accessories or devices during the checkout process.

The new Galaxy S25 Ultra ships on February 7. From its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor to its integrated Galaxy and Google Gemini AI, this phone is all about using AI to make your everyday tasks run smoothly. The Ultra model stands out for its excellent quad-camera array, including a 3X telephoto lens. And it includes Samsung's handy S Pen Stylus for jotting notes on your screen.

This Galaxy S25 pre-order deal is one of the best we've seen yet. And it's one of the best phone deals we've seen in January 2025.

Today's best Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra deal

MORE FROM LAPTOP MAG

• Samsung Galaxy S25 preorder deals: Best discounts, trade-in offers, freebies
• The results are in: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra crushes Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max in lab tests
• The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's ultra-wide lens made me ecstatic for an ironic reason

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, on January 22 was the grand reveal of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. I was there for the event, and while the audience was enthusiastic with applause, the broader response was somewhat tepid.

One Redditor called it "the most underwhelming Galaxy phone ever." That may be the popular opinion, but I think it's wrong, and the data backs up my experience. The Galaxy S25 Ultra just might be Samsung's sleeper hit.

After almost a week of using the phone, I have to disagree with this perception. I love features like the new ultra-wide camera and Audio Eraser, and Samsung's additions to Galaxy AI are the most compelling I've experienced on a phone.

However, now that the phone has been through our lab testing, I can also state definitively that the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip powering the Galaxy S25 Ultra, combined with the super-strong new display, makes it a more significant update than you realize. It offers a considerable leap over the Galaxy S24 Ultra and beats the iPhone 16 Pro Max in several key metrics.

Here's a closer look at how the Galaxy S25 Ultra performed in our lab tests.

Performance

For years, the iPhone's performance reigned supreme in the smartphone space, but last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Galaxy S24 Ultra finally saw Samsung claim performance wins in several categories. Now, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung enjoys an even larger advantage.

Geekbench 6.3 shows how significant of a year-over-year upgrade the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy represents, with the S25 Ultra hitting an incredible multicore score average of 9,829. That's roughly 18.3% higher than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (8,306) and 35.6% higher than the Galaxy S24 Ultra (7,249).

Single-core still goes to the iPhone at 3,386, 11.7% higher than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (3,031). However, this is a massive leap of 31.8% over the Galaxy S24 Ultra (2,300).

Graphics performance was already in favor of the Galaxy S24 Ultra at 29.95 frames per second (fps) in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited test compared to 22.4 fps for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. But the Galaxy S25 Ultra pushes things even further at 34.42 fps, beating its predecessor by 15% and the iPhone 16 Pro Max by 53.6%

The iPhone still maintains an incredible lead in video processing, completing our Adobe Premiere Rush test in just 21 seconds. That's twice as fast as the Galaxy S24 Ultra (42 seconds); this is one area where the Galaxy S25 Ultra (52.4 seconds) loses ground on its predecessor.

Overall, this year has been a decisive performance win for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Although it seems unlikely that the iPhone 17 will close the gap in some of these metrics, the iPhone still holds on to a couple of wins.

Display

Never bet against Samsung in a display fight. The Galaxy S25 Ultra continues Samsung's dominance in the smartphone display arena across every metric.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra's 1,231 nits of brightness with adaptive brightness turned on easily bests the iPhone 16 Pro Max (1,031), although it is a slight slip from the 1,242 nits achieved by the S24 Ultra last year.

Color gamut is a much clearer cut win compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and its predecessor. The Galaxy S25 Ultra reproduced 151.5% of the sRGB color gamut and 107.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The iPhone (114.1%, 80.9%) doesn't come close, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra (119.9%, 84.9%) was only narrowly ahead of the iPhone.

Battery life

Finally, we come to battery life, where the Galaxy S25 Ultra lasted 17 hours and 15 minutes in our Laptop Mag battery test that has the phone browse a set series of web pages while running at 150 nits on 5G until the phone dies.

The iPhone holds on to its lead in this regard. In this same test, it lasted for 17 hours and 35 minutes on average. However, the S25 Ultra narrowed the gap further, as the S24 Ultra gave up at 16 hours and 46 minutes last year.

Bottom line

While Samsung would love to claim a clean sweep against the iPhone, this was still an impressive showing and hopefully gives you an idea of just how much of an upgrade the Galaxy S25 Ultra represents despite its limited apparent hardware changes.

Now if you currently have a Galaxy S24 Ultra, you certainly don't need this upgrade, though the massive trade-in discount offers may make it tempting. However, if you are coming from the Galaxy S23 series or earlier, this is an massive upgrade in performance, battery life, and display tech.

And for those Apple fans considering the switch, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra has staked out its position as the pinnacle of Android hardware once again while also eclipsing the best Apple has to offer in several regards, and that's before we talk about Galaxy AI beating Apple Intelligence.

Preorder Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 Ultra on Wednesday at its January 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The lone camera hardware upgrade? It was an ultra-wide lens that will make any hardware geek swoon.

I enjoy snapping the occasional landscape or cityscape while traveling, but the ultra-wide lens is typically the least-used lens on my phone.

So why was I so ecstatic to hear about this addition to the Galaxy S25 Ultra? Ironically, the new ultra-wide lens is the key to dramatically improved macro photography for highly detailed close-up shots of technology hardware—phones, laptops, keyboards, CPUs, and more.

Samsung Smartphone Product Manager Charles Uptegrove tells Laptop Mag, "From a macro shot, we're getting four times the detail year-over-year...so really bringing full high resolution into the conversation."

A macro look at how the Galaxy S25 Ultra is saving me $400

This is where we get to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, saving me at least $400. In my never-ending quest to add more high-quality macro photos to my reviews on Laptop Mag, I've researched macro lenses for my Panasonic Lumix GH5. The affordable option is the $397 Lumix G Macro, while the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm at $549 is a beloved, slightly pricier choice. Either way, it's a lot for me to spend on a lens for such a specialized use case.

Imagine my excitement to hear I can potentially skip that added investment and handle this task with my phone. You may rightly point out that the Galaxy S25 Ultra costs $1,299, but there are great preorder deals to bring that cost down. Unlike the single-task macro lens, I need a phone for many things.

However, I'm never one to believe the marketing claims. After all, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is far from the first phone to claim macro photography prowess, and most are terrible at it. If a phone proudly boasts of its dedicated macro lens, I can virtually guarantee you should skip it; these are almost invariably unusable 2MP sensors that cost the company pennies to claim it offers a "triple camera array."

So, let's take a look at how good the macro photos from the Galaxy S25 Ultra are.

Going ultra-wide to get ultra-close

I'm thoroughly impressed with the macro photos that I've been able to get with the Galaxy S25 Ultra so far. I can't upload the full 50MP resolution photos (or even the default 12MP resolution), but the detail is astounding, and I can pull them into Photoshop and reduce them to a usable size for the site without sacrificing too much of that quality. You can clearly see the textures on the MacBook and Magic Mouse and microabrasions on the edge of the Galaxy Ring, along with the circuitry inside.

Now, one big caveat if you are a budding macro enthusiast: Light is always critical for photography, but it will make or break your macro photos more than the typical wide-angle snapshot. If I'm not hitting the subject of these photos with either full sunlight or one of my video lights from close-up, the details will quickly become a grainy mess. Samsung's AI enhancements are good, but they can't perform magic.

The macro photos have been a wonderful first foray into photography with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but I'm looking forward to experimenting further with its cameras.

While the rest of the camera hardware remained the same, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip powering the phone includes numerous upgrades targeted at photo and video enthusiasts that could make the Galaxy S25 Ultra more of an upgrade than you might expect.

MORE FROM LAPTOP MAG

• Samsung's big bet on personal AI makes the Galaxy S25 feel compelling but creepy
• Samsung Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: What are the differences?
• Samsung revealed a wild statistic about its displays ahead of the Galaxy S25 Ultra launch

To no one's surprise, AI took the spotlight at Samsung's latest Galaxy Unpacked event.

We got to see new editing tools, better photo searches, call transcripts, and much, much more. But it wasn't the features that stood out as much as the theme they project.

If Samsung has anything to do with it, AI isn't just getting more pervasive. It's getting personal.

A new kind of Galaxy AI

This isn't just another phone-release event for Samsung; it's a test for AI phones.

While the concept of a generative AI-focused phone is still relatively new, Galaxy AI — the company's suite of AI phone features — has been out for a year now.

On a non-tech time scale, that's nothing, but we expect progress at a consistent clip in the phone market. So, what is Galaxy AI progressing to? Your personal assistant, of course.

There was a lot to sort through regarding new AI features, but maybe the most telling addition is a summary feature called Now Brief.

Now Brief is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: an AI-produced summary that gives you insight into what your day has in store and less superficial data like how well you slept.

Summaries aren't a new trick for AI — just ask Apple about its less-than-ideal text summary feature — but Now Brief feels more all-encompassing. For one, Now Brief isn't static; it's active.

What I mean is it takes context into account. It can suggest navigation in the evening on your commute home, recommend places to eat depending on where you are, or recap a day in which you've taken many pictures.

In other words, Now Brief isn't just meant to be a tool; it's meant to be an assistant — one that does what you want without you even having to ask. And to do that properly, Samsung needs your data, and lots of it.

AI take the wheel

The idea of an AI personal assistant doing everything you don't want to do sounds great in theory, but in practice, it's actually a massive exercise in trust.

Sure, I'd love an assistant to know when I'm leaving work and send me on the fastest route home, but to do that, it has to know when I'm going home and where I am.

I wouldn't blame you if you're a little creeped out by the prospect. As much as we're used to our devices (phones in particular) being magnets for our personal data, knowing our routines and habits intimately — and all in one place — is definitely another level.

Samsung, for its part, seems to know that its vision is an escalation of sorts and is taking the harder, but safer, approach to Galaxy AI, which is to say AI that happens on-device.

The difference here is that, unlike using the ChatGPT app for example, your data never goes to the cloud (a server outside of your phone) to get processed. That difference, while subtle on the UX end, makes a huge difference in terms of security since it reduces the potential pain points for having data stolen.

Not all of Samsung's new AI features are this secure, however. A deep integration with Google's Gemini, for example, that connects to Samsung apps and allows users to prompt Gemini for help with calendars, reminders, and navigation might reach the cloud if a task is too burdensome to process on-device.

This is all to say that achieving Samsung's vision of a connected, all-knowing AI assistant sounds great in theory, but getting there in a way that respects privacy and feels worth it for customers won't be simple.

Privacy aside...

Even with some potential pitfalls, Samsung's vision of a more personal AI-centric phone experience is one that genuinely excites me. Phones, despite being our more beloved gadget, haven't exactly been an exciting category in recent years.

That's because we've perfected glass slabs to the point of plateau. In so many ways, that's great — the phone I have now does so much more than I ever could have imagined in the days of clamshells.

But there's a part of that plateau that feels like just that — stagnation. A lot of that frustration, for me at least, centers on UI, which has made phones feel like a nightmare at times.

Having to sort through an unwieldy din of apps or settings to do something on your phone isn't fun, and it feels like a far cry from the simple, streamlined vision that Android and iOS operating systems had hoped for.

Getting more personal with AI might be a chance to reset that balance, bringing smarter, more adept voice assistants closer to the action or reducing the number of taps it takes to order an Uber. These are all real, practical advantages that

This deal is for you if you've wanted a basic 4K 27-inch monitor but held off because of the cost.

Best Buy is currently selling a Samsung 4K monitor, one of two new sub-$200 models.

The 27-inch Samsung ViewFinity S8 (S80D) monitor is now just $179, down from the usual $419 price. Granted, this model is older (it was released in mid-2022), and as such, it lacks modern conveniences like USB-C ports.

Still, this model makes up for that with its uncommonly sizable complement of ports. Most notably, you have a lot of flexibility when connecting to your laptop or desktop (USB-B, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI). Plus, it has two USB-A downstream ports, which are convenient for jacking in a keyboard or mouse.

The 27-inch 4K UHD IPS panel has a 16:9 aspect ratio and supports HDR 10 and 99% of the sRGB color gamut.

This is an excellent deal on a better-than-basic 4K monitor. Grab one while the sale lasts.

Today's best Samsung ViewFinity S8 monitor deal

The day many Android fans have been waiting for has finally arrived. On Wednesday, Samsung debuted the new Galaxy S25 series lineup at its January Galaxy Unpacked event. The base Galaxy S25 is excellent if you need an essential upgrade, but for most people, the choice between the Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be a personal preference.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has all the bells and whistles—a larger display, titanium body, embedded S Pen, and more. But at a steep starting price of $1,299, are all these premium upgrades worth it?

The Galaxy S25+ starts at $999 — just $200 more than the base Galaxy S25 — and features a high-res, large display and a battery nearly as big as the S25 Ultra's. For most people, the Galaxy S25+ is the best pick. But for others, paying an extra $300 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra could be well worth it.

We'll compare the Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra side by side, examining performance, battery life, camera setup, and more to help you decide which phone to upgrade to.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Specs compared

Here's a quick overview of the main specs compared between Samsung's mid-range Galaxy S25+ and the premium Galaxy S25 Ultra.

If the quality of photos and videos taken on your Galaxy phone is an important deciding factor, here's a deep dive into the front camera and rear camera array on the Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance

The Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra are both going to perform well. Both phones are equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM, so we expect similar Geekbench scores once reviews start rolling out. Leaked Geekbench 6 scores for the Galaxy S25 Ultra indicate it could have a multi-core score of over 10,000.

We can look at Samsung's previous-gen Galaxy S24 phones to predict just how similar performance will be in these new flagships. For reference, both the Galaxy S24+ and S24 Ultra phones are decked out with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM.

In our Galaxy S24 Ultra review, the phone clocked a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 7,249. In the Tom's Guide's Galaxy S24+ review, the phone delivered a similarly impressive multi-core score of 7,083.

In terms of real-world performance, a difference of less than 200 between multi-core scores won't be noticeable. We expect the difference between Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra performance to be this minimal.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design

The design differences between the Galaxy S25+ vs. S25 Ultra are subtle, but they're certainly there, and this could easily be a deciding factor for many people.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a bit larger and heavier on paper, but you may not notice these differences much in hand. The Galaxy S25+ measures 2.98 x 6.24 x 0.28 inches and weighs 0.42 pounds, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has dimensions of 3.05 x 6.41 x 0.32 inches and weighs 0.48 pounds.

More noticeably, the Galaxy S25+ has more rounded corners than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The S25 Ultra's corners aren't nearly as sharp as those of its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but they're certainly more angular than those of the Galaxy S25+.

Another big difference is the construction of each phone's frame. The Galaxy S25+ features an aluminum frame, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a stronger titanium frame.

This difference in frame material also brings unique colorways to each phone. You can pick up a Galaxy S25+ in Icyblue, Navy, Mint, or Silver Shadow or grab a Galaxy S25 Ultra in Titan Black, Titan Gray, Titan Silverblue, or Titan Whitesilver.

Or, if you order directly through Samsung's website, there are a few exclusive colorways to choose from. For the Galaxy S25+, Samsung offers Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold shades. For the Galaxy S25 Ultra, online Samsung customers can choose between Titanium Jetblack, Titanium Jadegreen, and Titanium Pinkgold.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Display

Samsung excels at making gorgeous smartphone displays, and that's true for the Galaxy S25 series. That said, if you're looking for the biggest, best display Samsung has to offer, you'll find it in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is decked out with a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Galaxy S25+ features a slightly smaller 6.7-inch display, but all other display specs are the same when compared to the S25 Ultra.

We can't talk about the display without talking about the protective glass on top as well. The Galaxy S25+ features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass in front and back. Alternatively, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in back and Enhanced Gorilla Armor 2 glass in front, which has been proven to improve screen durability and decrease needed repairs.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery life

There is a tiny 100 mAh variance between the battery capacity of the Galaxy S25+ (4,900 mAh) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra (5,000 mAh), but it probably won't make much of a difference in overall battery life. Of course, we can't say this for sure until we see how long each phone lasts in battery tests, but we can look to the previous-gen Galaxy S24 series for a prediction.

The Galaxy S24+ similarly has a 4,900 mAh battery, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra a 5,000 mAh battery. In battery tests published by Tom's Guide, the Galaxy S24 Ultra lasted 16 hours and 46 minutes, and the Galaxy S24+ lasted 16 hours and 32 minutes.

In the big scheme of things, battery life won't be a deciding factor for most people.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras

One of the biggest differences between the Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the rear camera array. Both smartphones feature the same 12-megapixel wide, autofocus-capable front camera, but the rear camera setup on the Galaxy S25 Ultra is much stronger compared to that of the Galaxy S25+.

The Galaxy S25+ features a main wide 50-megapixel camera on the back, while the S25 Ultra features a sharp 200-megapixel main wide camera. This is the camera sensor most people are going to use when simply pulling out their phone to snap a quick photo, and that boost in quality will be recognizable.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra also features a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, better than the Galaxy S25+'s 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra again wins in terms of telephoto sensor and overall zoom. The Galaxy S25+ has a single 10-megapixel 3x telephoto sensor, while the S25 Ultra features the same 10-megapixel 3x telephoto sensor and a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto sensor.

Ultimately, these telephoto lenses allow for 3x Optical Zoom, 2x Optical Quality, and 30x Space Zoom on the Galaxy S25+ and 3x, 5x, 2x, 10x Optical Quality, and 100x Space Zoom on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

All of these camera boosts make the S25 Ultra capable of snapping high-res macro shots, and high-res zoom photos and videos, whereas the Galaxy S25+ cannot.

Believe it or not, the differences don't stop there. Regarding video recording quality, the S25 Ultra has a leg up on its mid-range sibling. The Galaxy S25+ can record in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) or 8K at 30 fps, whereas the S25 Ultra can record in 4K resolution at 120 fps or 8K at 30 fps.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Other features

For the most part, the Galaxy S25+ and S25 Ultra boast the same features. Both phones will be capable of performing every new Galaxy AI feature Samsung just announced, including the helpful summary briefs for mornings, afternoons, and evenings, Galaxy AI editing tools, and AI-powered communication tools.

The main feature difference between these two flagships is the embedded S Pen that comes with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You can use the S Pen to draw, write, utilize the Circle to Search tool, and bring up the Air Command shortcut menu. And this time around, the S Pen doesn't feature Bluetooth, which means users won't have to worry about keeping it charged.

Galaxy S25+ vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which is better?

Objectively, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a better phone compared to the Galaxy S25+, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's better for everyone's individual needs.

For those who tend to only upgrade their smartphones every three to five years, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a worthwhile investment. In exchange for an extra $300, you'll get a larger display that's more durable, an embedded, multi-use S Pen, a stronger titanium frame, better color options (in my opinion), and a stellar rear camera array.

However, I'd say that if you'd prefer to have a slightly smaller display or you know you won't be taking a lot of photos and videos with your smartphone, the Galaxy S25+ will likely be a better fit for you and save you $300.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 gave us a first look at the exciting new Galaxy S25 lineup of phones, but what if I said that was far from the best announcement to come out of the showcase?

While phones were the primary focus, Samsung highlighted its AI efforts throughout the presentation. Whether it was Galaxy AI or the many ways the company works with Google and Gemini to improve the Android experience, Samsung spent a significant chunk of the showcase delving into what to expect.

Plenty of exciting features were unveiled, like Gemini Live, which lets you speak with AI to brainstorm ideas or pose questions, or Extensions, which allows Gemini to complete actions across multiple apps with one command.

However, while AI is obsessed with creating new things to distract the user, what impressed me most was a Galaxy AI feature that focuses on the user's information and seems useful daily: Enter the Now Brief.

Now Brief is one of the few upcoming AI features I can see myself using.

Now Brief, an upcoming feature that will (unfortunately) be exclusive to Samsung Galaxy S25 phones, utilizes Galaxy AI to provide daily briefings on what the day ahead of you will look like through Morning, Midday, and Evening briefs.

By compiling your personal data from other Galaxy applications, you can press the Morning Brief button when you wake up to get a sense of the weather, how well you slept, any scheduled events, and more.

Now, Brief can be added to your home screen as an easily accessible widget, and it's also available on your lock screen, so it's accessible as soon as you wake up and open your phone.

It's no secret that most people check their phones first thing in the morning. I usually do the same, checking my messages or browsing social media, but I love the alternative Now Brief proposes. As someone who is rather forgetful, quickly being reminded of exactly what I'll be doing that day is awesome.

The number of times I've had an event or reminder in my Google Calendar that never notified me of its existence, only for it to pass as I remained in complete ignorance, is laughably high.

You might think, "Can't you just open your calendar every morning, and it'll offer a similar daily briefing?" It's not that simple. Not only is Now Brief visible when you open your phone through the new bottom widget, referred to as a Now Bar, but it doesn't exclusively source information from your calendar.

By entering the settings and selecting "content to include," Galaxy AI can compile information in categories such as Health and wellness, finance, travel, events and tasks, routine, digital well-being, communication, moments, gallery stories, traffic updates, and news to monitor your habits and predict when you'll need certain things throughout the day.

One example in Samsung's Now Brief video showcases how you can implement a driving routine if your Galaxy detects you use certain things on the road. When opening the Midday brief, a pop-up suggests setting up an automatic routine that will open maps and play music while driving.

Other examples include informing you when your coupons expire and information about flight tickets, trains, and events. At the end of the night, you can receive an Evening brief that reviews your health stats for the day.

Knowing that I will reliably be informed of my daily schedule through a briefing is enough incentive to constantly add events to my calendar. My phone will always keep me updated on the daily happenings, and anytime I add something to the Calendar app, Now Brief will offer that information when relevant.

We need AI features that are, first and foremost, focused on the user. So much AI nowadays is focused on the AI itself, revolving around how it can solve your problems, write for you, draw for you, and even critique your photography, as shown in the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025.

That may sound pleasant to some, but in my life, these are just gimmicks I cannot see myself ever actually using. Instead of trying to create new things for me, having Galaxy AI work to compile all of my information into one place and analyze my habits is significantly more helpful.

More from Laptop Mag

• With the S25, Samsung might have cracked the code to be your "true AI companion"
• Is Samsung's Edge the dawn of the slim phone era?
• Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25, Galaxy AI, and more

Samsung Unpacked January 2025 wrapped Wednesday (see what I did there?) and the floodgates to Galaxy S25 preorders are now open. If you're due for an uprade, AT&T is offering a tempting Galaxy S25 Ultra deal for new and existing customers.

Preorder now and get a free Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from AT&T when preorder and trade in a qualifying phone from any year, in any condition. In return, AT&T will credit you up to $1,300 back on your monthly bill over the length of 36 months.

This is one of the best phone deals going on at AT&T right now.

Browse: AT&T's phone deals

The Galaxy S25 Ultra costs $1,300 to start so the phone is free should you receive the maximum trade-in value for your old device. As per the fine print, after your trade-in is complete, your rebate will begin showing up as credits on your monthly billing statement within 3 bills.

Galaxy S25 Ultra preorders ship free and arrive by February 7.

Today's best Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra deal

Driven by AI, the new Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung's most advanced phone yet. The base model features 6.8-inch (3120x 1440) 120Hz Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 8-core processor, 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage.

Like the previous-gen Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Galaxy S25 Ultra includes its own garaged S Pen that makes it easy to scroll through apps, take notes, sketch, snap photos hands-free and so much more.

It's also packed with useful Android features like Circle to Search, Call Transcript, and Writing Assist. Convenient access to Gemini AI makes it easy to find out movie start times, see the latest sports scores, get step-by-step recipes or plan a party.

Additionally, AT&T is doubling down on its Galaxy device deals with a bonus offer. Complement your new Galaxy S25 Ultra with a Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Tab for just $0.99/month apiece when you activate each on a new line.

If you want a powerful productivity phone with AI for getting things done when you're out-and-about, grab AT&T's Galaxy S25 Ultra preorder deal before February 7.

More from Laptop Mag

• Samsung Galaxy S25 preorder deals: Early discounts, trade-in offers, freebies
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra: Will it be worth the upgrade?
• Samsung revealed a wild statistic about its displays ahead of the Galaxy S25 Ultra launch

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a larger 6.9-inch display, a new custom Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and a new 50MP ultra-wide camera, but that's not the headline for this phone, which the company revealed on Wednesday here in San Jose, California.

AI is irrefutably the story of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The launch event and my session with Samsung made this clear: Most of both were spent on new AI functionality while quickly breezing through formerly attention-devouring features like the cameras.

Samsung Smartphone Product Manager Charles Uptegrove tells Laptop Mag that Galaxy AI "was one of the key reasons for our users to purchase the device (Galaxy S24), but more importantly, our customers are utilizing Galaxy AI."

Currently, Circle to Search is the most heavily used feature, with 10 million users in the U.S. and 20% using Galaxy AI daily.

The new Galaxy AI features are designed to drive those numbers up considerably in 2025, with upgrades to existing favorites like Circle to Search and AI Select, while the new Now Brief and multimodal natural language voice commands could prove the most impactful.

Now Brief is your gateway to Galaxy AI

Now Brief is new with One UI 7. It gives you an overview of your day and other useful information based on your habits. For example, if the weather is bad, it may advise you when to leave for a meeting on your schedule, or it may try to refer you to some news articles or YouTube videos that you find interesting. This will improve over time as Galaxy AI learns your habits. Critically, this is all happening on-device for the privacy-conscious.

This is already using Galaxy AI, of course, and presuming it does its job effectively, it could quickly become a fixture in many Galaxy S25 owners' daily usage, but it also feeds you into additional Galaxy AI features. For example, Uptegrove showed Now Brief, reminding him it was a friend's birthday and offering to create a generative AI image to send them along with a happy birthday text.

One of the biggest hurdles that Samsung and others face is getting people to buy into and use AI. Now Brief seems like one of the most straightforward, practical implementations I've seen, and it also encourages people to try other AIs.

Multimodal natural voice commands are what make Galaxy AI feel like a "true AI companion"

The multimodal natural voice commands feel like a long-awaited promise finally fulfilled. They allow you to string together multiple actions in a single query, much like how you would phrase a question or request to a person. For example, when Uptegrove asked Galaxy AI to "Summarize YouTube videos about the Galaxy Z Fold 6," it took approximately 20 seconds to process and summarize that information in a note.

This is all happening on-device, which is another critical point for Samsung with the Galaxy S25. The "Personal Data Engine," as Samsung calls it, gives you an LLM on your phone that can leverage everything it knows about you and your habits without sharing it with the cloud.

Uptegrove also offered a more straightforward example: simply asking Galaxy AI when the Warriors' next basketball game was happening and adding it to his calendar. This would typically require jumping back and forth between your browser and your calendar, but it's done in seconds without opening a single app. These quick interactions with Galaxy AI are priceless if you are trying to limit your screen time.

Now, this isn't quite the slam dunk that Now Brief is, as it requires users to proactively use an unfamiliar feature instead of being regularly presented with it on screen. However, this is a compelling feature if Samsung can deliver on its promise and get people to buy in.

At launch, this feature works only with apps in the Google suite, Samsung apps, WhatsApp, and Spotify, but Samsung is working to add other services over the course of the year.

Circle to Search, AI Select, and your Settings sherpa

Samsung's most popular Galaxy AI feature is still Circle to Search. This feature allows you to circle any image or text on your display and have Galaxy AI offer you search results. It can do the same for music if an audio element is detected on your screen.

AI Select is another helpful feature that gets an upgrade for 2025. You just need to slide over the Edge panel, and it will offer you contextual options regarding different things you can do with the content on your screen. One example is if you are watching a video you can just select it and automatically convert a portion of it into a GIF. You can also use AI Select to translate text between languages or summarize a long article.

Finally, for those unfamiliar with the labyrinthine settings menus or the full capabilities of their phones, Galaxy AI will now make recommendations on settings to change based on any issues you are experiencing. If your eyes are irritated, it may recommend turning on blue light reduction or dark mode.

If you are having trouble reading what's on the screen, it may offer to increase the text size for you. We've seen Apple Intelligence do something similar, answering basic how-to questions about Apple devices; this essentially takes that one step further and walks you through the process.

What's next?

Samsung focused on Galaxy AI when it announced the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in 2024, but the Galaxy S25 series takes that to a new level.

AI is the defining feature of this round of phones. Only the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers any notable hardware changes beyond the move to the custom Snapdragon 8 Elite chip; Galaxy AI must almost exclusively drive Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus upgrades.

While AI has been the buzzword on everyone's lips for a year, that killer feature hasn't emerged.

I don't think Galaxy AI has a single killer AI feature yet. Still, it is building out a compelling set of features and making them more accessible to users without expressly driving them to an AI app or hub. This may be as big a hurdle as building out the features themselves, as the best AI apps and services will be worthless if users don't integrate them into their lives.

While you could argue that Samsung is playing it safe with the Galaxy S25 series this year with minimal hardware upgrades, in another sense, it is taking a massive swing that Galaxy AI is enough to convince people to upgrade.

It was all about the Galaxy S25 during Samsung's January Unpacked event.

That's no surprise since this is always the season for new Galaxy devices, but just because the phone fanfare was expected doesn't mean there wasn't any novelty.

While much of the new news came courtesy of a slew of Galaxy AI updates (and boy, was there a lot of AI), the biggest, most tantalizing bit was actually, technically, the smallest.

I'm talking about the Samsung Edge.

The cutting Edge

Samsung's Edge, teased as a "one more thing" announcement at the end of Galaxy Unpacked, is precisely what it sounds like — a slimmer, maybe even lighter, Galaxy phone.

While we don't know much about the Edge, Laptop Mag got a preview of the device after Samsung's Unpacked event concluded. And to the eye, it looks pretty damn thin.

While I'd love more information about the Edge, we have very little concrete information right now. However, its very existence says almost everything you need to know: smaller phones are returning.

And that's something I couldn't be more excited about.

Bigger ain't always better

Sure, big phones are pretty popular, but not all of us love the idea of hauling around a brick of titanium and glass.

I count myself among Big Phone detractors, which is why I still use (for my everyday carry) the iPhone 13.

Is it the latest or greatest iPhone? No, it is decidedly not — it wasn't even technically that when it was released in 2021. But it is one thing: compact.

I've always appreciated the compactness of that particular generation of iPhone, especially as I've watched phones from Apple and Samsung balloon in size over the years.

And who could blame them? Big phones sell, but even big phone lovers have their limits, and clearly, the Samsungs of the world are taking note of that with the Edge.

Again, I can't say how far the Edge moves the needle in the thin and light direction, but Samsung isn't the type of company to not back up a claim like that, especially regarding its most successful flagship line of phones.

Miniaturizing without sacrificing performance is one of the most impressive feats of any technology. If the Edge does that, I'd say Samsung probably has a hit on its hands. And the best part? It's likely not alone in its endeavor to shrink our ever-growing phone sizes.

The era of slim phones is here

Samsung isn't the only one chasing a slimmer smartphone.

Apple is rumored to be working on the iPhone Air 17, which occupies a similarly slimmer space.

According to recent rumors from frequent Apple leaker Mark Gurman, the iPhone 17 Air "will be about 2 millimeters thinner than existing iPhones." For comparison, a nickel is 1.95 millimeters thick. For context, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus measure 7.8 millimeters thick, and the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are 8.25 millimeters thick.

This is all to say that rumors suggest Apple aims to make the iPhone slimmer and lower-profile.

We don't know if the iPhone Air is real yet and probably won't know until September. However, these rumors and the very real Samsung Edge make for a clear trend: slim phones are in.

Whether or not either phone will be slim enough to make its case to consumers is entirely different. Still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't legitimately excited by the prospect of a smaller device. Here's to hoping the future is thinner.

As expected, Samsung made Galaxy AI the star at the January Unpacked event.

While the company excelled in bringing AI to its flagship smartphones with previous generations, the Galaxy S25 series is going to be more capable than ever to efficiently and securely assist users with AI-powered tasks.

Some new AI features are surface-level, like a personalized AI style agent that can give you tips and suggestions on what you're wearing. Other AI innovations go deeper, and can actually help you stay on top of your habits, photos, schedules, and much more. Here's everything you need to know.

Galaxy S25 series: Specs compared

Now Briefs: Easy summaries to help guide your day

One of the most noteworthy AI-powered features headed to the Galaxy S25 series is more advanced AI summaries called Now Briefs. In the morning, you can see your schedule, sleep data and your energy score via a Galaxy wearable from the previous night, weather info for the day ahead, and so much more. You can view similar info in the afternoon during your commute or in the evening.

Search your photo gallery easily with the help of AI

Samsung unveiled an AI-powered, native search experience that can help you navigate your photos. While this isn't a new concept, it's still an exciting step forward toward more useful AI integration.

Editing made easier with Galaxy AI

A new Auto Trim feature can transform multiple videos into a single highlight reel, Audio Eraser gets rid of distracting or unwanted background noise in videos, and Generative Edit allows you to move, erase, enlarge, and otherwise alter components within a photo.

AI-powered communication tools

Samsung's Call Transcript feature lets you record, transcribe, and summarize phone calls, super helpful for remembering important work details or info after a doctor's visit.

Writing Assist is a classic AI feature that can help you find the right words, whether you're chatting with a friend or responding to a work email.

Galaxy AI can also help translate conversations with its interpreter tool, designed to facilitate real-time conversations between people speaking different languages.

Further integration with Google's AI features and tools

You'll be able to use Google's classic Circle to Search feature on the Galaxy S25 series, which allows you to circle an object in a photo or video to quickly perform a Google search and see what you're looking at. You can also now listen to a song playing on the radio or in a store, and figure out what it is thanks to AI.

And here's the icing on the cake: All new Galaxy S25 phones will come with 2TB of cloud storage and six months of Gemini Advanced for free.

To see what else is new with the S25 series, check out our live coverage of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event.

Samsung's January Galaxy Unpacked event gave us a lot to dive into when it comes to a new lineup of S25 phones, but one product really stole the show: the Galaxy Edge, Samsung's upcoming slim phone.

If you've been into Samsung's Galaxy S lineup for a while, you might remember a brief stint between 2015 and 2016 when Samsung had "Edge" in the titles of its premium Galaxy S6 and S7 phones. Despite ditching the "Edge" naming convention, Samsung kept the classic curved edges on its S series phones for a while after the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Now, it looks like Samsung's bringing the "Edge" name back, but the new Galaxy Edge may not sport curved edges like its similarly named younger siblings.

What we know so far about Samsung's thin Galaxy Edge phone

All we truly know about the Galaxy S25 Edge is that it's an ultra-slim phone. As of right now, Samsung hasn't released any offical specs, measurements, or the upcoming phone's release date and price.

That said, there's a Galaxy S25 Edge on display at the Unpacked event, and Laptop Mag is on the scene. We may not be able to touch it or experiment with it, but we can gain some insight on how similar it is to the other Galaxy S25 phones just by viewing it.

From the video and what we've been able to see, it looks like the Galaxy S25 Edge has a small pin-hole front camera, super thin bezels creating an almost edge-to-edge screen, and a dual rear camera array.

In the teaser video, there appear to be multiple heat management layers. If the Galaxy S25 Edge is going to use the same powerful processor — the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy — it's understandable that such a thin phone is putting great emphasis on heat management.

Past those few notable features, we don't know much else about the new Galaxy Edge phone. If you want to see new features for the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup, check out our live coverage of the January Galaxy Unpacked event.

Galaxy S25 series: Specs compared

Galaxy Unpacked 2025 provided new updates on what to expect from the future of Gemini AI, alongside breakdowns, release dates, and prices for the new Samsung Galaxy S25 series, but it ended with nothing more than a passing mention of the company's most exciting upcoming project.

We anticipated that Samsung would give us a deeper look into the hardware and software capabilities of Project Moohan, which is the company's mixed reality headset that it announced back in December.

Considering Samsung had already unveiled it and confirmed its existence, we were certain it would be shown off at Unpacked, but its mention was brief before being glossed over after a few seconds.

We won't be seeing Project Moohan until later in the year

While we did hear about Project Moohan at Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung didn't share anything new, and the company's statement was just communicating that we'll have to wait until later in the year to learn more.

Jay Kim, Head of Customer Experience at Samsung, entered the stage during Unpacked and said "As we announced with Google in December, we're co-developing the Anroid XR ecosystem, working hand-in-hand to define the operating system, user interface and hardware. These upcoming XR devices, with multi-modal AI, will change how we interact with the physical and virtual worlds. Interactions will be more natural and intuitive, and we can't wait to share more details later this year."

While we appreciate that Samsung at least had the decency to mention its Android XR efforts rather than leaving us in the dark, it's still not much to work with. Even with our lack of information, there's still a good bit we do know.

Back when Project Moohan was announced in December, Samsung wasn't shy in stating that it's being made possible through "open collaboration with industry leaders like Google and Qualcomm, culminating in the creation of an entirely new Android XR platform."

Considering Qualcomm is in direct collaboration with Google and Samsung to develop the platform, we can expect that the device will be powered by a currently unknown Qualcomm chipset.

It's also important to keep in mind that Samsung has multiple projects planned underneath the Android XR umbrella, and Project Moohan, as pictured above, is merely one of them. "Moohan" means "Infinity" in Korean, and while that codename might not stick around when the official product launches, Samsung claims it connotes its belief to "deliver unparalleled, immersive experiences within an infinite space."

Laptop Mag also got the opportunity to see Project Moohan in person at the event, but no information was provided. All we saw were prototypes with notes that the final design is subject to change. We were at least hoping for some concrete details on hardware, or even something other than just a code name, but alas.

This might be why the company unveiled the project in a blog post just a month before Galaxy Unpacked, as perhaps Samsung never intended for Android XR and Project Moohan to be a focus of the showcase.

For now, all we know about Project Moohan is what we learned from the December blogpost. This includes that it will have passthrough capabilities and natural multi-modal input, alongside featuring "state-of-the-art displays," but that's too vague to mean anything at the moment.

Samsung confirmed at the event that we'd learn more about the device later in the year, so we can only wait.

More from Laptop Mag

• Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25, Galaxy AI, and more
• Samsung's Galaxy S25 phones offer a big performance boost and even more AI
• Leak: Samsung's Galaxy S25 may go all in on AI summaries

Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S25 series of phones during its annual Unpacked event, ushering in the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra.

The phones are solid spec upgrades over the S24 series from last year, but many of the big changes have come via Galaxy AI, offering the latest on-device LLM support compared to the previous generation.

Here's everything you need to know about the Galaxy S25 series.

Galaxy S25 Series: Features

Samsung's Galaxy AI launched first on the S24 series last year, and we got to test it out on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but things have changed a bit this year. The new Galaxy AI focuses heavily on on-device AI features baked into the operating system. Because the new Galaxy AI features are on-device, you've got increased security for your personalized AI that can support you and offer suggestions and integrations across multiple apps with your personalized, multi-modal AI Agent.

All three Galaxy S25 series phones feature the new 3-nanometer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite CPUS. Samsung claims these new chips offer a performance boost of 37% in CPU performance, 30% in GPU performance, and 40% in NPU performance over the S24 series.

The Galaxy S25 series also features Samsung's fast charging technology for charging from a wall outlet — Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, and Wireless PowerShare. The Galaxy S24 Ultra charged to 71% after 30 minutes of wired charging on a 45W charger. Since the S25 series features the same charging technology, we can expect similar or better charging speeds from the S25 generation.

The Galaxy S25 series includes the same biometrics we expect from Samsung, with an ultrasonic fingerprint reader and face recognition through the selfie camera.

Other features include the Now Bar, Now Brief, Audio Eraser for better sound quality on videos, ProScaler for QHD+ display support, and an improved cooling system. Additionally, the S25 Ultra features an embedded S Pen.

Galaxy S25 Series: Specs

All three Galaxy S25 series phones feature new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3nm) processors, Android 15 with a Samsung One UI 7 overlay, 12GB of RAM, and AMOLED 2X displays.

All three come in Icyblue, Navy, Mint, and Silver Shadow colorways.

The full specs for all three Galaxy S25 Series phones are below.

Galaxy S25 Series: Camera Specs

One of the most important parts of a smartphone can be the camera array. And for Samsung's flagship Galaxy phones, that's never been more true than the last few years as Samsung has added more and more cameras to the rear camera array.

In case you're not sure of the camera differences between the three phones, we've included the full camera specs for the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra below.

Outlook

We'll need to see how well the phones perform in our lab and hands-on tests to know for sure if those new 3 nanometer Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processors are worth the price tag, or if the new Galaxy AI provides a smooth, seamless experience. But from our first look at the Galaxy S25 series, these do look like a decent upgrade from the previous generation.

If you haven't upgraded from the Galaxy S22 or S23 yet, the S25 series is worth the upgrade. Owners of the S24 can probably get another year or two out of their smartphones, but if you want the latest and greatest Galaxy AI you will need to switch to the S25 series. However, non-AI enthusiasts will still have plenty of performance and battery life on the S24 series to last at least another year.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 start today. The phones will be on shelves starting February 7, 2025.

More from Laptop Mag

• 'Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25, Galaxy AI, and more
• Leak: Samsung's Galaxy S25 may go all in on AI summaries
• Galaxy S25 is coming, but Samsung is slashing up to $950 off Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with this massive-trade-in deal

Samsung's annual Galaxy Unpacked event is about to be underway.

We'll likely get a lot of what you might expect — more AI and the new Galaxy S25 lineup of phones to name a couple — but there might also be some big splashes.

Rumors suggest a pair of AR glasses is on the way and maybe a first look at Samsung's Project Moohan XR headset which could challenge Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest 3.

No matter what happens, we'll be here to keep tabs on all the news as it rolls in so you don't miss a single thing. Buckle up, because this might be a more impactful Unpacked than usual.

• 8:09 p.m. Eastern: Catch up with the most interesting parts of today's Samsung Unpacked event:
  • With the S25, Samsung might have cracked the code to be your "true AI companion"
  • Is Samsung's Edge the dawn of the slim phone era
  • Every new Galaxy AI feature Samsung just announced for the S25
  • Samsung Galaxy Edge first look: How thin is Samsung's ultra-slim phone?
  • I'd throw money at Samsung's Galaxy S25 if it solved this one problem with mobile gaming
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 preorder deals: Early discounts, trade-in offers, freebies
  • Here's a brief look at Samsung's new XR headset
  • Samsung's Galaxy S25 phones offer a big performance boost and even more AI

Well, well, well, here we are again

It’s that time of year for Samsung and new Galaxy phones are on the way. This year’s Galaxy Unpacked will most likely give us some of the obvious — the Galaxy S25 lineup of phones for example — but may also usher in a new era for more than one category.

Among the truly new devices could be Samsung’s “Project Moohan” which would be a first-ever XR headset from the company. It’s hard to say exactly what such a device would have in store, but early rumors suggest it could be priced in between the Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest 3.

A Galaxy Ring 2?

It’s not just XR either. Samsung is also rumored to release a second version of its smart ring, the Galaxy Ring 2. Samsung might not be the first major player in this space — Oura takes that title — but given its corresponding platform and the popularity of Galaxy phones, it has a real opportunity to move the burgeoning category forward.

One thing I’d like to see from a new Galaxy Ring 2 is an even smaller, slimmer product and also the addition of more features. Oura, for example, can assess users’ sleep style, which is huge for people who lean into sleep tracking.

A big test for AI phones

This will be an interesting moment for Samsung’s Galaxy AI, a suite of AI-centric features that are meant to change the smartphone experience. With one year in the books, people have been fairly tepid on generative AI on their phones but features like Circle to Search, which are more practical than flashy, have translated well.

This will be Samsung’s biggest test yet when it comes to Galaxy AI and a big test for AI phones in general. According to leaks, Samsung may lean further into AI summaries, but I’m curious what new uses Galaxy AI may have in store, if any. Generative AI may be the future of phones, but it’ll take some creativity on the part of companies like Samsung and Apple to figure out just how to use it.

Samsung’s take on XR

This could be Samsung’s big foray into XR and should be an interesting take on how one of the biggest tech companies out there sees emergent products like glasses and headsets. While Meta has targeted entry-level consumers with its Meta Quest 3S, Apple has taken the stereotypically premium approach with the Vision Pro.

That leaves the middle of the field open for Samsung and the potential for a unique offering. One thing Samsung doesn’t have, however, is the same ecosystem as Meta or Apple. Meta, having been in the game for a while now, has a strong network of developers that provide the backbone for new games and apps. Apple, similarly, has its own native apps and a beloved ecosystem of its own.

Another year, another Galaxy phone

Like in years past, the Galaxy S25 has been the subject of quite a few leaks.

We can expect the S25 in three tiers: a base model, Plus, and Ultra, which is nothing new. Hardware-wise there’s also evidence of some small design tweaks that include more rounded corners and thinner bezels. Unless AI has a big impact, it’s looking like the S25 might be another incremental upgrade, but that’s par for the course in the world of year-over-year phone drops.

The leaks just keep leaking

Just a few hours before Samsung's Unpacked event we're still seeing some product leaks. Here's an alleged look at the IRL phones — not renders.

Samsung Galaxy S25 pricing

One major question this year will be whether Samsung ups the price on its line of flagship phones. If you're in the market for a new Galaxy device, there's some good initial news.

Leaks suggest that the whole lineup will remain the same price as last year's phones. Now, whether that portends a minor upgrade is up for debate, but you can't argue with static pricing.

How much AI is too much AI?

Samsung will be tasked with turning the dial on Galaxy AI to make its case for the future, but so far people have been less than enthused with LLMs on their phones.

This is a big opportunity to showcase Galaxy AI and integrate LLMs even further into the smartphone experience. Maybe you're not pumped to have generative AI around every corner, but it looks like it's coming either way.

Will the U.S. see a slimmer Galaxy phone?

If you're in America and are pumped about the prospect of a special edition Samsung phone with a thinner chassis, you may want to brace for disappointment.

According to a recent rumor, the Galaxy S25 "Slim," which may end up being called the Galaxy S25 "Special Edition" or "SE" might skip America altogether after reportedly being delayed til May.

It'll be up to Apple then to eat Samsung's lunch with its rumored iPhone Air 17 in September.

How to watch

By the way, if you want to watch Samsung's Unpacked event at 1 pm Eastern time you can check it out live on their site.

Just make sure you follow along here as well for all that precious context and analysis.

A pre-S25 deal that's hard to beat

Ahead of the S25 launch we're already seeing some major deals on the S24.

Per our own deal-spotters:

"If you take the maximum trade-in value of $750 and choose one of the three Samsung exclusive colors (Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange) for an additional $200 discount, you can now pick up an unlocked Galaxy S24 Ultra for just $350 at Samsung."

That's a steal for a phone that's only one year old.

Laptop Mag is on the scene

We'll be covering Unpacked in person this year so stay tuned for both live and hands-on coverage of all the latest greatest devices that Samsung has ready.

T-minus

Only 10 minutes until Samsung's Unpacked event kicks off and we're inside the building.

Let the AI fest begin

Samsung's Unpacked event is underway and President and Head of Mobile Experience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, TM Roh, kicked things off diving into new AI features.

Fit check

Part of Samsung's vision for generative AI is a personalized agent that can give you style tips by looking at what you're wearing and offering suggestions.

If you get dunked on by your friends for having a bad fit you'll have someone (or something) to blame, at least.

AI that's all about you

Clearly Samsung is turning the lens inward to consumers with AI.

Lots of the new Galaxy AI features are about providing a more personalized experience that centers on an AI agents. Using your own personal data Samsung positions Galaxy AI as way to provide a more "fluid" experience.

At the core of that is on-device AI which is more secure than the cloud-based alternative.

Search your photos with AI

Samsung also teased a super-powered native search experience that can trawl your photos and find the picture you're looking for.

This isn't a new concept — Apple Intelligence has something similar — but it's a step in the right direction for using LLMs to make your phone experience less painful.

More on Samsung's personalized AI

Ian Horrocks, Professor of computer science at the University of Oxford, explained in a prerecorded video how Samsung's personal data engine works:

"We've been developing the technology behind the [Samsung] personal data engine, known as knowledge graph technology. Knowledge graphs provide a natural and powerful way to combine complex data and background information similar to the way human memory and reasoning works. I like to call this knowledge-based AI."

"Using knowledge graphs allows computers to better understand information, to draw more accurate conclusions and deliver more accurate insights. This can have a huge positive impact on the usefulness for smaller and other devices. Until recently, smartphone services and applications have operated independently of one another. limiting their ability to provide insightful responses."

— Nick Lucchesi

Gemini for all

All new S25 phones will come with six months of Gemini Advanced for free and also 2TB of cloud storage.

Going big on mobile gaming

Samsung dedicated quite a bit of time to gaming on the S25, trumpeting the phones' high-refresh screen, better cooling, and performance.

A slight glow-up

As expected, the S25 phones have minor but nice, hardware improvements. Among them are slimmer bezels and the use of titanium which is lighter and very durable.

Lights, camera, S25

Rachel Roberts comes on stage at the SAP Center to tell the story of the cameras on the Galaxy S25, leading with the Next-Gen Provisual Engine.

Galaxy S25 camera features focus on AI enhancements and Virtual Aperture, giving you more control over your smartphone photography. New features can analyze each frame of motion in photos to identify and recommend everyone's best photo.

— Sean Riley

Hubert Lee, who leads MX Design at Samsung says the shades of blue for the Galaxy S25 phone is inspired by AI.

“Galaxy has 25 ultra has rounded corners, which create a holistic similarity between profile and form of the S25 and the S plus. Galaxy S25 Ultra's design is more compact, slimmer, and lighter, but its display is actually bigger.“

The galaxy S25 series comes in luminous shades of blue, inspired by the brilliance of AI.

— Nick Lucchesi

Jonathan Clay, a documentary filmmaker, highlights using the Galaxy S25 Ultra for his nature filmmaking.

"The beauty of filmmaking with the S25 is that they are all there (multiple lenses) with just the tap of a button."

A video showing Audio Eraser helping to eliminate distracting background noise from Clay's video draws one of the biggest applause breaks of the day.

— Sean Riley

AI meets health

Samsung is making its health experience more personalized, too.

One of the new health features will be the antioxidant index which is designed to help monitor you new nutrition while a new mindfulness feature in Samsung Health will look to offer guidance on your mental health.

To my knowledge, an "antioxidant index" is a new metric for any health-tracking tech company.

Can Samsung beat Google and Apple in the personal health game?

Can Samsung Health topple Google and its Fitbit or Apple and the Apple Watch? It's certainly making a strong case with its software and ecosystem, being — ahem — unpacked by Praveen Raja, Ph.D., VP, Head of Digital Health for Samsung.

"Our goal is to shape a new era of personalized tech... " Raja says.

"In 2025, we're excited to launch new features that make it easy to improve your health, from nutrition, and heart health to mental well-being," he added.

— Nick Lucchesi

Samsung Galaxy S25 specs

If you're thinking about buying the S25, here's everything you need to know.

For a full rundown of the phones and what they're bringing to the table, check our coverage here.

One more thing...

Undoubtedly the buzziest announcement is the one we know very little about.

At the end of its Unpacked event Samsung alluded to the "Edge" which is an extra slim Galaxy phone. And that's about all we know.

No release date or specs. A tantalizing bit! But I guess we'll have to hunker down and wait for more info.

How slim is the Edge?

We can't say for sure but Laptop Mag's Sean Riley got a brief look at the device after Samsung's Unpacked event.

Will the S25 be a gaming beast?

It's hard to say, but we're hoping that the Galaxy S25 becomes the ideal way to play Xbox Game Pass.

In order for that to happen, some pieces of the puzzle will have to full into place, in particular ARM adoption. For our full thoughts, read:

"I'd throw money at Samsung's Galaxy S25 if it solved this one problem with mobile gaming"

Where was all the XR?

This might not have been the XR coming out party we wanted for Samsung but it did show off its Project Moohan headset a little after Unpacked.

Here are some prototype pictures to ogle until we get more information.

Samsung is set to debut its new Galaxy S25 series smartphones today during the annual January Unpacked event, and significant leaks from a reliable tipster reveal a focus on AI for the S25.

Based on images shared by Evan Blass, Samsung seems to focus on its new smartphones' powerful AI capabilities as a top-selling feature rather than next-gen hardware. And honestly, we're not surprised. (The event begins at 1 p.m. Eastern; see the YouTube video below.)

Last week, we deemed the Samsung Galaxy S25 debut to be the biggest test of AI phones yet, and that's precisely why these promo images are framing the S25 series as an AI-powered starting point for all other Android phones to follow.

AI features headed to Galaxy S25 smartphones

Samsung's Galaxy S series smartphones are widely regarded as some of the best phones for those who want a smashing camera setup. With the Galaxy S25 launch, Samsung is taking that stellar camera array and adding some fresh AI flavor.

The Night Video feature resembles Google’s latest Pixel in low-light situations. According to the marketing material in Blass' screenshots, Night Video with the Audio Eraser tool will let users "capture vibrant videos in low light and minimize unwanted noises so you can relive your favorite moments with fewer distractions."

Then, there’s a screen feature called ProScaler. This tool makes images and videos look better, with “sharper visuals and brighter colors.”

As impressive as these photo- and video-related features are, they’ve got nothing on Samsung’s AI summaries.

Equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, Samsung’s upcoming phones will be more capable of tackling complex AI tasks, including AI summaries that pull relevant information from other apps.

In the leaked promo image, we can see a morning brief, a commute summary, and an evening brief — all of which appear to be compiling information primarily from Samsung’s proprietary apps, like Samsung Health and Weather. As the tool expands, more apps will likely become compatible with these neat summaries.

The commute summary has prompted to “Open Maps” and “Play media,” and the marketing reads, “You often use these features while driving. You can make them run automatically when you get into your car.” Ideally, users will be able to connect whichever maps and media apps they’d like to this AI summary.

It seems like a great feature to see all the essential information you need in the morning, evening, and while driving on a single screen. Rather than opening a separate app to check the weather, check your schedule, scan for important emails, and check your Samsung Health Energy score, you can now do it all from one screen.

These look like official marketing materials, but as always, until we hear directly from Samsung, take them with a grain of salt with a grain of salt.

In the meantime, look at what we expect at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 beyond the company's new flagship smartphones.