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Tech News
Samsung has begun pushing its redesigned SmartThings interface to Android phones days after the update first appeared on iOS. The new version introduces a floating navigation bar, denser device and routine cards, and quick on/off toggles directly from the home screen. It also refreshes the built-in TV remote with a light mode and resizable, repositionable controls.
Samsung is shutting down its standalone Samsung Sound app, which launched on Android and iOS only months ago for setting up and controlling its soundbars and Wi-Fi speakers. A notice in the app's latest update tells users it will be merged into SmartThings, and that they can keep their existing settings by registering their sound device there. Samsung says Samsung Sound will keep working until March 31, 2027, after which SmartThings becomes the only option.
Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Buds On, its first open-ear, clip-on wireless earbuds, alongside the US launch of the Galaxy Tab S12 and SmartTag 3. The earbuds feature TwinBoost speakers, automatic volume adjustment, audio leakage reduction, and up to 9.5 hours of battery life, plus Galaxy AI tools like Gemini Live access and head-gesture controls. They go on sale in Korea on October 27 for 299,000 won, with a global release expected later.
Vivo is rolling out its X Fold 6 foldable outside China after debuting it domestically in June. The phone keeps a traditional tall, narrow foldable shape with a 6.51-inch 20:9 cover screen and 8.02-inch inner display, but pairs it with a large 1/1.4-inch 200-megapixel main sensor, 50-megapixel telephoto and ultrawide cameras, a 6,900mAh battery, and a custom MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chip. Vivo has not yet disclosed pricing or which markets will get the device.
FCC listings have surfaced for two Samsung smart glasses models, reportedly tied to its partnerships with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The filings show model numbers SM-O200J and SM-O200P, each with several additional variant numbers, according to Droid Life.
Amazon has cut the price of the Samsung Odyssey G9 super-ultrawide gaming monitor to $649.99, down from its $999.99 list price, marking a record low for the product on the site. The 49-inch display offers a 32:9 aspect ratio, 5120x1440 resolution, 1000R curve, 144Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time with FreeSync Premium Pro and HDR600 support.
Amazon has priced the 512GB Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,163.50, down from its $1,499.99 list price, a $336.49 discount. The model includes 12GB RAM, a 6.9-inch display with Privacy Display tech, a titanium frame, a 200MP main camera with dual telephoto lenses, and a 5,000mAh battery.
Amazon has cut the price of Samsung's 27-inch ViewFinity S7 4K monitor to $170.99, down from its $249.99 list price, as part of an early Prime Day promotion. The retailer says this is the lowest price the monitor has reached since its release, undercutting the previous 2025 low of $219.99. The display is a 60Hz IPS panel with HDR10 support, HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and VESA mount compatibility, and the deal requires an active Amazon Prime membership.
Leaker Ice Universe claims Samsung's Galaxy S27 Ultra will weigh 218 grams, about 4 grams more than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, while keeping the same 7.9mm thickness. The extra weight follows earlier reports that the phone will carry a larger 5,700mAh battery, up from 5,000mAh in the current model.
Citing an unnamed insider, Jiemian News reports that Foxconn's final assembly yield rate for Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo stood just above 60% as of September 17, with full production maturity possibly six months to a year away. Samsung Display is said to be struggling separately with low yields on foldable OLED panels and hinges, reportedly due to late design changes, while Apple's 2026 production target is pegged at six to eight million units against sales guidance of over five million.
Samsung has released its third-generation SmartTag item tracker, adding improvements to range and battery life over previous models. Unlike earlier versions, SmartTag 3 works with iPhones as well as Android phones from brands other than Samsung.
Samsung unveiled the SmartTag 3, its latest Bluetooth tracker, which for the first time works with iPhones through the SmartThings app, though features like Compass View, Ring Phone, and Left Behind Alerts remain Android-exclusive. The device is 35% smaller and 33% lighter than earlier models, offers battery life up to 550 days, extends directional finding to about 200 feet, and adds Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding and geofenced Place Notifications. It starts at $29.99 and is expected in the US by early November.