GoKawiil
Tech News
Samsung has started rolling out its One UI 9 software update, currently reaching the Galaxy S23 series and Z Flip/Z Fold 5 and newer models, with wider availability expected to follow. Users can check for the update via Settings > Software Update, and can schedule automatic downloads for times like charging.
Samsung has released version 6.6.18.22 of the Galaxy Store, relocating the Menu option from the top-left hamburger icon to the floating bottom bar. The bottom bar now holds four items: Apps, Games, My Galaxy, and Menu. The update is rolling out globally to Galaxy devices, including those running One UI 8.5 and One UI 9.
New leaks detail Motorola's rumored widescreen foldable, the Razr Wide Fold, pointing to a 6.92-inch 165Hz inner display, a 5,000mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip. Physical mock-ups reveal a compact, stubby design with rounded edges that appears thicker than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, alongside dual 50MP rear cameras, a 32MP selfie camera and Qi2 charging, with a launch expected around mid-December.
Samsung has begun pushing the stable One UI 9 update, based on Android 17, to the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, S25 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 in Korea. Beta testers are receiving a smaller ~535MB download to move to the final build, while users still on One UI 8.5 get a much larger update package of around 3.8GB. The rollout follows the update's earlier launch on the Galaxy S26 line and is expected to expand to the US soon.
Foldable phone cases typically ship in two pieces covering the back, sides, camera island and front screen perimeter, guarding against drops, shock and scratches. Most basic cases skip full 360-degree coverage and leave the hinge exposed, while rugged options from brands like Casetify, Supcase and Otterbox add hinge protection and built-in screen protectors at the cost of extra bulk.
A tech commentary compares foldable phone screen sizes to compact tablets, noting devices like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offer displays close in size to the iPad Mini's 8.3-inch screen. The piece argues that folding phones combine smartphone portability with tablet-like screen space, and can eliminate the need for a separate cellular data plan that many tablets require.
Reports indicate that sales of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 have increased following Apple's announcement of the iPhone Duo, its rumored foldable device. Samsung has responded by lowering prices on some of its foldable phones in certain markets. Foldables remain a small slice of the overall smartphone market, with IDC estimating 20.6 million foldable shipments last year against 1.25 billion total smartphone shipments.
Reports on Apple's foldable iPhone Duo say its screen uses a matte coating that reduces glare and makes the fold line less visible than on rival foldables. Early hands-on impressions describe the crease as more noticeable by touch than by sight, but reviewers note this only reflects the device's current, unused state.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 alongside two other foldables at its July Unpacked event, introducing a shorter, wider form factor distinct from prior Z Fold models. The device measures 123.9mm tall, 9.7mm thick folded and 4.5mm unfolded, weighing 201 grams, making it lighter than the Z Fold 8 Ultra. A hands-on review after two weeks of use found it a strong but not flawless entry into the wide-foldable category.
A tech enthusiast tested whether an eight-year-old Google Pixel 3 XL could be reused as a home security camera and as an Android TV replacement instead of being discarded. Using the AlfredCamera app paired with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 as viewer, the Pixel served as a low-latency camera node with motion detection and two-way audio. The author found the security camera use case worked well, while the Android TV box conversion was less successful, though specific limitations of that experiment weren't detailed.
Multiple Samsung Galaxy device owners, mostly using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, report that YouTube videos freeze with audio still playing after switching away from the app and back. The issue has been discussed for weeks on a Korean Samsung community forum, with some users of the standard Z Fold 8 and Galaxy S26 Ultra also reporting similar problems. Samsung has not publicly responded to the reports.
Apple let reporters test its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, at Apple Park ahead of preorders opening Oct. 16 and a launch on Oct. 23. The device has a 5.4-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch inner display, and Apple showed how apps like Netflix will adapt across the cover screen, full inner display, and a half-folded mode with on-screen controls.