Today at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Samsung announced Galaxy Z Fold7, a device that brings together the best of Galaxy design, camera functionality and AI innovation in the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold series to date.

It delivers the premium performance and experience of an “Ultra” smartphone, while unlocking new levels of efficiency and productivity with a larger, more immersive display when unfolded. And with the new One UI 8 as its foundation, it seamlessly integrates intelligent, multimodal agents optimised for the foldable form factor.

“Galaxy Z Fold7 combines Galaxy AI with powerful hardware to deliver our most advanced smartphone experience yet,” said TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics.“ This next chapter of foldables brings together design and engineering, with AI built specifically for the foldable form. It gives people the ultra experience they want— powerful, immersive, intelligent, and portable all in one.”

Galaxy Z Fold7 is crafted for those who want the everyday portability and intuitive feel of a traditional smartphone, combined with the enhanced power and flexibility of a larger, unfolded display – all in one device. With its ultra thin and light design and wider cover display, Galaxy Z Fold7 delivers a seamless on- the-go experience that makes typing and browsing effortless when it is folded. At just 215 grams, Galaxy Z Fold7 is even lighter than Galaxy S25 Ultra. It is just 8.9 mm thick when folded and 4.2 mm thick when unfolded.

The device comes with 6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x cover display, a wider screen with a new 21:9 aspect ratio. When unfolded, Galaxy Z Fold7 becomes more than just a smartphone. It transforms into another device entirely and revealing an expansive screen that expands the workspace for editing, multitasking and immersive viewing – and for getting more out of Galaxy AI.

The main display on Galaxy Z Fold7 is 11% larger than the previous generation, providing even more screen real estate for content editing and multitasking across multiple apps.

The 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x main display offers ultra-rich contrast, true blacks and vibrant detail that make everything pop — from movies to tabs open while multitasking. With Vision Booster and up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness, Galaxy Z Fold7 stays brilliantly visible even in direct sunlight.Thin and light, Galaxy Z Fold7 is built to move with users, confidently.

The Armor FlexHinge is thinner and lighter, thanks to an enhanced water droplet design and newly implemented multi-rail structure that reduces visible creasing. The cover display is made with Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic, a new glass ceramic that has crystals intricately embedded within its glass matrix. This secures the screen’s durability and crack deflection capabilities and delivers protection in a remarkably thin form factor.

The main display is restructured to be thinner and lighter – yet stronger. This was achieved by implementing the Titanium plate layer. Additionally, Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) was increased to be 50% thicker, making the display tougher.

Under the hood, Galaxy Z Fold7 is powered by the best-in-class processor used in Galaxy devices. It’s uniquely customised and makes on-device AI processing tasks – like real-time language translation and Generative Edits – faster and more seamless.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy delivers performance boost of 41% in NPU, 38% in CPU, and 26% of GPU compared to the previous generation. This power fuels Galaxy Z Fold7’s ability to process more AI experiences on-device without compromise.

Galaxy Z Fold7 now brings the best of the Galaxy’s pro-grade camera experience to a foldable, combining advanced hardware with intelligent processing for consistently stunning results. Its high-resolution camera captures incredible detail, vibrant colour and rich texture, pulling users back into every moment. AI-enhanced imaging automatically optimises lighting, detail and realism, so photos and videos stay sharp and vivid, even in low light settings such as milestone dinners and late-night café scenes. Featuring the first 200MP wide-angle camera in the Galaxy Z series, it captures 4x more detail. The 10MP 100° camera on the main display expands the frame, so when users unfold their phone, it’s easy to capture group selfies, valuable moments and more of the world in a single shot.

Samsung’s next generation ProVisual Engine processes images faster, enabling every photo and video to be more crisp, vibrant and full of detail. With Night Video, intelligent motion detection now separates moving subjects from still backgrounds to reduce noicses. 10-bit HDR provides more colour depth. The result is videos with richer colour, deeper contrast and more lifelike detail, no matter the time of day.

Galaxy Z Fold7 puts a pro-grade creative studio in users’ pocket, with AI-powered tools optimised for its large display. Users can capture stunning photos and videos and then edit with ease. From cleaning up clutter in product shots to removing background noise from café recordings, studio-quality enhancements can be done in a few easy steps. The intuitive and intelligent features on the Galaxy Z Fold7 make it effortless to transform photos and videos into pro-level content, with no extra tools required.

Shots look flawless with Photo Assist, 11 which moves, erases or enlarges objects and adjusts angles and fills in backgrounds with AI-powered precision. Users can seize vibrant expressions, including pet profile with Portrait Studio and refine their photos using Galaxy’s enhanced Generative Edit. The ability to seamlessly remove distractions and fill in backgrounds has made Generative Edit a fan favourite, and now it’s even smarter. It offers proactive suggestions with the new Suggest Erases , which automatically detects passersby with the tap of a button. Side-by-Side Editing and Show Original enables real-time comparison of original images and edited versions on the large screen, making it easier to decide what to modify and what to keep.

Audio Eraser has also been upgraded to be more intelligent and convenient. There’s a new toggle in Gallery, and it now proactively detects and removes unwanted background noise like wind or traffic from video recordings.

Galaxy Z Fold7 harnesses the power of the foldable display to amplify the power and convenience of AI, delivering experiences that are instinctive, adaptive and effortlessly efficient. The new One UI 8 is context- aware and naturally responsive, optimised for Galaxy Z Fold7’s flexible format and expansive screen offering a more intuitive and immersive way to interact with AI. There’s less jumping between apps and screens and more frictionless creativity and productivity happening seamlessly in one place.

Designed as a true multimodal agent, One UI 8 seamlessly combines large-screen multitasking with intelligent tools that understand what users type, say and even see. And with an AI-powered camera and privacy built into every layer, Galaxy Z Fold7 becomes a smart and secure personal assistant, ready to help anytime, anywhere.

Launching with the all-new One UI 8 on Android 16, Galaxy Z Fold7 debuts Samsung’s latest AI- powered platform on foldables, delivering the latest Android experience straight out of the box. Gemini Live is now enhanced with multimodal AI that understands what users see, say and do, making it possible to seamlessly type or speak contextual questions and get answers without having to toggle back and forth between apps. And with screen sharing on Gemini Live or camera sharing on Gemini Live, you can simply show Gemini what users are looking at on the screen or on the camera, then ask questions to get instant insights.

With Circle to Search, gaming tips appear exactly when and where you need them. Just circle an item on screen and get instant results, tips or tactics in a floating view that ensures a smooth, uninterrupted experience.

With Galaxy AI Optimised for Large Screens, Galaxy Z Fold7 delivers experiences that maximise the benefits of the expansive foldable display to boost productivity. AI Results View displays results from AI features in a separate Split View or in a Floating View, so the user’s original content remains unobstructed and visible. Users can be more efficient with Drag & Drop AI-generated content, including images and text, directly from Multi Window. With tools like Drawing Assist or Writing Assist, it’s easier than ever to move ideas and visuals, enabling a smoother creative process.

As mobile experiences grow ever more intelligent and interconnected, Samsung is reinforcing the foundations that protect them – unveiling new protections for on-device AI, expanding cross-device threat detection and enhancing network security with quantum-resistant encryption. One UI 8 brings enhanced privacy to personalised AI experiences with the new Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP).

KEEP creates encrypted, app-specific storage environments within the device’s secure storage area, ensuring each app can access only its own sensitive information and nothing more. With One UI 8, Samsung is advancing Knox Matrix to deliver more proactive and user-friendly protection across the Galaxy ecosystem. Furthermore, as part of its ongoing commitment to quantum-safe security, Samsung is integrating post-quantum cryptography into Secure WiFi. This enhancement secures the key exchange process at the core of encrypted connections, helping ensure robust privacy even over public networks.

The Galaxy Z Fold7 will be available for pre-order starting  July 10, with general availability beginning July 25, 2025. The Galaxy Z Fold7 comes in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jetblack and Mint (online exclusive) colour options.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Raises the Bar appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Today at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip7, a compact AI phone with multimodal capabilities, powered by a new FlexWindow.

Small enough to slip into a pocket, yet powerful enough to deliver the handiest assistance, it melds Galaxy AI with a now edge-to-edge FlexWindow, a flagship level camera and an ultra-compact and iconic design. From intuitive voice AI to the best selfie capabilities, the Galaxy Z Flip7 is an intelligent pocket-sized companion built for seamless interaction and everyday reliability.

“Galaxy Z Flip7 is proof that big intelligence can come in a small, pocket-sized form factor,” said TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience (DX) at Samsung Electronics. “By bringing rich multimodal AI capabilities and seamless functionality to the FlexWindow, we’ve created a device that adapts, anticipates and empowers users, unlocking a smarter, more intuitive way to engage with the world.”

Content spills elegantly from edge to edge on the Galaxy Z Flip7’s stunning FlexWindow display , which brings essentials front and centre and makes it easy to type out quick messages, check schedule at a glance and snap high-quality selfies. Galaxy Z Flip7’s brightest FlexWindow yet delivers a super-smooth refresh rate, so everything looks vivid and feels fluid – even when outside on a sunny day.

The 4.1-inch Super AMOLED FlexWindow is the largest on a Galaxy Z Flip yet, with edge-to-edge usability that enables users to see and do more on the cover screen. With 2,600 nits of peak brightness and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate on both the main display and the FlexWindow, Galaxy Z Flip7 enables ultra-fluid scrolling, streaming and gaming. Plus, the FlexWindow gets an upgrade with Vision Booster, enhancing outdoor visibility so users can stay connected wherever they are.

The main display is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, built for an ultra-smooth, immersive experience.

Galaxy Z Flip7 is crafted for portability and puts powerful performance right in the palm of the user’s hand. With its compact size and sleek silhouette, it slips effortlessly into a small pocket or purse, perfect for whatever the day brings. Whether catching calls during a coffee outing or snapping pictures at the store – no need to worry about the inevitable drops and bumps along the way. It’s also built to last and engineered to handle the rigors of daily use.

Weighing just 188 grams and measuring only 13.7mm when folded, Galaxy Z Flip7 is the slimmest Galaxy Z Flip yet. The cover and back are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.

The Armor FlexHinge is thinner than the hinge on the previous generation and features a restructured design and the robust Armor Aluminum Frame provides a tough exterior for resilience.

While the Galaxy Z Flip7 has been slimmed down and refined throughout, it now features a bigger battery and an even bigger display – all in a more compact form. With the largest battery in the Galaxy Z Flip series yet, users can stream music or listen to podcasts during long commutes, edit photos on the fly and share updates throughout the day without missing a beat.

The 4,300mAh battery 7 is the largest ever on a Galaxy Z Flip yet, and the Galaxy Z Flip7 is powered by the latest 3nm processor, customised for Galaxy and fit for today’s lifestyle with an even more powerful CPU, GPU and NPU than Galaxy Z Flip6.

Samsung DeX comes to a Galaxy Z Flip for the first time, enabling it to instantly transform into a handy workstation: users can flip it open, connect to a screen and instantly get PC-like tools for enhanced multitasking. Pocket-Perfect AI

With FlexWindow enhanced for greater usability and Galaxy AI 10 that is smarter and more intuitive than ever, Galaxy Z Flip7 introduces a new era of convenience and functionality, empowering users to search with their voice, get answers and take action directly on FlexWindow. Powered by the newest One UI 8 and Android 16 right out of the box, it delivers true multimodal AI experiences optimised for the Flip’s iconic design, with many tasks now able to be handled right from the cover screen.

This intuitive, one-handed experience enhances productivity and introduces even more personalisation options, making the Galaxy Z Flip7 a smart and handy companion, whether a user is traveling around the globe or simply navigating a busy day.

Galaxy Z Flip7 brings a new level of AI-powered personalisation, tailored to users’ style and routine. From curated wallpaper suggestions to emoji, color and widget customisation, the FlexWindow becomes a dynamic extension of a user’s personality. Whether prepping for travel or matching the mood, personalisation is effortless and always evolving.

Gemini Live is now available directly on the FlexWindow, enabling users to search for information with their voice and complete tasks – hands-free. It’s like having a personal assistant, right on the cover screen.

With camera sharing on Gemini Live, getting real-time help is as easy as pointing the camera. Whether packing for a trip or choosing an outfit, users can simply show Gemini what they’re looking at. Ask questions like, “Which of these outfits is better for the weather in Seoul?” Gemini will respond, just like a helpful friend would.

Galaxy Z Flip7 brings flagship-level photography and Samsung’s best selfie camera yet. With Samsung’s advanced ProVisual Engine, it intelligently optimises every scene to deliver crisp, detailed shots in any lighting, without any manual adjustments needed. From playful pet moments to zoomed-in festival shots and glowing sunset portraits, Galaxy Z Flip7 captures stunning results without a tripod or even unfolding the screen.

The dual rear camera system includes a 50MP Wide and a 12MP Ultra-Wide lens, delivering flagship-level clarity in any lighting, whether capturing scenic shots or snapping high-quality selfies directly from the cover screen.

With Enhanced Nightography, users can capture vivid photos in low-light environments through improved lighting adjustments and the removal of noise and blurred frames. 10-bit HDR provides richer colour, deeper contrast and more life-like detail in video, no matter the time of day.

Galaxy Z Flip7 takes selfies to the next level, right from the FlexWindow. Real-Time Filters now lets users preview and perfect FlexCam shots instantly. And with the new Zoom Slider, users can quickly zoom in or out with just a swipe- making it perfect for capturing a full outfit or fitting everyone into the frame for a flawless group selfie.

With Dual Preview, the photographer and the subject can see the composition live on the FlexWindow, helping users nail the perfect shot on the first go. Everyday pet moments become eye-catching shots with Portrait Studio in Photo Assist whether featuring a playful cartoon style, a quirky fisheye look or a polished, professional finish.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE brings the foldable experience to even more users.

Compact when folded and expansive when opened, Galaxy Z Flip7 FE features a 6.7-inch Main Display for an immersive viewing experience. The 50MP FlexCam enables high-quality selfies and video in Flex Mode, letting users capture content hands-free, without even opening the device. Now Brief surfaces helpful updates – including weather, daily schedules and commute alerts – on the cover screen, in a layout optimised for Galaxy Z Flip7 FE’s compact form.

Available in Black and White, it delivers a minimalist look that complements its intelligent, foldable design.

As mobile experiences grow ever more intelligent and interconnected, Samsung is reinforcing the foundations that protect them – unveiling new protections for on-device AI, expanding cross-device threat detection and enhancing network security with quantum-resistant encryption. One UI 8 brings enhanced privacy to personalised AI experiences with the new Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP). KEEP creates encrypted, app-specific storage environments within the device’s secure storage area, ensuring each app can access only its own sensitive information and nothing more. With One UI 8, Samsung is advancing Knox Matrix to deliver more proactive and user-friendly protection across the Galaxy ecosystem. Furthermore, as part of its ongoing commitment to quantum-safe security, Samsung is integrating post-quantum cryptography into Secure Wi-Fi.

This enhancement secures the key exchange process at the core of encrypted connections, helping ensure robust privacy even over public networks.

The Galaxy Z Flip7 will be available for pre-order starting July 10, with general availability beginning July 25, 2025 and comes in 21 Blue Shadow, Jetblack, Coral-red and Mint 22 (online exclusive) colour options.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7: A Pocket-Sized AI Powerhouse appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

OPPO has released its latest A Series lineup, the A5 range with a new wave of smartphones built for durability, performance and outstanding everyday value.

Combining unbeatable resilience, smart features and polished design, the A5 Series makes high-performance essentials accessible to everyday users, without the premium price tag.

The expanded A5 Series includes the OPPO A5 5G and A5 4G, two feature-rich devices made for daily life. They join OPPO’s toughest smartphone to date, the A5 Pro 5G – which launched in June 2025 – in offering more choice when it comes to durable, dependable tech.

OPPO New Zealand Managing Director Morgan Halim says the A Series range is for Kiwis who need a good-value phone that works as hard as they do. “Whether someone’s on the tools, outdoors in all conditions or buying a reliable first phone for their kids, the A Series is a dependable, great-value choice that’s made to last,” says Halim. “It’s built to survive backpacks, pockets and the occasional drop – and it keeps up with your hustle, whatever your day looks like.”

The A5 5G and A5 4G are engineered to handle more than just the basics. With large, high-refresh-rate displays, splash and dust resistance and OPPO’s 300% Ultra Volume Mode, these phones are made to be heard and seen clearly – even outdoors or on noisy job sites.

With 6,000mAh batteries across both models and support for 45W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charging, users can spend less time plugged in and more time getting things done. OPPO’s battery technology has been tested for 1,700 full charge cycles, equivalent to approximately five years of regular use, while maintaining at least 80% battery health. It’s power that lasts day after day, year after year.

And because durability should extend beyond hardware, the A5 Series is backed by OPPO’s industry-leading software support – with 5 years of operating system updates and 6 years of security updates. It’s long-term peace of mind that sets a new standard in this price bracket, especially compared to competitors who typically offer only 2 years of updates or less.

These devices are made to move at your pace. They offer practical, efficient performance for everything from messaging and music to maps and media.

The OPPO A Series is available online at OPPO’s official website and from electronic retailers.

The post Tough just got smarter – OPPO’s A5 2025 Series appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A couple of months since release the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is proving to be the absolute top tier in this year’s smartphones.

Fusing AI smarts with high level tech and camera specs that blow out any current competitor, the S25 Ultra is a powerhouse for mobile photography, videography, multi-tasking and more.

So, what about gaming?

I’m not talking about the casual play here, or emulators (although Android is the emulator go-to for mobile), I’m focusing on triple AAA mobile gaming marathons.

With the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor coupled with 12GB RAM, there’s definitely enough engine to put you in the fast lane.

First up in the console quality gaming test is Diablo Immortal.

The rich graphics coupled with the fierce combat moments, playing online and offline was seamless, smooth and fluid. The 5,000 mAh battery from full charge lasted over 6 hours (in total).

A fav of mine is Pascal’s Wager. A deep RPG with console graphics.

A slow burn title with a lot of sometimes lengthy video cut sequences, this third person game is a deep play and was not so power friendly.

While gameplay was fine, the S25 Ultra’s battery took a hit and within just 3.5 hours it was game over.

Call of Duty Mobile online and Wreckfest were the primary winners.

Both getting close to or exceeding the battery life of Diablo. And of course not a glitch or lag insight.

Streaming Xbox GamePass is where it’s at though. If you have a GamePass subscription you can stream Xbox games, thus really testing the ‘console quality’ on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Connecting up a bluetooth controller, or via USB-C is the way to go. Sure you can try to use the onscreen touch controls but it is very fiddly.

Forza 7 revved into action with simulated speed and detailed graphics, Deadspace (Remake) interstellar darkness was a smooth play, any game you decide to stream via GamePass on the S25 Ultra is likely to play real well.

GamePass on WiFi was around 3 hours (total), but on mobile data (4G and 5G) the battery drain was quicker at near-to 2 hours. Also on mobile data for GamePass the S25 Ultra tended to heat up.

If you’re on the go and want to get some lengthy Xbox action, carry a battery pack with you.

In all it was no surprise, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a mobile gaming powerhouse, able to compete with the more specialised ‘gaming smartphones’ out in the market, shows that the S25 Ultra is an all-purpose smartphone with the looks, specs and AI to see you right now and in to the future.

The post Mobile Gaming on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Motorola is announcing the release of two brand new mid-tier devices in New Zealand.

Introducing the moto g05 and moto g15 – two smartphones packed with features that defy the expectations of a sub device.

The moto g15 boasts a 50MP camera system, guaranteeing high-qualityimages and an ultrawide lens for capturing more in every shot.

Users of the moto g15 and moto g05 can also enjoy NFC capabilities, enabling seamless tap-to-pay convenience Ultra-efficient performance with RAM Boost, ensuring smooth multitasking and responsiveness, and be among the first to experience Android 15, offering enhanced privacy, security, and flexibility when personalising your phone.

Also available on both the moto g05 and g15, is the Te Reo Māori capability, offering users a fully localised interface in te reo. Kurt Bonnici, Head of Motorola, Australia and New Zealand said, “We appreciate that cost-conscious Kiwis are increasingly seeking value without compromise, and Motorola is committed to making innovation accessible to all; our two new devices showcase this perfectly.

The moto g series has always pushed the boundaries of what can be expected from a mid-tier device, and with these latest additions, we are levelling up design, security and features – ensuring more Kiwis have access to the best tech.

“We have taken time and consideration when crafting these devices, to ensure they deliver innovative features Kiwis want. The moto g15’s impressive 50MP camera, complemented by an ultrawide lens, captures 4×3 more of the scene in the frame than a standard lens.

Meanwhile, the moto g05, introduces tap to pay and tap to share, bringing premium-level convenience to one of our most affordable offerings.

The moto g15 is available from the 4th of April, 2025 in Gravity Grey and Iguana Green.

The moto g05 is available from the 4th of April 2025 in Forest Green and Misty Blue.

The post Motorola’s new bright & bold moto g appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

It’s 2025 and to commemorate this quarter of a century since Y2K a new era of Samsung’s S Series has launched.

The three familiar models, S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra make their debut as premier Android based smartphones, but there’s also been a major overhaul.

This year’s S Series is a mix of what we are used to from Samsung in their signature flagship and a lot of bold and innovative features.

First up is to take a look under the hood for the mighty Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Having the new and powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor at its core sees both battery efficiency and speed in tandem, enabling complex tasks, multitasking and some quality console gaming abilities.

Coupled with this is the standard 12GB RAM (there is a 1TB / 16GB RAM variant).

The bold and vivid AMOLED QHD display has increased by .1 of an inch to come out at 6.9 (S24 Ultra is 6.8 inch). Yeah, you’re not likely to notice the size difference if you’re still wielding a S24 Ultra, however the all screen, no bezel device with HDR10+ has a fluid 120Hz refresh which, if you’re a mobile gamer, is a must.

Camera wise, the S25 Ultra has it all to smash out any competing device and make this smartphone the must-have for professional mobile photography.

The front facing pinhole comes in at 12MP (wide), which provides you with a deep and true to life colour detail and is able to record in 4K.

But it’s the rear camera’s where things are at.

We have four lenses going on, 200MP wide, 10MP telephoto, 50MP periscope and an additional 50MP ultrawide.

Able to natively record in 8K (and of course 4K) for video the depth, detail and true-to-life colour capture is second to none.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – Portrait mode

Nightography is just beyond reality and of course the x100 digital zoom lets you capture those moon shots that really enforce the ‘Galaxy’ in this series’ brand name.

From everyday snaps, to vlogs, live reels or pet video’s if you are wanting to capture or record at a pro level the S25 Ultra has got you sorted.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – Space zoom

For those that like to get closer to the action, there’s optic x3 and x5 zoom through to digital x100 zoom.

However, be prepared to lose resolution and detail if you take snaps at the full digital zoom, and somewhat awkward camera control to snap the area you’re mega-zoomed in to.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – no zoom

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – x10 zoom

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – x100 zoom

This year’s S Series has had an overhaul in other areas too.

It’s the Samsung One UI you know, but oh so different with version 7.

For the past 12 months since the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung’s UI / UX team have been busy.

A smoother, more intuitive navigation with a heavy accent on tiling. Your home screen widgets are more informative yet less cluttered and overall give a cleaner experience.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – Now bar

Samsung has introduced us to the ‘Now bar’. An onscreen widget that sits at the bottom of the lock screen which can do all manner of things. From Samsung Health insights, to relevant events through to music streaming controls and more.

I fully welcome this – it’s handier than you’d think, and way more ‘dynamic’ than any ‘island’…

Now let’s talk about AI.

Last year we saw Samsung pioneer AI into their smartphones with circle to search, smart translation, AI photo editing and more.

We still have this in the S25 range with some of the best and most intuitive image wizards and edits on any device, but when you first start using your new S25 device there is an overload of AI preinstalled. From Gemini to Bixby or Google Assistant, even CoPilot.

Take your pick of the bunch is my advice and stick with the AI you’re used to.

The S25 Ultra does come with bloatware, you know, those apps (some third party) that are bundled and you cannot uninstall. This chomps a sizeable amount of onboard storage and no, you cannot expand via microSD card, that was removed years ago and I wish it would come back.

If you’re likely to be recording a few 8K vids, you’ll need to go for the larger storage options of 512GB to 1TB. But for most users the entry level 256GB will be more than enough.

You can circumvent the storage by using cloud, such as Google, or OneDrive, both are immediately available on the device.

Battery wise, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has your back. A 5,000 mAh powercell keeps you running day and night. So much so, that during my heavy daily use I’m able to squeeze up to two days from a full charge, without using reverse charging (charging a Samsung wearable on the back of the phone).

There are a few takeaways for me with the S25 Ultra. From the overly generously spec’d rear camera’s the intuitive use of AI, power, speed and battery life, but the biggest one was the refreshing look and feel of One UI 7.

This is the S Series you love, you’re used to, but unlike a certain specific smartphone whose ‘core’ UI / UX hasn’t changed since the 2010’s, Samsung are bringing the innovation, the change, leading the AI march and actually giving you new, improved and ‘Ultra’ specs for your hard earned cash.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is truly something special in the S Series and a must upgrade from whichever smartphone you may be rocking right now.

The post Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Set to launch in New Zealand, the new OPPO Reno13 Series marks OPPO’s first major release of 2025.

The release of the Reno13 Pro, Reno13 and Reno13 F is expected to redefine the mid-range phone market in New Zealand with their unparalleled specs and design, including their latest AI advancements.

For the first time, OPPO is launching an entire odd-numbered Reno generation in New Zealand, bringing the full lineup to market at once.

The timing marks a strategic shift for the company, as the new Reno series makes its debut in the year’s first quarter, a change driven by 2024’s strong reception of the Find X8 Pro and Reno12 Series.

OPPO New Zealand GM Morgan Halim says the local consumer is looking for a new premium mid-range phone.

“Insights from recent years have shown us New Zealand is ready for OPPO to expand our Reno lineup here. Consumers are looking for more of the cutting-edge AI capabilities and trend-setting design the Reno13 offers, at a more affordable price,” he says.

Known for its stylish design and camera-centric innovation, the Reno Series has always been the go-to for trendsetters who want to capture, create and share every unforgettable moment.

With the latest Reno13 Series, OPPO elevates mobile photography to new heights, introducing a suite of powerful AI-driven features that enhance every shot with stunning clarity and vibrant detail.

Leading the way in visual design, each of the Reno13 Series debuts a subtle yet striking design on the body of the phone, inspired by the wings of a butterfly.

The OPPO Reno13 Series is set to launch on Thursday 27 March, 2025 with full product details to be revealed on release day.

The post OPPO Reno13 Series set to launch in NZ appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

OPPO has just  announced that their OPPO Find N5 will be launching this month (February 2025) across Asian markets.

Delivering unrivalled experiences with its thin and light design, the largest inner screen of any book-style foldable, class-leading battery life and next-generation AI-powered performance, Find N5 redefines foldable excellence.

The OPPO Find N5 is the world’s thinnest book-style foldable, measuring just 8.93mm and weighing only 229g. It combines premium design with a secure, tailored grip, featuring flat sides and a contoured metal frame. The Cosmos Ring design highlights the Hasselblad Master Camera System. Offered in Cosmic Black and Misty White, it is the first foldable with IPX9 water resistance. Its 7000-series aluminum alloy frame and ultra-durable nanocrystal glass enhance structural integrity and drop resistance.

The OPPO Find N5 features the largest inner display of any book-style foldable, measuring 8.12″ when open, and a 6.62″ cover display with a 20.7:9 ratio when closed. Its Dual Shielded Flexible Screen offers nine layers, increasing impact resistance by 70%. With a smooth 1-120Hz refresh rate, over 2000 nits peak brightness, and TÜV Rheinland’s Minimized Crease Certification, the Find N5 provides an immersive, high-performance experience. Additionally, the device supports OPPO Pen for enhanced creativity.

The OPPO Find N5 boasts the best battery life of any foldable phone, thanks to its 5600mAh dual-cell battery and next-gen OPPO Silicon-Carbon Battery. With 80W SUPERVOOCTM and 50W AIRVOOCTM charging, it charges quickly, providing hours of usage in minutes. Wireless charging is supported with an OPPO magnetic case.

The first foldable to launch with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, Find N5 boasts exceptional AI performance with a 45% boost from its Hexagon NPU. Its versatile Hasselblad Master Camera System includes a 50MP periscope camera for tele-macro shots, while Hasselblad Portrait Mode and Dolby Vision 10-bit video ensure stunning photography and video quality.

Launching with Android 15, Find N5 will receive five years of security updates for long-lasting peace of mind and will be powered by ColorOS 15, bringing the latest generation of OPPO experiences and AI capabilities to foldables. It features Boundless View for multi-tasking, AI Search for efficient searches, AI Call Summary for transcribing and summarizing calls, and dual-screen translation for seamless communication. With AI tools like AI Eraser, AI Clarity Enhance, and AI Unblur, photo editing is easier than ever.

ColorOS 15 also introduces Circle to Search with Google. Just circle to search anything on your phone, without switching apps. And with the Google Gemini app, your AI assistant from Google, you can get help learning in new ways, writing emails, planning events and more.

OPPO bridges the gap between MacOS computers and Find N5.

With the O+ Connect app for Mac installed, seamlessly share photos, videos and files with super fast speed across devices. O+ Connect even supports remote access, so you can easily pull files from your computer to your Find N5 remotely, or take control of your Mac interface when on the go and your Mac is miles away. Touch to Share also delivers one-touch sharing and receiving from iOS and iPadOS devices with your ColorOS smartphone.

OPPO Find N5 will be available starting February 28, 2025, with a 16GB RAM + 512GB storage configuration. The device will initially launch in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong China, with more markets set to follow shortly.

The post OPPO Find N5, the World’s Thinnest Foldable Releasing in February appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Apple has just announced iPhone 16e, a new addition to the iPhone 16 line-up that offers powerful capabilities at a more affordable price.

iPhone 16e delivers fast, smooth performance and breakthrough battery life, thanks to the efficiency of the A18 chip and the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by Apple.

iPhone 16e is also built for Apple Intelligence, the intuitive personal intelligence system that delivers helpful and relevant intelligence while taking an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI.

The 48MP Fusion camera takes gorgeous photos and videos, and with an integrated 2x Telephoto, it is like having two cameras in one, so users can zoom in with optical quality. When outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features — including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite — help iPhone 16e users stay connected and get assistance when it matters most.

iPhone 16e will be available in two elegant matte finishes — black and white — with colourful cases available to accessorise. Pre-orders begin Saturday, 22 February, 2025, with availability beginning Friday, 28 February, 2025.

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Samsung has just announced the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25, setting a new standard as a true AI companion with their most natural and context-aware mobile experiences ever created.

Introducing multimodal AI agents, the Galaxy S25 series is the first step in Samsung’s vision to change the way users interact with their phone – and with their world. A first-of-its-kind customised Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI and superior camera range and control with Galaxy’s next-gen ProVisual Engine.

“The greatest innovations are a reflection of their users, which is why we evolved Galaxy AI to help everyone interact with their devices more naturally and effortlessly while trusting that their privacy is secured,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy S25 series opens the door to an AI-integrated OS that fundamentally shifts how we use technology and how we live our lives.”

With One UI, the Galaxy S25 series is a true AI companion that understands the context of your needs and preferences and provides personalised AI experiences with privacy assured at every turn. It’s the starting point of a shared vision with Google to imagine Android with AI at the core, bringing together developers and partners from around the world.

AI agents with multimodal capabilities enable Galaxy S25 to interpret text, speech, images and videos for interactions that feel natural. Upgrades to Google’s Circle to Search make searching your phone screen more helpful, fast and contextual. Circle to Search now quickly recognises phone numbers, email and URLs on your screen, letting you call, email or visit a website with a single tap.

With Galaxy S25 series, you can also perform actionable searches with context-aware suggestions for next steps. Plus, Galaxy S25 makes it frictionless to switch between apps for quick follow-up actions, like sharing a GIF or saving event details.

Galaxy S25 also represents a breakthrough in natural language understanding, making everyday interactions easier. Simply ask and intuitively find a specific photo in Samsung Gallery or adjust the size of display fonts in Settings.

Just press and hold the side button to activate Gemini and perform seamless interaction across Samsung and Google apps, plus third-party apps such as Spotify. For example, find your favorite sports team’s season schedule and add it to Samsung Calendar – with a single command.

These intuitive interactions are elevated by expansions to Galaxy AI’s popular tools for communication, productivity and creativity. Galaxy S25 keeps calls organised with Call Transcript and summary. Writing Assist features such as summarising content or automatically formatting notes can be enabled where texts can be selected, without needing to switch between applications. Drawing Assist unlocks fresh ways to bring ideas to life through combinations of sketches, text or image prompts.

In the era of AI, personalisation goes hand-in-hand with privacy. On Galaxy S25, the Personal Data Engine powers personalised AI features by safely analysing your data on-device to deliver highly tailored experiences that reflect your preferences and usage patterns. These insights enable tailored experiences such as searching for an old photo in the Gallery using natural language, or being guided through the day with Now Brief , which proactively offers suggestions accessible via Now Bar on the lock screen. All personalised data is kept private and secured by Knox Vault. Combined with enhanced on-device processing capabilities, this creates a powerful, protected AI experience that is unique to Galaxy.

Galaxy S25 also introduces post-quantum cryptography, safeguarding personal data against emerging threats that could increase as quantum computing evolves.

Because there is no privacy without holistic security, One UI laid the groundwork for these innovations by introducing an extra, fortified layer of device safety designed for the age of AI and hyperconnectivity. Additional updates include added Maximum Restrictions settings, enhanced Theft Protection, and a new Knox Matrix dashboard to monitor the security status across a connected device ecosystem.

The Galaxy S25 series is powered by the Snapdragon Elite for Galaxy. With unique customisations by Galaxy, this is the most powerful processor ever on Galaxy S series. This power fuels the Galaxy S25 series’ ability to process more AI experiences on-device without compromise, including previously cloud-based AI tasks such as Generative Edit.

Samsung and Qualcomm Technologies worked together to customise the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. The Galaxy S25 series features advanced, efficient AI image processing with ProScaler which aims to improve in display image scaling quality, while incorporating custom technology with Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) embedded within the processor using Galaxy IP to enable greater display power efficiency.

Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is also equipped with Vulkan Engine and improved Ray Tracing, which makes for smoother and more realistic mobile gaming. All intense device usage and AI processing run smoothly thanks to changed heat dissipation structure with approximately 40% larger vapor chamber and a tailored thermal interface material (TIM) that delivers extra improvement in thermal efficiency.

The Galaxy S25 series delivers ultra-detailed shots at every range with high resolution sensors and ProVisual Engine, setting a new standard for mobile photography. With a new 50MP ultrawide camera sensor upgraded from the previous 12MP, Galaxy S25 Ultra provides exceptional clarity and vibrancy.

10-bit HDR recording is now applied by default, offering four times richer colour expression compared to 8-bit . Galaxy S25 can thus capture details in any lighting conditions. Plus, low- light videos have never been clearer than with Galaxy S25 . Based on powerful processor, Galaxy S25 analyses movement and time to reduce noise more effectively. This integration allows detecting both moving and static objects with greater precision, ensuring sharper, cleaner footage in any scenario.

Galaxy S25 also introduces a range of tools once limited to specialised software, making advanced editing accessible for all. Now anyone can be a pro at editing photos and videos. Audio Eraser simplifies the removal of unwanted noise in videos. By isolating categories of sounds – including voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise – you can control what to tone down or eliminate entirely.

For a DSLR-like experience on mobile, Galaxy S25 introduces depth-of-field control with Virtual Aperture, integrated into the popular Expert RAW. Galaxy S25 also elevates cinematic creativity with Galaxy Log, enabling precise colour grading options for more professional video production.

Portrait Studio has also been enhanced, allowing users to create personalised avatars with more true-to-life facial expressions. Filters introduces new analog-style filters, delivering film- like aesthetic for their photos and videos.

The Galaxy S25 series builds upon Galaxy’s ‘Essential Design’ grounded in ‘Simple, Impactful and Emotive’ elements. Galaxy S25 Ultra refines this essence into the slimmest, lightest and most durable Galaxy S series yet, with a rounded edge for a comfortable grip that complements the series’ aesthetic identity.

Galaxy S25 Ultra features durable titanium and the new Corning Gorilla Armor 2, a first-of- its-kind material that is more durable than glass. It combines Corning’s glass-ceramic with a proprietary anti-reflective surface treatment, helping to ensure advanced drop protection alongside anti-reflection surface treatment and scratch resistance.

Combined with seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, the Galaxy S25 series ensures a reliable and optimised performance over a longer lifespan.

For greater peace of mind, Samsung Care+ offers comprehensive coverage for accidental damage, repairs, and replacements, ensuring peace of mind for Galaxy users. Plus, Samsung is introducing the New Galaxy Club. For users who love having the latest technology, this flexible subscription model is designed to make owning and upgrading Galaxy devices more convenient than ever.

The Galaxy S25 series will be available for pre-order from 23rd January 2025. Galaxy S25 Ultra will be available in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Gray. Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ will be available in Navy, Silver Shadow, Icyblue and Mint.

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