All four Galaxy S27 models have reportedly appeared in an import-export database, revealing their expected chipsets.
The Galaxy S27 Pro could use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 instead of the more powerful Extreme variant found in the Ultra.
The Galaxy S27 Pro could feature a 6.5-inch display, sitting between the 6.3-inch S27 and 6.9-inch S27 Ultra.
We're slowly inching toward the new year, which means it's almost time for Samsung's next-generation Galaxy S flagship phones. And now, a new leak suggests that the upcoming Galaxy S27 Pro could miss out on Qualcomm's most powerful flagship chipset.
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S27 lineup in Q1 next year. As leaked renders have already revealed, the company appears to be taking some inspiration from Apple's iPhone, with the Galaxy S27 Ultra reportedly moving away from its familiar vertical camera layout in favor of a horizontal camera plateau.
There's also expected to be one more addition to the Galaxy S27 lineup in the form of the Galaxy S27 Pro. The new model will reportedly bring several Galaxy S27 Ultra features, including Privacy Display, to a smaller form factor without the S Pen. However, it looks like the Pro could still fall behind the Ultra in one important area: the chipset.
As spotted by Notebookcheck, all four Galaxy S27 models have reportedly appeared in the NBD import-export database. The listings mention the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus, Galaxy S27 Pro, and Galaxy S27 Ultra, alongside details about the chipsets expected to power them.
(Image credit: Android Headlines)
According to the listings, the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Plus will be powered by Samsung's own Exynos 2700 chipset. The Galaxy S27 Ultra, meanwhile, is expected to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor. That's not particularly surprising, considering Samsung has traditionally reserved Qualcomm's most powerful flagship chipsets for its Ultra models.
What's interesting, however, is that the Galaxy S27 Pro is reportedly listed with the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 rather than the more powerful Extreme variant.
When Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series earlier this year, the company introduced two versions of its flagship chipset, one with the Extreme branding and another without it. The Extreme variant sits at the top of Qualcomm's lineup, offering clock speeds of up to a whopping 5GHz.
But it looks like the Galaxy S27 Pro could miss out on that top-tier processor. Instead, Samsung may use the slightly lower-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, although the chipset is still built on the same 2nm process architecture.
(Image credit: Qualcomm)
One possible reason could be thermal management. Since the Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to offer many of the Ultra's features in a smaller body, Samsung may have opted for a slightly lower-clocked chipset to keep temperatures under control. However, that's just speculation for now.
The base Galaxy S27 will reportedly retain its 6.3-inch display, while the Galaxy S27 Plus will continue with a 6.7-inch screen. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to feature the same massive 6.9-inch display, while the new Galaxy S27 Pro could sit somewhere in between with a 6.5-inch panel.
That would make the Galaxy S27 Pro a pretty interesting addition to Samsung's flagship lineup, especially for people who want some of the Ultra's features without carrying such a large phone.
Of course, we're still a few months away from the Galaxy S27 series launch, and plenty could change before Samsung makes everything official. But if this leak turns out to be accurate, the Galaxy S27 Pro may not be quite the smaller Galaxy S27 Ultra that some buyers were hoping for.
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I don't think any smartphone has ever been quite as polarizing as the iPhone Duo. After years of waiting for Apple's first foldable, the result is a phone that borrows some lessons from its Android counterparts, ignores plenty more, and feels like Apple is still figuring out what customers actually want from a foldable. Yet, despite some questionable decisions, I can't put it down. That contradiction is what makes the iPhone Duo so fascinating.
My verdict hinges on one factor I think many hardware comparisons overlook: the hidden superstar of Apple's developer ecosystem. It's both a blessing and a curse for Apple's first foldable, but in very unequal proportions. There will be short-term pain as developers, Apple, and users figure out what's possible, but the long-term gain could be enormous.
Objectively, the iPhone Duo gets plenty right, and Apple's choices seem unnecessarily complicated in places, especially since Android manufacturers have spent almost a decade solving many of the same problems. As someone who uses iOS and Android side by side, I appreciate the desire for consistency across Apple's ecosystem. But consistency shouldn't come at the expense of functionality, and some of Apple's decisions feel like an attempt to reinvent solutions that already work.
And yet, I keep reaching for it. Its utility alongside my other Apple devices is difficult to overstate, and the polarizing D-shaped design has grown on me considerably. In fact, it might be my favorite form factor for one-handed use. That's quite a turnaround from my initial reaction. My first 15 seconds with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 told me I loved it; the iPhone Duo took considerably longer. But the destination was the same, and that's an important lesson: unless a design is fundamentally flawed, living with it can change your perception in ways a hands-on session never will.
The iPhone Duo is the perfect foldable for me
Nirave Gondhia
The inner display is another example. Here, I think Apple has pulled an absolute blinder. The nano-texture layer doesn't just make the crease less distracting; it transforms the screen's entire feel. There's a welcome friction under your fingertips that reminds me of reading on an Amazon Kindle or using TCL's NxtPaper displays. It's wonderful for reading, scrolling, and typing, and makes the experience feel easier on the eyes without compromising brightness. After two weeks, I haven't had a single concern about visibility on either display, even in challenging conditions.
Then comes the inevitable question: is it worth $2,000 or more? That depends almost entirely on what you want from it. For me, the value isn't simply having a folding screen. It's being able to progress coding sprints, access my Mac remotely, and keep working from virtually anywhere in the world, even on airplane Wi-Fi. It's the pocket-friendly, always-connected folding iPad I've wanted for years, though it could benefit enormously from some iPadOS-inspired software capabilities. It finally brings a level of multitasking and utility to an iPhone that changes how I use it. For me, that's worth the asking price, and the reactions from others I've shown it to suggest I'm not alone.
Apple has at least given its first attempt some reassuring foundations. IP68 dust and water resistance, a weight that's only around 50 grams heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the reassurance of AppleCare all help make the compromises easier to live with. But this is still a first-generation product, and Apple's approach will inevitably evolve. Samsung has had years to refine its foldables, and Apple is starting that journey considerably later. There is plenty of catching up to do, and I expect the next generations to be even slicker.
Ultimately, the iPhone Duo might be Apple's most divisive iPhone yet, but dismissing it for what it gets wrong misses what makes it so compelling. Like every first-generation foldable, it charts a different path, makes compromises, and delivers a novelty that established designs simply can't replicate. More importantly, Apple's ecosystem gives it room to grow in ways that extend far beyond the hardware: developers will discover new experiences, users will find new workflows, and missing features will gradually be replicated or surpassed.
The iPhone Duo isn't the perfect foldable, and it doesn't need to be. It's a glimpse of what happens when Apple's ecosystem finally meets a folding iPhone. There are plenty of reasons to wait for the second generation, but after two weeks, I know one thing: I don't want to put this one down. It might not be perfect for everyone, but it's pretty damn close to perfect for me.
One of the biggest surprises about the iPhone Duo is its starting price: $2,000 in the US and £2,000 in the UK. That's for the 256GB model, and surprisingly, it's lower than I expected.
All the rumors leading up to launch suggested a record-high price, or at least a higher starting point than the competition. Instead, the iPhone Duo seems relatively well-priced by comparison. It's $100 more than the similarly sized Galaxy Z Fold 8, but $200 less than its taller sibling, although both of Samsung's foldables are currently available with sizable discounts.
Of course, 256GB is less storage than Samsung's double-your-storage launch promotion offers, and it falls short of the 512GB included with the Motorola Razr Fold, which starts at $1,899.99. Even accounting for any perception of an Apple tax, the premium seems surprisingly modest. By most comparisons, the iPhone Duo is fairly priced.
But how does it compare with Apple's own lineup? The iPhone Air is perhaps its closest match in terms of specifications and premium novelty, starting at $1,099. The new iPad mini costs $799, with a further $100 premium for the nano-texture finish. Put those together, and you're spending just $1 less than the iPhone Duo. It's hardly a scientific comparison, but it makes an interesting point: you're getting elements of both devices in one pocket-friendly package. If you were already planning to buy both, the iPhone Duo starts to look like a compelling proposition. I'd argue it's better value than its price tag might initially suggest.
The reactions from people I've shown it to largely support that. Three fellow passengers expressed genuine admiration; two immediately saw the utility and said they'd buy one for entirely different reasons, while the third felt it was simply out of her price range. Three small business owners I showed it to wanted one almost instantly, particularly after seeing how it could transform the way they run their businesses. I even encountered a brave parent who said they'd buy one, although with a six-year-old at home, that struck me as a rather bold investment!
Plenty of carrier deals are also worth considering, with all the major US carriers offering substantial trade-in credits to bring the cost down. Ten days after launch, the iPhone Duo is still sold out online, with deliveries pushed back until late January. In-store availability continues to fluctuate faster than a politician changes their stance.
Everyone should copy the iPhone Duo’s nano-texture screen
There, I said it: Apple’s implementation of nano-texture is so enjoyable that I hope every foldable manufacturer copies it. Apple wasn’t the first to bring nano-texture to consumer devices, but its implementation on the iPhone Duo is a genuine differentiator, and for reasons that go well beyond the specifications.
The first is visibility. Apple seems to have understood something important about foldable screens: it’s not necessarily the crease depth that matters, but how much you notice it. The Oppo Find N6 might have the shallowest crease of any foldable, but the iPhone Duo’s nano-texture finish makes its crease far less distracting in everyday use. Apple hasn't eliminated the compromise; it's made it easier to forget.
The same philosophy applies to the under-display camera. Frankly, it isn't very good, but that's almost beside the point. Most of the time, you forget it's even there because it blends so seamlessly into the screen. It's a trade-off I’m happy to make: a less intrusive camera and a less noticeable crease, even if neither is technically the best implementation available. Sometimes the better experience isn't the one with the better specifications.
The iPhone Duo proves that sometimes the better experience isn't the one with the better specifications
Nirave Gondhia
Beyond that, the display itself is excellent. The nano-texture finish covers a 7.6-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, which is a lot of letters to describe the premium screen you'd expect at this price. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness in bright conditions. The unusual 1.42:1 aspect ratio is particularly interesting for multitasking, allowing two vertical apps to sit side by side. Or, as we'll explore later, it lets Apple retain a side rail while dividing the remaining space into two smaller iPhone-like experiences. The 5.4-inch cover display retains a similar aspect ratio and many of the same premium characteristics, albeit without the nano-texture finish.
Over the past two weeks, I've used the iPhone Duo on planes, trains, and automobiles, both at home and abroad, and one thing has become abundantly clear: both displays are a joy to use. I haven't encountered any brightness or visibility concerns, regardless of the conditions. There have been reports of display failures, as there are with other foldables, but it's too early to draw meaningful conclusions about their frequency or long-term durability.
Ultimately, this is the big iPhone display, or pocketable folding iPad, I've been waiting for. The specifications are impressive, but what makes it special is how little you notice the technology getting in the way.
For a $2,000 phone, the iPhone Duo has a surprisingly ordinary camera system. It's not bad, far from it, but it's a clear reminder that even Apple's first foldable comes with compromises, and cameras are among the biggest.
Foldables have always involved trade-offs, particularly when it comes to camera hardware. The smaller passport-style designs are even more constrained by space, which helps explain why Samsung and Apple have opted for two rear cameras rather than three. But Huawei and Xiaomi have already demonstrated that you can fit a triple-camera system and a sizable battery into a similarly compact foldable. It's clearly possible; Apple has simply chosen different priorities, and I suspect most Western manufacturers will continue down the two-camera path for now.
In everyday use, the iPhone Duo's cameras are good, but rarely great. Like the iPhone Air, it lacks a capable dedicated zoom camera, and while the 2x in-sensor crop on the main sensor helps, it's no substitute for a proper telephoto lens. You're not buying the Duo for its cameras. That said, photos at standard focal lengths are more than good enough for most situations, and the foldable design brings its own advantages. Using the rear cameras for selfies, with the cover screen doubling as a viewfinder, is particularly useful.
The iPhone Duo has modern iPhone cameras, just not the best cameras that Apple makes.
Nirave Gondhia
The 48MP main and ultrawide cameras match those in the iPhone 17, with the main camera also serving as the iPhone Air's sole rear shooter. These aren't old or outdated sensors, and they deliver results broadly comparable to the equivalent cameras in the iPhone 17 Pro. But they fall short of the more advanced 48MP variable-aperture system in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The distinction matters: you're getting capable, modern iPhone cameras, just not Apple's best.
The selfie cameras tell a similar story, although there's an interesting twist. The 4MP under-display camera on the inner screen works for video calls in good lighting, but its quality drops quickly in challenging conditions. Treat it as a convenience feature, not a camera you'd choose for anything important.
1xNirave Gondhia2x Nirave Gondhia3xNirave Gondhia
Far more useful is the 12MP Center Stage camera above the cover display. Although it has a lower resolution than the 18MP selfie cameras on Apple's other recent iPhones, it retains the clever square, multi-aspect sensor. That means you can capture portrait or landscape photos and videos without physically rotating the phone. Combined with the Duo's flexible hinge, it's particularly handy for hands-free video calls in tent mode.
Ultimately, the iPhone Duo's camera system is perfectly capable, but it's difficult to call it flagship-worthy at this price. Apple has prioritized the folding experience over photographic versatility, and while that's a compromise I can live with, anyone expecting Pro-level photography from a $2,000 iPhone should look elsewhere.
If you've been fearing the iPhone Duo's battery life, fear no more: it's excellent. In fact, despite having a battery capacity similar to its closest Samsung rival, it lasts several hours longer in my testing.
Apple doesn't officially disclose battery capacity, but estimates put it at around 4,883mAh, split between both halves of the phone, as is typical of foldables. If accurate, that's slightly larger than the 4,800mAh battery in the similarly sized Galaxy Z Fold 8, although both pale in comparison to the 6,000mAh battery inside the Xiaomi 18 Fold.
The difference is in endurance. With mixed usage, the iPhone Duo consistently lasts around 13–14 hours, compared with roughly 11 hours for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That's a substantial improvement from a battery that's only marginally larger, and likely reflects Apple's software optimizations and the efficiency of its C2 modem, although isolating their individual contributions would require further testing.
It's much closer to the larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which manages 14–15 hours with its 5,000mAh battery. The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold trails at around 12 hours, while the Motorola Razr Fold also delivers roughly 14–15 hours. I haven't finished testing the Xiaomi 18 Fold, but none of these devices match the Oppo Find N6 or Honor Magic V6, both of which have achieved around 18 hours in my testing.
Apple has also made an interesting engineering trade-off. Unlike several Android manufacturers, including Samsung, which adopted silicon-carbon battery technology for the first time with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, Apple has stuck with conventional lithium-ion cells. The Duo is approaching the practical capacity limits of that technology within this form factor, so Apple appears to be relying on efficiency and a slightly thicker chassis to deliver competitive endurance. Given the results, that's a trade-off I'm happy with.
The iPhone Duo proves that battery efficiency matters more than battery capacity.
Nirave Gondhia
Charging is similarly reassuring. The iPhone Duo supports up to 60W wired charging, although thermal constraints prevent it from sustaining that peak. Using a MacBook Pro charger and an Apple USB-C cable rated for 60W, I recorded 43% charge in 15 minutes and 68% after 30 minutes. That's competitive with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and most other foldables I've tested, although the Duo appears to reduce charging speeds earlier and falls slightly behind some rivals by the half-hour mark.
There's also support for 25W magnetic wireless charging, complete with built-in magnets and Qi2.2 compatibility. It's a welcome convenience, particularly on a foldable where built-in magnetic alignment isn't always a given.
Ultimately, I have zero complaints about the iPhone Duo's battery life or charging. This is where the benefits of Apple's thicker design become particularly clear: you're trading a little sleekness for excellent endurance, fast charging, and everyday convenience. If Samsung takes a similar approach with the presumed Galaxy Z Fold 9, particularly by adding built-in magnets, I'd have very few complaints.
Apple nailed the iPhone Duo hardware in a few key ways
There's something particularly interesting happening with Apple's recent iPhones: the company has made enormous strides in battery life and connectivity. Bigger batteries explain some of that progress, but a handful of less obvious hardware decisions are making just as much difference.
Two of the most important are the Apple C2 modem and N1 wireless networking chip. The former is Apple's second-generation in-house cellular modem, replacing the third-party solutions it previously relied on. Having tested both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo extensively, I've noticed one particularly meaningful improvement: network connections feel considerably more stable and reliable.
It's a difference that's hard to appreciate from a specifications sheet but immediately noticeable in daily use. My iPhone 18 Pro delivered substantially better battery life than the iPhone 17 Pro on the same networks, and I've seen similarly impressive endurance from the Duo. The C2 modem likely contributes to that efficiency, while the N1 brings more of Apple's wireless connectivity hardware under its own control. Together, they represent an increasingly important advantage, although separating their individual contributions would require more controlled testing.
Then there's the A20 Pro chip, which is absurdly powerful. The iPhone Duo flies through everything I've thrown at it, without a single noticeable slowdown or stutter. More importantly, that performance enables experiences that distinguish it from a conventional iPhone, including driving the cover and inner displays simultaneously. It's not simply about benchmark scores; it's about having the headroom to make a folding iPhone feel effortless.
Not every hardware decision is quite as successful. The earpiece sits above the cover display, and I've repeatedly found myself misaligning it with my ear when answering calls. Perhaps it's muscle memory from using larger phones, but I didn't encounter the same issue as often with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. I usually have AirPods in anyway, so it's hardly a dealbreaker, but it's worth mentioning if you frequently make handheld calls.
iPhone Handoff makes me want to own two iPhones
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia / Android Central)
Finally, there's iPhone Handoff, and this might be one of Apple's most underrated new features. On supported carriers, it lets you seamlessly transfer your active SIM connection between two iPhones as you switch devices. My UK carrier, EE, supports it, and moving between the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo has been remarkably slick. It's the sort of experience that feels quintessentially Apple: a complicated technical process made almost invisible to the user.
Everything important already syncs between my iPhones, but Handoff removes one of the last remaining inconveniences of using two devices. I no longer need a separate SIM or mobile plan for each phone; my connection simply follows whichever one I'm using. If you want the iPhone 18 Pro's cameras and the Duo's folding versatility without juggling multiple numbers or subscriptions, this makes that combination far more practical.
Apple hasn't nailed every aspect of the iPhone Duo, but the combination of reliable connectivity, effortless performance, and seamless device switching makes a compelling case for the hardware choices it has made. These aren't necessarily the features that sell a phone in a store, but they're the ones that make you appreciate it every day.
Here's where the iPhone Duo positively outshines every other foldable: Apple's ecosystem, and specifically the developer relationships it has spent nearly two decades cultivating. The company that popularized the mobile app store was always going to lean on third-party developers to unlock new experiences for its first folding phone. That strategy is both its greatest advantage and, at least initially, a double-edged sword.
Apple's developer ecosystem is its hidden superstar
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia / Android Central)
(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia / Android Central)
At launch, relatively few apps were optimized for the Duo. Black bars, awkward layouts, and wasted space were particularly jarring on the large inner display in portrait orientation, and Apple understandably received plenty of criticism. But the situation is already changing rapidly. Less than two weeks after launch, with millions of devices still awaiting delivery, more than a thousand apps have reportedly been optimized for the Duo's unusual form factor.
I've also spoken with several developers behind apps I use regularly, and many told me that delayed device deliveries have prevented them from fully exploring what's possible. Crucially, though, they already have substantial updates planned, including features designed specifically around the Duo's folding screen.
Apple built the framework. Now it's giving developers a canvas to reinvent the folding phone
Nirave
This is what makes Apple's approach so compelling. It has built the framework and handed developers a new canvas on which to experiment. There are already playful examples that let you make toasties, pour a drink, or play Battleship, alongside a growing number of genuinely useful optimized apps.
There's also an interesting knock-on effect: as developers rethink their interfaces for the Duo, some of those improvements could eventually benefit Android foldables through cross-platform apps. Of course, the reverse is already true in places. British Airways, for example, works particularly well on Android foldables, while its iPhone Duo app remains poorly optimized. Apple's ecosystem has enormous potential, but that doesn't mean it's ahead in every individual app today.
Multitasking is limited, but fundamentally different
Then there's multitasking. Finally, we have an iPhone that can properly run two apps at once, and Apple has adopted an iPad-like split-view layout. As expected, though, it's a fundamentally different experience from Android multitasking: inferior in several ways, but arguably better in one particularly important respect.
Let's start with the limitations. You can't resize the split between apps; it's an even, side-by-side division or full-screen, with nothing in between. There's no advanced window management, floating apps, or support for more than two simultaneous applications. By comparison, the Xiaomi 18 Fold can run six or more apps in independently resizable windows. If flexibility is your priority, Android remains comfortably ahead.
But here's where Apple has done something clever: multitasking on the iPhone Duo isn't really about running two apps side by side. It's about turning one large screen into two iPhones running side by side.
Each half effectively behaves like the Duo's cover display, allowing you to run an app on one side while continuing to use your phone normally on the other. That includes interacting with the home screen and widgets, rather than being locked into two active applications. It's a subtle distinction, but one that makes the experience feel immediately familiar to anyone who already uses an iPhone.
The iPhone Duo doesn't just run two apps side by side. It turns one screen into two iPhones.”
Nirave Gondhia
And it works. I use multitasking extensively on the Duo, particularly when cross-referencing information between apps or keeping one task visible while working on another. I'd still love the flexibility Android offers, but Apple's approach makes a surprising amount of sense for its existing interface.
Eventually, more capable AI assistants might make some of these manual workflows unnecessary. Siri has improved significantly, but I still find myself using it far less than the AI features on my Android devices, and we're nowhere near that future yet.
For now, the Duo offers a distinctive compromise: less freedom than Android, but a familiar, genuinely useful multitasking experience that feels designed around how people already use their iPhones. It's another example of Apple prioritizing consistency over flexibility, and while I don't agree with every limitation, I can see why it made that choice.
The iPhone Duo is my favorite first-generation foldable
This will come as no surprise: I love the iPhone Duo. It's far from the perfect foldable, and it has many of the quirks you'd expect from a first-generation device, but it's also one of the most thoroughly enjoyable phones I've ever used.
Apple's ecosystem plays a huge role in that, particularly the developers who build experiences you simply can't find elsewhere. But there's also the wonderful nano-texture display, the surprisingly useful form factor, and, yes, the sheer novelty of a folding iPhone. Some of that novelty will inevitably wear off, but for now, the Duo feels every bit as special as Samsung's first foldable did at launch, or as the passport-sized Galaxy Z Fold 8 did more recently. The iPhone 18 Pro is a better phone, but the iPhone Duo is a better experience.
Apple could have made plenty of different decisions, and I've spent much of this review explaining where I wish it had. Yet, somehow, its first foldable has become my favorite iPhone ever.
The iPhone 18 Pro is a better phone, but the iPhone Duo is a better experience.
Nirave Gondhia
That's the distinction that matters most to me. Like the larger display of the iPhone 6 or the all-screen design of the iPhone X, the Duo represents a meaningful shift in how an iPhone looks and feels. But unlike those transitions, its larger folding screen offers possibilities that should continue expanding as developers discover what to do with it.
Of course, you should never buy a phone solely for its future potential. The iPhone Duo is already an excellent all-around device today, albeit one with obvious trade-offs and a price that demands serious consideration. It's improving with every passing day, and I expect that evolution to continue for years.
I have no regrets about buying it. You might decide its compromises aren't worth the asking price, and that's entirely reasonable. But for me, the Duo has done something few phones manage anymore: it's made using an iPhone feel genuinely exciting again.
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Next-gen foldable rumors suggest Samsung's cameras on the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra could remain the same on the Fold 9 and Fold 9 Ultra.
If true, the Fold 9 would retain the same 50MP primary and ultra-wide lenses, while the Fold 9 Ultra would see similar 200MP primary, 50MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto lenses.
Rumors from October suggest Samsung could "double the number" of foldables next year with a "Galaxy Z Slide," TriFold 2, and a Fold 9 Pro.
We're still enjoying our time with the Galaxy Z8 series; however, a recent rumor about the next-generation models throws doubt on a specific upgrade.
Over on X, tipster WalleGalaxy claims Samsung might not develop any worthwhile camera upgrades for its next foldables (via SammyGuru). The tipster claims Samsung could retain the same dual-camera array specifications on the Fold 8 for the Fold 9 in 2027. If true, that means consumers are in for the same 50MP primary and ultra-wide camera lenses.
The post didn't share anything about the phone's selfie cameras. The Fold 8 features a 10MP internal and cover display lens.
Regarding the Fold 9 Ultra, rumors speculate that Samsung could continue with the same 200MP main lens, 50MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom. A user in the comments brought up an important topic: DC dimming. Samsung's displays aren't really the "gold standard" we'd like them to be. However, a recent rumor suggests the Galaxy S27 Ultra could take eye strain more seriously. Hopefully, if it bears fruit, maybe we'll see it on the next foldables.
Only getting started
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
There's no hiding that the rumors are just getting started. A rumor from mid-October said Samsung could "double the number of phones" available for its next Galaxy Z series in 2027.
Allegedly, Samsung is working on a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 and a Galaxy Z Fold 9 Pro. We have something to base our imagination on with another trifold, but the "Fold 9 Pro" is a wildcard. What's more, those same rumors said Samsung could finally debut its long-conceptualized slideable phone. You'd have to step into a time machine to remember this one. At CES 2025, Samsung Display showed off the "Slidable Flex Duet" and "Solo." These were slideable phones that would go from a "regular" sized phone to almost tablet size.
For those wondering what Samsung could do with a TriFold 2, rumors suggest a "more durable," thinner, and lighter design.
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Google will disable Gemini and other AI tools by default for K-12 student accounts starting in 2027.
Schools can manually enable individual AI services, but disabling AI will also remove access to Google Search.
Schools that enable AI will get "Guided Learning" tools designed to help students solve problems instead of giving direct answers.
Google has announced a major policy change that will disable access to its AI tools, including Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Gemini Classroom, by default for K-12 student accounts.
Google has been pushing AI tools into pretty much every product it offers for a while now, but there have also been growing concerns about how these tools affect the learning process, especially for younger students.
And now, in a bid to give schools more control over AI use, Google announced on Tuesday that it will disable access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini Classroom, and even Google Search by default for K-12 student accounts (via The New York Times).
School administrators will still have the option to enable these services individually if they want, but they'll remain disabled by default starting in 2027.
The catch, however, is that schools won't be able to completely block Google's AI tools while keeping access to regular Google Search. Google says AI is now so deeply integrated into Search through features like AI Overviews and AI Mode that disabling AI will also mean losing access to Google Search altogether.
(Image credit: Android Central)
Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, told The New York Times that Search and AI are now deeply integrated. He added that schools choosing to disable Google's AI features will also lose access to Search, with students instead seeing a message explaining that the service isn't available through their school.
For schools that do decide to enable AI, Google is also introducing a new "Guided Learning" experience within Gemini and Search. Instead of simply giving students direct answers, the feature is designed to walk them through problems step by step, helping them understand how to arrive at the answer rather than just copying it.
Google says the policy change is intended to give schools more choice over which services students can access, allowing administrators to enable or disable tools based on their requirements.
But there's a pretty big contradiction here. On one hand, Google says it's giving schools more control over AI in classrooms. On the other, schools that don't want students using AI Overviews or AI Mode will also have to give up regular Google Search.
So, schools are technically getting more control over Google's AI tools, but only if they're willing to lose access to one of the most widely used search engines in the process. And that seems like a pretty strange way of giving schools more choice.
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More than 80 Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices are receiving HyperOS 4 worldwide, and this update is much more than just a new interface.
Xiaomi will start a global stable rollout in November 2026 and the company has split the eligible devices into three waves, as per its post on X. The first list includes the Xiaomi 17 and 15 series, Redmi Note 17 and Note 15 families, POCO F8 and X8 lineups, and Xiaomi Pad 8 tablets.
The second wave will kick off in mid-November, and will include the Xiaomi 15T series, POCO F7 and F9 families, Xiaomi Pad 7 and several Redmi and POCO tablets.
The update for older hardware will arrive in December and will include the Xiaomi 14 and 13 series, the Xiaomi MIX Flip, Xiaomi 13T lineup, Redmi Note 14 family, and POCO F6 series. These are launching dates, not set install dates, so availability will be region-specific.
(Image credit: Xiaomi / X)
HyperOS 4 gets a glassy treatment and more
Building on the core foundations of Android 17, Xiaomi engineered this update around a brand-new "Soft Light Glass" aesthetic. It's a new UI with translucent panels, redesigned notifications, customizable lock screens, flexible app folders, and stacked widgets. Xiaomi also promises improved floating-window support and smoother animations.
Its performance claims are of particular interest. Xiaomi claims that HyperOS 4 cuts down the overall launch time for 30 apps after 9 hours of usage from 40.3 seconds to 36.8 seconds, which is an 8.7% jump over HyperOS 3. Camera performance also sees an improvement with HDR photo capture dropping from 313.38 milliseconds to 240.16 milliseconds. Xiaomi also claims fewer dropped frames while playing video.
(Image credit: Xiaomi)
Xiaomi hands its AI assistant a larger role
HyperOS 4 will feature Super XiaoAi 2.0 based on Xiaomi’s MiMo large language model. The assistant can also do more complex tasks such as searching photo libraries, organizing schedules, controlling supported smart home devices, and even identifying products from things shown on screen.
Xiaomi is also beefing up privacy protections, such as requiring confirmation prompts for sensitive actions like deleting or sharing data. Its Super Island feature now supports over 130 services.
Some of these capabilities are still limited to supported devices and China-specific software versions. But HyperOS 4 looks like a much bigger upgrade than a cosmetic refresh, and its global rollout should reveal how much of Xiaomi's AI ambitions actually make it to international users.
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Samsung announced that its upgraded Sleep Apnea feature has been cleared in the U.S. by the FDA and in South Korea by the MFDS for the Galaxy Ring and Watch 9.
The feature is now rolling out in the app, bringing deeper insights about any breathing disruptions for users to present to a doctor if necessary.
Samsung revealed during Unpacked this summer that Sleep Apnea was headed to the Galaxy Ring, making it the "first and only" smart ring to feature it.
Samsung has been working to improve its Sleep Apnea detection while navigating the necessary government procedures. Today (Nov. 3), Samsung says the feature has been cleared.
In a Newsroom post, Samsung announced that its "upgraded Sleep Apnea" detection software has cleared the FDA in the U.S. and the MFDS in South Korea. This is crucial because Samsung's Sleep Apnea software was cleared for the Galaxy Ring. According to the post, the company has become "the first company in the world to bring sleep apnea risk detection on a smart ring."
Regarding what's changed, Samsung says it's increased the level of depth of Sleep Apnea insights provided to users. In the Health app, users will see the level of breathing disruption experienced the night before. The company intends for this to help users better identify how severe their underlying condition could be before seeking medical attention.
As this form of detection arrives for Galaxy Ring users, Samsung reminds them that they only need "two nights of monitoring within a 10-day period." After that, they should begin seeing Sleep Apnea insights in the app. Preventative Care features will continue to expand to more Samsung devices.
This upgraded Sleep Apnea detection is rolling out today (Nov. 3) in the Health app for the Galaxy Watch 9 (and Galaxy Ring) with Wear OS 7 or higher. What's more, Samsung says the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 are eligible; however, those users need to wait for a software update. Samsung didn't give a date, so we'll have to wait for now.
Long road of approvals
(Image credit: Samsung)
Android Central's Take
The availability of features is what matters here. Samsung has continued to present itself as a health-forward company with its wearables. Sleep Apnea is one of those conditions will do more harm than good if left unchecked. Beyond that, it's a tiny little ring on your finger. It's comfortable (ideally) to wear throughout the day and night. That's part of the reason why Samsung is worked to expand this feature. It's rolling out now, so if you receive it, let us know how it goes.
This was a huge announcement during Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked this past summer. During the keynote, the company announced that Sleep Apnea was headed to the Galaxy Ring. This would mark the device as "the first and only" smart ring to offer such capabilities. Samsung said the feature would arrive "this fall," and we've now seen that here in early November.
Sleep Apnea is an incredibly important medical condition. Samsung has been down a long road of approvals, dating back to 2023 when the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) in South Korea approved it for the Galaxy Watch. Consumers in the U.S. had to wait until 2024 before the FDA finally cleared it. However, it didn't actually arrive on a Galaxy Watch 2025—long road, right?
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Peak Design has introduced what it calls the world's first Qi2.3-certified magnetic power bank with a built-in kickstand.
The 5,000mAh power bank supports 15W wireless charging on battery and up to 25W when connected to external power.
Peak Design's new accessories start at $65, with a lifetime guarantee and additional battery performance coverage.
Peak Design today introduced a new Qi2.3 magnetic power bank alongside several other charging accessories that put some of the first-party accessories from brands like Samsung and Google to shame.
Peak Design, the brand popularly known for its backpacks and everyday carry gear, has slowly been expanding into mobile accessories as well. And today, the company unveiled its latest lineup of charging accessories, bringing some pretty interesting features that go beyond what first-party brands like Google and Samsung currently offer.
One of the most interesting products announced today is the Kickstand Travel Battery, which Peak Design says is the world's first Qi2.3-certified wireless power bank. It packs a 5,000mAh battery and supports up to 25W wireless charging.
(Image credit: Peak Design)
The magnetic power bank delivers up to 15W wireless charging when running on its internal battery, but that increases to 25W when you plug it into a power source. It also features a built-in kickstand, making it easier to prop up your phone while charging.
The Kickstand Travel Battery starts at $99.95 and comes in two colors, Moon and Black. It's already available to purchase.
In addition to the power bank, Peak Design has also introduced a new 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station. It features two equally capable Qi2.2 charging pads, each supporting up to 25W wireless charging. There's also an additional port on the side for charging another accessory.
Peak DesignPeak Design
What's particularly interesting about the charging station is that it folds completely flat, making it much easier to pack and carry while traveling.
Peak Design has also unveiled the Dual Slim Charger, a GaN charging brick that's just half an inch thick while still delivering up to 65W of charging power. You can use it to charge a laptop and smartphone simultaneously, and its slim design makes it easier to carry around without taking up much space in your bag.
(Image credit: Peak Design)
The company has also introduced new Ultra Strand USB-C cables in 60W and 240W configurations. The higher-end 240W version supports USB4 data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps.
In terms of pricing, the 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station starts at $99.95, while the Dual Slim Charger is priced at $65.
It's also worth noting that all of these accessories are backed by Peak Design's lifetime guarantee, while the battery products come with an additional two-year battery performance coverage.
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