Phones
A Google Pixel Fold has died after just four days: Questions on durability
Google Pixel Fold is a real competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold smartphone in the United States. Unveiled back during I/O 2023, the Pixel Fold is started to reach some lucky consumers who have pre-ordered and as a review unit to tech journalists.
With each generation, Samsung is pushing the durability of foldables, but it looks like, Google may face severe challenges with the Pixel Fold. Ron Amadeo of Ars Technica says that their Google Pixel Fold has died after just four days as the inner OLED screen stopped.
As explained by Ron, the entire incident took a little over an hour to happen. Firstly, the bottom 10 pixels died and then the left portion of the screen became unresponsive to touch inputs. An hour later, a white gradient emerged and started expanding upwards across the screen.
This could be because of Google’s decision to make the Pixel Fold durable. Simply put, the plastic layer doesn’t extend all the way to the bezels, leaving a little exposed area between it and the raised bezels. Probably, the dust got trapped in that little area and when the phone was folded it attacked the OLED.
Earlier, the US tech giant cautioned users that flexible displays are softer than conventional panels, which requires contact avoided with sand, crumbs, and sharp objects. With the Pixel Fold case, we need to wait to know if it’s a widespread issue or limited to a few units.
Follow our socials → Google News, Telegram, Twitter, Facebook
Phones
Samsung Galaxy S26 may mark a major comeback for Exynos chipset
Samsung has ‘almost’ canceled the Exynos 2500 in the Galaxy S25 series. The company is solely relying on Snapdragon 8 Elite for the S25 series. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S26 may mark a major comeback for Exynos chipset in 2026.
Credible source Jukanlosreve alleged that Samsung is aiming to “significantly” use Exynos chipset in the Galaxy S26 series. The lineup will indeed launch in 2026, while development and testing will run throughout the next year.
Recently, it was reported that the Foundry has stabilized the 3nm yield. However, the performance gap between the Exynos 2500 and Snapdragon 8 Elite renders the former far from its Qualcomm counterpart – tough to use in the S25 series.
Samsung is expected to begin the mass production of its 2nm process next year. It seems the Foundry business is preparing to revive its Mobile AP business by printing Exynos chipset for Samsung Mobile’s 2026 flagships.
Apple is one of the first consumers of TSMC’s 2nm process. Last year, the iPhone maker gained an edge over Qualcomm by adopting the 3nm process. Flagship SoCs from Samsung, MediaTek, and Qualcomm last year stuck to the 4nm process.
Exynos 2500 could be used in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 next year. It is also rumored that the cheaper foldable phone might also be powered by Exynos 2500. Meanwhile, nothing has been officially confirmed from Samsung’s Exynos arm.
Failure of Exynos chips significantly affects Samsung’s operating profit. It makes a double-sided impact; sole reliance on Qualcomm and loss from Exynos business. It also reduces negotiation power as no other option is left.
At present, it’s not feasible to assume much for a device that could launch in 2026. Samsung is currently focussing on the Galaxy S25 series. Exynos 2500 was planned for the S25 series but things didn’t go well, leading it to cancellation.
Phones
Amazon sent defective refurbished Samsung phone instead of new, buyer alleges
Shocking news coming out from India where Amazon sent a defective refurbished Samsung phone instead of a new one. The phone’s refurbished state may have remained unknown if there was no dead pixel defect on the screen.
An X user (iSunilTaneja) alleged that Amazon seems to be selling refurbished Samsung phone models as brand new. The delivered handset is the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which is currently on sale on at nearly INR 70,000 (~$825).
The buyer reached out to Amazon support but the issue stays unresolved. He attached the repair quotation, which mentions the Samsung repair executive’s remark that the evaluated phone is not new but a refurbished product.
Here are the key details:
- The customer ordered a Galaxy S23 Ultra from Amazon, expecting a brand-new device.
- Upon unboxing, they noticed a strange black circle (dead pixel) above the Infinity-O cutout.
- A visit to Samsung’s service center revealed shocking news: the phone was a refurbished unit, not new.
Refurbished Samsung phones usually offer six months of warranty and no replacement. As the user ordered a brand-new unit from Amazon, delivering a refurbished unit is a violation of consumer rights and stands as an offense.
As Amazon support rejected the claim over the product defect, the customer expressed frustration at its refusal to acknowledge the defect and their reliance on their internal investigation, which seemingly overlooked the provided evidence.
How did a refurbished and defective product get labeled and shipped as new? Amazon must thoroughly investigate and protect the consumer interest. Samsung should also raise its concerns with Amazon as its brand reputation is harming.
This incident underscores the importance of robust quality checks and transparent customer service in the e-commerce industry. As the story gains traction, many will be watching to see how Amazon addresses the situation.
Phones
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wows in fresh dummy images [Gallery]
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a design masterpiece; revealed in fresh new dummy images. China-originated dummies of the upcoming Samsung flagships are up on sale, with stunning images brought to attention by Roland Quandt.
Dummy images show Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Silver and Black color hues. There will be more standard and online exclusive color choices at the time of the official launch. Titanium Blue is said to be the signature color of the flagship.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra replicates Samsung’s signature design aesthetics. The biggest change is obviously in the frame, those sharp corners turned slightly rounded. The overall look is simply boxy, just the sharp corners no longer appear.
The upcoming smartphone is slightly taller and has a reduced width. The screen could be 6.86-inch, a minor increment over the S24 Ultra, but results in significant refinements in terms of handling and usability.
The frame’s right side will feature three buttons; two for volume adjustment and one multi-functional key. The keys will match the color of the S25 Ultra’s frame made of Titanium material which is lightweight and durable.
The rear side features three large and two little rings, consisting of four image sensors and a ToF lens. The rings also adopt a Fold6-like circular texture design, while the outer ring will likely continue to maintain the appealing look.
Between the two little sensors, there’s an LED flash to be used during nighttime photography. All rings are located at the top left of the rear panel in a vertical arrangement. Enjoy the latest dummy image gallery below.
Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra in the first quarter of the next year. It is reported that the Unpacked event could be held on January 22 in San Francisco, United States.
[Source]