Gear Information of the Week: Samsung’s Trifold Promise, Ikea’s Sonos Cut up, and Hugging Face’s New Robotic
Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked occasion in Brooklyn earlier this week debuted seven new units, from the Galaxy Z Fold7 to the Galaxy Watch8 collection. However there weren’t any surprises on the finish, regardless of rumors that Samsung would unveil a trifold cellphone. Sensing disappointment, the corporate later confirmed that the cellphone is predicted to land in 2025.
“I anticipate we can launch the trifold cellphone inside this yr,” TM Roh, head of Samsung’s cellular enterprise, advised The Korea Instances. The trifold cellphone, rumored to be referred to as the Galaxy G Fold, would have a traditional display on the entrance and two hinges that allow you to open it up as a tablet-sized display.
Huawei first unveiled its trifold, the Mate XT, in China final yr, with an eye-watering worth of three,499 euros ($4,090~), and Samsung confirmed off an idea model at Cell World Congress 2025. Contemplating it has upped the worth of its Galaxy Z Fold7 flagship to $2,000, anticipate a excessive value. Samsung can be anticipated to launch its Android XR combined actuality headset within the fall, so the trifold might land alongside it.
Hugging Face Has a New Robotic
AI startup Hugging Face has introduced a brand new coding robotic referred to as Reachy Mini, mere months after buying Pollen Robotics, the corporate behind the Reachy 2 humanoid robotic. The Reachy Mini is open for preorder for $449 (although there is a Lite model for $299), and it is an open supply robotic designed round AI experimentation and coding.
Consider it like a STEM toy or a Raspberry Pi (the truth is, the Robotic is powered by a Raspberry Pi 5 minicomputer)—you need to construct it your self, and there are greater than 15 “robotic behaviors” so you possibly can learn to use it out of the field. Reachy Mini can make use of the most recent AI fashions, and you may program it to behave in sure methods. The top is motorized, and the antennas transfer round, too. It has a digital camera, microphone, and audio system for interacting with its environment.
Reachy Mini house owners will be capable of add and share these robotic behaviors with the Hugging Face group, and obtain different ones too. It’s going to ship this fall, although the Reachy Mini Lite, which is not wi-fi, will arrive first, late summer season. We will solely hope this cute little robotic will not have the identical destiny because the Jibo.
Apple’s iOS 26 Beta Drama
The general public beta for Apple’s iOS 26, macOS 26, and iPadOS 26 is predicted to launch subsequent week, however some drama has been brewing after the current developer beta 3 for iOS 26. The corporate has decreased the transparency of its Liquid Glass design language, making the interface seem extra like frosted glass. That is drawn criticism on-line that Apple has modified it an excessive amount of, although there was loads of backlash and readability considerations when Apple debuted the design at WWDC 2025.
In additional Apple information, the corporate is predicted to debut a brand new Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional later this yr, powered by the M4 chipset that is in some MacBooks and iPads. The {hardware} itself will not look any totally different, although Bloomberg reviews there shall be a extra snug strap. The rumored cheaper model of the Imaginative and prescient Professional remains to be a number of years away.
Ikea Ditches Sonos and Zigbee for Matter and Spotify
Courtesy of Ikea
It’s a brand new day for good house technique at well-liked Swedish furnishings purveyor Ikea, as the corporate introduced greater than 20 new Matter good lights, sensors, and remotes utilizing the Thread protocol. Meaning you possibly can snag a few of Ikea’s reasonably priced wares and use them immediately along with your Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Residence, or Samsung SmartThings setup, with out having to buy an Ikea hub. And Ikea’s David Granath advised The Verge there are “extra new product varieties and kind elements to return.” Of us with Ikea’s Dirigera hub can even be happy to be taught that Ikea is activating the built-in Thread radio and including Matter help. Meaning it may function a Matter Controller and a Thread Border Router, enabling it to hook up and management any Matter units in your house. Sadly for some, this alerts the top for Zigbee help, as Ikea plans to switch its Zigbee devices with Matter units.
Ikea additionally unveiled two new Bluetooth audio system this week—one that appears like a retro radio and one other that doubles as a lamp. Each have a devoted Spotify Faucet button that means that you can bounce straight again into no matter you had been final listening to on Spotify. It’s one other nail within the coffin for Ikea’s partnership with Sonos, as Ikea strives for simplicity, accessibility, and affordability. —Simon Hill
OnePlus Has 5 New Gadgets, however Solely 2 for US
It was 5 plus for OnePlus this week, as the corporate unveiled a slew of latest units. A smaller, 43 mm, model of the Watch 3 that’s way more snug, however has much less stamina than its bigger sibling, is now out there from OnePlus for $300 (a full $100 lower than the 47 mm mannequin). The very reasonably priced wi-fi Buds 4 are additionally touchdown within the US at $130.
