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Samsung is still trying to make DeX happen
There was a common thread running through Samsung's two big launches this week. Both the Galaxy Note 9 and the Tab S4 feature DeX mode, a desktop-friendly interface for Android devices that the company has been working on since 2017's Galaxy S8. In fact, since the introduction of the DeX dock with the Galaxy S8 last year, Samsung has continued to expand the DeX portfolio, adding new hardware alongside minor compatibility and software updates. The company is clearly invested in making this A Thing, even when numerous tech companies in the past have failed to succeed at smartphone-powered desktops. Why?
Watch Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 event in 12 minutes
Samsung wasn't holding back at its Unpacked event. The centerpiece was clearly the Galaxy Note 9, but it had a veritable onslaught of announcements beyond that. The Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Home smart speaker and a two-device wireless charger were on deck for hardware, while special deals involving Fortnite and Spotify also provided a good reason to tune in. But what if you don't have one hour and 40 minutes to relive the whole thing? Don't worry: We've boiled the presentation down to a 12-minute supercut to save you some time. Follow all the latest news from Galaxy Unpacked 2018 here!
Does Samsung's Galaxy Home stand a chance?
After more than a year of rumors and vague comments from Samsung leadership, the Galaxy Home, Samsung's Bixby-powered smart speaker, is finally official. Sort of. Samsung briefly showed off the device at today's Galaxy Note 9 launch event in Brooklyn, but the company left us with more questions than answers. We don't know when it'll launch; how much it'll cost; what music services, if any, it supports besides Spotify; and, perhaps most importantly, what Bixby will be capable of when the Galaxy Home goes on sale. Like Apple did with the HomePod, Samsung is touting the Galaxy Home first and foremost as an excellent listening speaker, with multidirectional tweeters and a full subwoofer as well as some neat audio-optimization tricks. Spotify is Samsung's new streaming-music partner, which means you'll be able to control Spotify music playback with Bixby. The device will also serve as a hub for smart home gadgets using the SmartThings platform. Finally, we know Bixby will be on board, but what specifically it'll be capable of remains a mystery. While there will probably be some things to like about the Galaxy Home, the lack of info Samsung has provided made its introduction feel like a rushed, incomplete letdown. It's the kind of misstep that's hard to make when you're competing against the likes of Apple, Google and Amazon.
Samsung's upgraded Bixby assistant is still rough around the edges
Samsung understandably focused most of its attention on the Galaxy Note 9 at its Unpacked event, but it also used the media gathering to unveil the next generation of Bixby, and... well, it's a mixed bag. The new AI helper delivers some sincerely helpful functional improvements. It can find events near you, and it will not only attach Yelp ratings when you search for things to do but also deliver results based on your personal preferences. If you're fond of sushi, for instance, those restaurants will float to the top. You can also reserve restaurants, hail Uber rides and perform certain other tasks right from Bixby, with tight Spotify integration on the way.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. the competition: Big and getting bigger
Phone screens continue to get larger, with many flagship phones regularly breaking the 6-inch mark. Still, the Note 9's slightly larger display and bigger battery might provide the edge it needs to succeed, in addition to its ever-trusty S Pen. To see how the Note 9's specs stack up against some of its leading competition (like its sibling, the Galaxy S9+), we've assembled the relevant details in the table below. Of course, while specs are interesting, they're ultimately not the final word on the phone's real-world performance. For that verdict you'll have to wait for our full review in the coming weeks.
Samsung Galaxy Watch hands-on: Steady progress but few thrills
We knew Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 was coming, but the new Galaxy Watch was a bit more of a surprise. (Well, as much a surprise as a device Samsung leaked on its own website can be.) The crowds have finally started to dissipate here at Samsung Unpacked, so we snagged a few Galaxy Watches to try on, and there's immediately plenty to like about the wearable. It's light, almost surprisingly so. It runs with a new dual-core Samsung Exynos 9110 chipset, not the same poky Snapdragon Wear 2100 that's been in nearly every Wear OS watch for two years. It has what look like some excellent displays (under weirdo stage lights, anyway). Oh, and it looks pretty nice too. I hear that's important to some people.
Samsung's smart home devices can pick up Spotify streams from your phone
Samsung just announced the Galaxy Home, a clear competitor to Apple's HomePod, and the speaker will be powered by Spotify. The company also announced a new partnership that'll tie the two companies pretty closely together: Beyond using Spotify for music on the Galaxy Home, Spotify will also be included on all Galaxy devices in the setup process. So if you have an account, you'll set it up as you set up your phone; if you don't, we imagine you'll be prompted to get a free trial.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. last year's Note 8: What's changed?
Last year's Galaxy Note 8 largely succeeded at redeeming the Note line in the wake of its predecessor's battery troubles. The new Note 9 doesn't have as much pressure on it this time around, so the changes are a lot less dramatic than the addition of a dual camera and virtual assistant. Still, there are a few things worth noting here: The cameras have gotten a bit of a bump to sit comfortably alongside those on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ while the Note 9's 6.4-inch screen size is also a nice advantage. To get the full details on all the small but key changes to Samsung's newest S Pen-equipped handset, check out our spec chart below, and stay tuned in the coming weeks for our full review.
Galaxy Home is Samsung's Bixby-powered smart speaker
Samsung has been developing a speaker based on its own digital assistant, Bixby, for awhile. But today, we're getting our first look at it. During the company's Galaxy Note 9 event in New York City, Samsung finally revealed the Galaxy Home smart speaker, a clear rival to the Apple HomePod, the Google Home and the Amazon Echo line. The device, which features the rumored tripod design with a round body, is powered by Harman's AKG audio and was engineered to "make music sound amazing."
Samsung's Wireless Charger Duo powers up your phone and smartwatch
Wireless charging is a huge quality-of-life upgrade, and Samsung knows it. That's why the company (briefly) showed off its new Wireless Charger Duo onstage at the Galaxy Note 9 event this morning. Like the rumors suggested, this pair of power pads can charge the Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Watch simultaneously. The Wireless Charger Duo is now available to order in Black for $120, with shipping listed as "7 to 10 business days."
Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 has a much more useful DeX desktop mode
Samsung has been trying to turn its smartphones into pseudo-desktops with DeX since the Galaxy S8, a notably rocky start. With the Galaxy S9, DeX worked mostly the same but relied on a new dock that turned the phone into a trackpad. But as they say, the third time's the charm. Samsung has simplified the entire DeX experience on the Galaxy Note 9, and that ultimately makes it a lot more useful.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on: All about the S Pen
Hello, stylus, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again. Today Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 9 -- the latest in its flagship big-screen phone series. Like its predecessors, it comes with a stylus, which has gotten a refreshing makeover. Samsung also added an AI photography feature, updated the dual cameras and threw in some compelling performance improvements that power users will appreciate.
Samsung brings new controls to the Note 9 with redesigned S Pen
As we geared up for today's Samsung event, the announcement for which teased us with a close-up image of the Galaxy Note 9's S Pen, there's been a fair bit of speculation regarding what new features might be coming with the phone's redesigned stylus. An FCC filing that surfaced last month gave us a peek -- namely that it would be Bluetooth-enabled -- but today we got to see what the S Pen can do and how it works with the Note 9.
'Fortnite' is now available on Samsung Galaxy phones
The wildly popular game Fortnite came out for iOS back in April, leaving Android users eagerly awaiting its eventual release on the other mobile operating system. But rumors in the past couple weeks hinted that the game might debut on Samsung phones, and its app store, first. Those whispers were true: At today's Unpacked event, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney himself announced that the popular battle royale title is available in beta right now on its Galaxy phones. But that exclusive only lasts until the wider Android release coming August 12th, according to Android Central.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is bigger and more powerful than ever
After more than a few leaks (including from Samsung itself), the Galaxy Note 9 is finally official. Samsung's new flagship is an evolution of the Note 8 that promises to "never slow you down or let you down," according to the company. It touts a slightly larger 6.4-inch end-to-end 2,960 x 1,440 screen, a 4,000mAh battery that promises "all-day" use and a minimum 128GB of storage -- there's also a 512GB version that, with 512GB microSD cards, can give you a full terabyte of space. Samsung is also bringing over welcome improvements from the Galaxy S9 family, including stereo speakers and the variable aperture f/1.5-2.4 12-megapixel primary camera (there's a second 12-megapixel camera on the back, of course). This year, though, the most conspicuous change revolves around the S Pen.
We're live at Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 event!
When it's time to unveil some flashy new hardware, Samsung is known for taking things way over the top. Today's event just might take the cake though: The company is going to officially reveal its new (and thoroughly leaked) Galaxy Note 9 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, a 19,000-seat arena that's best known for basketball games and massive concerts. Will Samsung's news be big enough to fill all this space? Well, we're about to find out: The show starts in earnest at 11AM Eastern/8AM Pacific, so lock your browser window here and join us for the ride. Follow all the latest news from Galaxy Unpacked 2018 here!
Watch Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 event tomorrow at 11AM ET
Samsung is once again ready to unveil the latest version of its other flagship phone line, the Galaxy Note, and it's making sure everyone can tune in. The company is livestreaming the Galaxy Note 9 launch event on its main website (and most likely the Samsung Mobile YouTube channel) on August 9th at 11AM Eastern. Of course, you can also follow along with our liveblog to beat the video delay and get some extra insights.
