The article highlights the best Black Friday smartphone deals in the US, focusing on flagship models like Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, foldables such as Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, and refurbished iPhones including the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max, emphasizing discounts, features, and comparisons to help consumers make informed holiday shopping decisions.
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are expected to support Qi2 wireless charging, but likely only in a 'Qi2 Ready' form, meaning they will work with accessories that add magnetic alignment rather than having built-in magnets. This marks the first foldable from Samsung with Qi2 support, announced in July.
Samsung has announced that its new foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, will be released this summer, with both devices running One UI 8 at launch, though specific details and launch dates are yet to be confirmed.
Samsung is set to release a range of new phones in 2024, with a strong emphasis on AI capabilities. The Galaxy S24 lineup, including the S24 Ultra with potential titanium construction and improved telephoto lens, will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in North America and possibly an Exynos 2400 elsewhere. AI features may include Samsung Gauss for local generative AI tasks, instant translations, and advanced photo editing. The midrange Galaxy A55 is expected to draw design inspiration from the S24 and may feature an Exynos 1480 chip. Later in the year, Samsung will focus on foldables with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, which are anticipated to have larger displays and reduced bezels. Pricing for the Galaxy S24 series is rumored to remain unchanged from the previous year.
Major smartphone manufacturers, with the notable exception of Apple, are investing in foldable phones as a potential growth driver for the stagnant mobile market. Despite low current market penetration, companies like Samsung, Huawei, and Honor are optimistic about the future of foldables, likening them to the rise of electric cars in the auto industry. Samsung, in particular, is leading the charge with its Galaxy Z series and marketing efforts. However, the market remains skeptical due to concerns about cost, durability, and practicality, with foldables making up only 1.3% of global smartphone sales.
Samsung has expanded its self-repair program to include its Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 foldable phones, allowing users to fix their devices through the company's collaboration with iFixit. The program will also be extended to include more Galaxy products, such as smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Users will have access to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and step-by-step guides for repairs, with the price of fix kits varying depending on the device. The program is now available in 30 additional countries in Europe, aligning with Samsung's efforts to reduce e-waste.
Best Buy is offering discounts on various tech products, including Apple Watches such as the Watch Ultra 2 and Watch SE, which are $50 off, and the Watch Series 9, which is $70 off. The older iPad 10.2 (9th gen) is also on sale for $250. Additionally, the Motorola Razr 2023 foldable phone is discounted to $500, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Google Pixel Fold are available with improved features. The Google Pixel 8 Pro is under $1,000 with a $200 discount, and the smaller Pixel 8 is cheaper and more compact. Free shipping and other delivery options are available until December 24th.
Samsung US is offering exclusive Black Friday discounts on its foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5, with up to 25% off through the Shop Samsung app or web store. Students can also enjoy additional discounts. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is also on sale with a 25% discount. Additionally, Samsung accessories such as the Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Buds2 Pro are available at discounted prices. Entertainment options include The Freestyle (2nd gen) projector and the 57" Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor.
Google has optimized its Gmail app for tablets and foldable devices by introducing a split-screen mode for opening links and attachments. When a link is clicked, it will now open in a side-by-side window, allowing users to view the email and the linked content simultaneously. This feature is available on large-screen devices like the Pixel Fold and Tablet. Google has been actively working on optimizing its first-party apps for tablets and has also highlighted third-party optimizations for popular apps like Zoom, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Dropbox, Evernote, and Todoist.
Instagram is finally rolling out a new tablet layout for Android devices, optimizing the app for bigger screens such as foldables and tablets. The new UI features a side-mounted navigation rail, with Stories at the top and an expanded feed on either side. The update is currently being rolled out slowly and seems to be exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold series, although it has also been confirmed to work on Google's Pixel Tablet in portrait mode. The availability of the new layout remains limited, and it is uncertain if Instagram will develop a similar interface for Apple's iPad.
Google is revamping the Play Store for large-screen devices like foldable phones, Android tablets, and Chromebooks. The updates include prioritizing apps that scale well, introducing video banners for gaming apps, organizing app details pages in a multi-column layout, and improving navigation with a left-side rail. Google is also implementing a split-screen search experience to make it easier to discover and compare apps. These changes aim to promote apps that are optimized for large-screen devices and will roll out in the coming weeks.
Gmail for Android is introducing a new UI update specifically for foldable devices, featuring a navigation rail that includes a sidebar with shortcuts for composing emails, inbox, chat, and meet. This update takes advantage of the additional horizontal space on foldable screens and aligns with Google's design approach for tablets. The new UI is currently rolling out for foldables, but not yet available on other devices like tablets.
Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event, which will focus on foldables, is scheduled for late July and will take place in Seoul, South Korea. The event will showcase Samsung's philosophy of delivering innovation that pushes boundaries to reshape the future of mobile experiences. The company plans to hold future Unpacked shows focused on foldables in different cities that align with the designated theme of each event. Expect updates to the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold smartphones, with rumors suggesting a larger outer display for the Z Flip 5 and a much thinner design for the Z Fold 5.
Motorola is set to unveil its new Razr series of flip foldable smartphones, including the premium Razr 40 Ultra and vanilla Razr 40 models, at a launch event in Madrid. While foldables remain pricey, Motorola's decision to launch multiple models could make it a trailblazer in the market. Global pricing and availability details are yet to be revealed.
Google gave a preview of what they have planned for their Google Apps on large screens, like tablets and foldables, in the future. The preview was centered on three themes/principles from the Making Material You films: expressive, spirited, and personal. Google believes that large screens are a moment to bring bold expressiveness that a smaller device doesn’t have the space for. They also hinted at customizable UIs that are more personal and tailor-made.
