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Samsung fully reveals the Galaxy Z TriFold

It’s already coming out in Korea next week.

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Samsung can’t let the year end without getting one last hurrah. After teasing the smartphone for months, the South Korean brand has finally unveiled the much-awaited Galaxy Z TriFold in all its glory.

This year started with a similar bang. Earlier, Huawei launched the Huawei Mate XT, the market’s first tri-fold smartphone. Since then, other brands have teased similar entries to compete against Huawei. Now, Samsung is ready with its own.

One gigantic screen

As with Huawei, the Galaxy Z TriFold will feature two hinges to complete the tri-fold format. Unfolded, the main screen is a humungous 10.0-inch screen. It will allow a lot of different uses; users can utilize the entire screen as one giant panel or split it into three windows for multi-tasking.

Then, users can fold the main screen inward, much like a brochure. When bent, the screen can turn into an immersive way to watch movies. Otherwise, the screen can fully fold into itself, which allows users to utilize the smaller 6.5-inch cover screen on the other side.

Both screens have a Dynamic 2X AMOLED display, featuring a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is also capable of up to 2,600 nits of brightness. Meanwhile, the main screen features 1,600 nits of brightness.

Both a looker and a fighter

If you’re worried that this just looks like a fad, the Galaxy Z TriFold has a wealth of hardware to convince you of what it can do.

Inside, the foldable sports a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, tailored specifically for Galaxy. It features 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

The main screen has three-camera setup. Heading the pack is a 200-megapixel wide-angle camera. It’s paired with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera. Both the main and the cover screen will each come with their own 10-megapixel selfie camera.

Finally, the Galaxy Z TriFold will have a 5600mAh battery. It’s compatible with up to 45W Super-Fast Charging 2.0 (wired) and up to 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0. It also has Wireless PowerShare for other Samsung phones and those with WPC Qi wireless charging.

Built for durability

Durability is often a concern for those who want to buy a foldable. Have smartphone makers finally perfected a foldable screen?

While we can’t confirm this phone’s durability just yet, Samsung claims that the Galaxy Z TriFold focuses on keeping the screen safe for use for years to come.

Firstly, when folded, the screens will not touch each other. There’s a minimal gap, but there will be no contact between the folded screens. Regardless, Samsung still installed a new reinforced overcoat for increased resistance against dings and scratches.

Additionally, the chassis has been reinforced with an Advanced Armor Aluminum Frame. The hinges have also been strengthened with titanium for added durability.

Finally, the Galaxy Z TriFold is IP48 rated.

These added measures are nothing to sneeze at. When unfolded, the body is only around 4.2mm thin and weighs only 309 grams.

Price, availability

As bombastic as this reveal is, the Galaxy Z TriFold is not available everywhere just yet. Starting December 12, the foldable will launch exclusively in South Korea. China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates will follow shortly after.

Meanwhile, the United States will get the foldable in the first quarter of 2026. Presumably, the American launch will coincide with the wider global one, but Samsung has not confirmed this yet.

There’s also no word on price yet. However, if the Mate XT is anything to go buy, expect an eye-watering price for this one. For reference, the latest Galaxy Z Fold7 costs US$ 1,999.

Apps

Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts

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TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.

Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.

Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.

According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.

Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.

Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.

SEE ALSO: Live NBA action on Disney Plus now available in the Philippines

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Apps

Google Maps is finally getting a 3D mode

The app will also have a Gemini chatbot baked inside.

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Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.

In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.

In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.

Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.

Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps is finally getting a power saving mode

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Entertainment

KPop Demon Hunters is officially getting a sequel

Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans will return to write and direct.

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This feels like a formality at this point. Netflix and Sony have officially confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters is getting a sequel.

If you feel like you’ve read this exact title before, then you’re not alone. Since its massive success last year, the hit animated film constantly spawned talks of a potential franchise. It probably helped that the title quickly became Netflix’s most-watched film of all time. From the last we’ve heard of the rumors, Netflix was reportedly eyeing a 2029 premiere for the sequel.

Now, it’s official. As posted by Netflix itself, KPop Demon Hunters will get a sequel soon. Even better, the follow-up will be written and directed by the same duo, Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans.

Kang, who celebrated the first movie’s ability to tell a Korean story, says that there’s a lot more to explore in the film’s universe. “There’s so much more to this world we have built and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning,” she said.

Right now, the plot’s sequel is still unknown, especially since the Saja Boys were defeated in the first film.

Given how big the original movie got, the sequel is no surprise. Besides bagging the top spot on Netflix’s charts, the film also got an eventual release in theaters. KPop Demon Hunters is up for a potential Oscars win after it was nominated for Best Animated Feature. Its hit song, “Golden,” is also nominated for Best Original Song.

SEE ALSO: KPop Demon Hunters is now Netflix’s most-watched movie

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