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LG Velvet revamps the company’s strategy, design, and branding

LG’s trying to carve a new niche

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South Korean phone maker LG has some grand plans for the near future. The brand is being revamped and a fresh new design language has been unveiled for its first phone — LG Velvet.

Yes, the next phone from the company will be called LG Velvet and they’ve already offered us a teaser of the new looks. They’ve stressed on “distinctive designs” and “tactile elegance”, a move away from a focus on spec sheets. It follows a minimalist look with no overwhelming square or rectangle camera arrays.

The sketch reveals three cameras on the rear in a vertical lineup on the upper left corner. Each lens descends according to its size. On the design front, it’ll feature what LG describes as a 3D Arc design marked by curved display edges. The company claims that it’ll help in improving the overall grip of the phone.

One of the image renders leaked by Twitter user @UniverseIce also features Irene Bae — the center and leader of popular Korean girl group Red Velvet.

A brand new look to resuscitate LG?

LG is also moving away from the standard practice of using alphanumeric names for its phones. We can assume there won’t be an L 0r G-series lineup, neither a Velvet 2 next year. The company wants to be more expressive of what you can expect from the phone.

“Our new branding reflects current trends of addressing the unique personal tastes and emotions of the individual with a greater emphasis on design,” said Chang Ma, senior vice president of product strategy of LG’s mobile business, in a statement.

A few years ago, the company used to go against Samsung in launching the best flagship of the year. Back in those days, even HTC was a player to be reckoned with. However, the smartphone industry has drastically changed now with the rise of affordable players like Xiaomi and Realme. In the high-end segment, Samsung and Apple still rule the game but are getting tough competition from OnePlus.

In a highly saturated market like this, LG is trying to carve a premium niche for itself. Similarly, Sony has also released teasers confirming it wants to grab the mobile photography segment and fill the void left by the massive failure of Pixel.

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Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million

Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.

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May 11, 2026

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Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.

In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.

According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.

The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.

To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.

SEE ALSO: These Samsung TVs and sound devices are perfect for summer

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The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

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May 11, 2026

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Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.

Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.

Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.

Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.

As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.

SEE ALSO: Switch 2 now lets you play old games in 1080p

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Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

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May 8, 2026

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When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

SEE ALSO: PC Game Pass gets cheaper, but Call of Duty delays are coming

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