News
Samsung will soon display ads on budget, midrange devices
May come in future OneUI versions
Ads and bloatware have long existed in smartphones as manufacturers look for alternative ways to earn from consumers. Over the years, consumers have demanded lesser ads and bloatware on devices. Though the process was slow, many manufacturers gradually removed them from their devices. However, it seems like we’re taking a step backwards if Samsung decides to push through with a big change on OneUI.
A new rumor suggests that Samsung is in the process of experimenting with ads on OneUI. The ads show up on the lock screen, and other rumors suggest that the company may show ads to its branded apps too.
Unfortunately, some of these ads are obtrusive too. For lock screen ads, a user may have to wait for 15 seconds to dismiss it and unlock the phone.
Samsung might display ads in the future for its Galaxy A and M series. Ads may show up as part of updates on the next OneUI version. As of now, the company is neither confirming nor denying its strategy of putting ads in future Galaxy devices.
Copycat strategy
Putting ads and bloatware enable manufacturers to offset the cost of a smartphone. An offset in cost means lower retail prices but at the expense of more ads for the end-users.
This is not the first time that a manufacturer brought ads to its devices. Xiaomi has been putting ads in MIUI recently to boost its earnings from devices brought by consumers. Meanwhile, other China-based manufacturers put bloatware that displays ads and annoys users in general. So, there is actually a precedence for Samsung to follow suit.
Luckily though, ads and bloatware can be easily removed with workarounds. Some users resort to various methods to remove these annoyances, while some just accept them. After all, a feature-packed smartphone sold at competitive prices has to have some kind of a trade-off. And for most manufacturers, putting ads in return is the best trade-off strategy for now.
News
HUAWEI Pura X View is 2026’s first WIDE slab-type smartphone
2026’s first non-foldable WIDE smartphone makes its surprising debut
It seems like the WIDE smartphone craze is getting out of hand.
Surprise, surprise! Out of nowhere, HUAWEI reveals the Pura X View — 2026’s first WIDE smartphone that does not fold at all.
Tied to WIDE
With the massive success of HUAWEI’s Pura X Max as well as the newly-released Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, it’s hard to ignore the sudden trend behind WIDE smartphones. Let alone, Apple’s much-awaited iPhone foldable (dubbed the “iPhone Ultra”) will be announced in less than a month.
Opposed to the usual tall and narrow form factor, the Pura X View comes in a wider body with a 16:9.5 aspect ratio. Display bezels are extremely narrow too at just 1.09mm and StB (Screen-to-Body) ratio reaches a whopping 96.1%.
This wider than usual body means better ergonomics with better content consumption — from images, books, documents, all the way to movies and shows, as well as games.
While it has a smaller 6.39-inch display, the Chinese electronics giant says it has greater content area compared to 6.9-inch flagship smartphones.
Other display feats include a 2160Hz PWM Dimming, resolution of 2232 × 1320, and max brightness of up to 6500 nits.
Despite all these, HUAWEI still managed to put a monstrous 7000mAh battery capacity inside its super slender 6.68mm chassis — which also happens to be lightweight at only 201 grams.
Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, HUAWEI did not reveal every bit of spec on their website.
Pricing and Availability
The HUAWEI Pura X View comes in four colorways: Illusion Dark Night, Zero-degree White, Leap Shadow Red, and Linen Ash.
It’s currently open for pre-orders in China alongside three configurations:
- 12+256GB
- 12+512GB
- 12+1TB
Just like its unrevealed specifications, HUAWEI did not reveal the exact pricing of the Pura X View.
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News
Samsung might launch the Galaxy S26 FE next week
A new event is hinting at the smartphone’s debut.
It wasn’t too long ago when Samsung launched the new Galaxy Fold and Flip series. Historically, the brand is done for the year after two major Galaxy Unpacked events. However, if you’re still hankering for a few more morsels of Galaxy devices, Samsung is hosting another event next week, which might mean the debut of the Galaxy S26 FE.
This week, Samsung has just released an official invite for a Galaxy Event on August 27. The invite itself looks like a tray with two glasses of matcha and a coaster in between them. It’s visually similar to a modest camera setup, hinting at a new smartphone coming during the event.
Because Samsung has already filled its usual quota of flagships and foldables, it’s highly likely that the event is meant for the Galaxy S26 FE. The Galaxy FE series is Samsung’s way of extending the life cycle of the current generation of Galaxy phones, while also catering to another segment of the market.
As for what the Galaxy S26 FE might hold, it looks like AI might be a prime focus. Samsung confirms that the invite graphic has AI-generated images. The text accompanying the graphic also indicates that AI will be a part of the event.
It’s only a week left before the August 27 event, so we’ll get to know more about everything soon.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Review
Gaming
Leaked Grand Theft Auto VI footage surfaces online
The leakers says they are protesting the game’s lack of a physical release.
We’re nearing the dreaded date that all game publishers are rightfully fearing: the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. Since we’re so near, it’s only right that Rockstar Games starts teasing their upcoming game, which is officially happening later this month via a special presentation on Netflix. However, ahead of that highly anticipated date, a leaker has apparently leaked the footage in protest of the game’s lack of a physical release.
Let’s parse that out piecemeal. First up, Rockstar Games is scheduled to release an extended first look at Grand Theft Auto VI through Netflix on August 27. If you don’t have the platform, the publisher will release the same footage on more public outlets six hours later. The footage will represent our biggest peek at the game after months of relative silence.
Secondly, a leaker has released the said footage ahead of time. Now, this isn’t the first time that a major leak spoiled details about the game. Previously, a leak was the first to reveal that the sixth entry in the series is getting two playable protagonists.
Third, the why: The leaker says that they will continue to reveal more information about the game to protest the game’s lack of a physical release. Like new PlayStation games next year, Rockstar Games does not plan to release a disc version of the game.
The footage itself
And, finally, the leak itself. Rockstar Games is currently issuing DMCA notices against anyone posting the leaked footage. It lends credence to the authenticity of the footage but also ensures that we can’t post the leaks themselves.
If anything, there are two reportedly legitimate clips, while others were seemingly generated with AI. The first clip has Jason, one of the two protagonists, playing basketball in his hideout, which gives him a stat boost. The clip confirms the return of minigames you can play in between missions.
The second clip sees Jason fight with a truck driver after a traffic incident. He kills the driver with a wrench, which earns him a two-star wanted level and summons a police chase as the series often does.
There’s not much to glean from these two short clips. In fact, it’s hard to say whether this footage represents the final release or something left over from previous leaks. Thankfully, Rockstar Games is releasing the official extended look soon on August 27.
After that, Grand Theft Auto VI launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19.
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