With the release of the iPhone 16 line last year, Apple lovers were eager to upgrade and… upgrade they did. Some may still be contemplating whether to make an upgrade or not, but several innovative smartphones are better and more exciting than the iPhone 16 family. And, we have curated a collection of innovative and unique smartphones that make for compelling alternatives to an iPhone.

These smartphones present diverse and innovative alternatives to the iPhone 16, catering to a wide range of preferences and needs. Whether you’re drawn to cutting-edge design, affordability, minimalism, or enhanced functionality, there’s a device here that could be the perfect fit for your lifestyle. Have a look!

1. Google Pixel 10 Pro

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is dominated by one visible and interesting change in the camera layout. It has a vertical layout, which is an intriguing design evolution, but not necessarily better than the horizontal camera bar. The phone is quite slick and slick and is available with large 6.9″ and 6.4″ displays. It is available in different color variants, and the bezels are thinner as well.

It is equipped with a smaller hole-punch camera, and the display offers 4000 nits of brightness. It is covered by a GorillaGlass Victus 2 protective glass panel. However, as mentioned the main upgrade is in the camera layout. It is amped with three powerful 64MP shooters – a wide-angle, an ultrawide , and a telephoto to help you capture top-class pictures.

2. Nothing Fold (1) Concept

Named the Nothing Fold (1) Concept, this is a revolutionary new entrant in the folding phone market. This device amplifies portable computing with its groundbreaking design and state-of-the-art technology. It boasts a 6.5-inch external display alongside a substantial 8.37-inch internal screen, delivering a dynamic and immersive user experience. An impressive feature is the Glyph Interface, which displays the number “1” during startup and transforms into a third screen for notifications.

The Fold (1) is outfitted with five cameras, including a main shooter, ultra-wide, and telephoto/macro lenses, ensuring photography enthusiasts have every tool needed for capturing stunning images. At its core, the device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 5G chip, which includes an 8-core CPU, a 12-core GPU, and an NPU for AI-driven tasks.

3. iPhone 17 Pro

While not yet on the market, this iPhone 17 Pro concept offers a tantalizing glimpse into the future of smartphone design. Inspired by the Pixel, this concept features a radical camera bar that replaces the traditional square camera bump. The innovative layout includes a wide and ultra-wide lens, a central flash, and a tetraprism-style telephoto lens, promising exceptional optical zoom and low-light performance.

This layout promises exceptional optical zoom capabilities and superior low-light performance, making it a dream for photography enthusiasts. Although the concept is still speculative, it offers exciting possibilities for future smartphones, and maybe this iPhone 17 Pro concept could offer more than the current iPhone 16 line.

4. Vista Detox Phone

For those looking to reduce smartphone addiction, the Vista Digital Detox Phone offers a unique approach. This device emphasizes physical interaction over virtual engagement, encouraging users to lead a more conscious lifestyle. The camera viewfinder is designed to promote real-world interaction, while the phone only plays live radio from local online stations, eliminating the option to stream playlists.

The Vista Digital Detox Phone focuses on and prioritizes productivity and life-enhancing apps, thereby helping foster positive habits and minimize distractions. The detox smartphone is excellent for individuals who want to reduce their screen time and seek and master a more balanced digital experience.

5. iPhone SE 4

For those seeking a budget-friendly option without compromising on modern design, this conceptual iPhone SE 4 could be an appealing choice in the future. It replaces thick bezels and the physical home button with a sleek 6.1-inch edge-to-edge display, drawing inspiration from the iPhone 14. This design overhaul is complemented by a significant upgrade from LCD to OLED screen technology.

This provides richer colors, better contrast, and improved efficiency. We don’t know whether it will retain a notch or adopt the Dynamic Island, but the SE 4 promises a contemporary look and feel at an accessible price point, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious consumers. We hope to see it as a tangible smartphone someday!

6. inkPhone duo

The inkPhone Duo concept is a productivity powerhouse with its innovative dual-screen slider design. The nearly edge-to-edge screens offer a full-color OLED display for vibrant work applications and an E-Ink display for distraction-free reading, perfect for long sessions without eye strain. The screens slide out to reveal hidden cameras, allowing seamless transitions between tasks and ensuring a full-screen experience without interruptions.

This concept is ideal for multitaskers who need a device that adapts to both work and leisure, offering flexibility and efficiency in one sleek package. It truly offers the best of all worlds, supporting comfortable reading, and hiding both the cameras so you can enjoy both screens in their full glory.

7. NanoPhone

If you’re someone who prefers and appreciates compact devices, then the NanoPhone will intrigue you.  As small as a credit card, this $100 smartphone is packed with features, including 4G support, dual SIM trays, expandable storage, and a 2000mAh battery that promises long-lasting performance. It runs on Android 10, and provides access to essential apps via the Play Store,

The little phone functions as a versatile backup phone or a functional starter device for kids. It features a diminutive size and affordability, making it an attractive choice for anyone needing a secondary phone or a device that won’t break the bank while still offering essential smartphone capabilities. Although it may not function as an efficient primary smartphone.

8. Rabbit R2

Shreyansh Onial has envisioned the Rabbit R2 – a conceptual smartphone that represents a significant evolution for the Rabbit brand. This innovative device is designed to go beyond the traditional functionalities of a smartphone by integrating a form of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). While the R2 maintains the familiar appearance of a smartphone, it introduces a highly advanced virtual assistant capable of handling a wide array of tasks, effectively transforming the way users interact with their devices.

The Rabbit R2 is equipped with essential features such as a high-resolution screen, a sophisticated camera system, and a USB-C port. However what makes it truly stand apart is the AGI-powered virtual assistant, which elevates the device to a new level of intelligence and usability. The virtual assistant does everything you need it to do!

9. Pulloof

Called the Pulloof: Smart Phone Concept, this visionary device is designed by Gisung Han. It seeks to transcend the traditional lifespan of smartphones. It aims to leave a lasting impression through its technological capabilities, as well as its unique design and tactile experience. It draws inspiration from the nostalgic charm of a vintage B&Q radio, and the concept successfully combines retro aesthetics with modern innovation, creating a device that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.

At its core, the Pulloof is designed to revolutionize how users engage with music through their smartphones. The smartphone concept prioritizes the speaker functionality, transforming it into a powerful and sustainable audio device. The design focuses on high-quality sound delivery, ensuring that music consumption becomes an immersive experience.

10. Phone One

Called the Phone One, this smartphone brings back the tactile joy of physical buttons in a modern, multi-mode design. Unlike traditional smartphones, the Phone One features a uniquely designed three-pivot side panel that houses the buttons, ensuring they don’t encroach on-screen space. This innovative pivot mechanism allows the right-side panel to rotate within the phone frame, seamlessly transitioning between normal phone mode, gaming mode, and camera mode.

In normal mode, the volume and power buttons are easily accessible, giving the Phone One a familiar look for everyday use. This design not only enhances functionality but also provides a nostalgic tactile experience, making the Phone One a unique choice for those who value both innovation and tradition.

The post Top 10 Innovative Smartphones To Consider Beyond The iPhone 16 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Today’s smartphones are pretty powerful devices, and they’re pretty expensive as well. Even without considering foldable phones, a single premium flagship can easily cost above $1,100. We’ve actually become so used to such high numbers that the only times we get irked is when they’re almost double that, as demonstrated by foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. But is that really the price of making a smartphone?

What goes into building a smartphone anyway? Is it just a matter of buying components and slapping them together in a factory en masse? Do the build costs match the retail prices that companies practically force on consumers? More importantly, how much would it really cost to build your dream phone? Fortunately for us, some people actually tried to answer that as well.

Designer: Shea (Concept Central) x MKBHD

Nothing Comes from Something: MKBHD’s Dream Phone

We all probably have complaints even about our favorite phone brands and models. It might have a design quirk we don’t like, a feature we’re missing, or a piece of hardware we wish were there. At one point or another, we’ve all wished we could make our phones, just like how some people assemble their own desktop computers. Of course, the Internet is also full of people who do try to make their dream mobile device, but few end up looking as sleek as commercial products.

Perhaps it was just for fun, and definitely for some publicity, but Nothing asked the famed Marquees Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, what his dream phone would be. But more than just asking him for specs and features, the young design-centric brand also challenged itself to research and share how much it would actually cost to make that dream phone. The answers were both telling and a little bit shocking.

Simply focusing on the bill of materials or the actual cost of components that go into the phone, Nothing reached what at first looked like an acceptable figure. The prices came from Nothing’s own experience dealing with suppliers, though you can expect some intentional margins of error. After all, many of those prices are confidential, but they do give us ballpark figures to work with.

• Battery 6,000mAh – $13
• Screen: 6.1-inch 120Hz AMOLED 1440p – $35
• Cameras: 4 rear, 1 front – $80
• Storage: 1TB UFS 4.0, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM – $90
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite – $190
• Electronics: Motherboard, antennas, speakers, etc. – $15
• Packaging: $30
• Design materials: decorations, back glass panel – $8
• Structural parts: screws, vapor chamber, mid-frame, buttons – $10
• Patent Licensing – $29

That’s a grand total of $500, which actually sounds pretty cheap when you consider that these are specs that match Samsung’s and Apple’s top phones. It’s an even more surprising figure when you think how the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 might have some of that same hardware and still cost twice as much in retail. A phone’s BOM might make phone prices look ridiculous and unfair but, unfortunately, there’s more to the story than just a shopping list of parts.

Hidden Costs, Invisible Value

When we cook food ourselves, we often only think about the cost of the ingredients. The same goes for assembling a desktop computer from parts we bought ourselves off shelves or over the Internet. It’s a completely different case, however, if we’re making something for others, especially if they have to be mass-produced. Then we have to take into consideration the costs for things that don’t go directly into cooking the food but also the preparation for it and even the tools that we use.

One of the biggest hidden costs often cited in making products is “R&D,” short for “Research and Development.” It can refer to almost any ancillary activity or expense related to designing a product, but in this particular case, it refers to things like designing the motherboard that changes almost every year, the actual factory costs for both prototypes and final products, as well as the salaries of all the people involved.

Images courtesy of: iFixit

By Nothing’s standards alone, R&D can amount to no less than $20 million, a staggering figure that no consumer will ever pay for. Of course, this cost is split across the devices, so buyers only get a small portion of that. Nonetheless, it’s quite a shocking number, especially if you take into account that giants like Samsung and Apple have even bigger expenses when it comes to R&D.

It might be too easy to write this off as an unnecessary expenditure, but imagine what would happen if a phone’s circuit boards weren’t properly designed and tested for the latest and greatest processors? Or if shipping was contracted to a cheap but unreliable carrier? These are the details we often overlook when considering the total cost of building a phone, but these are the very details that could make or break a company perhaps even more than the bill of materials.

Margins, Scales, and Industry Clout

A smartphone manufacturer, after all, isn’t a charity organization. It will always be driven by profits, so it will need to make sure there’s a decent margin between build costs and retail price. Of course, that profit margin isn’t going to be the same for every company, and it is partly determined by how long you’ve been in that industry and how much supply chain companies actually trust you.

As Nothing’s Carl Pei pointed out, you will get different component and service prices from suppliers if you’re new to the market or if you’re a well-established brand like Apple. When negotiating with these suppliers, you might even have to pay an additional premium of around 15% because they might not trust you yet. Conversely, if you’re a reputable brand, you might be able to get away with delaying payment by a few months, not to mention getting cheaper prices. Manufacturers will also charge more for less popular designs since demand for them will be lower.

As recent figures show, bigger companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung impose a bigger profit margin, but that’s only when comparing it against production costs based on the bill of materials. The companies also spend more on R&D, advertising, and licensing fees, so actual margins can be quite smaller than indicated. Either way, the full price you’re paying isn’t just the total of the components but everything that goes into making a phone, directly or indirectly. It’s a very clear case that the whole is more than a sum of its parts and definitely costs more than that.

Design Matters

So the actual cost of making a phone is made up of both the visible and the invisible. It’s not that hard these days to glean the bill of materials from teardowns and industry connections, but the actual costs of R&D, design, logistics, and marketing are harder to figure out. MKBHD’s phone might only cost $500 if you take into account its parts, but you can’t really build a phone the way you build LEGOs unless you actually build them that way.

Designer: Fairphone

An important takeaway here is how much design is actually involved in making a phone and, in the vein, also how much it costs. To some extent, it also helps explain why it’s harder for companies to immediately adopt more modular components and repairable designs because it drives the costs up considerably as well, costs that will be pushed down to consumers. That said, the industry as a whole is thankfully moving in that direction, which hopefully means that we can someday have that ideal smartphone design that will not only let us assemble our own but also repair them more easily.

The post How Much Does It Really Cost To Build a Phone: Specs, Design, and Hidden Costs first appeared on Yanko Design.

The leaks seem to be all over – Apple has great plans for the 2025 iPhone lineup. What the Cupertino giant has in store for the smartphone series is absolutely uncertain, with rumors of a camera bar design, as well as of an iPhone Air making the waves. Multiple sources have, however, confirmed that the latest iPhone lineup will see one large change in the form of a horizontal camera island of sorts, borrowing directly from the Google Pixel’s design.

Putting visuals to those rumors is Phone Industry, a YouTube channel dedicated to realizing concepts and leaks into full renders. To that very end, here’s what the iPhone 17 Pro might just look like if it had that camera island. The short answer is that it’s a spitting resemblance to the Pixel. The long answer is let’s just wait till September to see what Tim Cook has to say. Until then, here’s more about this design.

Design: Phone Industry

Every year, Apple launches a new iPhone and it features a few standard upgrades. The phones usually have some design changes to help differentiate them from older models. They also have one standout feature that makes them functionally better than previous variants, and lastly, they push the boundaries of what their cameras are capable of. This phone embodies all those things.

The first and most obvious upgrade is the design change manifested in the form of a new camera layout. Every Pro iPhone since the 11 Pro has had a square-shaped camera bump in the top left corner, with three lenses in the shape of a triangle. The iPhone 17 Pro concept shakes that up, putting the camera lenses in a single line running from left to right.

From the looks of it, you have a wide and ultra-wide lens on the left, a flash in the middle, and that tetraprism-style telephoto lens on the right, capable of taking pictures with an incredible optical zoom capability. The rectangular shape of this lens probably indicates a larger sensor size, giving you zoom along with immaculate low-light performance. It’s all speculation really, but hey, a boy can hope, right?

The unique part about this new camera layout is that – aside from being the biggest design change to the Pro line-up since the dynamic island – it also gives the iPhone a fair amount of stability. The phone doesn’t rock when placed camera-down on flat surfaces. It also gives your finger a nice place to rest while you browse Tik Tok… for as long as the app lasts, I guess.

Along with design and camera upgrades, every subsequent iPhone tries to introduce something new. One iPhone introduced a Dynamic Island, the next ditched the Mute switch for the Action Button, and finally last year’s iPhone introduced us to Capture Control. This time, the Capture Control gets refined and placed right near the power button. It gets a red inlay, works just the way you want it to, and for the first time, is within reach of your thumb when you’re holding the phone vertically.

The current Capture Control button is notoriously placed in a way that only allows it to be accessed in Landscape mode. Hold your phone in Portrait and the control sits underneath your palm, making it impossible to use. This new placement means photo and videography are just as intuitive in Portrait as they are in Landscape.

But don’t get your hopes up. We’re 8 months away from the new iPhone, which means we’ve got 8 months of new leaks and rumors to look forward to. This current iPhone, as flashy as it looks, might be a little too similar to the Pixel for Apple’s comfort. It has a split rear fascia with an upper and lower glass panel and a metallic camera bump – that’s unmistakably a Pixel design feature.

I assume that, if these rumors are true, the iPhone would have a single-piece glass back like the current phones do. There’s a lot of hearsay that this particular bar-shaped camera phone won’t be the Pro version, but rather the Slim or Air version, giving you a phone that looks and feels cutting-edge. A square-shaped camera bump would destroy that illusion – but a horizontal camera array might just end up creating that wedge-shaped aesthetic that the MacBook Air first popularized back in 2008!

The post iPhone 17 Pro Concept shows a Radical Camera Bar Design inspired by the Pixel… and a New Surprise first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung’s S25 launch event solidified its position as a leader in mobile AI innovation, demonstrating how its strong partnerships with Google and Qualcomm are fostering significant advancements for users. The panel discussion, hosted by Jay Kim, Samsung’s Executive Vice President and Head of the Customer Experience Office, featured AI thought leaders who offered an in-depth look at the collaborative effort behind seamlessly integrating AI into everyday experiences.

A Unified Vision for AI Accessibility

Dr. Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths, University of London, shared findings from an ongoing longitudinal study conducted with Symmetry Research. The research, supported by Samsung, highlighted an important shift in user behavior: frequent consumer use of mobile AI globally has nearly doubled in just six months, jumping from 16% in July 2024 to 27% by January 2025.

Dr. Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths, University of London, presents research on mobile AI adoption and the barriers to widespread use.

“Frequent consumer use of mobile AI globally has nearly doubled in just six months, jumping from 16% in July to 27% in January,” said Dr. Brauer. “As we analyzed the motivations and challenges surrounding mobile AI use, we found a really interesting theme among those less willing to adopt the technology: doubt. Doubt in AI’s ability to bring meaningful benefits to everyday life (56%), doubt and a lack of high confidence to use AI to its full potential (85%), and doubt around privacy and whether AI can be trusted (90%).”

However, discoverability and confidence in AI’s usefulness remain significant barriers. Many users still struggle to understand how to access and fully utilize these tools. Samsung’s approach, as explained by Jay Kim, addresses these challenges by embedding AI capabilities directly into the device interface. Features such as long-press activation for the Gemini Assistant and multi-modal interactions aim to make AI accessible without disrupting user routines.

Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Samsung’s Customer Experience Office, discusses how intuitive AI integration enhances user experiences.

“Even though the benefit value of mobile AI is really high, if you can’t access it, it’s no use,” said Kim. “On Galaxy S25, accessing Gemini with a simple long-press of the side button is a perfect example. The AI behind that action is complicated, but not for the user. The important thing is to make it easy and intuitive, to encourage repetition so that these capabilities are eventually baked into your life.”

Building Smarter Experiences Through Partnership

The collaboration between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm represents a new level of industry partnership aimed at maximizing AI’s potential. Qualcomm’s Christopher Patrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Handset, Voice & Music, and Wearables, emphasized the importance of on-device AI processing in delivering instant results without relying entirely on cloud resources. This approach maintains user privacy while ensuring real-time functionality. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform, co-engineered with Samsung, integrates AI across various components, including display upscaling and advanced voice recognition.

Christopher Patrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Qualcomm, discusses the importance of on-device AI processing and its integration with the Snapdragon platform.

“Galaxy S25 marks a big step forward, able to engage with your personalized AI assistant in all new ways. It doesn’t just feel like interacting with a real person; it can perceive your environment and interact with content shown on your camera,” said Patrick. “Our close collaboration with Samsung to customize the processor makes these new capabilities feel seamless, something we are excited to see unfold.”

Google’s Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, added perspective on AI’s evolving role, comparing it to other transformative technologies.

“Truly helpful AI must fit naturally into our daily lives,” explained Samat. “AI is a tool and not an end in itself, and what matters to consumers the most is how helpful AI can be for them. LLMs represent a massive leap in how computers understand human language. Previously, using AI felt a little like being trained by your machine. You had to learn rigid and rehearsed phrases. Now, you can speak in completely natural language, removing any friction from the overall experience.”

Real-Life Use Cases Driving Adoption

Concrete examples shared during the discussion demonstrated how AI simplifies everyday tasks. Jay Kim described using AI to translate a menu, recommend dishes within a budget, and even place an order—all through a single interaction. “Imagine being able to point your phone at a menu in another language, have it translated instantly, and even receive dish recommendations within your budget. That’s the kind of efficiency AI brings,” said Kim.

Another compelling use case involves using AI to navigate public transportation systems by analyzing schedules, suggesting optimal routes, and even purchasing tickets within seconds. Similarly, AI can assist users in finding relevant sections within dense documents or manuals simply by posing a question, such as “Where is the warranty information?” These capabilities illustrate how AI can streamline complex tasks into a seamless experience, freeing users to focus on the moment rather than navigating multiple apps or services.

Similarly, Sameer Samat shared a personal anecdote about his son using AI to set laundry machine settings by taking a photo of the control panel and asking the AI for the correct settings. “These are everyday tasks that become far easier when AI steps in to simplify the process. It’s about removing the friction,” noted Samat.

Christopher Patrick highlighted AI’s ability to enhance photo management, saying: “We’ve all experienced the frustration of scrolling through thousands of photos to find one image. AI eliminates that by making the search as simple as describing the memory. For example, searching for ‘a picture with the dog and the sweater and the cupcake’ becomes effortless.”

Privacy and Trust as Cornerstones

As AI becomes more personal, concerns around privacy and trust take center stage. Dr. Brauer’s research revealed that 90% of consumers still harbor significant doubts about AI’s privacy and trustworthiness. These concerns stem from fears about how personal data is collected, stored, and used, particularly as AI applications become more context-aware and intimately integrated into daily life.

Samsung’s solution lies in its Knox security platform and the use of on-device data processing. Features like Now Brief, which summarizes personalized daily updates using private data stored securely on the device, demonstrate this approach. “Samsung’s Knox platform ensures that user data remains entirely private and secure, giving users the confidence they need to trust the technology,” explained Kim.

Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google, highlights how natural language processing is reshaping AI to fit seamlessly into daily life.

Google’s hybrid AI model, which balances cloud and on-device processing, also addresses privacy concerns. Sameer Samat noted: “This model ensures that users can access powerful AI capabilities while maintaining control over their data.”

A Bold but Responsible Future

The panelists acknowledged the rapid pace of AI development as both exciting and daunting. Dr. Brauer’s research framed this moment as a pivotal point, likening it to the early days of the smartphone revolution.

“The rate of AI innovation is astounding. But what struck me about the research we did with Samsung is that the rate of mobile AI adoption is also rising at a rapid rate,” said Dr. Brauer. “We’re standing at a critical juncture where AI is no longer a niche technology but something that can genuinely enhance lives.”

Looking ahead, Samsung’s integration of AI and XR technologies signals a transformative shift in how users will engage with devices. AI-powered XR glasses, for instance, could enable users to navigate their surroundings with real-time contextual information, further blurring the line between physical and digital worlds.

“The fusion of AI and XR represents the next frontier in technology, creating entirely new ways to interact with the world around us,” explained Patrick.

Collaborative Innovation as a Driving Force

The success of the S25 and its AI capabilities highlights the importance of collaborative innovation. Samsung’s philosophy of open collaboration has allowed it to work closely with industry leaders like Google and Qualcomm to develop solutions that benefit users. Jay Kim reflected on the process, saying: “The process of getting AI integration right isn’t easy. It’s about constant collaboration and iteration to create something truly impactful.”

Google’s Sameer Samat added: “Trust is the cornerstone of any successful partnership, and it’s what allowed us to push the boundaries with the S25.”

The S25 launch shows how AI can naturally fit into daily routines. By making access simple and addressing privacy concerns, Samsung and its partners have ensured users can easily adopt AI tools. These changes make the technology more accessible and relevant to everyday life. Combining on-device and cloud-based AI processing ensures the technology is both effective and secure, tailored to meet a wide range of user needs.

The post Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Era of Collaborative AI Innovation first appeared on Yanko Design.

From silicone, metal and leather to transparent, opaque, wireless charging, or shimmering ones; there are endless types of smartphone cases out there. When everything else has found its way onto the smartphone cases, it’s time a retro marble machine is slapped onto the back of your phone so you can take breaks between social media scrolls and stay entertained even on the flip side of the phone. Now that is a case that’ll be a conversation starter, anytime anywhere.

The interesting smartphone case, which appears to have been created for iPhone 16 Pro, is meticulously designed and developed by @karakurist, a Japanese YouTuber (channel name: KARAKURI Channel) known for creating mechanical art from scratch. All his creations are unique and this one is right up there, since you’ll be using the thing for most of the day.

Designer: KARAKURI Channel

A marble machine slotted onto the guts of a smartphone case for the iPhone may sound and appear simple, but frankly, after watching the detailed DIY video, I can say, it is no mean feat. This amazing smartphone case with a marble machine is completely 3D printed all the miniature gears and 32 different detail parts are made using the printer. Everything snaps into place with the help of tiny screws and the friction of the gears against each other.

What appears to the eyes is a transparent maze with tiny 4mm ball bearings rolling around with the help of complex gears and a built-in motor. Users can play the game as long as the motor is running, which is interestingly powered by the phone’s own USB-C port Perhaps then no external device or charging is supported in the process when you are enjoying the marble roll. There is a safety mechanism in place so that it spins freely in case the gear gets stuck when the spring stretches.

The marble machine is a thoughtful attachment for the 3D printed case, which has a hollowed-out section in the middle and top right, where the attachment snaps in or out in one go. The designer is mindful enough to have a separate slot to store a small charging cable, so you don’t have to look around for one. The detachable aspect means you don’t permanently have to have the marbles rolling in the back of your phone; you can choose when to shift entertainment from the screen to the flip side!

The post Marble Machine-inspired iPhone Case Turns Your Phone’s Back into an Entertaining Game first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sustainability has moved beyond buzzwords; it’s now an urgent necessity for industries worldwide. In the field of technology, where innovation often comes with an environmental price tag, finding ways to balance progress with planetary health is a complex challenge. Samsung, a global leader in consumer electronics, is addressing this head-on through its ambitious Galaxy for the Planet initiative, a strategy that combines innovation, collaboration, and community-driven action.

A Commitment to Sustainable Practices

Launched in 2021, the Galaxy for the Planet initiative signals Samsung’s dedication to embedding sustainability into its operations. By reimagining material use and production processes, the company has achieved significant milestones. One of the most notable achievements is the integration of over 150 tons of discarded fishing nets into its products since 2022—a volume equivalent to approximately 15 million plastic water bottles. These discarded nets, known for their detrimental impact on marine life, are transformed into high-performance polyamide resin used in Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung: Daniel Araujo

Daniel Araujo, Vice President of Samsung’s MX Sustainability Office, emphasizes the company’s forward-thinking approach: “Each device of the S25 series includes at least 50% recycled cobalt in its batteries, sourced from previously used Galaxy smartphones. This circular battery supply chain represents our commitment to reducing waste and creating a more sustainable future.” Yanko Design views this as a pivotal step in reimagining how the tech industry can seamlessly integrate environmental responsibility into advanced functionality. It underscores the critical need for innovation to align with sustainability, setting a precedent for the broader industry.

Building on this momentum, Samsung’s initiative also incorporates recycled glass and various metals into device components, ensuring sustainability permeates every phase of the product lifecycle. The company’s goal is clear: by 2030, recycled materials will be integrated into every module of every Galaxy device.

Partnerships That Drive Impact

While internal initiatives set the foundation, Samsung’s partnerships amplify its impact. Collaborations with Seatrees, a nonprofit focused on restoring coastal ecosystems, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography highlight the transformative power of community-driven conservation.

Tamara Gondo, CEO of Liberty Society (left), and Michael Stewart, Co-Founder of Seatrees (right)

Michael Stewart, co-founder of Seatrees, notes, “We partnered with Samsung because of our shared commitment to innovation and collaboration. Mobile technology has the ability to make science more accessible, connect individuals and groups, and drive meaningful action in coral reef restoration.”

Samsung’s role in these partnerships extends beyond funding. By equipping local communities with Galaxy devices optimized for underwater photography, the company is enabling more precise data collection. The resulting 3D models are essential for restoring marine ecosystems and tracking progress over time.

A Closer Look at the Galaxy S24 Ultra

Central to these efforts is the Galaxy S24 Ultra, a device that exemplifies Samsung’s commitment to blending technology with environmental stewardship. The smartphone features an “ocean mode”—a custom camera setting designed specifically for underwater photography. Traditional underwater photos often suffer from poor color accuracy due to light distortion. Samsung’s engineers addressed this by creating a custom white balance that corrects for the blue tint of underwater environments, ensuring images are vivid and lifelike.

Additionally, the Galaxy S24 Ultra allows divers to set faster shutter speeds, compensating for the low-light conditions often encountered underwater. Another innovative feature is the interval shooting mode, which captures consistent images at set intervals, enabling researchers to create accurate, repeatable data sets. These technological advancements streamline the process of capturing and analyzing coral reef health, making it easier for local communities and scientists to work collaboratively.

Circular Economy and Material Innovation

The Galaxy for the Planet initiative isn’t limited to visible changes. Behind the scenes, Samsung’s Circular Battery Supply Chain showcases how closed-loop systems can redefine sustainability in tech. By reclaiming cobalt from previously used Galaxy devices and integrating it into new batteries, the company is reducing its reliance on virgin materials while minimizing electronic waste.

This circular approach extends to other components as well. For instance, Samsung has repurposed over 30 tons of semiconductor waste, transforming it into durable plastic components. These practices exemplify how innovation can coexist with environmental responsibility, setting a precedent for the broader industry.

Empowering Communities Through Technology

Beyond material innovation, Samsung is empowering communities to take action. The Generation17 initiative, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), amplifies the voices of young leaders working toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One such leader, Tamara Gondo, CEO of Liberty Society, has transformed waste into economic value by upcycling materials into corporate merchandise.

Gondo’s work highlights the interconnectedness of environmental and social sustainability. “We believe waste is just misplaced value,” she explains. “By training marginalized women in Indonesia to upcycle waste into products, we’ve not only reduced environmental impact but also increased their incomes by 300%, helping break the cycle of poverty.”

Samsung’s collaboration with Generation17 extends to providing resources and technology, enabling leaders like Gondo to scale their impact. Through programs like these, the company is fostering a new generation of changemakers equipped to address global challenges.

Technology as a Catalyst for Conservation

Dr. Stuart Sandin, a marine ecologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, underscores the importance of technology in environmental conservation. “Imagery and data are vital for understanding and managing underwater ecosystems,” he notes. “With advancements in mobile technology, we can create detailed 3D models of coral reefs, enabling us to track changes and implement targeted restoration efforts.”

Stuart Sandin: Scripps Institute Of Oceanography (far left)

Sandin’s team has leveraged the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s capabilities to map coral reefs in locations such as Fiji, Bali, and the Florida Keys. The resulting data not only informs conservation strategies but also engages local communities, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.

Real-World Impact: Coral Reef Restoration

The impact of these efforts is tangible. In partnership with Seatrees, Samsung has supported coral restoration projects across three distinct ecosystems. By planting corals in these areas, the initiative is helping to rebuild habitats, protect coastal communities, and restore biodiversity.

Stewart highlights the importance of local involvement: “Our work wouldn’t be possible without the communities on the ground. Samsung’s technology empowers these groups, making their work more efficient and effective.”

This collaboration demonstrates how technology, when combined with local knowledge, can drive meaningful change. By providing the tools needed to monitor and restore ecosystems, Samsung is ensuring that conservation efforts are both scalable and sustainable.

Looking Ahead

Samsung’s approach to sustainability serves as a blueprint for the tech industry. By prioritizing material innovation, fostering global partnerships, and empowering communities, the company is proving that technology can be a force for good. The Galaxy S24 Ultra exemplifies this vision, highlighting how thoughtful design and cutting-edge technology can work together to achieve environmental stewardship vision, showcasing how design and functionality can align with environmental stewardship.

Cassie Smith, Moderator, Samsung

As the world grapples with pressing environmental challenges, Samsung’s initiatives remind us that progress is possible when innovation is guided by purpose. By leveraging its global reach and technological expertise, the company addresses today’s challenges while also paving the way for a more sustainable future—one where people and the planet thrive together.

The post How Samsung and Partners Are Shaping a Sustainable Future Through Mobile Technology first appeared on Yanko Design.

Although it’s no longer in the business of making consumer products, let alone smartphones, there is little doubt that Nokia was once a giant in the design industry. It flooded the mobile market with dozens of phone designs, some of which have reached both fame and infamy. That was just the tip of the iceberg, however, since like any company with decades of history, it has collected quite a pile of concepts, prototypes, and experiments, many of which never saw the light of day.

The newly opened Nokia Design Archive revealed a lot of these old ideas that floated around the Finnish giant’s halls, some of which might have just been too early for their time. Some of those concepts may have seemed odd or even impractical a decade or two ago but are, oddly enough, today’s latest trends. Still, there were plenty of odd concepts and designs coming from Nokia’s vault, and here are 10 of the strangest ones that never made the cut, for better or worse.

Designer: Nokia (via Aalto University’s Nokia Design Archive)

3G Device: Dawn of the Mobile Web

Remember a few years back how the tech world was all hyping up 5G and how it broke down the barriers of communication over the Internet? If so, you can probably imagine all the buzz around 3G in the early 2000s, promising the power of the Web under the fingertips. Of course, the old SMS and GPRS phones of those days were hardly capable of taking advantage of this new technology, so it fell on the likes of Nokia to design a brand new world of mobile devices for it.

The company made a few concepts that put the use of 3G at the forefront and, curiously, many of these ditched the traditional T9 keypad that was still in wide use back in those days. The elongated and egg-shaped forms of these concepts and prototypes are, of course, alien to our modern design tastes and wouldn’t fit most of the Web’s uses today. It’s still interesting that, even as early as then, Nokia was already playing around with all-screen designs that predated even the iPhone.

Human Form Concept: Bend and Twist Like the 80s

As if an all-screen phone wasn’t already outrageous back in those days, Nokia also toyed with the idea of a smartphone that wasn’t made of metal and glass. Or at least not the ones we’re used to even today. As if trying to mimic the human body’s ability to contort, this “Human Form” concept used a flexible display to offer more “intuitive” ways to use a phone.

The device’s squid-like shape might already be too narrow for even scrolling through social media comfortably, but the twisting and bending gestures are hardly intuitive. It also requires even more muscle strength to pull off, which would immediately alienate a lot of users. Thankfully, we’ve moved past that obsession with using purely physical gestures as our brains evolved to consider swiping and pinching to feel almost like second nature.

Foldable Messaging Devices: The TXTing Generation

Social media might be considered the bane of society today, but there was a time when texting was the practice that was frowned upon by grownups. Never mind the almost indecipherable abbreviations and acronyms, the ironically anti-social behavior seemed to isolate teens from their surroundings even as they connect to an even wider network that crosses geographical borders.

Of course, these are exactly the kind of people that Nokia was catering to, so it’s no surprise that it tried to design devices that focused primarily on messaging. Rather than forcing people to type with a limited number of keys, the foldable devices put a full QWERTY keyboard at their disposal. That said, it left very little room for a decent display, so you’re practically left with a pager-like reading experience in exchange.

Fun Camera: Before Action Cams Were Fun

It wasn’t until around the 2010s that smartphone cameras actually started to pose a threat to point-and-click shooters. Before then, people would still prefer actual cameras, no matter how inconvenient they were to take out of your purse or bag. It was certainly no fun, which is probably why Nokia tried to design a standalone camera that made it easier to capture moments, even in low-res images.

The pear-shaped device had a few quirky details that made it feel like a cross between an action cam and a retro camera. For example, there is a display but its use is for checking the camera’s stats. The large hole at the top is actually a viewfinder for eyeballing those shots. The rather colorful designs and whimsical shape of the Fun Camera made it clear that it was targeted at a younger audience, though that activity predated the social video craze that would later take the Internet by storm.

Dual-Screen Phone: When Foldables Were Still a Distant Dream

We might now have foldable phones, but there was a time when few could even imagine having more than just one simple, rectangular screen in their pocket. Not Nokia, of course! It already envisioned the need for two screens even before dual-screen laptops and phones would enter mainstream consciousness.

That said, this dual-screen concept looked more like something designed for media consumption than a regular phone. Its default landscape orientation made it easy to enjoy content and maybe even tap away on a virtual keyboard. Using it as a phone, however, might be less enjoyable, which is probably why it would have never succeeded in an age when people actually used their mobile phones as phones.

Laptop Concepts: Serious Work

Nokia might be best known for smartphones and networking equipment, but it certainly didn’t limit itself to those categories. It explored almost every industry possible that could benefit from its expertise, particularly those that
involved mobile computing. Of course, that meant laptops, and Nokia apparently had a few ideas for those.

Yes, it would actually launch its own line of laptops eventually, but those were more on the conventional side of design. Here we’re seeing laptops with their touchpads above the keyboard, laptops with a second display above the keyboard, and even two-piece laptops. Sounds familiar? There are now laptops available commercially from major PC brands, making you wonder if Nokia would have succeeded in that space too.

Hypercard: Digital Wallet Came Too Soon

You can now use your smartphones these days for anything from paying for groceries to hopping on trains, but there was a time when that kind of digital convenience was pretty inconceivable. Even today, some find it difficult to part with a physical representation of their money, even if it’s just a thin piece of plastic.

Once upon a time, Nokia wanted to meet these people halfway with a Hypercard device that seemingly stored all kinds of cards you’d normally have in your wallet, from money cards to loyalty cards. It was pretty much the digital equivalent of a cardholder but still distinct from a phone. It could give some people a bit of assurance, even if meant doubling the things they had in their pockets.

Aeon: Early Modular Phone Dreams

If there’s one ideal smartphone design that has yet to become a reality, it’s the dream of a truly modular phone. Project Ara, the LG G5, and now the HMD Fusion all have their interpretation of a modular phone, but theirs was definitely not the only one nor the first. Nokia also had its vision, and it was only conceptualized as a “wearable” device.

The Aeon concept device has two unequal parts, both with touchscreens, and both are able to function independently from each other. It would be possible to take the lower part, which could display a T9 keypad or some other touch UI, and put it on a pendant or other wearable accessory. Unsurprisingly, the idea never caught on, and we still dream of that future of ever-expanding phones.

Medallion: Questionable Fashion Sense

Wearables are technically supposed to be more than just smartwatches, but it’s only now that we seem to break out into more categories like smart rings. There’s definitely a lot more potential in this market segment, but few are taking the risks to jump into them, and probably for good reason. If you don’t pull them off properly, you’ll end up with something that’s more tech than wearable anyway.

Nokia’s Medallion concept is one such example. They’re supposed to be small displays you can wear around your neck like a necklace, or on your wrist like, well, a smartwatch. But beyond the novelty of displaying a favorite character or photo, they don’t do much. Even worse is how the concept looks less like fashionable accessories and more like uncomfortable collars. Given Nokia’s other “fashion-oriented” phone designs, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise.

Morph: The Shape-Changing Wearable

One of the more recent concepts that made a buzz on the Web is Morph, the pinnacle of wearable tech and flexible mobile devices. It was practically a phone that you could wrap around your wrist as a wide bracelet, but then also unfold into a large tablet. It was hi-tech, fashionable, and practically improbable.

Even today, we don’t have the technology to implement any of these designs in a satisfying way, as demonstrated by the Huawei tri-fold Mate XT and the bendable Motorola prototype. Perhaps in a decade we’ll look back at this particular design and chuckle at how old-fashioned the idea was, and it’s definitely one of Nokia’s most ambitious and oddest concepts of late. Sadly, we will never see its fruition, at least under the Nokia brand, now that it, too, is just a part of history.

The post The Strangest Nokia Designs: Top 10 Concepts That Never Launched first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series—the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra—represents a thoughtful evolution in smartphone technology. It combines advanced AI integration, refined camera systems, and impressive performance capabilities. While it introduces meaningful upgrades, the series remains grounded in Samsung’s mission to deliver reliable, user-focused devices.

Designer: Samsung

Each model in the lineup has been designed with specific users in mind. The S25 caters to those who value compact and efficient devices, the S25+ strikes a balance with its larger display and battery, and the S25 Ultra targets tech enthusiasts with its cutting-edge features and premium build. After spending time with the lineup, it’s clear that Samsung is refining the formula to appeal to a wide spectrum of needs without straying from its established strengths.

Design and Durability

Samsung’s design refinement is on full display with the S25 series, showcasing slimmer edges, a lighter profile, and refined materials that make each device feel both premium and practical. “With the S25 Ultra, we’ve focused on a design that feels lighter and also improves grip and usability,” Charles Uptegrove, Samsung’s product manager, shared during the demo. “The titanium frame plays a huge role in achieving this balance—it’s lighter yet sturdier, giving users confidence in everyday handling.”

Galaxy S25 Ultra

The flatter edges enhance grip and lend a modern, streamlined aesthetic. Uptegrove also highlighted the subtle lift in the frame: “If you look closely, there’s a slight elevation around the edge, ensuring that the display never comes into direct contact with a surface when placed facedown. It’s a minor detail that offers major peace of mind.” This thoughtful addition minimizes the risk of scratches, especially for users who prefer to go caseless.

Galaxy S25 Ultra

The S25 and S25+ are equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, providing excellent scratch resistance and durability. The S25 Ultra, on the other hand, steps up its toughness with enhanced Corning Gorilla Armor on the front and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. Adding to this, the Ultra incorporates a titanium frame, ensuring a premium yet rugged build.

Galaxy S25 Ultra

“The titanium not only reduces weight but also adds to the overall feel of durability,” Uptegrove explained. At 218 grams, the Ultra strikes a balance between a solid, premium feel and comfort in hand. “It’s slimmer, lighter, and more ergonomic, thanks to the redefined edges and materials. These adjustments make the Ultra easier to use for extended periods without any fatigue,” he added. At the same time, the smaller size doesn’t compromise its usability, with the S25 offering a compact design that weighs only 162 grams.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra

The combination of premium materials and subtle ergonomic improvements showcases Samsung’s attention to detail. “We wanted to create a device that feels effortless to handle while still exuding that premium Samsung quality,” Uptegrove emphasized. For users seeking a balance between aesthetics and functionality, these design updates are sure to resonate.

Display and Visual Excellence

The display is where Samsung continues to shine. The Galaxy S25’s 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen offers vivid colors, excellent brightness levels, and a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for users who value smooth scrolling and lifelike visuals. The S25+ steps up with a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display that enhances sharpness and delivers deeper contrast, ideal for watching movies or editing photos. Meanwhile, the S25 Ultra’s expansive 6.9-inch QHD+ screen offers an immersive viewing experience that is unrivaled in clarity and detail, ensuring even the smallest on-screen elements remain crisp.

During hands-on time, I found the Ultra’s ProScaler feature particularly transformative. Borrowed from Samsung’s premium TV lineup, ProScaler intelligently upscales lower-quality content to QHD+ resolution in real-time. Even older videos or low-resolution social media images gain impressive sharpness, providing a visually satisfying experience regardless of the source content. Charles Uptegrove highlighted the real-world value of this feature: “Even if the original content is far from 4K, it will look vibrant and crisp on the Ultra’s QHD+ display.” This capability bridges the gap between source quality and display potential, enhancing every viewing experience.

AI Features and Innovations

Samsung’s integration of artificial intelligence across the Galaxy S25 series enhances everyday functionality to unprecedented levels. During the hands-on demo, Charles Uptegrove emphasized the thoughtfulness behind the Galaxy AI Platform and its seamless integration into One UI 7. “We’ve spent years ensuring that these features not only feel intuitive but actually make life easier for users,” he noted, setting the tone for a deep dive into the device’s AI capabilities.

Samsung Galaxy AI Agent Now Brief

Central to this is NowBrief, described by Uptegrove as a ‘curated AI’ that learns and adapts to the user’s daily routines. “It’s like having a personal assistant that knows exactly what you need,” he explained. For instance, NowBrief consolidates data from various apps to create a personalized dashboard. “You might wake up and see the weather, your energy score from your Galaxy Watch, reminders of friends’ birthdays, and even playlists for your commute—all in one place,” Uptegrove added. Demonstrating the drawing assist feature, he showcased how AI generates creative designs, such as a birthday card complete with a chocolate cake image, which can then be sent directly to contacts.

Another highlight is AI Select, which transforms traditional Smart Select into a smarter, context-aware tool. “If you’re watching a video, it might suggest creating a GIF, summarizing the content, or translating subtitles,” Uptegrove explained. This feature consolidates over 30 tools, making complex tasks remarkably simple and accessible.

The Circle of Search feature introduces multimodal search capabilities, allowing users to identify songs in videos or find specific photos using natural language commands. “Say something like, ‘Find pictures of wine bottles in Suwon,’ and the AI will filter through your gallery using tags and location data,” he demonstrated, illustrating the precision of this feature. Uptegrove emphasized how this functionality simplifies navigating vast photo libraries, making it easier for users to locate exactly what they need.

Personalization is another area where AI shines. Uptegrove detailed how the Personal Data Engine securely learns user habits, suggesting actions like automating thermostat settings or enabling the blue light filter at night. “For example, if you use your TV as a sleep aid, the device can detect when you’ve fallen asleep via your Galaxy Watch and turn off the TV to improve your sleep quality,” he explained. This level of personalization extends to managing health metrics, such as sleep scores and energy levels, and integrating them into daily routines.

One of the most innovative features is the audio eraser, which isolates and removes specific background sounds from videos. During the demo, Uptegrove showcased how AI can identify up to six sound types, including wind, crowd noise, and voice. “You can completely remove the wind or adjust the voice volume—all in real time,” he shared, underscoring the feature’s utility for content creators and everyday users alike.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra also features generative editing, allowing users to seamlessly remove unwanted objects from photos. “If there’s someone in the background of your shot, the AI can identify and erase them, along with their shadow, with a single tap,” Uptegrove explained. These enhancements cater to photographers and casual users who want professional-grade results with minimal effort.

Camera Systems and Photography

Samsung’s camera systems in the S25 series deliver major enhancements across all three devices. The Galaxy S25 and S25+ share a solid camera setup: a 50MP wide sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom. These cameras are perfect for everyday photography, delivering impressive results whether you’re shooting landscapes, portraits, or close-ups.

Galaxy S25 Camera System: 200MP Ultra-Wide, 50MP Wide, 10MP and 50PM Telephoto

The Galaxy S25 Ultra takes mobile photography to another level with a 200MP wide sensor that captures stunning levels of detail, even in challenging conditions. This is complemented by a 50MP 5x telephoto lens, which supports both 3x and 5x optical zoom, enabling users to achieve up to 100x Space Zoom. Imagine capturing intricate architectural details or wildlife from a distance with remarkable clarity. Additionally, the Ultra includes high-resolution macro photography capabilities, making it perfect for close-ups of small objects like flowers or jewelry.

The Ultra’s virtual aperture stands out as a transformative feature. Charles Uptegrove aptly described it as “painting focus,” highlighting how it lets users fine-tune the depth of field to accentuate either the subject or the background for a professional-grade touch. This flexibility provides a DSLR-like bokeh effect, allowing photographers to craft their images with precision and creativity. This software-based tool allows users to adjust the depth of field and background blur for photos, mimicking the effects of a physical aperture in a DSLR. For example, while shooting portraits, the virtual aperture enables precise control over the bokeh effect, allowing the subject to stand out against a beautifully blurred background. During the demo, Charles Uptegrove explained, “It’s like giving users the ability to paint their focus—whether they want sharp details in the background or a dreamy, isolated subject.” This feature enhances creative flexibility and makes portrait mode feel more like a professional-grade camera.

AI advancements like Samsung’s Pro Visual Engine further refine photography. The Ultra’s cognitive lens technology adjusts settings based on the scene, ensuring optimal brightness, contrast, and color balance. For group photos, the cognitive lens identifies individual faces and applies adjustments for each subject, delivering professional-quality results. In low-light conditions, the Ultra’s double-analysis noise reduction ensures clearer images and videos by analyzing every pixel and correcting artifacts in real time. Video capabilities also differ: the S25 and S25+ record in 4K at 60fps and 8K at 30fps, while the Ultra supports 4K recording at 120fps for smoother, more cinematic results.

For professional photographers, the Ultra offers log video and advanced exposure controls, including zebra patterns and false color modes. These features cater to users who want precise post-production capabilities, enabling them to fine-tune color and lighting. Combined with the virtual aperture, these tools empower users to push creative boundaries, whether capturing stills or video.

Performance

Under the hood, all three models are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which Charles Uptegrove described as a “tailored processor that ensures unparalleled efficiency and responsiveness.” This 3nm chipset boosts performance and optimizes AI-driven tasks like NowBrief and AI Select, seamlessly integrating advanced capabilities into daily use. a 3nm processor that sets a new benchmark for efficiency and power. With a 40% improvement in AI task efficiency, the chipset ensures that resource-heavy operations like multitasking, gaming, and media editing run smoothly. For gaming enthusiasts, Samsung has partnered with the Vulkan Engine to enhance real-time ray tracing capabilities, achieving an 18% improvement in frame rates while reducing GPU and CPU workloads by 23% and 10%, respectively.

To support this leap in performance, Samsung has implemented a significantly upgraded cooling system. The vapor chamber, now 40% larger than its predecessor, works in tandem with a new thermal interface material (TIM) that eliminates air gaps around the chipset. This design efficiently dissipates heat, maintaining peak performance during intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video rendering.

Samsung’s ProScaler, borrowed from its premium TV lineup, further enhances the viewing experience by intelligently upscaling standard-definition content to QHD+ resolution in real time. Even older videos or low-resolution social media images gain impressive sharpness, providing a visually satisfying experience regardless of the source content. Charles Uptegrove highlighted the real-world value of this feature: “Even if the original content is far from 4K, it will look vibrant and crisp on the Ultra’s QHD+ display.” This capability bridges the gap between source quality and display potential, enhancing every viewing experience.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series delivers a compelling blend of innovative AI capabilities, enhanced camera systems, and premium design refinements. With features like NowBrief, ProScaler, and advanced photography tools, these devices set a new benchmark for what smartphones can achieve in 2025. Each model is thoughtfully crafted to meet the diverse needs of users, whether they prioritize compact functionality, immersive displays, or cutting-edge performance.

Stay tuned for our upcoming unboxing experience and in-depth review, where we’ll dive deeper into the everyday usability, real-world performance, and unique details that make the Galaxy S25 series stand out.

The post Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Launch: A Hands-On Look at the New Features and Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tecno is a smartphone brand that has steadily built a strong presence in emerging markets, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, thanks to its budget-friendly yet feature-packed devices. The brand’s Spark series has always been a hit with younger users, offering a stylish design and solid performance at an accessible price. With the launch of the Tecno Spark 30 series, the company has taken things up a notch, introducing something truly unique: a collaboration with the iconic Transformers franchise.

This collaboration brings two special editions to the Spark 30 lineup: the Bumblebee-themed Spark 30 and the Optimus Prime-themed Spark 30 Pro. We were fortunate enough to get our hands on the Optimus Prime-themed Spark 30 Pro, a device that combines budget-friendly specs with a design that will surely excite Transformers fans. But does this phone live up to the hype? In this review, we’ll dive into the features, performance, and overall value of the Optimus Prime Spark 30 Pro, and see if it’s worth adding to your collection—or if it’s just another gimmicky release.

Designer: Tecno

Aesthetics

Before you even pick up the phone, it’s clear that Tecno didn’t just slap the Transformer name on the back of the Spark 30 Pro. They’ve carefully crafted every detail, going far beyond simple branding. It starts right at the packaging, making the unboxing experience a true delight.

The phone arrives in a special box with an outer sleeve that unfolds to reveal Optimus Prime or, in the case of the other edition, Bumblebee. The double-door box, adorned with the Autobot logo, opens from the center to reveal the phone, wrapped in a Transformers-themed material. Beneath the compartment that houses the phone is a hidden drawer where the 33W charger brick, a USB-A to USB-C cable, wired earbuds, and warranty paperwork all reside. Unfortunately, these accessories come in plain white without any Transformer-themed details.

The phone itself boasts a visually striking design inspired by Optimus Prime. The back cover features a sleek, metallic finish that mirrors the Autobot leader’s signature color scheme: deep reds and blues with chrome accents. The design incorporates etched details that add visual depth, though these details are buried beneath a clear plastic panel, making the texture purely visual rather than tactile.

The circular camera island, positioned in the top right, houses the camera and LED flash, featuring additional Optimus Prime references with the red and blue color rings and text reading “Optimus Prime Altruistic Protective”. A silver Autobot symbol sits at the bottom right corner of the phone, while the Tecno Spark and Transformer names are stacked vertically on the opposite side.

Overall, the design of the device is a fun and tasteful tribute to the Transformers universe, sure to delight any fan of the franchise. At the same time, the design isn’t in your face that only Transformers fans will appreciate it, though few outside that fandom will immediately associate it with the heroic robot. In fact, any fan of sci-fi or metallic aesthetics, with an inclination towards blue, red, and white colors, might also find it quite appealing.

Ergonomics

The Tecno Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition features a slim profile, measuring just 7.4mm in thickness, making it lightweight and comfortable to hold. While it offers comfort, the phone’s plastic construction feels somewhat less durable compared to higher-end models. I’ve used plenty of phones with plastic backs, but this one feels, well, very plasticky.

The other notable downside is that the back panel is highly prone to fingerprints and smudges. The glossy surface requires frequent cleaning to maintain its pristine look, as even the slightest touch leaves visible marks. While the smooth finish gives the device a sleek appearance, its tendency to attract grime can can definitely take away from its appeal.

The side frame is also made of glossy plastic, which, like the back panel, is a fingerprint and smudge magnet. In terms of physical layout, the right side houses the volume rocker and power button, while the left side features a dual-SIM + micro SD card tray. On the bottom edge, you’ll find the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port, and primary speaker, with the secondary speaker positioned at the top.

One odd thing is the placement of the headphone jack which is not centered and sits very close to the bottom edge. The SIM tray is also a little off-center, which gives the phone a slightly cheap vibe. These minor design quirks, but they do make the phone feel a little less polished.

Performance

As a special Transformers edition, the Tecno Spark 30 Pro comes loaded with exclusive wallpapers and icon designs, bringing the world of Autobots and Decepticons right to your fingertips. You can choose from two Optimus Prime wallpapers or two Bumblebee wallpapers, along with other non-Transformers-themed options to further personalize your device. If you’re feeling creative, there’s also an AI Wallpaper Generator that lets you design unique, custom wallpapers to match your style.

Under the hood, the phone comes with MediaTek Helio G100 paired with either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM (expandable to 16 GB), offering solid performance for daily tasks including gaming. While it might not compete with flagship devices in sheer power, it gets the job done smoothly, and it comes with a 5-year lag-free performance warranty for peace of mind.

The Spark 30 Pro runs HiOS 14.5 based on Android 14. Tecno has brought plenty of AI features including thehese include the previously mentioned AI Wallpaper Generator, AI Artboard for turning sketches into artwork, AI Eraser for photo editing, and the AI voice assistant Ella.

When it comes to the display, the 6.78-inch AMOLED screen is a huge step up from its predecessor, the Spark 20 Pro, which had an LCD. The new display offers a 1080 x 2436 resolution (Full HD+) and a 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and navigation feel smooth. It also gets plenty bright, with a peak brightness of 1700 nits, making it easy to view in direct sunlight.

The screen looks vibrant and crisp, and for a more comfortable viewing experience, the phone comes with 2160Hz PWM dimming, which helps reduce screen flicker—especially useful in low light, so your eyes won’t get as tired after long sessions. The stereo dual speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio support deliver loud and immersive sound to complement this very capable display.

Another neat addition is the under-display fingerprint sensor, which works reliably. And if you’re the type who uses your phone around moisture (rain, sweat, or just damp fingers), the Wet Touch Control ensures the screen stays responsive even when it’s a little wet.

A 5,000 mAh battery keeps you going through a full day of average use, and the 33W wired charging capability means you won’t be waiting long to top it up. It’s definitely not the fastest in the market, but a charging time of around an hour from zero to full is still a lot better than some leading brands.

The device features a 108 MP rear camera with up to 10X zoom, capable of capturing decent photos in bright environments. On the front, there’s a 32 MP selfie camera with a dual-color LED flash. The flash lets you adjust both the intensity and color temperature across three different levels, giving you more control over your lighting for the perfect selfie.

1x

3x

1x

3x

Camera output is pretty decent, though it seems to lean more towards oversaturating colors to make a bigger impact. It’s biggest flaw is, of course, the fact that there’s only one camera doing the work of two or three. You can forget about ultra-wide shots, and zoomed in quality isn’t as good as a dedicated telephoto lens. Then again, this is a case of getting what you pay for.

1x, Portrait

2x, Portrait

Sustainability

The Tecno Spark 30 Pro boasts an A rating for TÜV SÜD’s 60-month fluency, meaning it’s designed to perform smoothly for up to 5 years. After 1,000 charge cycles, the battery retains over 80% of its original capacity, suggesting excellent long-term durability. Additionally, the phone features an IP54 rating, offering protection against water splashes and dust. This is a nice upgrade from its predecessor’s IP53 rating, making it more resilient to everyday wear and tear.

That said, while these durability features are a step in the right direction, we’d love to see more sustainability initiatives from the brand in the future, such as more eco-friendly materials in both the products and packaging. Given the limited edition design, it might be fine for low production numbers, but it’s also high time for Tecno to spark some interest in this aspect of its design philosophy.

Value

The Tecno Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition, priced around $200 USD (depending on the market), stands out as a unique contender in the budget smartphone space. While the Optimus Prime-themed design is the most obvious draw, it’s far from the only reason to consider this handset. Like most budget phones, there are a few compromises. It’s not going to offer the absolute best processor or camera compared to some competitors. The camera situation, in particular, is a bit disappointing when even an 8MP ultra-wide shooter would do wonders for your dramatic panoramas.

But what it does offer is a distinctive design and a well-rounded set of features, including a vivid screen, a large battery, and ample memory. If you’re a Transformers fan looking for a budget-friendly device that still packs a punch, the Tecno Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition is definitely worth a look.

Verdict

The Tecno Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition is a truly one-of-a-kind design that’s sure to spark joy for any Transformers fan. With the bold Optimus Prime branding and thoughtful design details, this phone really brings the iconic character to life. Whether it’s the sleek, futuristic look or the nostalgic charm, the Spark 30 Pro Optimus Prime Edition stands out in a way that’s hard to miss. 

It’s a budget-friendly device that gets a lot of things right: a large AMOLED display, solid battery life, a 108 MP rear camera, and a 5-year lag-free performance guarantee. These are all impressive features at its price point, especially for users looking for a phone that offers good value without breaking the bank. If you’re a fan of the franchise, this phone offers a unique way to carry a piece of the Transformers universe with you, all while adding a touch of flair to your everyday tech.

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Apple’s next budget-friendly smartphone is almost here, and it’s not playing by the old rules. The iPhone SE 4, or what might be called the iPhone 16e, seems ready to shake things up in early 2025. Rumors of a March launch are floating around the interwebs, although there’s no official date in mind (given that Apple hasn’t made any announcements for upcoming keynotes yet). That being said, the iPhone SE 4 is long overdue, given that its predecessor launched in 2022.

A tipster on X shared images of a dummy phone given to case-makers and accessory manufacturers. Touted to be the upcoming iPhone SE 4, the phone gives us a pretty concise idea of what we can expect with Apple’s latest budget-friendly iPhone. Gone are the thick bezels and that physical home button. Instead, you get a 6.1-inch edge-to-edge display that takes cues from the iPhone 14. The shift feels long overdue, but it’s a welcome change. Apple has clearly decided that even its “budget” options shouldn’t look outdated. Whether the device will stick with a notch or adopt the Dynamic Island remains a mystery, but the overall design promises to feel more current than before.

Image via X (@SonnyDickson)

From the rumors circling the internet, it’s not just the look that’s leveling up. The screen technology is taking a leap forward too. Moving from an LCD to OLED is a serious win for anyone upgrading from an older SE. Expect richer colors, better contrast, and improved efficiency. It’s the kind of difference you notice right away—deeper blacks and visuals that just feel more polished. For a phone in this price range, that’s not something you’d usually expect.

And then there’s the long-overdue shift to USB-C. If you’ve been juggling different cables for different devices, this change simplifies things. Even though the port may only support USB 2.0 speeds, the move feels like a step in the right direction. Other visual changes on the phone’s frame include the lack of an action button (we’re back to the old mute switch days), and clearly no Camera Control ‘button’ like Apple announced with the 16 series. The SE 3 didn’t have MagSafe so one could argue the SE 4 might miss it too, although wireless capabilities and MagSafe are really becoming a dominant feature in phones of this supposed price range.

Image via X (@SonnyDickson)

Speaking of upgrades, the camera is getting a major refresh. A 48MP sensor allegedly replaces the old 12MP one, bringing a noticeable bump in photo quality. Whether it’s snapping shots at night or recording 4K video, the iPhone SE 4 will give you more to work with. Apple hasn’t confirmed much about zoom capabilities, but the upgrade alone should satisfy both casual users and anyone who takes their mobile photography seriously. Don’t expect dual-lens camera setups on the SE anytime soon – but even with one lens, the iPhone SE 4 should definitely get the job done.

Under the hood, the SE 4 is rumored to feature Apple’s A18 chip paired with 8GB of RAM. What does that mean for the user? Faster performance, smoother multitasking, and the kind of speed that keeps your phone future-proof for a while. Apple’s massive push towards Apple Intelligence probably means this phone will come with the highly awaited AI assistant. That’s sort of why Apple decided to give the SE 4 the same chip as the iPhone 16 series. More on this when the phone officially launches.

Curiously, Apple might be rethinking how it positions this phone. The potential rebranding as the iPhone 16e hints at a shift in strategy. Instead of standing out as the “cheap iPhone,” it could become a core part of the lineup—offering flagship features with just a few compromises. That name change, subtle as it seems, could reshape how people perceive the device.

Price-wise, the SE 4 is expected to start at $499. Sure, it’s a bump up from its predecessor, but considering the OLED display, the camera upgrades, and the more powerful chip, it feels justified. You’re getting more for your money, and that’s the bottom line. Regional pricing might vary, but overall, it’s still positioned to attract users who want Apple’s ecosystem without the premium price tag.

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