After many teases and a leaky cauldron-full of new product rumors, Samsung Unpacked is happening in Paris next week. There will be lots of new devices, including, we believe, the eagerly anticipated Galaxy Ring. But that probably won’t be the big story of Samsung Déballé… sorry, Unpacked. AI will likely dominate when Samsung takes the stage. Galaxy AI is already a thing in the Galaxy S24 and some S23 and S22 models, but these new products and AI capabilities arrive after Apple unveiled its own AI rebranding, a.k.a. Apple Intelligence, so whatever Samsung shows off next week needs to satisfy Samsung fans and put Apple on notice (if that’s even possible).
I’ll be in Paris for the whole thing, touching every product, experiencing every form of Galaxy AI, and reporting it all back to you via TechRadar’s various channels. While I’m there, Paris will be inching ever closer to the Olympic games – and, yes, Samsung and AI will play a part in that, as well.
AI continues to overwhelm the narrative of tech life but, for a brief moment this week, it seemed a little less inscrutable. A simple phrase dropped into one of the most popular chatbots revealed, essentially, its operational rules (I tried it and it still works).
I've also been pondering a question this week: does this Gen Z love affair with analog cameras like the new Pentax 17 extend to Gen Zers developing their own film, too? Here in the US there aren’t any 1-Hour Fotomats left, so what do they do with the spent 35mm film? I need to know.
Something else I need to know is if Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is any good. I loved the original BHC – now 40 years old – but I worry that this latest outing on Netflix, with an aging Eddie Murphy and other crotchety cast members, might feel unnecessary, or worse. If you already watched it, let me know if I should grab some popcorn or maybe just rewatch the original.
Lance Ulanoff, Editor-at-Large
The week in Samsung
Samsung and Apple are battling on the mobile AI front (Samsung / Chikena / Shutterstock)
We should really have called this section 'Next week in Samsung', because all eyes are on July 10 and the next Samsung Unpacked launch event. We're expecting new foldables, a smart ring, and more – and we're likely to see some Galaxy AI magic as well.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been talking up future ChatGPT upgrades again, saying that the eagerly awaited GPT-5 AI model is going to be a "significant leap forward" in terms of its reasoning and its accuracy – although we don't have a launch date yet.
The iPhone X was the biggest refresh in iPhone history when it launched back in 2017, and set the template for today's handset – but it's now officially been given the 'vintage' label by Apple, together with the original HomePod and the first-gen AirPods.
We like to think TechRadar reviews are the most comprehensive and informative reviews out there, and cameras editor Tim Coleman has been testing out the new Pentax 17. Find out why the half-frame compact film camera scored four – but not five – stars.
Looking for something to watch this weekend? The latest batch of on-demand arrivals includes monster brawler Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on Max, while Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and Space Cadet come to Netflix and Prime Video, respectively.
