Launched alongside a trio of new folding phones, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 are the company’s most sophisticated smart watch offerings to date. In particular, the new Watch Ultra2 is Samsung’s play for dominance in the burgeoning smart sport watch sector, a multi-activity tracker and tracer that crams in metrics on almost every conceivable activity.

It’s joined by the Watch9, a sleeker and less overtly rugged everyday device that wants to put health habits at the forefront of your activities. Samsung describes its offerings as a ‘gateway to AI-driven health intelligence,’ and like all smartwatch ecosystems, how much you get out of all this activity tracking and data gathering is very much down how reliant you want to become on your wrist computer.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is designed to be rugged and completely waterproof, with professional dive tracking available right out of the box – a dedicated dive app will come later this year, developed in conjunction with diving technology brand Mares. For now, enthusiasts can get water temperature, depth and dive duration measurements. Other app trials provided with the watch include 60 days of Strava and a two-month trial of iFIT, the online trainer programme.

Other updates include a Trail Run feature that incorporates elevation data and even ‘terrain impact’ measurements that warn against overstressing yourself. An onboard Nutrition Alert system bolster the existing Sweat Loss feature, calculating when best to take on more water.

Both Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 share a BioActive sensor to track huge quantities of health data, all of which is then processed and analysed in conjunction with your own past history and comparable data from the company’s health dataset. Billed as an advanced preventive care vision, the modern Galaxy Watch series isn’t just about movement but also hearing, heart health, cardio and sleep.

The latter requires 24/7 use, so steps have been taken to bolster the comfort and the battery life of each model. Galaxy Watch Ultra2, which is available in 47 mm only, comes with 800 mAh battery (35 per cent larger than its predecessor), along with the Snapdragon Wear Elite processor. The screen is brighter than ever before, and GPS tracking has been made more accurate. Nevertheless, the casing is still slimmer than the first Ultra watch.

Galaxy Watch 9 does away with the numbered bezel and ruggedised case, with aluminium detailing for a crisp, light fit. The battery is under half the size (390 mAh) but that should still be good enough for up to 40 hours of use (the Ultra2 offers 60 hours). Case sizes are 40mm and 44mm. Samsung has also expanded its collection of smartwatch bands for both devices, using silicone, hybrid material and classic fabric in a variety of colours.

Forgive our impetuousness. In the same week that American neo-luddites The Light Phone launched their new Light Flip, Samsung just happened to have its annual Unpacked event, stuffed full of shiny new tech to distract, divert and embed you ever deeper into the digital realm.

It’s pretty hard to divest oneself completely of the sophisticated smartphone ecosystem that has extended its tendrils deep into every facet of our lives. If you can switch to a Light Phone Flip and start again from scratch, more power to you.

But the lure of the new is strong, and Samsung’s newest suite of products join the Galaxy S26 family, this time with a focus on folding. They are the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Flip8, a trio launched alongside the new Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9.

This new drop includes an all-new form factor, the Galaxy Z Fold8. This ultra-light foldable is slightly wider but not as tall as a regular phone, but folds out into a compact, tablet-proportioned screen with a 4:3 ratio, with a diagonal measurement of 7.6 inches when open (for comparison, Apple's iPad mini measures 8.3 inches).

It joins the small-form-factor Galaxy Z Flip8 and the flagship Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, all of which share Samsung’s ‘Emotive Geometry’ approach to industrial design.

We spoke to Hubert Lee, Samsung’s executive vice-president and head of the mobile experience design team, about the clutch of new creations, the design language that underpins them and how Samsung’s R&D team tackles the speed of technological innovation.

Wallpaper*: Are there any precedents for the 'Emotive Geometry' approach? Something in Samsung's history or culture? Or is it a new approach made possible by new techniques?

Hubert Lee: Emotive Geometry is the next evolution of Samsung's Essential Design philosophy, which has long focused on creating products that are simple, impactful and emotionally engaging. It is not about creating an entirely new design language. Instead, we’re evolving our existing design philosophy to better express the human side of technology. As AI becomes a more natural part of everyday life, we believe design must also create a stronger sense of comfort and emotional connection.

Galaxy S26 series’ Ambient Island camera design is one of the great examples of this approach. We focused on configuring the design to ensure that the performance-driven structure designed for functionality feel intuitive and natural to the user. We adopted a gently translucent material, so it appears more visually integrated and emotionally resonant.

The Galaxy Z8 series takes that philosophy further. Because a foldable is experienced through constant physical interaction, we focused on how the device feels in everyday use, from its proportions and symmetry to the way it opens. It rests in the hand and naturally guides each interaction. Emotive Geometry is about making those moments feel intuitive, comfortable and emotionally connected to the user.

W*: How does Samsung approach the integration of AI into hardware as opposed to just software? Is this something customers want?

HL: As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, we've learned that people don't just want more AI features, they want interactions that feel more natural and effortless. As the role of mobile phone evolves, the physical design needs to evolve alongside it. It's no longer enough for AI to exist in software alone. The product itself should also support those interactions in a way that feels effortless.

From a design perspective, our role is to ensure the physical experience complements those interactions. One example is our decision to assign AI to a dedicated physical side key. We chose to integrate the function since we believe the most advanced technology should also be the most natural to access.

For foldables, the versatile form factor unlocks new possibilities for AI – like Fold8 Ultra’s large screen optimized for multitasking side-by-side, Flip8’s FlexWindow, or Fold8’s new screen ratio perfect for one-hand grip. Our goal is not simply to offer AI features. We aim to create AI experiences that are thoughtfully integrated with each form factor, the way people use it, and the specific moments in which they interact with the device.

W*: How quickly do material innovations find their way into the marketplace in actual consumer products?

HL: At Samsung, we focus on selecting and evolving materials that are best suited to each product's identity, positioning and uses. Every material must meet our rigorous standards for quality, durability and reliability before it reaches consumers.

W*: How big is Samsung's R&D team and what areas do they focus on regarding industrial design?

HL: Our design organisation brings together teams across multiple studios around the world, united by a shared belief that meaningful design begins with understanding how people live, work and express themselves. We share a common culture built on collaboration and openness.

Designers work closely with engineering, product planning and many other teams from the earliest stages of development, combining deep user insight with technical expertise. This continuous collaboration allows us to refine every detail, creating products that feel more intuitive, comfortable and thoughtfully designed.

The Galaxy Watch series reflects this approach. We use what we call Computational Design, combining AI and advances in computing with design expertise to better understand wearability across a diverse range of users. This helps us refine details such as fit, balance and proportions with greater precision, so the watch feels comfortable from the moment it’s worn.

Samsung’s seasonal flagship launch has arrived bang on time. Welcome to the Galaxy S26 series, a trio f Smartphones that includes the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, along with a companion set of earbuds, the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro.

So what’s new? Iterating an all-new smartphone design complete with sector-beating feature set is a tall order yet it hasn’t stopped the smartphone giants from continuing their annual parade of new silicon.

Galaxy S26 is an evolutionary update; while the Galaxy S24 introduced AI-driven features like circle to search and re-booted the Samsung naming convention, the Galaxy S25 was a paradigm shift, with deeply embedded AI across the entire operating system and UI. Galaxy AI is now the lynchpin around which the company’s devices revolve.

AI is still very much a USP for this kind of phone, with the increased power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset dedicated to making responses quicker and less cloud dependant. Mobile phone processors are so numerous and given such complex names that we’ll just have to take their word for it. The Ultra also offers up to 1TB of storage, which is pretty much the top-end spec in this day and age.

What does stand out is the display and the introduction of Samsung’s new privacy mode. This is a clever use of pixels that essentially narrows the screen’s viewing angle so that anyone on the oblique – sitting next to you on a plane for example – won’t be able to see what you’re looking at. There are obvious security and privacy benefits here for the paranoid, but most of us will welcome the ability to watch Industry on a plane without upsetting other passengers.

This new feature is perhaps the S26’s biggest advance over its rivals; the rest of the upgrades concentrate on speed, battery longevity, camera quality and charging. The latter are much improved – the Ultra model will go from 0 to 75% in half an hour on a 60W charger and wireless charging speeds are now up to 25W.

When it comes to cameras, the S26 Ultra takes the cake with an insectoid-like fascia featuring no less than five units. As with all modern smartphones, the camera’s impressive capabilities come courtesy of ferocious behind-the-scenes number crunching.

Samsung is more adept than many in this department, with AI-powered zoom (ProScaler) that acts to sharpen imagery, along with the ‘mobile Digital Natural Image engine’ (mDNIe), which does the image processing work of a hundred dark room assistants.

The Ultra gets an even more sophisticated camera set thanks to wider apertures. Coupled with the computational element, low light performance is more impressive than ever before, while the ‘Super Steady’ functionality now has a horizontal lock option to ape the output of a Steadicam. And if that wasn’t enough, the camera unit can deliver the Advanced Professional Video format, 8k at 30fps.

The heart sinks a little when it comes to the litany of generative AI functions, from the magic eraser through to ‘Photo Assist’, which allows you dictate your instructions into the phone and have it conjure up fantastical backgrounds and other scene elements. It’s all part of the pipeline that takes classic photography and turns it into content creation; Samsung is going all-out on the latter, although it still has to warn that ‘image generation may produce unexpected results’.

Other AI-driven innovations include a more agentic, context-shaped notification system, Now Nudge, that is said to be able to bring up relevant detail – a calendar, for example – when a phone call turns to scheduling a meeting. Samsung’s Bixby agent seems to have been downgraded from a ChatGPT-style PDA to a way of getting info about this hugely complex machine.

The S26 Ultra is the model to go for if you like big devices and are especially wedded to Samsung’s S-Pen – still a pretty unique mode of input in this sector and one much prized by its users. If you’re not too bothered by the onboard stylus (it tucks neatly into the phone’s base), then the S26 and S26 Plus should suffice. Still, at 214g and less than 8mm thick, the Ultra is extremely slender. All three phones have more recycled materials have been used than ever before.

AI fans can also benefit from the close integration offered by the new Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro earbuds. Better noise cancelling, a more stylish industrial design – with a real metal ‘blade’ element for the first time – and high-res, 24-bit audio support for services like Tidal all come as standard.

Available in Black, White and Pink Gold, the Buds4 also have a translucent-lidded charge case – no prizes for guessing which upstart phone brand is starting to make its presence felt amongst the big players.

The Galaxy S26 series is worthy of your consideration, especially if you’re deeply hooked into the Samsung eco-system and find AI indispensable. If you’re not, the S26 might be the device that turns you on to the technology.

Phones like these are about driving ever closer integration with the algorithm; the camera in particular is doing so much silent heavy lifting, analysing and processing of colour, focus, exposure, etc., all before the user is invited to make their own set of more overt changes.

Kadesh Beckford, Samsung’s Smartphone Specialist Product Manager in the UK, describes these innovations as being about ‘removing pain points for customers. We’re just allowing you to use what you want,’ he says of AI’s deep reach and integration.

The company reckons around 400m Galaxy AI devices are in the wild already, a number that will double by the end of 2026. ‘It’s effortless and easy,’ Beckford says with the zeal of a true convert, ‘it’s just going to help you.’

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series, available to order now. S26 colour options include Cobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue, Pink Gold and Silver Shadow (the latter two exclusively on Samsung.com)

Galaxy S26 Ultra, from £1,279, Samsung.com

Galaxy S26+, from £1,099, Samsung.com

Galaxy S26, from £879.99, Samsung.com

Galaxy Buds4, from £159, Samsung.com

Galaxy Buds4 Pro, from £219, Samsung.com

Are we to take it that the issues of folding smartphones have been comprehensively solved? Way back in early 2019, Samsung took the brave step of being the first volume smartphone maker to release a folding unit, the original Galaxy Fold. It didn’t go so well – the hinge system wasn’t perfectly aligned, and screens could be damaged by objects getting into the cracks, while an essential protective layer was mistaken for a screen protector. Units were recalled and Samsung tried again with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 the following year.

Kudos to the South Koreans for sticking to the plan, for folding phones are now – if not exactly ubiquitous – then at the very least a convincing alternative to regular form factors. Whether it’s the compact flip phone format, as in Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Flip3 or in flagship units like the Z Fold7, folding phones are no longer especially unusual. Motorola, Google, Huawei and many others would concur.

What’s next? If you follow the tech industry’s natural tendency towards ‘more = better’, the answer is, of course, more folds. The new Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, announced for Asian markets this week, is exhibit A – Samsung’s first four-screen folding phone (one external, three internal). Beaten to the form factor by last year’s Huawei Mate XT, the Galaxy Z Trifold arguably brings the greater familiarity of the Galaxy ecosystem to this new frontier of phone design.

The showpiece component of the Z TriFold is the internal ten-inch display, matching if not exceeding many tablets. The beauty of the industrial design is that this large screen opens up to be fully flat, although refolding requires a dextrous and delicate handling – an auto-alarm system will tell you if you’re doing it wrong.

The three panels are wafer thin – just 3.99mm – but stack them together and you have a fairly hefty brick of a phone. The external screen is a generous 6.5 inches and functions just like a regular flagship device, with all of Samsung’s Galaxy AI tips and tricks.

The inner screen system can be treated as a single workspace or three individual screens, allowing for endless multi-tasking opportunities. It's available with 16 GB memory and up to 1TB of internal storage, and up to five apps can be on-screen simultaneously.

The entire set-up can be allied with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to create a portable workstation. Undeniably aimed at early adopters, the Z TriFold probably won’t inspire a raft of competitors. However, it most certainly showcases Samsung’s commitment to innovation.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold will be available in South Korea from early December 2025, Samsung.com

What is the most technologically advanced watch you can buy? Arguably it’s now the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the latest iteration of Cupertino’s flagship timepiece. But it’s not the only watch to lean into multi-functionalism. We’ve assembled a dozen wearables that do so much more than simply tell time without losing sight of aesthetics.

1. Suunto Vertical

2. Withings ScanWatch Nova

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Ultra

4. Timestop D-20

5. Coros Nomad

6. Nixon Base Tide Pro

7. Pebble

One of the original smart watches, Eric Migicovsky’s original Pebble watch dates back to 2013, following a hugely successful crowd-funding campaign. With a simple black and white LCD screen and easily adaptable software, it quickly found favour amongst more technical-minded owners.

After selling to Fitbit (which was subsequently acquired by Google), the Pebble dream seemed over. Now Migicovsky is back with a pair of new e-paper devices, powered by a new open-source version of the original PebbleOS, much extended battery life (up to 30 days) and plenty of hackability.

Pebble 2 Duo, $149, Pebble Time 2, $225, Store.rePebble.com

8. Sekonda Active Plus

9. Garmin fēnix® 8 Pro

10. Barrelhand Monolith

Barrelhand’s Monolith is the kind of future-thinking design we can really get behind, even though it has a hint of speculative retro-tech about it. Billed as a ‘mechanical wristwatch engineered for astronauts,’ it’s a handsome piece of industrial design that has actually made it into orbit. Made from 3D printed aerospace alloy and featuring a contrasting crown and strap, the Monolith also contains an Easter egg.

Inside the case is the Memory Disc, a modern-day iteration of the famous Golden Records dispatched into deep space with the Voyager spacecraft in the 70s. Encoded with up to 4.5GB of information (a 'nano-engraved archive ... engineered to safeguard humanity’s linguistic and cultural heritage across the galaxy for millennia'), it adds intellectual heft to a timepiece that weighs just 32g.

Monolith, $8,750, more information at Barrelhand.com

11. Google Pixel Watch 4

For a more prosaic, mainstream watch with embedded intelligence, consider the latest iteration of Google’s Pixel Watch series. Watch 4 has an edge-to-edge domed display, available in two sizes (41mm and 45mm), is water resistant to 50m and has been built to work seamlessly with Pixel phones and Google’s Gemini.

Whether or not you’ve surrendered yourself to an AI assistant, the Pixel Watch 4 still packs a lot of tracking tech, including Fitbit-powered workouts (for which an additional subscription is required).

Google Pixel Watch 4, from £349, Store.Google.com

12. Polar Loop

Finally, a wearable that does away with any visible information altogether. The new Polar Loop is a fitness band with a straightforward and simple premise: no screen, no subscription, and a host of sensors that’ll autodetect exercise and track your sleep while building up an app’s worth of data to sift through without distraction from notifications and widgets. Available in eight different, easily swappable colours, the Loop allows you to keep discrete tabs on your movement.

Polar Loop, £149.50, Polar.com

Tech companies are still trying to make the folding phone happen. The incoming Google Pixel Fold 10 is set to update and enhance the premium experience established by last year’s Pixel Fold 9 and there’s also a steady stream of devices coming out of the big Chinese firms, including Honor, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and OnePlus, to name but five. Plus there’s the long, long rumoured folding variant of the Apple iPhone in the works, with the latest reports suggesting it’ll arrive alongside the iPhone 18 at some point in late 2026.

With all that activity, you’d have thought that the folding phone had well and truly arrived, even though I’m hard pushed to think of the last time I saw anyone using one. Nevertheless, their expense, complexity and (mostly solved) reliability issues make folding devices a natural flagship for a smartphone brand, which is why we have this, the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, alongside the Galaxy Z Flip7 and entry-level Flip7 FE.

These new foldables have been joined by the brand-new Galaxy Watch8 Series, all part of Samsung’s annual product drop back in early July. With all these products now on the market, we’ve assembled a quick look at their design and specification.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

First up, the big flagship. Naturally, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is being touted as the most powerful foldable ever, but the form factor has also been refined. Just as Google’s Pixel 9 Fold functioned perfectly well as a conventional smartphone hiding a massive screen, so does the ultra-thin Galaxy Z Fold7. It’s less than 9mm thin when folded and weighs in at 215 grams (less than an iPhone 16 Pro Max (227g) and the Google 9 Pro XL (221g).

That’s some achievement. The cover display is an AMOLED unit that’s 6.5” in size and the internal screen is 8”, some 11% larger than the previous model. It’s also tougher and thinner, with a revised hinge design. Other tech specs include a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip (with up to 38% more CPU performance) and a 200MP wide-angle camera.

All this will mean little to Apple power users, who now have the carrot of a folding iPhone in the not-too-distant future – even if it’s unlikely to be officially confirmed right up until the moment of the keynote. For Android users, diving into this latest Samsung is more nuanced. Smartphone loyalties are increasingly baked in as buyers find their muscle memory is attuned to the quirks and shortcuts associated with each manufacturers’ iteration of the OS.

Samsung was quick to the AI-driven party, especially with its photo editing software and context aware ‘One UI 8’ and Galaxy AI. However, Google’s Gemini is also onboard. Thanks to the big G’s ownership of Android and therefore its ability to blend Gemini into everything from screen sharing to search results, it’s fast becoming the de facto standard AI across every smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

What Google can’t do – yet – is match the impressive performance and form factor of the little Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7. Folding screen flip phones are a more natural use of the tech than the big book-sized devices. The Flip7 unfurls into a 6.9” screen but snaps shut into a truly pocketable device. New for 2025 is the ‘FlexWindow’, an outer display that runs from edge to edge of the case, 4.1” in total.

What was once a secondary display is now very much a primary one, using AMOLED screen technology and providing enough real estate to read and reply to messages and other notifications, check media and use the Now Brief service for news and calendar events. It’s joined by the smaller Galaxy 7 Flip7 FE, a ‘budget’ model that brings this pleasing folding form factor to a wider market.

Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Series

Finally, we have the new Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Series, and Watch8 Classic. You won’t be surprised to find this is thinner and sleeker than its predecessor, and the primary use case – fitness – has also been enhanced. The latter is bolstered by what Samsung is calling its BioActive Sensor, which combines an Optical Bio-signal Sensor, Electrical Heart Signal and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis.

The latter uses an undetectable electrical current to estimate (not measure) your body’s composition, e.g. the amount of muscle and fat you have depending on the resistance detected to the charge. On top of this, the Watch8 has a temperature sensor, accelerometer, barometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, and light sensor.

Samsung’s Health package is tasked with sifting through the results generated, with the more sophisticated monitoring backed up with better analysis on everything from stress management to coaching your workouts and suggesting the best time to go to bed (eight hours before you need to wake up, usually). Gemini is also built in for voice command and queries. Watch 8 is available in both 44mm and 40mm cases (Watch8 Classic is only available as a 46mm size).

Just like phones, each brand of smart watches tends to have its devotees – mainly because they’re invested in the data garnered through the app as well as the look and feel of the UI. Samsung probably won’t tempt anyone out of their Apple Watch with this new release, but our past experience of the Galaxy Watch is a very positive one. Watch8 looks set to keep this smart timepiece near the top of the pile of Android-powered watches.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, from £1,799 (256GB storage, 12GB memory) to £2,149 (1TB storage, 16GB memory), Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7, from £1,049 (256GB storage, 12GB memory) to £1,149 (512GB storage, 12GB memory), Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy Watch8, £319 (40mm), £349 (44mm), £449 (Classic), Samsung.com

Leaked details suggest that Apple will aim to release its first foldable phone by the end of next year. But the likes of Samsung, Google and Motorola have already released foldable models, and it's unlike the tech behemoth to follow the crowd – a number of years late, no less (although it has reportedly been working on foldable devices since 2018).

All of which leads us to believe that Apple might be planning something bigger and better. Are we set for a revolution in the foldable market? Here’s everything we know about the forecast Apple model so far, as well as the existing foldable phones that it will have to beat.

The basic premise of the foldable iPhone would emulate such models from competitors such as Samsung, Motorola, Google, Huawei and Oppo. Some reports suggest that Apple’s version will be sleeker, appearing as thin as current iPhones even when closed. Apple has also said that it is working on a solution to the perennial problem of the ‘crease’ – the point at which the phone folds, marring the display. We also know that the company is working on a novel hinge mechanism.

It has also been suggested by Apple that this model will place focus on durability – another issue faced by foldable phones (you can imagine how much more fragile they would feel than a regular phone). It will also have a powerful camera configuration. If these strides are taken, then this iPhone has the potential to put foldable phones back on the agenda, and even transform the smartphone market.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most credible foldable phones on the market right now – models that Apple would need to eclipse in various ways if it was to reignite the foldable revolution.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Motorola Razr 50

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

The first thing to say about this new Galaxy cluster is that there’s no earth-shaking innovation at hand, certainly not in terms of industrial design. Like all the premium manufacturers, Samsung has had a decade or so to refine this familiar slab of glass and titanium to perfection, with tolerances and technologies that would have been considered impossible in the plasticky, low-res era of the first multimedia phones.

So power, convenience and style are taken for granted. It’s not that the Galaxy S25, S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra disappoint in any way, certainly not in the way the devices feel in the hand. The heft and smoothness of a modern high-end smartphone never disappoints, with detailing that attains the level of a watchmaking atelier, but just like an automatic wristwatch, the real intrigue is within.

Samsung is second only to Google in the great race to embed AI in every facet of its devices, with Apple racing to catch up. The company claims to have shipped more than 200 million Galaxy AI-enabled phones worldwide and the S25 range is claimed, unsurprisingly, to have the most seamless and sophisticated deployment of all.

So what does that mean? The S25 series comes with a weighty processor, memory quota and storage as standard – AI is nothing if not computationally intense. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite was developed specifically for this phone. As well as improved gaming performance, the devices can also upscale video using AI, turning a blurry YouTube clip into something a bit more legible.

The other chief innovation is contextual awareness, with an onboard assistant that works across numerous apps. Say you want to plan a route to a meeting and save the time to your diary; theoretically, with a few spoken commands, the AI will silently rifle through your calendar, update your contacts and save a suitable route, hopping between apps with ease.

In this respect, Samsung wants you to see the S25 as a kind of personal concierge, capable of stacking up different sets of information in order to resolve complex requests. One side benefit is that the phones can generate briefings for you, based on your preferences and proposed schedule, with all the various information served up in the morning, afternoon or evening.

On top of the benefits brought by this ‘personal data engine’, the latest Galaxy phones also have the now familiar tranche of gimmicky generative AI tools – turn photographs into sketches, turn sketches into dubious pictures, etc. The ‘magic eraser’ function on the Ultra was truly stunning, removing some objects from a shelf and creating a seamlessly retouched photograph in seconds.

It’s the kind of thing that a talented Photoshop user could have done in a couple of minutes, and the evisceration of this skillset in order to automate a task that’s now simultaneously trivial and sinister, doesn’t feel like the greatest trade-off. But that’s the general deal with AI tools, especially generative ones. Are there any convincing use cases in day-to-day life?

The three phones come with a 6.2-inch, 6.7-inch and 6.9-inch screen respectively for the S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra, with the latter also including Samsung’s slender S Pen stylus, with slots into the base on the phone. This makes note-taking (with handwriting assistance), scribbling and generally navigating around the huge screen a pleasure.

What’s less pleasurable is the inevitable need to bolster the edges of those impressive screens with some kind of case; even new Corning Gorilla Armour 2 glass won’t save your phone when it slips onto a concrete floor. It’s a shame but a necessary one and compromises the S25’s ultra-thin profile – at 7.2mm it’s the company’s thinnest ever device.

Samsung’s latest version of the Android OS is dubbed One UI 7. There’s a lot of cross-over with Google’s own Gemini, as well as its updated Circle To Search function, which recognises elements like phone numbers and email addresses within photos, or can locate signs on a map. This new generation of phones is better at understanding natural language as well, one benefit of the intensive training that AIs undergo on vast databases of language and text. A six-month subscription of Gemini Advanced is bundled with each S25.

And all this is done on device, thanks in part to the power of the processor, but also for reasons of privacy and security. The sense of giving over more and more of our personal information to machines so that they can chew it up and spit out lifestyle hacks and daily shortcuts doesn’t always feel like the greatest exchange, but Samsung, and its rivals, are trying to reassure us to go all in to get the best out of these new devices.

Elsewhere, you get an excellent suite of cameras, including a 50MP Wide camera, 12MP Ultra-Wide camera, 10MP Telephoto camera and 12MP front camera. Uprated HDR recording bolsters the hues to Technicolor levels, whilst low light performance keeps getting magically better, both in video and audio. Another AI assist has crept in, in the form of Audio Eraser, which does for scratchy soundtracks and background noise what AI delete does to photo-bombers. RAW format is also available.

The S25 should be good for seven years, as that’s the amount of time Samsung promises to support the device with software and security upgrades. Recycled materials, most notably in the battery (which includes 50 per cent recycled cobalt), are more prominent, although they’ve yet to manifest themselves on the glossy exterior.

Progress? Perhaps, just as long as you're happy getting ever closer to the heart of the machine.

The new Samsung Galaxy series, available at Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy S25: £799 (128GB) / £859 (256GB) / £979 (512GB)

Samsung Galaxy S25+: £999 (256GB) / £1,099 (512GB)

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: £1,249 (256GB) / £1,349 (512GB) / £1,549 (1TB)

Folding devices might not have made the mainstream, but they represent the cutting-edge of smartphone design. We check out Samsung and Motorola’s latest offerings as well as the newest photography-focused phone from Honor

Motorola razr 50 and Motorola razr 50 ultra

Motorola’s new razr 50 is, unsurprisingly, a successor to the Motorola razr 4, a firm folding favourite in a world still dominated by conventional rectangular smartphones. Motorola’s flip approach is all about ensuring the external screen is big enough to be usable when the device is shut. With the new 50 ultra, that external 4in display now covers the whole surface of the closed phone, and apps that can use this space include Google’s Gemini AI-powered search and Google Photos.

Dull colours are also out: motorola razr 50 ultra comes in Midnight Blue, Spring Green, Hot Pink and Peach Fuzz (the Pantone Colour of the Year 2024, so we’re told), while the smaller-screened razr 50 comes in Spritz Orange, Koala Grey and Beach Sand. The main display is a sizeable 6.9in pOLED screen, and the phones can be angled in a number of different ways for video calling, photography, etc.

The razr family both ship with a 50MP main camera, with added AI-powered computational photography elements in the ultra model. Finally, the company is also getting into the GPS gag market, with the announcement of a new ‘moto tag’, similar in function to Apple’s AirTag system.

Motorola’s AI-powered push includes a free three-month subscription to Gemini Advanced, as well as 2TB of cloud storage, effectively tying the razr family ever closer into the wider Google ecosystem. Both devices, the razr 50 and razr 50 ultra come with a pair of wireless moto buds earbuds.

Motorola razr 50, £799 (includes Motobuds+), Motorola.co.uk
Motorola razr 50 ultra, £999 (includes Motobuds+), Motorola.co.uk

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6

Samsung also gets aboard the AI train with its new Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, the latest evolution of a long-running series of folding screen devices. Samsung was very early into this market and suffered teething troubles as a result, but it’s now ironed out the issues that plagued early folding devices to come up with two of the sleekest smartphones on the market.

First up is the full size Galaxy Z Fold6, which somehow manages to cram two screens and a high-end camera into a device that’s just 5.6mm wide. Samsung has its own AI system to shill, Galaxy AI, and it makes much of the ‘circle to search’ functionality on the Z Fold6’s main 7.6in screen – you can also use the S Pen to highlight a word or image you want to search. All the functionality is also available on the 6.3in external screen.

Other innovations include Note Assist, which is an AI-driven transcription and summary service, and the rather more dubious Chat Assist (‘Need to write something in a hurry? Just type a few keywords to achieve full productivity.’). The time-crunched and productivity-poor can also indulge in Browsing Assists’ ability to summarise websites ‘in a flash’.

Skip over the questionable benefits of AI-driven chats, summaries and synopses and you’ll find some serviceable tools in the photography section, as well as a useful Interpreter function that can translate a number of languages on the spot. A new Snapdragon processor ramps up the CPU and GPU performance whilst extending the battery life to up 23 hours of video on a single charge.

If that pocket behemoth is too much, then the Z Flip6 might be a more suitable scale. Samsung’s pocketable flip phone is the only real competitor to the razr series, with the added benefit of Samsung’s AI-focus and easy pairing with the Galaxy Watch7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

In addition to the above, the company has also just unveiled Olympic editions of the Z Flip6, a special edition that’s been ‘exclusively designed and customised for all athletes competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024’. Collectors and completists who haven’t made it to Paris might want to track down an example of these elegantly gold-etched phones with their bespoke graphics and presentation cases.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, £1,799, Samsung.com
Samsung Z Flip6, £1,049, Samsung.com

Honor 200 Pro

Portraiture is the new hotness according to Honor, which has gone all out with the camera features of the flagship Honor 200 Pro. This has involved a tie-in with Sony, which supplies the sensor for the 50MP main camera, the results of which are displayed on a large 6.7in AMOLED ‘quad-curved’ display. The latter refers to the gently curved edges of the screen, which evoke the form of the early Samsung Galaxy phones.

In addition to the main portrait camera there’s also a 50MP Telephoto camera with 2.5x optical zoom and up to 50x digital zoom, and a 12MP Ultra Wide and Macro camera. The front-mounted selfie camera is also 50MP and the company has teamed up with Parisian photography house Studio Harcourt to conjure up some special lighting algorithms that evoke the golden age of portraiture.

Honor 200 Pro, £699.99, Honor.com

We launched the annual Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards in 2021, partly as a response to our locked-down brains desiring more expansive, innovative and life-enhancing technology, but also as a way to highlight how a focus on longevity, quality and repairability needn’t distract the sheer diversity of design approaches.

That list of 2021's winners set a high standard, and we were delighted that the award grew in stature and scope – you can see the 2022 winners and 2023 winners on the site.

Wallpaper* Smart Space Award 2024 winners

Judged by Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Bill Prince, alongside tech & transport editor Jonathan Bell and business director Kelly Gray, the winners of the Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards 2024 offer an impressive selection of innovation, sustainability, simplicity and style. Read on to find out who is top of their game.

Best Sustainable Step Forward for the Home

LG Electronics WashCombo All-in-One

Out of the many outstanding entries we received, this clever combination product impressed the judges and emerged as a clear winner thanks to its mix of clean lines and emphasis on both energy-saving and space efficiency. With the ability to wash and dry a load of clothes in under two hours, and a clever inverter system for minimising energy use, the WashCombo also has an impressive 5 cubic feet capacity and a sleek, unobtrusive look.

LG Electronics WashCombo All-in-One, LG.com, @LGUSA

Best Sustainable Step Forward for the Office

Framery Four booth

Framery Acoustics specialises in shrinking big spaces without compromising comfort or flexibility. The company’s Framery Four meeting pod really stood out for the way it transforms an office interior with minimum energy and materials, creating a meeting space for up to four people with fresh air and an eerily quiet ambience.

Framery Four, FrameryAcoustics.com, @FrameryAcoustics

Best Sustainable Step Forward for Mobility

Polestar 2

Polestar 2’s victory in the best Sustainable Step Forward category is all the more impressive given the model is now in its fifth year of production. That hasn’t stopped the company from continuously refining and improving the car, however, and not just in terms of range and software. Part of Polestar’s ethos is to chip away at the embedded cost of manufacturing, highlighting ways for manufacturers of all stripes to be more transparent about the complexities of decarbonising supply chains and manufacturing.

Polestar 2, Polestar.com, @PolestarCars

Collaboration of the Year

Kohler Formation 02 Smart Toilet

The Kohler Formation 02 Smart Toilet was an unexpected but welcome collaboration between Dr Samuel Ross' SR_A design studio and the established American bathroom brand Kohler. The result impressed us for its boldness of colour and form, transforming a familiar object into something really special.

Kohler Formation 02 Smart Toilet, SRA.Kohler.com, Kohler.com, SR-A.com

Fittest Fitness Kit

Unica by Technogym

Technogym’s ongoing commitment to design excellence is embodied in the classic Unica system, which demonstrates the solid principles underpinning the Italian company. Unica might be nearly four decades old, but it is an enduring classic, a home multi gym system trusted by professional trainers and athletes.

Unica by Technogym, Technogym.com, @Technogym

Food, Drink and Design

Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer

Ninja has created a countertop classic that impressed the judges with its sensible use of space and high quality look and feel. The simple act of stacking the drawers on top of each other makes the Double Stack XL an ideal candidate for a compact kitchen, offering the energy saving abilities of an air fryer without compromising capacity.

Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer, NinjaKitchen.co.uk, @NinjaKitchenuk

Greatest Outdoor Design

The Peep Show Video Birdhouse

We loved this elegant mix of technology and nature, creating something that benefits everyone. Not only is the egg-shaped wood and bio-plastic structure acclaimed for its longevity and suitability for all kinds of species, the camera slot allows you to check in on your new feathered friends all year round.

The Peep Show, ThePeepShow.com, @ThePeepShowBirdhouse

Best Life Enhancing Object on the Move

BOOX Palma

An e-reader device of impressive execution and ability, the Palma is a great way of getting information away from a conventional screen. Pairing phone-sized portability with an e-ink screen, the Palma is a robust, simple and distraction-free way of imbibing information in an age of polychromatic diversions.

BOOX Palma, Shop.BOOX.com

Best Life Enhancing Object in the Home

eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro

Home automation done well always ticks our boxes and the Omni S1 is a smart addition to a modern home. Powerful and smart, with a self-cleaning system incorporated into its charging dock, the Omni S1 is a mechanised mopper that’ll keep floor surfaces pristine.

eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro, eufy.com

Most Illuminating Lighting

Fleur by Foscarini

In the words of the judges, ‘We love this concept for bringing two elements together in such style.’ Fleur is a table lamp that doubles up as a vase, with a transparent glass support that’ll take water and flowers while also providing a soft illumination. The light is filtered through the water-filled glass, adding another dimension to your arrangements.

Fleur, Foscarini, Foscarini.com

Most Intelligent Domestic Device

Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum cleaner

We were especially impressed by the Vis Nav’s sensor system and agility, but its key selling point is power. The company claims it offers up to six times the suction of other robot vacuums, and the deep blue device can scuttle up to the edge of walls and under low furniture to ensure as much space as possible remains dust free.

Dyson 360 Vis Nav, Dyson.co.uk, @Dyson

Most Masterful Music Device in the Home

Ruark R810 High Fidelity Radiogram

A beautifully made piece of technology that looks great even when it’s not in use, the R810 is a worthy winner of our Home Audio category. Pairing high quality cabinetmaking with a world’s worth of streaming services makes the R810 the ultimate piece of audio furniture.

Ruark R810 High Fidelity Radiogram, RuarkAudio.com, @RuarkAudio

Most Masterful Music Device on the Move

Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds

The latest in a rapidly expanding line of dynamic and distinctive audio products, Nothing’s latest pair of wireless earbuds, the Ear (a) offer excellent quality for a very reasonable price. The judges praised their playful use of colour, straightforward usability and great sound.

Nothing Ear (a), Nothing.tech, @Nothing

Most Revolutionary Transport

Volvo EX30

Volvo’s EX30 is a fantastic piece of automotive design, with clear and welcome influences from product design and contemporary furniture and great use of sustainably sourced materials. Despite some teething troubles with the company’s software, the EX30 drives beautifully and has an excellent range, making it one of the best compact EVs on the market.

Volvo EX30, VolvoCars.com, @VolvoCars

Most Watchable TV

Samsung S95D television

Samsung continues to demonstrate why it's one of the world’s leading electronics brands with the excellent S95D, a 4K OLED TV with a 55in screen. The judges described this as ‘an impeccable piece of product design from Samsung, with an impossibly thin screen and seamless connectivity.’

Samsung S95D, Samsung.com

Most Wonderful Wearable

OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition

This Nordic Blue Edition of the Watch 2 is a classically elegant alternative to the smartwatch status quo. Offering excellent durability as well as timeless style, the Watch 2 has up to 100 hours of battery life, a large 1.43in AMOLED display and an ultra-rugged design to give it a long lifespan.

OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition, OnePlus.com, @OnePlus

Smartest Luggage

Horizn M5 Smart Cabin Luggage

We’re great admirers of Horizn’s blend of technology and quality, and the M5 is thankfully more of the same. With a 37-litre capacity and the company’s trademark integral (and removable) charger, the M5 Smart cabin luggage is light, safe, spacious and makes extensive use of recycled materials. It’ll help you go places, without doubt.

Horizn M5 Smart, Horizn-Studios.co.uk, @HoriznStudios

Best Gadget on the Move

Nextbase iQ dash cam

The iQ is a next generation dash cam that shakes up a staid sector, with impressive specifications and ease of use. The smartness comes from the cam’s ability to stream to your mobile when you’re parked up, transforming your car into a sensor-laded security camera regardless of where you are. There’s also a special ‘witness mode’ and up to 4K recording.

Nextbase iQ dashcam, Nextbase.co.uk

Mightiest Mobile Phone

Nothing Phone (2a)

When the Phone (2a) debuted earlier this year, it offered up a genuinely different approach to a relatively staid sector. Nothing makes no compromise on form, function or capability, but still imbue the (2a) with characterful hardware and software design that makes it tempting diversion from the status quo.

Nothing Phone (2a), Nothing.tech, @Nothing

Highly Commended

There was an exceptionally high standard of entries this year, and not every submitted design could be heralded a winner. However, as before, the judging team felt that certain entries deserved to be honoured as ‘highly commended’. These are the runners-up for 2024, representing high quality design and execution and certainly not to be overlooked.

Highly Commended: Best Sustainable Step Forward for the Home: Alder Collection by Mater

The Alder Collection demonstrated an impressive approach to materiality and expression of form. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, the stools, tables and side tables of the Alder Collection use ‘Matek’, a material formed from coffee or wood waste and biodegradable plastic.

Alder Collection, MaterDesign.com, PatriciaUrquiola

Highly Commended: Best Sustainable Step Forward for the Office: 100% Recycled Textures Collection by 3form

Under the banner ‘no new plastic’, we admired 3form’s commitment to creating a high quality, fully recycled material would have major benefits for workspace product design.

Textures Collection, 3-form.com

Highly Commended: Food, Drink and Design category: Space cookware range from Joseph Joseph

What makes the Space range great is Joseph Joseph’s clever folding handle mechanism. As a result, the stacking set takes up less space in your cupboard.

Space range, JosephJoseph.com

Highly Commended: Greatest Outdoor Design: Sonos Move 2

It’s a delight to find Sonos’ excellent audio skills packaged into a device that can be taken out and about in confidence. Naturally, the Move 2 syncs with your existing system as well.

Sonos Move 2, Sonos.com

Highly Commended: Best Life Enhancing Object in the Home: Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max

Simple and straightforward, with interchangeable filters and quiet operation, we reckon the Blue Pure 211i Max would look great in any contemporary home.

Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max, Blueair.com

Highly Commended: Best Life Enhancing Object or Space: 3D SNAP Store by Reiichi Ikeda Design

Tokyo’s 3D SNAP store is a playful retail experiment – create a 3D figurine of your dog using a special scanner and printer – that Ikeda shaped in an exquisite way.

Reiichi Ikeda Design, ReiichiIkeda.com, @ReiichiIkedaDesign

Highly Commended: Most Illuminating Lighting: Minima by Patkau Architects

A clever physical manifestation of the interaction of 2D and 3D forms, Patkau’s approach results in a sculptural light with real character.

Minima Lamp, Patkau.ca

Highly Commended: Most Intelligent Domestic Device: Anthem Digital Shower by Kohler

A truly sybaritic shower installation, the Anthem was both inspirational and aspirational with almost limitless installation options.

Anthem Collection by Kohler, StudioKohler.com

Highly Commended: Most Masterful Music Device in the Home: Loutd musegg

The judges described this impressive streaming speaker (a standout among sculptural speakers) as being ‘eccentric without losing its elegant edge, with pioneering use of materials and packaging.’

Musegg by Loutd, Loutd.com, @Loutd.speaker

Highly Commended: Most Masterful Music Device in the Home: Nocs Monolith X Aluminum speaker

An impressive piece of industrial design, the Monolith X Aluminum brings high levels of build quality and recycled metal together in a great-sounding and -looking speaker.

Monolith X Aluminum, Nocs.design, @Nocsdesign

Highly Commended: Most Watchable TV: Loewe Stellar television

The Stellar’s unexpected materiality, high repairability and all-round attention to detail hugely impressed us. Combing wafer thin concrete with aluminium, the Stellar is an OLED TV that should last for generations.

Loewe Stellar, Loewe.tv

Highly Commended: Most Wonderful Wearable: read on light reading glasses

Beautifully packaged and presented, the glasses make a hitherto overlooked object into something that's highly desirable.

Glasses by read on, readon-mobile.ch

One way to declutter an interior is to do away with a physical screen altogether. We’ve selected seven contemporary projectors to help you find the right device to transform a room from screen-free sanctuary to private cinema space. With new projectors like the Openhagen Lightboks, companies are placing more emphasis on making these boxes look better, emit less noise and work well without requiring a complete black-out. Read on to shine a light on the latest projection technology.

XGIMI Horizon Ultra

XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra is a 4K home theatre projector, pairing an ultra-high resolution with Dolby Vision-driven HDR visuals. Android TV 11.0 is also on board, along with a suite of technologies to make automate the screen and picture size and intensity depending on placement and time of day. Two Harman Kardon speakers provide the onboard Dolby Audio sound, with Bluetooth connectivity for additional speakers. The resolution should cope easily with a picture size of 100” or more.

XGMI Horizon Ultra, £1,749, XGMI.com, Amazon.co.uk

LG CineBeam Q

The CineBeam Q is LG’s compact short throw 4K projector, a beautiful and ultra-compact piece of industrial design that can still pump out a 120” picture. With its integral rotating handle that doubles up as a stand, the CineBeam Q can easily be flipped to project on the ceiling. Integrated webOS provides access to the streaming services.

LG CineBeam Q, £998.98, LG.com

Samsung Freestyle

Samsung has incorporated their smart TV know-how into the tiny Freestyle, a highly portable projector that looks like an overgrown downlighter. The little cylinder incorporates 360-degree sound as well as a Samsung’s own Tizen smart TV operating system, and can be easily rotated from to ceiling , with an automatic ‘keystone’ function (for aligning skewed projection images) and up to 100” screen size at 2.7m distance. For smaller spaces, the second generation model can still project a 30” screen when it’s place just 80cm from the wall (mixing Metric and Imperial measurements is par for the course when it comes to home theatre).

Samsung Freestyle 2nd Generation, £599.99, Samsung.com

Philips Screeneo UL5

Dutch electronics giant Philips is supplying its new Screeneo UL5 Smart projector through Indiegogo. This HD projector (1080p) is intended to be placed right next to the wall, with the promise of a 100” screen size from just 51cm. Weighing in at 1kg, the UL5 is one of the most compact offerings on the market, without scrimping on connectivity or functionality.

Philips Screeneo UL5 Smart RGB Laser Projector, £615, UL5.Screeneo.com, Indiegogo.com

Asus ZenBeam L2

The Asus ZenBeam L2 continues the trend for smaller and smaller 4K projectors. This Android-powered box pairs a 1080p projector with Harman Kardon speakers and up to 120” screen size, as well as automatic autofocus and keystone correction, as well as an integrated (and detachable) Android streaming TV box. An integrated battery provides 3.5 hours of wireless projection, and Asus also includes its Light Wall software which uses the 960 LED lumens output to show 26 different ‘cinemographs’, essentially screen savers for your wall.

ASUS ZenBeam L2 Smart Portable LED Projector, £699, Asus.com, Amazon.co.uk

Epson CO-W01

Epson’s CO-W01 is a more conventionally shaped offering that presents itself as a simple, straightforward but high-performing alternative. The company reckons the WXGA display projector can throw images over 300” across, with a powerful beam that creates a bright image even in daytime.

Epson CO-W01 EXGA Projector, £299.99, Epson.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk

Yaber T2/T2 Plus

An elegant portable device from Yaber, the T2 is notable for its incorporation of JBL speakers and an integral battery. The T2 projects up to 100”, with a battery life of 2.5 hours and offers support for Dolby Audio, as well as automatic focus and keystone correction. The compact form factor and handle make this a handy device for projecting when out and about and the integral JBL speakers can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker. The T2 Plus model adds a Smart TV dongle to create an all-in-one package.

Yaber T2, £399.99, Yaber.com, Amazon.co.uk

The great thing about Honor's Magic6 RSR, which we previewed a couple of weeks ago among smartphone alternatives, is that it combines all the best things about Android in a package that is resolutely non-Google. That’s not to say we aren’t ardent admirers of the tech giant’s Pixel range, but Honor, together with Porsche, is coming at smartphones from a different angle.

We tried out the Porsche Design Honor Magic6 RSR

After a short spell with the Porsche Design Honor Magic6 RSR – to give it its full title – it’s clear that this is a premium device with top-table specification to go with the Porsche-enhanced price tag. That means you get a whole terabyte of storage and 24GB RAM, as well as an extremely swift and sophisticated ‘Falcon’ camera system that feels on a par with rivals. 

The latter is helped out by a LiDAR autofocus sensor, a first for Honor, as well as a 180MP telephoto camera with stabilised digital zoom levels of up to 100x. The phone offers a sophisticated portrait mode, a professional mode with full control over aperture and exposure, and even the ability to add bokeh to selfies, as well as the usual raft of digital softeners and smoothers for the more image-conscious.

Although the resulting images feel more computationally assembled than ever before, there’s no denying they’re on a par with the very best of what’s out there, from the iPhone 15 to the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S24. Note that the latter two devices make much of their AI-driven photographic abilities, something the Magic6 doesn’t shy away from.

The Magic6 RSR certainly looks and feels the part, with a good solid weight to it and the distinctively different form of the camera cluster. The phone comes with Honor’s MagicOS 8.0, a bolt-on suite of enhancements to stock Android apps, GUI and functionality. All this is displayed beautifully on the large 6.8in OLED screen, protected by what Honor calls a ‘NanoCrystal shield’ for enhanced insurances against scratches and accidental drops.

Available in Agate Grey or Frozen Berry (both colours derived from the official Porsche palette, inspired by the 911 and Taycan respectively), the Magic6 RSR ships with a colour-matched case, another aspect of the design where automotive-derived inspiration has been allowed to run free. Here, you’ll find prominent stitching patterns on the leather-effect surface, a nod to the wheel and dashboard of top trim Porsche interiors.

Despite these obvious nods, the design of the Magic6 RSR isn't toylike or derivative. The UI and apps are crisply designed without any excessively skeuomorphic flourishes or cartoonish touches. It feels grown up and fully realised, a worthy companion to Honor's first collaboration with Porsche Design, the folding Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR.

Naturally, you’ll face the dichotomy of dealing with two different data eco systems – Honor’s and Google’s – but this is no different from working with any other non-Pixel device. How much you choose to engage with the former’s suite of apps, which include health, gaming, a dedicated app store, and more, is down to your tolerance for multiple log-ins and having two distinct data trails stored on either sides of the planet. With all this in mind, it's still a worthy way of standing out from the crowd.

Honor Magic6 RSR, £1,599, Honor.com

Spring into something different with this newly announced collection of Marimekko-patterned Samsung accessories, available for Nordic markets from the start of April 2024. Following on from the recent collaboration between the Finnish design house and Samsung’s iconic Frame television, which saw 30 of the company’s boldest fabric designs added to the Samsung Art Store, the new collection adds a welcome twist to phone accessories.

Marimekko is no stranger to collaborations, having worked with artists such as Sabine Finkenauer, major brands like Ikea and even its national carrier, Finnair. 

The new partnership will encompass a host of products from Samsung’s current portfolio, from phone covers for the latest Galaxy S24 series, through to cases for the Galaxy Buds wireless earphones and wristbands for the Galaxy smartwatch. 

All use Marimekko’s instantly recognisable and timeless Unikko floral print, created by Maija Isola in 1964 (and now of course in its 60th anniversary year). ‘Limited-edition brand collaborations increase Marimekko’s international brand awareness, and this way support our growth strategy, especially in international markets,’ Sanna-Kaisa Niikko, chief marketing officer of Marimekko, says candidly.

For Samsung, it’s a fine opportunity to bring Marimekko’s joyful stance and bold colours to a sector that’s been in thrall to silver, matt black and sober pastels for too long. Patterns from the Frame include work by Isola, along with the Japanese textile designers Fujiwo Ishimoto and Katsuji Wakisaka, and Finnish designers Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi and Maija Louekari.

Marimekko.com, @Marimekko

Samsung.com, @SamsungUK

There is no denying smartwatches’ health benefits, and even life-saving abilities. But unless you’re a fitness fanatic, you don’t want a 45mm GPS-tracking monster ruining your office or party outfit. Finally, the design choices are becoming slimmer and more understated. And with the option to disconnect trending, there are great options that don’t conspire with your mobile to bombard you with another email or push notification.  

Wearable smartwatches: form meets function

Fitbit Inspire HR

With a price well under £100 and a minimal-sleek appearance, the latest Fitbit is a basic fitness tracker that might surprise you. It is a swim-proof watch with a five-day battery, on the down-low in a monochrome black combo, or go for a sorbet-popping lilac strap for a touch of summer. Despite its budget price, it comes packed with functionality, including all-day activity tracking, calorie count, and heart rate features.

amazon.co.uk

Garmin Lily

The Lily is Garmin’s svelte smartwatch far removed from their larger tool-tastic fitness trackers. But there is no compromise on the functionality, with everything from Garmin’s well-known Body Battery features to stress-, respiration-, and hydration-tracking. It will sync with Garmin’s accomplished Connect app, and excels in the wearability stakes. With a choice of Italian leather straps and a 34mm case with a bracelet-like vibe, it embodies inconspicuous elegance with a tech twist.

amazon.co.uk

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 

With a slim 40mm case, the sixth-generation of the Samsung Galaxy Watch has come down from an unwieldy 42 or pan-sized 47mm down to a slim 40 with a thinner case design. It comes with many personalised options, three case finishes, and a big bunch of fresh straps for easy-click matching your fit of the day. We’d go for a soft fabric strap for sleepy comfort, as the useful Sleep Coaching feature is accessible directly on the watch to track those important deep sleep phases.

samsung.com

Apple Watch SE  

Why not buy the latest Gen 7 Apple Watch? Because the 38mm or 40mm Apple Watch SE is pretty unbeatable in the sleek-with-every-fit stakes. The only caveat is it still wants to partner up with your iPhone, so if you’re an Android fan, look away now. Tone down the ever-buzzing notifications, and it’s a minimalist-cool, comfortable watch while retaining its health-tracking prowess and emergency call feature should you have an accident. The fit, choice, and quality of its straps are also on another level, so don’t knock this OG pebble.

johnlewis.com

Consider these hybrid smartwatches

What about hybrid smartwatches? Ensuring the feel of mechanical watchmaking on your wrist without instantly accessible sports tracking features, the oft-berated hybrid smartwatches are coming of age. Now, you can keep your health tracked while saving yourself from the embarrassing option of speaking into your Apple Watch when your partner calls mid-Waitrose shopping to remind you of onions.  

Pininfarina Senso hybrid watch

Covered by us before, the Pininfarina Designed Senso series of smartwatches have a sartorial, Italian take on wrist-computing. With a suave tool watch case and Italian swagger, it’s one for the naysayers who will be swayed by functionality. It may have a small screen, but it packs a techy punch featuring an optical heart rate sensor, sleep and activity tracker, and more. It’s not small at 44mm but outpaces most with up to 30 days of battery life.

amazon.co.uk

Withings Scanwatch 38mm

Surprisingly for such a small-sized watch, the Scanwatch actually boasts a clinically validated electrocardiogram and SpO2 sensor. It has a small integrated screen at 12 o’clock and is otherwise a delightfully retro-modern watch design with the best choice of finishes and bands around. At last count, Withings offered about six cases and 20 bands in a tempting but bewildering array of colours.

withings.com

Samsung wants your phone to be an indispensable digital assistant. So are we now entering an era where form factor, colour and materials are a secondary consideration to the capabilities of the software? Make no mistake, this trio of new S24 models (S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra) are as sleek and tactile as their predecessors and rivals; making a phone feel great in the hand is now second nature for manufacturers, even as they churn out hundreds of millions of handsets every year. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 and AI

What sets the S24 apart is the deep integration of AI, from search to photography. We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on a device to explore its capabilities, but at the launch event, Samsung highlighted the ‘ProVisual Engine’ that it uses to shoot, edit and share images, with an enhanced ‘Space Zoom’ function that enhances as it zooms in.

Other promised advances include the ‘Live Translate’ function, with ‘two-way, real-time voice and text translation of phone calls’, an ultra-strong strong titanium frame, and the introduction of ‘Circle to Search’, which dovetails with Google’s services to provide a seamless visual search ability.

As before, the premium Galaxy range is divided into three, with the S24 Ultra leading the pack. Enhancements include a bundled stylus and a powerful quartet of rear cameras, including one with 200MP resolution. All three models can also record 8K video.

Crucially, all this AI ability is handled ‘on-device’, rather than being parcelled up and processed in the cloud. This will have a knock-on effect on battery life and data usage, predictably leading to another round of upgrade cycles amongst early adopters. Will it be enough for Samsung to regain the title of world’s largest phone manufacturer from Apple? 

Galaxy S24 available soon from £799, pre-order at Samsung.com 

Have we reached peak smartphone? The premium brands have had their annual launches – such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Apple iPhone 15 – and offer only incremental improvements on what was available the previous year. Now it’s Google’s turn, with the debut of the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. 

What’s most notable about the eighth iteration of the company’s flagship Android device is how AI has become much more embedded and present. Google’s AI systems have sneaked their way into search as well as generative systems like text and image generation, not to mention photographic ‘support’. 

Google Pixel 8 Pro and its AI revolution

It’s the last where the Pixel has traditionally excelled, but while the latest version takes fantastic photographs, it feels that the emphasis is shaping the world one sees, rather than displaying it as it is. Apple’s equally impressive photographic capabilities are pitched more at the traditional photographer, someone who will process after the shoot, rather than use the rather cruder tools in the phone itself. iPhones have been able to shoot RAW files for a while, whereas it’s a new option on the Pixel 8 Pro.

A smartphone isn’t a camera, of course, but a very sophisticated image processor. ‘Pro Controls’ aside, both of the Pixel 8 phones have a suite of AI-driven tools that are designed to buff out the rough edges of life. The Pro has four cameras, including a 50 MP main camera, an ultrawide, telephoto and 10.5 MP front camera. Photographic results can be shaped using ‘Best Take’, which blends a burst of similar images to ensure that everyone is smiling, or not blinking. 

There’s also the forthcoming Magic Editor (unavailable at time of review), something Google describe as an ‘experimental editing experience’. This builds on the Magic Eraser tool introduced in the Pixel 7 phones but doesn’t just allow for stray photobombers to be seamlessly and automatically banished. Instead, you can apparently reposition objects within the frame, change an overcast sky to a dramatic sunset and inflict all manner of trickery on even the most casual snapshot. 

It begs the question, what next? This will be an experimental feature, with the computations presumably taking place in the cloud (hence recent warnings about the burgeoning energy consumption of relatively trivial AI applications). Google is prefacing the feature with a warning, acknowledging that ‘… we know there are going to be times when the result isn’t exactly what you imagined’. This conjures up a potential hellscape of twisted AI fingers and unwanted excursions into the uncanny valley, all taking their place in your precious photo folder. 

Also available is a slightly gimmicky AI-generated wallpaper app, which conjures up backdrops based on a set of pre-loaded cues. Promised this week are even more AI-driven features, including Zoom Enhance, which lets you zoom into a photograph and use generative AI to sharpen up the details; a more flexible and powerful Magic Eraser tool, and the introduction of Audio Magic Eraser, which is designed to ‘clean up’ buzzy and blowy video soundtracks. More alarming still is the imminent arrival of Google’s conversational AI model, Bard, which can be used to generate descriptions, social media posts and other potential nuisances. 

The AI feature creep notwithstanding, this is properly premium device, especially the Pro model. A polished aluminium frame and matte back glass support a 6.7in screen, making it a fraction larger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you can face covering this beautifully finished device with a case, then your Pixel 8 will undoubtedly last a while; another quiet advance is the fact that the Pixel 8 comes with seven years of software support, guaranteeing you software and security updates until October 2030. Pixel 7 Pro owners can say goodbye to new software from October 2025. 

This projected longevity brings us back to the first question; have we reached the point where always opting for an annual (or even biannual) update is simply too resource-hungry. It’s true that used phones cascade down through the second-hand marketplace for years, but the Pixel is very far from being a simple device to repair (although Google has promised to keep a stock of spare parts for seven years as well). It’ll be interesting to see how many buyers can hold on to their Pixel into the 2030s. 

The devices ship with the new Android 14 operating system, a stealthy upgrade that makes sure to flatter the required muscle memory and physical interactivity of previous versions so as not to put anyone off. Also new to market is the Google Pixel Watch 2, which majors in bolstered fitness and health tracking, along with better speed and battery life. 

Surprisingly, the Pixel range has a relatively small share of the overall phone market (about 5 per cent), especially given Google’s huge sway and overall control of the Android OS. It is undoubtedly a fantastic device, fast and powerful, and rich with features. However, it also offers the very first interaction with generative AI for huge numbers of people, potentially adding yet another layer of confusion and distraction to an already over-saturated world.  

Google Pixel 8 Pro, from £999, Store.Google.com

Samsung has given its eco-system a substantial overhaul, launching a clutch of new products that updates and enhances its Galaxy line of mobile devices. This includes three models of tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9, S9+ and S9 Ultra, all of which are now water resistant (as is the accompanying S Pen stylus), as well as the new Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic. Finally, there’s the debut of the fifth generation of the company’s folding screen devices, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5. We’ve delved into the spec sheets and picked up the upgrades that matter. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5

While Google’s Pixel Fold is an excellent first effort, Samsung is keen to remind us that it is now five generations deep into the art of making folding mobiles. Sure, there were a few expensive missteps along the way, but tech hitches aside, the new Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 are fully mature, resilient devices that are well worth considering. 

The little Galaxy Z Flip5 leads the pack of the latest generation of touch-screen clamshells, with a bright 3.4in exterior screen and the ability to open out to a full-size 6.7in main screen. At just 187g, this is a properly pocketable phone, with a fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and upgraded camera systems. 

The Galaxy Z Fold5 continues to use the long, thin screen format that debuted on the original Samsung Galaxy Fold, ensuring the fully open main screen maintains more conventional proportions. Naturally, it’s thinner and lighter than its predecessors, with greater support for the S Pen Fold Edition and a more efficient way of subdividing the main screen into up to four apps. Both phones promise four generations of OS upgrades, prolonging their utility and lifespans, and the flagship model comes with a terabyte of onboard storage.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, available in Mint, Graphite, Cream, Lavender, Grey, Blue, Green, Yellow, 256GB, £1,049, 512GB, £1,149, Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, available in Icy Blue, Phantom Black, and Cream, 256GB, £1,749, 512GB, £1,849, 1TB, £2,049, Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic

The sixth Galaxy Watch also made its debut, available in two flavours, the Watch6 and the Watch6 classic, the latter with the signature rotating bezel for navigation. Screen sizes are increased, battery life lengthened and the overall focus on health and mindfulness has been pushed even more to the fore.

The sixth series watch also marks the introduction of new ‘one-click bands’ for instant personalisation, along with even more watch face options. Wear OS has been given new custom apps to engage with crucial services like Google Calendar and Gmail, Peloton, MyFitnessPal updates and Audible. Onboard sensors include blood pressure and electrocardiogram monitoring, as well as a heart rate alert system, and the nighttime Sleep Mode can automatically adjust the alert status of any connected home electronics to power down your environment at a predetermined time.

Samsung Galaxy Watch6, available in 44mm in Graphite and Silver (from £319) and in 40mm in Graphite and Gold (from £289), Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic, available in 43mm (from £369) and 47mm (£399) in Black and Silver, Samsung.com

Galaxy Tab S9 series

Samsung was an Android tablet pioneer with the launch of the first Galaxy Tab back in 2010. Many generations later, and the trio of S9 series tablets are all fully capable of becoming powerful laptop replacements – if you have an external keyboard and/or case like the optional Book Cover Keyboard. The screens use the Galaxy’s trademark 16:10 aspect ratio – better for watching movies – and there are larger speakers and Dolby Atmos sound on board. 

Galaxy Tab S9 series, available in Beige and Graphite across three sizes, 14.6in Tab S9 Ultra (from £1,199), 12.4in Tab S9+ (from £999), 11in Tab S9 (from £799), Samsung.com

Mobile World Congress 2023 saw concept phones with roll-up screens, folding tablets and a whole lot more. Pocketable, more discreet, less demanding of your attention (albeit with a higher fidget factor), flip phones are back for a new generation. The current options are very much split in two; on the one hand, you have the new breed of flip phones made possible by folding screen technology. 

On the other, you have the age-old form factor being revisited by retro-minded users who either relish or relinquish the lack of data on the go, with all its attendant pitfalls and practicalities. Weirdly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, many of these revived devices are pitched at senior users who don’t care to adapt to our touchscreen-heavy times. Regardless of how you relate to the relentless presence of the mobile phone, the following devices are our tips for the flips.

Flip phones are back

Oppo Find N2 Flip

The latest device to reach the market is this hugely credible from Oppo, the Find N2 Flip. The Chinese company (which unveiled plans for a Zaha Hadid Architects-designed Oppo HQ in Shenzhen) has already delved into this relatively new world of folding devices with the Find N model, but the Find N2 Flip is the first full-screen clamshell to bear the Oppo name. As with all the big-player touchscreen flip phones, Oppo’s contribution comes with a cover screen for easy access to info and notifications without opening the phone. You’ll also notice the hinge is slimmer than its rivals (tested to 400,000 folds), and the camera unit is supplied by Hasselblad, no less. An all-day battery, ultra-fast charging and competitive pricing make this a welcome entry into the field. 

Oppo Find N2 Flip, £849, oppo.com

Huawei P50 Pocket

Not to be outdone, Huawei also has small-format folding phone in the shape of the P50 Pocket, a jewel-like contraption that clusters its lenses alongside the front screen in two circular portals. The company, which has collaborated with Porsche Design and Leica in the past, has collaborated with Iris Van Herpen on the Premium Edition, with its rippling fold finish. 

Huawei P50 Pocket, from £950, consumer.huawei.com

Motorola Razr 2022

We’ve raved about the Motorola Razr but the company’s flagship device is already proving hard to find, hinting that an update might be in the works. Motorola can be credited with giving the form factor its biggest boost, way back in 2003 with the first ever Razr phone, and even earlier still, with the ‘clamshell’-style StarTAC, the form factor that gave rise to the flip phone. 

Motorola Razr 2022, £949, motorola.co.uk

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

Samsung has been in the fold since 2019, bearing the burden of being early to market with a brand new technology. Over the years the company has perfected the tech (see our Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3 reviews) and recently launched the Galaxy Z Flip4 as a showcase of its best compact form factor flip phone. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, from £999, samsung.com

Alcatel Go Flip V

Now we’ll take a dive into an alternate reality, the world of old-school flip devices. This is a button-only business, a place where touchscreens are anathema, prices run around a tenth of their smartphone siblings, and ease of use is the ultimate USP. Alcatel’s Go Flip V is a case in point. The $99 flip phone is aimed squarely at the more luddite-minded amongst us, whether young or old. 

Alcatel Go Flip V, $99, us.alcatelmobile.com

Nuu F4L Flip Phone

A similar thing could be said about NUU’s old school offering, the F4L. Powerful enough to run apps like WhatsApp, with an earlier version of Android on board, the F4L has two cameras, up to 4GB of storage as well as an SD card slot, plus a traditional headphone jack.

Nuu F4L Flip, $89, us.nuumobile.com

Nokia 2720 flip

The Nokia 2720 flip is a modern iteration of the 2720 fold model from 2009. Nokia started making flip phones back in 1998 with the 282 model, a distinctive clamshell design that was the first to divide the phone and keyboard into each half of the device. Back in its heyday, the Finnish-born brand built phones of all shapes and sizes, with a diverse set of mechanisms that folded, slid and twisted. The 2720 flip has been on the market a few years, with a simple spec that offers minimal social media interaction and should suit every kind of digital detox. Twenty-eight days of standby time should alleviate the constant search for a suitable charger. 

Nokia 2720 flip, £89.99, nokia.com

Uniwa F2720

You can also head down the rabbit hole of licensed and unlicensed designs, where suspiciously similar IP and blatant copies of older models proliferate, usually from small manufacturers based in the Far East. Shenzhen-based Uniwa, for example, which sells the f2720, a straight up reworking of the Nokia equivalent, albeit with a very low-res camera as well as space for dual SIM cards. 

Uniwa F2720, cwelltech.com

The big tech brands tend to drop new models to a rigid schedule, ensuring that each quarter is defined by a new, demand-stimulating product. As expected, Samsung have divulged details of the Galaxy S23, the latest iteration of a venerable product line that can lay claim to being in the top tier of recognisable premium smartphone brands.

These days, Galaxy phones are up against stiff competition from Google’s Pixel line, as well as increasingly premium (but more affordable) models from OnePlus, Nothing (see our Nothing Phone (1) review), Motorola, and Sony. There’s also the thorny issue of Android versus iOS; although the latter’s market share is only around 28 per cent versus Android’s near 72 per cent, it has almost unquestionable loyalty baked in.

As operating ecosystems extend their tentacles into every facet of our lives, switching from one system to another is becoming more and more like hard work. Samsung knows this full well but is also constrained by the immutable laws of physics; make a phone faster, with a brighter, better screen, and you’ll degrade the battery faster. Therefore, the battery gets bigger, the phone gets larger, the screen expands, and you’re back to square one. 

The new Galaxy S23 comes in ‘standard’, ‘+’ and ‘Ultra’ flavours; think of these like Starbucks’ tall, grande, venti and trenta cup sizes, where the ‘tall’ isn’t exactly a tiny helping. Prices are similarly supersized, with the top-of-the-line Galaxy S23 1TB Ultra peaking at £1,599, the price of a decent new laptop.

Galaxy S23 – how is it better?

The new phone’s immediate predecessor, the S22 Ultra, was one of the best devices you could buy in 2022, but with consumers switching to two, three, or even four-year upgrade cycles in the face of longer contracts, higher prices and a sense of innovation plateauing, what does the S23 have to offer? Improvements are incremental, rather than revolutionary. 

Everything is undeniably better, with better support for gaming, as well as no less than four front-facing cameras on the Ultra, including a 200MP wide-angle camera and a 10MP 10x optical zoom. The margins are slim, however, if you’ve only just upgraded.

Certain areas still lead the market. Low light performance is pushed to the max, with new AI algorithms to boost night photography and video, with new ‘Astro Hyperlapse’ and ‘Astro Photography’ functions for animated and still starry skies as well as a multi-exposure mode that lets you layer up different images. These show just how sophisticated mobile photography has become, with onboard image processing giving access to effects and capabilities that were once the preserve of a seasoned professional with a trunk full of kit.

The 6.8in-screened Ultra also has an integrated S Pen, emphasising its role as a do-it-all device that could conceivably replace your laptop for a few days at a time. Samsung is pushing hard on the concept of an all-embracing ecosystem, mindful of the tightly integrated systems and consumer allegiance created by Apple. 

Galaxy Book3, a new family of laptops

Launched at the same as the S23 family was a new family of Windows laptops, the Galaxy Book3 Pro, Pro 360 and Ultra. The top-tier device is the Galaxy Book3 Ultra, an aluminium-bodied premium 16in laptop pitched at creatives, coming with HDMI connectivity and even two Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as a larger trackpad and a quad speaker sound system.

The faithful will no doubt lap up the latest improvements to the popular Galaxy S line, but conquering iPhone and Mac fans is a much taller order. Pairing Windows and Android is still a marriage of (occasional in)convenience, far removed from the seamlessness of iOS. Nevertheless, buying into the new Galaxy range is perhaps as close as you can get. 

Galaxy S23 Ultra, from £849, Samsung.com

Galaxy Book3, from £1,399, Samsung.com

Galaxy Book3 Ultra, price tbc, Samsung.com

Ever since the digital device was deemed to be unavoidable, ubiquitous and an integral part of our lives, the search has been on for a credible digital detox, a way to smooth out the relentlessly insistent nature of instant access to information and communications. For digital doubters, the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phone is a step in the right direction. This new stab at a folding phone demands that you open it up before zoning out of your surroundings. The NY-based fashion brand Thom Browne clearly believes that this smart black square is the key to a quiet life, as well as offering up the perfect canvas for self-expression, both sartorial and digital

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition offers refinement from the packaging onwards. The limited edition device has a tailored software interface with app icons that appear to be hand-stitched and lettering that takes its cue from the company image. A Venetian blind style wake screen takes inspiration from the American Gigolo aesthetic that permeates the brand, while there's also a grey leather case, grey earbuds and the simple Thom Browne four-bar logo to wrap up the all-American style sensibility.

Even the sounds have been given a late-century makeover, with a typewriter clack for the on-screen keyboard, an old-school analogue ringtone and the sound of a shoe tapping on the floor as a notification. The tone is under statement, despite the Z Flip's bountiful tech specs and cutting-edge appearance – this is the first credible folding phone on the market, with a mechanism that's good for a minimum of 200,000 actions. The tiny notification screen on the front, 12-megapixel main camera and useful 256GB of storage mean you're not scrimping on specification while still majoring on style

INFORMATION

samsung.com
thombrowne.com

Remember when having a flip phone was a sign of social cachet? Samsung is hoping to restore that status with its new Z Series foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. The latter is also available in a new Bespoke Edition, which can be configured online to create up to 49 different combinations. 

Original flip phones fell out of use after the arrival of the smartphone shook up phone design and set in train nearly 15 years of increasingly large black tablets that were distinguished only by highly finessed detailing, use of materials and the all-important logo. The search for a touchscreen that folds has occupied the innovation labs of the major manufacturers for years. There were concepts and proposals, but it was an obscure Chinese brand, Royole, that was first to market, with the FlexPai in 2018. 

The first Samsung Galaxy Fold arrived in early 2019, hotly followed by Huawei’s Mate X. It was a case of too much, too soon, because the first devices had only just broken cover when they literally broke apart in the hands of over-enthusiastic reviewers, highlighting the complexity of building a mechanism that’s robust enough for our incessant phone use. 

New Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 promises to have cracked the issues (hopefully not literally this time). It’s joined by the Galaxy Z Flip3, the latest iteration of the company’s more compact, pocket-friendly mobile (and the one that bears the strongest resemblance to the flip phones of old).

While some rivals wrap the screen around the outside of the phone, Samsung keeps its flagship device conventionally book-like, opening up to reveal the most impressive pocketable display. Unsurprisingly, it’s not the lightest phone, and that big screen has big demands on battery, but the way you use the phone might change substantially if there’s a choice between a taking quick check or making a deep dive into every app.

Both devices have screens fashioned from the latest version of Corning’s Gorilla Glass, the near-miraculous material that swathes countless billions of smart devices around the world. The new hinge mechanisms have been tested to be good for 200,000 folds (take a peek at your screen every five minutes for 18 solid hours a day, and it should last for over two and a half years).

However, both Z Series phones have an exterior screen for showing notifications, time and other info, so there’s a slim chance you might use your phone less. 

The Flip3 is pitched more at the casual user, opening clam-like into a rough approximation of the largest conventional phone. On both devices you can split up the screen in more innovative ways, although not all apps will make best use of the added display area. You can even use Samsung’s smooth S Pen technology on each device, and there’s up to 512GB of internal storage, as well as the company’s excellent cameras.

Samsung has also included its Wireless PowerShare technology, a way of spreading excess charge to your other Samsung devices – particularly useful with a Galaxy Watch or earbuds. 

Is the era of the supersized phone finally coming to an end? Paradoxically, these latest Samsung Z Series phones might be the first step towards the downsizing of mobile devices. If you can have all the screen real estate you desire in a much more compact package, then folding screens are a natural next step – we’re especially taken by the Flip3’s mix of miniaturisation and innovation.

Whether the biggest, fruitiest player in the mobile market decides to follow suit will determine whether flexible screens are here to stay

INFORMATION
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3
Samsung Bespoke Studio
samsung.com

Samsung’s global home appliance arm spent the best of last year trying to gauge how lockdown living has changed our relationship with our homes. A well-established supplier of high-end appliances, the Korean multinational has launched a bid to become the go-to brand for those looking for a more personal approach. Samsung has a long history of pushing products like the humble refridgerator into new directions, instigating the concept of a smart fridge, for example. The new range is focused on aesthetics, rather than electronics. It’s a straightforward approach, doing away with the concept of ‘white goods’ in favour of a modular design system that allows owners to change colour to match their interior.

We spoke to Harry Choi – Samsung’s senior vice president of design – to find out more.

Wallpaper*: We seem to be entering an era when ‘white goods’ is a bit of an oxymoron. When did Samsung first become aware of the desire for more customisation from consumers?

Harry Choi: We’ve seen custom designs throughout history, but often only among the privileged classes as tailored products that match individual tastes have been expensive. In addition, customers usually find it more challenging to remove built-in appliances and take to a new home, so for people living in certain regions such as Korea where moving home is a common occurrence, people are often reluctant to buy appliances they think will be difficult to take with them. To meet the demand for customisable, easy-to-move appliances that are accessible to everyone Samsung developed Bespoke. It combines the practicality of freestanding designs with being easy to alter and expand to suit users’ tastes and needs like built-in designs.

W*: Does customisation simply mean more choice, or can it go further?

HC: Customisation is as much about personalisation as it is about having more choice. People don’t simply want a wide selection—they want options that are meaningful and add value to them and their lives. That’s why Bespoke allows customers to pick product types, colours and materials that match their unique tastes and needs. This heightened interest in personalisation — especially in design — is a trend that really took off as a result of the pandemic and our Bespoke line caters to this trend with changeable panels and flexible, modular configurations that blend seamlessly into any kitchen.  The days of a one-size-fits-all mentality for kitchen appliances are gone. Consumers, especially Millennials, want to personalise their kitchens to reflect their personal aesthetics. In the future we expect consumers to consider home appliances the way they do stylish sofas or refined coffee tables.

W*: Would Samsung ever consider working with designers, architects or even kitchen specialists like Bulthaup, for example, to coordinate with interior schemes, etc?

HC: With Bespoke we want to create a platform that gives consumers the freedom to create the kitchen of their dreams, providing products and designs that best-reflect our customers’ lifestyles. At Samsung we keep at the cutting edge – this includes exploring possible collaborations with other innovative brands. The opportunity to work with independent designers, architects and kitchen specialists is exciting to consider as they would bring new perspectives and creative approaches. We look forward to developing the Bespoke ecosystem in the future.

W*: Can Bespoke be used to emphasise or even enhance important design considerations like efficiency and environmental performance?

HC: We’ve developed Bespoke to deliver on design and performance while always reflecting our commitment to offering highly efficient, eco-friendly appliances that support a circular economy. It’s a modular design that empowers users to separate and combine products and replace door panels, effectively extending the lifecycle of the appliance. Multiple Bespoke fridges can also be “stacked” together, meaning users can add a new Bespoke module rather than replace the one they already own as their family grows, or if they decide to remodel their kitchens.

W*: Will there be material choices as well as colour choices?

HC: When we’re designing products, we’re constantly study the composition and style of living spaces along with deep analysis of the latest design trends. With that in mind, at CES this year we unveiled a new Bespoke 4-Door Flex where each door panel can be swapped to a different colour and material. Customers can mix and match panels such as White, Grey, Rose Pink, Sky Blue or Navy Glass, and Champagne, Navy, or Matte Black Steel to create the look of their choice. Colours and modules may vary by region, but we will make more options available as tastes continue to evolve.

W*: How does Samsung see home goods evolving? Are size, efficiency, form factor, etc., all due for a reassessment in everything from fridges to TVs?

HC: Across the world as people are spending an increasing amount of time at home, they’re becoming more attuned to how objects look and fit into their homes. For many, this has created a desire to redesign their living spaces with an eye towards how their appliances complement their furniture and living spaces. If we look back 100 years ago, the first commercially available refrigerators were designed like furniture, like closets. Now, Bespoke is the first to take home appliances back to this starting point, transforming them into aesthetic objects like furniture again. Bespoke’s success to date demonstrates the appetite and opportunity for more customisation in home goods. That’s why we’re working to expand the Bespoke line up to bring the unique design and leading innovation to more appliances around the home.

samsung.com

New York’s MoMA is looking across the pond for its tech inspiration, specifically to Paris. For New York Design Week, MoMA Retail has enlisted the help of La French Tech, an innovative public policy initiative that has fostered the booming French start-up community, to select the country’s most innovative new technology products, which it will stock in the MoMA Design Store.

Over the last five years, Paris’ 13th arrondissement has toppled London’s Old Street as Europe’s would-be Silicon Valley, with a vital and vibrant start-up network wiring its way into the fabric of the city. For the third year in a row, Paris was the most prolific city exhibitor at CES Las Vegas outside of the USA. Among the key players are Station F, the world’s biggest startup campus; the community-based VC firm The Hardware Club, and hardware start-up accelerators such as Usine IO and Cité de l’Objet Connecté. La French Tech, together with Business France – the agency supporting the international development of the French economy – are two key players that have championed the sector.

Stereocap headphones

‘In less than three years, start-ups have become such a strong label of what France is about: innovation, talent, and creativity,’ explains Pascal Cagni, chairman of the board of Business France. ‘The selection of products showcased by MoMA Design Store are beautifully designed and innovative, fitting perfectly into their offering.’

Products span the rapidly expanding worlds of the smart home, connected tech, and portable speakers; from drones to home telescopes to child-sleep companions. A particular favourite of ours is the assemble-it-yourself City Clock, which disguises binary technology inside 19th-century charm. Inside a miniature wooden house modeled on a Parisian Haussmannian building, the time is read based on the number of illuminated windows. ‘Finally, a clock for techies who are also poets,’ reads the MoMA product description. Rimbaud would be proud.

For MoMA Design Store, it’s the perfect time to get on board. In recent years, technology has become one of the Design Store’s largest and fastest growing product categories, with big ticket items launched with tech titans like Sony and Samsung. But, as this new collaboration with French start-ups solidifies, MoMA is equally as committed to discovering new and exciting products on platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. ‘In my travels to scout the best products from around the globe, my team and I started to see an undeniable link back to France,’ explains Emmanuel Plat, MoMA Retail’s director of merchandising. ‘New York Design Week is the perfect opportunity to tell this story and introduce their products to a wider audience.’

And wider audience is right. Not only does New York Design Week attract hundreds of thousands of design aficionados from all over the world, the products will also be available to purchase from the MoMA Design Store website, helping to take France’s already important local tech network global.

INFORMATION

The La French Tech products will be available from 10 May. For more information, visit the MoMA Design Store website

If good design is about creating a seamless experience, there are few who understand this better than Samsung’s executive vice president Don-Tae Lee, who spoke with Time Inc. executive editor Clay Chandler at the Brainstorm Design conference in Singapore on Wednesday 7 March.

‘We always think of how we can create sense of seamlessness and cohesiveness across our products so we can deliver a singular experience to consumers,’ Lee said. As the head of Samsung’s seven corporate design centre studios (only his second job, Chandler noted), Lee oversees a staff of over 1,500 designers working to harmonise Samsung’s diverse family of products — from smartphones and TVs to home appliances and computing devices. When a customer is using a Samsung product, Lee said, the experience must be identifiable as one that flows from a Samsung product. ‘That’s the kind of seamless experience we try to achieve,’ he told Brainstorm Design.

Lee joined Samsung in 2015 from London-based design firm Tangerine, his first stop in the design world. The company also famously produced Apple design mastermind Jony Ive.

Samsung was then reeling, battling smartphone rivals Apple in a costly lawsuit and seeing off competition from Chinese upstarts Xiaomi, and Huawei. The South Korean tech and electronics giant’s last quarter profits dropped 37 per cent in 2014, while reviews found its flagship smartphone a lackluster reboot of the S4.

Lee has since overseen a reinvention of Samsung’s design identity by helping ‘move the brand of Samsung’ from being a technology-driven company to being ‘a user-and life-style centric brand.’ The company is also stepping up to competitors Apple and Google in the next major tech battlegrounds: smart home appliances like the Frame TV, a new television that’s ‘designed as a beautiful object, whether turned on or off,’ Lee said, after Samsung learned that most consumers spend four hours per day watching TV — meaning 20 hours per day, the television was turned off. ‘We realised that the TV needs to be branded into the home environment,’ Lee said, by allowing users to customise their ‘off’ display with famous pieces of art, or family photos.

The Brainstorm Design conference is jointly organised by Fortune, TIME and Wallpaper*, bringing together more than 300 top speakers and delegates from 33 countries. See more here

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Samsung website and the Brainstorm Design website

ADDRESS

Mandarin Oriental Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue
039797, Marina Square
Singapore

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This time last year, we praised designers who put the ‘home’ back into ‘smart home’. Things escalated quickly. Over the last 12 months, tech designers have upped their AI game with a host of new releases, and as a result, it seems we have become more willing than ever to accept virtual assistants as part of the family. As of January 2018, one in six Americans own one. That’s 39 million people in the US alone chorusing commands at a semi-inanimate object.

What started as a one-on-one battle between the visually clunky (but wildly popular) Amazon Alexa and the striking, white-on-white Google Home suite has become a crowded brawl. At the premium end alone, there’s a well-matched tussle going on between Google Home, Sonos One, Apple HomePod, Samsung Bixby (set to launch later this year) and now, if the rumours are to be believed, a Spotify smart speaker. But which should we open our homes, and minds, to? Ok Google, game on.

Beosound 1 and 2

Audio quality has been Bang & Olufsen’s core strength from day one. Its haute speaker offerings have stood the test of time over its near-century in business, and continue to blur the boundaries between technology and interior design. 

The Danish designer bided its time before revealing its AI-infused tech debut. The pinnacle of its 360-degree audio game, the wireless Beosound 1 and wired Beosound 2 speakers have been revisited, and now ring true with the voice of Google Assistant. 

The speakers remain sculptural, and contain premium parts pushing domestic sound, including a powerful exposed tweeter with an acoustical lens, a 5.25 inch woofer and dual 2 inch midrange drivers. In their new iterations, B&O has added a set of four new Favourite Buttons, that aim to push the user experience a step above those of its contemporaries. At the push of a designated button, users can now stream a favourite radio station, play a particular music playlist or be reminded of today’s calendar entries. 

Coming in at $1,750 and $2,250 respectively, Beosound 1 and 2 are deep within the upper bracket of the smart speaker market. Then again, price certainly reflects quality – both visual and sonic – making the Beosound speakers some of the most powerful currently available.

Google Home Max

If a connected, home-spanning system is what you’re after, Google’s your guy. The tech titan wants your house transformed into a whirring technology hub, alive with the sound of ‘Ok Google’. Don’t lift a finger, there’s no buttons to press on the Home suite, which Google launched back in October 2016, adding the Home Max to the table (for US audiences only) in December 2017.

The Home suite has become known for its highly effective, reactive and scarily savvy AI element (which can do everything but tie your shoelaces). The butler bot has some Google-only features that are genuinely useful. It can contextualise your requests in line with your habits. Ask it to say ‘hello’ in Japanese, and it will say ‘kon’nichiwa’. Ask it to say ‘Goodbye’ a few minutes later, and it will remember what language you're learning, and chirp ‘sayōnara’.

The newest, mammoth edition offers the same quality of smart assistance, with upgraded sound specifications. It’s not cheap, at $399, but delivers the noise. Google ‘obsessed over every component to make sure you get pure, crisp sound’. Its two 4.5-inch woofers each have 22mm of excursion, an extremely high range for their size, delivering deep, powerful bass. What’s more, Max plays it loud – it’s 20 times more powerful than the original Google Home.

Sonos One

Sonos was a front-runner in the multi-room home speaker race, practically inventing the category in 2005 with its wireless SonosNet interconnection system. But, like Apple, Sonos lagged behind the AI bandwagon. In 2017, Sonos cleverly made use of Amazon’s Alexa technology, embedding it inside a pre-existing Sonos shell. The result? It doesn't feel like an AI home invader, but has all the capabilities of one. It’s a speaker first, (rich with all the audio assets Sonos is famous for) with all the hands-free functionality of Alexa. 

Now in its second generation and with several derivative versions available, Alexa continues to expand its digital-assistant abilities, to rival the industry-leading Google technology. Whether its quite there yet is still up for debate. 

But built on the mini-but-mighty blueprints of the PLAY:1, Sonos One’s capabilties as a speaker are unquestionable. Backed by a pair of Class-D amplifiers and custom-built drivers, meticulously tuned to the speaker’s unique acoustic architecture.

Apple HomePod

Apple is famously averse to first moves. It waits in stealth while others pitch in with new technologies and then hits the market with something it promises is comprehensively better. It’s a strategy that has worked so far and it’s one that it has taken with the launch of HomePod. Priced at $349, HomePod is bristling with acoustic armaments powered by its A8 chip, including seven beam-forming tweeters (unusually, placed at the bottom of the speaker and each with their own amplifier) and a high-excursion woofer (weirdly, in a good way, set at the top of the speaker). It adjusts the way it plays music, depending on where you place it in your room, and works out how to get the best from your selection on a track-by-track basis – adjusting bass output, for instance, if it fears a fluffiness or lack of focus. 

Of course, it looks great, too. An antidote to Google’s all-white suite, HomePod is a moody black wire mesh, punctuating the white walls of any minimalist, tech-forward interior.

Samsung Bixby

We couldn’t not mention the mysterious Bixby. Samsung’s long-discussed, never-seen, answer to the smart speaker is set to arrive sometime in the second half of the year, said president of Samsung mobile division DJ Koh, at the rumour-mill that is Mobile World Congress 2018. Whisperings have been doing the rounds since August 2018, pegging a sizable (but not outragerous) pricepoint of $200. As of yet, there’s still not much information about what the Bixby speaker will look like, or do. It will likely make use of existing Bixby voice activation technology used in the Samsung Galaxy S series. All we know for sure is that it’s going to be ‘premium’, so it’ll be jostling for shelf-space in an already crowded showroom. 

The smart speaker conversation is a noisy one, fueled by our enduring (slightly morbid) fascination with the rise of the robot. Chatter is only set to get louder still with the rumoured introduction of a Spotify

This piece currently holds the Handmade record for taking the most time to create, and is unlikely to see it broken any time soon. When we originally approached designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec with an invitation to collaborate with legendary embroiderer Lesage Intérieurs for Handmade 2016, they gracefully declined. They argued that the standard four month timescale that we usually work to for Handmade projects was just not enough, bearing in mind not only their existing design commitments, but also the amount of time required to get to grips with the potential pitfalls of an unfamiliar craft.

But we’re not ones to take no for an answer, especially when we knew it would be such an exciting collaboration. So at last year’s Salone del Mobile, we persuaded them to meet with Lesage that June with the intention of working on a project for Handmade 2017. This would give them a clear ten months to complete the commission, a fortuitous move as the Bouroullecs’ piece would eventually take around 1,000 hours to embroider entirely by hand.

Lesage Intérieurs was set up in 1993 by Jean-François Lesage, a fourth-generation embroiderer and son of the celebrated haute couture embroiderer François Lesage. The company is dedicated to producing exquisite bespoke handiwork for interiors projects, and we had been looking for a way to bring a thoroughly contemporary point of view to a very traditional skill set. The Bouroullecs made the perfect partners.

We took the brothers to Lesage’s couture workshops in Paris, where some of the world’s most skilled artisans spend countless hours creating opulent embroidery for the likes of Christian Dior and Chanel. The visit was something of an eye opener for the Bouroullecs, who work mainly with industrial manufacturers such as Vitra, Kvadrat, Magis and Samsung. They now began to see embroidery more as a language and technique they could apply and adapt rather than as just a mere stylistic flourish or archaic symbol of luxury.

Still, the brothers had concerns, ‘a fear of being able to make something with a certain honesty and relevance to the contemporary world’, admits Erwan. And perhaps of misusing the skills made available to them – ‘like being with the world’s best piano player and asking him to play something too lightweight’.

They were determined, though, to bring a new energy and punch to the art. ‘We did not want to approach it just as a picture, something decorative.’ They had already been researching digital software coding for a client and wanted to see how they could make that work for this project. ‘Embroidery is a way to make pictures or something graphic, something that people recognise, like uniforms for the army, embedded with very clear codes or signs.’ Yet in an era of Smartphone photography, ‘people can’t read the embroidery – or they have lost the ability to read it’, so they found a solution where ‘software would act as a translator for an ancient technique, to speak the words of a contemporary picture’.

Taking inspiration from our holy theme, the project was named ‘The Veil’, and its execution took place in Lesage’s Vastrakala workshop in Chennai, India. To create their veil, the designers chose to use a fabric by Kvadrat, a company with whom they have a longstanding connection. Designed by Erik Ole Jørgensen in 1987, ‘Time 300’ is a yarn-dyed Trivera fabric, which uses a weaving process that employs two different shades – one in the weft and the other in the warp – to create a subtle two-tone effect. The fabric was stretched over a giant wooden loom, held in place with straps. This allowed more than ten men to work simultaneously on the cloth, which measured 6m x 3m. Oversized pixels, in the form of 7,200 custom-made frosted blue PVC paillettes in three sizes, were then hand-stitched in blue cotton mouliné, a task that involved 180,000 individual stitches from a team of 20, who clocked in more than 1,000 hours.

Traditionally, fabric is embroidered on one side only and lined at the back, but the Bouroullecs requested that the thread be beautifully finished on both sides, so that the piece could be viewed from all angles. Jean-François Lesage says this approach is extremely rare, comparing it to ‘having a back stage as clear as the main stage’. For Lesage, the challenge was ‘mostly to ensure a perfect positioning of each element to respect the architectural aspect of the décor’. He had expected a ‘culture shock’ between ‘the past and the present’, but he and his team found the experience to be positive, constructive and fruitful or, as he put it, ‘a nice encounter between poets’.

Erwan adds, ‘Embroidery is an amazing language, full of diverse expression and manner. In a way, it is like the origin of pixels, with each point making a part of the picture while also conveying its own weight and magic.’ As for the finished piece, the pair were very impressed that it was constructed using so few tools – just a piece of wood to stretch the fabric, a needle, thread, scissors, and hands. Amazingly simple!

As originally featured in the August 2017 issue of Wallpaper* (W*221)

Watch the making of ‘The Veil’ in Lesage Intérieurs’ workshops in Chennai

INFORMATION

For more information, visit Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s website, and the Lesage Intérieurs website

Korean tech giant Samsung has joined forces with Yves Béhar’s Fuseproject to develop a new model for home entertainment. Launching tonight in Paris, The Frame is a concept television with a design created to fit seamlessly into a home and appear as appealing when off as it is when in use.

‘A home is an expression of personal taste, functional needs and interests,’ says Béhar. ‘The television is no exception.’ He and the Samsung team started looking at it as an integral part of the home and daily life: ‘What if the TV display in my home delivered a different experience? What if the TV disappeared in the décor when it’s not in use?’

The design that followed looks less like a television and more like a sophisticated picture frame, with a border available in white and wood veneers. Béhar’s clean, minimal aesthetic features subtle industrial design details, such as an attachment that allows the TV to be freestanding.

But it’s not just the discreet design that makes The Frame an innovative entertaining tool. The ultra HD TV features a sensor-based display that adapts to the light in the room and, when not in use, it can be switched to ‘Art Mode’, displaying a static artwork and blending in with the environment. A sensor turns the screen off when no movement is detected in the room. Béhar notes that the digital interface behind this was as important as the hardware design: the platform had to appeal to a variety of users, while also being respectful to the art on show.

For the ‘Art Mode’ contents, Béhar and Samsung partnered with art advisor Elise Van Middelem, who curated an initial selection of 100 works ranging from photography to illustrations, across 38 artists and ten genres (users can also add personal images to the cache). ‘I was immediately attracted by the possibility of demystifying the art experience,’ says Van Middelem, who worked closely with art industry experts to create the portfolio. ‘My goal was to find artwork that transcends the experience of traditional wallpaper or stock photography, and to replicate the feeling of entering a digital gallery exhibition, every artwork being carefully selected.’

The artworks include architectural photography by Todd Eberle and Nacho Alegre, works from Tobias Rehberger’s 2016 series Screamsavers and mixed-media collages by Barry McGee, among others. ‘Participating within The Frame is a step out of [the artists’] comfort zone,’ notes Van Middelem. ‘After all, we were asking them to show their work on an entirely new platform.’ The artists, she adds, were fantastic at embracing experimentation. ‘The Frame has the potential to change our perception of viewing art. How it is approached, collected and displayed. It allows anyone to learn about art through living with it.’

Béhar adds that the art selection was conceived as becoming a virtual museum for the home, expanding the television's traditional remit. ‘The Frame shifts our paradigm of what a television can be; on or off,’ he concludes. ‘It adds value to our walls and our daily life.’

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Samsung website and the Fuseproject website

Welcome to the Bat Cave. Danish architect Jørn Utzon and the superhero franchise seem unlikely bedfellows, but The Lounge, a newly appointed digital hub located in the refurbished western end of the foyer deep within his monolithic Sydney Opera House, draws uncanny parallels. Like the masked crusader’s command zone, it too is a communication conduit informing visitors (some 8.2 million per year) of the performing art centre’s extensive history and programming through interactive displays.

Designed by Tim Greer, director of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects (also behind the redesign of the House’s Bennelong restaurant), it is the most recent launch in a series of future-facing projects enabled by The Opera House’s principal partner, Samsung. It forms the first stage of the building’s 'Decade of Renewal' plan to upgrade its facilities. 'With Samsung’s support, we have a wonderful opportunity to trial the latest technology while creating a more welcoming environment for visitors to enjoy day or night,' enthuses Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron, regarding its simultaneous function as a café and bar.

Pools of deep cobalt blue carpet animates the dark, low-ceilinged space tautly bound by poured horizontal concrete spokes. 'Disappearing into the ground, it is the antithesis of the white shells meeting the sky,' offers Greer. A sinuous purple Moroso sofa flecked with electric blue snakes around its perimeter, whilst custom-designed brass side tables with forked tongue grooves further reference its slick serpentine nature. Beyond, creative director Sam Doust’s kaleidoscopic explorations of the House’s stories emanate for a mesmerising LED wall amid churning robotic surround sound.

A collection of over 50 interactive online stories featuring past performances, rare archival images and drawings, plus interviews can be explored on Samsung Galaxy tablets and a free-standing brass pod housing larger screens with headphones. But it’s the virtual reality headsets that steal the immersive drama. Visitors can experience the most exclusive tour in Sydney — a giddy climb through the Opera House to the top its of its tallest sail (at 65 metres). The sensation of the gravitational pull as it plummets down to the Harbour’s water produces the ultimate climax, stomach flip and all!

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Sydney Opera House website

ADDRESS

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000

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'Good design,' said Dieter Rams, 'is as little design as possible.' A good point well made, but one that perhaps belies the current state of affairs. Successful design is not simply about form and function; there are patents and trademarks, copyrights and rights proceedings to take into account.

In an unprecedented move, over 100 design luminaries – including Rams himself, Louis Vuitton artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière, Sir Terence Conran, Lord Norman Foster, Jasper Morrison and Sir Paul Smith – have come together to pledge their support to design and its protection.

Catalysed by the long-fought patent battle between Apple and Samsung, the document – or amici curiae, to be technical – was compiled by Charles Mauro, president and founder of MauroNewMedia and presented by legal firm Orrick. Those who have signed the 62-page document are in no way party to the litigations at hand, wherein the US Supreme Court has been asked to reject Samsung’s appeal in the Apple v. Samsung case. This document is only meant to advise proceedings. 

The crux of the argument is that, as industrial design has segued from a purely utilitarian to an aesthetic industry, form has become as important as function. And this, in the eyes of design's game changers, is what needs protecting.

To that end, the document includes a brief history of the ethics and aesthetics of industrial design, including a look back at Raymond Loewy, who would become the father of American industrial design. Loewy's lasting legacy was his ability to take existing products and redesign them with a fresh, appealing aesthetic. Sigmund Gestetner's 'duplicating machine' was the first to receive the Loewy treatment, a slick redesign which resulted in soaring sales. The Roebuck & Co 'Coldspot' refrigerator followed suit, as did many other appliances and objects not mentioned in the amicus.

The now iconic Coca-Cola bottle comes into consideration as an example of how a product's visual design becomes the product itself in the minds of consumers. So too do American automobiles, including Henry Ford's Model T and General Motors' bold and bright Chevrolet. 'History,' summarises Mauro, 'teaches that visual design is the way to package, market and sell technological innovation, manufacturing knowhow, product reliability and performance expectations. Appearance becomes identified with the underlying functional features and with a particular level of product quality and safety.'
 
Intellectual property and protecting design patent rights against infringement are increasingly important subjects. It is not without reason that 111 renown and respected names in the design world – including Konstantin Grcic, Calvin Klein and Alber Elbaz, as well as Sir John Sorrell, Microsoft's executive creative director Raymond Riley and Bentley's director of design Stefan Sielaff – have given their support to this cause.
 
Form might not always follow function, but it will always be the gateway to user experience. It's all very well shrugging our collective shoulders and hoping that the dark arts of branding and marketing will ultimately prevail. But for the legions of skilled designers – whatever their field – the need for greater protection against shameless aping, lazy copying and outright theft has never been more apparent.

The GALAXY TAB S has a Super AMOLED screen and advanced camera, allowing it to capture vivid images of everything that passes before the artist's eye. Its Adaptive Display technology proved invaluable as Lutyens delved into his imagery, undertaking research and making visual experiments. By ensuring the screen is optimised for true colour reproduction in whichever application he's using, Adaptive Display turns the TAB S into the ultimate artist's portal, able to reproduce every colour of the rainbow with perfect fidelity.

Multitasking is also transformed by Samsung’s Multi Window system, which enables Lutyens to divide up his on-screen tasks into functional chunks, letting apps and tools exist side by side. Sketch, draw, check e-mail, watch a film, browse the web and keep up with your feeds all at one, thanks to the fast processor and spacious 10.5in or 8.4in screen.

Together with Wallpaper and Lutyens, the GALAXY Tab S has opened a window onto the city. The end result will be an innovative global installation designed to explore the way we respond to colour, weather and our unconscious desires.

Experience Lutyens’ installation precisely as the artist intended, thanks to Samsung’s most innovative and elegant tablet to date, the GALAXY Tab S.

Wallpaper*: How are you influenced by Los Angeles?
Marcos Lutyens: There’s a feeling in LA of being connected to your natural surroundings – you can see the terrain, the sea, the grid, the parks, the mountains. There’s an incredible spectrum of not just culture but nature.

W*: What are the key elements of your work?
ML: I like to collaborate, bring people together; a lot of my work is performance based.

W*: How do you describe your relationship with technology?
ML: For an artist to be relevant, they need to work with technology. It brings a rush of creative possibilities.

W*: How will you translate your urban experience into an artwork?
ML: This experience of LA through the GALAXY Tab S has generated ideas and experiments and the seeds of a big idea. I like the possibility of communicating with images and sound - I want people to feel intuitively aware of how each city has a different pace.

W*: How will the installation work?
ML: The basic premise is to tie emotions and colour and weather together, and counterbalance the effects that weather has. For example, on a cold, grey rainy day we’re trying to use colours to counter that.

W*: How does the Galaxy TAB S help your workflow?
ML: It’s incredible the way it’s so lightweight and thin. I also like to use the Multi Screen capability; you can cruise through the internet and make notes and grab images, all at the same time.

W*: How can colour transform our lives?
ML: When we go about our daily lives we’re kind of half asleep and not aware of all the colours that are around us. Take those filters away and you’re aware that colours are much brighter. You can enhance your senses to take in a wider, broader spectrum.

Just like Samsung, Lutyens believes that technology can bring us closer together, enhancing our experience of interactions and our surroundings. The artist has used Samsung's GALAXY TAB S as an essential sketchbook, notebook, encyclopaedia, photo studio and paint box. Los Angeles is the palette, and technology is the brush.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a cubicle in a typical Silicon Valley office. Dropbox has Lego and a music room (complete with a grand piano), Airbnb has its green living wall and War Room, Twitter has foosball tables and yoga studios, and Github has its speakeasy and Oval Office replica.

But it’s not just child’s play, as evidenced by the growing number of Silicon Valley companies enlisting architecture's biggest names to dream up workspaces that match the titanic creative ambitions of its employees.

Facebook, for example, opened its new Menlo Park headquarters earlier this year: a 430,000 sq ft space designed by Frank Gehry, and billed as the largest open plan office in the world. The building is topped with a nine-acre green roof, with a walking trail and plenty of places where employees are encouraged to work, while taking advantage of California’s pleasant climate.

Elsewhere in the Valley, Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs personally tapped Norman Foster for the tech giant’s new campus, currently in the works on a staggering 2.8 million sq ft site. Once complete, it will house up to 13,000 employees in a colossal ring-shaped structure - that’s since been dubbed the ‘Spaceship Campus’ - surrounding a vast outdoor park.

Not to be outdone, Google has turned to two high-profile names for its forthcoming Mountain View campus: British designer Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels of Danish firm BIG. In a radical shift from immoveable concrete buildings, the company will create a modular campus using ‘lightweight block-like structures’. The flexible site will be capped with large, translucent canopies that control the interior climate while letting in light and air, and will house boast shops, restaurants, cafés and bike paths.

These workplaces become autonomous communities in themselves, where practically every need, desire and whim of staff are catered for (does anyone actually ever leave the Google campus, or its free, gourmet cafeteria for that matter?). It’s these utopic environments that fuel the creativity behind some of the most memorable and game-changing products today.

From start-ups to Goliaths, there’s no shortage of tech offices that encourage a healthy balance of work and play. Here, we take a tour of the finest workspaces in Silicon Valley.

Samsung: Completed this September, Samsung’s new North American headquarters by NBBJ is the latest addition to Silicon Valley’s top crop of workspaces. Situated on the corner of a prominent street in San Jose’s tech hub, the project comprises two adjacent 10-story towers unified by an outer skin and connected by a series of bridges.

Facebook: Completed in April this year, Facebook’s Frank Gehry-designed HQ covers a sprawling 430,000 sq ft and is the largest open plan office in the world. Transparency is key here, where employees can almost all the way down the building, in an environment that fosters open communication and collaboration. 

Uber: Silicon Valley’s go-to design firm Studio O+A - which counts Facebook, Yelp, AOL and Evernote among its clients – conceived taxi app Uber’s elegant space, notable for its subdued palette (unusual for most tech firms) and rich materials palette (think onyx glass, oxidised maple, copper and marble). 

Cisco: Sunken seating preserves long sightlines; yurts, cabanas and phone rooms offer privacy; and informal lounges encourage colleagues to socialise with each other. Furniture by Herman Miller, Knoll and Artek and lighting by Muuto, Flos and Lindsey Adelman complete the vibrant space. 

Skype: The company sought to conceive a top-notch office that would allow it compete for the best talent Silicon Valley had to offer. According to its designers, local firm Blitz, the distinct spaces facilitate three different types of working: collaboration, contemplation and concentration, brought to life by a simple palette and restrained use of finishes. 

Dropbox: Geremia Design adds, ‘The creation of office lounges were an important part of our design’, while a collaboration with a local designer led to the creation of innovative LED lighting in the office, rather than the traditional fluorescent lights found in most workspaces

The paradox of the smart watch is that it has had to become ever more watch-like to be accepted as an everyday device. Back before the idea of shifting our mobile life to our wrists was even an issue, the nascent smart watches were fearsomely digital devices, unashamedly aimed at the technophile who wanted to wear a very obvious sign of tomorrow. But as the tech has improved, classicism has emerged as the dominant form factor, harking back to traditional forms instead of looking forwards.

Samsung's new Gear S2 follows the new traditionalist mode. Its chief point of difference from the original Gear S is the shape of the screen – the latter was rectangular and slightly curved and came across as a little awkward. In contrast, right from the first time you strap on the S2 you get the familiar watch feel, almost as if the tech beneath has disappeared.

With discrete good looks, unobtrusive size and easy comfort on its side, the S2 is a contender before you've even considered the software and day-to-day operation. For the truth is that no one can state with much certainty what a smart watch is actually best at. Telling the time? Not all the time, as the battery drain means always-on screens are impossible. Receiving emails and other messages? Yes – but not so good at replying to them. Tracking exercise and fitness? Sure, but not as well as dedicated bands with their lighter wrist-print and bigger suite of sensors. Similarly, applications like mapping, listening to music and taking voice notes are all technically feasible but deeply compromised by the minimal buttons and small screen size.

The Gear S2 is also an outlier in that it shuns Google's Android Wear for the Tizen OS, an open source system that is slick enough but notably lacking in apps. Samsung's status and the need to pair your watch with a phone will probably lure developers, so the potential is there for some excellent bespoke integration in the future. The S2 is available in standard or classic configurations, the latter pairing the device with a leather strap. There's also a partnership with Alessandro Mendini, offering a Swatch-like line-up of different strap options, each with a matching unique face. A rotating bezel has been introduced as a means of scrolling through apps and pages and it works seamlessly with the two buttons on the side. A flick of the wrist usually brings the screen to life and the stock watch faces are well detailed and restrained.

So why the Gear S2? Apple is pushing upmarket with its watch (witness the latest Hermès edition) and other manufacturers are looking for smart functionality at a much lower price point. Whether you want to live life encircled by a daisy chain of devices, each feeding each other little bits of data about who, what, where and when, is up to you. But as an invisible umbilical link to your phone (a device which most of us treat as a permanent appendage in any case) the Gear S2 fulfills its role more than admirably.

INFORMATION

Samsung Gear S2, from £249. For more information, visit Samsung’s website

After hearing that the Bouroullec brothers had been working with global electronics behemoth Samsung on a top-secret new project, Wallpaper* was keen to visit their studio to see it unveiled for the first time. Though the talented twosome have collaborated with plenty of well-known names in their time, we were intrigued to see how they had adapted to working with such a giant brand. 

Their studio, one of several in a hidden courtyard complex on the heights of northeast Paris, is housed in a former shoe factory. It's reassuringly messy, like the platonic ideal of a creative laboratory, though there are signs of order among the chaos, with racks of work folders and, in the basement, carefully archived boxes for every project, large and small. 

After being greeted by Ronan (green work jacket, jeans, dark blue shirt, tousled hair) and Erwan (slightly smarter in a slouch-shouldered blue jacket and jeans) and introduced to Samsung's senior VP and design chief, Yun-Je Kang, the brothers conduct their presentation as a double act, following (and sometimes interrupting) each other, with occasional interjections, in Korean, from Mr Kang.

It's an engagingly low-key performance, completely (and presumably intentionally) the opposite of the slick, all-singing, all-dancing presentation one might have expected from a household electronics brand. It even has the odd moment of comedy, especially at the moment when Erwan whisks off the torn length of cotton that covers the first of their prototypes – at which point all the other covers fall off too, revealing the entire new range of products at one fell swoop. But over to the Bouroullecs for the rest of the story...

Ronan: Samsung approached us three years ago. We refuse about 90–95 per cent of requests because we're too busy, and we generally prefer working with small and medium-sized companies, so the thought of working with such a huge company as Samsung didn't immediately appeal to us. We thought they'd be grey men, but when we met their team they were normal people, with a sense of humour – we realised we could work with them. We had almost three years to work on the project, which is much longer than they're usually used to.

Erwan: It's been exciting to work on something that will end up everywhere; as designers we've always wanted to have our work used by as wide a number of people as possible.

Yun-Je Kang: Working with the Bouroullecs is a good way for Samsung to expand the brand into the design world. The television market is very competitive, not only in design but also when it comes to technology and features. After IFA [the main global electronics trade fair in Berlin] three years ago we started thinking about how we could move outside the general arena where most TVs compete against each other.

Erwan: Initially we weren't really sure what Samsung were after – we thought they just wanted some concepts from us.

Ronan: We were surprised when Samsung asked us to work on a TV, because we knew that big electronics companies normally use in-house design teams. 

Erwan: We asked them why they didn't want us to work on flat or curved screens, but they feel that flat screens have come towards the end of their evolution.

Ronan: So instead of trying to make a TV ever thinner, trying to make it disappear, we decided to make it into a piece of furniture, like a chair – something that you can look at in the round.

Erwan: We also worked on the interface and what happens inside the TV. To start with we asked Samsung to send us a couple of TVs, which we dismantled and rebuilt. 

Ronan: In the end we worked our way through a lot of televisions and broke them, but Samsung were very patient with us. We had so many electric shocks during that period – poor Erwan is no longer the designer he was.

Erwan: We cut away the profile, framing the screen rather than trying to lose the edges, and it was interesting to see that people immediately began putting things on top of it. 

Ronan: As we were working I had this rather nostalgic memory of thick old TVs with lots of things on top of them.

Erwan: We started with wooden models, but right from the start we made sure we had a screen with moving images inside them. TVs aren't static objects.

Yun-Je Kang: On our first visit the brothers offered us around ten different ideas, but I could see immediately that this version differentiated it from anything else on the market, and it also had a timeless element.

Erwan: The flat surfaces at the top and bottom make it easy to carry, and we wanted the back to be as appealing as the front. Samsung have to include lots of sockets on the back for different countries, and hiding them and making the back as simple as possible was a big challenge. In the end we developed a special fabric attached by small magnets. We were looking for a mono-solution that would work in all contexts, in three different sizes. We tried doing versions to hang on a wall but they didn't work, so instead the medium and large versions come with very plain screw-in legs. It's an old solution, but they work better than anything else, they're cheap to produce, and they hardly take up any room in the box so they also save on packaging.

Ronan: I really don't like wall-mounted TVs. They're often hung quite high so they feel very intrusive. 

Erwan: One of my favourite features is what we call curtain mode. I pull the curtain across to hide the adverts – the TV automatically pixillates the picture in vertical lines to create an abstract, gently moving image…

Ronan: … though we've had to connect a computer to show the screen effect because we don't, er, have a TV in the studio.

Erwan: We redesigned a lot of the existing functionality, reordering the menu to start with the TV, then apps, then the speaker, then photos, then the time settings. I feel that apps are going to be really important, so we felt that they should be prominent in the controls.

Yun-Je Kang: From our point of view we're aiming at a new sector of consumers. Ultimately this is a furniture TV, so we'll be targeting concept stores and high-end department stores rather than electrical stores – we don't want Serif to compete with other TVs. The general TV market is hugely price-driven, and most TVs only have a shelf-life of a year or so. We wanted something that would be around for a longer time.

Ronan: We're constantly confronted by this as designers, where other brands are destroying people's expectations by being completely price-driven. It spoils a lot of things when people start believing that a chair should cost €20. The supermarket approach to life is just not right; everything is fake there, even the sausages.

Erwan: I think that a lot of people, like me, stopped watching TV and started watching movies instead on laptops and tablets. 

Ronan: I don't have a TV, for example. We didn't like the content on TV, or the designs. But now I think that way of watching TV on a laptop is finished. 

Erwan: It's been a long project, and I'm sure that Samsung must have hated us sometimes, but we're all very happy with what we've achieved. So the long pregnancy is over and we've given birth to triplets, in three different colours. 

INFORMATION

The Samsung Serif will be officially launched at the London Design Festival, and will then be on sale from 2 November in France, the UK, Sweden and Denmark; from £600

Photography courtesy of Samsung

The Plateau, Samsung Museum of Art in central Seoul has been transformed into an airport by Elmgreen & Dragset, the Danish-Norwegian artist duo renowned for their trademark philosophical take on modern societal controls.

The exhibition – titled Aéroport Mille Plateaux – is notable for its meticulously recreated 1960s modernist interiors, sporting mind-teasing twists like a broken staircase leading to an unreachable Gate 23 and an abandoned baby. A selection of the works from the pair's previous exhibitions is also included.

With a title derived from the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze and psychoanalyst Felix Guattari's A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, visitors pass though the usual security checks – here unmanned – with a replica boarding pass (the admission ticket), while the museum shop has been transformed into a duty free vendor featuring quirky items such as Mille Plateaux eau de parfum. Wallpaper* caught up with the maverick couple to ask about their take on art and that abandoned baby.

Wallpaper*: Tell us about the inspiration behind the concept of the exhibition.
Elmgreen & Dragset: When we first visited the venue in Seoul, we both thought that the architecture reminded us somehow of a micro-scaled airport. The curved, giant glass panes, the steel columns, the entrance and the stone flooring. We started to think about the definition of transitional spaces and the similarities between airports and other public institutions, like museums.

What are you trying to achieve with the show?
There is no specific storyline or intended message at play, but there is a general feeling of abandonment and loneliness that usurps the experience. Wherever you might feel like interacting, you find some sort of denial – a closed door or a malfunction. Still, everything looks deceptively normal. To us, this is pretty much an image of the world at large.

Why the baby left in front of a cash machine?
There are changes occurring in the demographics of most of the developed world today, particularly in regions like Korea and Japan. People consider a professional career more important than having children, and the result is a dramatic decrease in birth rates. The title of this work is Modern Moses (laughs). A forgotten baby.

Would you ever make an artwork simply for its intrinsic beauty?
Intrinsic beauty bores us. That doesn't mean that a work of art has to be 'ugly' if it implies a social message. It is important for us that the aesthetics and the message in a work come together in a way where they feed off each other, or contradict each other in a thrilling way. But art doesn't have to fulfil any special purpose, we think.

ADDRESS

Plateau, Samsung Museum of Art
55 Sejong-daero
Jung-gu
Seoul, Korea 100-716

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It shouldn't come as much surprise to learn that Samsung's newest generation smartphone is aiming high in terms of design. For a flagship phone to make an impact, design and - increasingly - craft and materials have to be a cut about the competition. Right now, that technical pole position is held by the Galaxy S6 edge, thanks largely to its innovative curved glass screen. As our exclusive film shows, this is a device forged from experimentation, innovation, heavy industry and high design.

Samsung's transition to leading purveyor of cutting edge industrial design has been many years in the making. Hong Ku Yeo is Lead Designer for Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, working under Samsung's Head of Design, Minhyouk Lee. In his decade and a half at the company, Lee has overseen the overseen the entire Galaxy range, helping add to his career haul of over 20 international design awards in the process. Ku Yeo is an RCA graduate with a stint at McLaren in the UK, so knows a thing or two about making materials perform.

According to Yeo, the new S6 edge 'tested the limits of what is possible in terms of industrial design.' This is the world's first curved display, inspired rather poetically by the 'waves of the ocean', but also by the desire to put a fresh, functional feature into a handset that'll keep it one step ahead of some rather vociferous competition. In the flesh, the edge is a thing of tactile beauty. Those curves, achieved by moulding glass at 800 degrees Celsius, took a long time to perfect. They're embedded within an aircraft-grade aluminium frame that undergoes 20 separate processes to achieve the finished, highly polished and shaped result.

'The objective was to capture the reflectiveness of light and the translucency of water to add visual depth and to create lively colours that are always in motion,' says Yeo. In practical terms the curve also give you notifications, cueing up icons along the edge that can be visible even when the screen is face down. Throw in the most efficient wireless charging system yet seen on a smartphone, a superb camera and a decent suit of software, and you have a device that's bound to steal an edge on the competition. For now, at least.