The Vergecast Samsung's thin, big, boring AI phones
192 snips
Jan 24, 2025 
Allison Johnson, a reporter at The Verge, covers the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, where excitement around the Galaxy S25 Edge is tempered by disappointments in upgrades across the lineup. Lauren Feiner, policy reporter, dives into the Trump administration's tech maneuvers, including a TikTok ban delay and AI executive orders. The conversation shifts to Netflix's strategy in the evolving streaming wars, the competitive landscape of AI with Google's new advancements, and the future of smart home innovations, offering a mix of serious insights and light-hearted banter.
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Underwhelming Updates, Exciting Edge
- Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25, and S25 Plus received minor updates, described as a review of One UI 7.
- The S25 Edge, a thin phone, generated excitement, reminiscent of CES a decade ago.
Thinness as a Differentiator
- The focus on thinness in the S25 Edge seems primarily style-driven, similar to the Johnny Ive era.
- It's potentially a response to phones being homogenous, offering a differentiating factor.
Thin Phone Outshines Headset
- Despite showcasing a new headset, the Wuhan, attention at Unpacked was dominated by the thin S25 Edge.
- People showed more interest in the phone's thinness than the headset's features.