Samsung plans to launch new phones and wearables at Unpacked in July, which are getting all the attention. However, the company is also releasing the Galaxy Buds 3, which will look very similar to the AirPods.

The inner part of the buds will host a grilled speaker insert, and microphones and speaker grills will be on the top of the earbuds.

Watches, buds. pic.twitter.com/BP8yN0g9nz

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) June 27, 2024

The stem is boxy rather than round, with metal plates along the bottom with blue and orange stripes. A black strip also runs along the back of the Galaxy Buds, but its purpose is unclear. It could be an LED strip or a capacitive sensor for playback controls.

Like the AirPods, the Galaxy Buds 3 won’t have a silicone ear tip. This might mean that users won’t be comfortable wearing them for extended periods; however, I don’t think I’d mind. Oddly, according to Evan Blass, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro will sport silicone ear tips, so it’s unclear why Samsung is ditching them for the lesser variant.

Distributed also on: Evan Blass, Via: 9to5Google

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The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will reportedly sport rounded corners, which is a great design change. The corners won’t be as sharp, meaning it’ll be nicer to hold in your hand. However, this might be one of the only design changes, as the device might retain its boxy look.

I can confirm 100% that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will not crush your palm again.It’s really rounded! pic.twitter.com/rKf8TmCoAs

— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) June 27, 2024

This news comes from Ice Universe on X (Twitter), who didn’t offer any more information about the change. However, Ice Universe did mention that the S25 Ultra will continue to sport an S Pen.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is about half a year from release, so despite Ice Universe’s mostly accurate profile, it’s worth taking this with a grain of salt.

However, if you can’t wait until the S25 Ultra for a Samsung product, the South Korean tech giant is planning to launch several foldable devices at its upcoming Unpacked event. 

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If you’re looking for a new game to play this summer on PC or the Steam Deck there are lots of sales happening right now.

Some highlights include:

If you want to see a full list of all the games, you can check out this Reddit thread or the actual Steam Store.

Distributed also on: Steam

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While many Android smartphone makers have improved their update cadence and increased how many years of software support they offer, not everything has gotten better. There can still be plenty of friction with software updates, but Qualcomm wants to make things smoother.

Qualcomm’s SVP and general manager of handsets, Chris Patrick, told Android Authority in an interview that it’s “very expensive and very complicated” for manufacturers to get security updates and Android upgrades to customers. However, Patrick also said Qualcomm has been working to improve the situation for some time and teased upcoming announcements.

For example, Patrick highlighted how Qualcomm worked with Google to optimize code for updates to help minimize friction for manufacturers. But beyond that, Patrick didn’t say more about Qualcomm’s efforts, instead promising announcements “later this year.” Android Authority posits the announcements could come at Qualcomm’s annual Snapdragon Summit, but it could come earlier at IFA.

Regardless of when Qualcomm makes the announcement, changes to improve software updates will be welcomed by Android users. The complexity of software updates has historically hampered longer support windows for Android devices, with manufacturers promising only a few years of support. That said, things have improved in recent years with both Samsung and Google promising as many as seven years of software support on select devices.

It will be interesting to see what Qualcomm does to improve software updates for Android devices. Whatever it is, we’ll hopefully see more manufacturers joining Google and Samsung in offering longer support windows.

Distributed also on: Android Authority

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Valve’s Summer Sale is extending to the Steam Deck LCD models. The 64GB and 512GB models are being phased out of the Steam Deck lineup so Valve is knocking 15 percent off the price.

The 64GB version is now $373.15, which is roughly $66 less than its original $439 price tag.

The 512GB option is now down to $475, which is $84 less than the old $559 price tag.

This means the Steam Deck lineup will shift in early July. The new starting Deck will be the 256GB LCD model ($499) and both the 512GB ($689) and 1TB ($819) options will now only sport OLED screens.

Distributed also on: Valve

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When I think about it, the 3DS might be my most used Nintendo system of all time, outside of the Switch, given its incredibly varied catalogue and portable functionality.

And yet, a major 3DS blind spot for me has always been Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Vancouver-based Next Level Games’ best-selling second entry in Nintendo’s ghost-focused action-adventure series. On top of that, I never played much of Luigi’s Mansion 3, its Switch-exclusive sequel, as my fellow MobileSyrup Brad handled that review for us instead. Therefore, I’ve really enjoyed having Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, a new Switch remaster of Dark Moon, as my first real introduction to the series.

That starts with the presentation. Luigi has always appealed to me more than the ever-confident Mario, given that the green-clad brother is a rather endearingly timid goofball, and that’s reflected throughout Luigi’s Mansion 2. Whether it’s his Scooby Doo-esque frightened reactions to ghosts or the way he uneasily hums along to the music as you walk around, Luigi’s Mansion 2 just oozes character. Naturally, there’s not much of a story here (Luigi has to explore different mansions within Evershade Valley to collect pieces of the Dark Moon and recapture King Boo), but the game’s ample personality more than makes up for that. That tone ensures that this is one “spooky game” that’s suitable for all ages.

Enhancing all of this is a commendable visual overhaul that brings Luigi’s Mansion 2 more in line with Switch-level visuals. Of course, you can still tell it’s not quite a modern game, given the relative simplicity of some environments and animations, but it’s nonetheless a noticeable graphical upgrade. Meanwhile, other modernization comes in the form of the minimap having been brought to the top-right of the screen (rather than the lower of the 3DS’ displays) and better spacing out of some of the inputs thanks to the Switch’s increased number of buttons over the 3DS.

These improvements complement the core ghost-catching gameplay loop, which remains incredibly compelling. With his handy Poltergust 5000 and attached Strobulb-enhanced flashlight, Luigi can stun and then suck up ghosts that he encounters in a bout of tug of war with the analogue stick. Basic ghouls are simple enough to ensnare, but larger variants put up more of a struggle, resulting in gleefully frantic chases around a given room that can get even more chaotic when other hazards like demonic rats and flying books are thrown into the mix.

Outside of combat, the utility of Luigi’s gear also gradually expands in some clever ways, like a ‘Dark Light’ to reveal hidden objects and doors and the ability to inflate and latch onto balloons to reach higher places. And because rooms tend to be small, you’re encouraged to blow through every corner with the Poltergust to find goodies like hearts, coins and even life-saving ghost dog bones, be they under a rug, behind a window curtain, or even atop a ceiling fan, thus adding even more depth and texture to the world. Meanwhile, the mansions themselves are impressively varied from a thematic standpoint, starting with a simple haunted house setup but soon including the likes of a sandy clock tower, a monstrous plant-filled botanical garden and frigid coal mines.

The only major shortcoming of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD lies in its mission-based campaign. After completing a certain objective, like finding four cogs to operate a lift, Professor E. Gadd will return Luigi to his bunker before sending him back. This fragmented structure might be more palatable if you’re playing in chunks on the go, but my time with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD has primarily been in TV mode, so it feels like unnecessary padding in between the engaging moment-to-moment exploration and ghost encounters. This also might take some getting used to if you’re coming from the open-ended areas of Luigi’s Mansion 3.

And while it’s not a flaw of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD itself, it’s tough to swallow $79.99 for a remaster of an 11-year-old 3DS game. (Especially when, by contrast, last year’s Metroid Prime Remastered has the far more reasonable cost of $49.99). Maybe if the original Luigi’s Mansion was thrown in to make this a double-pack, but with just this sequel remaster, that full price tag is harder to justify. It’s worth noting that I didn’t get a chance to try out Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD‘s trio of four-player multiplayer modes (two of which are “catch all of the ghosts,” while one is “find the exit”), which should, to be fair, add a bit more value. Even still, though, $79.99 for an older game will undoubtedly be a pretty big ask for some.

What I can say, for my part, is that Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is an excellent game that’s just bursting with charm, inventive gameplay and delightful Haunted Mansion-style levels. I’m also just glad it’s now found a home on Switch, as it gives people like me the chance to properly check it out. Here’s hoping Kid Icarus: Uprising is the next 3DS game to make the jump to Switch!

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD will launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch on June 27th.

Image credit: Nintendo

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TL;DR: Shop the full Black Friday in Summer sale.

Replacing your washer and dryer might not evoke the same thrill as peeling the protective film off the screen of a new phone, but if you’re in need of new home appliances, Best Buy’s Black Friday in Summer sale should come close. Check out the deep discounts in the entire sale, or peruse some of the individual deals below.

Samsung 36″ 27 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator for $1,649.99 (save $550)

LG 5.2 Cu. Ft. High Efficiency Front Load Steam Washer & 7.4 Cu. Ft. Electric Dryer for $1,999.98 (save $300)

Samsung 30″ 6.3 Cu. Ft. Slide-In Electric Range for $1,299.99 (save $600)

LG 36″ 26 cu. ft. Smart Mirror InstaView French Door Refrigerator for $2,299.99 (save $700)

LG WashTower 5.2 Cu. Ft. High Efficiency Steam Washer & Dryer for $2,199.99 (save $300)

Insignia 30″ 18 Cu. Ft. Top Freezer Refrigerator for $599.99 (save $200)

Samsung 5.3 Cu. Ft. Front Load Electric Washer & Dryer for $2,099.99 (save $1,200)

GE Over-the-Range Microwave for $349.99 (save $100)

Bosch 24″ 46dB Built-In Dishwasher with Third Rack for $1,299.99 (save $200)

LG 36″ 23 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator for $1,399.99 (save $500)

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Amazon Prime Day 2024 will take place on July 16th and 17th, the e-commerce giant has confirmed.

In a blog post, the company began teasing its big annual sale, which will offer new deals as often as five minutes throughout those two days. Additionally, Prime members can once again request an invitation to exclusive deals. So far, the company says it will offer up to 40 percent off Sony wireless headphones and up to 30 percent off Peloton products.

Altogether, Amazon is promising “millions” of deals across 35 product categories. The company says Prime Day 2023 offered customers $2.5 billion in total savings, so it remains to be seen how the deals will compare this year.

To announce this year’s Prime Day dates, Amazon also partnered with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Megan Thee Stallion on a song called “It’s Prime Day.” You can check it out below:

Distributed also on: Amazon

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These are only my initial thoughts about the devices. I’ll mostly focus on the Razr+, considering the Razr lacks Canadian availability. But it’s worth mentioning that the base Razr now looks similar to last year’s Razr+, and with that in mind, it’s a great option considering the $699 USD price point. The star of the show, the Razr+, has a sleeker design and feels more solid compared to its predecessor, which is exactly what you want when you’re using a folding smartphone.

Even bigger external display

The Razr+’s front looks incredibly sleek, thanks to its smaller bezels and larger 4-inch HDR10+ display. Last year, I was already impressed by the Razr+ 2023 external screen, but this year’s model is even better. It also sports a 1272 x 1080-pixel resolution, up to 165Hz refresh rate, 2400 nits of brightness, and even a touch rate of 120Hz (165Hz when you’re gaming), making the phone feel incredibly speedy when you’re swiping through it.

This year, it also has an Always On Display that shows the time, date, battery percentage, and notification icons. When you activate the cover display, the colour returns to the screen, and you can see your lock screen properly. It’s a small touch that other OEMs have done in the past, but it looks even nicer when your handset is folded and you see the small square-shaped screen.

When you flip the phone to its rear, you’ll see the soft vegan leather in one of four colours: Spring Green, Peach Fuzz, Midnight Blue and Hot Pink. While the headlining colour this year is Peach Fuzz, Spring Green is my favourite of the four, and it breaks my heart that my review unit isn’t that pretty green variant.

The Razr+ also has a 6000 series aluminum frame, making the handset more durable. Nick Gray from Phandroid dropped one of the hands-on units, and even though it sounded like it should have broken, the handset was fine. I’m not saying it has a MIL-STD grading, but considering the leather back, the handset isn’t as breakable as many others on the market.

On the bigger cover screen, you can do more than before. For instance, you can activate Google Assistant (or Gemini) without opening or unlocking your handset (depending on your query). You can add even more panels (or home screens) with widgets, contacts, Google Fit, and specifically one for Spotify. Similar to last year, an ‘Extended View’ option extends the screen past the dual cameras.

Flip it open

When you flip open the Razr+, you’re greeted with a 6.9-inch LTPO pOLED primary screen with a 2640 x 1080-pixel resolution, up to 165Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate (or 360Hz when gaming) and an astonishing 3000 nits of brightness.

The display looked good, but I’ll have to spend more time watching content, looking at pictures, and checking out the peak brightness on a sunny day.

The device also sports Android 14, 256GB of built-in storage, 12GB of RAM and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. It also has a 4,000mAh battery with 45W turbo power charging and IPx8. While this is all nice on paper, I’ll have to put the Razr+ through its paces before deciding whether this 4,000mAh battery is worth it or if 12GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 are enough to power the handset.

It’s awesome that Motorola improved the waterproofing on this handset compared to its predecessor. An IPx8 rating means you can take your Razr+ underwater or in the shower if you don’t want to stop watching your TV shows.

Hello Moto

This year, the Razr+ sports a 50-megapixel primary shooter and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. This replaces the ultrawide on last year’s model. Personally, I prefer an optical sensor versus an ultrawide, so I’m happy for this change. However, a 2x optical is mostly designed for portraits, which is nice because I love taking pictures of myself and my friends, but 2x zoom isn’t a lot, and you won’t be using it like the 5x zoom on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra.

I played around with this camera, and it looked great, but I’ll put it through its paces before making any final conclusions.

The handset also has a 32-megapixel selfie camera, which I didn’t use very much. If I want to take a selfie, I’ll use rear-facing cameras, considering they’ll offer a better experience.

Motorola also returned the camcorder mode to the Razr+, allowing users to hold their Razr smartphone like an old-style camcorder. This time, when you hold your handset like a camcorder with the camera open, the Razr+ will automatically start taking a video. You can have the device take these videos in either portrait or landscape. I liked the camcorder mode in last year’s model, and I can’t wait to try it out during the review process.

AI everywhere

Of course, like every other handset launching this year, Motorola had to mention new AI features powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. The Razr+ comes with Google’s Gemini pre-installed, and Motorola is offering three months of Gemini Advanced with the purchase of the Razr+.

On top of Gemini, the Razr+ has ‘Create with AI,’ allowing you to make wallpapers by typing in words. I played with this during our hands-on, but I’ll try it out more for my review. There’s also Style Sync, which lets you take a picture of your outfit, and it’ll make a wallpaper based on this. I thought this looked fun, but it’s not a feature I can see myself using in the future.

Motorola also talked about Moto AI, a personal assistant that seems pretty useful. The company introduced this at Lenovo Tech World but went into it again during our pre-briefing. This personal assistant works in the background and interacts with your other apps, such as texts, e-mails and more. You can then ask the Assistant to catch you up on your notifications so you don’t have to go sift through them. You can say, “Pay attention,” and it will start recording your conversation, transcribing it, and even summarizing it.

This seemed very cool, and it was an Android offering to compete against Apple Intelligence. However, like Apple Intelligence, it isn’t available yet, but I’m eagerly waiting for Motorola to release this feature.

The Motorola Razr+ is available for pre-order on July 10th and comes out at select carriers and retailers on July 24th for $1,299.99. I need to spend some time with the Razr+ before deciding whether that price is worth it. However, my first experiences with the device have been incredibly positive, and I’ll share more about my thoughts in the coming weeks.

The federal and Ontario governments are providing over $97 million combined to help connect over 18,600 homes to high-speed internet along the north shore of Lake Huron and on Manitoulin Island.

The combined funding will go to ROCK Networks, a PomeGran group company, and will see high-speed internet access brought to over 60 communities between Sudbury, Huron Shores and Sault Ste. Marie as well as Manitoulin Island. On top of the 18,600 homes served by the project, it will also serve over 2,500 Indigenous households.

The announcement is part of an existing partnership between Ontario and Canada, which was announced in July 2021 and saw a combined $1.2 billion investment from the province and the feds.

The feds say things are still on track for 98 percent of Canadians to get connected to high-speed internet by 2026 and these internet projects will help all Canadians gain access to high-speed internet by 2030.

Header image credit: Shutterstock

Distributed also on: Canada

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