Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 will be held later this month in San Jose, California, the company announced on Tuesday. The annual event will witness the launch of the new generation Galaxy S series ubiquitously known as the Galaxy S25 series. As per the South Korean technology conglomerate, it will deliver a “big leap” in mobile artificial intelligence (AI) experiences. Samsung has also started pre-reservations for the phones in India. Those who pre-reserve will enjoy special benefits.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 Date
In a newsroom post, Samsung shared the details of its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked 2025. It will be held on January 22 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET (10:30 pm IST) in San Jose, California. The event will be live-streamed on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom, and its official YouTube channel.
The company says customers can pre-reserve their spot by paying Rs. 1,999 to get their hands on the Galaxy Pre-reserve VIP Pass and enjoy benefits worth Rs. 5,000 via an e-Store voucher when purchasing the upcoming Galaxy phones. Further, this will automatically confirm their entry in a giveaway worth Rs. 50,000.
Samsung has already confirmed that it will debut its new Galaxy S series at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event. Following previous trends, three models are likely to be announced — the Galaxy S25, a Galaxy S25+, and the top-of-the-line Galaxy S25 Ultra. All variants are expected to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC with 12GB of RAM as standard.
The standard Galaxy S25 model is speculated to be equipped with a 4,000mAh battery, while the Plus and Ultra variants could get 4,900mAh and 5,000mAh cells, respectively.
Leaked renders suggest that the purported Galaxy S25 Ultra may come with rounded corners, potentially ditching the boxy design that has become synonymous with Samsung's ‘Ultra' models in recent years. Meanwhile, the other two models are said to have an unaltered design.
Alongside the Galaxy S25 series, the South Korean company may also debut its extended reality (XR) headset dubbed Project Moohan which was announced in December 2024. It runs on Google's new Android XR platform which is designed to support features that rely on augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI). There's also a possibility that Samsung could tease a new Galaxy S25 Slim.
Other reports suggest that the purported Galaxy Ring 2 could also see the light of day at the event, adding two new sizes to compete with rival Oura Ring. The wearable is speculated to come with more accurate health data sensors, improved AI functionalities, and a longer battery life compared to the first-generation Galaxy Ring.
Huawei Enjoy 70X was launched in China last week as a successor to the Huawei Enjoy 60X, which debuted in April 2023. The new Enjoy series phone is offered in four different colour options and runs on HarmonyOS 4.2. Huawei offers a 6.78-inch screen with up to 120Hz on the Enjoy 70X. It supports satellite messaging in China and has a water-resistant IP64 build. The Huawei Enjoy 70X has a 6,100 mAh battery that supports 40W wired charging.
Huawei Enjoy 70X Price
Price of Huawei Enjoy 70X is set at CNY 1,799 (roughly Rs. 21,000) for the 8GB + 128GB variant. The 8GB + 256GB model is priced at CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 23,000), while the high-end 8GB + 512GB variant costs CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 27,000). The smartphone is currently available for purchase in China via Vmall. It is offered in Gold Black, Lake Blue, Snow White, and Spruce colour options.
Huawei Enjoy 70X Specifications
The dual-SIM (Nano) Huawei Enjoy 70X runs on HarmonyOS 4.2 and features a 6.78-inch full-HD+ (1,224x2,700 pixels) AMOLED display with 437ppi pixel density and up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The screen has Aluminosilicate glass protection as well. As usual, Huawei hasn't officially revealed the processor of the Huawei Enjoy 70X. It is expected to have a Kirin 8000A 5G chipset under the hood.
For photos and videos, the Huawei Enjoy 70X flaunts a dual rear camera setup that includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth of field sensor with f/2.4 aperture. For selfies and video chats, there is a single 8-megapixel sensor on the front with an f/2.0 lens.
The Huawei Enjoy 70X comes in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, onboard storage options. The handset offers Beidou satellite messaging functionality in China that allows users to send and receive text messages and images through satellite connectivity.
Other connectivity options on the Huawei Mate 70X include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, OTG, Skyline, BeiDou, Galileo, GPS, AGPS, QZSS, Glonass, NFC, and a USB Type-C port for charging. Sensors onboard include an ambient light sensor, colour temperature sensor, compass, gyroscope, gravity sensor, and proximity light sensor. There is also an in-display fingerprint scanner for authentication.
Huawei has packed a 6,100mAh battery in the Huawei Mate 70X that supports 40W fast charging. It is IP64-rated for dust and water resistance. The phone measures 164x74.88x7.98mm and weighs around 189 grams.
Gone are the days when air purifiers were considered a luxury product and something that was connected to home decor. We live in times when an air purifier is necessary for your family. Especially if you're living in north India, air purifiers are a must-have product in winter months as AQI spikes to over 500 and, at times, even 1,000 on the measuring charts. Unfortunately, in 2024, even the suburbs of Mumbai reported higher AQI levels based on multiple reports, so the problem is bigger. Thankfully, we have brands like Qubo that offer air purifiers of all sizes. Whether you need them to cover a small area (200 square feet) or up to 1,000 square feet, there's an option.
The Q600 Smart Air Purifier from Qubo is an ideal option for a two-room setup and costs Rs. 14,990. But is it the air purifier to choose this winter, or should you look at other options? Let me answer that in this review.
Qubo Q600 Smart Air Purifier Design: Simple but Efficient
Weight - 5.2 kg
Max noise - 55db
Dust sensor - Yes
Coverage area - 600 sq feet
The Q600 Smart Air Purifier is a great example of how to keep things simple. It features a basic design that houses the HEPA filter in the lower half of the purifier and the upper half housing the fan. The air outlet is towards the top, while the rear panel can be opened to clean or change the filter. In fact, the Qubo Q600 is one of the purifiers with a plug-and-play type HEPA filter setup. Convenience over complication is always preferred.
The Q600 packs a 4-in-1 filter featuring pre-filter, HEPA 13, carbon filter, and silver nanoparticle coating
The air purifier packs a bunch of touch-sensitive buttons on the top, which feature power, fan speed, auto mode, timer, and QSensAI. A small colour LED screen on the front panel displays the surrounding AQI with colour coding where red is higher pollution levels and green is under control.
Qubo has smartly fitted multiple indicators in this small screen, including filter life, child lock, and Wi-Fi indicators. For someone unfamiliar with the app ecosystem, the Q600 Smart Air Purifier can function without a proper app setup. Just plug the device after unboxing. However, one important thing to note is that Qubo air purifiers have a polybag around the HEPA filter. Users have to remove this polybag before they start using the air purifier.
The LED screen on the purifier shows the real-time AQI level in the room
Qubo Q600 Smart Air Purifier App, Features and Performance: Decent, Overall
App Compatibility - Qubo App
Works with Alexa
Hepa Filter - H13
Number of Filters - 4
For Q600 Smart Air Purifier, the Qubo app is the primary key. You get additional features alongside some functionality-related features that are not physically available on the purifier. The one-time setup is quick, and Qubo has added a nice touch by sending users a proper Quick Start guide on WhatsApp when signing in.
Qubo's proprietary AI tech, QSensAI, is part of the package, and it automatically analyses ambient air quality in real-time
The app interface is user-friendly and has most features a few taps away. The Qubo app's home screen will show you PM2.5 current levels in the room, and you can enable QSensAI, which automatically senses PM2.5 levels in the room and springs into action when needed. In the app, users can set it when they want the device to turn off, like once PM2.5 levels drop below 25 and turn it on when the level goes above 50. You also get Silent Mode in the app, which basically mutes the air purifier's fan sound. The app also lets you adjust the light intensity of the LEDs on the buttons on the Q600, which is a neat touch.
Additional features like child lock can be enabled using the app alongside a scheduling option where users can choose a routine for the air purifier to start and shut automatically. Moreover, users also get a countdown option that lets them set the time when the air purifier should shut down, for example, in an hour, two hours, four hours, and more. Users can manually adjust this. Of course, the app also offers filter life in terms of the total number of hours remaining. It's worth noting that Qubo claims up to 15,000 hours of filter life on its Q600 Smart Air Purifier, which may slightly differ depending on fan speed.
The Qubo app is feature-rich, and you can control the purifier efficiently through the mobile app
The best thing is that the Qubo app offers deep insights into PM2.5 levels in the last 24 hours or the last seven days or more. Thanks to Alexa integration, I could start the Q600 Smart Air Purifier with voice commands to my smart speaker at home.
Coming to raw performance, the Qubo Q600 Smart Air Purifier is an efficient and silent (comparatively) operator for everyday use. From a situation of over 200 AQI levels in the room to bringing it below 80, the Q600 took about 1.5 hours in auto mode. Compared to similarly priced air purifiers, the Q600 fares well. I set a schedule for the Q600 air purifier, which worked from 7am to 10pm with QSensAI enabled. Every time PM2.5 levels go below 25, the purifier automatically shuts and restarts when it goes over 30. Without anyone noticing, the purifier worked flawlessly.
Qubo claims that the HEPA filter has a life span of up to 15,000 hours
Qubo Q600 Smart Air Purifier Review: Verdict
The Q600 air purifier from Qubo is ideal for a flat with two rooms and can efficiently keep air quality at home in check. However, apart from being a silent operator, this is also a slow operator, so do not expect this to do some magic in a jiffy. At Rs. 14,990, the Q600 Smart Air Purifier is slightly expensive, especially considering that similar models are available at lesser price points. One such example is the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite, launched recently and is available at Rs. 10,999.
Price: Rs. 14,990
Pros
Silent and efficient operator
Decent purification performance
Qubo app offers plenty of customisations
Cons
Only the basic buttons on the purifier
Overall, the package is slightly expensive
Ratings (out of 10):
Design: 7
Performance: 7
Value for money: 7
Overall: 7
Nothing Phone 2a Plus users can now download the latest Nothing OS 3.0 stable version, the company has announced. The update is based on Android 15 and has been released nearly a month after the first open beta was rolled out for the aforementioned smartphone. Nothing OS 3.0 introduces visual changes across the user interface (UI) including new home and lock screen customisation options. Further, it also bundles several artificial intelligence (AI) features related to productivity.
Nothing OS 3.0 Update Features
Nothing detailed the features of the latest Nothing OS 3.0 update in a post on its community forum. As per the British smartphone maker, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus gets an AI-powered smart drawer feature which can automatically categorise apps by analysing usage patterns. Users can also pin their most-used apps at the top of the app drawer. The update enables more direct editing of the lock screen by long-pressing on it which opens the customisation page. Additionally, there are new clock faces, expanded widget space, redesigned quick settings, and updated visuals across the user interface (UI) for a refreshed look.
Following the update, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus gets auto-archive functionality which is claimed to free up storage space without deleting apps or data from the device. The update also improves multi-tasking by introducing an enhanced pop-up view. Users can now drag pop-up windows anywhere across the screen, resize and pin them, and quickly open a pop-up view by swiping down on incoming notifications.
With Nothing OS 3.0, users can take advantage of the new Shared Widgets feature which displays the widgets of friends and family on the home screen of the user's device. They can link up and interact with others through reactions.
Meanwhile, the company has already confirmed that Google'sCircle to Search will now be available on Nothing Phone 2a Plus and other models post the update. It leverages AI to enable users to search for something on the web by highlighting it on the screen and enabling its visual lookup. The feature supports actions such as scribbling, circling or drawing over an object and text on the screen, and can be used to translate and copy text too.
Other features of the Android 15-based update include an updated setup wizard, improved lock screen charging status display, partial screen sharing, and predictive back animations. Nothing OS 3.0 also bundles the December 2024 security patch.
A novel crystal-based technology has been identified as a potential solution for sustainable cooling systems. Current refrigeration and air conditioning devices rely on liquid-based systems to absorb heat through evaporation and condensation. While effective, these fluids contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions when leaked, intensifying global warming. Efforts to counteract this environmental impact have led to the development of an alternative cooling mechanism based on plastic crystals, which possess a unique molecular structure capable of transforming under pressure.
How the Technology Works
According to researchers at Deakin University, plastic crystals exhibit a transformative ability when subjected to extreme pressure. Their molecular orientation shifts from a disordered state to a structured grid, absorbing heat as the pressure is released. This heat absorption process facilitates cooling, providing a climate-friendly alternative to traditional refrigerants.
Unlike earlier materials, which required high ambient temperatures for similar transitions, the newly developed crystals operate effectively between -37 degree Celsius and 10 degree Celsius. This range aligns with typical household refrigeration and freezing needs, presenting a significant step forward in sustainable cooling technologies.
Challenges in Implementation
According to a New Scientist report, high-pressure requirements, equivalent to conditions thousands of metres underwater, remain a major hurdle for practical application. Dr. Jenny Pringle, a lead researcher in the study, acknowledged this limitation and emphasised the need for further development to address these constraints.
Concerns have also been raised by experts about the long-term performance of these crystals. Bing Li, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, pointed out the potential reduction in heat absorption capacity over time due to molecular strain, while expressing optimism about future advancements.
Potential Impact
David Boldrin from the University of Glasgow told the publication about the significant potential of this innovation, suggesting that it could help decarbonise the cooling industry. While the technology remains confined to laboratory settings, its success could herald a substantial reduction in the environmental footprint of refrigeration systems.
Experts remain hopeful that continued research will overcome current obstacles, bringing this promising solution closer to widespread adoption.
The study of the Sun and its influence on the solar system is expected to make significant strides in 2025. The year will bring new developments driven by an active solar cycle, upcoming spacecraft missions, and a strategic roadmap for the next decade. Researchers are focused on unlocking key mysteries of the sun, whose activity impacts life on Earth and extends far beyond Pluto. These efforts aim to provide critical insights into solar processes and their effects across the solar system.
Solar Cycle 25 and Ongoing Activity
According to NASA, the Sun is currently in the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle. This period has produced numerous solar flares and outbursts that are being closely monitored. Instruments such as the largest solar telescope and spacecraft that have made record-setting approaches to the sun have played a key role in collecting data. Despite not breaking records, Solar Cycle 25 has generated valuable observations that have propelled research forward.
Upcoming Spacecraft Missions
As per NASA, six new missions are scheduled for launch in 2025. These include the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), designed to chart the sun's outer sphere of influence, and the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE), which will study space weather around Mars. The Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission, involving four small satellites, will examine the sun's outer atmosphere.
A Decadal Blueprint for Research
The recently released heliophysics decadal report outlines research priorities for the next ten years. Among the proposals are two large-scale projects, including a mission deploying over 26 spacecraft to study Earth's magnetic field and auroras. Another mission aims to explore the sun's poles over a full solar cycle, a region considered pivotal to understanding the sun's magnetic field dynamics.
Efforts will also be supported by the Next Generation Global Oscillations Network Group (ngGONG), enhancing the capability to study the solar interior. With these initiatives, heliophysics is positioned to address long-standing questions and open new research avenues in 2025.
Organic carbon preservation in ocean sediments, a phenomenon critical to the Earth's carbon cycle, has been illuminated by new research. The study explores mechanisms that prevent organic carbon from breaking down, a process vital for climate regulation. Preserved carbon, over time, can transform into fossil fuels, locking away carbon dioxide—a leading contributor to climate change. These findings offer insights into the Earth's natural systems that regulate carbon levels and influence the formation of oil and gas reserves.
Study Identifies Key Carbon Preservation Mechanisms
According to a study led by scientists from The University of Manchester and the University of Leeds and published in the journal Nature Geoscience, two primary processes—sorption and molecular transformation—are crucial for carbon storage in ocean sediments.
Sorption involves the uptake of carbon by mineral surfaces, while molecular transformation converts small, reactive molecules into larger, stable forms. The study used a comprehensive model, integrating real-world sediment data, to identify these processes as dominant contributors to carbon preservation.
AI Provides Deeper Insights into Carbon Storage
Artificial intelligence (AI) was utilised to enhance the study's model, enabling accurate predictions of carbon storage efficiency. Dr. Peyman Babakhani, a lead researcher, highlighted that AI helped clarify complex environmental processes. The research revealed that carbon preservation in sediments is nearly three times higher than earlier estimates, aligning closely with observed data.
Implications for Climate Change Mitigation
The findings underline the importance of sorption and molecular transformation in protecting organic matter from degradation and facilitating its burial in deeper sediment layers. This preserved carbon can eventually become fossil fuels, effectively keeping carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. These insights could influence climate change strategies, such as ocean fertilisation, aimed at enhancing natural carbon storage mechanisms.
By shedding light on these processes, the study opens pathways for managing carbon emissions and leveraging the ocean's role in the global carbon cycle.
