Digital Trends Live: Partial lift of Huawei ban, Samsung foldable phone, more

By Todd Werkhoven Published April 25, 2023

On this episode of Digital Trends Live, host Greg Nibler and DT content specialist Chris DeGraw discuss the trending tech topics of the day, including a partial lift by the U.S. of the Huawei ban, the approach of Prime Day, adding noise to electric cars, Samsung’s rumored vertically foldable phone, Starlink’s loss of control over three satellites, the Sony Walkman’s 40^th anniversary, and more.

Christian Nascimento, vice president of product management for Comcast Business, discusses the future of the connected office, and how the Internet of Things and A.I. are set to change the way we do business.

Nibler then welcomes Zohar Levy, chief executive officer of Seedo Corp., to talk about the future of hydroponically grown plants, and bringing automated hydroponic technology to the consumer.

Finally, Sabrina Philipp, founder and CEO of Sabrina Philipp, LLC, joins us to talk about the multimillion dollar social media company she created after moving to Bali with only $800.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Todd Werkhoven's work can be read at numerous publications and he co-authored a personal finance book called "Zombie…

Mobile

With TCL’s foldable phone now on indefinite hold, can anyone challenge Samsung?

TCL's foldable phone concept

Samsung may have already won the foldable game before the race has even started. TCL has just confirmed that its first foldable smartphone has been indefinitely postponed. The device, code-named Project Chicago, was supposed to be TCL’s first foray into the foldable smartphone world. Instead, in a statement to the press, TCL said it will be postponing the project indefinitely, citing component shortages and rising costs in foldable production.

“Although the foldable market is growing each year, it is still a premium product category. In combination with recent component shortages, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising costs in foldable production, TCL has made the difficult decision to suspend the launch of its first commercially available foldable smartphone until the company can produce and bring it to market at a price point that’s accessible to as many consumers as possible,” said Stefan Streit, TCL's marketing chief, in a statement to the press.

Mobile

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the most durable foldable phone ever

The Samsung Galazy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3.

The results are in. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the strongest foldable phone based on testing by Allstate Protection Plans. The durability testing process included folding and unfolding the phone repeatedly with the Foldbot, open and closed facedown drop tests, and a dunk test. Results for the fold test are still pending, as is testing for the Z Flip 3, but Allstate believes the phones should have no problem lasting up to 200,000 folds.

On the open drop test, the Z Fold 3 was dropped six feet onto a sidewalk and had minor corner scuffing and minimal pixel damage. This is the first smartphone that hasn't shattered since Allstate begin breakability testing in 2013. The phone also sustained no damage after a 30-minute dunk in five feet of water. Allstate's Dropbot did manage to take down the Z Fold 3 during the closed facedown drop test. The phone was deemed unusable when the exterior screen shattered on the first test.

Mobile

Samsung lets you try its foldable phones for 100 days before buying

Galaxy Z Fold 2 unfolded

Samsung has launched a limited-time program that lets you try its Galaxy Z Flip 5G or Galaxy Z Fold2 5G foldable smartphones for 100 days before committing to the purchase.

In other words, if after 99 days you decide that the device really isn’t for you, you can simply return it for a full refund, no questions asked.