Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

IFA Day 2: A retina-scanning phone, Logitech’s home remote, 4K UHD Blu-ray

By
The second of IFA 2015’s two press-only days is in the can and it came with a few pleasant surprises. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Samsung delighted home-video buffs with its announcement of the first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the UHD-K8500. The new Blu-ray format will deliver the best picture quality 4K TV owners have ever seen at home with high-bitrate 4K video, full HDR (high dynamic range) support, and upscaling of both standard Blu-ray discs and DVDs. As part of the same announcement, 20th Century Fox pledged its full support of 4K UHD, promising all new titles will be issued in the new format, with older titles re-mastered and re-released over time. Samsung indicated the new players would appear in Europe in early 2016, but we’re holding out hope the U.S. might see them in time for the holidays. You can learn more about the new 4K UHD Blu-ray player here.

Recommended Videos

Chinese smartphone maker, ZTE, announced its latest offering, the Axon Elite. The good news is that the phone sports some really cool tech. The bad news for anyone outside of Europe is that you can’t have it. It’s bound for European customers only. The Axon Elite features the same top-shelf hardware as the standard Axon available in the U.S., including a dual-lens camera, but tacks on security measures in the way of voice-authorization, a fingerprint scanner and — get this — a retina scanner. It all works remarkably well, too. We’ve got a hands-on report on the new phone coming soon.

Finally, Logitech announced  several new additions to its Harmony remote lineup, including the Harmony Elite. The Harmony Elite works with Logitech’s Harmony Hub to control not only your entire entertainment system, but smart home devices such as lighting, thermostats, door locks, window shades and more as well. The remote allows the programming of so-called “Harmony Activities,” which will sequence several commands at once. You could power on your entertainment system, dim the lights, draw the shades and lock the doors, for instance, all with the press of a single button. The possibilities are only limited by the number of home automation devices available.

That’s it for day two. Tomorrow, the IFA 2015 show floor opens to the public and Digital Trends will be roaming around in search of more new tech. Be sure to check back in for all the latest coverage of the big show, plus the announcement of the Digital Trends Best Tech of IFA 2015 awards in 10 different categories.

Editor’s note: Ignore the frazzled narrator at the end of the video! The winners of Digital Trends’ IFA 2015 awards will be announced this Saturday, not Friday.

Topics
Caleb Denison
Caleb Denison
Editor at Large
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
Best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals: Save big on unlocked models
The back of the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus.

For a couple of years now the Samsung Galaxy S22 has made for some of the best phone deals you can shop. This includes both the Galaxy S22 and its big brother in the lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S22+. These phones have been out for a little while now, and they’re getting more and more difficult to find brand new. We’ve managed to find a few deals available on both the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22+, however, and there are several ways to save on refurbished models out there. We’ve rounded up all of the best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals taking place at a number of different retailers, but if you're looking for a newer model, be sure to check out other Samsung Galaxy deals, such as Samsung Galaxy S23 deals and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals.
Samsung Galaxy S22 deals at Samsung

Samsung isn’t currently carrying very many older models of the Samsung Galaxy S phone. You’ll find some newer models like the recently released Samsung Galaxy S24 there, but if you’re looking for something from the S22 model lineup all you’ll find is a Galaxy S22 renewed model. It’s offering some great savings, however, as you can claim it for just $679 with up to $300 in trade-in savings.

Read more
Best Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deals: How to get the phone for free
Close-up view of the cameras on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Despite the recent release of the Samsung S24 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains a powerhouse smartphone worth considering. Right now is also one of the best times to buy a new Galaxy S23 Ultra, as it becoming a generation older has ushered in some really impressive Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deals. You’ll find these deals scattered across all kinds of retailers, so we’ve done the heavy lifting of organizing all of them in one place. The best Samsung Galaxy deals include some massive savings through sales and trade-in credits, so keep reading for more details on which retail outlet may net you the most savings on a new Galaxy S23 Ultra. Be sure to compare these to older Samsung Galaxy S22 deals and newer Samsung Galaxy S24 deals.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deals at Amazon

Amazon is offering a 14% discount on the 512GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, bringing the price from $1,380 to $1,199. That's a savings of nearly $200 to get the new phone. This version of the phone is unlocked for all carriers, so you have the freedom to use whatever plan you choose with it.

Read more
Best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals: Get the foldable for free
YouTube Flex mode features on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.

While there are a lot of great foldable flip phones that you can grab, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is one of the best folding phones on the market right now. It has excellent performance, some of the best cameras on any Samsung device, and the overall build quality makes it feel luxurious. Of course, all this quality comes at quite a premium, and with a device that can cost over $1,000, depending on which model you want to grab, you'll want to snag a deal on it. That's why we've gone out and found some of our favorite Samsung Galaxy deals out there, either as a direct discount or through trade-in deals for both locked and unlocked models of the phone. Be sure to compare these with the similar Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 deals and non-folding Samsung Galaxy S24 deals.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals at Samsung

Go directly to the source by buying the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 from Samsung, and you can get up to $600 instant trade-in credit. It depends on what phone you're trading in but it's useful if you prefer to go direct.

Read more