Smartphones

Coronavirus can live on a phone’s screen for 28 days, study finds

There is a caveat, though

Published

October 13, 2020

Luigi Leonardo

Smartphones are one of the grubbiest things we handle every day. From our fingers to our ears to our mouths, a human body comes into contact with a smartphone several times each day. Naturally, because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, phone sterilizers have turned into the norm. If you haven’t bought into the “clean phone” hype yet, a new study might convince you otherwise. Apparently, the coronavirus can live on a phone’s screen for 28 days.

According to a study conducted in Australia, the specific strain of SARS-CoV-2 responsible for today’s pandemic can survive up to 28 days on common surfaces including “glass, stainless steel, and both paper and polymer banknotes.” Further, the study also tested common substrates like vinyl, a material found in screen protectors.

Non-porous surfaces — like glass and vinyl — still had the virus after 28 days. Meanwhile, porous substances — like cotton — had the virus for only up to 14 days. Of course, there is a rather large caveat: The study happened under 20 degrees Celsius, a far cry from normal room temperature.

Countering this caveat, the study also conducted the same tests under 30 degrees Celsius. The virus survived for up to 7 days on steel and glass. It survived up to 3 days on vinyl and cotton. Also, at 40 degrees Celsius, the virus survived for only up to 48 hours on all surfaces.

Now, before you throw away your smartphones for good, remember that the tests were conducted under controlled lab conditions. The results do not indicate what might happen in the real world.

Besides the controlled temperature, the study applied the virus without mucus. It’s another important caveat since transmission usually occurs through contact with droplets. Even outside of a body, mucus contains white blood cells, which can reduce the virus’s survivability outside of a host.

Adding to this caveat, the study starts with an even more important warning: “the role of fomite transmission [that is, surface-to-body] is not yet fully understood.” If anything, the test merely proves that the virus is much more durable than expected.

Smartphones

Samsung introduces Flex Titanium tech for foldable displays

To debut with Samsung’s next-gen Galaxy foldable devices

Published

July 15, 2026

GadgetMatch

Samsung has unveiled the new Flex Titanium technology for its next generation of Galaxy foldable devices.

The redesigned display structure utilizes structural and material advancements to deliver a more refined viewing experience. This included enhanced durability and reduced crease visibility.

Flex Titanium integrates two titanium-based components: a titanium-alloy film and a titanium plate. These work together to balance slimness, flexibility, and strength — all within the foldable display structure.

The new Flex Titanium technology will debut with Samsung’s next-generation Galaxy foldable devices, with details to be unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked.

Samsung said it took a new approach to structural design to create a display that provides an immersive viewing experience while withstanding everyday use for years and years.

Titanium offered the right mix to put check mark on all three factors: strength for external shock, flexibility for repeated folding, and thinness for device fit.

The titanium-alloy film is a component that supports the display from within, sitting below the OLED panel. This has a mechanical stiffness 20 times better than polymer film.

A precision rolling process makes the external material exceptionally thin, measuring roughly one-third the thickness of an average human hair.

Below the film is a robust titanium plate for tighter bonding with the display module. It eliminates air gaps between module and the adhesive on the plate through an advanced hole processing technology.

News

New leak reveals first look at Samsung’s wide foldable

It looks like there’s only one book-style foldable this year.

Published

July 9, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Image source: Android Headlines

Coming in just a heartbeat, Samsung will unveil the next foldables during the upcoming Unpacked event. The spotlight, naturally, lands on the rumored wide foldable. Now, we don’t have an official look yet, but a new leak is spoiling that for us.

Leaked by Android Headlines, the upcoming foldable, purportedly named the Galaxy Z Fold 8, looks as advertised. The brand’s first wide foldable takes a few inches off the top to deliver a, literally, wide resolution for more display real estate.

There’s not much to say about the specs, but the model does have a camera setup with two shooters. It will also be available in three colorway options: black, white, and lavender. A limited-edition green variant might also make an appearance.

Among the scheduled devices this coming Unpacked, the wide foldable is the main event. Plus, the new leak reveals that a regular Fold isn’t debuting with this batch. Rather, Samsung might go all-in on the wide foldable format.

If that’s not your style, the leak also unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 8. The new model doesn’t look different from the usual Flips that we’re used to, so it’s not a big headline.

Image source: Android Headlines

Finally, the leak reveals the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Watch Ultra 2.

Image source: Android Headlines

It won’t be long before we see these devices for real. Samsung has officially scheduled the next Galaxy Unpacked event for July 22.

News

Honor might launch the Robot Phone in August, leak says

No word on whether it’s a global or a regional launch, though.

Published

July 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Back in CES earlier this year, Honor unveiled the oddly shaped Robot Phone. A unique concept of a smartphone melded with an action camera, the Robot Phone teased a launch date for the third quarter of this year. Well, we’re in the third quarter now, and a new leak has teased that the one-of-a-kind phone is launching in August.

According to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station (via GizmoChina), Honor has narrowed down August as the launch date of its new smartphone. To be clear, the leaker did not clarify whether this is a global launch or just the regional one.

It should still be an exciting time for a launch, though. The lovechild between a smartphone and an action camera comes just in time for the era of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and the Insta360 Luna. A hybrid device scratches both itches.

Honor isn’t shy about showcasing the capabilities of the Robot Phone. Only recently, the Chinese brand showed off the first professional video shot using the new phone.

When it comes to hardware, the Robot Phone touts a 200-megapixel main camera attached to a stabilized gimbal system. If not in use, the camera folds into the device. Super Steady Video keeps the camera steady when taking shots while moving. Meanwhile, AI Object Tracking follows subjects seamlessly, making it a great tool for shooting videos in the field.