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Fix Errors on Galaxy Devices
Tech Guides & How-To’s

Fix Errors on Galaxy Devices

The Download

  • Restarting your Samsung Galaxy device can often fix the ‘Camera Failed’ error easily.
  • Updating apps and the system software might stop the camera error from happening again.
  • Clearing the camera’s app cache can help make it work better and fix the error.

Samsung Galaxy smartphones and the discontinued Samsung Galaxy digital camera are known for their excellent picture quality. However, like all electronic devices, they can sometimes malfunction. A common issue is the Camera failed error. What causes this, and how can you fix it? There are several potential causes and solutions.

How to Fix the Camera Failed Error in Samsung Galaxy Smartphone Cameras

You may have to try several strategies to fix this camera error. Work through these steps in order to try the simpler solutions first.

  1. Restart your phone. A simple restart can resolve many software-related errors.

    A restart and reset are two very different things. Restarting your phone simply powers it down and then starts it back up. None of your apps, files, or settings will be removed.

  2. Check for system and app updates. An outdated operating system or app can cause this camera error.

  3. Power up in Safe Mode, then check to see if your camera works properly. If it does, the problem could be a third-party app that conflicts with the camera software.

    Restart the phone in regular mode and remove recently installed or updated third-party apps one at a time until the problem is resolved. You may need to restart the phone after removing each app to ensure it’s completely removed.

    Third-party apps are a common cause of the Camera Failed error, so don’t skip this step.

  4. Clear the Camera’s app cache and storage data. Once the cache is cleared, restart the Camera app and test it to see if the issue is resolved.

  5. Remove and then reinsert the microSD card. Occasionally, a Galaxy phone camera may encounter an error reading the SD card, leading to the Camera Failed error. Reformat the card if prompted.

    Reformatting a microSD card erases all data on the card. If there are pictures or apps you wish to keep, transfer these files to your computer using a microSD card reader.

  6. Turn off Smart Stay. This feature uses the selfie camera to monitor your face’s position when you’re looking at the screen for a long time without touching it. Since it utilizes the camera, it can sometimes conflict with the rear camera when Smart Stay is active.

  7. Reset your phone. If nothing has worked up to this point, the last thing to try is a full factory reset. This returns the phone to its factory settings, after which you’ll need to go through the initial setup process again as if it’s a ew device.

    Completing this step will erase everything on your phone, including all apps you’ve added since you first got the device, any downloaded files, and photos and videos stored on the phone. Back up anything you don’t want to lose before starting the factory reset process.

  8. Try customer support. If you’re still getting the error even after resetting the phone’s software, contact Samsung Support for further assistance.

How to Fix the Camera Failed Error in the Samsung Galaxy Camera

Samsung Galaxy cameras can experience the same Camera Failed error as Galaxy smartphones, though some troubleshooting steps differ.

Ensure the camera battery is fully charged before continuing. Some of these steps could take several minutes to complete. If the battery dies during the process, you may encounter other errors and have to start the troubleshooting process over.

  1. Press-and-hold the Power button to turn off the camera. Once it’s off, allow the camera to sit for at least 30 seconds before powering it back on. Many issues that cause software errors can be fixed with a simple restart. 

  2. Shut down running processes that could be causing a camera conflict and then restart the camera.

    To do this, go to Settings > Device care > Memory . Then, tap Clean now.

  3. Reformat the SD card. Occasionally, the Samsung Galaxy camera encounters an error reading the SD card, leading to the Camera Failed error. Reformatting the card may resolve the issue.

    Here’s how: Go to Settings > Storage > Memory > Format SD card.

    A reformat will erase all of its data. If you don’t want to lose the pictures on the card, transfer the files to your computer using an SD card reader before performing a reformat.

  4. Restore the camera to its factory default settings. This option is available in Settings > Apps > Camera > Camera Settings > Reset Settings.

  5. Visit Samsung’s Digital Camera Support page for repair information. At this point, if the camera error remains after resetting the software, reaching out to Samsung is the next best choice.

Causes of the Camera Failed Error in Samsung Devices

This error doesn’t include any other information about why the camera isn’t working correctly. That makes troubleshooting difficult. It’s not impossible to fix, though, since, in most cases, it’s a simple software issue. The error can be caused by an incomplete firmware update, out-of-date third-party apps, or an SD card the camera suddenly doesn’t recognize.

BY 19. Juli 2025
‘Mortal Kombat II’ Is Ready to Be a Bigger, Better Sequel
Trending Tech News

‘Mortal Kombat II’ Is Ready to Be a Bigger, Better Sequel

Now that the first trailer for Mortal Kombat II dropped earlier this week, director Simon McQuoid’s free to talk about how this follow-up builds on the 2021 reboot.

Talking to IGN, McQuoid opened up on ensuring the second movie delivered on the promise of the first movie, namely having the real fighting tournament that features franchise characters beating the hell out of each other. Said characters include the returning Sonya Blade, Raiden, and Liu Kang, and the newly introduced Kitana, Shao Kahn, and Baraka. Oh, and Johnny Cage, now stepping into the role Cole Young did in the previous movie and operating as a POV character into this krazy, khaotic world full of lizard men, mad scientists, and ageless fighters.

Of these newcomers, McQuoid called them “wild and otherworldly, and when you’ve got characters like that, you have to swing for the fences.” Such swings involve taking the characters to locations from the games like like Hell (where Scorpion resides) and Edenia, the home realm of Kitana, Jade, and Shao Kahn. According to McQuoid, those trips bring “massive scale” to the film, particularly when it comes to the film’s IMAX version. For the format heads, he teased that cut will have “little story moments and little gems for the super fans…that you won’t see in the regular theatrical version. I just wanted to try and innovate and use the format in a way that really makes it a rewarding experience for the audience.”

Speaking of the audience, it made that first Mortal Kombat a big hit for HBO Max and its simultaneous theatrical-streaming release. If there’s any hope of a third movie, it’s entirely up to the folks seeing it, and the film’s been made as a complete experience either way. “There’s a coda, but [New Line] doesn’t expect to make a sequel. We have to earn that right,” said producer Todd Garner. “We’re not going to give you some post-sequence to be like, ‘Oh, this is going to happen in the sequel.’ We’ll do more if we’re given the opportunity, but we don’t want to assume that we can.”

Mortal Kombat II hits theaters October 24.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

BY 19. Juli 2025
“ACEMAGIC Mini Gaming PC: Ryzen 9 6900HX, Radeon 680M, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, 4K UHD, WiFi6/BT5.2”: Available now at [price_with_discount]
Tech Deals & Discounts

“ACEMAGIC Mini Gaming PC: Ryzen 9 6900HX, Radeon 680M, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, 4K UHD, WiFi6/BT5.2”: Available now at [price_with_discount]

ACEMAGIC is a company established in 2023 that focuses on providing high-quality hardware products, especially in the mini PC industry. Their latest release, the AM08PRO Mini Gaming PC, features an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor with powerful performance for both office work and gaming.

The AM08PRO offers three different modes (silent, auto, performance) for better power saving options. The silent mode is ideal for watching movies and light office work, while the auto mode is suitable for medium office software like 3D viewing. The performance mode is perfect for gaming, making this mini PC versatile for various needs.

In terms of storage, the AM08PRO has enough space for storage expansion up to 64GB and supports dual-channel DDR5 for a smooth working and gaming experience. It comes equipped with a 512GB M.2 2280 SSD with the option to expand up to 2TB by adding an additional NVME or SATA SSD.

The mini PC also features stable connections with the latest WiFi 6 technology for fast and reliable wireless connections. The RJ45 port supports high-speed transmission for efficient downloads, while Bluetooth 5.2 ensures a stable connection with accessories.

Efficient multitasking is made easy with the AM08PRO, as it comes pre-installed with an OS system and has multiple ports for connecting up to three displays simultaneously for improved work efficiency.

Overall, the ACEMAGIC AM08PRO Mini Gaming PC offers powerful performance, customizable modes for different needs, and efficient multitasking options, making it a versatile and compact choice for both work and play.

Price: $599.00
(as of Nov 06, 2024 10:00:26 UTC – Details)

BY 19. Juli 2025
NASA’s new Roman Space Telescope aims to discover 100,000 cosmic explosions
Tech for Life & Work

NASA’s new Roman Space Telescope aims to discover 100,000 cosmic explosions

While the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes continue to offer astronomers revolutionary glimpses of our universe, their upcoming sibling may very well upstage them. Scheduled to launch in 2027, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is designed with a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, with the potential to document light from over a billion galaxies over its career. Combined with timelapse recording capabilities, Roman will help researchers to better understand exoplanets, infrared astrophysics, and the nature of dark matter.

But it doesn’t stop there. According to a study published on July 15 in The Astrophysics Journal, Roman is poised to eventually capture an estimated 100,000 celestial explosions over its lifetime. These could include everything from supernovae to hungry black holes, but astrophysicists theorize Roman may potentially even find evidence of the very first stars to ever form in the universe.

This simulation showcases the dynamic universe as NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could see it over the course of its five-year primary mission. The video sparkles with synthetic supernovae from observations of the OpenUniverse simulated universe taken every five days (similar to the expected cadence of Roman’s High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey, which OpenUniverse simulates in its entirety). On top of the static sky of stars in the Milky Way and other galaxies, more than a million exploding stars flare into visibility and then slowly fade away. To highlight the dynamic physics happening and for visibility at this scale, the true brightness of each transient event has been magnified by a factor of 10,000 and no background light has been added to the simulated images. The video begins with Roman’s full field of view, which represents a single pointing of Roman’s camera, and then zooms into one square.
This simulation showcases the dynamic universe as NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could see it over the course of its five-year primary mission. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and M. Troxel

Galactic ‘gold mine’

“​​Whether you want to explore dark energy, dying stars, galactic powerhouses, or probably even entirely new things we’ve never seen before, this survey will be a gold mine,” Benjamin Rose, a physicist at Baylor University and the study’s lead author, said in a statement.

Rose and colleagues reached their estimate after running a simulation of the Roman’s High-Latitude Time-Domain Core Community Survey. Once in place, the space telescope’s survey is designed to scan a single, vast portion of the universe every five days for two years. Astronomers will compile all of those snapshots into what amounts to cosmic movies, then document every kind of energy blast they find.

“By seeing the way an object’s light changes over time and splitting it into spectra—individual colors with patterns that reveal information about the object that emitted the light—we can distinguish between all the different types of flashes Roman will see,” explained Rebekah Hounsell, a study co-author and assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

An artist's illustration of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope once deployed into orbit. Credit: NASA
An artist’s illustration of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope once deployed into orbit. Credit: NASA

Peering back in time

The majority of events will likely be various types of exploding stars, or novae. The telescope’s survey itself is particularly oriented to detect a rarer class of stellar bursts known as Type Ia supernovae. These cosmic mileage posts help researchers measure cosmic distances and analyze the universe’s expansion rate. As NASA explains, understanding the speed of expansion amid various epochs can key astronomers into dark matter’s behavior. Based on this  study’s simulation, Roman’s handlers can expect to find about 27,000 Type Ia supernovae. That’s more than 10 times the number collected by all previous surveys.

Peering further into the depths of space also means Roman will glimpse further back into time than any telescope before it. Most supernovae detected so far by astronomers have occurred within the last 8 billion years. Roman is expected to push that timeline back to over 10 billion years ago— and possibly even as far as 11.5 billion years.

“Filling these data gaps could also fill in gaps in our understanding of dark energy,” said Rose. “Evidence is mounting that dark energy has changed over time, and Roman will help us understand that change by exploring cosmic history in ways other telescopes can’t.”

The simulation dataset created by Rose’s team isn’t limited to their own study. According to Hounsell, other experts can use it to develop their own machine-learning algorithms to comb through Roman’s gigantic troves of data for their own subjects.

“While searching for type Ia supernovae, Roman is going to collect a lot of cosmic ‘bycatch’—other phenomena that aren’t useful to some scientists, but will be invaluable to others,” explained Hounsell.

This infographic describes the High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey that will be conducted by NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The survey’s main component will cover over 18 square degrees—a region of sky as large as 90 full moons—and see supernovae that occurred up to about 8 billion years ago. Smaller areas within the survey will pierce even farther, potentially back to when the universe was around a billion years old. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
This infographic describes the High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey that will be conducted by NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The survey’s main component will cover over 18 square degrees—a region of sky as large as 90 full moons—and see supernovae that occurred up to about 8 billion years ago. Smaller areas within the survey will pierce even farther, potentially back to when the universe was around a billion years old. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

One such phenomena may be multiple kilonovae—gargantuan explosions that result when a neutron star (a leftover supernova core) slams into another neutron star. Astronomers theorize that kilonovae may also occur when a neutron star collides with a black hole. Researchers have only officially ever documented a single such event, but the study’s authors believe the Roman telescope could pinpoint another five of them.

These anticipated discoveries only scratch the surface of what Roman could achieve. However, engineers must first finish the telescope and successfully launch it into orbit. The launch is currently scheduled no earlier than May 2027. NASA’s multibillion dollar budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration may jeopardize the Roman project, despite its potential completion ahead of time and cheaper than expected.

“This is nuts,” former co-chair of Roman’s science team David Spergel told Scientific American earlier this year. “You’ve built it, and you’re not going to do the final step to finish it? That is such a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
However, It’s by no means a death sentence for Roman just yet. As of July 15, Congress was in talks to reject the majority of the White House’s proposed NASA cuts.

 

More deals, reviews, and buying guides

 

Andrew Paul is a staff writer for Popular Science.

BY 19. Juli 2025
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 review
Top Picks & Reviews

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 review

Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Ever fancy having a collection of software to help you tackle photo editing, page design, and vector illustrations all under one roof? Well that’s what CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 is all about.

It’s part graphic design software, part photo editor, and one of the most comprehensive alternatives to Adobe Photoshop around. We tried out the latest version to see how it compares to rivals.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: Pricing & plans

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 during our review

(Image credit: Corel // Future)
  • The Corel suite is cheaper than a lot of the competition, and on top of that, you also have the option of purchasing a licence, if you prefer that over subscribing. The 15-day trial is also welcome
BY 19. Juli 2025
I Didn’t See it Coming, but I Now Live in a Samsung Galaxy Household
Tech Guides & How-To’s

I Didn’t See it Coming, but I Now Live in a Samsung Galaxy Household

My wife and I don’t have any particular love for Samsung, yet in little over a year, ours has become a household of Galaxy devices and Samsung appliances. Here’s how this came to be.

There’s No Other Device Quite Like a Galaxy Z Fold

I am the one that started this transition, so let’s start with my first Samsung Galaxy device: the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Few devices have changed my life quite like this one has.

Samsung’s book-style foldable phone can function as so much more than a phone. It’s a tablet, an eReader, a digital notepad, a game console, and the list goes on. But it was the inclusion of Samsung DeX in particular that lured me in, since I was eager to embrace a phone that could also function as a full-blown PC.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 in DeX dock.

Bertel King / How-To Geek

I bought this phone open box for 50% off MSRP. Then, in less than a year, I purchased a Z Fold 6 in used “like new” condition for 50% off as well (foldable phones aren’t as pricey as you might think). My wife had been using a Google Pixel 7 but started to envy all the space I had for reading ebooks and browsing the web. The Z Fold 5 became my wife’s phone, and now we’re both rocking Samsung’s book-style foldable.

fold 6

SoC

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 for Galaxy

Display

7.6-inch AMOLED inside display, 6.3-inch AMOLED cover display, both with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate

RAM

12GB

Storage

256GB, 512GB, 1TB


The Most Dependable and Powerful Android Software

I spent years as a Linux user who loved to explore and tinker with tech, but I have too much responsibility on my shoulders now as a parent. I just need software that does everything I need and does it well.

Android, frankly, does everything I need. And Samsung’s version, in particular, is the most powerful. Samsung DeX is the most capable Android desktop.

Apps open on a Samsung DeX desktop.

Samsung My Files feels like a desktop file manager with features that actually make it faster for me to use. Samsung Gallery has nearly all the features I want out of a photo manager. Samsung Internet is a surprisingly powerful and customizable web browser. Samsung Smart Switch simplifies moving files from an old device to a new one. I find Samsung software preferable to Google apps that primarily try to do everything in the cloud.

Samsung smartphone with some Stock Apps sticking out of the screen and the S Pen next to it

Related

Who Needs Google? Samsung’s Stock Apps Are Pretty Great

Stop before you ignore all those pre-installed apps.

Then there’s the sheer ability to make a Samsung device into your own. Many years ago, Samsung hired various developers who worked on CyanogenMod, tasking them with adding the kind of features people installed custom ROMs for. That legacy lives on today. It’s staggering just how much can be done in Samsung One UI just by flipping a setting somewhere, and that’s before you install Good Lock, Samsung’s suite of tools that lets you customize virtually every aspect of your phone.

Samsung Makes the Best (and Most) Android Tablets

Android tablets were everywhere over a decade ago, and then they largely fizzled out. Google stopped making them, and so did most other Android manufacturers. But Samsung didn’t. While there is now some competition from Lenovo and OnePlus, if you want a premium option with many years of software support, Samsung tablets are your best bet.

Person holding the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

Related

Samsung Tablets Are the Only Good Android Tablets

But OnePlus is getting close–if only it offered more than one.

This is why when my wife needed a new device to replace her old iPad for work, instead of going for a new iPad (which she always found frustrating), she bought a Samsung Galaxy S10+. It has the flexibility of a tablet but enough power and flexibility to do the kind of PC tasks that we need.

front and back of the samsung galaxy tab s10 plus

Brand

Samsung

Storage

256GB, 512GB

Memory

12GB

Operating System

Android


We Like Writing on Our Screens

My Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an S Pen, which the rival Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold lacks. The other book-style foldable available in the US, the OnePlus Open, supports a stylus—one that has to be imported and lacks any special software. Meanwhile, Samsung Notes is arguably the best app Samsung makes, and I use it daily.

An office desk with a keyboard, mouse, and other items, and a hand holding a stylus pen crossing out the keyboard and mouse.

Related

Take My Keyboard and Mouse, But I’m Keeping My Stylus

I even keep a stash of backup S Pens, just in case.

It’s not just Samsung Notes that’s great. It’s the ease with which I mark up screenshots that I share in Slack. It’s how fast I can write words on a virtual keyboard using gesture swipes. It’s the ability to interact with tiny menus on desktop websites that are difficult to manage with a finger. The S Pen is a core part of how I’m able to do all of my professional work directly from my phone. That’s why I was devastated to see it removed from the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Samsung Keyboard off-center on a Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Bertel King / How-To Geek 

Well Supported, Repairable Hardware

Samsung has some of the longest software support in the industry, matching Google in offering even longer support than Apple (though we’re still waiting to see if both companies stand by their promises). I can buy a tablet for my kids and trust the software will be supported for most of their childhood.

As my family has grown, so has the number of devices in our home. I’m not interested in replacing everything on a two-year cycle or living with a bunch of unpatched internet-connected hardware. That’s why I’ve opted to pick up a Galaxy A9+ for my son after he or his sister accidentally shattered his Lenovo tablet. And this time, I got it with a protection plan.

That’s something else I’ve learned as a parent. If part of a device can be broken, kids will find a way to do it. My kids have shattered screens, spilled juice on keyboards, loosened USB-C ports, and popped out keyboard keys. I’ve learned that when a store asks me if I want to spend extra money on a protection plan, just say yes.

Yet even if I don’t have one, Samsung products are relatively easy to get repaired. We can head to Best Buy, visit a local UBreakIFix, or check out an independent repair shop. There’s a good chance they can hook us up.

We’re gradually building a smart home, and two of the earliest components were Samsung appliances. Our builder presented us with a Samsung fridge as one of our options, which we choose based on looks. Later, my wife’s employer offered a Samsung Frame TV as a bonus. It was only later that we eventually set up the latter as a SmartThings hub for IoT devices and learned how to manage our fridge from our phones and the TV alike.

SmartThings on a Samsung Frame TV.

Bertel King / How-To Geek

When the time came to replace our dishwasher, we opted for a Samsung one as well. It would match our fridge and also work with SmartThings to boot. We don’t have Samsung washers and dryers, but if we had to replace ours right now, we’d buy those for the SmartThings integration as well.

The SmartThings logo on a Samsung Bespoke dishwasher.

Related

Why I’ve Finally Started Buying Appliances With Smart Home Features

A gimmick no more.

Do I like the idea of one company making most of our big appliances? Not really, but until Matter-compatibility is more widely embraced and mature, we’d rather go with Samsung than do without these features entirely.

In short, Samsung makes everything and does a good job at it. The company has a pretty good reputation for supporting its products long-term, and unlike Apple, there aren’t many arbitrary limitations to how each one can be used. I get access to the same Android apps I could use on any other Android phone, yet I also gain quite a few Samsung-exclusive apps that are among the best of their type.

My Galaxy Z Fold 6 impresses me, and others, with what modern technology can do, and devices like the company’s upcoming tri-fold will take things even further. I’m not committing myself to buying Galaxy devices in the future, but right now, they just make so much sense.

BY 19. Juli 2025
Galaxy Z Fold 7, Panasonic S1 II, Samsung QS700F and more
Trending Tech News

Galaxy Z Fold 7, Panasonic S1 II, Samsung QS700F and more

We’ve been busy in the Engadget reviews department over the last few weeks, keeping up with Prime Day, product launches and the accumulating stack of devices on our desks. If you missed any of our in-depth testing recently, you can quickly catch up on the latest camera, laptop, phone and soundbar reviews in the list below.

Image for the large product module

Billy Steele for Engadget

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has reached foldable phone nirvana thanks to major reductions in its size and thickness. Though at $2,000, it remains extremely expensive.

Pros

  • Exquisitely thin design
  • Sleeker hinge
  • Big 200MP main camera
  • Larger displays
  • Top-tier performance
Cons

  • Very expensive
  • No S Pen support
  • Mediocre charging speeds

$2,000 at Amazon

Samsung made notable design changes on its latest flagship foldable phone, finally giving the masses a significant update after a series of iterative models. Senior reviews writer Sam Rutherford argued the company “has finally achieved foldable phone nirvana” thanks to the reductions in overall size and thickness on the Z Fold 7, making the niche handset appeal to more users. “With its latest flagship foldable, Samsung has removed one of the remaining barriers preventing people from trying out the new breed of phones: excessive size and weight,” he said.

Image for the large product module

Canon/Engadget

Canon’s EOS R50 V is a solid budget vlogging camera thanks to the excellent video quality, but it’s missing important features compared to its rivals.

Pros

  • Good photo and video quality
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Cooling fan allows extended shooting
  • Decently fast photo shooting
Cons

  • Rolling shutter distortion
  • No in-body stabilization
  • Lacks rival’s vlogging friendly features
  • Mediocre battery life

$699 at Amazon

Content creators who are just getting into vlogging will soon realize they need a camera more robust than their phone for better quality footage. Reporter Steve Dent explained that Canon’s EOS R50 V excels at video, thanks in part to its quick autofocus, but the camera lacks the performance and features of its rivals. “Canon’s R50 V is a pretty good first try for a vlogging camera, hitting the mark in key areas like video quality and usability,” he wrote. “However, its rival, Sony’s ZV-E10 II, beats it in nearly every area, offering even better video quality, higher photo resolution, faster autofocus, smoother electronic stabilization and neat features missing on the R50 V — like the product showcase.”

Image for the large product module

Samsung

The QS700F is an all-new model in a sea of modest annual refreshes for Samsung soundbars. It isn’t perfect, but the combination of design and features offer a compelling alternative to pricier options.

Pros

  • Automatic orientation adjustment
  • Crisp and balanced sound
  • Refined design
  • Easy setup
Cons

  • 3.1.2-channel audio constrains movie sound
  • Room calibration and other major features only work with Samsung TVs

$468 at Amazon

Like the Z Fold line, Samsung has been on a streak of iterative updates for its flagship soundbars. For 2025 though, the company debuted an all-new model that automatically detects how you’re using it and adjusts the speaker output appropriately. It’s that trick, along with crisp sound, that makes the QS700F a contender even with its constrained 3.1.2-channel audio. “Caveats aside, the best thing about the soundbar is its automatic orientation adjustment,” I noted. “The QS700F is easy on the eyes too, which isn’t always the case with these devices.”

Image for the large product module

Panasonic/Engadget

The S1 II is Panasonic’s best creator camera thanks to features like 6K RAW video and outstanding stabilization, but it’s expensive compared to the competition.

Pros

  • Fast shooting speeds
  • Great handling
  • Excellent video quality
  • Best-in-class stabilization
  • Pro video features
Cons

  • Poor battery life
  • Expensive

$3,198 at Amazon

The S1 II may be Panasonic’s best camera for content creators, but there’s one major downside: the price. Steve’s assessment of this model’s features, which include 6K RAW video and best-in-class stabilization, will help you weigh the potential $3,200 investment. “Panasonic’s S1 II is a powerful hybrid camera, and if it wasn’t so expensive, it would be a no-brainer for creators,” he said. “However, Nikon’s Z6 III has nearly the same video capabilities, is a better camera for photography and costs at least $600 less, so I’m inclined to recommend that model for most users.”

Image for the large product module

Dell / Engadget

Dell’s revamped 16 Plus 2-in-1 is a competent laptop with an adaptable design and a great optional mini LED screen, but it lacks personality.

Pros

  • Solid build
  • Vivid mini LED display
  • Above-average battery life
Cons

  • Lackluster touchpad
  • Mediocre speakers
  • Needs another USB-C port

$750 at Dell

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is the company’s first consumer laptop to feature its recently updated naming scheme, and the change in moniker is accompanied by refreshed styling. Sam explained that while the machine is perfectly capable, especially with the optional LED display, it’s lacking personality. “It’s a totally serviceable machine, but it doesn’t have a single trait or feature that endears itself to its user,” he wrote. “Same goes for its name.”

Image for the small product module

Bill Steele for Engadget

Between a sturdy case and a removable battery pack, Belkin’s Charging Case for Nintendo Switch 2 covers all the major essentials. 

Pros

  • Simple design
  • Included 10,000mAh battery pack
  • Hidden AirTag pouch
Cons

  • No option to bring your own battery pack
  • Might not work with bulky skins or covers

$70 at Amazon

Now that the Switch 2 is out in the wild, Nintendo’s handheld console needs protection. Sam put the Belkin Charging Case through its paces to find out if it’s a worthy accessory. “I kind of wish Belkin sold a version that doesn’t come with a battery for anyone who wants to use their own power pack,” he said. “The company’s non-charging version of this case isn’t an ideal alternative as it doesn’t have much extra space inside. But even so, this kit offers a solid combination of price and practicality, which is all I’m ever really asking for.”

BY 19. Juli 2025
2-Pack 12″ Onforu 54-LED Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Lights
Tech Deals & Discounts

2-Pack 12″ Onforu 54-LED Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Lights

Onforu via Amazon has for Prime Members: 2-Pack 12″ Onforu 54-LED Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Lights on sale for $16.99 – $7.65 with promo code VVIPCOME at checkout = $9.34. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

About this Item:

  • Motion Sensor Activation In Dark: Our 12 inch 54 Led cabinet lights feature advanced motion sensors that automatically illuminate when detecting movement at night, providing you with a convenient and safe lighting solution
  • Fast Charging & 1500mAh Battery: Enjoy 2.3 hour quick charging via included USB Type C. Choose the always-on mode for continuous lighting with a 6-9 hours standby time, last up to 7-25 days on motion sensor mode, don’t need to frequent recharging
  • Stepless Dimmable & Adjustable 3 Color Temperature: Customize your lighting experience with adjustable brightness from 20% to 100% and 3 color temperatures ranging from 3000K to 6000K. Enjoy eye-friendly illumination while enhancing the ambiance
  • Easy to install: No need for an electrician! built-in strong magnet to stick on any ironwork, or you can use the included adhesive tape to tape and iron sheet to stick on counter non iron surface. You can the move the closet light anytime
BY 19. Juli 2025
7 Surprisingly Great Games for Your Apple Watch
Tech for Life & Work

7 Surprisingly Great Games for Your Apple Watch

In addition to being a pretty powerful productivity tool, the Apple Watch can be a fun time-waster when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, riding the train on your way to work, or waiting for your kids to get to the car after school.

There are lots of really great apps for Apple Watch, and among them are games that provide a whole different breed of mobile gaming. They’re often very simple in execution and are meant to be completed in a much shorter time than iPhone games.

You’re looking to play games on your Apple Watch, so here are a few great picks that are definitely worth a look:

Get Your Trivia Fix: Trivia Crack

Apple Inc.


What We Like

  • Fun and interactive.

  • Addictive gameplay.

  • Interesting trivia.

If you use Facebook and have any friends at all, chances are one of them has tried to lure you into the addictive game that is Trivia Crack. The game’s Apple Watch version allows you to answer questions on your wrist as well as spin the wheel.

Unfortunately, games have to be started on your iPhone before you can play the pint-sized version, but it can make keeping up with a fast-playing game much easier.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Lifeline

Apple Inc.


What We Don’t Like

  • Might require a little too much attention.

  • Like all choose your own adventure games, it can get frustrating.

Lifeline is a choose-your-own-adventure game that was made for the Apple Watch. In the game, you’re chatting with someone who has crash-landed their ship on an alien moon. The game goes on throughout the day, just as if this person really exists, and you’re tasked with giving the person instructions on how to proceed.

It can be a lot of fun, especially if you’re stuck in a desk job and need a casual distraction throughout the day.

For the Puzzle Enthusiast: Rules!

Apple Inc.


If you like puzzle games, then chances are you’ve already played a ton of Rules!. The game’s iPhone app made it to Apple’s Best of 2014 list, and the game was one of the first to become available for the Apple Watch.

Due to the Apple Watch’s small screen, gameplay is condensed considerably, so what would sometimes be a nine-card game is now just four. But the game can still be a ton of fun to play on your wrist, especially during a few minutes of downtime during your commute or while you’re waiting in line.

Blast Off on Your Apple Watch: Kepler Attack

Apple Inc.


An arcade game on your wrist? Sure! Inspired by Space Invaders, the Kepler Attack game for Apple Watch has you use the Digital Crown to fly through space to destroy alien invaders from Kepler-452b. You’ll get power-ups like Shield, Rapid Fire, and Smart Bomb to help make your way through the levels.

Quick Puzzle Fix: 2048

Apple Inc.


What We Like

  • Play alone or in multiplayer mode.

  • Auto-saves after each move.

  • Several difficultly levels.

This puzzle game is perfect for smaller screens and is super fun to play, even if you’ve just got a few minutes to spare.

If you’ve never heard of 2048, here’s the gist: swipe tiles of the same number into each other to merge them. And don’t worry, no math skills are needed!

The name of the game gives away the goal: merge enough tiles to reach the number 2048. Other difficulty levels are also available, ranging from 256 to 4096. With every new tile number reached, you’ll get a higher score and unlock achievements.

Don’t Let the Vortex Win: Vortigo

Apple Inc.


Vortigo brings bubble-shooting action to your Apple Watch. Match three or more bubbles of the same color to clear them out before they reach the center of the spiral vortex. There are three game modes and special bubbles like Rainbow and Pause to keep the gameplay fresh and addictive.

Word Hunt on the Go: Snappy Word Search

Apple Inc.


With hundreds of levels and a special four-letter game mode, Snappy Word Search offers a fun, brain-boosting way to pass the time on your Apple Watch. Swipe to connect letters, uncover hidden words, and earn hint Gems for bonus finds.

BY 19. Juli 2025
Roku Streambar Review: Instant Sound and 4K Streaming Upgrade
Top Picks & Reviews

Roku Streambar Review: Instant Sound and 4K Streaming Upgrade

Compact
soundbars
like the Vizio M-Series 2.1 and the Yamaha SR-C20A offer improved TV sound in a small package. 4K HDR streamers like the Chromecast with Google TV and Roku Streaming Stick Plus deliver better streaming to any TV. Until now, however, no product has combined the two into a single, do-it-all package under $150. That’s what the Roku Streambar does, and it does the job very well.

Like


  • Compact, easy to set up and affordable


  • Excellent dialogue reproduction


  • Tried and true Roku experience

Don’t like


  • Lacks bass in movies and music

The Streambar follows the footsteps of last year’s Roku Smart Soundbar with a smaller size and more affordable price. Usually the biggest issue with hybrid devices is that they’ve compromised too much in some area, and while the Streambar isn’t sonically perfect — its lack of bass is its biggest weakness — it makes up for that with excellent sound for dialogue and an ability to fill a room that belies its tiny footprint. Sure, it lacks a subwoofer, but even without one it can still beat your TV’s speakers . 

Then again, so can a lot of other soundbars. If you want superior sound and don’t need streaming, the Yamaha SR-C20 or
Vizio V21
are better choices. The Roku Streambar is cheaper than either one, however, and makes perfect sense for people who don’t already have a good streamer hooked up to their TV. If you want to be able to hear your TV better, particularly vocals, and also enhance its streaming capabilities, it’s an excellent value. 

Editor’s note, Dec. 3: Due to its performance, size and price, we’re giving the Roku Streambar our Editors’ Choice award as our favorite budget soundbar. While there are newer soundbars that outperform the Roku, they are also more expensive, and none includes video streaming onboard. This review first appeared on Oct. 14, 2020.

What it is

The Roku Streambar is a 2.0-channel soundbar with side-firing “wide” speakers, and the company says its onboard streaming capabilities are equivalent to those of the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. The system will process 5.1 audio, which means you can upgrade the system at a later date with Roku’s wireless subwoofer and surround speakers or the Walmart-exclusive Onn products. 

004-roku-streambar-2020

Just 14 inches wide, the Streambar (right)  is dwarfed by this 55-inch TV.

CNET staff

The main differences between the Streambar and the original Roku Smart Soundbar are size and shape. The Smart Soundbar is 32 inches wide, while the Streambar is much more compact at 14 inches. Although I haven’t heard the two side by side, I can pretty much guarantee the larger cabinet generates more bass.

The Streambar includes
Roku’s
voice remote, which lets you issue commands by speaking into the clicker. On the side, the remote includes volume controls and mute. The shortcuts at the bottom include Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu.

The Streambar offers “simple volume modes” which “lower loud commercials, boost the volume of voices and optimize the sound for night listening” as well as adjusting bass levels — handy for controlling an external sub. It’s worth noting that since I performed this review in October 2020 Roku has added a series of additional sound modes, which now include Music, Movie, Night, and Speech. I aim to test the new sound profiles as soon as I can.

008-roku-streambar-2020

Sarah Tew/CNET

Connectivity includes an optical digital input and HDMI with audio return channel capability. It’s designed to connect to a TV and if you have other devices, such as a game console, you’ll need to use your TV as a switcher. The soundbar is also equipped with
Bluetooth
and Spotify Connect, while Apple AirPlay 2 support is coming soon.

How it performs

The team at CNET has written at length about our experiences with Roku streamers so I won’t dwell on the bar’s streaming capabilities here. Suffice to say it’s our favorite streaming platform and the Streambar is more of the same. The menus were familiar and simple, the response speed and picture quality were as excellent as expected and the voice remote was a joy to use as always.

Instead I’m going to focus on sound quality. The Streambar is smaller than most soundbars but after I plugged it in I was struck by how naturally it performed with dialogue. There was no chestiness on male voices — a problem with some soundbar/subwoofer combos — and dialogue had the articulation that made it easy to follow the story. I had been listening to a pair of Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 speakers immediately preceding the Streambar and it was easy to imagine that I still was. Given that vocal articulation is the Elac speaker’s priority this is probably the highest praise I could give the Roku speaker.

016-roku-streambar-2020

The Streambar’s remote can turn your TV on and off too.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Of course there were differences, almost certainly due to the Roku’s tiny cabinet. When I compared the Streambar with the Yamaha SR-C20 the Roku’s lack of bass or even midbass was immediately apparent. With Mad Max: Fury Road the Roku again made dialogue understandable while also making it appear to come from around the room. The Roku’s side-firing speakers really do help create a large image. In comparison the Yamaha speaker’s Virtual:X software did a similarly good job distributing sound around my listening space, but when Max spins up his Charger’s engines, the Yamaha pulled ahead.

The Roku is so physically tiny that the engines and onscreen explosions in Mad Max had little impact. The Yamaha was able to better capture the roar of the cars and the blast that catapults Max into the air. The Yamaha lacked the oomph that a dedicated sub can bring, but was a better fit than the Roku for people who want to watch more than the news and dramas.

The lobby scene from the The Matrix was next and the Yamaha offered more of a balanced sonic mix, with less high-frequency and more low-end. The Roku sounded a little shrill in contrast, particularly with the falling bullet casings. Changing the sound mode to bass boost helped a little, but the Yamaha was better.

Adding the $130 Onn subwoofer to the Roku helped quite a bit. Finally I could hear the chugging bass score, the shotgun blasts had more impact and the falling shell casings weren’t as piercing or irritating. If you are looking for an easy, economical upgrade to the Streambar, the Onn subwoofer is recommended. 

With music the Roku again lagged behind the Yamaha for the same basic reason — lack of bass response. There isn’t a dedicated music mode, which is a shame for people who want to use the Streambar for listening to tunes from their
phones
or music apps like Spotify. Songs like Doves’ Cathedrals of the Mind sounded hollow on the Roku, despite its excellent vocal articulation, and again the Yamaha made the song fuller and more engrossing.

Should you buy it?

If you want real home cinema thrills you still need to spend more than $130 on a soundbar — although the Roku’s ability to add the subwoofer and rear-channel speakers does give you a clear upgrade path if you want. The $130 Roku Streambar is for people who value small size and simplicity yet still want better sound and streaming for their TV. It’s easy to connect and set up (one cable!), it’s just as easy to use and its streamer behaves like an ordinary Roku in every respect. And that’s a good thing.

First published Oct. 16 2020.

BY 19. Juli 2025
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