WIMBLEDON — After a slew of upsets in the first three rounds, things have settled down in the bottom half of the draw.
Six of the eight players left are seeded. Three of them — No. 4 Iga Swiatek, No. 7 Mirra Andreeva and No. 10 Emma Navarro — are ranked among the PIF WTA Rankings Top 10.
Wimbledon: Scores | Order of play | Draws
The two unseeded players: Tokyo Olympic singles gold medalist Belinda Bencic, mounting a comeback after giving birth to daughter Bella, and 22-year-old Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, ranked No. 66.
With the losses by Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova, a first-time Wimbledon champion is guaranteed.
Monday’s order of play
Centre Court: 13:30 start No. 6 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 11 Alex de Minaur No. 7 Mirra Andreeva vs. No. 10 Emma Navarro No. 1 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov
No.1 Court: 13:00 start No. 18 Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Belinda Bencic No. 10 Ben Shelton vs. Lorenzo Sonego No. 8 Iga Swiatek vs. No. 23 Clara Tauson
No.2 Court: 11:00 start No. 22 Flavio Cobolli vs. Marin Cilic No. 19 Liudmila Samsonova vs. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Breaking down Monday’s fourth-round matches
No. 7 Mirra Andreeva vs. No. 10 Emma Navarro
Head-to-head: 1-0, Andreeva, a 6-2, 6-2 win in the 2024 Cincinnati Round of 64.
Mirra Andreeva was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Hailey Baptiste, while Navarro defeated defending champion Barbora Krejcikova 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Match fact: Andreeva is the youngest woman to reach the fourth round at each of the first three Grand Slam events of the season since Nicole Vaidisova in 2006.
No. 8 Iga Swiatek vs. No. 23 Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: 1-0, Swiatek, three years ago in the Round of 32 at Indian Wells in three sets.
Tauson defeated No. 11 Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 6-3 and later Swiatek was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Danielle Collins.
Match fact: Swiatek now holds the 11th highest winning percentage in women’s singles Grand Slam events in the Open Era (82.8%, 96-20), surpassing Martina Hingis (82.7%).
No. 18 Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Belinda Bencic
Head-to-head: 4-all, with Alexandrova winning the most relevant meeting, 6-1, 6-2 two weeks ago in Bad Homburg’s first round.
Alexandrova was a 6-3, 7-6 (1) winner over Zeynep Sonmez while Bencic defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 [7].
Match fact: In the past seven years, only Ons Jabeur (41) has claimed more WTA main-draw wins on grass court than Ekaterina Alexandrova’s 37 over that span.
No. 19 Liudmila Samsonova vs. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Head-to-head: 0-0.
Samsonova was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over No. 16 Daria Kasatkina and Bouzas Maneiro defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.
Match fact: Best result at a Grand Slam has been Round of 16 finish — four times including 2021 Wimbledon.
How did life on Earth begin? People have been asking that for ages. The answers remain scattered across rocks, oceans, and ancient landscapes. One clue hides in an essential ingredient for life – phosphorus.
Phosphorus is everywhere in living things. It holds together DNA and RNA. It forms the framework of cell membranes. No life can grow or function without it.
Yet, phosphorus mostly stays trapped in rocks. It hides inside phosphate minerals, which barely dissolve in water. That raises an old and puzzling question: how did early Earth get enough phosphorus to spark life?
Yuya Tsukamoto and Takeshi Kakegawa from Tohoku University took that question seriously. They decided to look where most people wouldn’t – deep under the sea, in rocks that are billions of years old.
Key element for life on Earth
The researchers focused on the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia, which holds some of the oldest known seafloor rocks.
The rocks are an astonishing 3.455 billion years old. The team’s discovery wasn’t subtle. It jumped out from the data.
“We analyzed 3.455-billion-year-old basaltic seafloor rocks in drill core samples recovered from the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, discovering that P was significantly leached from the hydrothermally altered rocks compared to the least altered rocks,” explained Tsukamoto.
He noted that further mineralogical analyses indicated that phosphate minerals had undergone dissolution in rocks where P was depleted.
Simply put, hot fluids moved through these rocks and pulled phosphorus out. That phosphorus didn’t just disappear. It entered the surrounding seawater, turning parts of the ocean into phosphorus-rich zones.
Tracking the source of phosphorus
The rocks alone didn’t tell the whole story. The team wanted to understand what made this phosphorus release possible. They uncovered two kinds of hydrothermal fluids that shaped this process.
One type was hot, rich in sulfur, and capable of breaking down minerals quickly. The other was more surprising – mildly acidic to alkaline fluids at lower temperatures.
These fluids were common in the Archean era because Earth’s atmosphere back then was filled with carbon dioxide. That unique atmosphere made these fluids react in unexpected ways with the rocks.
The result? Massive amounts of dissolved phosphate in the water. The numbers were shocking. These fluids could carry up to 2 millimolar phosphate – nearly 1,000 times higher than what’s found in modern seawater.
Suddenly, early Earth wasn’t a barren place. Its oceans were filled with phosphorus.
Earth’s oceans held elements for life
This wasn’t just a chemistry experiment. The results changed how scientists think about early Earth. The researchers calculated how much phosphorus these underwater systems could release.
The findings were stunning. The amount of phosphorus released into the oceans by these hydrothermal systems could match, or even exceed, the amount entering modern oceans through rivers and weathering of land rocks.
“Importantly, this study provides direct evidence that submarine hydrothermal activity leached P from seafloor basaltic rocks and quantifies the potential P flux from these hydrothermal systems to the early ocean,” adds Tsukamoto.
Imagine ancient oceans filled with nutrients. These phosphorus-rich waters may have supported some of Earth’s earliest microbial life.
The ancient communities didn’t need a vast, lush planet. It only needed these hidden underwater environments to get started.
Hot springs and hidden worlds on land
The study also pointed to something beyond the oceans – hot springs on land. Hydrothermal systems aren’t just found under the sea. They exist on land too, in places like hot springs.
These environments might have also released phosphorus on early Earth. That means life’s building blocks weren’t limited to deep-sea vents. They could have existed in steaming pools on land.
This opens the door for more discoveries. Scientists now plan to study how phosphate behaves in rocks across different periods of Earth’s history. By tracing phosphorus through time, they hope to unlock new chapters of Earth’s story.
The message is clear: Life’s ingredients may have come from places on Earth we’ve only just begun to explore. Deep beneath the waves, within rocks touched by ancient fluids, the story of life may have quietly begun.
The study is published in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
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Remember the era of cheap natural gas? Yea, that world is gone.
Utilities and tech companies may be clamoring to build new gas-fired power plants to meet rising energy demand, but no matter how much they envision gas as a solution, there’s no escaping gas’s expensive, bad-for-the-climate reality. Anyone harboring the illusion of low-cost gas is operating as if it’s still 2015.
“I think people have in their minds that gas is a cheap way to generate power”, said Rich Powell, CEO of trade group the Clean Energy Buyers Association. “New build natural gas is not a cheap way to generate electricity.”
Today, gas’s economics are facing pressure on two fronts: Supply chain bottlenecks and workforce shortages have made it nearly impossible to source equipment for new gas-fired power plants in the near to medium term while also raising the costs of those plants. And gas as a fuel is becoming more expensive as global demand for liquified natural gas intensifies and the United States exports more of the fossil fuel instead of keeping it within our borders to meet American demand.
The shale revolution did usher in an era of cheap gas that reshaped the U.S. energy landscape, with gas overtaking coal in electricity generation around 2016. However, in recent years, new natural gas plants have constituted a small share of new capacity additions to the overall U.S. electricity mix.
Capacity additions by year, from 2017 to 2024.
U.S. Energy Information Administration
In fact, since the 2018 surge, nearly every megawatt of new generation added to the grid has been clean energy—96% of new power in 2024 and 85% in 2023. That’s largely because for more than half a decade, renewables have been the cheapest sources of new electricity.
The majority of the world’s new electricity built in 2023 came from renewables.
Canary Media
A gas buildout would look different this time
The big surge of new U.S. gas-fired power plant additions came in the early 2000s, before leveling off to a more moderate pace where the slowdown triggered several reactions that could make it hard to quickly build new gas plants today.
It turns out building gas plants is a use-it-or-lose-it skill.
Gas turbine manufacturers such as GE Vernova and Siemens Energy scaled back their production capabilities to meet lower demand, and output can’t be increased overnight. As a result, new gas turbine orders face a wait time of five to seven years before they can be delivered to utilities.
After a large buildout in the early 2000s, natural gas capacity remains steady.
U.S. Energy Information Administration
“Gas turbines were dead in 2022,” Siemens Energy North America President Rich Voorberg said at a recent conference, noting the company had been down to one customer.
Additionally, the slowdown in gas plant construction led to a brain drain, with NextEra CEO John Ketchum explaining much of the workforce that built the early 2000s boom has retired or moved to other fields, leaving behind a serious labor shortage.
Because of these factors, not only will it take years to build more natural gas-fired power plants, they’ll also be more expensive this time around. NextEra’s Ketchum estimates building a new plant today would cost three times as much as the last facility the utility built, back in 2022.
Others agree. “We did a quote and to do the same kind of unit that had been built a few years back it would be two and a half times more today,” Paul Sotkiewicz, president and founder of consultant E-Cubed Policy Associates.
He’s not alone in this sentiment.
“We are seeing substantial increases in the estimates for new builds, including everything from the cost of engineering, procurement and construction to the cost of equipment and materials,” said Bobby Noble, senior program manager for Gas Turbine Research and Development at EPRI.
The fuel to run gas plants costs more too
Then there’s the other side of the coin—not only will it cost much more to build a natural gas plant in today’s world, but the fuel that plant will burn is becoming significantly more expensive. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts Henry Hub prices—the main benchmark for natural gas prices—will increase by 43% in 2025 and another 27% in 2026. Increased natural gas demand from growing liquified natural gas exports is a primary driver for these cost increases, according to the EIA.
It’s a textbook Econ 101 example—exporting LNG abroad where natural gas prices are much higher raises demand for U.S.-produced gas. And when demand goes up, so does the price.
“It is not clear how both the AI and LNG export boom, both of which need prodigious volumes of gas, can succeed without provoking price spikes,” Gas Outlook recently reported.
“The explosion of (LNG) exports has upended domestic energy markets … and has exposed American energy markets to increased price volatility and episodes of sharply higher prices,” said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s energy program.
CAMERON LOUISIANA – JUNE 7: A large liquified natural gas transport ship sits docked in the … More Calcasieu River on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, near Cameron, La. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” makes the problem even worse
There’s no question U.S. electricity demand will increase in the coming years, although exactly what the rate of growth will be remains an open question. But relying on natural gas to fill the gap over at least the next five years appears to be both a foolhardy and highly expensive gamble. Instead, we should be increasing the pace of wind, solar, and storage buildout, as these technologies are currently the fastest, most affordable ways to add more power to the grid. Unfortunately, Congress just built a giant roadblock for clean energy.
The new One Big Beautiful Bill Act would repeals renewable energy incentives and puts in place overly complicated supply chain constraints, killing many of the domestic clean energy projects that had been projected to come online over the next few years. That will increase wholesale electricity costs by 74% over the next decade, according to Energy Innovation analysis. Over same time period, 340 fewer gigawatts of clean energy would also not get built.
Thus, we face a scenario where we need more power quickly, can’t get the materials or staff needed to build new gas plants that would be wildly expensive anyway, and we’re taking big chunks of fast, cheap clean energy off the table.
That’s a great blueprint for losing the AI race and making America expensive again.
Rachel Brosnahan to play Superman’s love interest ‘Lois Lane’
Superman actress Rachel Brosnahan has finally responded to the negative perspective people have about her character in the film.
The 34-year-old is all set to play “Lois Lane” in the upcoming James Gunn movie.
Many perceive her character being a “damsel in distress”, who the hero must save constantly.
Rachel has finally addressed the matter debunking the misconception about Lois Lane.
According to her, Lane is so dedicated and hungry to find out the truth that she ends up getting in trouble ever single time.
In conversation with Collider,The Blacklist star added, “You know, in my experience, she’s never been a damsel in distress. She’s always been so hungry and so relentless in her pursuit of the truth that she gets herself in trouble.”
Brosnahan further explained that “Lois not always the most graceful in her pursuit of what’s right and just and true.”
This is why the viewers “see her get herself into some piles, and that’ll continue in this world, as well.”
The upcoming action sci-fi features David Corenswet as the cape crusader and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
Master Changan Motor Limited has increased the prices of all its vehicles, with the revised rates taking effect from July 1, 2025.
The adjustment affects the full model lineup and follows broader pricing changes across the auto industry in response to measures introduced in the federal budget for 2025–26.
The new pricing includes increases ranging from Rs45,000 to Rs200,000, depending on the model. For the Oshan X7, the price of the Comfort (7 seats) variant has risen from Rs8,299,000 to Rs8,474,000, while the FS (5 seats) and FS (7 seats) variants are now priced at Rs9,149,000 and Rs9,299,000, respectively, both reflecting a Rs200,000 increase.
For the Alsvin, the MT Comfort variant now costs Rs4,189,000, up from Rs4,099,000. The Lumiere and Lumiere Black Edition have both seen Rs100,000 hikes, with new prices set at Rs4,899,000 and Rs4,999,000.
The Karvaan Power Plus 1.2 is now priced at Rs3,249,000, up from Rs3,199,000, and the Sherpa Power 1.2 has increased from Rs2,304,000 to Rs2,349,000.
The price hikes follow the introduction of a New Energy Vehicle (NEV) adoption levy under the 2025–26 budget. The levy ranges from 1% to 3% depending on engine displacement and applies to all locally assembled vehicles.
Automakers, including Changan, have revised prices to absorb the impact of the new levy. While some manufacturers have partially absorbed the increased cost, most have passed it on to customers.
The Oscar-winning Miloš Forman-directed movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Jack Nicholson, could get the television treatment.
Producer Paul Zaentz, the nephew of the Hollywood classic’s original producer Saul Zaentz, mentioned plans for a series during a press conference at the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), in which he appeared with Cuckoo’s Nest producer and Hollywood legend Michael Douglas. The two traveled to the Czech spa town to present a newly restored version of the 1975 classic as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
The movie is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey about a new patient at a mental institution. Louise Fletcher portrays the domineering head nurse Ratched.
“Over the last 50 years, there have been hundreds of calls from studios, directors, and producers who want to remake the movie, and we would never allow it to be remade if they were just going to do it as Miloš made it,” Zaentz shared. “It would be a dishonor.”
But he also had some exciting news to share. “We just made an arrangement with Ken Kesey’s family to possibly do a television series, but it’s based on the book, and the book was told through the eyes of Chief Bromden,” the tall, deaf-mute Native American portrayed in the movie by Will Sampson, Zaentz told reporters. “So the television series would be through his eyes.”
He signaled how he envisions the story arc. “At the end of the first [season], the R.P. McMurphy, the Jack Nicholson, character would die. And then the second year would be what happens to the Chief after he escapes.”
Danny DeVito, Sydney Lassick, William Redfield, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif played supporting roles in the movie.
Zaentz didn’t mention a possible writer or studio partner or a potential network or streamer that the series could be made for.
While the release roadmap for the iPhone has remained pretty consistent for the last decade, Apple’s MacBook schedule is a little harder to predict. New models can pop up at WWDC in June, at one-off events throughout the year, or via a quiet press release on the Apple website.
But thanks to new leaks, and a touch of sleuthing from AppleInsider, we now have a pretty solid idea of what to expect from Apple on the Mac front through to the end of 2026 – with no less than fifteen(!) Macs allegedly on the roadmap. We’d better start making space in our roundup of the best laptops for graphic design.
M5 MacBook Pros are imminent (Image credit: Apple)
(Image credit: Apple)
AppleInsider has got hold of a full list of product identifier codes for upcoming Macs, which, thanks to the predictable pattern used for said codes, can fairly easily be attributed to future models.
Most of this isn’t particularly surprising. In 2025, apparently we can expect 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 (and M5 Pro / Max) chips. Meanwhile, a new Mac Studio with the same chip looks set for release before the end of 2025.
Could a new low-cost MacBook see the return of a 12-inch model? (Image credit: Apple)
In 2026, we’re likely to get, surprise, surprise, MacBook Pros featuring M6 chips. The MacBook Air will likely get the M5 chip that year (it tends to lag behind the Pro), and an M5-equipped iMac and Mac mini is set to follow.
So far, so predictable. But there are a couple of surprises. A redesigned MacBook Pro is apparently in the works for the end of 2026, which could feature an OLED display and thinner and lighter chassis.
And then there’s one unattributed product code identifier, which is speculated to belong to a rumoured low-cost MacBook which could feature, instead of the M-series, the A18 chip from the iPhone. Could this be the 12-inch MacBook revival we’ve been waiting for?
Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.
While news has been quiet on the MacBook front, this latest leak suggests Apple is planning to come out all guns blazing for its laptop line up over the next 12 months.
Joby Aviation is set to change how city dwellers navigate their daily commutes, promising quiet, efficient air taxis that whisk passengers over traffic-filled streets. This electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft attracts large and curious crowds eager to see how they’ll soon travel above congested roads.
A Quiet Revolution Above City Streets
The futuristic air taxi stands out because it combines helicopter-style vertical takeoff and landing with airplane-like cruising capabilities. Eric Allison, Joby’s Chief Product Officer, explains this feature’s benefit: it “frees you from the traffic in a way that you just can’t right now with any other technology.”
The aircraft achieves speeds up to 200 miles per hour, easily covering urban distances up to 100 miles, making daily commutes faster and easier.
The aircraft achieves speeds up to 200 miles per hour, easily covering urban distances up to 100 miles, making daily commutes faster and easier. (CREDIT: Joby Aviation)
One of Joby’s top priorities is noise reduction. The air taxi’s innovative propellers tilt upwards for takeoff and then forward for flight. These specially designed blades ensure minimal sound disruption. Allison emphasized its near-silent operation, saying, “If it was flying over here at about a thousand feet, it basically would be silent. You wouldn’t hear it as it flies over.”
Transforming the Daily Commute
Los Angeles, notorious for heavy traffic, is one of Joby’s first target markets. Although Joby hasn’t yet provided an official launch date, speculation points to the 2028 Olympics as a likely debut, aligning with citywide efforts to reduce car usage. Mayor-driven initiatives to ease congestion during major events could propel air taxis into everyday life.
Envision traveling from LAX airport to downtown in mere minutes rather than battling freeway traffic. Joby’s planned “vertiports” would integrate seamlessly into urban infrastructure, reachable by foot, bike, or rideshare, drastically simplifying travel in busy cities.
Allison believes air taxis will profoundly change urban mobility. “It starts to change how we think about moving around our cities,” he says, promising a future that is not only convenient but significantly better for the environment.
Expanding the Limits of Electric Flight
Beyond city travel, Joby Aviation explores extending their electric aircraft’s range using advanced hydrogen fuel cells. In a notable demonstration, their hydrogen-powered prototype recently completed a 523-mile journey, proving viability for longer flights such as San Francisco to San Diego. This breakthrough highlights hydrogen’s exceptional potential, having roughly 100 times the energy of current batteries and three times that of jet fuel.
Hydrogen’s flexibility is equally promising. Produced using renewable sources like wind or solar, it presents a truly sustainable path for aviation. This aligns perfectly with global shifts towards greener energy. The U.S. Department of Energy, recognizing hydrogen’s transformative power, has committed $7 billion toward developing national hydrogen infrastructure.
Joby Aviation founder JoeBen Bevirt poses next to a Joby Aviation Air Taxi in New York City. (CREDIT: Andrew Kelly)
Taking Flight in Dubai
Joby recently reached a milestone by conducting successful piloted flights in Dubai, marking the start of their commercial readiness efforts in anticipation of carrying its first passengers in 2026. In partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the aircraft performed flawlessly in demanding desert conditions. Joby secured exclusive rights to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years, setting the stage for a global expansion of air mobility.
Dubai’s leadership envisions air taxis as part of an integrated transport system, connecting seamlessly with other travel methods. Joby plans to launch its air taxi service across key sites including Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Downtown Dubai, where vertiports are already being built. A flight from DXB to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take just 12 minutes—slashing a typical 45-minute car journey to a quick hop through the sky.
“The United Arab Emirates is a launchpad for a global revolution in how we move,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “In addition to building a performant aircraft, we’ve also been maturing our program for anticipated passenger service with global operational capabilities and scalable, durable manufacturing. Our flights and operational footprint in Dubai are a monumental step toward weaving air taxi services into the fabric of daily life worldwide. With our visionary partners, we’re igniting a future where quiet, clean flight is the new normal, and we’re demonstrating the leadership of American innovation on the global stage.”
Joby recently reached a milestone by conducting successful piloted flights in Dubai, marking the start of their commercial readiness efforts. (CREDIT: Joby Aviation)
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, head of Dubai’s RTA, stated this aligns with the UAE’s broader ambition of advancing sustainable and innovative transportation. Al Tayer explained that air taxis would offer residents and visitors quick, safe, and smooth travel across key city destinations.
Dubai’s move toward commercial market readiness follows nearly two years of extreme heat testing at Edwards Air Force Base in the U.S.
Cost is another consideration. Early passengers are likely to be wealthier commuters eager to save precious time. However, Joby’s long-term vision includes making air taxis affordable for the broader public by scaling technology and expanding services globally.
Global Momentum for Clean Aviation
Joby Aviation aligns with a global trend toward reducing aviation’s environmental footprint. Air travel currently contributes 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure expected to rise without intervention.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) warns aviation’s environmental impact might quadruple by 2050 unless drastic changes occur. Joby’s electric and hydrogen-electric aircraft offer powerful solutions to this looming challenge.
By investing heavily in battery-electric and hydrogen-electric technologies, Joby aims to drastically reduce emissions. With over 40,000 miles of electric flight testing already completed, the company’s progress is undeniable.
These efforts not only promise cleaner skies but also pave the way toward more accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation solutions.
The air taxi concept signifies more than a technological advance; it’s a complete transformation of urban life. Joby’s vision goes beyond convenience, reshaping cities into quieter, cleaner places with faster commutes and less congestion. Quiet, emissions-free flights promise more than just better transportation; they offer a healthier, happier urban environment.
The company recently transformed one of its electric prototypes into a hydrogen-electric model, completing a 523-mile flight with vertical takeoff and landing. (CREDIT: Joby Aviation)
Ready for Takeoff
As Joby Aviation moves toward commercial operation, anticipation grows worldwide. With successful flights in Dubai and extensive testing in the U.S., the dream of air taxis seems closer than ever.
Whether for short city hops or longer regional flights, Joby’s innovative approach represents the future of mobility, where quick, clean air travel becomes the everyday norm.
I passed on last year’s Samsung Galaxy A35. I couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on an Exynos 1380 chipset and 6GB of RAM, when so many fantastic midrange options were available for only a few dollars more. Even Samsung offered a better choice, with the excellent Galaxy A55 selling for around the same price. Unfortunately, the Galaxy A55 was never released in the US, leaving buyers to scour Amazon and hope for carrier compatibility.
It’s a tale we’ve seen quite a few times from Samsung, and it leaves US midrange buyers out in the cold. I’m tired of seeing the company sell more powerful variants of the same phones overseas, while we’re stuck with the base models. I was hyped for this year’s Galaxy A36, with its gorgeous display and Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, but the phone fell short. Samsung needs to try harder in the US, and it shouldn’t be that difficult.
Read our review
The Samsung Galaxy A36 has flagship looks but lags behind the competition
A mixed bag of results
Samsung’s midrange lineup is a mess
More confusion on the way
Samsung produces too many phones for its own good. I appreciate that the company wants to service multiple price points, but there’s a limit. There comes a point when phones start competing against each other, and Samsung has to create artificial barriers to keep each in its lane.
It offers the Galaxy A16, A26, and A36, with a $100 price difference between each. I love that the Galaxy A16 features a vibrant display and six years of software support for $200, but I’d absolutely pay an extra $50 for the higher RAM variants sold overseas. Unfortunately, we’re not given the opportunity.
Related
The Samsung Galaxy A16 delivers where it counts — without punishing your wallet
A gorgeous display with decent performance
When the Galaxy A56 is eventually released in the US, the conversation gets even more complicated. Having used the Galaxy A56, I can tell you there’s zero reason to opt for a Galaxy A36, even if you have to spend a few dollars more. And to make matters even more confusing, the A56 is routinely on sale through Amazon for less than what Samsung sells the Galaxy A36 for.
Performance suffers as a result
I wouldn’t mind if the phones kept up
I wouldn’t have any beef with Samsung if the phones performed well against the competition, but that’s not the case. It’s hard for me to find fault with the Galaxy A16 for only $200, but the phone is limited to 4GB of RAM. Other regions have the option to purchase more, and 6GB would have a significant impact on performance. I’d gladly pay $240 for a Galaxy A16 with more RAM, as the rest of the phone is an outstanding value for money.
If Samsung were a company that only made a couple of devices, I’d give them a pass for not offering more variants in the US.
The same applies to the Galaxy A36. I’ve used a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in the Moto G Stylus 2025, with much better results. Yes, Moto’s software is more lightweight than the One UI, but the G Stylus also has 8GB of RAM. It’s a smoother overall experience, and it’s a shame that Samsung doesn’t offer the same variants as those available overseas. I even had users comment on my review, mentioning that the 8GB version of the Galaxy A36 is smoother, but we’ll never know in the US.
This doesn’t have to be that difficult
It’s not for a lack of resources
If Samsung were a company that only made a couple of devices, I’d give them a pass for not offering more variants in the US. However, with the M-series, S-series, and A-series, Samsung has a diverse and complicated lineup. Unfortunately, the US market is often limited to the weakest variants that Samsung ships, and this can be easily corrected. Simply give us more options. Unlock the choices afforded to overseas buyers and let the marketplace dictate which phones you should keep selling and which deserve to be relegated to the dustbin.
The Galaxy A16 with 6GB of RAM is a strong recommendation for most budget buyers, and the Galaxy A36 with 8GB of RAM competes effectively with the Moto G Stylus 2025. It’s hard to credit Samsung for its significantly longer software support compared to the Moto, when its performance lags behind. I’ve noticed this trend for some time, but the Galaxy A36 was the most glaring example I’ve seen.
Samsung needs to try harder
I’d love to see the Galaxy A56 released in the US sooner rather than later, and I’d appreciate it if Samsung refined its midrange lineup. The company does an excellent job of bringing quality features and support down to more affordable price ranges, but it doesn’t quite hit the nail on the head. I’m only asking for the choices and conveniences already afforded overseas buyers — it’s time Samsung brought that to the US.
