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For a very long time, if you wanted to try Linux on a semi-permanent basis, you needed to shrink your Windows partition, install a Linux distro of some variety, and just suffer through any of the numerous problems that can occur with dual booting.

Are you looking for a private, alternative search engine? Google is king, but its rivals are quickly catching up. With the recent general shift toward privacy awareness, perhaps one of them is right for you.

Google just gave you a new account login option to help escape the maze of password resets and recovery contacts. The company has introduced a selfie video sign-in feature that can get you in even when you're locked out or using a different device.

Are you ready for another batch of fun (and useful) homelab projects to try out this weekend? From building your own speed test server to some media server maintenance, here are three projects for you to finish before Monday rolls around.

When it comes to single-board computers, you have other flavors of Pi to choose from than just Raspberry these days. The Orange PI series of competing products might lack the vast community support and software library of the Raspberry Pi, but when it comes to one specific use case, the choice is much less clear.

For a few years, Intel Optane felt like it was cheating. Random reads that beat any SSD on the market. Latency low enough to make a spinning hard drive feel like a relic. And the most interesting side? A whole new memory tier that nobody else could touch. Then it just quietly stopped existing.

Seattle may need to prepare for the possibility of multiple Jimothys — Jimothies? Jimothem? Jimothi? The internet has not yet settled on the plural.

The unusually shaped raccoon became an internet celebrity after footage of him walking through the city’s Ballard neighborhood went viral. But as residents continue sharing possible sightings — including some they claim date back to 2017 — wildlife experts are questioning whether every round raccoon caught on camera is actually the same animal.

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Jimothy first captured widespread attention after Seattle resident Kiana Hall encountered him during a walk through Ballard on July 13. Hall initially mistook the animal beneath a parked car for a cat, then started recording when the creature emerged with the masked face of a raccoon and a noticeably shortened torso and neck. She named him Jimothy because, as she later explained to Today, he simply looked like one.

The brief video accumulated millions of views and made Jimothy an almost immediate Seattle celebrity. Fans declared it “Hot Jimothy Summer” and created memes, murals, tattoos, and merchandise in his honor, while local organizations joined in with government PSAs and an honorary doctorate from the University of Washington. A costumed Jimothy even defeated four oversized fish during the Seattle Mariners’ seventh-inning Salmon Run. Google has even joined in on the fun — if you look up "Jimothy" or "Jimothy the raccoon" in the search box, an animation of Jimothy will scurry across your screen.

Experts believe his unusual appearance may be caused by a congenital spinal deformity resembling short spine syndrome, although he has not been examined by a veterinarian and does not have a confirmed diagnosis. Despite his compressed build, videos show him walking, climbing, finding food, and independently navigating the neighborhood.

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But as Jimothy’s following grew, Ballard residents began digging through old photographs and security-camera footage for previous sightings. That is where the plot thickens.

Ballard resident Rebecca Sorenson raised the question in an interview with FOX 13 Seattle after noticing conflicting accounts of Jimothy’s age.

“There’s posts now that say that he was born a year ago and then other people with posts that saw him in 2017,” Sorenson said. “I’m curious now if there are more than one?”

Those dates would be difficult to reconcile if every video showed the same raccoon. Wendi Mallo, an animal keeper who cares for two raccoons at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, told the station that three to five years would already be a long lifespan for a wild raccoon. Many do not survive their first year because of cars, dogs, disease, and other dangers.

A raccoon spotted in 2017 would therefore need to be at least 9 years old today, making it unlikely — although apparently not impossible — that Seattle has been following the same Jimothy for nearly a decade.

“Yeah, that seems like a very long-lived raccoon to me for the wild,” Mallo told FOX 13 Seattle. “But who knows, there’s magic in the wild. We’ve just got to look for it.”

Another possibility is that Ballard has been home to multiple raccoons with similar spinal abnormalities. The theory remains speculation, however. No one has confirmed that multiple short-spined raccoons are living in the neighborhood, just as no one has established that all the reported sightings show the same animal.

The uncertainty complicates the story of Jimothy’s life. Residents have collected old security-camera footage, photographs, and backyard sightings they believe show the distinctive raccoon at different ages. One set of videos reportedly captures a young Jimothy living with his mother and siblings in 2025, while other residents have attached different ages and origin stories to raccoons they believe are him.

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Without an examination or another reliable way to identify the animal, there is no definitive answer. Seattle could be following one exceptionally resilient raccoon, several similarly shaped relatives, or a mixture of genuine Jimothy sightings and mistaken identities.

Whoever appears in the recent videos seems to be doing well. Mallo added that the raccoon’s body appears to be in good condition, despite the challenges his unusual build may create.

Wildlife officials have advised residents to continue observing Jimothy — or any possible Jimothys — from a distance. People should not approach, feed, capture, or attempt to pet the animals, especially as increased attention could draw more visitors into the neighborhood, creating more hazards for racoons as well.

Until someone solves the mystery, “Jimothy” may be less one raccoon’s name than a title passed among Ballard’s roundest residents.

Seattle may need to prepare for the possibility of multiple Jimothys — Jimothies? Jimothem? Jimothi? The internet has not yet settled on the plural.

The unusually shaped raccoon became an internet celebrity after footage of him walking through the city’s Ballard neighborhood went viral. But as residents continue sharing possible sightings — including some they claim date back to 2017 — wildlife experts are questioning whether every round raccoon caught on camera is actually the same animal.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Jimothy first captured widespread attention after Seattle resident Kiana Hall encountered him during a walk through Ballard on July 13. Hall initially mistook the animal beneath a parked car for a cat, then started recording when the creature emerged with the masked face of a raccoon and a noticeably shortened torso and neck. She named him Jimothy because, as she later explained to Today, he simply looked like one.

The brief video accumulated millions of views and made Jimothy an almost immediate Seattle celebrity. Fans declared it “Hot Jimothy Summer” and created memes, murals, tattoos, and merchandise in his honor, while local organizations joined in with government PSAs and an honorary doctorate from the University of Washington. A costumed Jimothy even defeated four oversized fish during the Seattle Mariners’ seventh-inning Salmon Run. Google has even joined in on the fun — if you look up "Jimothy" or "Jimothy the raccoon" in the search box, an animation of Jimothy will scurry across your screen.

Experts believe his unusual appearance may be caused by a congenital spinal deformity resembling short spine syndrome, although he has not been examined by a veterinarian and does not have a confirmed diagnosis. Despite his compressed build, videos show him walking, climbing, finding food, and independently navigating the neighborhood.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

But as Jimothy’s following grew, Ballard residents began digging through old photographs and security-camera footage for previous sightings. That is where the plot thickens.

Ballard resident Rebecca Sorenson raised the question in an interview with FOX 13 Seattle after noticing conflicting accounts of Jimothy’s age.

“There’s posts now that say that he was born a year ago and then other people with posts that saw him in 2017,” Sorenson said. “I’m curious now if there are more than one?”

Those dates would be difficult to reconcile if every video showed the same raccoon. Wendi Mallo, an animal keeper who cares for two raccoons at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, told the station that three to five years would already be a long lifespan for a wild raccoon. Many do not survive their first year because of cars, dogs, disease, and other dangers.

A raccoon spotted in 2017 would therefore need to be at least 9 years old today, making it unlikely — although apparently not impossible — that Seattle has been following the same Jimothy for nearly a decade.

“Yeah, that seems like a very long-lived raccoon to me for the wild,” Mallo told FOX 13 Seattle. “But who knows, there’s magic in the wild. We’ve just got to look for it.”

Another possibility is that Ballard has been home to multiple raccoons with similar spinal abnormalities. The theory remains speculation, however. No one has confirmed that multiple short-spined raccoons are living in the neighborhood, just as no one has established that all the reported sightings show the same animal.

The uncertainty complicates the story of Jimothy’s life. Residents have collected old security-camera footage, photographs, and backyard sightings they believe show the distinctive raccoon at different ages. One set of videos reportedly captures a young Jimothy living with his mother and siblings in 2025, while other residents have attached different ages and origin stories to raccoons they believe are him.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Without an examination or another reliable way to identify the animal, there is no definitive answer. Seattle could be following one exceptionally resilient raccoon, several similarly shaped relatives, or a mixture of genuine Jimothy sightings and mistaken identities.

Whoever appears in the recent videos seems to be doing well. Mallo added that the raccoon’s body appears to be in good condition, despite the challenges his unusual build may create.

Wildlife officials have advised residents to continue observing Jimothy — or any possible Jimothys — from a distance. People should not approach, feed, capture, or attempt to pet the animals, especially as increased attention could draw more visitors into the neighborhood, creating more hazards for racoons as well.

Until someone solves the mystery, “Jimothy” may be less one raccoon’s name than a title passed among Ballard’s roundest residents.

For over a decade, Plex was the undisputed choice for anyone looking to self-host a media server. Unlike its alternatives, Plex was polished, feature-rich, and years ahead of the competition.

After a rough try in May and a scrubbed launch last week, SpaceX will attempt to launch Starship on its 13th test flight Thursday. 

The launch follows a scrubbed attempt on July 16 — canceled because some of the engines didn't start, triggering an abort, company founder Elon Musk said in a post on X. SpaceX officials say they're ready to give it another go, but weather conditions could foul their plans.  

As previously reported by Mashable, this test will seek to prove the rocket booster can separate cleanly from the ship in the air, swing around the right way, fire its engines again, and splash down in the Gulf of Mexico. They've changed how engines light and tweaked the landing sequence, which plops the ship into the Indian Ocean. 

The modifications follow the 12th flight's botched flip and several engine restarting failures.

This launch marks the latest step in SpaceX's campaign to turn the most powerful rocket ever built into a reusable workhorse — one that can haul heavy cargo into space, survive the fiery return trip, support NASA's moon landings, and eventually execute Musk's personal Mars ambitions.

SEE ALSO: Astronomers think some asteroids have been comets all along. Here's why.

SpaceX says it will stream the South Texas launch on its website and X, the social media platform owned by Musk. The broadcast is expected to start as early as 5:15 p.m. CT. If any delays occur, the company will provide updates on X.

Once it gets off the ground, Starship will try to deploy 20 satellites, then attempt to restart a single engine while coasting, a skill SpaceX says it will need for future missions that change course or head to the moon. The cargo includes Starlink V3 internet satellites. 

"The thing that separates us from a lot of other companies is that we test fast and we test often, and that includes launches," said Tim Southerton, director of Starship launch engineering, in SpaceX's latest mini documentary. "We want to make sure the vehicle's all ready to go. We want to make sure the ground's all ready to go, but we also don't want to be caught in analysis paralysis."

While waiting for ignition, viewers can watch SpaceX's short documentary, called "Critical Path." The film follows engineers and pad crews through the final days leading up to the previous flight. 

During the film, Musk doesn't say much. 

"I personally have never felt any pressure from Elon of like, 'It doesn't matter, hell or high water, we're flying this rocket.' Like, absolutely not. That's not his style," said Justin Styer, the company's senior Starship launch director, in the film. "And, like I said, the critical path to Mars is not blowing up rockets."

Buying a used car can save you thousands of dollars compared to purchasing a new one, but it also comes with risks. A vehicle may look spotless on the outside and drive perfectly during a short test drive while hiding expensive mechanical or electrical problems beneath the surface.

Our favorite Walmart Collector Con collectibles: G.I. Joe Night Force Psych-Out Figure $27.97 Pre-Order Here Disney Collector Maleficent Fashion Doll $39.97 Shop Now Transformers Dark Energon Megatron Figure $42.97 Pre-Order Here Marvel Spider-Man 1:10 Scale Collectible $39.97 Shop Now Star Wars Black Series Clone Troopers Dogma & Hardcase $55.97 Shop Now Superman 2.0 Figure — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice $59.99 Pre-Order Here

Collectors, mark your calendars: Walmart Collector Con is back July 23-24 with a fresh lineup of collectibles to hunt down, including action figures, dolls, Funko POP! figures, Hot Wheels sets, Lego builds, and more from fan-favorite franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, DC, and beyond.

Below are some of our favorite Walmart Collector Con finds, including the collectibles we expect fans to grab quickly.

Star Wars Black Series Clone Troopers Dogma & Hardcase Opens in a new window Credit: Star Wars Star Wars Black Series Clone Troopers Dogma & Hardcase $55.97 at Walmart
  Shop Now

Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans can add two members of the 501st Legion to their shelves with the Star Wars Black Series Clone Trooper Dogma and Clone Trooper Hardcase 2-pack. Inspired by the animated series, the 6-inch figures feature detailed designs, multiple points of articulation, and character-specific touches that make them stand out from the rest of your clone collection.

Dogma and Hardcase come with animation-inspired face markings, removable helmets, and their own gear — including two blasters for Dogma and a rotary laser cannon for Hardcase.

Superman 2.0 Figure — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Opens in a new window Credit: Beast Kingdom Superman 2.0 Figure — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice $59.99 at Walmart
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Superman fans can bring home a detailed recreation of the Man of Steel with the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Superman 2.0 figure. This collector piece features a highly detailed head sculpt that captures Superman’s determined expression, along with a premium fabric cape and textured suit design inspired by the film’s iconic armor.

With 22 points of articulation, collectors can pose Superman in everything from mid-flight displays to battle-ready stances. The figure also includes four interchangeable hand sets — fists, open hands, holding hands, and relaxed hands — making it easy to recreate different moments from the DC universe.

Marvel Spider-Man 1:10 Scale Collectible Opens in a new window Credit: McFarlane Toys Marvel Spider-Man 1:10 Scale Collectible $39.97 at Walmart
  Get Deal

Spider-Man fans and collectors will want to take a closer look at this Spider-Man 1:10 Scale Collectible, which brings the classic villain from Amazing Spider-Man issue #318 to life in 1:10 scale. The figure comes with an environmental base and backdrop scene that makes it easy to turn it into a proper display piece, plus a collectible art card signed by Todd McFarlane himself.

With Scorpion’s upgraded, deadlier tail and comic-inspired details, this collectible is hard to ignore if you’re building out a Marvel shelf or just have a soft spot for Spider-Man’s iconic villains. The Spider-Man 1:10 Scale Collectible goes live for sale on July 24 at 10 a.m. ET.

More Walmart Collector Con collectibles to buy

• Hot Wheels Zamac — $20.99

• Hot Wheels Legends — $21.99

• Masters of the Universe Vintage Figure — $23.72

• Funko POP! Premium Godzilla Collectible Vinyl Figure — $24.95

• G.I. Joe Classified Series JJ Montaro Figure — $27.97

• Marvel Legends Doctor Doom Figure — $27.97

• Street Fighter Ken Figure — $27.97

• Marvel Scorpion 1:10 Scale Collectible (Metallic) Gold Label — $34.97

• Hot Wheels Pantone — $35

• Disney Collector Villains Ursula Doll — $39.97

• Disney Collector Villains Cruella Doll — $39.97

• Disney Collector Villains Evil Queen Doll — $39.97

• Disney Collector Villains Maleficent Doll — $39.97

• Marvel The Incredible Hulk 1:6 Scale Collectible Gold Label — $49.97

• Jada Toys Street Fighter II Guile vs. M. Bison 2-Pack — $50

• Lego Gum Gum Fruit — $69.99

• G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Range Viper Action Figure (6 in) — $128.72

• Hot Wheels Boulevard 25-Car Factory Set — $128.99

• Hot Wheels Car Culture Team Transport Factory Set — $159.97

• Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy — $199.95

Ready to add something new to your shelf? Head to Walmart Collector Con to shop the full lineup.

Windows is the OS I use every day, even though it does plenty of things I don't like. I've tried switching to Linux more than once, and I keep finding reasons to give it another shot, but I always end up back on Windows. For all its faults, it still works best with the apps, hardware, and workflow that I rely on every day.

I've been using PlayStation consoles for almost 30 years. So in this PS5 vs. PS5 Slim face off, I'll be helping you decide which console is best for you.

With the recent launch of the upgraded PS5 Pro console, now might be the perfect opportunity to snag a slightly older — yet still incredibly powerful — PS5.

With potential sweet deals, or even permanent price drops on the horizon, it’s essential to know exactly what you’re getting (and not getting) with the PS5 and PS5 Slim.

SEE ALSO: The price of Sony's PS5 Pro is 'brutal' and the internet hates it PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: price

For context, the original, non-slim PS5 has two versions: a digital one (without a disc drive) and one with a disc drive. The same can be said for the PS5 Slim; it's got a digital version and a disc one.

For whatever reason, Sony decided to not drop the prices of the new PS5 Slim models. The PS5 Slim with a disc drive is still $499, while the PS5 Slim without a disc drive is $449 — or a $50 increase over the original PS5 digital-only console.

• PS5 Slim (no disc drive) - $449

• PS5 Slim (with disc drive) - $499

• Original PS5 (no disc drive) - $399

• Original PS5 (disc drive) - $499

PS5 Slim (no disc drive) $494.40 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at PlayStation Store Sony PlayStation 5 $499.99 at Walmart
  Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon

With that in mind, yes, the digital-only PS5 Slim is a money-saver in comparison to the one with a disc drive, but not in comparison to the digital-only model that launched in 2020.

The new price also means that buying a digital model before purchasing the additional disc drive would cost more than just snagging the version with a built-in drive. I don't really have a good explanation for that.

My only advice is this: If you want a PS5 that only costs $399, you better get one now. This is an important note: Once the existing stock of both original models sells out, the new slim models will replace them on store shelves.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: size

Obviously, size is what many gamers are most concerned about here, so let's get right to it. Looking at Sony's stated dimensions, you can see that the new PS5 is indeed smaller than the original:

• Original PS5 (disc version): 104mm (height) x 390mm (width) x 260mm (depth)

• PS5 Slim (disc version): 96mm (height) x 358mm (width) x 216mm (depth)

• Original PS5 (digital version): 92mm x 390mm x 260mm

• PS5 Slim (digital version): 80mm x 358mm x 216mm

Credit: Sony

In other words, per Sony's announcement blog post, that's about a 30 percent reduction in total volume. That's definitely an improvement, but there's some important context missing in just those raw numbers. The Verge ran a digital size comparison and discovered that both new models are still substantially larger than the Xbox Series X.

In other words, this "slim" console is still pretty dang big.

For a visual comparison, check out this awesome PS5 Slim vs. Regular Reddit post.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: performance and storage

Another important aspect of the new PS5 models to get out of the way is that they have the exact same internal capabilities as the originals. This isn't a PS4 vs. PS4 Pro situation. Games will run exactly the same across the spectrum of PS5 consoles.

Credit: Sony

One little internal bonus that owners of the new PS5s get, however, comes in the form of expanded storage. For some reason, the original PS5 only had 825GB of onboard storage, with the option to expand via external SSDs. The new ones have a full 1TB of built-in space, so you can install a few extra games depending on how big they are.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: disc drive

Just like at the PS5's launch in late 2020, there are two PS5 Slim models. One of them has a built-in disc drive and the other one is digital-only.

Credit: Sony

Well, sort of, anyway. There's an optional detachable disc drive you can buy for $79.99. It's a little goofy looking, but it should do exactly what you think it does. For physical media collectors, the disc drive is a must-buy.

It's worth noting, however, that the PS5 Slim, unlike the OG PS5, does not come with a vertical stand in the box. However, seasoned gamers will tell you that you should keep your PS5 to be stationed horizontally anyway.

I've been tinkering with my smart home for well over a decade, so it's rare that I come across anything that feels truly new. Sometimes, however, I find ideas that I've not seen before, and it's always a breath of fresh air. Quite literally, in the case of one of these projects.

SAVE $800: The Mova Lidax Ultra 3000 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $2,199, down from the list price of $2,999. That's a 27% discount and the best price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mova Mova Lidax Ultra 3000 $2,199 at Amazon
$2,999 Save $800   Get Deal

We wait all year for long summer nights spent outside. It's the best time of the year to gather friends and family in the yard for some relaxation or an outdoor movie night. It's also an ideal time to finally catch up on Kindle books reclined in a lawn chair. If you love being out in the yard, but don't love the maintenance that comes with it, check out this deal.

As of July 23, the Mova Lidax Ultra 3000 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $2,199, marked down from the normal price of $2,999. That's a 27% discount that takes $800 off the price. This marks the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Similar to how we use robot vacuums to keep the floors clean indoors, a robot lawn mower is willing to take over the chore of keeping the grass cut. The Mova Lidax Ultra 3000 is designed to tackle yards that have 0.75 acres of grass. It can handle mowing on slopes that measure up to 80 degrees, and it can get over obstacles that measure up to 2.4 inches tall, like rocks and tree roots.

SEE ALSO: The Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum is down to its lowest-ever price — save $210 at Amazon

The Mova uses six blades on each of its two cutting disks, and its AI features include avoidance of over 300 common obstacles, such as lawn games, pots, and shrubs. From the app, you can set up to 150 mowing zones to keep the front yard mowed once a week and the back once every 10 days. You can also select cutting heights between 1.2 and 3.9 inches.

Since the Mova Lidax Ultra 3000 robot lawn mower is sitting at the lowest we've seen at Amazon, make the upgrade to automated lawn care. It's perfect for keeping a lawn well-manicured.

Playing music via the command line is a joy for many Linux users. Besides, who wants to pay for a Spotify membership or any other streaming service, when you can stream files to your computer directly from your phone's local storage? Or just listen from the phone itself? I decided to test it out.

Five router firmware builds have just been deemed majorly unsafe, and it isn't the usual patch-it-and-move-on situation. The web interface on these routers has a hidden backdoor password that hands over full admin access, and the username you type doesn't even matter.

TL;DR: Laifen is expanding its P3 lineup with the P3-Blade Electric Shaver, featuring a twin linear motor at 12,000 x 2 cuts per minute and a 0.55mm ultra-thin foil. It launches Aug. 3 for $159.99 in four colorways.

Laifen is following up its popular P3 Pro Electric Razor with a new model: the P3-Blade Electric Shaver. It launches Aug. 3 for $159.99, and it's built to be more travel-friendly and lightweight than its predecessor, while packing some notable upgrades.

The biggest change is the motor — Laifen developed a twin high-speed linear motor that delivers 12,000 cuts per minute on each side, designed to give you a close shave without the buzzy vibration you'd normally feel.

Pair that with a 0.55mm ultra-thin foil and angled inner blades, and it's designed to cut through thick, coarse hair without much resistance. The shaving head itself also got wider — Laifen's calling it "ArcBlade," and it covers a 146.2-degree surface, which the brand says increases coverage by 54% compared to before.

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If you've got sensitive skin, this one's for you: the foil is precision-forged stainless steel with an ultra-low nickel release, making it hypoallergenic. The Travel Mode that locks the shaver so it doesn't accidentally turn on in your bag, which is a small but useful fix for anyone who's dealt with a razor draining its battery mid-flight.

Battery-wise, you're looking at 100 minutes of runtime on a full charge, and it charges via USB-C — a three-minute quick charge gets you seven minutes of shave time if you're in a hurry. The P3-Blade comes in four colorways: black, white, blue, and gray.

The P3-Blade launches Aug. 3 for $159.99 at Laifen — if you want a vibration-free shave in a shaver small enough to pack, this is the one to watch.

After months of rumors and leaks, Samsung finally told us everything we wanted to know about its new marquee foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra was officially announced during a Galaxy Unpacked showcase in London, where the company also debuted two more foldable phones and two new Galaxy smartwatches. In a twist to its usual naming convention, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is the successor to last year's excellent Z Fold 7. That means it's a new book-style foldable with some hardware and software improvements over the Z Fold 7. (The newly announced Z Fold 8 is an entirely new model with a wider body.)

Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra + $350 gift card $2,099.99 at Amazon Pre-Order Here Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra $2,099.99 at Samsung Pre-Order Here

In keeping with the Ultra name, and the general state of the tech industry, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is also the most expensive of the new foldables announced on Wednesday. It starts at a staggering $2,099.99, a $100 price increase over the Z Fold 7. Mashable got the chance to demo the new foldable smartphones ahead of their release, and we can finally share all the details and our first impressions.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: By the numbers An Ultra display. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

This year, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra rumors and leaks were pretty spot on. As expected, the new device features a new Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset (the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy), an improved battery, upgraded cameras, and some new AI features. Remarkably, it's even thinner than last year's model.

The specifications for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra:

• Inner display: 8-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Outer display: 6.5-inches AMOLED display 120Hz refresh rate

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset

• Colors: Violet shadow, graphite, cream, green shadow

• Unfolded dimensions: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1 mm

• Folded dimensions: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9 mm

• RAM: 12GB to 16GB RAM

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage

• Battery: 5,000mAh battery

• Charging: 45W wired, 20W wireless

• Cameras: 200MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP selfie camera

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: The key upgrades Yep, still thin. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

The Z Fold 8 Ultra is not a huge upgrade over the Z Fold 7 in terms of hardware, but there are some enhancements worth covering.

First, Samsung managed to shave an additional millimeter off the thickness of the device, and it's a mere 4.1 mm when unfolded, though it weighs the same as last year's Z Fold 7.

The most noteworthy upgrade is probably the updated battery. Last year, the Z Fold 7 had a measly 4,400mAh cell, and the phone's mediocre battery life was really the one and only big knock we had against it. A new 5,000mAh battery is on the high side for most flagship smartphones, so hopefully the Z Fold 8 Ultra can hold a charge longer than its predecessor.

Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

Another big upgrade worth mentioning: the new 50MP ultrawide camera lens, up from just 12MP a year ago. We haven't had enough time to properly test this out yet, so we can't say if it's really a noticeable improvement or not. But it's basically the only other number on the spec sheet that's substantially bigger than it was a year ago. This brings the phone a lot closer to matching the Galaxy S26 Ultra's pro-level camera array. The Z Fold 8 Ultra can also shoot 8K video, so it's capable of supporting most creators' and professionals' workflow.

Finally, Samsung did make one big display change: the introduction of Flex Titanium, a new technology that allows for nearly invisible creases on foldable displays and a more durable hinge. Mashable got to get hands-on with the new Samsung devices, and we can confirm the crease is basically nonexistent now. That would've been unthinkable five years ago.

Our first impressions: An impressive — and expensive — new king of the hill Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group

As of July 22, this is the most advanced foldable phone in the world. Not only that, but it probably still will be when Apple eventually announces its highly anticipated iPhone Fold Ultra in September. The foldable iPhone will be smaller and have fewer cameras (we think), which means the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will comfortably outrun it in key areas.

Samsung has also added some new AI and software features into the mix. Two that we're particularly excited about: My Fan Cam and Cine LUTs. My Fan Cam is an AI editing tool that uses Galaxy AI to automatically make vertical video edits from horizontal videos. In the example Samsung showed, it could even isolate the performance of a single dancer in a group performance. Cine LUTs give video makers four preset LUTs that give videos a more professional, cinematic appearance. We're excited to test them both out, and we'll have a full review of the new Galaxy foldables in the weeks ahead.

There's really just one problem with this phone that's immediately apparent to us: the price tag. The $2,099.99 price is going to be a tough sell for a lot of shoppers, and there's no way around it. The fact that Samsung launched a new Galaxy credit card to help people finance the phone doesn't bode well.

Where to buy the new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The new smartphone is available for pre-order today, starting at $2,099.99 for 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. The phone will be available starting Aug. 7.

Of course, you can pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra from Samsung, but you can also check out the best Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra launch offers from mobile carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon, where you can save up to $1,100 if you meet certain terms and conditions. Finally, you can get a $350 e-gift card if you purchase the phone from Amazon.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra $2,099.99 at Samsung
  Pre-order Here at Samsung Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at T-Mobile