Its early 2025, the weathers still cold, so it must be time for Samsung to kick off the years flagship smartphone race with its latest barrage of devices. This time, weve got three S25 phones, ranging from the $800 S25 through to the $1,300 S25 Ultra.Lets start with the flagship, the S25 Ultra. This year, Samsung has honed the design of the slate to closer match the rest of its family, while adding a substantially upgraded ultrawide camera sensor. Theres also a powerful 3nm Snapdragon Elite for Galaxy added, a collaboration between Samsung and Qualcomm that augments its computational photography skills and more. (Not to mention incredible battery life.)And you know what? Its another great phone, capable of going toe-to-toe with the iPhones and Pixels of this world. However, it also looks very similar to last years model, which makes the S25 Ultra a less impressive update, given its price.Then theres the Galaxy S25 priced the same as the last few S-series base models. I spent over a week with it, and much of its hardware remains the same, with incremental improvements to the camera, courtesy of behind-the-scenes processing, and that incredible battery life. And its Samsung, so it was always going to be a solid premium phone with a gorgeous screen. But if you were thinking of upgrading from an S24 (or S23, even S22), its a hard pitch. Mat SmithGet this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest tech stories you missedComcast unveils ultra-low lag internet connectionUPS plans to slash its shipping business with Amazon by halfA private start-up called Helion aims to have a working fusion reactor by 2028OpenAI isnt happy with DeepSeeks sudden rise, thinks IP theft is bad nowEven if it didnt name the Chinese startup explicitly.The big story this week is around DeepSeek AI: the open-source chatbot that reportedly requires far less computing power than competitors and was developed on a (relative) shoestring budget.It subsequently put stocks related to AI, like NVIDIA, into a tailspin, although they have somewhat recovered. DeepSeeks had brief success, even stimulating a response from President Trump.Now, ChatGPT maker OpenAI says Chinese startups are cribbing the models of US AI companies. It claims rivals are persistently trying to copy the technology of existing AI companies, adding that OpenAI and its partner Microsoft have been banning accounts suspected of distilling its models.The company didnt explicitly mention DeepSeek in its statement, but yeah. Also, lets not forget: OpenAI admitted last year that getting its AI models up to speed was impossible without dipping its toes into copyrighted materials.How does it feel, having your hard work repurposed and regurgitated? I couldnt possibly relate.Continue reading.CVS will let you unlock its cabinets with your phoneIf you install its app. And are in a handful of stores.UCG via Getty ImagesOffering the biggest reason yet to install a retail stores app, CVS says it will let select users, without needing staff, to shop for items typically locked away in its stores. If you havent been to a CVS, many items are locked up to prevent theft (and antagonize everyone). The feature is only available to loyalty program members and in a handful of unnamed stores. It was being trialed in just three stores but will be expanded to 10 to 15 stores. (There are over 9,000 CVS locations in the US.)Continue reading.Incention is a desperate attempt to make new Hollywood IP with AI, fans and the blockchainWhite hole? More like white noise.By the headline alone, this sounds terrible, but you should read Devindras takedown in full. So many questions: Why the name? Why even make Incention? Who wants this? Does it smell like a blockchain-scented Quibi? Yes, yes it does.Continue reading.Ask Engadget!AMA or AEA.EngadgetWhat is the best Galaxy phone under $500? Are refurb iPads worth it? My Roomba stole my girlfriend, please advise. Were bringing back Ask Engadget, with an entirely new email address: askmat@engadget.com. Aside from spamming free trials of apps and streaming services, lets put it to use.Ask me something!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121727846.html?src=rss