Samsung Galaxy S24+ in for review

We finally managed to get our hands on the new Galaxy S24+ and have brought it straight in for review. Samsung packages just a USB-C cable with its Galaxy phones but some retailers will offer Samsung's new, rather tiny 25W adapter. Not everyone offers this deal, but Samsung does give you a free upgrade from 256GB to 512GB during the pre-order period, as well as trade-in bonuses and discounts on Samsung services. Unboxing the Galaxy S24+ The Galaxy S24+ feels like a completely new device - something we couldn't have imagined saying a few weeks ago. For one, it's fully matte on...

Netflix co-CEO says it's not worth launching an app for the Apple Vision Pro yet

Pre-orders for the Apple Vision Pro started off last week and a few days ago analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple has sold between 160,000 and 180,000 units. However, the proud new owners of Apple’s spatial computer won’t be using them to watch Netflix. Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters was interviewed by Stratechery and was there is no Netflix app on the Vision Pro. Long story short, it’s not worth it – there aren’t enough potential subscribers that own the headset relative to the amount of effort it would take to port the streaming app to the platform. That is not to say that there will...

The AI features on Galaxy S24 phones in China are powered by Baidu, not Google

A decade ago Samsung dominated the Chinese market, but in 2023 it hovered around 2%. The leader of Samsung’s mobile division, TM Roh, has been on a quest to regain the lost market share. Earlier this week he told reporters “We are making efforts to reach Chinese consumers with products that fit the China market, through software optimisation that fits the China market, and I think the results are coming out little by little.” This better fitting software includes the new AI features, as it turns out. Everywhere else, the translation, summarization and generation functions are handled by...

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro goes on sale in India

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, unveiled earlier this month, is now on sale in India through Asus' official Indian website and Vijay Sales. The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is offered in a single Phantom Black color with two memory options - 16GB/512GB and 24GB/1TB, priced at INR94,999 ($1,140/€1,055) and INR119,999 ($1,445/€1,330), respectively. The 24GB RAM model is called Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition, and it will come bundled with the ROG AeroActive Cooler X, which will also be available for purchase separately for INR5,999 ($70/€65). The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at the...

Apple opens up iOS to alternative app stores in the EU

Forced by the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple has today announced that it's making big changes to iOS, the App Store, and how browsers work on the platform. These changes will become available in the EU with the iOS 17.4 release which is scheduled to land in March. Let's start with browsing. Even today you can select a default browser that isn't Safari, but any browser that isn't Safari has to use Safari's WebKit rendering engine. That will change, every browser can use whatever engine it wants. Additionally, after EU iPhone owners install iOS 17.4, the first time they go into Safari they...

Google launches new Mint color for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

Last week Google teased a new colorway for its Pixel 8 Pro, which was due to launch on January 25. In the meantime we've seen it in leaked press images, and now it's finally official. So, you can purchase a Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro in the new color called Mint, exclusively from the Google online store and Google Fi in the US. According to Jenny Davis, CMF design manager at Google, it's "a breath of fresh air and a cool spring breeze. It's serene, yet not boring. It's a luminous color that really invites the mind into a state of calmness - energized calmness". It joins Rose,...

Samsung Galaxy A25 review

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra are already on sale in India

Samsung's Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra have already broken pre-order records in India, with more than 250,000 logged in the first three days. Pre-orders were supposed to go all the way up to January 31, which was seemingly their official release date. And yet, here we are days earlier and you can already order these from Amazon. The S24, priced at INR 79,999, even comes with same-day delivery, while the S24+ (starting at INR 99,999) and S24 Ultra (starting at INR 1,29,999) in some versions will reach you on January 29. That's only a couple of days before the official release...

Nokia G42 gets Android 14 in India

As we mentioned when we discussed Motorola's intentions regarding updates to Android 14, we'll say it again - there are some Android device makers who are very good at issuing updates (Google and Samsung come to mind), and there are some like Motorola and HMD Global. The latter has finally started pushing Android 14 today to the Nokia G42, which was announced last June. This is the first HMD device to receive the new OS version launched by Google many months ago, and hopefully it won't be the last - although HMD hasn't yet published a list of eligible phones. Nokia G42 Android 14...

Google Pixel 9 leaks in renders showing three rear cameras, flat sides

Mere hours ago some CAD-based renders of the upcoming Google Pixel 9 Pro were outed, and now it's time for its smaller and more affordable sibling to get the exact same treatment. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Google Pixel 9. Right off the bat, one thing clearly stands out. Unlike the Pixel 8, the Pixel 9 has three cameras on the rear, one of which obviously has a periscope zoom lens. This is a huge update for the 'vanilla' Pixel line, and one that brings it much more in tune with the Pro, spec-wise. Moving on, the other obvious thing is that Google has also been infested by the...

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ battery life test

BATTERY_TEST_PHONE_V2 = [12752,12694,12236,12105];

Asus Zenfone 11 shows up in the Google Play Console with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Last year there was a rumor going round, saying that Asus would discontinue the Zenfone line and thus the Zenfone 10 would be the last of the diminutive flagships in the company's roster. Thankfully for those who are into smaller phones, Asus itself quickly denied the rumor, and that was that. Now, the Google Play Console comes to further prove the point that Asus has not given up on the Zenfones, by listing the upcoming Zenfone 11. The Zenfone 10 was announced in June 2023 and released the following month, so we're probably still quite far removed from the official introduction of...

Samsung is thinking about making a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold6

According to a new rumor out of its home market of Korea, Samsung is considering releasing a cheaper version of the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold6. This isn't to say the Fold6 itself will be cheaper - but it might be joined by a cheaper option. This is the first time Samsung has ever considered developing a lower-cost foldable, the source of this rumor says. Interestingly, the reason for choosing the Fold line for this move and not the Flip is that the Flips that have launched so far are selling much more. So with a cheaper Fold, the Fold line could be reinvigorated. Samsung Galaxy Z...

OnePlus 12 video teardown shows massive cooling system inside

Today, the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R made their global debut. OnePlus has repeatedly talked about the OnePlus 12's massive internal cooling system, and a new teardown video lets us see just how big it actually is. Before we get to it, however, we first need to open up the phone somehow - and that's done from the back, using a heat gun. This shows us the 50W wireless charger, which, interestingly, makes it the fastest wireless charging phone in North America. The bottom speaker and battery come out next, and then it's time to gawk at the cooling system - after removing the...

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra survives drop and scratch tests

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra is the latest phone to go through PBKreviews’s drop and scratch test procedure. As usual, the phone was dropped several times from waist height across its front, sides and back. The first drop resulted in minor scrapes on the frame and a small crack on the screen at the top right corner. The back survived its tumble with no evident damage. The new titanium frame also survived a close encounter with a drill while its 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and its Gorilla Glass Armor were put to the test against a mixture of dust and gravel with no blemishes or...

Apple releases iOS 17.3 with Stolen Device Protection

Today Apple has released iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 to supported devices. As always with Apple mobile OS updates, these should already be available to everyone who wants them - no staggered shenanigans here like over in Google-land. The new iOS update brings with it the new Stolen Device Protection feature. This feature brings an additional layer of security if someone has stolen your device and also has your passcode. Using Stolen Device Protection, Face ID or Touch ID is required to access saved passwords, while changing sensitive settings like your Apple ID password or your device...

OnePlus 12's cameras get detailed ahead of the phone's global debut

In less than 24 hours, OnePlus will finally introduce the OnePlus 12 for international markets, following the phone's initial announcement for China back in December. So now is a great time to talk about its cameras, OnePlus has thought, since it just put out a press release that's all about them. Let's dive in, shall we? The OnePlus 12 "will boast an industry-firt" customized Sony LYT-808 main camera, with a 1/1.4-inch sensor. The size lets it absorb 50% more light than the IMX890 main sensor used in the OnePlus 11, which should ensure exceptional performance in low-light or...

Exynos 2500 specs leak

Samsung's Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ feature the Korean company's own Exynos 2400 SoC in some markets, and these were just unveiled last week. And yet, we already have a leak about the upcoming Exynos 2500 chipset, which is due to be used in the Galaxy S25 family a year from now. The CPU will allegedly keep the 10-core configuration of the Exynos 2400, but the 2500 will use ARM's upcoming CPU cores. It will be made on Samsung's second-generation 3nm process (3nm GAP/SF3). This is apparently better than TSMC's current 3nm process in area and efficiency. The Exynos 2500's CPU is said...

Here's the official list of Motorola smartphones getting Android 14

Some companies, like Samsung, have almost finished their rollouts of Android 14 for dozens of devices already. Others, not so much. Today we're talking about Motorola. The brand has published information about which devices it will update to the latest version of the OS across its website. It's not an easily accessible list, mind you - you have to search for a particular device and only then, on each device's page, will you get any indication of whether you should expect Android 14 to come your way. Thankfully, the folks over at YTECHB have gone through all of the devices and...

Galaxy S24 series arrive with huge focus on AI - Week 3 in review

We can officially call the past seven days 'Galaxy week'. Samsung dominated the headlines with the Galaxy S24 series announcement, despite rumors and leaks spoiling most of the surprises. Naturally, the Galaxy S24 Ultra outshone the Galaxy S24 and S24+ thanks to its new 5x camera, Titanium frame and new Corning glass, and, well, the fact that it's Samsung's biggest flagship of the year. AI was front and center at the announcement - the new Galaxies enable a myriad of AI-powered features. Circle to Search is a gesture-driven feature made in collaboration with Google - you long-press on...