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Samsung’s Unpacked press event of summer 2023 is finally here, bringing the company’s newest foldable handsets, tablets, and wearables. The new foldables are the main attractions of the show, as Samsung has finally unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. We’ve seen the Fold 5 and Flip 5 in several leaks leading up to the launch event, and Samsung confirmed all those rumors. In many ways, the new Fold and Flip foldables are similar to their predecessors. But they also feature several key improvements that make them more exciting than their predecessors, and I’ll explain why. Now, for the bad news. Sadly, the Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices aren’t any better than last year. That’s one reason to avoid the new Samsung foldables. The fact that there are other alternatives to Samsung no-risk foldables is another. Let’s start with three great reasons to buy Samsung’s new foldable phones. The new Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 lose the screen gap After years of recycling the same Fold and Flip design, 2023 brings us a key improvement for both devices. Samsung introduced a new hinge design that makes possible a Zero Gap Design. That’s right, you can now fold the two phones perfectly. That unsightly gap between the two halves of the phone has disappeared, which means the handsets are now thinner than before. Samsung isn’t the first to deliver no-gap foldables, with Chinese smartphone vendors having already done it. And we saw Google offer the same design with its recently launched Pixel Fold. There’s one other reason to choose Samsung over rivals here. Samsung has taken its time with its design upgrades over the years, but the company did improve the durability of the Fold and Flip phones. The Fold 5 and Flip 5 are no different, as they feature Armor aluminum frames and are water resistant. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is lighter and thinner Another benefit of that no-gap hinge is the reduced thickness. We’re looking at a 13.4mm profile for the Fold 5, down from 15.8mm at the thickest point for the Fold 4. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is also lighter, weighing 253g, or 10g lighter than before. That makes the Fold 5 slightly more compact and easier to place in a pocket or purse. It should also be easier to handle one-handed, although Samsung is yet to pull off the Honor Magic V2 trick. That brand-new foldable is about as thick as the iPhone 14 Pro when folded. Galaxy Z Flip 5’s new 3.4-inch Flex Window screen. Image source: @evleaks The Galaxy Z Flip 5 got its own big external display The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is also thinner than before, but this handset was already very pocketable. After all, when unfolded, the handset offers you an internal display about as big as the Galaxy S23, whereas the Fold 5 becomes a 7.6-inch Android tablet. The Flip 5’s external display is worth getting excited about. After Oppo and Motorola, Samsung is also ready to maximize the external display to almost the entire real estate space available on one of the handset’s two halves. That 3.4-inch Flex Window screen lets you do more on the external display before unfolding the handset. You can chat, use widgets, and take better selfies. That’s because you’d use the Flip 5’s dual-lens camera (12-megapixel wide and 12-megapixel ultra-wide) to take selfies. Come to think of it; you don’t have to ever take selfies using the internal screen now that you get a big external display on the Flip 5. Using the external display for more tasks might also improve battery life. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 does get a 3,700 mAh battery. If you want a larger battery pack, you’ll want the Fold 5 and its 4,400 mAh battery pack. Then again, the Fold 5 has larger screens that will use more energy. The Fold 5 sticks with a 6.2-inch panel, which should be easier to use thanks to the no-gap design. Since I did say you should be using the external camera for selfies on the Flip 5, you might want to do the same thing with the Fold 5. The larger foldable also supports a Dual Preview mode where the subject of your photos will see the preview on the external display. The Fold 5 features a triple-lens camera on the back: 50-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and 10-megapixel telephoto. It also has two selfie cameras, including a 10-megapixel cover camera and a 4-megapixel under-display camera. Galaxy Z Fold 5 foldable handset and S Pen stylus. Image source: @evleaks Now, we’ll cover two good reasons to avoid purchasing a next-gen foldable smartphone from Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 are expensive The two new foldables rock the best possible hardware Android handsets can offer in 2023. That means the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The specs are also on par with what you’d get from other foldables launching this year. That means you’ll get the best possible Android experience, delivering Samsung’s vision for foldable handsets. On that note, the Fold 5 is the better option for multitasking, thanks to that tablet-sized foldable display that has room for multiple apps running side by side. But the phones aren’t getting cheaper than last year, despite the increased competition in the space. The 256GB Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts at $1,799, and the 256GB Flip 5 starts at $999. Various preorder and trade-in deals will be available from Samsung and its carrier partners. And you can take advantage of that $50 registration deal if you’ve signed up to be notified about preorders. The two phones are available for preorder and will ship to your door in two weeks. As for colors, the Fold 5 is available in Icy Blue, Phantom Blac, and Cream. The Flip 5 comes in Mint, Graphite, Cream, and Lavender. Samsung is still playing it safe The price isn’t the only reason to avoid the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 this year. Despite the increased competition, Samsung continues to play it safe when it comes to foldables. The new features we see of the new Fold and Flip models were available on competing devices well before Samsung’s Unpacked 2023 event. That means competitors have an advantage over Samsung, despite not being the first to market with foldable phones. Also, most rivals will be cheaper than Samsung’s newest phones. If you want to live on the bleeding edge of foldables, you might want to wait a while for a new generation of foldable phones to launch in China. Some of those handsets will then move to international markets. I’ll also point out the existence of the Pixel Fold. The handset might not be as durable as Samsung foldables, but it comes with an Android OS version that Google customized for foldable screens. And it has Google’s powerful camera software on board. Don't Miss: The iPhone is a ticking time bomb in Samsung’s home marketThe post 3 reasons to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, and 2 reasons to avoid them appeared first on BGR. View the full article

On Wednesday, July 26 at 7 a.m. ET, Samsung will host the second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023 to unveil a slew of new devices, including new foldable phones. If you’re interested in what Samsung has to offer aside from the flagship Galaxy S smartphone line, you won’t want to miss this event. Below, we will tell you how to watch along live and what to expect. How to watch Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked As always, Samsung will stream the July Galaxy Unpacked live on its website and on YouTube. We embedded the YouTube stream above, so as long as you’re up early, you can click play at 4 a.m. PT / 7 a.m. ET to watch the event live from Seoul, Korea. We don’t know exactly how long the event will last, but the Galaxy Unpacked in February lasted almost exactly an hour, so we should probably expect a similar length. What to expect at Galaxy Unpacked The stars of the show will undoubtedly be the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Based on the promos for the event, the Z Flip 5 might be the real focus for Samsung this week, though. Leaks have revealed that Samsung’s newest flip phone will feature a significantly larger cover screen than that of its predecessors — a necessary upgrade to compete with the likes of Motorola’s Razr+. Growing from 1.9 to 3.4 inches is certainly exciting, but rumors suggest that it will still be limited to widgets as opposed to full-featured apps. As for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung has more competition than ever, with Google’s Pixel Fold and the OnePlus Open entering the foldable market. Other than some inevitable upgrades to the specifications (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, better cameras), the Z Fold 5 does not appear to be as big a leap forward as the Z Flip 5, but Samsung might implement a new “dumbbell” hinge to reduce the size of the phone’s infamous crease. Beyond the new phones, Samsung will also likely announce the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy S9 Tab at the event on Wednesday. We don’t expect major design changes for the tablet lineup, but the Galaxy Watch 6 is rumored to revive the physical rotating bezel. There might be a few surprises as well, but these are the big reveals we expect. Don't Miss: Galaxy Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices leaked, and you’re not going to like itThe post Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023: How to watch and what to expect appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will take the stage in its home country later this week to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 foldables. This marks the first time the summer Unpacked event is being held at home rather than in an international market. It’s also the first time the mid-summer Unpacked press conference will take place in July rather than August or September. I thought the arrival of Google’s Pixel Fold might have scared Samsung into moving up the launch event. But what if Samsung is really looking to deal with the iPhone ticking time bomb at home by looking to launch the new foldables as soon as possible? Until this year, Samsung has had virtually no competition in the foldables space since the first Galaxy Fold. Samsung could take its time to upgrade the Fold and Flip each year without delivering massive redesigns. But Chinese vendors started putting pressure on Samsung in previous years. And some of those devices launched in Europe and other international markets in early 2023. The Google Pixel Fold is perhaps the biggest threat to Samsung’s dominant position in the industry despite some of its obvious faults. Samsung is responding to these threats with the kind of big Fold and Flip design updates we’ve been waiting for. The Fold 5 will be slimmer than before, thanks to a no-gap hinge. The Flip 5 will feature a large external display occupying almost the entire surface of one of the phone’s halves. Google Pixel Fold smartphone unfolded. Image source: Jonathan S. Geller, BGR On top of that, Samsung set its Unpacked press event for July 26th, the earliest date ever. As a reminder, this Unpacked event used to be the home of the Galaxy Note series. And it used to happen in early September before Samsung detached it from the German IFA tradeshow. The reason Samsung went to early August was the iPhone’s early September launch which would routinely obliterate Note sales. All that is to say that Samsung might be worried about increased competition in the foldables space. But the iPhone might be the real reason it’s focusing on the Korean market. The big iPhone problem Samsung might want to make an impression on a specific category of smartphone buyers in its home market. Per The Korea Herald, a new Gallup survey shows that young adults in the country prefer the iPhone overwhelmingly to a Samsung phone. The study indicates that Samsung is the main smartphone vendor in Korea, with 69% of adults owning a Galaxy phone. Only 23% of respondents have an iPhone. But younger millennials and Gen Z like the iPhone increasingly more than Samsung phones. In the 30-39 age group, 41% of respondents have an iPhone. The percentage goes to 60% in the 18-29 group. Samsung vs. iPhone market share in Korea for different age groups. Image source: Gallup Korea via The Korea Herald This is a major problem for Samsung. These young adults are growing with the iPhone and the entire ecosystem of apps and hardware. Switching from iPhone to Android becomes increasingly difficult the more you use the products. As a longtime iPhone user, I can attest to that. I’ve been on iPhone and Mac for over a decade, and there’s nothing to make me switch to a different combo. And I was in the 18-29 group when I started using Apple for my main computing needs. The young adults who bought iPhone over Samsung cited Apple’s premium branding as one of the reasons. They’d buy the iPhone even if the same storage device is more expensive than the Galaxy S equivalent. For example, the 128GB iPhone 14 costs 1,250,000 won in the country, or $980. The Galaxy S23 is 100,000 won ($78) cheaper. Various Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 foldable phones. Image source: Samsung Apple Pay, which arrived in Korea earlier this year, is another factor that convinces young adults to buy iPhones. The study also says that 85% of respondents say they are likely to stick with their current brand. That’s great for Samsung in the older groups. But if young adults stay with iPhone, we might be looking at decades of problems for Samsung. Especially if the teenage generation in Korea positions itself in favor of the iPhone. That wouldn’t be a surprise if their parents also use iPhones. The unsung heroes in this survey are the older smartphone users who still have LG phones. LG is no longer making Android handsets, of course. Samsung is apparently aware of the iPhone problem. The Herald says the Korean giant opened a flagship retail store in Gangnam last month, branding it a “playground for millennials and Gen Z.” The store is less than a kilometer away from Apple Gangnam store. Don't Miss: Proton Pass finally lets you save credit card info with a new updateThe post The iPhone is a ticking time bomb in Samsung’s home market appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 foldables next week during an event that’s scheduled to take place earlier than usual. A week before the Galaxy Z Fold 5 event, Samsung boss TM Roh teases upcoming innovations for the two foldables that sound impressive. Too bad Samsung is coming in second in a race it invented. It feels like Samsung is just reacting to the market rather than leading it. There’s more competition in the space than in previous years, with Google having just launched its first-gen Pixel Fold handset. Separately, Android vendors from China are selling foldables in international markets. And Honor has just unveiled an incredible Magic V2 device that’s about as thick as the iPhone 14 Pro when folded. TM Roh penned a blog post where he teased some of the innovations Samsung will bring to the foldable market with the 2023 models. The new handsets will be thinner and lighter than before, Roh said: Take, for instance, the act of folding and unfolding a smartphone. It seems simple. However, that simplicity users feel is only achieved through a rigorous focus on what is most essential and intuitive. The minimal, sleek appearance housing specialized hinge functionality emphasizes our commitment and the inherent beauty of essential design. We’ve raised the standards for foldable smartphone ergonomics. A difference of a millimeter in a device’s thickness may not sound like a big change, but every gram and millimeter in a foldable device requires an engineering breakthrough. It demands craftsmanship with passion. When done well, the benefit to users is huge. That’s why we’ve innovated to make our latest foldables slimmer and lighter than our previous generations. “Essential” design, by the way, “prioritizes clarity of purpose and ease of daily use.” Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR We wouldn’t have a foldable market without Samsung pushing the limits of technology. There’s no question about it. The failed launch of the original Galaxy Fold is a testament to that. The tech and design were almost ready, but not quite. Samsung had to fix several glaring design and durability issues and postponed the launch. Samsung never gave up on that first-gen device. Since then, Samsung has iterated on the previous Galaxy Z Fold model, delivering improvements with each generation. But Samsung never dared to be the first to offer buyers a better aspect ratio for the external display that makes the handset more usable. It also stuck with the bulky Fold design and its hinge gap. And it made minimal progress with the Flip’s external display size rather than utilizing the available space. Foldables from Oppo, Honor, and Google offered these innovations before Samsung could. These companies took the risks that Samsung was too afraid or lazy to pursue in previous years. Or it might just be that Roh prioritized cost efficiencies over any sort of “essential” designs while it could. After all, Samsung had nothing to worry about until this year. There were no real alternatives to Fold and Flip phones outside of China. Then again, following competitors while pretending you’re leading is what Samsung has been doing in the mobile space since the first iPhone arrived. To this day, Samsung is happier following Apple’s lead than setting standards with its Galaxy devices. If only Apple made foldable iPhones… Don't Miss: What is Gmail’s Enhanced Safe Browsing, and should you use it?The post Samsung boss teases Galaxy Fold and Flip innovations rivals already offer appeared first on BGR. View the full article

After being announced during CES 2023, Samsung is about to start selling its Apple Studio Display competitor next month. The 27-inch ViewFinitiy S9 monitor features a 5K display with a 99% DCI-P3 and 218 PPI. With more saturated and vivid colors with crisper details, the Sout Korean company says this monitor offers “smart color calibration designed for creative professionals,” which is an industry first. “Users can conveniently customize the screen for precise settings without expensive, complex calibration equipment whenever they want. Using the SmartThings app, users can choose to calibrate in the Basic mode for a quick and easy adjustment of white balance and gamma setting, or they can use Professional mode for complete control of color temperature, luminance, color space, and gamma settings.” Users only need to point their smartphone camera at the monitor to calibrate the display. Once it’s done, they can view a report detailing the adjustments made and the Delta E color accuracy, Like Apple Studio Display, the ViewFinity S9 offers a matte option to limit light reflection and glare on the monitor. It has Thunderbolt 4 and Mini DisplayPort inputs and USB-c ones as well. The Thunderbolt 4 compatibility allows users to charge devices with up to 90W of power and transfer data reliably at speeds up to 40 Gbps. Unlike Apple Studio Display, which offers a 1080p webcam, this monitor comes equipped with a built-in 4K SlimFit camera that connects via a pogo pin without additional cables or equipment. Samsung says the camera delivers “crystal clear quality for video calls” on apps like Google Meet. What makes the ViewFinity S9 display unique is the ability to use Smart TV apps when you’re not using the monitor to work. A report says Apple is working on a similar approach with a future display, but the availability is still unclear. With so many similar features – with a few extra points – Samsung’s Apple Studio Display competitor will also be available for less than Apple’s option: $1,599.99 vs. $1,799. In addition, the South Korean company has a cheaper option, the Samsung M8 monitor, which launched in June. Don't Miss: Apple Studio Display reviewThe post Samsung ViewFinitiy S9 launches in August to compete with Apple’s Studio Display appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Amazon’s Prime Day 2023 sales event is in full swing, but you might want to save some of the money you were going to spend on deals for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or Flip 5. That is, in case you were looking to buy a new foldable from Samsung this month. The Korean giant will unveil the two devices in a few weeks, and they’re not going to be cheap. It’s not that I expected the Fold 5 or Flip 5 to be affordable all of a sudden now that Samsung has more competition. I am referring to the official price tag because Samsung will continue to do whatever it takes to lower the Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices for as much as possible. But with increased pressure from Google and a slew of Chinese Android handset vendors, I thought Samsung would try to lower the prices. Or at least keep them unchanged. If a fresh leak is accurate, it turns out that won’t be the case. Samsung isn’t about to make the new Fold and Flip models more affordable. It’s quite the opposite. Google unveiled the Pixel Fold a few months ago, and the foldable handset is now available for purchase in select markets. This is the most important competitor to the Galaxy Z Fold since Samsung started making foldables. But Google’s phone still starts at $1,799, which is on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Samsung seemed to react to this particular development, the Pixel Fold arrival, by setting the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 4 event for July 26th. That’s at least a week earlier than usual for Samsung’s mid-summer Unpacked press conferences. In addition to the Pixel Fold, international buyers have access to various foldabels from Samsung competitors. Oppo is one such device, with the Find N2 Flip a highlight. More foldables will come out soon, including the OnePlus V Fold, also an Oppo device. Fold and Flip fans will see an immediate benefit from the increased competition in the industry. The Fold 5 and Flip 5 will get big design changes that feel overdue. The new Fold will have a no-gap hinge, which should make the handset thinner than before. The Flip 5 will come with a large outer display. EXCLUSIVE UPCOMING RELEASE Check out now FR pricing and some additional specs details for the new foldable phones to come, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5, in my last reporthttps://t.co/4sZY6Ucnaj — billbil-kun (@billbil_kun) July 10, 2023 But the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices are going up slightly, according to a French leaker Dealabs. Before we look at the purported price tags for France, I’ll remind you that they already contain tax. That’s why the currency conversion will not give us the US price for the new foldabels. Moreover, these are the prices Samsung fans should expect in the European Union. According to the report, the 256GB Galaxy Z Flip 5 will cost €1,199 ($1,320). That’s €30 ($33) more than the same capacity Flip 4. You’ll spend €1,399 ($1,541) for the 512GB model. Expect higher price tags for the larger Galaxy Z Fold 5. The 256GB model should cost €1,899 ($2,092), or €100 ($110) more than its predecessor. The 512GB variant will reportedly sell for €2,039 ($2,246), which is €120 ($132) more than the 512GB Fold 4. Finally, the 1TB model wil cost €2,279 ($2,510). As always, the latest iPhone serves as a good comparison tool for these prices. The base 128GB iPhone 14 starts at €1,019 in France and $829 in the US. The 128GB iPhone 14 Pro costs €1,329 in the region and $999 in the US. Aside from the added VAT for the European prices, I’ll remind you that Apple increased iPhone prices last year in all international markets. Getting back to Samsung’s upcoming foldables, you can save $50 when registering to preorder the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5. These savings apply on top of preorder deals, and registration is free without actually requiring a purchase. Check out this link to get started. Don't Miss: Google can’t fix the Pixel Fold’s biggest problems until the 2nd-gen model is releasedThe post Galaxy Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices leaked, and you’re not going to like it appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Just as the first Google Pixel Fold reviews have arrived, a big leak detailing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 specs has dropped. Not only that, but the leaker also got their hands on a ton of photos showing the two handsets. It doesn’t even matter whether that’s an amazing coincidence or fate. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 have been leaking left and right for months. Samsung is certainly aware of the increased competition, which explains the late July launch event for the new foldable. It also explains all the leaks. There’s no question that the Fold 5 and Flip 5 will be Android flagships on par with other premium phones released in 2023. That’s why I’m not interested in seeing specs leaks confirming that the phones will get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip powering the phones. Or that the handsets will feature speedy next-gen RAM and storage. Instead, the three key details I’m most interested in are the size, weight, and battery capacity. I’m not in a hurry to buy a foldable phone. And if I were, I’d go for the Pixel Fold rather than a new Galaxy Z model. However, I do care about innovations in the foldable space that could drive the entire industry forward. I want these devices to be as durable as possible but without the bulk. And I’d like the battery life to be stellar, especially on the Z Fold 5, which has a massive 7.6-inch inner display. It so happens that leaker Snoopy Tech provided that information on Twitter. Yes, the mysterious tweet below opens the door to web addresses that hold the specs for both phones and plenty of images. 01101000 01110100 01110100 01110000 01110011 00111010 00101111 00101111 01110000 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101 01100010 01101001 01101110 00101110 01100011 01101111 01101101 00101111 00110101 00111001 00110011 01010011 00110001 01100111 01011000 01001010 — SnoopyTech (@_snoopytech_) June 26, 2023 If the information is accurate, and I do think these Galaxy Z leaks tend to come true, then the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be thinner and lighter than its predecessor. We’re looking at a 13.4 mm folded profile compared to 14.2 mm for the Fold 4. That implies the rumors detailing a new hinge mechanism for the Fold 5 that eliminates the screen gap are accurate. Also, the Fold 5 is lighter than the Fold 4 by about 10 grams. That’s another indication of a redesign. Still, we’re looking at a phone that weighs 253 grams As for the battery capacity, we’re looking at a 4,400 mAh battery pack with 25W fast-charging support. That might seem unfortunate, as we’re looking at the same battery capacity as last year’s model. But the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip should be more efficient than before. The Flip 5 is also getting thinner, featuring a 15.1 mm profile when folded. The Flip 4 has a 15.9 mm profile. As for the weight, the 187 grams Flip 5 is about as heavy as its predecessors. Finally, both phones feature 3,700 mAh batteries. But, again, the Flip 5 will have the more efficient components. https://t.co/Y7EVKNUXoT pic.twitter.com/qe73E4Yhjt — S.draxy (@Sdrdrax2xx4) June 26, 2023 The specs leak also covers other interesting details. Both phones should come in 256GB and 512GB capacities, although 128GB and 1TB storage options might be available in some markets. The Fold 5 will have more RAM (12GB) compared to the Flip 5 (8GB). Moreover, the Flip 4 will have a larger external display, measuring 3.4 inches. That’s in line with other recent leaks that claimed Samsung would increase the external screen of the Flip 5. Finally, I’ll also mention the color options in this leak, which might be important to some buyers. The Fold 5 will come in Phantom Black, Cream, and Icy Blue. The Flip 5 will be available in Lavender, Mint, Cream, and Graphite. Samsung will probably confirm everything during its press event in Korea next month. But I do expect additional leaks to mention the Fold 5 and Flip 5 specs in the near future. Right alongside the final price tags for each model. Don't Miss: I lost interest in Google’s Pixel Fold after this story about a display breakingThe post Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 specs leaks reveal three key details appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 during an event in South Korea next month, which means the 2023 Samsung foldables will hit the stores earlier than they have in past years. Samsung has started feeling pressure from competitors as various companies brought Fold and Flip designs to international markets. Then there’s the Pixel Fold, which is even more important than all the foldables coming out of China. This will be the only foldable Android device to deliver a Google-optimized version of Android. Leaks have shown that Samsung is ready to respond to the increased competition. Both the Fold 5 and Flip 5 will feature design changes that should alleviate some concerns. But you’ll have to wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to get the design change you’ve been asking for: A better aspect ratio for the external display. Recent leaks showed that Samsung has “fixed” one annoying Fold and Flip design compromise that has never been a problem for any of Samsung’s rivals. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 will fold perfectly flat thanks to a new waterdrop hinge design. That means the annoying gap between the two phone halves of the screen will disappear. Also, Samsung will increase the size of the Flip 5’s external display considerably to match similar models from Oppo and Motorola. Since other vendors delivered these features before Samsung, it seems clear that Samsung didn’t care about changing the Fold and Flip designs too much in the previous years. Samsung was the dominant player in the foldable business in most markets. But there were no real alternatives until this year. While Chinse vendors have eliminated the gap and enlarged the external display on Flip phones, those designs were not available in international markets. Samsung had nothing to worry about. Google Pixel Fold folded (left) and unfolded (right). Image source: Google Chinese vendors and Google have also fixed an incredibly annoying Galaxy Z Fold design choice. Samsung’s external display is too tall, and the resulting aspect ratio isn’t great for using the phone while folded. Most people will likely use foldable handsets when they’re closed more than when they’re open. You don’t need to unfold the handset for basic smartphone features. It’s only when you need enhanced multitasking or a tablet experience that you unfold the device. Handsets like the Oppo Find N and Pixel Fold do not have the same problem. When folded, they look like regular phones, which is what Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold handsets should look like. Unfortunately, while the Fold 5 has no screen gap when folded, that tall aspect ratio is still a problem. If that’s not what you want from your Fold experience, you can buy something from the competition. Or wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The disappointing aspect of the Fold 6 is that it uses the same image sensor as the Fold 5. The major update of the Fold 6 is the change in the aspect ratio of the external display. https://t.co/RVp454lNbw — Revegnus (@Tech_Reve) June 20, 2023 Samsung leaker Ice Universe advised buyers a few days ago to skip the Fold 5 and wait for the Fold 6. Reacting to that remark, a different leaker said that the Fold 6 would bring a major design change in the aspect ratio of the external display. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be shorter or wider than the Fold 5, if Tech_Reve’s claim is accurate. The leaker also said the Fold 6 would use the same image sensor as the Fold 5. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however. It’s unclear where Tech_Reve obtained this information. But the leaker said a few days ago that the Fold 5 might be slightly cheaper than the Fold 4. If you can deal with the weird aspect ratio, that might be a good reason to get it. The Fold 5 should still be a great Android flagship, featuring high-end specs just like the Galaxy S23 series. Still, the handset will be more expensive than most traditional smartphones, even after a price cut. Don't Miss: There’s nothing wrong with Nothing Phone (2)’s leaked priceThe post Galaxy Z Fold 5 won’t have the design change everyone wants, but the Fold 6 might appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung’s new gaming monitor is so expensive that it might be worth more than the computer you have powering it. In a press release, the company announced that it is officially opening up preorders for the Odyssey OLED G9, its new 49-inch ultrawide gaming monitor. It’s a beast of a monitor and, being OLED, will be a great option for gamers who not only want a great-looking display, but a fast one as well. However, all of that technology comes with a huge price of $2,199. So, what do you get for $2,199? A heck of a lot, actually. According to Samsung, the Odyssey OLED G9 is the “first OLED monitor to offer Dual Quad High Definition (DQHD; 5,120 x 1,440) resolution with a 32:9 ratio.” The monitor features a pixel density of 110PPI, 0.03ms gray-to-gray (GtG) response time, and a 240Hz refresh rate. The company says that the resolution of the screen is “equivalent to two QHD screens side by side.” The monitor features Samsung’s new Neo Quantum Processor Pro, AMD FreeSync™ Premium Pro, DisplayHDR™ True Black 400, and built-in stereo speakers. I’m surprised that it even has speakers since most gamers will always opt to use a headset, especially at the level of investment that this monitor is. James Fishler, Senior Vice President, Home Entertainment & Display Division, Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement that the Odessey is “in a class of its own.” “The Odyssey OLED G9 delivers a premium, super-ultrawide gaming experience that puts it in a class of its own – raising the bar for OLED monitors. With the launch of our Odyssey OLED gaming monitors, we’re offering gamers new levels of immersion with unrivaled picture quality and innovative gaming features only Samsung can deliver.” Samsung says that anyone who preorders the Odyssey OLED G9 from the company will get a $250 Samsung.com gift card. It’s available to preorder until the 25th, indicating that the official launch may be on June 26th. This is obviously an insanely expensive monitor that only those with the money and the love of gaming will invest in, but it’s awesome to see Samsung just going for it here. Of course, as with any technology, these kinds of experiences will get more affordable with scale. For now, I’ll stick with my 27-inch LG Ultragear. It’s a great monitor and handles all of the Xbox I can throw at it. But I’m not going to lie — I can’t help but want a monitor like Samsung is about to put out in the world. I’m a sucker for OLED, and bringing it to my gaming monitor would be a joy. Don't Miss: Every announcement and trailer from Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield DirectThe post Samsung’s new ultra-wide OLED gaming monitor costs over $2,000, but I still want it appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung makes the best Android tablets on the market right now. It would be difficult to argue otherwise. Amazon’s lineup of Fire tablets is impressive, but it’s mostly comprised of low-cost models for people on a budget. Meanwhile, Samsung’s lineup of Galaxy tablets spans everything from entry-level models to high-end flagships. Today, for one day only, Amazon is running an impressive sale on Samsung Galaxy tablets. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite is down to $269.99 instead of $430, and the high-end Galaxy Tab S8+ is $300 off at $599.99. Both of these deals are only available until the end of the day on Friday. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4" 128GB Android Tablet, S Pen Included, Slim Metal Design, AKG D… Price: $269.99 (reg. $430) You Save: $160.00 (37%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8+ 12.4” 128GB WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Large AMOLED Screen, S Pen Included,… Price: $599.99 (reg. $900) You Save: $300.00 (33%) Buy Now I’m an iPad user, and I have been ever since Apple released the first-generation model back in 2010. If you’re in the market for a new iPad, you’ll find plenty of discounts in our guide on the best Apple deals. That being said, I use the term “iPad user” lightly since I have never really found that tablets fit into my workflow. If I want to look something up on the web or email my email, I use my smartphone. If I want to stream a movie or TV show, I use a television. And if I need to get some work done, I use a computer. As you can see, I pretty much have all the bases covered. But not everyone is like me, of course. Plenty of valid use cases exist for tablets, and millions of people buy them each year. They’re great for families to share or for streaming movies if you don’t have a TV in your bedroom. The list goes on and on. If I was going to buy an Android tablet, it would definitely be a Samsung Galaxy tablet. And today, Amazon is running a fantastic one-day sale on two different Samsung Galaxy tablet models. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4" 128GB Android Tablet, S Pen Included, Slim Metal Design, AKG D… Price: $269.99 You Save: $160.00 (37%) Buy Now First, we have the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. This model is perfect for people who want premium features at a mid-range price. It aligns best with Apple’s iPad Air, and the 128GB model has a retail price of $429.99. Right now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is on sale for $269.99, which is a huge 37% discount. Key Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite features include a 10.4-inch LCD display with 2000 x 1000 resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor, AKG stereo speakers for outstanding sound, an S Pen stylus, and excellent battery life. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8+ 12.4” 128GB WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Large AMOLED Screen, S Pen Included,… Price: $599.99 You Save: $300.00 (33%) Buy Now If you want something on the higher end of the tablet spectrum, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8+ tablet is $300 off today. That slashes the price from $899.99 to just $599.99. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is more like Apple’s iPad Pro, featuring flagship specs and a price tag to match. Highlights include a 12.4-inch sAMOLED display, Wi-Fi 6E support, an ultra-wide-angle camera, an S Pen stylus, DeX multitasking, and more. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: Memorial Day sales, $20 Fire Stick, Bose ANC headphones, $264 treadmill, moreThe post Samsung Galaxy tablets are up to $300 off, today only appeared first on BGR. View the full article

It’s render season, people! As reported by MySmartPrice, renowned leaker OnLeaks has released a number of new renders showing off what the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic will look like. According to the report and the renders, the new Classic will “feature a rotating bezel around the circular display.” It also says that the “Pro” name is going away in favor of the new “Classic” name. Samsung ditched the physical rotating bezel in favour of a gesture-based virtual rotating bezel feature in the Watch 5 series. The company also dropped the Classic moniker and launched the Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro. It looks like the South Korean giant will bring back the physical rotating bezel. OnLeaks tells us that the Watch 6 Classic is the successor of the current Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The report also speculates that the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic will feature multiple strap options, a likely feature that is popular with most smartwatches these days. We can see that the design of the Watch 6 Classic is quite similar to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. The circular display is surrounded by slightly thick bezels. While the left edge of the watch is flush, the right has the Home and Back buttons. The images also show a magnetic loop strap attached to the Watch. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is expected to debut at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event this summer. It’s still unclear when the event will kick off, but the last event in 2022 happened at the beginning of August, so it’s likely that this year will be close to the same. I’m personally still good with my Apple Watch Ultra, but that’s also because the Classic is definitely not being sold as an adventure device. It looks like a pretty sick watch, though, so I’m sure people in the Samsung ecosystem will be really happy with the level of style the company could bring to it. Don't Miss: Uber will now let you book a Waymo self-driving car through its appThe post Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic leaks, but I’m still good with my Apple Watch Ultra appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung has announced a new iteration of its Apple Studio Display rival. The 2023 Smart Monitor Samsung M8 received multiple upgrades and feature enhancements from the previous generation. The South Korean company says its Apple Studio Display competitor offers 4K resolution with HDR10+ support and 400 nit brightness with color coverage up to 99% sRGB color gamut, which brings “all content to life in brilliant color for content creators.” While Apple Studio Display offers 5K resolution, which is ideal for Macs, the new Samsung M8 monitor is still a solid option, mainly because it provides two different sizes: 27-inch and 32-inch displays. Samsung also slimmed the bezels, so it looks even better than a standard M1 iMac. The company says this Apple Studio Display rival has a flat, super slim back of 11.39mm thick. It offers a height-adjustable stand with tilt, and the screen can now rotate 90 degrees to view long documents in portrait orientation. In addition, it’s possible to put it on a wall mount. The Samsung M8 monitor also offers smart TV-like features such as Samsung Gaming Hub and popular streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube, and users can connect, control, and manage smart devices through its built-in SmartThings Hub. Image source: Samsung The Apple Studio Display competitor offers built-in voice assistants, including Bixby and Amazon Alexa. It also has a built-in mic, offers a removable, magnetic camera with FHD resolution, and video conferencing features with Google Meet and other apps. It even features a Center Stage-like feature called Auto Framing, which keeps users in the center of the frame, even when they move. This monitor also can wirelessly connect to Apple devices to view content from an iPhone, iPad, and Mac on a bigger screen. Samsung even enhanced the interface of the M8 monitor, so mouse and keyboard control functionalities now work with SmartThings and Smart Hub. Lastly, it offers four ports. Users can connect completely to the smart monitor without any adapters to charge devices, transmit data, or make the most of a multi-screen setup. The Samsung M8 monitor will be available this June in Warm White, Daylight Blue, Sunset Pink, and Spring Green colors. It costs $699.99 in the 32-inch version and $649.99 in the 27-inch version, basically 1/3 of what Apple charges for the Studio Display. Don't Miss: Samsung just unveiled a true Apple Studio Display competitor at CES 2023The post Samsung’s Apple Studio Display rival just got even better, plus it’s cheaper appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is the king of Android phones right now. It’s also very expensive, with a starting price of $1,200 for the cheapest version with 256GB of storage. But if you’re in the market for one and you don’t want to sign a carrier contract, there’s an opportunity to get one with a nice big discount. Amazon is running a sale right now that drops the factory unlocked Galaxy S23 Ultra to just $999.99. That’s a 17% discount, and it also happens to be the lowest price ever for this hot new flagship phone. The Galaxy S23+ and entry-level Galaxy S23 are also on sale right now, with prices starting at $699.99. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $999.99 (reg. $1,200) You Save: $200.00 (17%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB Storage, 50MP Camera,… Price: $699.99 (reg. $800) You Save: $100.00 (13%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23+ Plus Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 50MP C… Price: $849.99 (reg. $1,000) You Save: $150.00 (15%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy A53 5G A Series Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, 6.5” FHD… Price: $349 (reg. $450) You Save: $100.99 (22%) Buy Now If you want to pay as little as possible for a new Galaxy S23 smartphone from Samsung, you’ll need to take advantage of a deal from a wireless carrier. Check out our guides on the best Verizon phone deals and the best AT&T phone deals. As you can see, you can get a hot new Galaxy S23 handset for free right now from either carrier. The problem, however, is that you have to sign a contract to get those deals. And these days, it’s a 36-month contract. When you get a phone for free from a wireless carrier, the cost of the phone is spread out across 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel your service before the 36 months are up, or if you want to upgrade early, you’ll need to settle the balance that you owe on the phone. Or, you could just buy a factory unlocked Galaxy S23 Ultra while Amazon has a deal that drops it to its lowest price ever. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $999.99 You Save: $200.00 (17%) Buy Now Instead of paying $1,200 upfront or across 36 monthly payments, you can pick up a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in any colorway right now for $999.99. Amazon also has monthly payment plans available for some users if you want to take that route. However you pay, you’re saving 17%, or $200, and getting the S23 Ultra at the lowest price ever. If you don’t want Samsung’s latest Galaxy Note replacement, the cheaper versions are also on sale. You’ll save $100 on the entry-level Galaxy S23 model, or you can save $150 on the Galaxy S23+. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB Storage, 50MP Camera,… Price: $699.99 (reg. $800) You Save: $100.00 (13%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23+ Plus Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 50MP C… Price: $849.99 (reg. $1,000) You Save: $150.00 (15%) Buy Now Also of note, there’s one last deal we want to share that’s perfect for people who don’t need a flagship phone. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 lineup is great, featuring fantastic cameras and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. But even with these discounts, Galaxy S23 models are still quite expensive. If you want an excellent smartphone that costs much less money, check out the Samsung Galaxy A53 while it’s on sale for just $349 unlocked. It might not be a flagship phone, but it still packs plenty of bang for your buck. SAMSUNG Galaxy A53 5G A Series Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, 6.5” FHD… Price: $349.99 You Save: $100.99 (22%) Buy Now Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $45 Amazon credit, $3 smart plugs, $99 Google Nest WiFi, BLUETTI sale, moreThe post Galaxy S23 Ultra hits lowest price ever, S23 is $700 unlocked appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Word on the street is that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 foldable phones earlier than usual this year. If the rumors are accurate, the handsets will get a late July launch event and hit stores a few weeks later. That might be Samsung’s answer to the looming Google Pixel Fold threat, a phone that should be unveiled in a few weeks at I/O 2023. With that in mind, it’s not surprising to see Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 specs and prices leak in late April. This is business as usual for Galaxy flagships, which leak in great detail far ahead of Samsung’s Unpacked announcement events. That said, there’s a lot to like about these Fold 5 and Flip 5 leaks, especially if you’re a fan of Samsung foldables. Leaker TheGalox_ posted the information on Twitter, and we’re looking at what’s rumored to be a complete set of specs for both handsets. • Improved vibration motor • One UI 5.1.1 • Spen support • IPX8 water resistance • New hinge • Less noticeable crease • Thinner and lighter • Improved Under Display Camera • Gorilla Glass Victus 2 • More durable inner display • Smaller gap when closed ≈ $1799 — Anthony (@TheGalox_) April 25, 2023 The Fold 5 will reportedly feature a familiar design, packing a 7.6-inch foldable display and a 6.2-inch external display. They’re both 120Hz AMOLED screens that should be brighter than their predecessors. The external screen will have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass, while the foldable screen should also be more durable than before. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 may deliver additional design improvements based on this leak. We’re looking at a new hinge design that will reduce the size of the screen gap. Also, the handset will have a less noticeable crease. The phone should be IPX8 water resistant, with the leaker claiming the Fold 5 is thinner and lighter than before. As expected, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor will power the Fold 5. That’s the same chip Samsung used for the Galaxy S23 series. Other specs include 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 storage options. On the camera front, we’re looking at a triple-lens setup on the back, featuring 50-, 12-, and 10-megapixel lenses. The camera should offer improved video recording, up to 8K 30fps. The under-display camera will also get improvements, although the leak doesn’t mention them. Finally, the leaker mentions improvements for the vibration motor, speakers, and S Pen support in this Galaxy Z Fold 5 specs leak. All of that will make the Fold 5 expensive, with Samsung expected to continue charging $1,799 for the cheapest option. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is an alternative to that, starting at $999. The same leaker posted specs and features for the handset as well. • Improved Speakers • Improved vibration motor • One UI 5.1.1 • IPX8 water resistance • Less noticeable crease • Thinner and lighter • Gorilla Glass Victus 2 • More durable inner display ≈ $999 — Anthony (@TheGalox_) April 25, 2023 The Flip 5 specs leak reads similarly to the Fold 5. The only changes concern the size, as well as Samsung’s RAM and storage options. The phone features a 6.7-inch 120Hz foldable display and a 3.4-inch external screen. The latter is a big upgrade over the Fold 4’s outer screen. As for the memory and storage, the Flip 5 will reportedly feature 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and two UFS 4.0 storage options, 256GB and 512GB. The $999 model might pack 128GB UFS 3.1 flash memory that’s not as fast as UFS 4.0. As always, nothing is official at this point. But most Galaxy-related rumors are accurate, so there’s a very high probability that the information above pans out. Don't Miss: Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition blocked by UK regulatorsThe post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices and specs might’ve just leaked appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The global smartphone market suffered its fifth consecutive quarterly decline, falling by 12% YoY in Q1 2023, according to a Canalys survey. That said, iPhone sales have grown year over year from 18% to 21% due to the solid demand for the iPhone 14 Pro series after supply constraints made the company sell fewer models during the last holiday quarter. Another interesting piece of information regards Samsung, which was the only leading vendor to achieve a quarter-on-quarter recovery and struggled back to number one with a 22% market share. That said, the South Korean company still sold fewer phones than last year when it had 24% of the market share. “The smartphone market’s decline in the first quarter of 2023 was within expectations throughout the industry,” said Canalys Analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. “The local macroeconomic conditions continued to hinder vendors’ investments and operations in several markets. Despite price cuts and heavy promotions from vendors, consumer demand remained sluggish, particularly in the low-end segment due to high inflation affecting consumer confidence and spending.” While Canalys predicts the inventory of the smartphone industry can reach a relatively healthy level by the end of the second quarter of 2023, it’s still too early to predict the recovery of overall consumer demand. Image source: Canalys Of all the top vendors, only Apple and OPPO had a YoY increase with their flagship phones during the first trimester. Samsung and Xiaomi had a decrease in market share, and Vivo retained its 8% from last year. “The sell-in volume of the global smartphone market is expected to improve due to the reduction in inventories in the next few quarters. In addition, vendors have focused more on innovations and raising production and channel efficiencies after a round of fluctuations, shifting from growing for volumes and shares to growing for quality. 5G popularization and foldable phones are also becoming the new driving forces in the industry,” said Chaurasia. For Apple, the company could be preparing for new highs with the iPhone 15 series. Without the fear of supply constraints for another quarter, the company is still selling iPhone 14 models while preparing a solid lineup of four new iPhone versions. With a new design, better cameras, and processors, the Cupertino firm could see a new high during the holiday quarter later this year, which could also positively impact the first quarter of next year. Don't Miss: iPhone 15: Everything we know so farThe post iPhone sales grew in Q1 2023 despite global smartphone market decline appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the most powerful and feature-rich smartphone that Samsung makes right now. Some might argue that it’s the most powerful and feature-rich Android phone out there, period. Of course, it’s also extremely expensive, with pricing that starts at $1,200. But a Galaxy S23 Ultra deal available right now slashes up to $200 off the price of Samsung’s sleek new flagship phone. Prices start at $999.99 for the Galaxy S23 Ultra with 256GB of storage. That’s a penny under $1,000 for a factory unlocked top-of-the-line Samsung flagship. The upgraded 512GB model is also $200 off, cutting your cost to $1,179.99. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $999.99 (save $200) You Save: $200.00 (17%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 512GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $1,179.99 (save $200) You Save: $202.00 (15%) Buy Now Earlier this week, we told you about a fantastic Samsung Galaxy A54 deal. For just $449.99, you get a brand-new Gaalxy A54 phone that’s factory unlocked, plus a $50 Amazon gift card. That’s a fantastic deal that anyone in search of a mid-range smartphone should consider. But if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line handset, the Galaxy A54 isn’t going to be on your list. Instead, you’re likely considering the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s one of the most powerful smartphones that has ever been released. And right now, it’s on sale at the lowest price ever. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $999.99 You Save: $200.00 (17%) Buy Now Highlights from Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra specs include a 200-megapixel main camera along with three other cameras on the back. Plus, you get a crystal-clear selfie camera at the top of the stunning 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. A custom version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset powers the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and it features up to 12GB of RAM. Also, you’ll enjoy fantastic battery life courtesy of the large 5,000 mAh battery. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 512GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $1,179.99 You Save: $202.00 (15%) Buy Now The 256GB version normally costs $1,200, but it’s on sale for $999.99 right now on Amazon. That’s the lowest price yet. Or, if you want to upgrade to the 512GB model, you’ll pay $1,179.99 instead of $1,380. That’s also a savings of $200. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: Rare PS5 sale, $35 Blink Video Doorbell, Apple deals, Greenworks power tools, moreThe post Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is on sale for under $1,000 appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone was just released a few weeks ago, and there’s already a great deal to take advantage of. The phone’s main appeal is that it offers a great design and impressive performance at a surprisingly low price. And right now, Amazon is sweetening the pot by throwing in a $50 Amazon gift card for free. Released on March 24, 2023, Samsung’s new Galaxy A54 5G smartphone comes in two different colorways, Awesome Black and Awesome Violet. Both models cost $449.99 unlocked, and both come with 128GB of storage. Plus, you can get a free $50 Amazon gift card right now with either one, but only until this limited-time Amazon deal disappears. Samsung Galaxy A54 + $50 Gift Card (Black) Price: $449.99 (reg. $500) You Save: $50.00 (10%) Buy Now Samsung Galaxy A54 + $50 Gift Card (Violet) Price: $449.99 (reg. $500) You Save: $50.00 (10%) Buy Now The Galaxy A54 is no Galaxy S23, and that goes without saying. After all, it’s not supposed to be. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 lineup is comprised of flagship phones that offer the best possible user experience that Samsung offers. That experience comes at a price, of course, and it’s well over $1,000 if you want the Galaxy S23 Ultra that Samsung advertises most aggressively. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is even on sale right now, so you can save up to $200 off the retail price. But even at a discount, you’re still paying between $1,000 and $1,180. On the other hand, Samsung’s new Galaxy A54 is all about value. You get a very capable smartphone that offers plenty of power and performance. In terms of specs, the Galaxy A54 includes an octa-core Exynos 1380 processor, a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen, IP67 dust and water resistance, a 50-megapixel main camera, a 32-megapixel selfie camera, and so much more. SAMSUNG Galaxy A54 5G A Series Cell Phone + $50 Amazon Gift Card Bundle, Factory Unlocked Andro… Price: $449.99 You Save: $50.00 (10%) Buy Now At $449.99, the Galaxy A54 is an absolute steal. This is the kind of smartphone you can buy factory unlocked and bring to any wireless carrier. This way, you’re not under contract — remember, every single free smartphone deal at major US wireless carriers requires you to sign a contract. That $449.99 gets you a fantastic factory unlocked 5G smartphone that offers great performance, impressive specs, and the latest Android 13 experience with Samsung’s vastly improved One UI. And now, on top of all that, it also gets you a free $50 gift card. Be sure to check out our guide for more great Amazon gift card deals. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $199 AirPods Pro 2, Beats headphones, ASUS laptops, $799 MacBook Air, moreThe post Buy Samsung’s new Galaxy A54 for $450, get a $50 Amazon gift card appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy S23 series turned out to be a big hit for Samsung, with the Ultra model being the most popular among fans. With that in mind, it might seem strange to talk about Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra so soon after the current model’s launch. But the Galaxy S24 Ultra rumors have started to appear online with nearly a year to go until the phone’s release. We’ll cover all the Galaxy S24 Ultra design, specs, and release date rumors below. Galaxy S24 Ultra release date and price Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S23 series in early February this year. Preorders started right after the launch event, and the three Galaxy S23 phones hit stores on February 17th in most places. That is the usual window for Samsung’s first flagship series of the year. The Galaxy S24 phone models will likely be unveiled in early 2024. We’d expect a similar release date for the handsets, as Samsung will want to have the Galaxy S24 Ultra in stores before the big MWC 2024 event, where plenty of Ultra rivals will be launched. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 pricing structure is one of the great things about the current series. The 2023 Ultra starts at $1,199, a great price for the flagship. Obviously, most fans hope the Galaxy S24 Ultra will have a similar price. But don’t be surprised to see some price hikes. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Side view. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR Rumors say that Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro phones will be more expensive than usual, thanks to a slew of exclusive features. If Apple raises prices this year. Samsung will have a good excuse to do the same with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Even without a move from Apple, a price hike for sophisticated flagships from Samsung isn’t out of the question. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 flagships launching in August could inform us of Samsung’s pricing strategy for new high-end models. Even if the Galaxy S24 phones cost more, we’ll remind you that Samsung runs great preorder deals. The alternative would be waiting a couple of months to buy the handset. Samsung’s Androids do not hold their value as well as the iPhone. What about the Galaxy S23 vs the Galaxy S24? Will there be any other design changes? The Galaxy S23 Ultra uses almost the same design as the Galaxy S22 Ultra. One change concerns the curvature of the screen and the edges. The S23 Ultra’s screen isn’t flat but is not as curved as the S22 Ultra. Flat screens are more durable, but there’s no telling whether Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra will have a perfectly flat screen. What we don’t expect to change are the top and bottom edges, which have to be flat. That’s because of the built-in stylus, which forces Samsung to use a flat bottom edge. Therefore, the top edge gets the same design. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Bottom side view. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR The Galaxy S24 Ultra should feature the largest display in the S24 series, measuring at least 6.8 inches. The screen should support a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz, although some rumors already claim a screen upgrade to 144Hz is due. On the back, the Galaxy S24 Ultra should feature a massive camera system. Like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, we expect the lenses on the back to feature independent protrusions. But we’re only speculating at this point. The Galaxy S24 Ultra could remain the only S24 model with a periscope camera. More importantly, the Galaxy S24 Ultra should be the only flagship to rock a 200-megapixel sensor. Galaxy S24 Ultra specs All Galaxy S24 phones will have the set of base specs, although the Ultra will certainly get the best possible hardware for a 2024 phone. We’re probably looking at a “Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy” processor powering the entire line. Rumors say Samsung is considering an Exynos 2400 processor for the Galaxy S24 line. But hopefully, that will not happen. One of the big reasons why the Galaxy S23 is so successful is that it hasn’t suffered from performance issues like the Exynos-powered Galaxy S22. All three S24 phones should rock LPDDR5X RAM like their predecessors. But the non-Ultra handsets could see a memory boost to 12GB. A recent rumor also claimed that the Galaxy S24 Ultra might feature 16GB of RAM. Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone: Display. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR As for storage, the Galaxy S24 Ultra should go up to 1TB of storage and start at 256GB. Preorder deals will likely let you double the storage for free. It’s too early to tell whether we should expect any storage speed bumps beyond the current UFS 4.0 tech. Battery-wise, the Galaxy S24 Ultra will feature at least a 5,000 mAh battery pack as its predecessor. But we’re speculating again. Whatever the case, the Ultra will have the largest possible battery, as it’s the biggest S24 variant. The charging speed should at least match the Galaxy S23 Ultra. That’s 45W wired charging, but hopefully, Samsung will improve it. Galaxy S24 Ultra camera upgrades As usual with flagships, the main camera will be one of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s most important features. As we’ve explained, the Galaxy S24 Ultra should feature four rear-facing lenses. The main shooter will reportedly retain the 200-megapixel resolution Samsung introduced this year. But rumors say that Samsung might introduce a new 200-megapixel sensor with additional capabilities. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera system. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR The Galaxy S24 Ultra should feature three additional cameras, including an ultra-wide lens and two telephoto cameras. One thing that Samsung should do with the Galaxy S24 Ultra is explaining exactly how night photography works. And maybe stop pretending the moon photos its phones take are real. Don't Miss: iPhone 15: Everything we know so farThe post Samsung Galaxy S24: What we know so far, including release and price appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Over the last year, BGR has highlighted differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23, Apple iPhone 14, and Google Pixel 7. In the latest analysis by SellCell, the company looked at depreciation data between these smartphone lineups since their launches. While consumers need to know which new phone has the best camera, battery, or processor, eventually, they will plan to sell their old smartphone for a new model. But when the time comes, which smartphone holds the best value? Like previous reports, the iPhone 14 retains the most value, while Samsung’s S23 lineup averages 40% lower resale prices, and Google Pixel 7 models are 48% weaker than the iPhone 14 prices. That said, the latest iPhone model is worth 5.7% less than the iPhone 13 after six months, with the 14-series depreciating by 31.5% while the 13-series was at 25.8% in the same timeframe. For Galaxy S23 owners, the worst phone to be sold is the Ultra with 1TB. It lost 55.6% of its value in the two months since its launch. On the other hand, the best Galaxy S23 is the Plus model with 256GB. It regained some of its lost value, and it’s worth 36.4% less after two months of its launch. Image source: sellcell One of the sellcell charts shows that the iPhone 14 Pro Max with 128GB version held the best value after two months of its launch, losing 13.6% of its total price. It’s followed by the base-model iPhone 14 with 29% of depreciation, its Plus version, and then the regular Pro model. The Galaxy S23 Plus with 256GB appears next, followed by the Pixel 7 Pro. The phone with the most depreciation was the Pixel 7 with 128GB, which lost 44.7% in two months. The full report can be found here. It highlights the different storage options between the Galaxy S23, iPhone 14, and Pixel 7 lineups and which could be better for you to buy or resell. Don't Miss: Galaxy S23 Ultra beats iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro in hardcore performance testThe post Samsung Galaxy phones depreciate much faster than iPhone models after launch appeared first on BGR. View the full article

In its latest attempt to lure iPhone users into switching to the Galaxy side, Samsung wants Apple users to try out the new Galaxy S23 series right from their iPhones. According to 9to5Google, Samsung created a Try Galaxy website where iPhone owners can install a web app that transforms iOS into Samsung’s OneUI Android personalization. The publication notes that this is really specific for iPhone users, as if you try the website on a Pixel phone, it simply won’t work. With the Try Galaxy experience, you can navigate into Samsung’s OneUI interface and stock apps, such as Google Messages, which doesn’t use RCS but shows SMS/MMS texts, Gallery, Samsung Health, and even the Camera. And when you click on the Camera, you’re prompted with several videos and tutorials highlighting the benefits of Samsung cameras. Interestingly enough, if you tap the Galaxy Themes app, you can fully customize your iPhone-Galaxy interface. Image source: José Adorno for BGR Users can have a glimpse of the Galaxy Store, Game Launcher, Google Meets, Samsung Kids, and more. An annoying feature of this website is the several message notifications you get in exchange for insights about the Galaxy S23. Even the tiny things, such as the notification sounds, remind me why I prefer sticking with the iPhone. That said, even if this experience isn’t enough to make you switch from an iPhone to the Galaxy S23 (or the Z Fold or Z Flip options), at least you get to understand what you’re missing out – or not – from an Android phone while testing this theme right from your iPhone. For me, I’m already too attached to the Apple ecosystem to make the transition from the iPhone, AirPods, Mac, iPad, and its services to Samsung and Google. But if you want to give it a try, you can check the Try Galaxy here. Don't Miss: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: The best Android can getThe post Samsung turned my iPhone into a Galaxy S23 and it was pure nightmare fuel appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Another day, another test between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the Google Pixel 7 Pro. BGR has already highlighted several different comparison tests between the battery, performance, photography, and more, but this time, the YouTube channel In Depth Tech Reviews went a step further and made a hardcore test by checking the speed, battery, and thermal of these three flagship phones at the same time. In the experiment, the YouTuber started a Microsoft Teams call meeting with screen sharing, ran a high-quality YouTube video in PiP, and played Asphalt 9 for 30 minutes. While the three phones had brightness at the same level, all using an LTE/4G connection and updated to the latest operating systems available, it was interesting to see how each of them performed. Long story short, the Galaxy S23 Ultra performed better compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 7 Pro. These are the highlights: Galaxy S23 Ultra completed the 30-minute test, the display dimmed after 11 minutes, had the best thermals at 49.4ºC, and spent 10% of its battery. On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Pro Max failed the test after 19 minutes, the display dimmed after 4 minutes and a half, and had the worse thermals alongside the Pixel 7 Pro at 49.5ºC. It only had the best battery usage with only 7%. Of the three phones, the Pixel 7 Pro had the worst scores in general, as it was the first to fail the test and used the most battery. What made the Galaxy S23 Ultra the champion in this extreme test was its new heat sink, which is three times the size of last year’s S22 Ultra, and its 12GB of RAM, making it the best phone to deal with this level of stress. That said, at the end of the day, it’s up to you what you need for your daily tasks as the three phones are really great. Don't Miss: iPhone 14 Pro Max tops Galaxy S23 Ultra in battery life testThe post Galaxy S23 Ultra beats iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro in hardcore performance test appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 tablet is one of the best all-around tablets that Samsung makes. And on Wednesday, for one day only, the Galaxy Tab A8 is on sale with discounts of up to 39% off. That means you can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 with 32GB of storage for just $139.99, down from $230. That’s a $90 discount, and it matches the lowest price ever for this model. Or, if you need more storage, there are two more great deals to choose from. The 64GB version is $100 off at $179.99, and the 128GB model can be had for $199.99, which is a $130 discount. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 32GB Android Tablet w/ LCD Screen, Long Lasting Battery, Kids Conte… Price: $139.99 (reg. $230) You Save: $90.00 (39%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 128GB Android Tablet w/ LCD Screen, Long Lasting Battery, Kids Cont… Price: $199.99 (reg. $330) You Save: $31.99 (10%) Buy Now If you check out BGR’s big guide on the best Apple deals available right now, you’ll see some impressive iPad deals. For example, the 10.2-inch iPad with 256GB is on sale for $399, matching the lowest price ever. Or, you can upgrade to the newer 10.9-inch iPad with 64GB for the same price. Those deals are both terrific. But even on sale at the best prices we’ve seen, Apple’s iPad tablets are still quite expensive. If you’re looking for a great alternative to an iPad that offers an excellent user experience at a fraction of the price, today is definitely your lucky day. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 32GB Android Tablet w/ LCD Screen, Long Lasting Battery, Kids Conte… Price: $139.99 You Save: $90.00 (39%) Buy Now Amazon is running a terrific one-day sale on Monday that slashes Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8 tablets to the lowest price ever. Deals start at just $139.99 for the 32GB model, which is normally priced at $230. The Galaxy Tab A8 features a nice big 10.5-inch display that’s right on par with Apple’s 9th-generation and 10th-generation iPads. And since the Galaxy Tab A8 obviously features a display made by Samsung Display, the screen is absolutely stunning. Other key features include excellent battery life, a fast-charging USB-C port, an octa-core processor, all the awesome Samsung apps you might want, and of course everything else that comes along with the Android ecosystem. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 64GB Android Tablet w/ LCD Screen, Long Lasting Battery, Kids Conte… Price: $179.99 (reg. $280) You Save: $100.00 (36%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 128GB Android Tablet w/ LCD Screen, Long Lasting Battery, Kids Cont… Price: $199.99 (reg. $330) You Save: $31.99 (10%) Buy Now If you want a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 with more storage, you’ll save even more money. The 64GB model normally sells for $280, but it’s down to $179.99 during Amazon’s one-day sale. That’s a solid $100 discount. Or, you can opt for the 128GB tablet and save $130 off the $330 retail price. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $150 AirPods 3, rare AirTag deals, Sony earbuds, ASUS ROG gaming laptop, moreThe post Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 deals start at $140 today appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung’s Galaxy A smartphone series has been quite popular in recent years. According to some reports, the mid-range phones have sold even better than the Galaxy S models. That’s why you’d have a good reason to look forward to the Galaxy A54 and A34 that Samsung just unveiled. The former is a higher-priced, mid-ranged Samsung phone you should check out. But maybe hold off on buying the Galaxy A54 for a few months until we see Google’s Pixel 7a. The Galaxy A54 is a good alternative to the Pixel 6a, which usually sells for around $300, much lower than its original $449 retail price. But the Pixel 7a will be even better than last year’s Pixel 6a. And it’ll be the mid-range phone to beat this year. Though in earnest, the Pixel 7a is closer to being a flagship phone than the Galaxy A54. One of the immediate highlights of the Galaxy A54 and A34 is the design. The mid-range phones look a lot like the Galaxy S23 handsets. Especially when it comes to the rear-facing triple-lens camera setup, but they’re not identical, especially the cheaper A34 model. When it comes to specs, the Galaxy A54 is the more exciting model of the two. It features a 6.4-inch Full HD hole-punch display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits brightness, under-display fingerprint sensor, Exynos 1380 processor, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of storage, and microSD card support. Samsung’s Galaxy A54 smartphone in Awesome Graphite. Image source: Samsung The handset features three cameras on the back, including a 50-megapixel main camera with OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The selfie shooter has a 32-megapixel sensor. Also, the A54 phone features a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 25W wired charging. One other notable Galaxy A54 feature is the support for four years of Android updates and five years of security updates. All of that will retail for $449 on April 6th when the Galaxy A54 hits stores in the US. The phone will be available to preorder later this month, on March 30th. This is where I’ll tell you to hold for about a month to see what’s coming at Google’s I/O 2023 event. Word on the street is that’s where the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold will be introduced. The former is a direct competitor to the Galaxy A54. And while the new Samsung phone looks like a flagship, the Pixel 7a might actually feel like one. Pixel 7a prototype from Vietnam: Rear design and camera module. Image source: Zing News The Pixel 7a appeared in extensive leaks, so we already know what the phone has to offer. We’re looking at a handset that features a glass and metal build. Even the rear panel is made of glass, unlike the Galaxy A54. This gives the Pixel 7a wireless charging powers, something the Samsung handset lacks. While the Pixel 7a’s 6.1-inch OLED panel doesn’t support 120Hz refresh rates like the Galaxy A54, it’ll still go up to 90Hz. More interestingly, the Pixel 7a will feature the same Google Tensor G2 processor that powers the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro flagships. That will be a much better choice than Samsung’s Exynos processor. Other specs include 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a dual 12-megapixel camera on the back. The camera abilities of the Pixel 7a should exceed the Galaxy A54’s powers. That’s because the Pixel 6a is already a great camera, so the Pixel 7a should build on that. As for Android updates, the Pixel 7a will get them much faster than the Galaxy A54. Hopefully, Google will match Samsung’s four-year update guarantee. The Pixel 7a will retail between $400 and $500, like the Galaxy A54. Even if it’s slightly more expensive, the Google phone is the better choice this year. That’s why you’d be better off waiting for Google to unveil the Pixel 7a before your purchase the Galaxy A54. Even if you get the Samsung phone, you might score a better price deal in mid-May than at launch. Don't Miss: I hope this Google Pixel Fold price rumor is realThe post Don’t buy the Galaxy A54 before the Pixel 7a comes out appeared first on BGR. View the full article

A Redditor went viral over the weekend by proving that phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra will produce fake Moon photos with a few simple experiments. This wasn’t the first time someone showed that Samsung might be misleading Galaxy S buyers. But the post’s virality brought the matter back to everyone’s attention. It took Samsung a few days to address the fake moon photos controversy. The company translated a post published in Korea last year to English which explains its algorithms for moon photos. Samsung also essentially says that it’ll keep lying to you. The main problem here isn’t that Samsung is faking moon photos with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). It’s that Samsung is misleading buyers and using “nightography” and moon photos as big selling points for the phone. Check out the Galaxy S23 Ultra ad below: Remember, Samsung did something similar back in 2016 when it turned on Beauty Mode by default on Samsung phones. The beautification feature removed face imperfections by default, and users hated it. Samsung’s moon photos controversy response is available at this link. The English version is almost similar to the Korean variant, available at this link. Samsung explains how its high-end phones use a Screen Optimizer feature to improve the resulting image. Specifically, the feature allows AI to enhance photos of the moon. Samsung says that users can disable Screen Optimizer if they want to. The feature launched with the Galaxy S21 series: When you’re taking a photo of the moon, your Galaxy device’s1 camera system will harness this deep learning-based AI technology, as well as multi-frame processing in order to further enhance details. Samsung’s Scene Optimizer feature. Image source: Samsung Samsung uses a technology called Super Resolution to take more than 10 images of the moon at 25x zoom or higher. This process should eliminate noise and enhance clarity, Samsung says. Super Resolution technology helps produce images through multi-frame composition. When Scene Optimizer is turned on and the moon has been recognized as an object, the camera will deliver users a bright and clear image through the detail enhancement engine of Scene Optimizer on top of the Super Resolution technology. Samsung’s AI detects the moon in photos before applying the Scene Optimizer. Image source: Samsung Furthermore, Samsung explains that it trained its machine learning (ML) algorithms on various moon shapes, so it can recognize all shapes of the moon. But the AI will not recognize the moon if objects block it, something we saw in recent experiments. Once it recognizes the moon, the Galaxy S phone will adjust the brightness “to present the moon more clearly while maintaining optimal brightness.” If the moon is at an appropriate brightness level and the user takes the photo, the algorithms will deliver the clearest image of the moon possible: First, Scene Optimizer reconfirms whether to apply the detail enhancement engine through AI processing. Next, the camera takes multiple pictures and then synthesizes them into a single, bright image with reduced noise. After Multi-frame Processing has taken place, Galaxy camera further harnesses Scene Optimizer’s deep-learning-based AI detail enhancement engine to effectively eliminate remaining noise and enhance the image details even further. The final part seems responsible for the fake moon photos we saw in the Reddit experiment. Here’s a diagram of the process: The full process of taking fake photos of the moon. Image source: Samsung Samsung ends the blog post with a promise to improve Scene Optimizer and essentially tell users that it’ll continue to deliver fake photos of the moon. But maybe make it harder for people to detect it: Samsung continues to improve Scene Optimizer to reduce any potential confusion that may occur between the act of taking a picture of the real moon and an image of the moon. The better way to handle the matter would be for Samsung to turn on Scene Optimizer off by default and properly inform customers that the moon photos they take might not be real. Also, not using moon photography in ads until the Galaxy S phone can actually capture real photos of the moon would be great. Samsung uses a “fake moon” title for the images that highlight the AI features Samsung uses to take fake moon photos. Image source: Chris Smith, BGR Samsung is aware of how important the fake moon controversy might be. Why else use “fake moon” as a title for all the photos uploaded to the blog post? Don't Miss: Google Pixel Fold might launch in June for around $1,800The post Samsung attempts to explain its fake Moon photos appeared first on BGR. View the full article

To many consumers, there is no battle between the iPhone and Android. Sure, that’s perhaps based on ignorance — but the battle that many think about in the phone world is between the iPhone and Samsung. Nearly 13 years after the launch of the original Samsung Galaxy S device, Samsung still, to many, represents the best of what Android can offer, and the charge is currently being lead by the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Galaxy S23 Ultra perhaps isn’t the most exciting Galaxy release of the past 13 years. After the death of the note series and subsequent adoption of its design in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the S23 Ultra is much more iterative. But the iterative releases are often the best. They take the new designs and experimental new features from the last generation, and refine on them, making for a better overall experience, despite not often offering anything radically groundbreaking. That’s where the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra lies. It’s a better device in almost every way than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but if you put them side-by-side, you’ll notice immediate similarities. You don’t need to upgrade from the Galaxy S22 Ultra — but if you have anything older, or lower-end, it makes a seriously compelling case for itself. Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraRating: 4.5 StarsThe Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a stunning design, top-tier performance, and an awesome camera. Is it worth the money? BGR may receive a commissionBGR may receive a commissionProsStunning designExcellent cameraGreat battery lifeVery powerfulBeautiful displayConsExpensiveAmazon$1,199.99Samsung$1,199.99 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra specs Here’s a look at the specs on offer by the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Dimensions6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inchesIP ratingIP68Display resolution1440 x 3088Display size6.8 inchesDisplay typeDynamic AMOLEDDisplay refresh rate120HzDisplay brightness1750 nits peakChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Memory8GB, 12GBStorage256GB, 512GB, 1TBRear camerasWide: 200MP, f/1.7 Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom Periscope telephoto: 10MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 120-degreesVideo8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps, 1080p at 960fpsFront camera12MP, f/2.2PortsUSB-C 3.2Battery size5,000mAhCharging45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wirelessConnectivityBluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, 5GColorsGreen, Phantom Black, Lavender, CreamPrice$1,199.99+ Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra design Perhaps the first thing to notice about the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is its design, and it’s far from a bad-looking device. Sure, it looks very similar to the previous-generation Galaxy S22 Ultra, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s generally a handsome-looking device that most should like. On the bottom, there’s a USB-C port flanked by a slot for the S Pen, which has become a staple feature on the Ultra model after the death of the Note series. The power button and volume rocker are on the right side. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR On the back, you’ll find a quad camera array, which is the same as the Galaxy S22 Ultra. We’ll get into the details of those cameras later on. There are still some differences with the Galaxy S23 Ultra compared to the last-generation model — for one, the camera module is larger, but still not too big. It’s also slightly less curved at the edges, which I personally prefer. In terms of colors, you have three options of Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. There are other options if you order straight from Samsung, including Graphite, Lime, Light Blue, and Red. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, as mentioned, comes with an S Pen. I’m not the biggest stylus fan, and didn’t use it all that much — but it was very well-built and offered a range of features. If you like styluses, you’ll like the S Pen with the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR The phone feels very premium in the hand. The device is clearly well-built, and the metal rails and glass front and back feel as such. You would expect that from a device in this price range, but it’s still important to keep in mind. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra display The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is built to offer an incredible display experience, and it succeeds in doing so. The device boasts a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 1,440p resolution and a refresh rate that can cycle between 1Hz and 120Hz. It’s a stunning screen. Text is crisp, and colors are bright and vibrant. It supports HDR10+, though in classic Samsung fashion there’s no Dolby Vision support. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR One of the best things about the screen is how smooth it is, without significantly draining battery. That’s because of the variable refresh rate. It’s tech that’s been available for a while and certainly not unique to this phone, but I still really appreciate it. Samsung rates the screen as offering up to a 1,750-nit peak brightness, which is pretty high, though the same as the S22 Ultra. It’s easily bright enough for all use-cases, including use in direct sunlight outside. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra speakers The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with stereo speakers, including one under-screen speaker at the top, and one bottom-firing speaker at the bottom. The speaker quality here is excellent, for a phone. While it doesn’t necessarily compete with a pair of decent headphones, the speakers provided a relatively rich and deep listening experience that make them perfect for use casual use, like watching videos in bed or scrolling TikTok. The speakers get pretty loud too. You might find some distortion occurs at higher volumes, but it’s not unreasonable, and still far better than the majority of other phone speakers. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra performance The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, coupled with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and up to a hefty 1TB of storage. It’s a small step up from the last generation, but means that the device is keeping up with the best of the best performance in Android phones. In day to day use, the phone easily keeps up with everything you can throw at it. It loads apps and games quickly, handles multitasking with ease, and so on. Mobile gamers will find that it’s easily able to keep up with high frame rates, even for more demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile. Benchmark results confirmed the excellent performance. Here’s a look at the benchmark results we achieved with the phone. 3DMark Wild Life Extreme GeekBench 6 These are excellent scores, and about in line with what we would expect from a phone equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. They should a phone that’s at the top of the game when it comes to an Android phone — though not quite on-par with the iPhones of the world. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra battery and charging Powering it all is a 5,000mAh battery, which supports wired charging up to 45W and wireless charging up to 15W. The battery is large enough for the majority of users. I found that it was pretty easily able to get me through a full day of relatively heavy use, and most of the way into a second day. Even heavier users should find the battery life to be excellent, and if you’re good at charging at night, you’ll never have issues with the battery life. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR The only issue I have is that while 45W wired charging is fine, it’s not even close to some of the competition from China. At MWC 2023, Realme announced a phone that can charge at a whopping 240W. I don’t expect Samsung to compete in pushing fast-charging forward, but it would be nice if its devices could charge a little faster, for those times when you’re in a pinch. Thankfully, the device does support wireless charging, and it does so at 15W, which is perfectly fine. It also supports reverse wireless charging at 4.5W, which can be used to charge earbuds and wearables that support Qi. Still, as mentioned, the battery life on the phone is excellent. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera The camera is perhaps where the biggest upgrades to the device lie. The phone boasts a monster five cameras, with the main camera sitting in at a hefty 200 megapixels. That camera supports a range of tech, like optical image stabilization, laser autofocus, and more. The main camera is supported by a range of others. There’s a 10-megapixel periscope telephoto camera that offers an impressive 10x optical zoom, along with a 10-megapixel standard telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR It’s really an excellent selection of cameras, and makes for an incredibly versatile camera experience overall. So what about image quality? Again, it’s excellent. In well-lit environments, the Galaxy S23 Ultra was able to capture stunningly detailed images. Images were pretty consistent across lenses, and colors were generally vibrant too, which is always nice. Like many other top-tier phones right now, the Galaxy S23 Ultra uses pixel binning tech to produce brighter, more detailed images. It works very well here. The camera wasn’t quite as contrast-heavy as the Pixel or iPhone 14 Pro, for example, but that’s not necessarily a bad things, it’s just a choice that Samsung has made for its phone. One of the best things about the phone is how versatile it is, and indeed any images captured between 0.6x and 10x look just as detailed as each other. As you start to zoom in more, detail does degrade — and at 100x, don’t expect anything approaching a realistic experience. But the fact that you still have the option to take photos at 100x zoom is pretty incredible. Again, you probably won’t use it all that much, considering the quality of images produced, but you might zoom up to around 20x or so, and still get high-quality, detailed images. In low light, the camera is still able to capture some pretty impressive images, and better than the vast majority of smartphones out there. The phone wasn’t as consistent in low light than in brighter environments, but that’s pretty common. Hopefully phone makers will continue to improve on this. The front-facing camera is quite good too. The camera sits in at 12 megapixels, and was able to produce colorful and detailed images, again. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra software The Galaxy S23 Ultra ships with Samsung’s One UI 5.1, which is based on Android 13. If you’ve used a Samsung phone in recent memory, you’ll be fine with the software experience here — but if you’re new to it, it may take some getting used to. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR One UI has never been my favorite, but to be fair it’s far from the old day of TouchWiz bloat. The operating system feels relatively modern and stylish, and while there are still some apps and features that probably aren’t necessary, most of the experience feels intuitive. You will have to get used to using Samsung apps instead of Google’s (or have two Clock apps, for example), but again, these apps are well-designed and work well. Overall, One UI is well-designed and easy to navigate. Many really like Samsung’s software approach, and it remains mostly the same here, if not slightly more refined compared to previous generations. Conclusions The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a phone with no compromises — except, perhaps, price. The device is extremely powerful, offers an excellent camera, a long-lasting battery, and a sleek and stylish design. If you’re looking for the best Android phone right now, this device is a real contender. The competition There isn’t a ton of competition to the Galaxy S23 Ultra in the U.S., unfortunately. There is outside of the U.S. — like the newly-announced Honor Magic5 Pro, which squarely targets the Galaxy device in the camera and display department. In the U.S., perhaps the best competition comes from the Google Pixel 7 Pro, though that’s maybe a little unfair considering they’re in very different price ranges. If you want value for money, the Pixel 7 Pro is a better option, but for raw performance and overall quality, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a stellar phone. Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Yes. It’s the best ultra-premium Android phone right now. The post Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: The best Android can get appeared first on BGR. View the full article