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It’s been six months since Apple released the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and it still holds the crown as the best smartphone for several reasons. While BGR already reported it has a better camera and a better processor, a test conducted by YouTuber PhoneBuff shows Apple’s biggest phone also beats the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in a battery test. Besides the spoiler alert, his video is very interesting as it’s the first time a Galaxy phone lasts for so long in a battery test. Long story short, the iPhone 14 Pro Max beat the S23 Ultra by 30 minutes, and during several hours of the 27-hour long test, it’s Samsung’s phone that actually reigns over the iPhone. That said, it’s worth noting that while the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery and the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a 4,323 mAh battery, it’s Apple’s iPhone that wins the test thanks to optimized applications and better integration between hardware and software. Image source: PhoneBuff During the tests, the YouTuber starts with a call, then texting, e-mail scrolling, web browsing, and Instagram scrolling. While both phones offer a similar experience, it’s during a 16-hours standby test that the iPhone’s battery drops way below Galaxy S23 Ultra from 73% to 66% (S23 Ultra stays at 69%). The experiment continues with watching YouTube videos, gaming, playing music, and sending Snapchats. That said, with the Snapchat app, Galaxy S23 Ultra loses the lead as the battery drains from 27% to 15%, and the iPhone remains with 16% of battery life. To end the test, the YouTuber kept opening all the apps he used from the test until the battery of one of the phones died. That said, it’s Galaxy S23 Ultra that turns off first. By the end of the trial, here’s how each phone performed: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Active time: 11h06 Standby: 16h Total: 27h06 iPhone 14 Pro Max Active time: 11h44 Standby: 16h Total: 27h44 You can watch PhoneBuff with all testings in the full video below. Don't Miss: iPhone 15: Everything we know so farThe post iPhone 14 Pro Max tops Galaxy S23 Ultra in battery life test appeared first on BGR. View the full article

DXOMARK recently published its Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review. While the company praises several features of the latest Samsung flagship, its scores show the camera, display, and audio capabilities lose by a lot to Apple’s latest iPhone 14 Pro models – and, sometimes, even the iPhone 13 Pro devices. According to DXOMARK, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has consistent camera performance in all features, can render photos properly, and has strong telephoto zoom performance at long range. On the other hand, the publication complains about the following: Loss of image detail in low-light situations; Exposure and focus instabilities, particularly in backlit scenes; Under sunlight, colorful content lacks nuances. On DXOMARK’s global ranking, the company tests three main categories: Camera, Display, and Audio. The Galaxy S23 Ultra loses for the iPhone 14 Pro models in these three categories. For example, in the Camera department, it scores 140, bringing it to the 10th position alongside the Google Pixel 7. Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro scores 141 in the 7th position and iPhone 14 Pro in the 4th position with a 146 score. Image source: José Adorno for BGR In the Display department, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra scores 148 points. iPhone 14 Pro models have one point more, making them the first in the ranking. Interestingly, Samsung Display is responsible for panels in both Apple and Samsung flagships. Last but not least, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra scores 139 points in the Audio section, adding the smartphone to the 17th position alongside the iPhone 12 mini, 13 Pro Max, and 13 Pro. Samsung’s phone is beaten by Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro max, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max, ranging from 140 to 142 points. DXOMARK offers an in-depth look at its Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review and a video testing the camera, which you can watch below. Don't Miss: iPhone 14 Pro beats Galaxy S23 Ultra as fastest smartphoneThe post Galaxy S23 Ultra loses badly to iPhone 14 Pro in DXOMARK tests appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung is looking to catch up to Apple and Qualcomm with its own modem that can allow smartphones to communicate with satellites. As reported by TechCrunch, the company has announced its own solution for allowing smartphones to communicate with satellites, setting up a technology battle between two other giants. The chip, called the 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN) modem, will allow equipped smartphones to stay connected in areas with no cellular connectivity. Samsung says that it plans to integrate the modem in its proprietary Exynos processor, which is used in a range of the company’s devices. The company said that it aims to integrate this tech into its own Exynos chip, which is used in a lot of Samsung smartphones — but not the current flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S23. The Korean tech giant describes this tech as using “satellites and other non-terrestrial vehicles” to provide connectivity in remote areas. Min Goo Kim, vice president of communication processor development at Samsung Electronics, said in a statement that its goal is to “take the lead in advancing hybrid terrestrial-NTN communications ecosystems around the world.” “This milestone builds on our rich legacy in wireless communications technologies, following the introduction of the industry’s first commercial 4G LTE modem in 2009 and the industry’s first 5G modem in 2018…Samsung aims to take the lead in advancing hybrid terrestrial-NTN communications ecosystems around the world in preparation for the arrival of 6G.” Samsung’s move here sets the company up with another battle with Apple and Qualcomm, two companies that have already either announced similar technology or, in Apple’s case, already rolled it out to their latest iPhone 14 smartphone lineup. Interestingly, while Samsung plans to integrate its satellite modem into its own chip, its latest flagships use a Snapdragon processor. Don't Miss: Galaxy Z Flip 5’s big external display and hinge upgrades took too long, here’s whyThe post Samsung unveils new phone modem that can communicate with satellites appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung crowned itself the king of the foldable market in repeated remarks recently because it was one of the first companies to adopt the form factor. But the main reason why Samsung outsold competitors had nothing to do with the Korean giant’s ability to manufacture great foldable devices. Samsung simply lacked competition in western markets, and it outspent rivals on advertising by an order of magnitude. That is also part of the reason why the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5 might outsell other upcoming foldable phones. The new Samsung foldables will drop this summer. But, by the time they do, they’ll have to face several competitors. Chinese smartphone makers are coming to Europe in full force, hoping to put pressure on Samsung with devices like the Oppo Find N2 Flip. If you’re a Samsung fan, you can probably thank that competition for some of the best Galaxy Z Flip 5 rumored upgrades. Like any flagship, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will get hardware upgrades to keep up with tech advancements. That means a new processor as well as potential RAM and storage upgrades. Add camera and battery improvements to that, and you get a brand-new foldable flagship that’s better than its predecessor. That’s essentially what Samsung has done since the first Flip model. Oppo Find N2 Flip foldable phone: External display. Image source: Oppo But the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is already rumored to get a larger external display than its predecessor. More importantly, the external display will reportedly be larger than the Oppo Find N2 Flip that the Chinese smartphone maker just launched internationally. Moreover, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 should feature a brand-new hinge design that will reduce the visibility of the foldable’s display crease. Again, you can thank the same Find N2 Flip for pushing Samsung in this direction. The Oppo handset features a large 3.26-inch external display that provides a lot more at-a-glance information than the Flip 4’s 1.9-inch cover screen. Oppo Find N2 Flip foldable phone: New hinge design. Image source: Oppo The Find N2 Flip also rocks a new hinge with a miniaturized design that has fewer components than the first-gen Oppo hinge. According to the company, the hinge is more compact than ever, which leaves more internal space for the battery capacity. The hinge has no gap either when you fold the handset, and it can withstand more than 400,000 folds and unfolds. Make no mistake, Samsung isn’t designing the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in response to the Oppo handset. Rumors going back to early December said the Galaxy Z Flip 5 would have a much larger cover display, which could measure more than 3 inches. The same leaks said a new hinge design is coming, with Samsung aiming to reduce the visibility of the crease. As I told my Super Followers yesterday, there are a couple of important changes coming to the Z Flip 5… pic.twitter.com/rEcD2DvaWw — Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) December 1, 2022 More recently, leaker Ice Universe tweeted that he can confirm the Flip 5’s cover display is larger than the one on the Oppo Find N2 Flip. Samsung probably settled on these design changes a while ago. But the foldable phone maker knew its competitors were about to exit China. Samsung also supplies components for foldable devices, so it might have an idea of what’s coming next from rival companies. Even without supply contracts, the China-bound foldable devices from last year were already great Fold and Flip competitors. Also, Samsung likely wanted to increase the size of the Z Flip’s external display. The same goes for improving the hinge. The clues have surfaced. The first leak I can say for sure The external screen of Galaxy Z Flip5 It is bigger than the external screen of OPPO Find N2 Flip. pic.twitter.com/E9HjUeW2ZR — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) February 20, 2023 Could it have done all this in time for the Z Flip 4’s release, though? Probably, considering the advancements Samsung has made in recent years, starting with the Fold 3 and Flip 3. But the point is that Samsung never felt the pressure to innovate before. The Fold and Flip were the only foldables worth buying in international markets. With the Oppo Find N2 Flip’s arrival, Samsung has to impress shoppers this summer when the Galaxy Z Flip 5 arrives. And it must prove that it can innovate in the foldable space at the same pace as rivals. Don't Miss: $1,200 Galaxy S23 Ultra has a screen defect that Samsung calls normalThe post Why Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover display and hinge upgrades took so long appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series started shipping last week and appears to be a winner already. The phones are as fast as possible for 2023 Android flagships. The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s camera and battery life are impressive. More importantly, the Galaxy S23 phones aren’t more expensive than their predecessors, despite offering much better performance. Still, the phones are quite expensive. Samsung fans on a budget might want to wait for the price to drop — or for the cheaper Galaxy S23 FE to arrive. What’s great about Galaxy S23 performance so far is that we’re not seeing any of the issues that hurt the Galaxy S22 series last year. There’s no Exynos version of the handset, and Samsung isn’t throttling the phone. Nor is it cheating in benchmarks. If anything, the Galaxy S23 phones feature an even faster variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip that will power most 2023 Android flagships. And the same chip is available in all regions. Had Samsung followed Apple’s strategy, it could have easily turned the Galaxy S22 into a great budget alternative to the Galaxy S23. And Samsung did say during the Galaxy S23 event that it’ll continue selling the Galaxy S22. But those phones still rock the Snapdragon/Exynos combos of chips. Galaxy S23 price structure announced at Unpacked 2023. Image source: Samsung That’s to say the Galaxy S22 might have been a decent Galaxy S23 FE alternative. Samsung wouldn’t have needed to bring the Fan Edition back. As a reminder, there was no S22 FE variant last year. A Korean leaker (via SamMobile) claims that Samsung is making a Galaxy S23 FE this year. The phone should be more affordable than the $799 Galaxy S23, though the price hasn’t leaked. But the leaker says the phone will use the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor so Samsung can cut costs. [Exclusive] Galaxy S23 FE will use Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 to adjust the unit price. — Connor / 코너 / コナー (@OreXda) February 21, 2023 As a reminder, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is a better variant of the regular Snapdragon chip that powers the Galaxy S22 phones. It’s the chip that Samsung used last year in all its Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 foldables. It’s faster and less likely to overheat. Put differently, the Galaxy S23 FE won’t match the Galaxy S23’s performance, but it’ll still be a great smartphone that’s on par with last year’s flagships. Presumably. We still need to figure out what sort of specs the handset will offer and how much Samsung will charge for it. Don't Miss: $1,200 Galaxy S23 Ultra has a screen defect that Samsung calls normalThe post Cheaper Galaxy S23 FE set to feature Z Fold 4’s powerful processor appeared first on BGR. View the full article

If you’re interested in engaging in the world of foldable smartphones but aren’t sure where to start, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip line is worth a long look. Unlike the foldable smartphones with price tags pushing $2,000, you can snag the compact Galaxy Z Flip 4 for under $1,000. Of course, the Z Flip 4 has some limitations, including its lackluster cover screen, but a new rumor hints that Samsung might be looking to upgrade the external display on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Supersized cover screen on Galaxy Z Flip 5? According to prolific leaker Ice Universe on Twitter, the cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will be bigger than that of the Oppo Find N2 Flip. In case you aren’t familiar with Oppo’s latest flip phone, Ice Universe included an image in his tweet for comparison: The clues have surfaced. The first leak I can say for sure The external screen of Galaxy Z Flip5 It is bigger than the external screen of OPPO Find N2 Flip. pic.twitter.com/E9HjUeW2ZR — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) February 20, 2023 Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 comes with a 1.96-inch cover screen that offers relatively few features. You can view notifications, change a few settings, control select widgets, or make a payment with Samsung Pay. All in all, it’s not an especially useful addition. Meanwhile, Oppo’s Find N2 Flip features a 3.26-inch vertical cover screen which Oppo says is the largest of its kind. Oppo included a variety of fun features, from digital pets to animated wallpapers to large, colorful widgets — none of which can be found on the Z Flip. As it stands, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is one of the best (and most affordable) foldable smartphones on the market. That said, there’s still room for improvement. If Samsung does increase the size of the cover screen as much as this rumor suggests, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 could be a home run. We’ll find out for sure when Samsung introduces its next-gen Z Flip later in 2023. In recent years, Samsung has launched its latest foldable phones in August. The post Galaxy Z Flip 5 rumored to introduce a larger cover screen appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and Ultra will start shipping this week to buyers who preorder the handset. The phones rock impressive hardware that should deliver great performance. We’re looking at a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip across the board, plus faster storage and faster RAM. But the Galaxy S23 isn’t the fastest phone in town, and it won’t outperform the iPhone 14, 13, or 12 in benchmark tests. Moreover, a recent gaming performance test showed that the Galaxy S23 Ultra can barely match the iPhone SE that Apple launched last year. The mid-range iPhone features the same A15 Bionic chip as the iPhone 13 series and base iPhone 14 models. YouTube channel Golden Reviewer put the Galaxy S23 Ultra through the same Genshin Impact gaming test it uses for other smartphones. The best Galaxy S23 model managed to pull ahead of all Samsung phones the YouTuber tested previously. But the Galaxy S23 Ultra wasn’t in the top 10 with its performance. The phone reached an average of 55 frames per second during the 10-minute gaming session. It also heated up to a max temperature of 43.6ºC (110.48ºF). Right below the Galaxy S23 Ultra, we have the iPhone SE 2022. The mid-range handset managed to reach 54 frames per second at a temperature of 45.1ºC (113.18ºF). The iPhone’s average power consumption is another big win for the iPhone. Samsung is far from offering the same efficiency as Apple. Real-life gaming test shows Galaxy S23 Ultra performance compared with other phones and tablets. Image source: YouTube Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S23 Ultra did worse than the iPhone 14 Pro Max (A16 Bionic) and iPhone 14 Plus (A15 Bionic). As we’ve explained before, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature a slightly better A15 variant and much better cooling than the iPhone 13. What’s interesting is that other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered devices fared better in the same test. The Xiaomi 13 Pro topped 59.4 frames per second, registering a peak temperature of only 39.3ºC (102.74ºF). Other Xiaomi flagships featuring last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus chip also did better in the real-life gaming test than Samsung’s 2023 flagship, as seen above. As for other Samsung phones, the new handset is a much better gaming device than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Last year’s flagship managed 42.1 frames per second in the gaming test, overheating to 46.5 ºC (115.7ºF) in the process. The conclusion is on par with previous Galaxy S23 Ultra performance tests we’ve seen. The new phones feature high-end hardware that’s superior to last year’s Galaxy S22 series. But the new handsets aren’t the most powerful flagships in town. Samsung still has work to do, both when it comes to optimizing the software and cooling the handset. Don't Miss: Galaxy S23 Ultra is slower than the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 in benchmarksThe post Galaxy S23 Ultra barely beat Apple’s cheap iPhone SE in a gaming test appeared first on BGR. View the full article

If you were concerned about the structural integrity of foldable glass displays before, this article is only going to reinforce your concern. On Sunday, PhoneArena received an email from a Galaxy Z Fold 3 owner whose screen cracked for seemingly no reason. The user claims she never dropped the phone, and yet an enormous crack has appeared down the center of the display. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 owner told PhoneArena that she got in touch with Samsung shortly after the screen cracked. Samsung referred her to a uBreakiFix electronics repair store, which then offered to repair her screen for $800. That’s $400 less than what Samsung is charging for a new Galaxy Z Fold 3 would cost on its website right now. Cracked screen on a Galaxy Z Fold 3. Image source: PhoneArena Most concerning is that this isn’t an isolated incident among Galaxy Z Fold 3 owners. Last month, a Redditor shared a similar story about their Z Fold 3 cracking along the fold after 15 months of “careful ownership.” “15 months in, opened the screen to show a friend who was interested and heard a cracking sound as it was nearly fully opened run along the centre fold. (Phone was not dropped),” wrote the Fold owner. “The right-hand screen no longer responds to any input, the left-hand does. Just saw the price to repair and that is shocking. Pretty gutted as loved the phone and in all honesty, I rarely opened the phone, maybe 2-3 times a week if that.” Back in November, yet another Z Fold 3 owner reported a cracked screen. They had only owned the device for three months, and it cracked right down the seam when they opened it. The owner claims that Samsung offered to repair the phone under warranty, but upon receiving the phone, Samsung found an “impact point” and charged the owner $700. Given that Samsung is at the forefront of the folding phone revolution, stories like these aren’t going to convince skeptics to give the new form factor a chance. The post Cracked screens are plaguing Galaxy Z Fold 3 owners appeared first on BGR. View the full article

If you own the Samsung Galaxy S22, the Galaxy Z Fold4, or the Galaxy Z Flip4 (or maybe all three), today is a pretty good day for you. As reported by GSM Arena, Samsung has started to roll out its OneUI 5.1 update to the Galaxy S22 models, the Galaxy Z Fold4, and the Galaxy Z Flip4. The report notes that the update was originally expected to show up next week but that users started seeing the update hit their phones as early as yesterday. That took shorter than expected! Samsung is rolling out the OneUI 5.1 update to the Galaxy S22 series, the Galaxy Z Fold4, and the Galaxy Z Flip4 right now. Earlier today we reported that the update is coming next week but some units (including our own here at HQ) are being updated right now. So, what’s new with OneUI 5.1? Well, some users have already had the latest software version since Samsung already brought it to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. While that phone doesn’t launch for another three days, it has been in the hands of reviewers and included the new software update. As the report notes, OneUI 5.1 offers “new widgets, Expert RAW mode, improvements to the gallery, connectivity, DeX mode, and more.” The outlet also predicts that any phone that was able to update to OneUI 5.0 should expect to receive the 5.1 update in the future, although any particular timeline is unknown at this point. In fact, the update is already available for the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20, so Samsung seems to be rolling out the update pretty quickly. The update comes a few days before the Samsung Galaxy S23 series will officially launch on Friday, February 17th. The company announced the new lineup at its Galaxy Unpacked event a couple of weeks ago. The new models feature a starting price of $799.99 and a 200MP camera system — a move aimed at taking on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro lineup. It also unveiled a new lineup of Galaxy Book laptops with one primed to go after the market Apple has been recently dominating with the Apple silicon-powered MacBook Pro models. The post Samsung’s OneUI 5.1 update is rolling out to the S22, Z Fold4, more appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy S23 preorder period is almost over, and Samsung will soon start shipping the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and Ultra to buyers. The consensus seems to be that the three phones are great upgrades, ready to deliver a solid experience all around. The Galaxy S23 phones offer great performance and camera features, and battery life is also a Galaxy S23 Ultra highlight. Overall, the Galaxy S23 is a much better upgrade than the Galaxy S22. And the phone might have a few hidden features that Samsung hasn’t exactly detailed on stage. One of these features is a secret battery charging mode for playing games or using any other apps that might be taxing the processor. The phone can bypass battery charging to provide energy directly to the processor. In turn, this boosts peak performance and prevents overheating. The Galaxy S22 series surprised fans with a throttling feature that would reduce the processor speed to prevent overheating. The phone was also cheating in benchmarks. This was a major issue that impacted the phone’s launch, forcing Samsung to apologize to buyers and shareholders. The Galaxy S22 is the reason why there’s no Exynos-powered Galaxy S23 this year. And why there might not be one for years to come. Instead, Samsung rocks a custom version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip inside all Galaxy S23 handsets. That chip offers the best possible performance an Android phone can get this year, even if the Galaxy S23 can’t match the iPhone 14’s performance. Or iPhone 12, for that matter. Benchmarks aside, the Galaxy S23 should have no problem running apps and high-end games. But if you happen to be playing a title that uses plenty of CPU and GPU resources while you’re charging the Galaxy S23 battery, you’ll be able to take advantage of a new Pause USB Power Delivery feature. Found by YouTube channel NL Tech in the Game Booster settings, the feature lets you power the phone without recharging it. The battery charging bypass might help you reduce overheating during extended gameplay sessions. The phone won’t have to simultaneously provide energy to the Galaxy S23 chips and the battery. Instead, it’ll provide less power that goes directly to the processor, bypassing the battery. According to the Galaxy S23 Ultra review above, the phone draws just 6W of power when Pause USB Power Delivery is on. If the battery is charging at the same time, the power consumption increases to 17W. In addition to preventing battery overheating and wear, the feature should also improve peak CPU performance during intensive tasks. The downside is that the battery won’t charge during gameplay. Also, to pause battery charging during games, the Galaxy S23 has to hold a charge of at least 20%. The other immediate issue is that you have to play games while connected to a charger, which might not be a great experience. Considering the Galaxy S23 phones rock the latest Snapdragon flagship, you don’t have to worry about gameplay performance. The battery charging bypass might come in handy on mid-range devices. And it looks like Samsung is rolling it out to older hardware. According to the same YouTube channel, many Samsung phones quietly support the Pause USB Power Delivery feature. Check out the video below to see how to enable it. Don't Miss: Galaxy S23 Ultra is slower than the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 in benchmarksThe post Galaxy S23 has a secret battery charging mode for when you’re playing games appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung presented its Unpacked event at the beginning of February, and it’s already announced a special Galaxy S23 Ultra BMW M Edition for its hard-core fans in South Korea. This model has similar specs to the Galaxy S23 Ultra but with a few tweaks. For example, it has a dedicated booting video with a three-color stripe logo and an M-specific theme screen. This BMW M Edition is named after the BM2 M3 E30 car. This special edition box comes full of BMW-themed accessories, such as a case, a key ring with six interchangeable BMW emblems, and a BMW roundel introduced at the company’s 50th anniversary. Image source: Samsung The Samsung Galaxy S2 Ultra BMW M Edition offers a branded battery-powered air compressor, a cup holder, a wireless charger, an analog clock, a photo book, and a poster. With only 1,000 units available, there’s one piece of bad news for US customers: this product is being sold only in South Korea in partnership with SK Telecom. The buyers of this special edition will also get a Starter Pack Voucher for the BMW Driving Center in Incheon, South Korea. Galaxy S23 Ultra specs The Galaxy S23 Ultra is basically the newest Note phone. It’s the largest of the three and has a Note design. We’re looking at a built-in S Pen stylus and curved display edges. The top and bottom of the phone are perfectly flat once again, and it features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display. With the exclusive Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the phone features up to 12GB of RAM. The largest phone got Samsung’s best sensor, a 200-megapixel camera that significantly optimizes low-light photography. The Ultra also has a 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens (120°, f/2.2, 13mm), a 10-megapixel telephoto lens (36°, f/2.4, 69mm, OIS), and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens (11°, f/4.9, 230mm, OIS, 10x optical zoom, 100x space zoom). On the front, there’s a 12-megapixel sensor. Don't Miss: Samsung announces Galaxy S23 series with $799.99 starting price and 200MP cameraThe post Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra BMW M Edition is here, but you can’t have it appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy S23 series hits stores next week. It’s easily one of the most exciting Galaxy S updates in recent years. There’s one particular reason why the new handsets are so compelling. All Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and Ultra models will feature the same custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. But Qualcomm’s new System-on-Chip (SoC) can’t outperform the iPhone. The Galaxy S23 Ultra can’t match the 2021 iPhone 13 mini and 2020 iPhone 12 in benchmarks, let alone the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. Samsung learned its lesson after the Galaxy S22 chip disaster, which saw the Exynos chips throttle performance tremendously. The handsets were excluded from benchmark tests for cheating, and Samsung had to apologize to customers and shareholders. Samsung vowed to improve its Exynos chips, and that will take time. That’s why the Galaxy S23 phones pack Qualcomm’s best possible SoC. Also, it’s a custom chip clocked slightly higher than the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. All Galaxy S23 models will score similarly in benchmarks. The Ultra’s only advantage over the other models is more RAM. The first Geekbench 5 tests are available for the Galaxy S23 models. We already showed you how fast the non-Pro iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pros are. We’re looking at a 20% performance gap between the non-Pro iPhone 14 and the Galaxy S23 Ultra. This proves Apple still rocks the best mobile chip in town if the second-best beats the S23 in tests. But a closer look at the single-core Geekbench 5 benchmark results will tell you that the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13, which rock the base A15 Bionic chips, can outperform the Galaxy S23 Ultra. That implies the iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 14/Plus, which feature an A15 variant with more RAM, are even better. And all of them will outperform the Galaxy S23 Ultra in tests. Galaxy S23 Ultra Geekbench 5 single-core scores vs. iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini. Image source: CompareDial If that’s not enough, the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 series is also faster than the Galaxy S23 Ultra in single-core tests. That’s the chip that Apple used in the 2020 iPhone. Therefore Apple also owns the second and third-best mobile chip in town. Qualcomm and Samsung aren’t close to outperforming the A-series chips. Real-life speed tests will probably show the Galaxy S23 phones are nearly as fast as the iPhone 14 Pro models. That’s how fast these flagship chips are these days. The point is that 2020 and 2021 iPhones will hold their own tremendously well against all 2023 Android devices. They might be great alternatives to the iPhone 14 Pros and the Galaxy S23 Ultra for specific buyers. Especially those who do not care much about the underlying operating system and plan to keep their devices for several years. The advantage of having such formidable chips is that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 will continue to run the latest software that Apple and developers throw at them for years to come. That’s why benchmarks continue to be such a big deal. Imagine what field day Samsung would have if one of its old Galaxy S21 phones were to outperform the iPhone 14 Pro in speed tests. Don't Miss: Galaxy S23 Ultra camera beats iPhone 14 Pro Max in video comparisonThe post Galaxy S23 Ultra is slower than the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 in benchmarks appeared first on BGR. View the full article

It’s been four months since Apple released the iPhone 14 Pro with the A16 Bionic chip. While the company already touted that this was the fastest smartphone available, a Geekbench score shows even the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is still behind Apple’s premium smartphone. According to Compare Dial, the previous iPhone 13 generation also beats every Galaxy S22, or S23 released. For comparison, Galaxy S23 Ultra is 21.02% slower than the iPhone 14. It scores 1480 for single-core performance, while the iPhone 14 Pro clocks at a higher 1874. In multi-core performance, Samsung’s new flagship is 14.86% slower than Apple’s iPhone, averaging at 4584 against 5384. For Samsung users, on the other hand, the spec bump from Galaxy S22 Ultra to S23 Ultra is expressive, as the new model has boosted speeds by 59.83% in single-core performance and 57.47% for multi-core performance. That said, Apple will likely continue to differentiate from the competition when it introduces the iPhone 15 Pro later last year. Image source: Compare Dial According to rumors, the next iPhone will use a 3nm process technology, meaning we’ll see a more expressive spec bump as the company still uses a similar 5nm process available with the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic chip released in 2021. The A17 Bionic processor is expected to be faster and 35% more power-efficient than its predecessor. With that, Apple will continue as the best chip maker in the smartphone industry. Apart from the fastest chip, the iPhone 14 Pro models have a new design with the Dynamic Island cutout, integrating software and hardware in a seamless experience. This phone also introduces a 48MP main camera and larger sensors for better photos and videos in low-light conditions. The iPhone 14 Pro also adds a new Cinematic Mode in 4K and Action Mode, which stabilizes a recording when you’re running or biking while filming. Don't Miss: Galaxy S23 Ultra camera beats iPhone 14 Pro Max in video comparisonThe post iPhone 14 Pro beats Galaxy S23 Ultra as fastest smartphone appeared first on BGR. View the full article

If you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra, you are the lucky recipient of Android’s February security update. As reported by XDA Developers, Android has officially rolled out its security update for the month of February. Google usually rolls security updates for the platform out on a monthly basis, and February is no exception. While some phone makers can take a while to implement the update for their devices, Samsung tends to be pretty quick about it. That reputation holds up with the February update, with Samsung already rolling it out to the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Both phones are already able to download and install the security patch. The report specifically notes that “both the global and US carrier unlocked variants are receiving the new update.” So, what’s in the update? Being a security update, there likely aren’t any new features for the phones to be seen, and that tracks based on the release notes that Samsung has made available. The update addresses a number of security vulnerabilities for Android, some of them considered “critical” or “high” in terms of their importance. So, if you have a compatible phone, make sure you install that update! Samsung’s security update comes a week after the company hosted its Galaxy Unpacked event, its first in-person event since the pandemic began. At the event, the company announced the Galaxy S23 series with starting price of $799.99 and a 200MP camera system — a move aimed at taking on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro lineup. It also unveiled a new lineup of Galaxy Book laptops with one primed to go after the market Apple has been recently dominating with the Apple silicon-powered MacBook Pro models. At the event, Samsung also announced that it would be teaming up with Google and Qualcomm on mixed-reality, another potential threat to Apple and, of course, Meta. The post Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 is the first phone to get Android’s February security update appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy S23 series, and you can preorder the S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra right away to get some amazing perks. If you’re still unsure which model to get, you should know that the Ultra is technically the best one. As Samsung’s Note replacement, the Galaxy S23 Ultra features the best camera module of the three phones, which will see plenty of comparisons with the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Pixel 7 Pro. The first comparison video comes from YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss, comparing all aspects of the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro Max camera. And from the looks of it, Samsung’s new phone can outperform the best iPhone camera on the market right now. For years, the iPhone has set the bar when it comes to smartphone cameras. Companies like Samsung and Google went on to refine the camera performance of their respective flagships. Each phone generation got closer to the iPhone or even exceeded Apple’s capabilities. The Pixel was the first to offer amazing night mode photography, for example. But just as the photo performance got to the point where it’s generally a matter of personal preference between iPhone, Galaxy S, and Pixel flagships, Apple still retained a massive advantage: Video recording quality. Video performance is one of the first topics in this new Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max camera comparison video. From the looks of it, Samsung has significantly improved video recording quality on the new flagship. The resulting clips are as smooth as the ones shot on iPhone 14 Pro Max, according to the YouTuber. The S23 Ultra’s stabilization upgrades also shine in ” super steady mode,” which competes directly against Apple’s “action mode” on the iPhone. The new Ultra can also support better zoom than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, at least on paper. The caveat is that it’s not always usable. And the iPhone can still offer great zoomed-in video recording up to a certain level. When it comes to zooming on the moon, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the absolute winner in the comparison, however. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, S23 Plus, and S23. Image source: Samsung Mrwhosetheboss does note that Apple has a considerable advantage over the Android competition regarding processing power. Apple has the luxury of designing its own high-end chips and then building the software. That includes optimizing the camera software and ensuring everything is accounted for, especially when it comes to video recording conditions. But, the Galaxy S23 Ultra manages to get the closest to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Despite Samsung not having the same chip advantages. Support for 8K video recording is another win for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, the quality isn’t where it should be, especially if the lighting isn’t great. When it comes to photos, both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max should offer similarly great experiences. That includes excellent low-light photography performance, according to the YouTuber. And this is where personal preference will be the main factor. Mrwhosetheboss favors the more “fun” aspect of taking photos with the Galaxy S23 Ultra. That is, Samsung’s pre-edited photos with richer colors and warmer skin tones win over Apple’s more natural pictures. But despite the fact that Samsung’s image processing has improved over the previous models, the Galaxy S23 Ultra still has a noticeable shutter lag compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has also improved the night mode photo experience, the camera comparison video explains. But one thing that favors the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the phone’s adaptive flash. “While the iPhone is still a more reliable camera for video there’s all of a sudden not a lot else that Samsung doesn’t do better,” the YouTuber said, concluding that the Galaxy S23 Ultra can be a better camera for some people than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. You can watch the full video below, for a detailed look at the two cameras, complete with plenty of video and photo samples. Don't Miss: Galaxy S23 preorders on Amazon include free gift cards and storage upgradesThe post Galaxy S23 Ultra camera beats iPhone 14 Pro Max in video comparison appeared first on BGR. View the full article

If you preorder the Galaxy S23 right now from Samsung, there are some seriously impressive deals right now. You can get a Samsung credit of up to $100 plus a free storage upgrade. That means instead of paying $799.99 for the 128GB Galaxy S23, for example, you’ll get the $256GB model for the same price. Plus, BGR readers get an extra $50 bonus credit if they follow this link to preorder the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Plus, or base model. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone + Storage Upgrade + $100 Amazon Gift Card Bundle, Factory U… Price: $1,199.99 ($1,399.99 value) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Cell Phone + Storage Upgrade + $50 Amazon Gift Card Bundle, Factory Unlocked… Price: $799.99 ($910 value) Buy Now Those deals are terrific, but some shoppers might not be planning on any additional purchases from Samsung in the near future. If that’s the case, Samsung credit won’t be very useful for you. Thankfully, the same deals are available right now at Amazon, getting you either a $50 or $100 Amazon gift card as a bonus when you preorder. Our guide on Amazon gift card deals includes so many terrific offers that can score you more than $200 in free Amazon credit. Now, you have a few more great offers to add to the list. Amazon is running special Galaxy S23 preorder deals. Image source: Samsung Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 lineup is beyond impressive. Last year’s Galaxy S22 smartphones were disappointing in so many ways. With that in mind, it’s great to see that Samsung appears to have redeemed itself in 2023. As we told you in our Galaxy S23 announcement coverage, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 lineup features impressive specs. That’s especially true for the top-of-the-line Galaxy S23 Ultra. It sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, a huge battery, and a brand-new 200-megapixel main camera. Of course, the Galaxy S23 Ultra also has a sky-high price tag. That’s why it’s so great that there are preorder deals available to save you money. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone + Storage Upgrade + $100 Amazon Gift Card Bundle, Factory U… Price: $1,199.99 ($1,399.99 value) Buy Now As we mentioned earlier, Samsung has terrific Galaxy S23 preorder deals available between now and February 17 when the phones are released. Plus, BGR readers get an extra $50 credit. But if you don’t plan to spend more money with Samsung after your S23 purchase, there’s another batch of deals you should take advantage of. Just like Samsung, Amazon is offering to double your Galaxy S23 storage for free when you preorder. That offer applies to the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra. On top of that, Amazon is also offering gift cards of either $50 or $100 depending on which model you purchase. The entry-level Galaxy S23 comes with a $50 Amazon gift card, while the Plus and Ultra models include a $100 gift card. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23+ Cell Phone + Storage Upgrade + $100 Amazon Gift Card Bundle, Factory Unlock… Price: $999.99 ($1,299.99 value) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Cell Phone + Storage Upgrade + $50 Amazon Gift Card Bundle, Factory Unlocked… Price: $799.99 ($910 value) Buy Now This is a terrific offer that’s available from now through February 17, which is when Samsung’s new flagship phones will be released. Don't Miss: Visit our expert guide to see this month's best deals! The post Galaxy S23 preorders on Amazon include free gift cards and storage upgrades appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Mixed reality refers to computing experiences that involve augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR). The most exciting mixed reality rumors in today’s tech landscape concern Apple. Its imminent AR/VR headset is expected to revolutionize this particular business. But Apple isn’t the only tech giant devising mixed reality devices. Samsung invited Google and Qualcomm to its Galaxy S23 Unpacked event on Wednesday to announce they’re working on a mixed reality platform of their own. Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon and Google’s SVP of Android Hiroshi Lockheimer took the stage together with Samsung’s mobile division president TM Roh at the event. They discussed the hardware and software features that would power mixed reality experiences. Amon mentioned the Snapdragon XR technology that will power Samsung products and Google experiences on mixed reality devices. “We’re working to create a new era of highly immersive digital experiences that blur the lins between our physical and digital worlds,” the CEO said. “Google’s been investing for a long time across both experiences and technology in AR and VR,” Lockheimer said. “These technologies are integral to the new phase of computing as it can change the way we interact with people and information to get things done in the real world.” “But delivering this next generation of experiences requires cutting-edge advanced hardware and software,” he continued. “That’s why our collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm is so exciting.” Apple mixed reality glasses render – side view. Image source: Ian Zelbo Lockheimer highlighted Google’s efforts to add AR experiences to Android. He said Google scaled ARCore to 1 billion Android devices. Moreover, Google supports AR search on YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Lens. While all of that sounds exciting, the trio did not reveal any new device or a roadmap to launch one. Apple should to unveil its mixed reality headset this spring and launch it in stores by the end of the year. Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm practically delivered a joint declaration that they want to work closely together to create gadgets that support mixed reality features. But there’s no telling how long it’ll take to see such a Samsung-branded mixed reality headset rocking Qualcomm tech and Google AR software in stores. Also, let’s remember that Samsung manufactured smartphone-powered VR headsets before. But those gadgets weren’t exactly must-have products. The company stopped producing the Gear VR headset some six years ago. That said, the more competition in the space, the more exciting the rollout of next-gen AR/VR headsets will be. Apple and Samsung aren’t the only tech companies developing such devices. Meta, Microsoft, Sony, and HTC are working on similar headsets or selling VR products already. The focus is more on VR content consumption than anything else when it comes to the commercially available headsets. That’s why Apple’s upcoming $3,000 AR/VR headset is expected to change the paradigm. And many of Apple’s rivals might very well end up copying Apple’s AR/VR experience. Apple’s one significant advantage over Samsung in this AR/VR headset race is that it controls everything. Apple makes its M-series chips that will power the AR/VR headset and creates the software for it. Samsung will need assistance from Qualcomm and Google for the critical hardware and software that will power its mixed reality headset. Don't Miss: Samsung announces Galaxy S23 series with $799.99 starting price and 200MP cameraThe post Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm team up on mixed reality platform appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung revealed the Galaxy S23 on Wednesday at its latest Galaxy Unpacked event. But the flagship phone wasn’t the only product line that the company refreshed this week. Samsung also announced three new laptops: the Galaxy Book 3 Pro, Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, and Galaxy Book 3 Ultra. The Pro and Pro 360 are direct successors to last year’s Galaxy Book 2 models, but the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is a brand new, premium entry to the lineup. Unlike in previous years, the 2023 Galaxy Book series from Samsung starts with the Pro models. Samsung didn’t announce any base models at the event. Samsung announced all three Galaxy Book 3 laptops will feature 13th Gen Intel Core processors. They will also come with the same Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays from the Galaxy S phones with a 2880 x 1800 resolution, adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, and 16:10 aspect ratio. The Galaxy Book 3 Pro, Pro 360, and Ultra all have new quad speaker systems to deliver better sound than previous models. The laptops also have dual microphones, full aluminum frames, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, microSD slot, and headphone jack. All three laptops ship with Windows 11 as well, so you’ll be up to date with the latest OS. Galaxy Book 3 Ultra will start at $2,399.99. Image source: Samsung The Galaxy Book 3 Pro is the thinnest and lightest of the bunch, with the 14-inch model weighing 1.17kg and the 16-inch model weighing 1.56kg. It comes with a Core i5 or i7 processor, Intel Iris X GPU, up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and a 63Wh (14-inch) or 76Wh (16-inch) battery. Both sizes come in graphite or beige colors and start at $1,449.99. The Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 is Samsung’s 2-in-1 convertible option. Other than the form factor, the Pro 360 is basically identical to the Pro, but with optional 5G connectivity options. The 16-inch Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 starts at $1,899.99 in the same colors. As for the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra, it’s a far more capable machine. Some of the upgrades include a Core i9 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 or 4070 Laptop GPU, plus a minimum of 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It starts at $2,399.99 and only comes in graphite. The Galaxy Book 3 Pro and Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 will launch on February 17th, and the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra will be available a few days later on February 22nd. The post Every Galaxy Book 3 model Samsung revealed at Galaxy Unpacked appeared first on BGR. View the full article

If it’s February, it usually means Samsung’s newest smartphone flagship is ready to launch. And that’s exactly what the Korean giant did on Wednesday, February 1st: It announced the new Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra, revealing the release date, price, and specs for all three new handsets. Galaxy S fans didn’t have to wait for the first Unpacked event of 2023 to learn all these details. Everything leaked well in advance, from Galaxy S23 design updates to pricing and preorder details. Samsung confirmed everything on Wednesday though, and the three handsets are available to preorder ahead of February 17th, which is the official Galaxy S23 release date. Preorder a Samsung Galaxy S23 Best Galaxy S23 Cases Every Galaxy S generation delivers a few exciting updates, the same is true for the 2023 flagship phones. But this time, it’s slightly different. Samsung has something to prove this year after the disappointing Galaxy S22 series last year. The Galaxy S22 phones seemed exciting on paper but turned out to have a few issues that annoyed fans. As you’re about to see, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 phones should make up for last year’s flagship problems. Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra designs It’s not the Galaxy S23 design that will make you a buyer. Samsung largely recycled last year’s designs with a few tweaks here and there. All phones feature hole-punch displays with built-in fingerprint sensors. On the back, we’re looking at camera modules with at least three sensors, each with its own protrusion instead of being collected into one big camera bump. The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus are traditional Galaxy S upgrades. They pack flat displays and flat rear panels. The edges are also flat, curving at the corners. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is basically the newest Note phone. It’s the largest of the three and has a Note design. We’re looking at a built-in S Pen stylus and curved display edges. The top and bottom of the phone are perfectly flat once again. Samsung’s Galaxy S23, S23 Ultra, and S23 Plus. Image source: Samsung The size differences mean you get different display sizes and battery life from the three handsets. We have a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen on the Galaxy S23 compared to a 6.6-inch screen on the Plus model. The Ultra has the largest screen, a 6.8-inch hole punch panel. All displays will have the same brightness at 1,750 nits and feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass panels on top of the OLED screen. The Ultra’s screen supports a dynamic refresh rate running between 1-120Hz. The Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus only do 48-120Hz, like their predecessors. Since we did mention battery size differences, we’re looking at 3,900 mAh, 4,700 mAh, and 5,000 mAh battery packs on the three phones. Samsung Galaxy S23 specs The Galaxy S23 specs that really matter are the same on all three models. We’re looking at an exclusive Qualcomm “Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy” processor for the Galaxy S23 series that will power the phones in all regions. There’s no Exynos Galaxy S23 version, which is great news for Samsung fans after the Galaxy S22 debacle. The phones also feature two additional hardware components that will boost performance. We’re looking at LPDDR5X RAM on all phones. That’s 8GB of super-fast memory on the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus and up to 12GB of RAM on the Ultra. The UFS storage also got a big bump. We’re looking at UFS 4.0 flash memory for almost all models except for the 128GB Galaxy S23 variant. UFS 4.0 storage should be more than twice as fast as UFS 3.1. These specs will ensure that the phones deliver excellent performance, especially compared to last year’s flagship. Hopefully, the phone’s cooling system will also help out with that. Galaxy S23 Ultra in green. Image source: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra camera specs There’s another reason you might want to buy a Galaxy S23 phone this year, and that’s the camera experience. Especially on the Ultra. The largest phone got Samsung’s best sensor, a 200-megapixel camera that will significantly optimize low-light photography. That’s the Isocell HP2 sensor (85°, f/1.7, 23mm, OIS) that Samsung announced a few weeks ago, a sensor that will not equip the smaller Galaxy S23 phones. The Ultra has three additional sensors: a 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens (120°, f/2.2, 13mm), a 10-megapixel telephoto lens (36°, f/2.4, 69mm, OIS), and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens (11°, f/4.9, 230mm, OIS, 10x optical zoom, 100x space zoom). On the front, there’s a 12-megapixel sensor. The Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus have the same camera specs as their predecessors: 50-megapixel primary sensor (85°, f/1.8, 23mm, OIS, Dual Pixel), 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens (120°, f/2.2, 13mm), and a 10-megapixel telephoto zoom camera (36°, f/2.4, 69mm, OIS, 3x optical zoom). The front camera features a 12-megapixel sensor. Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus design. Image source: Samsung Galaxy S23 release date and price The Galaxy S23 phones are available to preorder online, and buyers who registered for preorder reservations should be happy. The handsets are slightly more expensive than the Galaxy S22 in international markets, while the US prices remain unchanged. The reservation deal gets you $50 in Samsung credit on top of the preorder deals. We’re looking at $799.99 for the 128GB Galaxy S23, $999.99 for the 256GB Galaxy S23 Plus, and $1,199.99 for the 256GB Galaxy S23 Ultra. Preorder the handsets now, and Samsung will double the storage on all phones for free. That means you’ll end up buying at least a 256GB Galaxy S23 phone or 512GB Plus and Ultra for the same prices as the entry-level models. For the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the upgrade is even better, as the 512GB and 1TB models feature 12GB of storage. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Plus, S23 Ultra, and S23. Image source: Samsung Buyers who preorder one of the three Galaxy S23 phones can also receive up to $100 in Samsung credit when they make their purchase from Samsung.com. Additionally, they can purchase the SmartThings Station and the S-View cover for $79.98 (that’s a $129.98 value). Finally, consumers who get Samsung Care+ for their phones will get unlimited cracked screen repairs for just $29. There are also plenty of trade-in offers from wireless carriers, so you can drop that price further. The Galaxy S23 will be released in stores in about two weeks, on February 17th. As for colors, we’re looking at Green, Lavender, Cream, and Phantom Black options for the three phones. Samsung will offer additional custom colors on its website. Don't Miss: Best Galaxy S23 cases you can already buy nowThe post Samsung announces Galaxy S23 series with $799.99 starting price and 200MP camera appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung is announcing the new Galaxy S23 series on Wednesday, February 1. Of course, everything we need to know about the new flagship smartphone series has already leaked. We know they’re going to be powerful and sleek new smartphones with major upgrades in every important area. And we also know the Galaxy 23 housing is made mainly of glass, so anyone who buys one will absolutely need a protective case. We recently told you how to save up to $100 when you reserve a Galaxy S23. Plenty of our readers were interested in that info, so many of them likely want to buy a new Galaxy S23 phone. If you order your new Galaxy S23 or Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone today, be sure to also get one of the new cases we’re going to show you in this roundup. These are the best Galaxy S23 cases we’ve found so far. Simtect Crystal Clear for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case [Never Yellow] [10FT Military Drop Protection… Price: $19.99 You Save: $10.00 (33%) Buy Now Temdan for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case, [Built-in Screen Protector]+[2Pcs Lens Protector][Touch Sen… Price: $21.99 You Save: $3.00 (12%) Buy Now Ringke Onyx [Feels Good in The Hand] Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case 5G, Anti-Fin… Price: $14.99 Buy Now Temdan for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case Waterproof,Built-in Lens & Screen Protector [Real 360]… Price: $26.99 Buy Now Samsung’s Galaxy S22 smartphone series was a pretty huge disappointment last year. That’s one of the reasons people are so excited about the new Galaxy S23 smartphone lineup. As we’ve known for weeks, Samsung is addressing so many of the things that caused problems with the previous-generation models. The designs might look very similar, but Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra specs and Galaxy S23 Plus specs show that Samsung is making major strides this year. Highlights include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, and more. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is powerful but fragile, so it needs a case. Image source: WinFuture Plus, the new cameras are going to be terrific, especially on the high-end Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’ll have a 200-megapixel main camera and four other lenses on the back, plus a 12-megapixel selfie cam. But these are very expensive flagship phones, especially the Ultra. The Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at $1,199 and goes up from there. The entry-level Galaxy S23 model starts at $799.99, and the Galaxy S23 Plus costs $999.99 or more. That means you definitely need a Galaxy S23 case to protect your smartphone if you plan to buy one. And the good news is there are so many great options you can order now. That means you’ll have a case ready by the time your new Samsung phone arrives, so it’ll be protected from day one. Here are our picks for the best Galaxy S23 cases you can buy right now. Galaxy S23 Ultra cases Temdan for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case Waterproof,Built-in Lens & Screen Protector [Real 360]… Price: $26.99 Buy Now Ringke Onyx [Feels Good in The Hand] Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case 5G, Anti-Fin… Price: $14.99 Buy Now Renmou Crystal Clear Designed for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case,[Anti-Yellowing][Military Grade… Price: $19.99 Buy Now 【5-in-1】Humixx Shockproof for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case, 2X Soft Screen Protector + 2X Lens… Price: $23.99 You Save: $9.00 (27%) Buy Now Thinborne Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G Case - [Extremely Thin Aramid Fiber Cover… Price: $40.00 Buy Now for Galaxy S23 Ultra Case with Slide Camera Cover, S23 Ultra 5G Case with Ring Magnetic Kicksta… Price: $9.99 Buy Now ESR Boost Kickstand Case for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case, 3 Stand Modes, Military-Grade Drop… Price: $21.99 You Save: $6.00 (21%) Buy Now Galaxy S23 Plus cases Temdan for Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Case, [Built-in Screen Protector]+[2Pcs Lens Protector][Touc… Price: $21.99 Buy Now SPIDERCASE for Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Case Waterproof, Built-in Screen Protector Full Body Pro… Price: $25.99 Buy Now teloxy Crystal Clear Designed for Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Case,[Anti-Yellowing][Military Drop P… Price: $11.99 Buy Now Poetic Spartan Case for Samsung Galaxy S23+ Plus 5G 6.7 inch, Built-in Screen Protector Work wi… Price: $26.95 Buy Now Wilbur Designed for Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Case Clear,[Anti-Yellowing & Non-Slip] Transparent… Price: $12.99 Buy Now Nineasy for Samsung Galaxy S23+ Plus Case Waterproof, Galaxy S23 Plus 5G Case [IP68 Underwater]… Price: $25.99 Buy Now FNTCASE for Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Case: Dual Layer Protective Textured Shockproof Cover & Rug… Price: $20.99 Buy Now Galaxy S23 cases Simtect Crystal Clear for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case [Never Yellow] [10FT Military Drop Protection… Price: $19.99 You Save: $10.00 (33%) Buy Now Temdan for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case, [Built-in Screen Protector]+[2Pcs Lens Protector][Touch Sen… Price: $21.99 You Save: $3.00 (12%) Buy Now Temdan for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case Waterproof,Built-in Screen Protector [IP68 Underwater][12FT… Price: $26.99 Buy Now teloxy Crystal Clear Designed for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case,[Anti-Yellowing][Military Drop Protec… Price: $11.99 Buy Now SPIDERCASE for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case, Waterproof Built-in Screen Protector 【12FT Military Sho… Price: $24.99 Buy Now Simtect Shockproof for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case [Military Grade Drop Tested] [Ultimate Silky Tou… Price: $20.99 You Save: $9.00 (30%) Buy Now GOLDJU for Samsung Galaxy S23 Case, [4 in 1] Galaxy S23 Case with [2P Tempered Glass Screen Pro… Price: $16.99 Buy Now Don't Miss: Visit our expert guide to see this month's best deals! The post Best Galaxy S23 cases you can already buy now appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The first major smartphone launch of 2023 has finally arrived. On Wednesday, Samsung will host its first in-person event since 2020 to reveal the Galaxy S23 series, which has been the subject of countless leaks in recent weeks. As per usual, we know virtually everything there is to know about the phone, but whether or not you’ve been avoiding the steady stream of leaks, you might want to tune in to see everything the company has to offer at Galaxy Unpacked today. The live stream for the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked February 2023 event begins at 10 a.m. PT/ 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 1st. We have embedded the YouTube video below, so you can watch along live from this page once the event begins. Watch Samsung’s Galaxy S23 live stream As noted above, leaks have spoiled a majority of the surprises Samsung had in store for today’s event. The flagship lineup this year consists of the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra. The designs of all three new models look similar to their predecessors, although the camera island is no longer present on the S23 or S23 Plus. Instead, every model has adopted the look of the S22 Ultra, which featured rear lenses protruding directly from the back panel. When it comes to specifications, we expect the Galaxy S23 phones to feature Dynamic AMOLED displays with up to 120Hz refresh rates, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of internal storage. Beyond the new flagship phones, Samsung might reveal another device or two at the Unpacked event. Based on Samsung’s reservation website, we should also see the new line of Galaxy Book laptops. According to MySmartPrice, the lineup will consist of the Galaxy Book 3, Galaxy Book 3 360, Galaxy Book 3 Pro, Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, and Galaxy Book 3 Ultra. Watch along live above when the event begins at 10 a.m. PT/ 1 p.m. ET today. The post Galaxy S23 live stream: How to watch Galaxy Unpacked 2023 appeared first on BGR. View the full article

We are one day away from Samsung’s big Galaxy S23 launch event. People will have the option to preorder the Galaxy S23 starting on February 1st. But leaks indicate the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and Ultra will all be more expensive than their predecessors in all markets with one exception: the US. Regardless of which market you’re in, however, you should reserve your Galaxy S23 preorder right now. Even if you don’t really plan to purchase any of the three handsets. Samsung introduced the reservation process a few years ago. It gives people the opportunity to register for preorders with no strings attached. Should buyers go ahead with the preorder process, they’ll receive Samsung credit in return for the earlier registration that can be used for additional purchases. The Galaxy S23 launch gets the same perks. Buyers can reserve their preorders at this link. They’ll score savings that can be combined with the upcoming Galaxy S23 preorder deals. Prospective buyers have three options. They can reserve the Galaxy S23 preorder for $50 in Samsung credit. A Galaxy Book preorder reservation also nets them $50. Combine the two, and you can get $100 in Samsung credit. The credit is good for other products on Samsung’s site, like Galaxy S23 accessories. You’ll need a new case, among other things, so the credit likely won’t go unused for very long. The best part about the reservation process is that you can combine these savings with the Galaxy S23 preorder deals that Samsung offers. Word on the street is that Samsung will offer free storage bumps during the preorder period. You’ll reportedly get the 256GB Galaxy S23 for the price of the 128GB version. Similarly, the 512GB Galaxy S23 Plus and Ultra will be available for the price of the 256GB models. Galaxy S23 Ultra marketing materials leaked ahead of launch. Image source: WinFuture Add to that trade-in deals and whatever freebies Samsung might throw at you, and the Galaxy S23 price will be a lot easier to digest in markets where it’s increasing from last year. That’s the real reason why you should register for Galaxy S23 preorders. The reservation program lets you counter the price hikes, even though you’re not getting cash back. The $50 to $100 Samsung credit will help you offset any price increases. And in the US where there might not be any price hikes, you’ll save even more. Say you take advantage of the reservation deal and buy one of the three Galaxy S23 models. You can still return the phone if it fails to meet your expectations. But what’s great about the Galaxy S23 is that Samsung is desperate to have a top-notch phone in stores this year. The Galaxy S22 was a disaster that contributed to Samsung’s poor financial performance last year. Samsung needs a win, and all rumors say the same thing: the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and Ultra should be excellent phones. But the current economic landscape puts additional pressure on Samsung. That’s why it’ll throw various deals at buyers to win them over. With all that in mind, the Galaxy S23 preorder reservation is a no-brainer right now. And you only have a few hours to take advantage of it. Don't Miss: Last chance to reserve a Samsung Galaxy S23 and save $100The post Why you should reserve a Galaxy S23 right now even if you don’t buy it appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Other than the US, all other international Galaxy S23 buyers are in for a price hike across the board. That is the consensus, with leaks indicating that all three Galaxy S23 models will be more expensive than their Galaxy S22 counterparts outside the States. The Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and Ultra will be a lot more exciting than their predecessors, which might help make the price hike more bearable. But then there’s the economy to factor in, which might prevent some people from buying the newest handsets. With preorders coming up on February 1st, you have two options to save money on the Galaxy S23. One of them is the easiest one to take advantage of. Samsung is already offering up to $100 off if you reserve the Galaxy S23 now, and there will be other discounts and bundle deals to tack on at launch. The other option is waiting a few months for prices to drop. Why Galaxy S23 preorders are so exciting Samsung had to endure a humiliating defeat with the Galaxy S22 series, but it was the South Korean company’s own fault. It can fix that with the Galaxy S23, and that’s precisely what Samsung wants to do. The Galaxy S23 phones will be better in every way than their predecessors. We’re looking at the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powering the three phones in all markets. It’s also a custom System-on-Chip (SoC), running at higher clock speeds than the regular Gen 2 chips. Add to that new speed boosts for the RAM and flash memory, and the Galaxy S23 handsets should deliver significant speed gains. Furthermore, the Plus and Ultra get big storage boosts, starting at 256GB. And the Galaxy S23 Ultra will feature a massive camera upgrade, with a brand new 200-megapixel primary camera. Leaked Galaxy S23 Plus marketing image. Image source: WinFuture That’s why buyers who want a Galaxy S23 phone as fast as possible should ensure they go through the preorder reservation process to get $50-$100 in Samsung credit on top of the preorder perks. Rumors say Galaxy S23 preorder deals will double the storage for free, which is excellent news for buyers who want more flash memory. Remember that Samsung flagships do not support microSD cards. Samsung and carriers might throw additional incentives during preorders, including trade-in offers that can significantly reduce the Galaxy S23 preorder price. But not everyone will be eligible. And there will be buyers who want to avoid dealing with trade-ins or carrier-locked phones. When to buy the Galaxy S23 to get a better price In case you’re not comfortable paying the full retail price for the Galaxy S23 during preorders, there’s one other way to get a great deal. You can skip preorders and wait a few months for the price to drop. You’ll lose out on the preorder deals, including the reservation credit. But you might be looking at up to 20% savings on the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and Ultra. So says Idealo, via the Italian-language blog Tutto Android. According to the research firm, you’ll have to wait about five months for the Galaxy S23 prices to drop by 20%. While that’s just an estimate, we’ll remind you that Android flagships do not retain their value like iPhones. They almost always lose significant value after launch. Galaxy S23 Ultra marketing materials leaked ahead of launch. Image source: WinFuture Specifically, the researchers expect the base Galaxy S23 model to drop by 10% in eight weeks. After five months, you’re looking at a 20% price drop for the handset. The Galaxy S23 Plus might see a 24% drop within four months after launch. Finally, the Galaxy S23 Ultra could see the price drop by 20% in four months. Again, this is all just an estimate for the moment, but it’s based on data from the previous flagships, including the Galaxy S22 and S21. If you can’t buy the Galaxy S23 at launch and want the best possible price, your best bet is to wait a few months to score a sweeter deal. Whatever you do, don’t get a cheaper Galaxy S22 instead while you wait. Don't Miss: Galaxy S23 Ultra hands-on video leaks ahead of launch eventThe post Galaxy S23 price hikes are coming, but there are ways to save money appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will announce the new Galaxy S23 on Wednesday, February 1, during the company’s first in-person event in years. Thanks to Galaxy S23 leaks and rumors from reliable sources, we know exactly what to expect from the next-generation flagship phone series. The new Galaxy S23 will be Samsung’s most exciting Galaxy S phone in years. But it’s also expected to be very expensive. That’s why Samsung’s current Galaxy S23 reservation offer is so appealing. You can save up to $100 off your purchase just by giving Samsung your name and email address. And that’s on top of any other offers Samsung is planning for the phone’s upcoming launch. Unpacked 2023: Reserve the Next Galaxy and Save Up To $100 Price: Get $100 off the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Book 3 Buy Now Samsung’s first Unpacked press conference of 2023 takes place at 1:30 PM ET on Wednesday, February 1. Of course, as is always the case, we already know practically everything there is to know about the Galaxy S23 smartphone series. The star of the show is the new Galaxy S23 Ultra, which will reportedly feature a 6.8-inch OLED screen with 3088 x 1440 resolution. Other specs supposedly include a next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB or 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, a new 200-megapixel main camera, a 5,000 mAh battery, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, NFC, and UWB. Samsung’s other Galaxy S23 models should feature similar specs, but they’ll be dialed back a bit since the Ultra is the high-end version. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra leaked along with its accessories. Image source: WinFuture Along with all of these impressive specs, however, we’re also expecting Samsung to increase the prices of the Galaxy S23 series compared to previous-generation Galaxy S phones. At least, there should be a Galaxy S23 price increase in some markets. Even if there’s no price hike, Galaxy S smartphones are quite expensive. That’s why you should definitely consider taking advantage of Samsung’s current reservation offer. You’ll save $50 if you reserve a Galaxy S23, $50 for reserving the Galaxy Book 3 that’ll be announced alongside it, and $100 if you reserve both. Also, these savings are in addition to any discounts or bundles Samsung offers at launch. The catch is that you only have two days left to take advantage of this deal. It’s scheduled to end at 12:59 PM ET on Wednesday. Don't Miss: Visit our expert guide to see this month's best deals! The post Last chance to reserve a Samsung Galaxy S23 and save $100 appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung is running a special offer where you can get a $100 credit when you reserve a Galaxy S23. That’s a terrific offer — and you also get any launch discounts and bundle deals Samsung has — but another sale is drawing even more attention on Friday. For one day only, Amazon has a Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 deal that cuts $55 off the retail price. That means you’ll pay $94.99 for Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 instead of $150. It’s the lowest price ever for these popular noise cancelling earphones, and it’s an impressive $144 less than AirPods Pro 2. SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 2 True Wireless Earbuds Noise Cancelling Ambient Sound Bluetooth Lightweigh… Price: $94.99 (save $55) You Save: $55.00 (37%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 2 True Wireless Earbuds Noise Cancelling Ambient Sound Bluetooth Lightweigh… Price: $94.99 (save $55) You Save: $55.00 (37%) Buy Now As we noted in our guide on the best AirPods deals, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are $10 off right now at Amazon. You can also get 1st-gen AirPods Pro with a $35 discount, making them $214.99. Those are decent deals, but neither one can compete with Amazon’s one-day sale on Galaxy Buds 2. Just like AirPods Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 offer great sound quality and impressive battery life. They also have active noise cancelling tech that blocks out noise in the surrounding area. Also, Samsung’s AirPods Pro rival comes with a compact case that supports wireless charging. Any standard Qi wireless charging pad will do the trick, like this popular one that’s on sale for $13.29. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and AirPods Pro are indeed very similar. But there’s one glaring difference between them, apart from the stems on Apple’s earphones. Samsung’s true wireless earbuds cost much less money. With a retail price of $150, Galaxy Buds 2 are already $100 less than AirPods Pro. On Friday, however, Amazon is running a terrific one-day sale. Every available colorway has a $55 discount today. That means you’ll pay just $94.99 no matter which color you want. SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 2 True Wireless Earbuds Noise Cancelling Ambient Sound Bluetooth Lightweigh… Price: $94.99 (save $55) You Save: $55.00 (37%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 2 True Wireless Earbuds Noise Cancelling Ambient Sound Bluetooth Lightweigh… Price: $94.99 (save $55) You Save: $55.00 (37%) Buy Now Again, this is a one-day sale that’s running on Friday only. We doubt the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 will be available at this price again anytime soon. Don't Miss: Visit our expert guide to see this month's best deals! The post Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are $55 off in every color today appeared first on BGR. View the full article