The GSMA has announced the introduction of open network APIs that it hopes will help provide developers with universal access to telecom networks like never before.
Unveiled at MWC 2023 in Barcelona, Open Gateway has been described as a “paradigm shift in the way the telecoms industry designs and delivers services in an API economy world”.
The GSMA says Open Gateway is designed with developer-friendly tools and code in an effort to encourage developers to tap into the network APIs and deploy services both more quickly and easily.
GSMA Open Gateway
Open Gateway has initially launched with eight universal network APIs: SIM Swap; Quality on Demand; Device Status (Connected or Roaming); Number Verify; Edge Site Selection and Routing; Number Verification (SMS 2FA); Carrier Billing – Check Out; and Device Location (Verify Location). In the year ahead, the Open Gateway initiative plans to launch even more APIs to help connect developers to participating networks.
The work has been made possible thanks to the GSMA’s collaboration with the Linux Foundation, who together have created the CAMARA open-source project, which already has 21 of the most prominent network operators signed up
Among the initial signatories a Telstra, America Movil, AT&T, Axiata, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, e& Group, KDDI, KT, Liberty Global, MTN, Orange, Singtel, Swisscom, STC, Telefónica, Telenor, TIM, Verizon, and Vodafone.
These are all networks that plan to facilitate the rollout of more connected technologies, including autonomous vehicles, drones, robotics, and extended reality. Use cases could extend beyond the typical consumer to other official bodies, too: the SIM Swap API is said to be pivotal to fighting financial crime, for example.
Developers looking to get on board with the GSMA Open Gateway can expect to hear more about early adopter programs over the next 12 months, including through events like Microsoft Ignite and Build, and AWS re:Invent.
“By applying the concept of interconnection for operators to the API economy developers can utilise technology once, for services such as identity, cybersecurity or billing, but with the potential to be integrated with every operator worldwide. This is a profound change in the way we design and deliver services,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA.
Airtel has expanded its 5G services in Jammu and Kashmir. The service provider has rolled out Airtel 5G Plus service in Katra, Anantnag, Baramulla and Rajouri. The service is already live in Jammu, Srinagar, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kupwara, Lakhanpur and Khour. Airtel users present at the above-mentioned locations can now enjoy Airtel 5G Plus service on their smartphones. In order to access the 5G service users need to have a 5G-enabled smartphone. Airtel has not yet announced any new 5G plan, so users can use the Airtel 5G Plus service on their existing 4G plan. Users must also keep in mind that they don’t need a new SIM card to access 5G services. The existing 4G Airtel SIM is already 5G-enabled. Commenting on the launch, Adarsh Verma, COO Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, Bharti Airtel said, “Connectivity to our customers in the Valley is in line with our commitment to bridge the digital divide and connect communities who need it the most. I am thrilled to announce the launch of Airtel 5G Plus in Katra, Anantnag, Baramulla & Rajouri in addition to Jammu, Srinagar, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kupwara, Lakhanpur & Khour. Customers in these thirteen cities can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds upto 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds. We are in the process of lighting up all the cities which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to High-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more.” Airtel planning to buy stake in Paytm According to a recent online report Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal is planning to buy a stake in Paytm. The report adds that with this move, Mittal may merge Airtel Payments Bank into Paytm Payments Bank. The deal is at a very early stage and nothing has been finalised yet.
We’re all aware of the need to keep our computing devices secure, with a range of security solutions available for PCs and laptops – but what about our mobile devices?
Smartphones have made huge leaps forward in terms of power and capabilities over the past decade, becoming high-level computing devices in their own right, holding not just our apps, photos and games, but also becoming an entry point for work.
With many of us now embracing hybrid working, having a smartphone geared for work is a crucial tool, but they also need to be kept safe from cyber-threats – so here’s some tips to keep your mobile devices safe and secure.
Keeping safe online
Sadly, some parts of the Internet aren’t really a safe place to visit, and this can be true when mobile browsing as well as being on a PC.
Dodgy websites can look to infect your device with malware or other malicious software, installing trackers or keyloggers, with phishing websites looking to scam their victims out of their hard-earned cash,
Fortunately, Bitdefender Total Security (opens in new tab) offers an anti-phishing system that scans webpages and warns you if you land on a fraudulent site. It also comes with the Bitdefender Web Protection tool, which filters all mobile traffic, not just your intentional browsing, to provide real-time protection against all online dangers.
Full scanning, all the time
Let’s face it – most of us spend a lot of time on our phones or other mobile devices, using them for a wide range of activities and functions.
This includes whatever apps and services you may have installed on your device – but how much do you really know about your apps? Bitdefender’s On-Demand & On-Install Scan function scans your Android phone or tablet to ensure all your apps are legitimate and safe, checking each app once you install it, and alerting you if there are any issues.
Bitdefender Total Security (opens in new tab) also protects your phone by using AI models to spot any unusual app activity, as well as intercepting threats before they hit, and flagging potential scam chats or messages, making sure you never fall victim to even the most devious threats.
Watch out for scams
Security scams are sadly a common part of online everyday life, with hackers and fraudsters looking to con victims in any way they can, With many of us checking emails or browsing the web on our mobile devices, it can be deceptively easy to accidentally click on the wrong link or web page, and end up on a scam site.
Fortunately, Bitdefender Total Security (opens in new tab) comes with built-in Scam Alert protection, blocking threats and websites it detects as harmful, making sure your handset remains safe.
And to make sure your internet usage remains protected from prying eyes, Bitdefender VPN encrypts all traffic on your device, offering up to 200 MB per day of encrypted traffic for Android and iOS devices.
Yours and yours only
If the worst does happen, and your mobile device is lost or stolen, then you can still rest assured that your data is safe from criminals.
Bitdefender Total Security (opens in new tab)’s Anti-Theft tool allows you to remotely locate, lock, wipe or send a message to your device in case of loss or theft. It will even allow your phone to snap a mugshot of anyone who tries to tamper with it, sending it to your Bitdefender Central account.
The platform’s App Lock tool is also able to protect your most treasured apps, securing them with a PIN code for that extra level of safety, meaning no one can change or alter your settings or private info. Finally, its Smart Unlock tool means you can set your phone to allow direct access to your protected apps only when using a trusted Wi-Fi network, keeping all your precious information safe.
For news on all the latest threats, you can also get real-time updates about malware outbreaks and scams on the Bitdefender Blog (opens in new tab).
HMD Global, the company which holds the license to manufacture Nokia branded smartphones has launched the company’s first smartphone with repairability at its core. The smartphone maker has launched The Nokia G22 smartphone in association with iFixit. The company claims that users can easily access the repair guides and affordable parts which will enable them to replace the damaged display, bent charging port or the flat battery with a QuickFix design. The company further revealed that the Nokia G22 comes with 100% recycled plastic back and OZO Playback which promises to deliver improved bass and clear sound. The smartphone presently runs Android 12 operating system and the smartphone maker promises to offer two years of Android OS upgrade and three years of security update. Nokia G22 comes in two colour options — Meteor Grey and Lagoon Blue. The smartphone comes with a starting price tag of 179 euros and the home Fit Kits for the smartphone can be purchased for 5 euros from iFixit. The company has not yet revealed the India launch and availability details of the smartphone. Nokia G22 specifications Nokia G22 comes with a 6.52-inch HD+ display with 720×1600 pixel resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone offers 500 nits of typical brightness and is protected with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top. The dual SIM smartphone is powered by an octa-core Unisoc T606 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. Nokia G22 comes in two storage options — 64GB and 128GB. Users can further expand the storage up to 2TB by adding a microSD card. Nokia G22 runs Android 12 and it sports a triple rear camera setup. The rear camera consists of 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, 2MP depth and 2MP macro camera. Front is home to an 8MP selfie camera. The smartphone comes equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and IP52 rating which makes it dust and splash-resistant. Nokia G22 is backed by a 5050mAh battery with support for 20W fast charging.
Well, as it turns out, that assessment wasn’t too far wrong. Having now handled the OnePlus 11 Concept for ourselves at the annual Barcelona trade show, we can confidently say that this phone is indeed the most gaming PC-like handset we’ve ever seen. But hold the applause, because we also know that the OnePlus 11 Concept definitely won’t be earning a spot on our list of the best gaming phones any time soon.
Unfortunately, the OnePlus 11 Concept is just that: a concept. In essence, it’s a prototype version of the OnePlus 11 (you can read our thoughts on that phone in our OnePlus 11 review) that’s intended to demonstrate how gaming PC-style liquid cooling technology can be applied to future OnePlus smartphones – which is certainly a neat idea, albeit one in the early stages of development.
That said, the OnePlus 11 Concept does operate as an actual phone. The models we were able to handle at MWC looked and felt like actual devices we might purchase, complete with scrollable screens and working operating systems, which is an achievement in itself on OnePlus’ part.
Image 1 of 2
The OnePlus 11 Concept’s illuminated active cooling technology in action (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
The OnePlus 11 Concept’s illuminated active cooling technology in action (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
Active CryoFlux is the suitably futuristic name OnePlus has given to the active cooling technology at work inside the OnePlus 11 Concept, and the company’s description of how this system operates is even more Doctor Who-esque.
Per OnePlus: “Active CryoFlux features an industrial-grade piezoelectric ceramic micropump at its core, connected to pipelines sandwiched between an upper and lower diaphragm. The micropump takes up an area less than 0.2 cm-squared, enabling cooling liquid to circulate around the pipelines without significantly increasing the OnePlus 11 Concept’s weight and thickness.
“The clear back delivers a mesmerizing view of the Active CryoFlux pipelines at work. The rear cover also features a magnetron-spluttering coating where metal and alloy are deposited in tiny amounts onto the case using an electric field.”
Piezoelectric ceramic micropump? Magnetron-spluttering coating? In truth, we’re not entirely sure what all of this means – but it sounds cool, and that’s good enough for us to take notice.
Official OnePlus promotional material for the OnePlus 11 Concept (Image credit: OnePlus)
In terms of the practical benefits of Active CryoFlux, OnePlus says the system has, during laboratory tests, been shown to be capable of bringing down a phone’s temperature while gaming by up to 2.1°C, improving the tested game’s frame rate by 3-4 frames.
Active CryoFlux was also shown to reduce the tested phone’s temperature by 1.6°C during charging, shaving 30-45 seconds from its overall charging time.
Sure, those might read like negligible improvements on paper, but if active cooling technology can be proven to equal or better the cooling capabilities of weighty smartphone fans, then we’re all for it.
Besides, what sort of person doesn’t want a luminous, “glacial” zigzag running down the back of their phone? Count us in, OnePlus.
If you’re already a Wordle addict then Quordle could be your next must-play game. This spin-off takes the familiar Wordle format and makes it harder by giving you four puzzles to solve simultaneously.
As you might imagine, it’s hard! So if you already find yourself searching for Wordle clues, you’ll probably need some for Quordle too.
I’m a Quordle and Wordle addict who’s been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #399 and bookmark this page so you can easily return tomorrow.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Your Quordle expert
Your Quordle expert
Marc McLaren
Marc is TechRadar’s UK Editor in Chief and has been playing Wordle and Quordle for more than a year. He’s authored dozens of articles on the game for TechRadar and its sister site Tom’s Guide, including a detailed analysis of the most common letters in every position. His Wordle streak recently reached the 400 mark and he’ll be inconsolable if he loses it. Yes, he takes it all too seriously.
Quordle today (game #399) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #399) – hint #2 – total vowels
What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?
• The total number of vowels across today’s Quordle answers is 7.
Quordle today (game #399) – hint #3 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #399) – hint #4 – total letters
How many different letters are used in Quordle today?
• The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 12.
Quordle today (game #399) – hint #5 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• A
• L
• C
• D
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #399) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #399, are…
I got back to winning ways today after yesterday’s failure, although that may owe more to the fact that today’s Quordle is not the most difficult we’ve ever had. The repeated T in DITTY makes it slightly harder, but that aside this are four common words with common letters. If only it was always so easy!
Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar.
As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you’re competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.
The website also includes a practice mode – which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! – and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements – specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.
Oh, and it’s difficult. Really difficult.
What are the Quordle rules?
The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.
1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.
2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow.
3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…
4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two.
5. Answers are never plural.
6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.
7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle’s dictionary. You can’t guess ABCDE, for instance.
8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle’s Hard mode.
9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.
10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.
What is a good Quordle strategy?
Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can’t blindly throw letters at it and expect to win – you’ll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.
That’s the case in Wordle too, of course, but it’s even more important in Quordle.
There are two key things to remember.
1. Use several starting words
Firstly, you won’t want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words.
The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.
For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options – you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe – but something like that should do the trick.
If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!
2. Narrow things down
Secondly, if you’re faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options – for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH – you’ll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options.
In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It’s risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it’s the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure – you simply don’t have enough guesses.
In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.
Samsung has almost perfected the foldable phone over the last few years, and its upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to be even better than the current models in its flagship foldable range.
We’re not expecting to see the device until quite late in 2023, so there aren’t too many rumors about just yet – but we have heard a few tidbits, and you’ll find all of those below, along with information on the phone’s possible release date and price.
We’ll also be updating this article whenever any new leaks or rumors emerge, so keep it bookmarked if you want to stay in the loop.
Plus, at the bottom of this article, you’ll find a wish list of the key things we want to see from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, to ensure it fixes all the issues with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Cut to the chase
What is it? Samsung’s next flagship foldable phone
When is it out? Probably August 2023
How much will it cost? Unknown but expect it to be very expensive
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date and price
There’s no word yet on when we might see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, but the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was announced on August 10 of 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was unveiled on August 11 of 2021. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 was also announced in August of its release year, albeit slightly earlier on August 5.
So early to mid-August seems likely for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. These announcements all happened on a Wednesday too, so our best guess for a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date is Wednesday, August 9 of 2023.
As for the price, there’s no word on that yet either, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,799 / £1,649 / AU$2,499, so a similar price is possible.
The price is likely to be similar to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 news and leaks
There’s only been a handful of real Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 leaks so far, with the first one pointing to the foldable having a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
That would be the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipsets that power many of 2022’s best Android phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4. So either the Gen 2 (of the sort powering the Samsung’s Galaxy S23 range) or a Plus version of it always seemed likely.
The same source also suggests the phone will have a triple-lens rear camera with a 50MP main sensor. That’s exactly what the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has – with the other two sensors being a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto – so this might mean there aren’t many upgrades to the camera.
Secondly, the phone is apparently getting a waterdrop shape hinge, enabling the two sides of the device to lay completely flat against each other. That would improve the durability of the foldable, in theory. This has since been backed up by a second report, which adds that the phone will be waterproof.
And thirdly, a recent report suggests the Fold 5 will be offered in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants, which are the same storage options Samsung opted for on the Z Fold 4.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: what we want to see
For Samsung to make the ultimate foldable phone there are five key things it needs to do, which we’ve highlighted below.
1. The same cameras as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Z Fold 4’s cameras are good but not great (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 aren’t bad at all, but they aren’t Samsung’s best, despite it being the company’s most expensive phone. Anyone who can spare the sort of money the Z Fold 4 costs is likely to want the best of the best, and on the camera front it just doesn’t manage that.
So for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 we want the phone to match the camera configuration of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which based on past form probably will have the company’s best snappers.
2. No visible crease
As impressive as Samsung’s foldable screens are, the company hasn’t cracked the crease, with it being visible and something you can feel when you swipe across the display.
This isn’t a big deal and is something most people will quickly get used to, but it is an imperfection in an otherwise excellent screen, so we’d like to see Samsung successfully hide it on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
3. A lower price
The Z Fold 4 is too expensive to ever have mainstream appeal (Image credit: Future)
The single biggest issue with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is simply how much it costs, as this is one of the most expensive phones on the planet – almost making the iPhone 14 Pro Max look cheap by comparison.
It’s no surprise the price is high given the size of the screen and the tech involved, but if this foldable line is ever to be truly mainstream then the price needs to drop, and we hope Samsung starts decreasing it with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
4. Faster charging
Most Samsung phones have rather slow charging, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is no exception. It tops out at 25W wired or 15W wireless, both of which are far lower than other flagships like the 150W OnePlus 10T or the 120W Xiaomi 12 Pro.
We don’t expect or need Samsung to reach those sorts of levels of charging power, but we’d like to at least see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 split the difference and offer around 60W-80W.
5. A bigger battery
Along with faster charging, we’d also like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to have a bigger battery. At 4,400mAh, the one in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is average in size at best, and actually smaller than the batteries in plenty of conventional phones.
But given that this has a huge foldable screen, it could do with a particularly big battery. So at a minimum, we want a 5,000mAh one in the Z Fold 5 – the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has that, so it shouldn’t be too much to ask for.
Models in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip range are the most popular foldable phones on the planet, and with good reason – they pair a folding form factor with decent specs and a relatively affordable price.
Hopefully, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will continue that trend, and in this article, we’ve created a wish list of what we want from the device beyond that.
But that’s not all. We’re already starting to hear rumors about what the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 might offer, so you’ll find those below, too, along with information on the phone’s possible release date and price.
We’ll be updating this article whenever we hear anything new about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, so check back regularly for the latest information.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next entry in Samsung’s foldable Z Flip line
When is it out? Probably August 2023
How much will it cost? Likely around $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,499
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date and price
While there’s no news yet on when the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will be announced, we can take a good guess. We predict we’ll see it on August 9, 2023, because that’s the second Wednesday of next August, and Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 on the second Wednesday in August of their respective release years.
Based on past form, there will probably then be a wait of around two weeks before it ships, so you should be able to have it in your hands in late August, if our predictions are right.
The price is harder to predict, but it’s likely to cost a similar amount to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which starts at $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,499.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 might have a similar price to the Z Flip 4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)
Given that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 uses the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, this always looked likely – though if there’s a Plus version of the Gen 2 chipset on the horizon, then the Galaxy Z Flip 5 may end up packing that.
Elsewhere, we’ve heard from another source that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 might have a 3.3 or 3.4-inch cover screen. That’s up from just 1.9 inches on the Galaxy Z Flip 4, so would be substantially larger.
A Twitter leak of the Motorola Razr 2023 showed a similarly large cover display that wrapped around the camera lenses. Following that, another Galaxy Z Flip 5 leaker confirmed that Samsung’s design would be very similar. It looks like the clamshell battle will take place on the cover this year.
We have also heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will have a new hinge design that will reduce the visibility of the seam.
Lastly, a recent report suggests the Flip 5 will be offered in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage variants, which are the same storage options Samsung opted for on the Z Flip 4. The 128GB variant reportedly won’t benefit from UFS 4.0 speeds, though. Instead, being the cheapest option of the three, the baseline Flip 5 will stick with its predecessor’s UFS 3.1 specification.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: what we want to see
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 wasn’t much of an upgrade on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, so we want to see bigger improvements from the next model, including the following things.
1. A telephoto camera
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is lacking in cameras (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)
A telephoto lens is a standard feature across almost all high-end phones, yet it’s a feature the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 lacks.
In fact, the Z Flip 4 only has a dual-lens camera, comprised of a 12MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide snapper, so it’s quite basic and lacking on the photography front. We want to see big upgrades here for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, with a telephoto lens added and ideally upgrades to the other cameras too.
2. Better battery life
Battery life is a problem for a lot of phones and even more so for foldables, as they tend to have smaller batteries than similarly-sized conventional handsets.
That’s presumably because the folding mechanism takes up space that could otherwise be used by a battery, but it’s a definite issue; often leading to sub-par longevity.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, for example, only has a 3,700mAh battery, and in our review, we noted that its output was underwhelming, so we want to see a battery boost in the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
3. A lower price
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is actually one of the more affordable foldable phones, but for the specs you get – folding screen aside – it’s still fairly expensive, so we’d love to see Samsung push the price down a little further for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
This probably won’t happen – especially if there are significant upgrades to the specs – but it would make the device all the more appealing.
4. A bigger cover screen
The Z Flip 4 has a tiny cover screen (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)
While the 6.7-inch foldable main screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a decent size, the 1.9-inch cover display – which is what you can see and interact with when the main screen is folded shut – is too small to do much with.
Sure, it can show notifications and the time, but it’s too tiny to properly interact with, meaning that for most smartphone functions you have to flip the phone open. We’d like to see a bigger secondary screen on the next model, allowing you to keep the phone folded shut more often.
5. More substantial upgrades
We’ve detailed some of the upgrades we want above, but just in general we want the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 to feel like a substantial improvement on the Galaxy Z Flip 4.
The last two models have been extremely similar to each other, so it’s past time we saw some major updates – and we’ll need to for this to have a good shot at ranking among the best foldable phones.
Will Xiaomi’s big sensor challenge the Galaxy S23 Ultra? The new Xiaomi 13 Pro features the same one inch camera sensor found on the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the Sony IMX 989 sensor module. That phone was good enough that one of our writers called it the best camera phone he’d ever used.
While Samsung’s latest ultra-premium phone far outclasses the Xiaomi 13 Pro in megapixel count, the size of the sensor matters more than the number of pixels. Samsung’s sensor measures around 3/4 of an inch diagonally. The Sony sensor on Xiaomi’s new phone is one inch, the same size as many professional DSLR cameras.
Of course, photography is complicated and the sensor is only one part of the equation. Both phones also benefit from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform, which includes Qualcomm’s image signal processor.
We’ll need to spend quality time with Xiaomi’s new 13 Pro before we declare it our favorite camera, but it certainly packs the right specs to take on the champion, and we’re please to see it more widely available than Xiaomi’s previous camera great.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Welcome to Barcelona, mobile fans! We are on the ground at Mobile World Congress in Spain, the largest mobile technology trade show. We expect plenty of news, and Xiaomi has already kicked things off with a big global announcement.
The Chinese company will finally be bringing its lauded Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro to global markets. That one inch camera sensor and Leica-branded lens on the Xiaomi 13 Pro will be available in the UK and plenty of markets beyond, though unfortunately it won’t find its way to US soil.
We’ve gotten hands on with both of Xiaomi’s new phones, as well as the rebadged Xiaomi 13 Lite, a bargain model also getting a global launch. We’ll have a more detailed Xiaomi 13 review soon, so keep checking back.
OnePlus is betting big on extended reality and as a part of the strategy, the company has announced a partnership with Qualcomm to bring Snapdragon Spaces extended reality feature in the OnePlus 11 5G. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform will provide the option to developers to explore the potential of augmented reality (AR) wearables. Furthermore, with this partnership, the OnePlus 11 5G flagship becomes the first smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC to offer Snapdragon Spaces on smartphones. What is Snapdragon Spaces The Snapdragon Spaces is Qualcomm’s open mixed-reality (XR) platform for developing AR software using the company’s mobile hardware technologies. It will enable developers to help companies build an accessible XR ecosystem using the technology that will essentially lead to the next generation of immersive technology. “Developers can create immersive experiences for AR glasses that adapt to any environment and transform how we connect with the spaces around us by using the OnePlus 11 5G,” the company said.
“Augmented reality is the next generation of computing and it is the future. Snapdragon Spaces takes into account features like head tracking, plane detection, and world understanding, among others,” Hugo Swart, vice president and general manager of XR (VR and AR) at Qualcomm, said during a media gathering at MWC 2023. Snapdragon Spaces use cases With OnePlus 11 5G and Snapdragon Spaces, users will be able to experience real-world events such as live concerts, films, and other exclusive events wherever they are. The technology will also boost the augmented reality gaming performance as a remote controller when paired with the Qualcomm Wireless AR Wireless Smart Viewer glasses powered by the Snapdragon XR2 platform. OnePlus Hardware Ray Tracing Along with the Snapdragon Spaces XR developer platform, OnePlus also introduced the first Hardware Ray Tracing solution compatible with the mobile XR ecosystem. The Chinese tech giant demonstrated an AR concert using a Tower of Fantasy game character. In the demo, Jane Tian, director of product management in gaming and graphics at OnePlus used the Qualcomm Wireless AR Wireless Smart Viewer glasses to showcase real-time ray tracing effects like specular reflection and shadow on an animated model. “The OnePlus PhysRay X Snapdragon Spaces solution for the AR2 platform is customised and efficient. It is compatible with modern Vulkan API, optimised for dual eye rendering, and equipped with low latency wireless connection,” said Tian. (Disclaimer: The author is covering MWC in Barcelona on the invite of OnePlus)
