Last year wasn’t the best for Microsoft’s gaming business. The company saw no major release for its gaming console Xbox. Besides Game Pass, almost everything from first-party studio games to hardware sales faced revenue drops. Suffice it to say 2022 was a forgettable year for Xbox overall. However, things may change this year, as promised by Xbox CEO Phil Spencer. In an interview with IGN, Spencer noted that 2022 was a year “too light on games,” where the platform didn’t churn out enough first-party titles or exclusives. Our commitment to our fans is that we need to have a steady release of great games that people can play on our platform, and we didn’t do enough of that in 2022, there’s no doubt,” Spencer told the website. At the same time, he assured that the projects in the Xbox’s current pipeline mean that 2023 “is going to be an exciting year.” Spencer on what went wrong last year and his expectations for this year While underlining the lack of major exclusive launches in 2022, Spencer said, “Our commitment to our fans is that we need to have a steady release of great games that people can play on our platform, and we didn’t do enough of that in 2022, there’s no doubt.” Taking ownership of this, he continued, “And fundamentally, that’s on me. I’m the head of the business.” For the year ahead, the Xbox CEO shared that he felt the company had “momentum,” following its hit Hi-Fi Rush, which rolled out earlier this week during the Developer Direct showcase. He addressed Microsoft’s layoffs and restructuring that have also affected Xbox Studios, “Obviously, we’re going through some adjustments right now that are painful, but I think necessary, but it’s really to set us up and the teams for long-term success.” Given that this year will mark the release of Xbox’s most anticipated exclusive in recent times, Starfield, Spencer revealed his excitement. He said, “I look at 2023, I love the games that we have coming out. Redfall and Starfield, as you commented, will be exciting, just given the timing with Bethesda now that they’re fully integrated into the organisation. When I think about the rest of the work that we’re doing this year, it’s going to be an exciting year.”
Samsung is set to hold its first major launch event of 2023 on February 1. At this event, the South Korea-based tech giant is expected to launch its next-gen flagship smartphone series — the Galaxy S23 lineup and several other products. The phones that will be launched under the upcoming lineup are likely to boot Android 13-based One UI 5.1 out-of-the-box. Key features that may come to the One UI 5.1 custom skin have been reportedly leaked just a few days before Samsung’s official announcement. According to a report by WinFuture, One UI 5.1 is rumoured to add family-sharing albums in the Gallery app, easier access to the Expert RAW camera app, a new battery widget, advanced AR Emojis, and AR Zone and Samsung Notes collaboration, along with other improvements in stock apps, multi-device controls, and Samsung DeX. Here are all the new features that are rumoured to arrive with One U1 5.1. Samsung One UI 5.1 for Galaxy S23 series: Expected features Camera: The upcoming custom Android skin is expected to add two handy features to its native camera app. Users will be able to change the hue for a selfie more easily with the Effects button that will be placed on the side of the display. This update will also enable users to get quick access to Expert RAW images. The Expert RAW app helps users to capture high-quality images without any processing or compression. This tool can be ideal for users who want to edit their photos later. Users will also be able to access the Expert RAW easily through the Advanced menu. Gallery: The One UI 5.1 will include a Common family album feature that will help users to share photos with their family (up to 6 people) more easily. The Gallery app will also be able to remove shadows automatically, and reflections will also be able to create GIFs. The app is even expected to display convenient information like when and where the picture was taken and more. Gallery search will also improve with One UI 5.1, and users will be able to save screenshots and screen recordings in a folder of their choice by setting it up in the advanced features. AR features and Widgets: Users will be able to access up to three Emojis in the AR Emoji Camera. The upcoming skin will also add layout and editing improvements in AR doodles. Apart from this, One UI 5.1 is also expected to add a new battery widget and an intuitive weather widget on the phones. Customisation and connectivity: With One UI 5.1, users will be able to choose different wallpapers according to their mood. This update has also added more conditions and actions for scenarios. For example, users will be able to open some apps using Script and will also be able to control Quick Share and touch sensitivity along with changing the ringtone and font style. This update will allow multiple users to edit Samsung Notes and will even simplify the process to invite others to do the same. One U1 5.1 will also contain some multiple advanced controls between Galaxy Book and smartphone. The custom skin will make it easier for users to choose media output when connected to Wi-Fi speakers and will even allow real-time PC sync. Samsung DeX will even offer improved multitasking while Samsung Internet will arrive with improved search. Several other minor changes and bug fixes will also be included in the upcoming update. Official details will be shared at the scheduled event.
Ola, electric vehicle maker, has announced the launch of a new customer subscription plan, Ola Care Subscription. The Ola Care Subscription offers two plans: Ola Care and Ola Care+. Both the plans are aimed at offering after-sales service to customers of its electric vehicles (EVs). Ola Care pricing and benefits Ola Care is priced at Rs 1,999 per year, while Ola Care+ will cost Rs 2,999 annually. The relatively cheaper Ola Care plan offers services such as free labour on service, theft assistance helpline, and roadside and puncture assistance. In Ola Care+, customers will also get annual comprehensive diagnostic, free home service and pick-up/drop, free consumables, and 24/7 doctor & ambulance service, along with all the Ola Care benefits. Both the plans offer customers access to Ola’s service network which the company claims is equipped to cater to customers at the convenience of their doorstep or at their nearest Ola Experience Centres. For an annual subscription, Ola takes care of scooter diagnostic, towing and puncture assistance and theft assistance for free. The company also provides care during breakdowns with 24×7 ambulance service, online doctor consultation, taxi for an onward journey, hotel accommodation in case of a breakdown outside city limits and vehicle custody services for user comfort. In addition to the Zero-labour charges, Ola has also announced that it has waived any convenience fee on doorstep services, including pick-up and drop.
Twelve South Korean websites attacked by a Chinese hacking group remain unable to be accessed five days after the incident, industry sources said. The Chinese attackers, identifying themselves as Xiaoqiying, hacked into the websites of 12 academic organizations and institutions Sunday, including the Korea Research Institute for Construction Policy, the Korean Archaeological Society and the Korean Academy of Basic Medicine & Health Science. The attack took place in the middle of the four-day Lunar New Year holiday that began last Saturday, reports Yonhap news agency. According to the Korean internet safety watchdog, the hackers used the SQL injection technique to exploit a security vulnerability in the websites’ software and corrupt the database contents. After the breach, most of the attacked websites showed an error page or a warning message by the hacking group. “We are working on determining the exact cause of the case and restoring the damage, but it takes some time,” said an official from the cybersecurity authorities, asking for anonymity. The South Korean government is now looking into some 40 files disclosed by the Chinese hacking group Thursday. The group claimed it had stolen the data from South Korea’s government and public institutions. It also said it had successfully compromised the computer networks of 70 South Korean educational institutions around the Lunar New Year holiday that ran from Saturday to Tuesday.
India’s gaming sector had a mixed 2022. While there seems to be a prolonged funding winter; the government’s recognition to the e-sports industry as a legitimate sport has brought in cheer. In December last year, esports was integrated with mainline sports disciplines in India by the government. It was recognised as a part of a multisport event and came under the ambit of the Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. In the past few years, the online gaming sector in the country has witnessed significant growth. The industry is looking forward to favourable policy, especially in terms of taxation in the upcoming budget. The industry expects some sops on taxation and clarity regarding GST in the upcoming Budget. Here’s wishlist from two of the biggest players in the industry: Sai Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of MPL “2023 is already shaping up to be a watershed moment for the gaming industry. With the government releasing draft online gaming rules earlier this month, the burgeoning sector will see a lot more success this year. In addition to this, the industry hopes to get clarity in a few areas. The first is the GST mechanism on online gaming. We hope the government provides clarity on the tax slab applicable on skill gaming. Another relates to the AVGC fund set up as part of the AVGC Promotion Task Force announced in last year’s budget. Access to financial support, as envisaged under this, will be a tremendous boost to young talented developers and designers, and will accelerate the push to ‘Create in India’ and take made-in-India games to the world. We believe that India’s online gaming industry can truly lead the charge in the global digital economy and a uniform, progressive policy can be the wind in its sails.” Paavan Nanda, co-founder of WinZO “The online gaming industry has the potential to scale rapidly and become a significant contributor to the Government’s vision of a trillion-dollar digital economy. The industry is currently in its nascent stage, and needs stability and clarity from a tax and compliance perspective. The proposed 28 percent GST on the Gross Gaming Value of all games played, over the current 18 percent on the commission of the gaming companies, would have an existential impact on the segment. Further, a reduction in the TDS threshold, from the current winnings exceeding INR 10,000, could also impede the growth of the industry. The TDS liability on winnings above 10,000 already stands at 30% under the Income-tax Act of 1961. The increase in GST and TDS cumulatively would completely wipe out the homegrown industry that has the potential to be the largest next generation of exports of consumer tech products made in India for the world. In this budget announcement, we are hoping to see a continuation of the current GST slab and TDS threshold as a sharp increase in tax will deter growth, sink early-stage startups further into losses and overall make the industry unviable. A clear and supportive tax policy will not only generate revenues for the exchequer but will also create great value in the long run for the country and the gaming ecosystem. In last year’s budget, the government recognised the gaming sector as one of the potential segments for job creation in India and set up the Animation, Visual effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) promotion task force to realise the potential of the segment. We are hoping for the announcement of constructive action in that direction to give a boost to the gaming industry,” Paavan Nanda, co-founder of WinZO.
Budget for 2023-24 is scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1. The government is likely to extend fiscal incentives new industries in the forthcoming budget as it looks to expand production linked incentive (PLI) scheme to cover more high-employment potential sectors. The scheme aims to make domestic manufacturing globally competitive and create global champions in manufacturing. It is specifically designed to boost domestic manufacturing in sunrise and strategic sectors, curb cheaper imports and reduce import bills and improve cost competitiveness of domestically manufactured goods. Little surprising that PLI scheme finds mention in wishlist of all hardware and accessory makers in the country. Amit Khatri, Co-founder, Noise India is emerging as one of the strongest economies globally largely owing to the entrepreneurial spirit that prevails in the country and continued efforts of the Government to insulate the impact of global headwinds. From being the third largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China, India can truly leapfrog as a startup capital of the world with the introduction of the next generation of reforms that are focused on increasing access to funds for entrepreneurs. The PLI scheme has been a game changer in accelerating India’s vision of being ‘Atmanirbhar’ as part of the Make in India initiative. Creating an ecosystem for manufacturing of components as part of the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters Scheme, can help homegrown brands contribute to making India the global electronics manufacturing hub. India has emerged to become the largest market for smartwatches and the expected PLI scheme for the high-end components manufacturing will further boost efforts to develop a complete ecosystem for electronic manufacturing in the country. Being one of the first homegrown brands to localize the production of smart wearables in India, adequate support towards the initiative would lead us to ramp up our Make in India efforts and contribute effectively towards this mission. Alok Dubey, Chief Finance Officer, Acer India “Budget 2023-24 would probably be the most challenging one that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would be tabling on February 1, 2023. I think that this year’s budget should give digital infrastructure and skills a high priority. Although India may have a positive view of “digital” and technology, more needs to be done to support the country’s digital-first strategy as it aspires to become a USD 5 trillion economy. The government’s commitment to digital skill development and its alignment with the IT sector, and the PLI scheme targeted at helping manufacturers of IT hardware and computer servers need to receive equal weight in this year’s budget. Government policy could be changed to promote the development of talent and skills. The tech industry requires a talented and skilled workforce. The government may provide funding for programmes to modernise educational buildings with state-of-the-art R&D capabilities.” Vipul Singh, CEO and cofounder, Aereo “Over the past year, the Indian drone manufacturing industry has flourished due to various policy reforms and schemes like the INR 120 crore PLI scheme for drones and drone components. This year, we expect dedicated incentives for drone service startups. For B2B drone operations to reach their maximum potential in 2023, restructuring the PLI scheme is the need of the hour. The 2023 union budget must introduce MSME-focussed incentives as they constitute around 90% of companies in this sector. Apart from drone manufacturing, benefits to the drone services sector are necessary for the success of Drone-As-A-Service (DrAAS) under Drone Shakti. Incentivizing the drone service sector impacts high-skilled employment in the country. We are seeing surging demand for drone services in the country. Thus, we need a technically proficient workforce to fulfil this demand. Additionally, with this year’s budget, we are expecting benefits towards indigenization and native R&D. This is of paramount importance to reduce our dependency on foreign OEMs. An additional 10% PLI benefit for companies with more than 50% indigenous Intellectual Property will encourage the innovative companies to innovate more and OEMs to indigenize further to reduce the dependency on imports. It will help propel Make-in-India and put the Indian drone industry on a self-sustaining trajectory.” Kuldeep Malhotra, Deputy MD, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India “The union government is continuously working and finding solutions to achieve its 2070 sustainability target. Keeping the same in view, we hope that in the upcoming budget, the government will introduce better and more attractive incentives, aimed at promoting the green economy. Besides this, we expect that government interventions and policy changes like tax rebates for meeting set environmental standards, certifications, green taxes on harmful environmental activities, and subsidies on the use of green products can go a long way in furthering the agenda of sustainability.”
Vikas Bajaj, President, AIFI (Association of Indian Forging Industry) “All MSMEs, including the forging industry are expecting a good, progressive and balanced budget this year. The industry also monitors significant announcements from this budget to promote investment in this space, as well as favourable regulatory actions to provide a suitable climate for manufacturing sector. Additionally, steel import duties should be reduced to compensate for the existing deficit and uncompetitive Indian steel pricing. Furthermore, the government should prioritise regulating inflation and reducing the cost of raw materials and fuel. Existing incentives must be enhanced to boost exports. There is also a need to expedite the GST refund system to give liquidity to the industries. As part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Indian companies should be eligible for a duty structure benefit. The government has made continued efforts to simplify and streamline Indian tax regulations, and the industry anticipates consistency in tax and regulatory policies, as well as their interpretation, this year. I believe that the government should fix industry income rates for at least five years so that industrialists can make long-term financial plans and suitable investment decisions in their industries”.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is almost here, with February 1 the day these phones are due to be unveiled. We’ve learned a lot about what to expect from the new phone series, but there are still plenty of things we still need to know about the Galaxy S23.
This is set to be a huge date in the smartphone scene calendar, particularly for Samsung: these handsets are likely to be some the most high-profile Samsung and Android phones of 2023.
But what exactly will Samsung show off at the launch? And will there be anything other than the S23 series on show? Well, while nothing is certain just yet, we have a very good idea of what we’re expect to see, as well as what likely won’t be launching.
When is Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023?
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 is the official name of the event where the Galaxy S23 series will launch, and it’s happening on Wednesday, February 1.
It kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT that day, which is 5am AEDT on February 2, for those in Australia.
How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023
Samsung will be hosting a live stream of Galaxy Unpacked 2023 on its website (opens in new tab), so you’ll be able to tune in there.
We fully expect the event will be hosted on the company’s YouTube page (opens in new tab) as well, and likely other places too, such as Samsung Newsroom (opens in new tab).
What we expect to see at the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch
As you might expect, the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch will probably be very focused on this latest family of phones, but we know we’ll see other things too; as not only are there rumors, but Samsung has opened reservations for various devices (opens in new tab), including the Galaxy S23 series. Below is what we’re most likely to see.
1. The Samsung Galaxy S23
It wouldn’t be the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch if the Samsung Galaxy S23 itself wasn’t in attendance, so barring some weird naming shenanigans, we’re expecting to see the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 there.
According to leaks this will be a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S22 in many ways, with the same 6.1-inch FHD+ screen, the same 120Hz refresh rate, the same amount of RAM (8GB), and the same rear cameras, meaning a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide one, and a 10MP telephoto one, with 3x optical zoom.
So what will be changing? Well, for one thing the Samsung Galaxy S23 is obviously going to have a new chipset, with most sources pointing to the whole world getting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. That’s quite a shift for Samsung, which usually ships Exynos chipsets in some regions.
This is likely to be the most powerful chipset available to Android phones for most of 2023, and the S23 series is reportedly getting an even faster version of it than other brands will have access to. Another leak gives us a full specs rundown here.
Other rumored changes from the S22 include a new camera design that’s closer in style to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, a slightly larger 3,900mAh battery, and possibly an upgraded 12MP selfie camera. The phone might also start at 256GB of storage, which is double the starting capacity of the Samsung Galaxy S22.
2. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus will, in all likelihood, be announced alongside the Galaxy S23, and this looks set to be a similar phone, just packing a bigger 6.6-inch FHD+ screen and a larger 4,700mAh battery.
Otherwise the specs are likely to be identical to those of the standard Samsung Galaxy S23 for the most part, which also means a lot of things will be the same as on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus, with the chipset being the main upgrade. It’s enough to make one TechRadar editor demand that Samsung needs to kill its Plus phones after the Galaxy S23.
If you want to see all of the specs for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus in one place, then an obliging leaker (with a very good track record) has provided one here. The specs sheet backs up everything we’ve already heard about the S23 Plus.
3. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The third and final Galaxy S23 model we’re expecting to see at this event is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and as with most years, this could benefit from more upgrades than the rest of the line.
According to leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a new 200MP camera, capable of delivering superb night shots. That’s in place of the 108MP main camera on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
That – along with a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, detailed above – could be the main improvement, with other rumored specs sounding largely similar to its predecessor, including a 6.8-inch QHD+ screen, up to 12GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. More specs have been leaked here.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra might also look much like its predecessor, which is no surprise, since the design was overhauled last year. That means a boxy look and a slot for the S Pen stylus. We’ve got a full Samsung Galaxy S23 vs S23 Plus vs S23 Ultra rumors breakdown to take you through the key differences between the three rumored handsets.
4. The Samsung Galaxy Book 3
It’s not just phones that Samsung is likely to unveil on February 1, with the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 family also rumored to be making an appearance. In fact, Samsung has opened reservations in the US for a new Galaxy Book, so a fresh entry is definitely coming, it’s just the name that remains uncertain.
These laptops could include the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro, the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, and the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra, if leaks are to be believed; with this being the first ‘ultra’ laptop Samsung will have launched.
Details on the specs are light, but some images have leaked on TheTechOutlook (opens in new tab), one of which you can see above. Expect a slim and light design, along, probably, with plenty of power.
5. One UI 5.1
As well as new hardware, we’re also likely to see new software at the launch, in the form of One UI 5.1. This is probably what the Samsung Galaxy S23 trio will run, but this is unlikely to be a major overhaul of Samsung’s Android user experience – with any major shifts tied to Google launching Android 14, later in the year.
One UI 5.1 is reportedly in testing, according to @SamSWUpdate (opens in new tab), which strongly suggests we’ll see it debut on these phones. But it’s unclear what changes it will bring, beyond the anticipated bug fixes and security patches.
What we don’t expect to see at the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch
The above is everything we’re expecting to see at the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch, which means there’s a lot of stuff that probably won’t be in attendance.
For one thing, we probably won’t see the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 there, even though the Galaxy Tab S8 series debuted alongside the Samsung Galaxy S22 line.
These slates have reportedly been delayed due to sluggish sales of the current models, and that’s a believable claim, given that very little has been rumored about the Tab S9 series, and we’d expect it to have been extensively leaked if it was about to land.
Beyond that, there are other major Samsung products on the horizon, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, but new models in these lines aren’t expected until late 2023, going by past form. Similarly, the timing doesn’t line up for new Galaxy Buds.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the potential be one of the best phones of 2023, and there’s not long to wait for it, as Samsung is set to unveil the S23 series at Galaxy Unpacked 2023 on February 1.
We’re expecting to see the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus as well, but the Ultra will be the top model, and the one with the very best specs and features.
And while it’s coming soon, you don’t even need to wait until the unveiling to learn a lot about it, because the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has been extensively leaked. Below you’ll find all the credible leaks and rumors that have emerged so far.
Cut to the chase
What is it? Samsung’s next top flagship phone
When is it out? February 1
How much will it cost? Expect an extremely high price
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: release date and price
Announcement expected on February 1
The price might be slightly higher than last year
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to land at Galaxy Unpacked 2023 on February 1. This kicks off on Wednesday, February 1, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT, on 5am AEDT on February 2 for those in Australia.
There’s no confirmation of when the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will actually ship, but one leak points to February 17, and a pre-order incentive for the phone ends on February 16, which also suggests a February 17 ship date.
We’d expect you’ll be able to place your order shortly after the announcement though, and in fact you can already reserve one (opens in new tab) if you’re in the US.
Hopefully, you’ve been saving though, because the consensus from leaks seems to be that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost more than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which for reference starts at $1,199.99 / £1,149 / AU$1,849.
As for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, one price leak suggests it’ll start at $1,249, which would be for a model with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. It would apparently rise to $1,349 for 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, and $1,499 for 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM.
We’ve also heard the possible Australian price, with the phone said to start at AU$1,950 in the region.
So far there isn’t any UK pricing, but based on these leaks it seems likely that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost somewhere between £50-£100 more than the S22 Ultra, meaning a starting price of between £1,200 and £1,250.
However, Samsung has revealed that UK buyers will be able to get 512GB for the price of 256GB if they pre-order, which should help a bit. It’s not yet clear whether this scheme will be offered in other regions or not.
For those in other parts of Europe, a leak from Roland Quandt (opens in new tab) suggests a starting price of 1,409 euros.
However, it’s worth noting that leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will start with 256GB of storage as its baseline, compared to 128GB for the S22 Ultra. In which case, if you compare the rumored S23 Ultra starting prices with the 256GB model of the S22 Ultra (which costs $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$1,999), the pricing doesn’t look too bad.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: design
A very similar design to the S22 Ultra
Likely to be available in at least four shades
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could be a lot like the S22 Ultra – at least on the outside. That means an angular, all-screen design, a rear that’s almost rippling with cameras, and a slot for the S Pen stylus that’s sure to be included.
You can see a selection of these shots below (many of which are from an extensive gallery on WinFuture (opens in new tab)) and they all show basically the same thing – namely a phone that looks a whole lot like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The weight and dimensions could be very similar to the S22 Ultra too, with one leak pointing to the S23 Ultra being 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm and 233g, versus 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm and 228g on the current model. We’re also expecting an IP68 certification for water resistance, just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The main visual difference could simply be the colors the new phone comes in, as numerous reports suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra colors include Cotton Flower (cream), Misty Lilac (pink), Botanic Green and Phantom Black. Those are apparently their official names, but lots of other leaks mention shades that sound like they match up with that.
One source suggests that there might be other colors too, but these would reportedly be exclusive to Samsung stores.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: display
Leaks point to a 6.8-inch QHD+ 120Hz screen
Brighter and tougher than before
As with the overall design of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, we’re not expecting much new from its screen, with spec leaks pointing to a 6.8-inch 1440 x 3088 AMOLED screen with 500 pixels per inch, HDR10+ support, and a 120Hz variable refresh rate (that can drop as low as 1Hz).
That same source suggests the screen will be protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is an upgrade and should be tougher than the protection on the S22 Ultra’s display.
We’ve heard a less detailed version of these screen specs elsewhere as well, so there’s a good chance this is accurate.
One other upgrade the screen might have though is to its brightness, with a leak suggesting it could be able to reach 2150 nits or more, compared to 1750 nits on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
S23u max brightness, up to 2150 nits”Numbers might be different at launch, due to further adjustments Min 2100Max 2200+Pwz dimming still lose against Q9 ( slightly )below 2kNovember 23, 2022
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That said, leaker Roland Quandt (opens in new tab) has since suggested it will stick at 1750 nits, so we’re not sure what’s right here.
It can be confirmed that S23 Ultra’s night photos are very strong and much better than S22 Ultra’s. I think it’s the biggest improvement of Samsung’s flagship mobile phone in five years.October 27, 2022
Although the 3x and 10x camera specs are exactly the same as those of the S22 Ultra, the S23 Ultra still has an improvement in telephoto, and the improvement in color and some AI algorithms is obvious.October 28, 2022
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However, the software might have been improved, as leaked camera samples suggest the phone can take better 30x zoom shots than its predecessor. These samples also show off the phone’s impressive night mode capabilities.
Then again, a second set of leaked camera samples are more of a mixed bag, so it remains to be seen just how well the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s cameras can actually perform.
There might also be some new software, such as the ability to save RAW photos at 50MP quality, and a Pro mode for the selfie camera. We’ve also heard that the focusing and anti-shake might be better than before on this phone.
Speaking of the selfie camera, that might get a 12MP sensor, according to one report, though as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a 40MP selfie camera, that seems odd.
As for the battery, we’re not expecting changes there, with leaks suggesting the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is sticking with a 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, and either 15W or 10W wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: specs and features
Expect a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Leaks point to 8GB or 12GB of RAM
The thing we’re most sure of, with regards to expectations for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, is that it will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, as not only has that been extensively rumored but it’s the obvious choice – at least in some parts of the world.
Better yet, this could be an enhanced version of the chipset, making it better here than in non-Samsung phones – and this is already the top Android chipset available.
Reportedly, this chipset will allow for a 36% increase in processor speed, a 48% increase in graphics performance, and a 60% increase in neural processing compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Leaker Yogesh Brar (opens in new tab) suggests that future phones in the Galaxy S line could get exclusive versions of Snapdragon chipsets too, so this might not be a one off.
The tweet above is part of a recent leak that detailed just about everything there is to know in terms of specs when it comes to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Privacy and Apple go hand in hand – it has for years now, and its recent video starring Nick Mohammad from Ted Lasso to promote Data Privacy week was inspired.
However, with today (January 28) being Data Privacy Day, it’s important to look at other features that you can use with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to help protect your data.
All of these are features that I switched on as soon as they’ve been introduced – with Advanced Data Protection being the latest one for me, as it was recently introduced in iOS 16.3.
With this in mind, there are a few other features, alongside Advanced Data Protection that you should consider switching on, and why you should do it as soon as.
Advanced Data Protection
Introduced in iOS 16.3, not only does this allow you to protect your iCloud backups with an encrypted password, but your Safari bookmarks, your iCloud Drive contents, Notes and much more.
This way, you and you alone can only access this data – not even Apple. It adds another layer of protection for your data, especially if someone tries to break into your account, so any valuable data won’t be able to be accessed by anyone else.
This feature also applies to iPadOS and macOS, so your data there in the same categories will be protected.
You can switch this on (opens in new tab) by going to Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection.
Mail Protection
We’ve all come across spam emails and other types that try to get your information to try and track you outside of your email. By going to Settings > Mail > Privacy Protection, Apple’s Mail app will hide your IP address when you open a new message from your Inbox.
This means that the sender will not be able to tell if you opened their email, alongside a rough idea on the location of where you opened it.
Location
It could be argued that too many apps ask for your location – Facebook is a good example here, especially when you use it to look at memes and check on how certain family and friends are.
Yet you might find that there could be too many apps tracking your location all the time, instead of when you’re using the app.
You can check this by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and checking on every app displayed in the list, to see if its location is set to ‘Always Allow’ or ‘Allow while Using’. Apart from Weather and Map apps, there really isn’t a need to have ‘Always Allow’ on the majority of apps.
So set aside a few minutes in a lunch break and see which apps are trying to track your location, even when you’re not using them.
Safety Check
Introduced in iOS 16, this feature could be a big help in protecting your data from those you’d like to have out of your life.
Safety Check, found in Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check will give you a detailed overview of who’s sharing what data with you, and you can easily restrict this in a couple of taps.
There’s also a ‘Quick Exit’ on the top right which will bring you straight back to the home screen if someone wants to suddenly check your phone without your permission.
Passkeys
Another feature that launched with iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and macOS 13 Ventura, you can register a new account with a site without having to enter a new username and password.
You only need TouchID or FaceID to authenticate this, and you’re good to go.
However, if it’s an account you’ll need in the future, you can save this to your iCloud Keychain, Apple’s method of storing your usernames and passwords, by checking the ‘Save passkey for account‘ option when you create one.
App Tracking
A feature that Facebook was publicly not happy about – but in retrospect, this only made Meta look bad in the face of privacy.
Some apps have the ability to track your browsing in other apps like Safari and Mail, and as this is done with multiple methods, it’s difficult for Apple to shut down these individual cases, which is where App Tracking comes in.
You can enable all apps to not track you, by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. You have a choice to turn on or off tracking for specific apps, or you can turn off the option altogether.
The long-rumored Apple AR/VR headset might possibly, at last, be launching later this year – and we’ve got a new set of leaks around app development for it, hinting that everyone will be able to create augmented reality experiences on this device.
According to sources speaking to The Information (opens in new tab) (via MacRumors (opens in new tab)), Apple is working on software development tools to make the app creation process as straightforward as possible. The more apps get built, the more appealing the headset will be.
These tools mean that even consumers could build their own apps through Siri, the report says: so you could just describe the experience that you wanted to see in augmented reality, and Siri would interpret your commands and build it for you.
Health and wellness
One of the examples mentioned in the article is being able to build an app showing virtual animals walking around a room, just by describing it to Siri. No coding or computer graphic design skills would be required to put it together.
It’s worth noting that the information sourced in the story is from 2021, so it might be a little outdated at this stage – and it’s obviously unconfirmed and unofficial to begin with. However, it’s logical that Apple would want to make app development as easy as it can.
The report also mentions that Apple is working on AR content for the headset, with health and wellness a priority. One potential use of the device is as a meditation aid, enabling users to sit in digitally generated, calming scenes of their choosing.
Analysis: following a trend
If the details in this report from The Information are correct, Apple is following something of a trend when it comes to making its AR software developer tools as simple to access as possible – and the ultimate aim is to increase user engagement as much as possible.
Those of you with children at home will probably be aware of Roblox, the online game platform that makes it just as easy to design and build experiences as it is to play them. Apple could well be aiming for something similar here.
Then there’s the phenomenally successful Minecraft of course: another game that’s also a platform for creating new games and environments. The appeal of Roblox and Minecraft lies not just in what they are, but what else you can do with them.
If Apple is going to convince substantial numbers of people to pay up for its AR/VR headset (or mixed reality headset, if you prefer), then a broad range of apps are going to be required – and this might be the perfect way to ensure that.