NXP Semiconductors, a world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, inaugurated a new Systems & Silicon Innovation lab at NXP Semiconductors Campus in Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru. The innovation lab was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT and Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. After the inauguration, NXP showcased its products and solutions to the minister that includes Automotive, Industrial & IoT, Consumer, and Communication Infrastructure Focus Markets. During the event, he also interacted with NXP-Mentored Startups and encouraged them to continue to work on strengthening the semiconductor ecosystem in India with a stronger vision and roadmap while making good use of government incentives and industry partnerships. The lab will be used to design, verify and validate NXP technologies in areas of Security, Connectivity, Sensing, and Processing and build market-specific system solutions in automotive, Industrial, IoT, and Consumer areas. In addition, NXP Semiconductors’ also presented their products and solutions, highlighting leadership in Automotive, Security, and Connectivity with technologies like RADAR, Ultrawide Band (UWB), 5G, NFC, and DRM. NXP is playing an important role in strengthening the local manufacturing ecosystem with applications in 4G/5G, Secure authentication of goods, E-metering for Electricity boards, E-passports, Transport Ticketing cards, etc. In automotive, NXP touched upon their recent contributions towards the growth of the Indian 2-wheeler ecosystem with some of the major players working in areas like BMS, ADAS, and emerging automotive technologies. While talking about the inauguration, Hitesh Garg, India Country Manager, NXP Semiconductors said, “The team at NXP India consistently emphasizes creating cutting-edge solutions that are secure and safe for end users. We are happy to announce the launch of our new R&D lab that will push innovation in the semiconductor industry in India. Talking further about the startup ecosystem, he added, Government initiatives like Design Linked Incentive schemes are laying special emphasis on strengthening the startup ecosystem in the country. It is the need of the hour for global corporates to work on corporate-startup collaborations to give momentum to newer IP and SoC areas, specific needs of the Indian ecosystem, and system solutions for ESDM incumbents in India.
With a view to ramping up its retail footprint at the sub district level, Vodafone-Idea (Vi) is launching 75 new format ‘Vi Shops’ across multiple towns in Bihar and Jharkhand. Smaller towns like Arrah, Barauni, Bettiah, Buxar, Chausa, Deoriya, Hajipur, Katihar, Masauri, Motihari, Sitamarhi, amongst others in Bihar now get access to quick, efficient, face-to-face service from Vi, along with a range of differentiated products and offerings for the new age mobile users in the region. Similar Vi Shops are also being launched in smaller towns like Baliyapur, Giridih, Daltoganj, Dumka, Jharia, Ramgarh in Jharkhand. The Vodafone-Idea Shops concept for Tier-3 towns is intended to deliver a uniform Vi experience to local customers, enabling quick support and handholding. The modern design of the new format store is in line with signature elements that define existing Vi Stores in urban locations. Vi Shops will offer the entire bouquet of Vi prepaid products and services and enable the less tech savvy users to avail Vi’s service across the table, leading to improved customer experience and closer engagement. ‘Going rural way’ Through this format, Vodafone-Idea also aims to deepen in engagement with rural consumers with the wide bouquet of Telco++ offerings, curated as a result of partnerships with domain experts in areas such as jobs and skilling, government exam preparation, English language skills amongst others. One of the earliest to introduce the concept of one-stop shop retail outlets in global design format, Vi claims that it has planned the new rural prepaid stores by consistently adapting and reinventing to provide a live and engaging experience in line with changing customer needs. The look and feel of the Vi store is said to be designed to address customer aspirations while capturing Vi’s core brand attitude. Inviting residents of the two states to try out the Vi Shop experience, Sukanta Das, Cluster Business Head – East, Vodafone Idea Limited, said “The states of Bihar & Jharkhand have a vast geographical spread of smaller towns in rural settings. We have found that a large segment of customers in Rural India prefer the comfort and familiarity of face-to-face service through the physical Retail format. We have introduced the Vi Shop concept to cater to this demand, in the process enabling Rural residents to digitally connect for a better future. Vi customers in several Tier 3 towns in Bihar & Jharkhand can now walk into the neighbourhood Vi shop with assured ease and simplicity in accessing service through trained personnel in welcoming surroundings.”
Spare a thought for the team tasked with trying to keep the Samsung Galaxy S23 leaks down to a minimum, because something new is emerging almost every day now, and the latest sneak preview we have to share with you is a hands-on video.
Reposted to Twitter by @sondesix (opens in new tab) from an Instagram source (via Notebookcheck (opens in new tab)), it looks as though the video has been shot by a retail store in Nicaragua. We get a good look at the Ultra model in a green color, and a clip of the phone’s camera in action.
The hands-on video doesn’t really tell us too much we didn’t already know about the successor to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it’s interesting to see the handset in the real world – and it matches up with leaked renders we’ve already seen.
Choose your color
We also get to see photos of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in black, green, cream and lavender, the same colors that have previously been posted to the web by unofficial sources. In this case the advance information seems to have been largely correct.
The same source has also posted photos (opens in new tab) of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in cream, which seem to have been obtained from Facebook Marketplace. The phone is clearly making its way to retail stores around the world, hence the latest batch of leaks.
There’s been a flood of Galaxy S23 leaks in recent weeks, and Samsung doesn’t really have all that much left to reveal. We’ll get our first official look at the new handsets, including the Ultra model, at the next Samsung Unpacked event on Wednesday, February 1.
Analysis: a well-leaked smartphone
We’re used to reporting on leaks around upcoming handsets, from the Google Pixel 8 to the Apple iPhone 15 – but even by the standards of the phone industry, there has been an awful lot of Galaxy S23 information revealed in advance of the launch.
That may rankle with the executives at Samsung: they no doubt want to keep as much as possible under wraps until the phone gets its official unveiling. All these leaks can dilute the excitement around the big Samsung Galaxy S23 launch in February.
On the other hand, they’re certainly a sign of interest in the flagship. Having so many leaks around the phone is probably slightly preferable to having no one talk about it at all – which is the case with plenty of other handsets on the market.
The trouble is that once a device is in production, rather than being developed inside a company, there are a host of third parties involved. That makes keeping a lid on everything very difficult, as Samsung is discovering ahead of the February 1 event.
Linux might be enjoying a boost as more and more devices get powered by the operating system, but with popularity also inevitably come crooks, with new reports claiming the number of malware targeting the software skyrocketing in 2022.
Findings from Atlas VPN based on data from threat intelligence platform AV-ATLAS, claims that in 2022 there were 1.9 million new Linux malware threats, bringing the figure up 50% year-on-year.
Most of the new Linux (opens in new tab) malware samples were discovered in the first three months of the year, the report further claims.
Secure operating system
In Q1 2022, researchers discovered 854,690 new strains. In Q2, the number dropped by 3%, with 833,065 new strains detected.
Malware developers for Linux must have taken a sabbatical in the third quarter of the year, as the number of new detections plummeted 91%, to 75,841. In the fourth quarter of the year, the figures picked up once again, growing by 117% to 164,697.
Despite these findings, Linux is still a “highly secure operating system”, the researchers say.
“The open-source nature of Linux allows for constant review by the tech community, leading to fewer exploitable security vulnerabilities. Additionally, Linux limits administrative privileges for users and compared to more widely used operating systems like Windows, it still has less malware targeting it.”
But crooks will not stop hunting for vulnerabilities in the world’s fifth most popular operating system, and businesses and consumers alike should always be on the lookout, the researchers concluded.
Linux might not be as popular as Windows, or macOS, but it’s a widely used operating system. From Android devices (which are built on Linux), to Chromebooks, video cameras, wearable devices, to all kinds of servers (web servers, database servers, email servers, etc.) there are more than 32 million endpoints running on Linux.
Much has been made of the downright jaw-dropping technical wizardry on display in Avatar: The Way of Water, and it’s hard to argue against director James Cameron’s decision to wait over a decade for the appropriate filmmaking technology to arrive before commencing work on his subaquatic sequel.
In an exclusive interview with TechRadar, Daniel Barrett, Senior Animation Supervisor at Wētā FX, explained the method behind the magic of The Way of Water’s bar-raising performance capture visuals, and we asked the seasoned animator how he and his team pulled off a very specific shot – one that sent the internet into raptures following its inclusion in the film’s very first trailer. Check it out via the tweet below.
This CGI is insane… pic.twitter.com/tbafxgyhUxMay 10, 2022
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“It’s nearly human,” reads one comment underneath the post. “It could just be a guy painted blue,” reads another. The best response of all: “Pretty sure it isn’t CGI. Cameron actually went to Pandora to film this one.”
For context, the shot in question shows Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully tightening the reins on a skimwing, the Metkayina clan’s sea-dwelling version of the mountain banshees ridden by the Omaticaya. But how much – if any – of what we see in the two-second clip is real, and how much is computer-generated? Thankfully, Barrett has the answers.
“We shot that practically,” he explains. “At the time, there was talk about whether that shot was going to be [used for] reference, or whether it was going to be in the film. It looked really good, what had been done – but it was just the hand that was practical. So we had the challenge of connecting that hand, mid-arm, to a CG arm, which was connected to a CG body, which was sitting on a CG skimwing. And then we had some practical water as well that then had to connect to CG water. So it’s a mix. The hand and water surrounding [the shot] is practical. The rest is digital.”
CG water? No wonder Cameron’s sequel needed to surpass $2 billion just to break even.
Caution: major spoilers for Avatar: The Way of Water follow
For Wētā FX – the New Zealand-based visual effects company founded by The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson in 1993 – Avatar: The Way of Water represented the ultimate challenge. Animators like Barrett had to draw on all their experience to clear the impossibly high bar set by Cameron, whose extensive use of underwater performance capture techniques presented entirely new VFX obstacles.
Were there any particular sequences that struck the fear of Toruk into Barrett and his team? “Technically, there were certain water shots that did worry me,” he tells us. “A lot of the boat shots were a concern, just because we knew we were in a parallel workflow with the effects tem. You can do your work, you hope the water surface stays as it is, you hope the wave phase remains as it was when you started animating. But then you also know that that needs to be simulated, and the simulation of the water now affects the boat’s surroundings. You can end up in a little bit of a loop. So a lot of the boat shots [were challenging].”
“There were also some huge scenes,” Barrett continues. “The return of the Tulkun to the village – there was an awful lot going on in those shots. But personally for me, one of the harder sequences to work on – and I don’t want to get too soppy – was [Neteyam’s] death on the rock. I found that really difficult. By the time I saw it in the cinema, I was somewhat immune to it. But the first 20 times were very, very difficult to watch.
“The performances are just so strong. Take Zoe [Saldaña] as an example. It’s not even just the raw emotion you see in her at the beginning. Later, when Jake implores her to do what’s needed for the other children, you see her resolve arrive. The grief never leaves, but the resolve arrives, and it’s so subtle.
“So for me [as an animator], it’s an exhilarating thing to get to the point where you feel like you’ve found everything that she did. Those more subtle shots are really the most satisfying moments.”
Avatar: The Way of Water is now playing in theaters worldwide.
What is it? The next big flagship phone from Samsung
When is it out? February 1
How much will it cost? Likely $799 / £769 / AU$1,249 or higher
The Samsung Galaxy S23 will likely be the first big phone launch of 2023, but we’re already hearing that the patterns established in 2022 will continue into this year. The Galaxy S23 is not expected to be a huge upgrade over the Galaxy S22 in any way, from the base model up through the Galaxy S23 Plus. Even the top shelf Galaxy S23 Ultra isn’t expected to get many big feature bumps.
The design of the Galaxy S23 will likely be near-identical to today’s models, except that the base model Galaxy S23 will reportedly lose its larger camera bump in favor of Galaxy S22 Ultra-style cut outs for the camera. Otherwise the screen size will seemingly be the same for each phone, and the frame is thought to measure nearly identical dimensions. We’ve got a full Samsung Galaxy S23 vs S23 Plus vs S23 Ultra rumors breakdown to take you through the key differences.
The Galaxy S23 cameras will resemble the S22 Ultra (above) (Image credit: TechRadar)
That isn’t to say there’s nothing to get excited about. Qualcomm has been champing at the bit to show off its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in a Samsung Galaxy S23, and it has been dropping hints that Samsung will be quitting Exynos across the globe in favor of a unified Qualcomm front.
We’re also hearing a lot of excitement over the new camera in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung could be breaking out a brand new 200MP sensor to give its flagship monarch the biggest camera improvement in years, especially in night photos. Cameras sell Samsung phones, so that may be enough to win us over.
We’ve been following Galaxy S23 rumors since before the Galaxy S22 dropped, and we’ve rounded up what we think will be the final word on this upcoming device before it launches, on February 1, 2023. Check back often for updates and the most thorough source for Galaxy S23 news.
Samsung Galaxy S23: price and availability
Launching on February 1
All models could see a price increase over past years in some regions
Samsung has now revealed that the Galaxy S23 series will be unveiled on February 1. But you don’t even have to wait until then to express your interest, as US buyers can reserve the phones now (opens in new tab).
The launch event is happening at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT on February 1, or 5am AEDT on February 2, for those in Australia. It will be held in San Francisco but streamed online, so you’ll be able to watch it.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and its siblings aren’t the only things we’re expecting Samsung to show off on February 1 though – check out our full Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 guide for everything that might be in attendance.
It’s not yet known when the phones will ship, but rumors point to Friday, February 17.
While Samsung has kept prices steady over the last two generations, we are hearing there will be changes this year. We’d love to be optimistic and ask for Samsung to cut prices on its base model Galaxy S23, in keeping with the major global cost of living crisis and a possible looming recession. Instead, we’re hearing Galaxy S23 prices could go up, and that has now come from more than one source.
It might depend on the model though. A thorough price leak suggests the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus will have the same starting prices as their predecessors – $799 / £769 / AU$1,249 and $999 / £949 / $1,549 respectively – while the Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost a bit more than the Galaxy S22 Ultra that came before it. With those prices in mind, one TechRadar editor thinks Samsung needs to kill its Plus phones after the Galaxy S23.
Then again, all three models might cost the same as last year – at least in the US – with another price leak pointing to starting prices of $799.99, $999.99 and $1,199.99 for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra respectively. Those prices come from what appear to be leaked Verizon documents, so may well be accurate.
Another price leak though states that in Australia the three models will all start at AU$100 more than their predecessors, which could mean a price hike of between $50/£50 and $100/£100 in other regions.
We’ve also heard that some components have been scaled back or downgraded, and that could mean that Samsung is trying to cut costs or at least match last year’s prices in the face of rising supply and shipping costs.
So apparently alongside slightly thicker bezel, the vanilla S23 might cut the vibration motor.Do you think Sammy should downgrade the vibration motor on the S23?November 9, 2022
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As we’ll explain, the fingerprint scanner may not get the upgrade we hoped, and even minor pieces like the vibration motor may be scaled back to save cost.
However, we’ve also heard that some or all of the phones might come with at least 256GB of storage, which is double the starting capacity of the S22, so you might in some ways get more for your money at least. Though of course, that change – which we’ve now heard from multiple sources – could also add to the price.
Samsung Galaxy S23: design
Near-identical design to last year’s Galaxy S22
The camera bump might be gone
More curves on the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
As phone makers have adopted a tic-tock clock momentum of phone launches, this is what we’d call a “tock” year. On the “tic,” we get a whole new look and feel. On the “tock,” phone makers work on the inside more than the outside. The Galaxy S23 will reportedly look very much like last year’s phone on the outside, just not the phone you’d expect.
The Galaxy S23 will take design cues from the Galaxy S22 Ultra, if we can believe design leaks and possibly leaked Galaxy S23 case designs (including some seemingly official ones shared by WinFuture (opens in new tab)), dummy units and even leaked marketing images – some of which can be seen below – that show a very similar camera arrangement.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: WinFuture / @rquandt)
(Image credit: WinFuture / @rquandt)
(Image credit: SlashLeaks / LeakSpinner)
Instead of a raised camera platform, the Galaxy S23 will likely separate each camera lens and sensor on the back. It’s a clean look, and we like it very much on our S22 Ultra.
If there is a bigger change, it may be on the flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra phone. Rumors suggest that Samsung will be bending the glass on that phone on all four screen edges. Samsung has been bending the sides of the phone in varying degrees since the Galaxy S6 edge, but this could be a first for an all-around curve.
The S22 Ultra has a Dual-curved screen design, which makes it impossible to achieve a 4-sided equal-width design. But if the Quad-curved design is used, this problem can be solved very well. It’s too early to talk about the S23, I hope this news is true. https://t.co/zT6iBgy29cFebruary 3, 2022
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That said, the extent of the curving could be minimal, with some sources suggesting it will only be very slightly curved – or perhaps not curved at all if leaker @AhmedQwaider888 (opens in new tab) is to be believed.
You can see how the Galaxy S23 Plus and Ultra might look in leaked marketing material, pictured below.
(Image credit: 91mobiles)
For colors, we’ve heard that the Samsung Galaxy S23 series will launch in four colors: black, beige (really, beige?), green, and a light pink option. We have seen rumored leaks of accessories matching the enigmatic beige, so expect to see matching kit if you want to accessorize.
Another source meanwhile points to green as being the ‘signature color’ for the Galaxy S23, light gold or pink gold being the signature shade for the S23 Plus, and pink being it for the S23 Ultra. Those wouldn’t be the only available shades though.
Leaked renders of the Galaxy S23 in four shades (Image credit: Samsung)
Leaked renders of the Galaxy S23 Ultra in four shades (Image credit: Samsung)
An unofficial render of the Samsung Galaxy S23 (Image credit: @OnLeaks / Digit.in)
An unofficial render of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (Image credit: @OnLeaks / SmartPrix)
Note that the official names of these colors are reportedly Cotton Flower (cream), Misty Lilac (pink), Botanic Green and Phantom Black – and more than one source has now mentioned these colors by name. Apparently there might be additional shades that are exclusive to the Samsung store too.
Another recent leak showcases all three Galaxy S23 handsets in all their main colors and from a variety of different angles – see below for details. These look like leaks of official promo images from Samsung as well.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Evan Blass)
(Image credit: Evan Blass)
(Image credit: Evan Blass)
A leak has also detailed the possible weights and dimensions, with the Samsung Galaxy S23 apparently being 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm and 167g, the S23 Plus listed as being 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6mm and 195g, and the S23 Ultra 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm and 233g. Those are all very similar to the weights and dimensions of the S22 series.
This same leak mentioned an IP68 rating for all three phones, as was expected.
Samsung Galaxy S23: display
Same screen sizes as Galaxy S22
Galaxy S23 Ultra could take crown for brightest screen
All of them are said to be AMOLED screens with 120Hz refresh rates, which means they are colorful and bright with silky smooth onscreen motion.
The Galaxy S23 reportedly gets a 6.1-inch display running at above Full HD resolution, 2340 x 1080 pixels, which isn’t superlative but should help with power management, and that’s a better priority than more pixels here.
The Galaxy S23+ apparently uses a 6.6-inch display with the same resolution as the Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S23 Ultra supposedly gets a 6.8-inch display with 3088 x 1440 pixels, which is the same as last year.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the brightest phone you can buy (Image credit: Future)
There could be some small screen upgrades though, with for example the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus reportedly getting refresh rates that can drop as low as 24Hz, or possibly even 10Hz. Their predecessors could only drop to 48Hz, and a lower refresh rate can conserve battery when speedy refreshes aren’t needed.
We are also hearing the Galaxy S23 Ultra could take on the Apple iPhone 14 Pro for the title of brightest phone screen. The iPhone 14 Pro can hit 2000 nits at max brightness. The Galaxy S23 ultra may achieve 2150 nits or more, and further rumors suggest that in the lab it can blast out 2500 nits, though customers won’t be able to burn it that brightly.
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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To cover those displays, we’re hoping to see the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2 that Corning showed us recently. Corning told us that we should see the new material on smartphones in the next few months, so the timeframe fits for Samsung’s next big launch.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 can supposedly survive a drop onto hard asphalt, and is made for larger phone designs, making it perfect for a big, heavy beast like the rumored Galaxy S23 Ultra. This glass upgrade has specifically been rumored now, so it’s looking likely.
Beneath the display, we seemingly won’t get the upgrades we wanted. We were hoping Samsung would use a new Qualcomm 3D Sonic Max fingerprint scanner, which is much larger than the existing scanner and can even scan multiple fingers at once for added security. Recent rumors and display leaks show the same scanner size as last year, so there’s probably no fingerprint scanner upgrade on the Galaxy S23. That’s a fine way to save cost.
The biggest single upgrade we expect to see in February will be the new main camera sensor on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung’s camera group, separated by a corporate firewall from Samsung Mobile Experience, launched a 200MP ISOCELL HP1 sensor very early in 2022, and we have long expected it to be the star of Samsung’s next big flagship camera phone.
Recent rumors have taken things even further, suggesting the 200MP sensor we’ll get on the Galaxy S23 Ultra will be an even further upgraded ISOCELL HP2, which will show even further improvements on night photography. If you’re wondering what other ways the S23 Ultra might be an upgrade on the S22 Ultra in, check out our Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison.
In any case, phone leakers, who tend to be an enthusiastic bunch already, are saying this could be a major leap in phone photography, the biggest step forward from Samsung in years, with one source saying the phone essentially has ‘night vision’. There have also been leaks about upgrades to the phone’s video modes.
We’ve seen major leaps from Google that incorporate AI and machine learning in Google’s custom chips. If Samsung can deliver to expectations, it will be the first big step forward in camera hardware in years.
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
That means the base model Galaxy S23 will probably get a nice 50MP sensor for the main camera, with a 12MP ultrawide lens and a modest 10MP zoom. The Galaxy S23 Plus will likely have the exact same camera specs.
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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There is a possibility we could get a better selfie camera on the Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S phones have used the same 10MP front sensor for years. We could see minor improvements that give us better video quality, or we could see a sensor upgrade that takes selfies to 12MP shots.
It also now looks like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra might have larger lenses for its ultra-wide and periscope cameras than the S22 Ultra, but there’s no indication of any improvements to them, so this change could just be to bring them in line with the main lens – which is likely to be larger in order to house the rumored 200MP sensor.
We might also see a number of camera software improvements and new modes. A leak points to the ability to save RAW photos at 50MP rather than 12MP, and a Pro mode being added for the selfie camera.
The same report suggests the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will have the ability to take hyperlapse videos of the sky. Plus, Samsung teaser videos have emerged, boasting of great night photography and lots of megapixels – in both cases probably referring to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Finally, a source points to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra having better anti-shake and focusing than the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23: performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 made special
Leaked benchmarks approach Apple A16 Bionic performance
Samsung has been shy about it’s next phones, but Qualcomm has been talking up its next big mobile platform, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and making clear that Samsung will be a major player in that chipset’s launch.
In fact, while the Galaxy S22 was split globally between a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and a platform using Samsung Exynos, Qualcomm has been strongly hinting that Samsung will be using Qualcomm chips exclusively this year. Everybody gets a Snapdragon.
For now, it will likely be an all-Qualcomm party, but Samsung looks to be following in Apple Bionic and Google Tensor footsteps and working towards using its own chipset platform entirely, at least for its Galaxy S phones.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will feature in the Galaxy S23 (Image credit: Qualcomm)
There were early rumors that Samsung might use some MediaTek chips, and we wouldn’t scoff at those. Since we first heard those rumblings, MediaTek has launched an impressive new chipset in the MediaTek Dimensity 9200.
While we expect Qualcomm exclusivity at launch, we wouldn’t be shocked if Samsung ended up with some MediaTek inside, if not immediately then at least eventually.
Perhaps as a way of repaying the favor, Qualcomm is rumored to be endowing the Galaxy S23 with a slightly improved version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform. This will likely be a simple speed boost, with no significant changes.
Still, a boost could make the Galaxy S23 the fastest Android phone on the market for some time, and would put its benchmarks closer to the Apple A16 Bionic.
Indeed, leaked Galaxy S23 benchmark scores show an apparent Galaxy S23 with 8GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that comes closer to Apple with multicore performance than we’ve seen from Qualcomm in generations.
Plus, one source claims that all three S23 models will see a 36% increase in processor speed, a 48% increase in graphics performance, and a 60% increase in neural processing compared to their predecessors.
There’s also news on the storage, with the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus apparently coming with 256GB of storage as standard, which is double the starting size of the current models. The S23 Ultra will apparently get that same boost, with 512GB and 1TB versions of that phone also set to be sold.
Another source has said that the standard S23 will still come in a 128GB configuration, but that the Plus and Ultra will start at 256GB, and that the 1TB version of the Galaxy S23 Ultra might be exclusive to the Samsung store.
We’ve elsewhere heard again that only the Plus and Ultra will start at 256GB, with the base and Plus phone having 8GB of RAM, while the Ultra gets a choice of 8GB or 12GB.
As well as raw power, sound could be improved on at least the Galaxy S23 Ultra, with a source claiming it has better speakers and a better microphone than its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy S23: connectivity
Satellite communications might be offered
Samsung phones usually rule in terms of connectivity options, with the most network bands and every new wireless connection you could hope for. This year, Samsung looks to be playing catch-up to Apple, and the Galaxy S23 will likely get satellite SOS services for emergencies, just like the iPhone 14.
In a rumored partnership with Iridium Communications, Samsung phones will supposedly use low-orbit satellites to send text messages and low-res images. It isn’t clear if every model will get the capabilities, or how Samsung will charge for the service. Apple has made its satellite SOS free for the first year.
A new player has also entered the US mobile network market since Samsung’s last big phone launch. So we’ll be looking for Samsung to support Dish Network’s specific 5G radio bands, which are being used on the Boost Infinite service that the company recently launched. The iPhone 14 Pro is currently the only model you can buy that supports Dish-specific 5G bands.
Samsung Galaxy S23: battery
Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus may get a slightly larger battery
Really, it’s hard to get enthusiastic that the Galaxy S23 may get a 3,900mAh battery, up from 3,700, and the Galaxy S23 Plus might get a minor boost to 4,700mAh, up from 4,500. We were hoping for much bigger battery improvements.
(Image credit: @OnLeaks / SmartPrix)
Charging speeds will also likely remain behind the pack with the next Samsung smartphones. The Galaxy S23 will supposedly charge at 25W, just like the Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will charge at up to 45W, which can equal half a battery in around 30 minutes. Still, competitors are charging at 65W and even much higher, some in excess of 120W. Samsung could do better.
We are hearing similarly disappointing specs for wireless charging. All of the phones will apparently get the same 15W wireless charging as last year’s devices – or maybe even just 10W. Nothing special coming.
Samsung Galaxy S23: software
Android 13 on top of Samsung One UI 5.1
Software features remain the big question
We see plenty of hardware leaks before a phone launch, but it’s harder to pin down changes and improvements to software. We have heard that the Galaxy S23 will likely use Android 13, hidden beneath Samsung’s One UI 5.1. But there’s no significant news on upgrades, or how long Samsung will offer OS updates for on the Galaxy S23 line.
Samsung One UI has branched significantly from the version of Android Google uses on Pixel phones. It lacks many of the gestures and new concepts that every other Android manufacturer now uses.
It would be nice to see Samsung catch up a bit with One UI, but Samsung moves at a glacial pace when it comes to software evolution, to the point where you may sometimes wonder if it has ever moved at all.
Should I wait to buy the Samsung Galaxy S23?
Wait for the Galaxy S23 if…
Don’t wait for the Galaxy S23 if…
Also consider
If you want to see what the Samsung Galaxy S23 will go up against, check out our rundown of the best phones around.
More details have emerged around what we can expect from the iPhone 15 coming later this year: thinner bezels on the two Pro models, and curved edges on all four handsets, for an Apple Watch-like aesthetic.
This comes from experienced Apple tipster ShrimpApplePro (opens in new tab) (via MacRumors (opens in new tab)), who says that the display sizes on the four phones will remain the same as last year. What’s more, the Dynamic Island will be making its way to every model too.
The tipster emphasizes that the screens will remain flat – it’s only the bezels that will curve into the rest of the phone casing. However, there’s apparently not going to be much change in the design of the selfie camera phone unit.
Well I have the result for the display design of the iPhone 15 series. – all iPhone 15 series will have the same display sizes as iPhone 14 series- pro 15 will have thinner bezels with curve edges, display is still flat tho, only the bezels is curveJanuary 21, 2023
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The return of the curves
Take a look at the iPhone 14 and you’ll see that the bezels are already impressively thin, so it’s going to be interesting to see exactly how much they’re going to be reduced when it comes to the two more expensive handsets in the range.
We’re also keen to see these curved bezels too. It’s possible that Apple may go back to a more curved design overall, something like we saw with the iPhone 11. It wouldn’t be the first time that an iPhone screen tapered away at the edges.
The source here calls the most expensive model the “iPhone 15 Pro Max (aka Ultra)”, acknowledging that we’re still not sure what Apple is going to call this phone: we’ve heard several iPhone 15 Ultra rumors in recent weeks.
Analysis: the most beautiful iPhone yet?
The same leaker that has provided this new information also says that the iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra) is apparently “very beautiful” – and from the description we can see how these phones would have a lot of visual appeal.
With the bezels thinner on the Pro models, almost all of the screen will be taken up by actual pixels. Add in the curved effect right at the edges, and we get the impression that the iPhone 15 lineup might be very easy on the eye indeed.
While these thinner bezels aren’t coming to the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus, according to the rumor, those handsets are also going to curve slightly at the edges. The angular look is out, and the more rounded look is back in, it would seem.
Given the experience and expertise of Apple’s design team, we’re now very much looking forward to seeing what the iPhone 15 series has to offer in terms of what they actually look like – and it’s been a few years since we’ve been able to say that.
Coin Master is a single-player mobile game that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. This game has become increasingly popular in recent years, with over 100 million downloads. Coin Master was created by the Israel-based studio Moon Active and was released in 2015. The goal of the game is to construct your own village. The Coin Master also has a time slot machine that can help you get additional coins and other sundries to help you enhance your community. Players must spin the slot machine and collect free gifts in order to fully build their hamlet. Unfortunately, the game only allows five spins per hour, and if you run out, you’ll have to wait an hour. Fortunately, players can gather coins in this game in a variety of ways. Players can raid and attack the towns of other players in order to steal cash. You can even get free extra spins in this game. Coin Master offers free spins that can be used to gather coins and other prizes. To obtain Coin Master Free Spins and Coins today, simply follow the procedures outlined here.
How to get Coin Master Free Spins and Coins for today (January 22): Step 1: To get the rewards, first log in to your Facebook account in the game. Step 2: Go to this link for a free spin: Link 1, Link 2 and Link 3. Step 3: After being routed, you will be prompted to log in to your Facebook account in order to link the spins to your account.
Consumer retail chain Vijay Sales is celebrating India’s 74th Republic Day with the “Mega Republic Day Sale” offers. In this sale, customers can get up to 65% discount on gadgets, entertainment, home and kitchen appliances. The sale starts today (January 22) and buyers who are planning to go for a complete home refresh in 2023 or upgrade their existing gadget can avail of the offers on this sale. Here we have listed the best offers and deals for you to choose from: Vijay Sales Mega Republic Day Sale: Availability, bank offers and more Apart from the special discounts, members of the Vijay Sales’ MyVS loyalty program can also earn 0.75% points on their purchase value every time they shop and can redeem them at Re. 1 at offline stores. Buyers can avail of instant discounts from various banks on their purchases at Vijay Sales offline retail stores and its official website. Starting January 25, ICICI Bank card holders can get a 7.5% instant discount of up to Rs 3000 on Credit and Debit Card EMI transactions above Rs 20,000. They can also get a 5% instant discount of up to Rs 1500 on Credit Card non-EMI transactions above Rs 20,000. Additionally, ICICI Bank Credit Card holders can also avail of an instant discount of Rs 5000 on EMI and Non-EMI transactions above Rs 1,00,000 transactions. Moreover, on January 25 and 26, American Express cardholders can avail of a 7.5% instant discount up to Rs 5,000 on EMI and Non-EMI transactions above Rs 25,000 and above HSBC Bank cardholders will get a 7.5% instant discount of up to Rs 7500 on Credit Card EMI transactions above Rs 20000. Yes Bank Credit Card holders can avail of an instant discount of 5% up to Rs 2,000 on EMI transactions of Rs 15,000 and above. Bank of Baroda Credit cardholders can avail of a 5% instant discount up to Rs 1500 on EMI transactions for purchases below Rs 40,000 or an instant discount of 5% up to Rs 2500 on EMI transactions of Rs 40,000 and above.
AU Small Finance Bank cardholders can avail of a 5% instant discount up to Rs 5,000 on Credit Card EMI transactions or a 5% Instant Discount up to Rs 1000 on Credit and Debit Card non-EMI transactions on a minimum purchase of Rs 10,000 and above. Additionally, IDFC First Bank Credit and Debit Card holders can avail of 10% cashback up to Rs 3000 on EMI transactions Rs 15,000 and above at stores only. One Card Credit Card holders can also avail of a 10% instant discount of up to Rs 3,000 on EMI transactions or Rs 2,000 on Non-EMI transactions of Rs 12,000 and above at stores and valid on Saturday and Sunday only. Vijay Sales Mega Republic Day Sale: Top picks The top picks during this sale are the Samsung A23 available at Rs 18,499 and Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite Wifi Tablet at Rs 9,999. Fire-Boltt Ninja Call 2 smartwatch is available at Rs 1,999, while the LG Solo microwave is at Rs 5,990. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy Buds2 is available for Rs 5,999 and more. Exciting offers can also be availed on the latest 5G smartphones, gaming laptops, Full HD TV sets, top-load washing machines, grooming ranges, kettles and coffee makers and more. Vijay Sales Mega Republic Day Sale: Smartphone deals During this sale, Apple iPhone will be available at a starting price of Rs 54,900 inclusive of cash back for HDFC Bank Card holders. On the other hand, Android-enabled smartphones will be available at a starting price of just Rs 7,499. Vijay Sales is also offering flat 20% off on Apple Care+ when they purchase Apple iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches as well as AirPods Vijay Sales Mega Republic Day Sale: Other gadgets This sale also includes TWS earbuds starting at Rs 799, smartwatches at up to 75% off, along with headphones and earphones starting at Rs 370. Laptops and Tablets are available at a starting price of Rs 9,999, cameras at a discount of up to 21% and computer accessories at a discount of up to 75%.
TV sets are available from Rs 11,490, soundbars will start from Rs 3,499 and home audio Systems starts at Rs 3,299 along with portable speakers which are also available at up to 60% discount. Vijay Sales Mega Republic Day Sale: Home and kitchen appliances The Vijay Sales Republic Day Sale is also offering great deals on home appliances. At this sale, refrigerators start from Rs 10,490, air conditioners start from Rs 26,990, washing machines at up to 50% discount, iron and garment steamers start from Rs 548, geysers and heaters start from Rs 2,878 and vacuum cleaners start from Rs 2,208. Apart from this, this sale also features air fryers and microwave ovens starting from Rs 4,499. Meanwhile, chimneys and cooktops are available at Rs 2,085 and kettles and coffee makers can be purchased at a starting price of Rs 699. Furthermore, blenders, mixers and juicers are also available at a discount of 49%. Consumers can also buy sandwich makers and pop Up toasters at up to 50% off and water purifiers at up to 40% off. Also Watch:
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Wordle is a web-based puzzle game owned by The New York Times. It was created in 2021 by Josh Wardle and features a daily puzzle where users have six attempts to guess the “word of the day.” The colour of the tiles changes to help users figure out the correct word, with grey indicating the letter is not part of the word, yellow indicating the letter is part of the word but in the wrong location, and green indicating the letter is in the correct location and part of the “Word of the day.” Wordle 582 is the puzzle for January 22; this article provides hints, clues, and answers to the puzzle. Wordle is an online puzzle game popular among people who want to use their time productively. If you are having trouble with the Wordle 582 puzzle for January 22, 2023, the following hints and clues may help you solve it:
Wordle hints and clues for today, January 22, 2023, are stated here for our readers: Wordle 582 hints and clues, January 22, 2023, are: Today’s Wordle starts with the letter M. Wordle word 582 ends with the letter Y. Today’s Wordle contains two vowel. There is no duplicate letter. Still, stuck? If you could not find the answers, fret not, we have got it all figured out for you: MATEY is the solution to Wordle 582 for January 22, 2023. If you keep winning for two or more days in a row, you will be awarded a winning streak. This will continue till the time you fail to guess the correct word. If you lose, the streak will be broken.
