Smartphone sales have been on the slide in recent years, because they’ve simply become too good. Why upgrade your iPhone when it still feels perfectly functional, and there are refurbished bargains to be had? Well, Apple‘s still hoping to convince you to upgrade with its new iPhone comparison tool – though the omission of one crucial detail means I’m still sticking with my iPhone 11 Pro (for now).
Apple’s new ‘Reasons to upgrade’ tool, spotted by 9to5Mac, is actually a pretty useful summary of the real-world differences between the iPhone 15 series and models going back to the iPhone 11. Rather than a sheet of specs, Apple’s tool visually spells out differences like camera resolution, storage differences and software features like Cinematic mode.
Clearly, it’s a promotional tool, so neglects to mention some of the downsides of upgrading – like the fact that the Apple Trade-In value of my iPhone 11 Pro is likely around $70 (about £55 / AU$105). Also, it’s a little galling to see USB-C touted as a reason to upgrade when Apple only belatedly added the feature on the iPhone 15 series after being strong-armed by the EU.
(Image credit: Apple)
But the tool’s visual examples are also way more useful than a spec sheet, particularly when it comes to the camera differences. For example, when comparing the iPhone 11 Pro to the iPhone 15 Pro (a move I have been considering), you get an example of the cropping potential of the latter’s 48MP sensor and a side-by-side of the stabilizing improvements delivered by Action mode for video.
On the other hand, the tool would have more potential if it let you choose the areas you want to see compared. For example, it’d be useful to see the clear size differences between models or real-world examples of battery life. Also, one detail Apple naturally neglects to mention is that it launches new iPhones every September – which means “waiting six months could be your best bet” isn’t part of the guidance.
As the comparison tool tells me, upgrading to an iPhone 15 Pro Max now would give me Apple’s 5x telephoto camera. But I’d also have to get a 6.7-inch phone, which is just a bit too big for my liking – if the rumors are true, the iPhone 16 Pro could offer that same camera in a phone with a more manageable 6.3-inch screen.
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Also, because the iPhone 15 Pro Max debuted Apple’s first 5x optical zoom, my feeling was that it could do with another year of software and hardware refinement before I’d take the leap. The 15 Pro Max is certainly still a great camera phone, which is why it won our Phone of the year award last year, but I always prefer to wait for the second-gen versions of new features.
The added twist this year are the growing rumors that iOS 18 is going to be the iPhone’s biggest software upgrade yet. This is expected to be largely due to some AI features across the likes of Siri, Messages and more – and while Apple doesn’t often restrict software features to newer models, I like the future-proofing potential of owning an iPhone that’s been announced with those new features in mind. This tallies with new rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro’s chipset could be designed with AI mind.
So while Apple’s new iPhone comparison tool has its uses – unless you’re looking at the iPhone 13 series, which is strangely omitted – I won’t be clicking Apple’s ‘buy’ button until later this year.
Find out what your current iPhone is missing vs. the latest model with Apple’s Reasons to Upgrade tool. Screenshot: Apple
Apple has added a dedicated section on its website showcasing reasons to upgrade to the latest iPhone. You can select your current iPhone in the tool and see what you are missing compared to the latest iPhone.
The page encourages you to upgrade to the newest iPhone and highlights the trade-in credit you can get.
You can only compare selected iPhones
Interestingly, the tool does not allow you to compare the iPhone 13 or 14 to the iPhone 15. Instead, you are limited to the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 series. They are also the oldest iPhones listed on the page. You can go through our iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro comparison if you need help deciding whether to upgrade or not.
Apple does not showcase the specs difference between the two selected iPhones. Instead, it highlights the improvements that a common user can easily understand.
For example, comparing the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 15 Pro highlights the latter’s ability to capture images with up to 4x the resolution for more detail and color. Similarly, the newer iPhone provides twice the storage and offers 2x and 3x telephoto zoom for more framing flexibility.
Other improvements highlighted include 4K Dolby Vision video recording, USB-C, superfast 5G, Dynamic Island and longer battery life.
Towards the bottom, the page highlights how you can save money on your new iPhone by trading in your existing iPhone. Additionally, you can use an Apple Card to make interest-free monthly payments. Carrier deals can also save you up to $1,000 in bill credits.
Reasons to Upgrade tool is currently US-exclusive
The Reasons to Upgrade tool is only available on Apple’s US website. You can directly access it from here. If you were on the fence about upgrading to iPhone 15, check out Apple’s tool to get an overview of all the improvements you will enjoy.
Apple today added a “Why Upgrade” section to its website, which is aimed at encouraging customers with older iPhones to upgrade to a newer model.
The website allows customers to compare the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Each comparison shows what new features someone with an older iPhone will get when upgrading to the iPhone 15 lineup. With the iPhone 11, for example, the iPhone 15 offers 4x better photo resolution, more base storage, Action and Cinematic mode for video, USB-C, a 60 percent faster GPU, 5G, and more.
The site highlights differences in display technology, design, sizing, connectivity, and more. Apple also provides details on the trade-in value of each older iPhone so customers know what kind of discount they can get when trading a device in with the purchase of a new iPhone.
To further soften the costs of upgrading, Apple advertises Apple Card Monthly Installments and carrier deals that can drop the price of the iPhone 15 to $0. Apple also details the ease of upgrading to a new device with features like Quick Start and eSIM.
Much of the smartphone market in the United States is saturated, and there are few new customers for Apple. Upgraders are an important market segment, and Apple is continually seeking ways to get customers to regularly purchase new iPhones to maintain sales momentum.
Weight: 167g Dimensions: 147 x 70.6 x 7.6mm Screen size: 6.2 inches Resolution: 1080 x 2340 Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US, Aus) / Exynos 2400 (UK) Memory: 8GB RAM (LPDDR5X) Storage: 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) Battery: 4,000mAh Rear camera: 50MP+12MP+10MP Front camera: 12MP
Galaxy AI is the key upgrade between generations here, but the S24 also continues its predecessor’s trend of offering heaps of power in a compact form factor.
For
Great screen
Superb update commitment
Compact powerhouse
Against
Overstuffed user experience
Galaxy AI features are a mixed bag
Minor upgrades over S23
Weight: 168g Dimensions: 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6mm Screen size: 6.1 inches Resolution: 1080 x 2340 Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Memory: 8GB (LPDDR5X) Storage: 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) Battery: 3,900mAh Rear camera: 50MP+12MP+10MP Front camera: 12MP
More compact than the S24, with better ergonomics to match, but the previous year’s performance and a smaller battery might undermine its worth in the eyes of some.
For
Even more compact performer than the S24
Competent triple camera
Good battery life for its size
Against
Previous year’s performance
Smaller battery
Fewer colorways
The standard Samsung Galaxy S24, of all the S24 series, probably received the fewest generational upgrades over its direct predecessor, making the question of whether an upgrade is worthwhile trickier to answer. The choice becomes more difficult still if you’re torn between this latest Galaxy S and the previous year’s baseline Galaxy S23, which has received a year’s worth of updates and price reductions, making it a contender.
Samsung‘s standard-variant flagships (not Plus or Ultra models) aim to offer compact performance in a market full of super-sized high-end phones. The baseline Galaxy S has delivered on this promise since the company split the line into multiple sizes, starting with 2016’s Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.
As with previous generations, beyond obvious differences such as a smaller screen dictating a smaller battery, non-Plus/Ultra Galaxy S phones usually adopt more modest networking, storage, and charging speeds – which is true here. But if you’re staring at your S23 and wondering what, if anything, you’re missing out on, or you want to point your wallet at one of these two capable Galaxy S phones, read on for an in-depth comparison.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)
The Samsung Galaxy S24 launched in key markets on January 31, 2024, while the S23 first went on sale just shy of a year earlier, on February 17, 2023.
US pricing for both phones started at $799, while in the UK the S23 cost significantly more at £849 (equivalent to $1,090 in today’s money), while Australian pricing placed the S24 at $1,399 and the S23 at AU$1,349.
Here’s a full pricing table breakdown:
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 original RRP (recommended retail pricing)
Storage
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung Galaxy S23
128GB
$799.99 / £799 / Not available in Australia
$799.99 / £849 / AU$1,349
256GB
$859.99 / £859 / AU$1,399
$859.99 / £899 / AU$1,449
512GB
Not available in the US or UK / AU$1,599
N/A
One caveat is that the base 128GB storage variants of both generations of Galaxy S phones run on older UFS 3.1-spec storage, so you get faster and more power-efficient UFS 4.0 storage for your money by opting for the higher-capacity models. This is a small difference in the grand scheme of things, but one worth highlighting.
There’s also the obvious factor of price over time, with the Galaxy S23 now over a year old. At the time of writing, Samsung UK sells both storage capacities at £100 less than their original RRPs, while the 128GB model can be had brand new from the likes of Amazon for almost 40% off.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: design and display
The Samsung Galaxy S23 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Just as Apple took the straight sides of the iPhone 14 (along with the 13 before it) and rounded them slightly for the iPhone 15 series, Samsung did something similar with the S24 but from the opposite direction.
Aesthetically, the switch to a matte finish from the polished and rounded edges of the S23 is great for reducing fingerprints but in a side-by-side comparison, the S23 offers better ergonomics. While this might be a poor trade-off for some, the S24 does sport a tougher Armor Aluminum frame, which its creator claims is 10% stronger than the S23’s. You also get a choice of seven Samsung Galaxy S24 colors compared to the S23’s six (this includes Samsung.com exclusives, in both cases).
Beyond the ergonomics and finishes of the frames, the designs of both Galaxy S phones remain largely consistent. The devices have a frosted glass rear with a triple vertically aligned “floating camera” setup and the same IP68-certified dust and water resistance. And while both remain capable, compact flagships, there’s also the matter of display sizes to discuss.
The S23 is – by modern standards – a small phone with a 6.1-inch display, while the S24’s screen is marginally bigger at 6.2 inches. The impact on overall size isn’t really noticeable, and few other high-end phones approach either of the Galaxy S’s pocketable proportions.
Screen tech also remains largely unchanged, with a Full HD+ resolution “Dynamic AMOLED 2x” panel and a peak 120Hz refresh rate. That said, although the S23’s panel bottoms out at 10Hz, the S24’s can reach as low as 1Hz, which makes it more power efficient. As for brightness, High Brightness mode on the S23 clocks in at 1,200 nits, while full-panel brightness tops out at 1,500 nits on the S24. Peak brightness jumps from 1,750 nits on the S23 to a whopping 2,600 nits on the S24, making the newer model’s panel both more energy-efficient and easier to view, even in brighter outdoor conditions.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)
Even if you’re familiar with the subtle differences between the S23’s “floating camera” aesthetic and the S24’s “One Mass” design language, there’s little to tell the actual camera hardware on the back of each phone apart. We’re not just talking form here; the sensors appear identical, too: a 50-megapixel f/1.8 main sensor, a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide, a 10-megapixel f/2.4 3x optical zoom telephoto and a 12-megapixel front-facer; it’s the same across both devices. So if the camera is your main reason to buy a phone, is there any added value to the Samsung Galaxy S24’s camera?
Assuming you’ve seen any of the marketing surrounding the S24 series, it should come as no surprise that the main hook is the new AI functionality. The S24 launches with Galaxy AI features built in, including a suite of photography-centric abilities that, at launch, remain locked off to older models – including the S23.
Various Samsung sources have confirmed that a handful of AI features will trickle down to the S23 series – including camera-related abilities like Photo Assist. However, at the time of writing, Samsung’s older flagship is still to discover what that looks like when the company does push out the phone’s One UI 6.1 update.
Even with AI features narrowing the gap between the S23 and S24, there’s the inherent image processing each phone applies to pictures. The Galaxy S23 – like numerous previous generations – serves up higher contrast and heavily sharpened shots, which is characteristically Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy S24 camera samples:
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The S24, however, takes a more metered approach with the same shots, delivering softer and more filmic imagery. The difference highlights how much variation Samsung can squeeze out of similar hardware, but the style bias will ultimately fall to personal preference.
Unlike last year, where every S23 ran on Snapdragon hardware, the global Snapdragon / Exynos chipset split in various markets worldwide for the Galaxy S24 introduces even more image variation in ISP (image signal processor). This variation will likely only matter to the most discerning Samsung Galaxy S users, though.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: performance and software
The Samsung Galaxy S23 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
That S24 chipset difference may have subtle implications when it comes to image processing, but the regional divide of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Galaxy S24 in markets including the US, versus Samsung Exynos 2400-powered phones across the UK and Europe, introduce discrepancies that make a direct comparison between with the S23’s sole Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset a little more convoluted.
If you’re in the US, there are across-the-board gains to be had when moving from the S23’s 8 Gen 2 to the S24’s 8 Gen 3. The Exynos reportedly serves up weaker graphical performance but better power efficiency in some tasks compared to its Snapdragon counterpart. It outpaces the 8 Gen 2 in artificial tests, too, with a Geekbench 6 multicore score of 6,607 to the S23’s score of 5,437.
Both phones start with a baseline 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, which moves to faster and more power-efficient UFS 4.0 storage across 256GB and 512GB configurations. However, that top spec is inclusive to the S24 series and, more specifically, Australia (which also forgoes the lower 128GB model found in the US and UK).
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)
While both phones serve up a similar-looking user experience in Samsung’s own One UI interface, the S24 obviously arrives on a release that’s one year newer, running atop the current (at the time of writing) latest major Android release: Android 14.
What really sets the S23 and S24 apart here is the newer Galaxy S’s outstanding update promise: it trounces the S23’s already-impressive four years of operating system and five years of security updates, with the promise of a whopping seven generations of both. From a value standpoint, your money pays for a lot more support with the S24 than it does with its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: battery life
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)
A larger screen and body afford the newer Galaxy S24 a larger battery, but only by a little. The Galaxy S23 arrived with a 3,900mAh cell inside, while the S24 hosts an even 4,000mAh power pack.
In practice, both phones muster similar screen-on time results, with the S23 usually skirting just under and the S24 just over seven hours per charge, with the always-on display enabled in both cases.
Charging is uniform across both models, too, at 25W wired and up to 15W wireless. In testing, the S23 reached 53% in 30 minutes and a full charge in 1 hour 20 minutes, while the S24 hit 58% charge after half an hour with a compatible Samsung charger (sold separately in the case of both phones) and 100% at the same time as the S23.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (left) and the Samsung Galaxy S23 (right) (Image credit: Future)
There’s really little that sets the S24 apart from its predecessor, with both models presenting a similar design, user experience, camera and battery experience. There are obvious areas in which the newer model does stand apart, such as the newer generation chipset and significantly longer-lasting software promise from Samsung, but, beyond that, the differences fall to taste rather than prowess.
Perhaps you prefer the sound of the S23’s fractionally smaller proportions and more comfortable ergonomics or are intrigued by the S24’s full suite of new AI features.
If it comes down to money, the Galaxy S23 has had a lot of time to drop in price, making for a noteworthy steal in early 2024. However, you get more for the S24’s higher asking price – not just because of the performance headroom as a result of that newer silicon, but because of that upgraded update promise that Samsung has tacked on, too. You’re getting a great compact flagship either way but for different reasons.
You might be able to ditch the screen protector with the iPhone 17 in 2025. Screenshot: Apple
Apple could give the iPhone 17’s display a big anti-reflective update. A new rumor says that the 2025 iPhone might feature a “super-hard anti-reflective layer,” which is also more scratch-resistant.
Seemingly, Apple will use a new layer of coating on the glass to reduce the reflection and increase scratch resistance.
Corning could be behind iPhone 17’s new cover glass
iPhones currently use Ceramic Shield glass. Apple markets it as “tougher than any smartphone glass” with up to 4x better drop performance. While impressive, Samsung and Corning recently surpassed Apple’s offering with Gorilla Glass Armor.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra features Corning’s Gorilla Glass Armor. It uses a new coating that claims to reduce reflections by up to 75% and has a significant real-world impact. Tests also show that the glass is more scratch-resistant than Gorilla Glass Victus 2. No other Android phone features the new Gorilla Glass Armor panel, but this should change in the next few months.
Based on the leak from Chinese leaker Instant Digital (via MacRumors), Apple plans to use a similar display coating technology on iPhone 17 in 2025. Since the company’s supply chain partners have recently received the coating equipment, the enhanced cover glass will debut on the iPhone 17 and not on the iPhone 16.
Every new iPhone ships with a brighter OLED panel. A superior cover glass with better anti-reflective properties will help you enjoy the brighter panel in all its glory. The improved scratch resistance should help reduce micro scratches, a welcome improvement if you prefer not to apply a screen protector to your iPhone’s screen.
However, the leaker says the new anti-reflective coating negatively affects the oleophobic coating. It reduces its effectiveness, leading the display to show finger oil after a year of use. Apple could use a stronger oleophobic coating on the iPhone 17 to circumvent this issue.
See what Windows 11 can do for less than $33 this Labor Day. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Not every Cult of Mac reader is all Mac, all the time. We know many of you use PCs for various reasons — and here’s the Windows 11 Pro sale you’ve been waiting for.
For PC owners, upgrading to the latest Microsoft operating system just makes sense. For one thing, installing it means you get access to updates and other features as they roll out, keeping your computer running smoothly and safely.
Windows 11 Pro comes with Microsoft Teams, which you can use to set up remote meetings with a single click on the taskbar. Plus, the new biometrics login functionality makes sure that you — and only you — can access your device. You can even set up a “wake and lock” mode that powers on before you sit down.
The OS also offers full touchscreen support. And you can use Windows Studio Effects to touch up your photo album in ways you never thought possible. And speaking of looks, DirectX 12 Ultimate will make you feel like you’re right in the middle of your favorite games.
Upgrade your PC for less with this Windows 11 Pro sale
You can rely on this Micorsoft’s latest operating system. It’s rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by verified purchasers at Cult of Mac Deals. And it’s on sale for now: Get Windows 11 Pro through March 24 for just $29.97. That’s an 84% discount off the regular price of $199.
Microsoft has announced its Copilot (AI) tools will be rolling out to more users than ever before with the expansion of its Pro tier.
The move will see the more advanced version of the platform available to more users across the globe without the need for confusing subscriptions, with Copilot Pro now available in all 222 countries where Copilot is available.
“Copilot is your everyday AI companion, meant to bring the power of generative AI to everyone across work and life,” noted Microsoft’s Divya Kumar, General Manager, Search and AI Marketing in a blog post announcing the news. “With Copilot, we’re committed to giving everyone the opportunity to supercharge their creativity and productivity.”
Microsoft Copilot Pro expansion
The upgrade means that the use of Copilot across the Microsoft 365 web app collection, including popular tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more, will be available as part of your Copilot Pro subscription.
Previously, users had to have an additional Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription to access the tools online – and this will still be the case for desktop apps across PC and Mac.
The upgrade will also extend to Copilot Pro subscribers on the Microsoft 365 and Outlook mobile apps for iOS and Android in the coming months.
Copilot Pro will remain at its price of $20 / £19 per month/per user, but Microsoft is currently offering a 1-month free trial of Copilot Pro for anyone who downloads the mobile app for iOS or Android.
Elsewhere, the upgrade will bring Copilot GPT Builder to all Copilot Pro subscribers, allowing users to build custom Copilot GPTs to help solve specific problems or aid certain tasks, which Microsoft giving examples across job hunting, studying or even cooking.
“We want all power users, creators, and anyone else to take their Copilot experience to the next level,” added Kumar.
Released in January 2024, Copilot Pro is powered by some of the very latest AI models around today, including Open AI‘s GPT-4 Turbo, which offers faster and smarter assistance than previous generations. As well as assistance in productivity apps, the platform also offers Microsoft’s Image Creator from Designer (previously known as Bing Image Creator), providing enhanced AI image creation at a higher quality than ever before.
Your Galaxy A52 is starting to show its age. Performance isn’t great anymore, there are no more Android OS upgrades waiting for you, and perhaps even the battery and screen protector are starting to show wear after all these years.
Needless to say, you’re thinking of upgrading your phone, and the natural reaction might be to buy the new Galaxy A55. But we’re here to tell you that’s not your only option, and you might want to do some outside-the-box thinking before you decide which Galaxy model should be your next.
The way we see it, you have not one but three worthwhile upgrade options if you want to replace your Galaxy A52 with a newer phone that has more or less the same price as the A52 did a few years ago. And there are benefits to picking either one.
Upgrading from the Galaxy A52 to the Galaxy A55
Your first option is the newer sequel, i.e., the Galaxy A55. We already talked about the reasons why the A55 is better than the A52 in virtually every way, but for a quick recap, it’s more powerful, has more RAM options, a better screen and connectivity options, a bigger battery, and an improved camera system.
However, keep in mind that Samsung didn’t reveal just the A55 earlier this week. It also revealed a cheaper model, and it can be your next phone and a worthwhile Galaxy A52 replacement.
Upgrading from the Galaxy A52 to the Galaxy A35
Samsung announced the Galaxy A35 alongside the A55, and believe it or not, the new A35 model is superior to your Galaxy A52, even if it is technically part of an inferior and cheaper lineup.
The age gap between the Galaxy A52 and A35 is big enough that the new A35 beats your A52 in many aspects.
What you get with the Galaxy A35 is a bigger, brighter 1,000 nits 6.6-inch screen with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, a more powerful Exynos 1380 chip that outperforms your Snapdragon 720G or 750G, and a bigger 5,000mAh battery.
You’re also getting better connectivity with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, and an improved camera system, if not through more megapixels but thanks to better processing and Super HDR video recording capabilities.
Finally, with the Galaxy A35, you’re getting a phone that runs Android 14, and you’ll benefit from four major OS upgrades and five years of security patches.
All this for a lower price than what you paid for the Galaxy A52 in 2021. The Galaxy A35 was launched for €379.
Upgrading from the Galaxy A52 to the S23 FE
If you’re willing to spend a bit extra when you upgrade from the Galaxy A52, you should look no further than the Galaxy S23 FE.
The Fan Edition phone doesn’t cost as much as the Galaxy S24 flagship, but it has a high-end (albeit older) chip and great features overall. It’s even supposed to get Galaxy AI features through a firmware update soon.
You’ll benefit from a brighter 1,450 nits screen, an Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, 8GB of RAM, a competent camera system, better connectivity, wireless charging, and a modern design, just to name a few.
And if you are looking to trade your Galaxy A52 5G for the Galaxy S23 FE, you can get a discount of around $70 on the new phone.
In conclusion, whether you’re looking to spend less, about the same, or a little extra on your Galaxy A52 replacement, you can jump to the A55 or step outside the confines of the Galaxy A5x series and pick a different model. You’ll still get a better phone no matter what.
Either one of these three new models offer improved sound and speakers, Vision Booster technology, nightography and other camera improvements, and better firmware support.
While a lot of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 leaks suggest Samsung’s next big-screen foldable won’t be much of an upgrade, it’s sounding like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 could be a huge departure from its predecessor, with upgrades to almost every element.
Numerous rumors have suggested this, with the latest being a detailed specs list from @TheGalox_ on X (via Phandroid). Most of these specs are things we’ve heard before, but hearing them from another source increases the likelihood that they’re accurate.
According to this then, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have a 3.9-inch cover screen (up from 3.4 inches on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5). It’s also said to have a 4,000mAh battery (up from 3,700mAh), a 50MP main camera (up from 12MP), and an improved hinge and internal layout.
Galaxy Z Flip6• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy• Bigger cooling system • 3.9 inch outer & 6.7 inch inner displays• 50/12 cameras • 4000mah battery • Improved hinge & internal layout • Gorilla Glass Armor• 7 years of updates• Galaxy AI• Possible 12gb ram models pic.twitter.com/OH1kXnYHPdMarch 13, 2024
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The tipster also claims that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have a bigger cooling system, that unsurprisingly it will have a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset (up from a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), and that it might come with up to 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB).
It should be durable too, with Gorilla Glass Armor mentioned, which is tougher than the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and as expected it’s said to sport Galaxy AI and come with the promise of seven years of Android updates (up from four years of Android updates and five years of security patches for the Z Flip 5).
Some things might not be upgraded
The only specs mentioned here that aren’t an improvement are the 12MP secondary camera (which is presumably an ultra-wide like on the Z Flip 5), and the 6.7-inch main display. Though we’d guess that will probably at least be brighter, to match the Samsung Galaxy S24‘s 2,600-nit peak brightness.
So if this all pans out then the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 could be a huge upgrade on the current Flip model.
So we’d take this latest rumor with a pinch of salt, but it certainly makes for an exciting possibility. We should find out all the official specs in the next few months, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 likely landing in July. Stay tuned to TechRadar for all the leaks and other news in the meantime.
At some point later this year we should be treated to the arrival of the flagship Google Pixel 9, and one of the key upgrades over the Pixel 8 might be in the display department, if a new leak is to be believed.
As per Android Authority, there’s code hidden in the latest Android 14 beta that mentions an “adaptive touch” option in the Display section of Settings. When enabled, “touch sensitivity will automatically adjust to your environment, activities and screen protector” according to the code.
That sums up what adaptive touch is pretty well: it changes the sensitivity of the screen, so you’ll need a harder or softer tap to register a press. If you’ve ever unsuccessfully tried to use your phone screen in the rain or while wearing gloves, that’s the problem adaptive touch is designed to fix.
Screen protectors can interfere with touch sensitivity as well, and a variety of phones – including Samsung Galaxy handsets, the Pixel 8, and the Pixel 8 Pro – already have a toggle switch you can enable to boost sensitivity when a protector is in place. Adaptive touch would make that sort of adjustment automatically, it seems.
Coming soon
Based on the digging done by Android Authority, this isn’t a feature that’s coming to existing Pixel phones first – there’s a ‘P24’ flag in the code that most probably means 2024 phones, so the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. Whether or not it’ll be rolled out to older handsets later remains to be seen.
The Pixel 9 phones are unlikely to launch before October, but the leaks and rumors are already starting to appear online. The upcoming flagships are expected to feature a new Tensor G4 chipset designed by Google, and the indications are that it might solve some of the problems the Pixel 8 has had with heat and efficiency.
We’ve also seen leaked renders of both the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro, showing a redesigned camera bump and sides that are flat rather than rounded. The images suggest that camera upgrades could also be in the offing, but of course this is all speculation until Google makes everything official.
We should also see Android 15 being rolled out at the same time as the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. In addition to adaptive touch, the new software might also bring satellite messaging capabilities to Android for the first time.
