According to a fairly reliable source, Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 could be a lot more expensive.
In a post on Weibo, Digital Chat Station says that the price of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will “definitely increase significantly” alongside the cost of the wafer used in production. While no means of measuring the change is cost is provided, saying that the change is “significant” certainly has implications.
While the cost of the chip used in a smartphone or device doesn’t always directly translate to the product’s retail cost, it can play a considerable role. For instance, it was claimed that Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was roughly 25% more expensive compared to its predecessor, but that price wasn’t felt everywhere. The Galaxy S24 Ultra saw a price increase, but the Galaxy S24 and S24+ did not. The OnePlus 12 also didn’t adjust its price.
Rumors, opinions, and price information of Snapdragon 8 series (835-8Gen3).
That’s to say that, at least for now, the alarm bells shouldn’t be ringing.
But it does make some sense that Qualcomm’s prices could shoot up this year. Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is likely to adopt a 3nm process at TSMC and is already confirmed to use a new Oryon CPU. That new CPU is also being used in Snapdragon X Elite which is beating Apple Silicon in some early tests.
In sum, that would make the new Pro lineup composed of black, white/silver, rose and natural titanium options. For the base iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, Kuo expects black, white, green, pink, and blue colorways.
These predictions generally match earlier expectations, although there had been some talk of a purple iPhone 16 model. Kuo does not mention purple in his message today.
The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to be officially announced in the fall, likely at a September media event. The phone’s design will mostly resemble their iPhone 15 counterparts, although the screen sizes on the Pro models is getting a smidge bigger. The dual-camera module on the 15 and 15 Plus is changing from a diagonal to a straight ‘traffic light’ arrangement.
The big new feature is expected to be the addition of a Capture Button, which will assist with taking videos and photos. The button is expected to be capacitive and respond to different levels of force pressure as input. For instance, users will be able to focus the camera in the viewfinder with a half-force press, and then press to actually take the camera. This is similar to how a traditional camera behaves.
Ahead of their expected launch later this year, the wallpapers for the entire Google Pixel 9 series have leaked with a new “Swirling Petals” theme, and hinting at the color variants available.
Each year, Google’s new series of smartphones brings a new theme to its series of wallpapers. Last year, it was minerals. This time around, as reported by Android Authority, the Pixel 9 series will bring “Swirling Petals.”
This new series of wallpapers has a trippy translucent look that has petal-shaped blobs of color around the screen. The colors have plenty of contrast, but they’re not particularly vibrant (as if often the case with default wallpapers). As usual, there are light and dark versions of each wallpaper.
The series is split into four different devices. Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The four-device flagship series is a new approach for Google, and will mark the largest number of devices launched at one time. Google’s Pixel Fold successor was originally expected to launch earlier in the year, as the original debuted in June, but with Tensor G4 under the hood, it increasingly looks like we’ll see this device debut later in the year.
The leaked wallpapers also hint at four color variants for Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro’s, with only two options for Pixel 9 Pro Fold. These would line up with Google’s Pixel 8 series, though the fourth color option, “Mint,” didn’t debut until later on.
You can see the full set of wallpapers below. The whole set in full-resolution is being hosted on Google Drive.
With summer drawing near, we’re getting closer to the expected September debut of the iPhone 16 lineup. As a result, more details about the phones should start finding their way into the news.
One such update comes today from analyst Ross Young, writing on X in a subscriber post about the start of iPhone 16 display production.
iPhone 16 panels entering production soon
Young notes in his post that panels for the new iPhone 16 lineup are expected to begin in June, which would be on schedule with the timing of last year’s iPhone 15 production.
Display production taking place at the same time as last year means the iPhone 16 is on track to debut at the same time as last year’s iPhone 15, in mid-September.
Out of the full iPhone 16 line, which is expected to include four models yet again, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are said by Young to have the highest projected volumes in June, with 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max displays likely ramping up later in the summer.
Also today, dummy units for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max were shared, revealing the expected larger display sizes on this year’s models. This will represent the first notable display size increase in several years, since the iPhone 12 line.
Verdict
With WWDC on the horizon, and Apple needing to produce millions of iPhones ahead of their fall launch, today’s news is unsurprising yet reassuring. Pending any future production issues, potentially from manufacturing new display sizes this year, the iPhone 16 should hit users’ hands around the same September timeframe that we’ve come to expect.
Android 15 is now becoming available for devices outside of the Pixel ecosystem, including from OEMs like Nothing, Oppo, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo, and more.
Android 15 doesn’t look entirely new on the surface, but it houses a lot of changes under the hood. Little changes that affect overall quality-of-life and phone performance. While the brunt of what we’ve seen from Android 15 has been on Pixel phones running the beta, a healthy number of manufacturers have officially made Android 15 Beta builds available to the public.
On the official Android 15 page from Google, there’s a list of manufacturers and, by extension, a list of devices that are currently able to run Android 15 in some beta form. The Pixel series has access to the Android 15 Beta 2 build previewed at Google I/O 2024. Devices running Android outside of that will very likely have a different build available, but the specifics depend on what phone you’re using.
So far, Google has populated that list with these phone manufacturers:
Honor
IQOO
Lenovo
Nothing
OnePlus
Oppo
Realme
Sharp
Tecno
Vivo
Xiaomi
How to install Android 15 Beta on your device
Whether or not you can install Android 15 on your devices is simple – if you see your device listed, you’re good to go. Each OEM will differ in what build of Android 15 it’ll offer, but a specific list of phones is listed under each name in Google’s official list.
Find your device’s manufacturer and hit Get the Beta.
Carefully read that OEM’s guide on how to install the Beta and follow it’s instructions.
Google tends to excitedly offer up the Anroid 15 Beta as the “new thing,” and publications like Sydney CBD Repair Centre are excited to share that information with you, but we do ask that you keep something in mind: if you don’t feel comfortable installing the Android 15 Beta for your device, don’t. Beta updates like this always have the potential to brick or harm your device, even if you take every precaution. As always, take the time to read the guide for each OEM and follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely.
Apple has officially released iOS 17.5 to the general public. The update brings a handful of new features and changes for iPhone users. Head below for everything we know right now.
iOS 17.5 is now available
iOS 17.5 is now available to the public. You can head to the Settings app on your device, then choose General, then Software Update to install the update.
What’s new in iOS 17.5?
While iOS 17.5 isn’t quite as big of an update as other iOS 17 updates, it still includes its fair share of new features and updates.
Web Distribution in the EU
Within the European Union, the latest iOS 17.5 update introduces the capability to install applications directly from a developer’s website. Apple unveiled this new “Web Distribution” feature last month, explaining that it allows developers to distribute their iOS apps straight from their own websites.
To utilize this functionality, developers must opt into the updated App Store business terms, which requires paying a Core Technology Fee of €0.50 for every first annual installation exceeding one million in the preceding 12 months.
Any application disseminated through the web will still need to adhere to Apple’s notarization guidelines. Apps can only be installed from a website domain that the developer has registered in App Store Connect. Apple will also provide a range of APIs for developers to integrate with system functionality.
New Quartiles game for Apple News+
In the Apple News app, Apple News+ subscribers in the United States and Canada will find a new “Quartiles” word game after updating to iOS 17.5. The game prompts players to select from a grid of tiles to form words.
Quartiles is the third game to come to Apple News+, following the addition of daily crossword and crossword mini-games that were added last year.
iOS 17.5 also adds Game Center integration to all three of the Apple News+ games. With this feature, you can now see leaderboards for each of the three games for Daily Solve Time and Daily Score stats.
Apple News offline
Also for Apple News+ subscribers, iOS 17.5 introduces a new “Offline Mode.” This feature “makes it easy to access the hundreds of magazines, newspapers, narrated articles, and more included in a News+ subscription — no matter where you are,” according to Apple.
Apple News+ subscribers can now enjoy Offline Mode on iPhone and iPad to automatically download Top Stories, Apple News Today audio briefings, full magazine issues and narrated articles from News+ publishers, and puzzles to access later, without Wi-Fi or a cellular connection. When the device is back online, downloaded content will automatically refresh, and downloads will be optimized to maximize space on the device.
Design changes
iOS 17.5 also includes a few small design changes that are worth pointing out:
The Podcasts widget has been updated to have a new dynamic color that changes based on the artwork of the podcast you’re currently playing.
In the Apple Books app, Apple has redesigned the “Reading Goal” icon in top navigation bar.
In the Settings app, there is a new glyph for the “Passkeys Access for Web Browsers” menu under “Privacy & Security.”
New Pride wallpaper
iOS 17.5 also includes a new Pride Collection of wallpapers for iPhone and iPad users, as is tradition. The new dynamic wallpapers come as part of Apple’s goal to “champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities.”
As explained by Apple, iOS 17.5 includes a new system centered around anti-stalking capabilities for accessories like AirTags. This development follows Apple’s announcement last year of a partnership with Google to collaborate on a new “industry specification to combat unwanted tracking.”
Strings added to the Find My app reveal that iOS will be able to identify tracking accessories, even those that are not Apple or Find My certified, and assist users in disabling them.
One of the new strings states, “This item lacks certification on the Apple Find My network. You have the option to disable this item and prevent it from sharing its location with the owner. To proceed, follow the instructions provided on a website by the manufacturer of this item.”
These changes come as Google started rolling out its new Find My Device network for Android on April 8.
New ‘Repair State’
Also in iOS 17.5, Apple has added a new “Repair State” feature to Find My. This feature lets users confirm with their Apple ID and password that they’re about to send their iPhone in for a repair. As a result, Apple technicians can confirm that the person owns the iPhone and then proceed with the repair without the need to turn off Stolen Device Protection and Find My.
Essentially, this ensures that users can still track their device using Find My while it’s being repaired. Previous, Apple required users to disabled Find My altogether.
iOS 17.5’s security fixes
Finally, in addition to all the new features and changes, iOS 17.5 also includes 15 notable security patches for iPhone users. Notably, none of the 15 vulnerabilities were reported as previously exploited.
You can find the full list of these changes in our dedicated coverage. Even if none of the new features in iOS 17.5 are tempting for you, we recommend updating as soon as possible for those security fixes.
Following the 6.1-inch model in mid-April, real-life images of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL have now emerged in a leak. In the cover image above, you see the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL side-by-side, with those names not confirmed.
In images shared by Rozetked today, we see the Pixel 9 Pro XL — codenamed “Komodo” — with 16GB of RAM (like the smaller 9 Pro), 128GB of storage, and a 6.73-inch display. These hardware specs are coming from the AIDA64 app running on the devices.
On the camera front, all three lenses on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are said to come in at 50MP with 0.5x, 1x, and 5x zoom. Design-wise, it’s just a larger Pixel 9 Pro.
Then there’s the Pixel 9 (“Tokay”) with 12GB of RAM (like on the current 8 Pro) and 128 GB of storage. The dual cameras offer 0.5x and 1x zoom. The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro are said to be identical in size, but the entry model with a 6.24-inch screen has larger bezels than the 6.34-inch Pro, though all three devices have a 120Hz refresh rate.
The last image in the gallery above shows the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9, Pixel 8 and Pixel 7. Both Pixel 9 models are larger than the 8, with Rozetked noting how it’s closer to the Pixel 7.
Only the two Pro phones have Ultra Wideband (UWB), as well as a matte back paired with a polished frame that looks smudged up in the image below (where it’s compared to an iPhone 15 Pro). The Pixel 9 is the reverse with a glassy rear but matte frames for a stark difference, at least in these shots. (It reminds me of the Pixel 7 series.)
All three phones are running the same chip, which will presumably be called the Tensor G4.
You look at the Galaxy S24 and S24+ and can’t help but wonder if they really are the new models, or Samsung just went and reissued the old ones. The Ultra, on the other hand, is a different beast. The Galaxy S24 Ultra does make some significant strides towards improving on what was already the ultimate smartphone package.
Some of the changes are immediately visible and start with the even blockier design with a fully flat face and the less reflective display glass. You won’t immediately tell, but that glass should also be tougher, and as months go by, you’ll perhaps appreciate the switch to titanium for the exposed frame, too.
An even less obvious development, but one that has potential to be a major step in solidifying the Galaxy Ultra’s position as a top cameraphone, is the new 5x zoom telephoto. Undoubtedly better at 5x than the old model, can it be as good at 10x?
The Ultra won’t partake in the chipset divide that’s now returned to the lesser models, and all of the ultimate Galaxies will feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – no Exynos here if that makes any difference. Sure enough, the S24 Ultra will have all the AI smarts Samsung and Google came up with to fill an hour of Unpacked 2024.
Unchanged is the battery capacity on this year’s model, and so too is the maximum charging rating, for better or for worse. No change can be a good thing too, and the S Pen remains another differentiator that elevates the Galaxy Ultra above all others when it comes to productivity and just general usefulness (it’s the best camera remote is what it is).
You can have another look at the key specs below, before we proceed to get our hands on the Ultra, at long last.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra unboxing
Another uneventful unboxing experience awaits, but it’s not like the slimline box is making any promises. A SIM eject pin is still included, though a line in the instructions that says ‘use a paper clip or an earring’ could be replacing that in the near future. That, or eSIMs.
The other thing of any practical use inside the box is a USB-C cable, but it’s only good for 3A of current, and that may not be enough to get the promised 45W of charging. We might have a rant on that subject later on in the review.
Competition
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s ultimate smartphone status can only be threatened by similarly uncompromising offerings, though some allowances can be made given the right reasoning. First things first, though, and we reckon there’s some in-brand competition that you must sift through before looking outside the Galaxy.
Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) next to Galaxy S23 Ultra
The most obvious alternative is the previous generation – opting for that one has the potential to save you roughly 20-30% depending on locale, possibly even more given the right combination of research and luck. You’d be missing out on the less reflective display, the overall improved build, and the latest camera advancements. But the old cameras are still plenty capable, battery life and charging are similar, the last-gen Snapdragon has many good years left in it, and the S Pen is the same. We’d always pick the latest one, but a more reasonable person can see the value in the 2023 model.
Another one from last year, but not to be replaced any time soon, the Z Fold5 can challenge the Ultra for productivity, particularly if you grab the optional S Pen with one of those nice cases that let you carry it around everywhere. The price difference goes the other way here and you’ll be paying more for the Fold pretty much everywhere in the world, and you’ll be getting a notably inferior camera system in the process. But the utility of the 7.6-inch canvas may very well be worth it all.
On the other hand, if you ended up seven pages into a Galaxy S24 Ultra review simply looking for a large-screen regular Samsung smartphone, perhaps the S24+ is your answer. This one runs for S23 Ultra money or a little more, throwing you into yet another galactic dilemma. That could be resolved with a trip to our S24+ review, but basically if you want the latest chipset, AI smarts and unrivaled update policy, and don’t care for the greatest cameras or a stylus, the S24+ is worth a look.
Let’s say you’ve dismissed all those and are willing to explore other avenues. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is one such alternative route, which is somehow cheaper in the US and more expensive everywhere else. The ecosystem pros and cons aren’t for us to decide for you, but the iPhone just may have one objective advantage in endurance. The S24 Ultra is likely the superior cameraphone and it’s hard to argue with the S Pen and DeX support for work and play.
If you’re in it for the Google AI smarts and the long-term support, what better option than the Google phone itself, the Pixel 8 Pro? The Pixel is no match for the Galaxy’s battery life, nor can it charge as fast, and despite the general inclination for #teampixel camera fandom, the Galaxy is quite probably the superior cameraphone. But you can have a base 128GB Pixel 8 Pro for two-thirds of the price of an Ultra, and even for matched storage, there will be considerable savings.
A less obvious option and one with considerable camera prowess that outspecs the Galaxy S24 Ultra is another Ultra – the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Technically, an international version is in existence, but tracking one down might be tricky. With four 50MP rear cameras, among them a 1-inch sensor dual aperture lens primary unit and a properly large ultrawide, the Xiaomi has hardware that can make the Galaxy’s setup look upper midrange, almost. No S Pen though. Somewhat iffy battery life and last year’s chipset. But really, it’s the availability that’s the main issue.
Verdict
The Galaxy S24 Ultra surprised us – we didn’t expect it to have any flaws, and suddenly, we have a cons section. With a list in it. Indeed, most perplexing is the fact that Samsung has produced a display that is anything less than perfect. Of course, it’s not that bad, and its shortcomings are minuscule or will be addressed later in software. But that’s not what we’d expect from Samsung’s ultimate smartphone.
Continually irritating is Samsung’s lack of initiative in the charging department, and no amount of new 45W adapters is seemingly going to bring truly fast top-ups. This one we did expect, but it doesn’t mean we like it any better.
Perhaps an overworked software team with unrealistic deadlines brought us some peculiarities in the new camera’s zoom action. We’ve heard that it happens and such oversights get fixed as weeks go by. We just didn’t think that happens to Galaxies.
But rereading the above for some perspective, we also realize that while imperfect to a certain level, the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains Samsung’s ultimate smartphone, and it’s the most complete package you can buy today.
Samsung didn’t just coast for another year, which we felt was the case with the S23 Ultra. We got more new stuff this time around than we could have predicted. The new materials in the build don’t just feel nice; they also improve the visual experience. After years of enjoying the coolness of curved displays, we’ve now grown up to realize that flat screens have their benefits, and Samsung’s now giving us flat screens across the range.
Without much fuss around that subject, the S24 Ultra is one of the longest-lasting Androids you can buy, and even if the big names from China charge three times as fast, the Pixel and the iPhone don’t. An always-with-you stylus remains elusive outside of the Samsung flagship, and you may not know you want or need one until you’ve had one.
The camera system is also mostly a source of satisfaction. The rethinking of the telephoto setup is a forward step that adds another layer of versatility. The rest of the rear modules we’d almost call stale next to what we’re seeing from Chinese brands and their impressive hardware, but Samsung has managed to squeeze out such performance out of these otherwise uninspired bits that it doesn’t feel like we’re getting less than what is right.
In the end, Samsung’s ultimate smartphone comes easily recommended.
Pros
The new display glass offers an improved viewing experience, and the display itself is plenty bright.
Tougher materials and build all around, the titanium frame is nice to the touch, the target audience will likely appreciate the return to a flat screen.
Battery life is towards the top of the class; charging is faster than Pixels or iPhones.
The S Pen is just as unique a proposition in 2024 as it has been for years.
Exciting One UI with plenty of AI, DeX support, and great connectivity options.
Camera system as versatile as ever thanks to an even more useful telephoto and overall improved processing.
Cons
The display has flaws which may be obscure or fixable along the way but mar the overall impression.
Charging speed is still behind the curve; the phone is picky about adapters, and the bundled cable is 3A only.
Illogical image quality disparity between 10x and slightly lower zoom levels.
Apple has dabbled in audio transcription in the past with mixed success. One shining example lately has been Apple Podcasts transcripts; more pessimistically, voicemail transcripts are still subpar. But according to a new report, the upcoming iOS 18 release will unlock a host of new system-wide audio transcription and summary features, all powered by AI.
People familiar with the matter have told us that Apple has been working on AI-powered summarization and greatly enhanced audio transcription for several of its next-gen operating systems. The new features are expected to enable significant improvements in efficiency for users of its staple Notes, Voice Memos, and other apps.
These features appear set to make one of the strongest cases for AI integration into various parts of Apple’s operating systems.
Transcription of audio content, and the ability to receive AI summaries of that content, are two highly practical features that can save users a lot of time.
If everything works well, students will be able to record lectures and quickly, easily revisit key information via a transcript. Recorded business meetings can be summarized as a helpful reminder of what was discussed.
If these things are accomplished with true intelligence, they can provide meaningful improvement to users’ lives. These examples would be a great fit for the iPhone, of course, but I also see them being nice selling points for the AI powers of the M4 iPad Pro.
Verdict
Notes and Voice Memos seem like two perfect apps to integrate these features into, but I’m curious to see where else they land. We love a Shazam-style button in Control Center that listens to your environment and automatically transcribes what it hears—all in the background, with minimal power drain. Perhaps this could even tie into Shortcuts somehow. There are so many possibilities.
We’re just one month away from WWDC, where Apple will unveil all the details about its AI ambitions for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS, and more.
We learned late last year that a Microsoft iOS app store was in the works, and the company has now announced that this will launch in July.
Initially, it will be limited to Microsoft’s own games, but will later open up to other iPhone game developers, giving them an alternative outlet to Apple’s official App Store …
Background
The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires Apple to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone, and the company responded by announcing its compliance plans.
It’s as yet unclear whether or not these plans actually meet the requirements of the antitrust law, but it does at least pave the way for third-party iOS app stores.
Altstore is one of the first of these – making the switch from unofficial to official status – and Microsoft also revealed back in December of last year that it would launch its own mobile games app store.
Microsoft iOS app store launches in July
At the time, the company declined to say when its own app store would launch, but Bloomberg reports that Microsoft has now revealed that it will open for business in July.
Also new is the announcement that the app store will take the form of a website, rather than an app.
Microsoft Corp. will launch its own online store for mobile-game consumables in July, creating an alternative to Apple Inc. and Google’s app stores and their fees.
The browser-based store will debut with Microsoft’s own games, offering discounts on in-game items associated with titles like Candy Crush Saga. Xbox President Sarah Bond announced the move Thursday at the Bloomberg Technology Summit. Later, Microsoft will open the store to other publishers.
The Candy Crush franchise was originally created by King Digital and later acquired by Activision Blizzard, which was subsequently bought by Microsoft.
The company made the decision to go with a website, as that allows it to offer games for all platforms from the same place.
Microsoft saw an opportunity to create a store that “goes truly across devices — where who you are, your library, your identity, your rewards travel with you versus being locked to a single ecosystem,” Bond said. The company’s intention is to facilitate gaming across consoles, computers and mobile devices.
