Samsung is gearing up One UI 5 Watch for the upcoming Galaxy Watch 6, which brings some much-needed improvements. One brand new addition to that Galaxy Watch OS is Samsung’s irregular heartbeat notifications, which can let users know if they’re having issues well before they manually check.
The Galaxy Watch 5 utilizes sensors to issue an electrocardiogram test, which can detect irregular heartbeats in users with the intention of directing them to seek medical help. Of course, this test is on-demand, meaning that users need to manually check whether or not they have an irregular heartbeat. While the tool is invaluable, it can’t be expected that everyone will check on a regular basis.
In an effort to be more proactive in irregular heartbeat discovery, Samsung has been pushing for the Health Monitor app to be able to check these readings in the background. Announced May 08,2023 , Samsung has officially received clearance from the FDA to push that background monitoring function to Galaxy Watches with the ability to run an ECG.
By allowing the Samsung Health monitor app to run ECG tests in the background, Galaxy Watch users with detected irregular heartbeat rhythms will get a notification if AFib is detected. After receiving a notification, Samsung will have the user run a manual ECG. A manual ECG is more accurate because it requires the users to sit in a certain position with a finger on the watch for a clear reading.
Once activated in the Samsung Health Monitor app, the feature will check for irregular heart rhythms in the background via Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor. If a certain number of consecutive measurements are irregular, Galaxy Watch warns the user of potential AFib activity, prompting them to take an ECG using their watch for a more accurate measurement.
The feature is expected to become available in the upcoming One UI 5 Watch update, which will debut in full on the Galaxy Watch 6 later this year and comes as Samsung builds on its version of Wear OS.
We expect that Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 users who sign up for the One UI 5 Watch beta will also see this feature included. It’s worth noting that ECG readings are still limited to users with Galaxy phones paired to their Galaxy Watch, limiting the functionality for many.
The Galaxy A13 is one of the newest entry-level phones joining the Galaxy A family. We have the 4G version for review, which is already selling in India and Europe. There is a Galaxy A13 5G as well, which upgrades to a 90Hz screen and a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, but is otherwise quite similar to our 4G version.
It should be noted that the Galaxy A13 is actually not the lowest entry into the Galaxy A family, as it still sits above the Galaxy A03. Samsung has really been fleshing out its lineup lately. Unfortunately, that also means we end up with a large number of very similar devices.
The Galaxy A13‘s body is nearly identical to the A13 5G, though it does get Gorilla Glass 5 display protection like the Galaxy A23. Also the same size 6.6″ PLS LCD, though at 60Hz, unlike the A13 5G and A23, both of which can do 90Hz.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The camera setup on the A13 is nearly identical to that on the A23, except for the lack of OIS on the main camera and the unfortunate 1080p video capture limitation imposed by the 8nm Exynos 850 chipset. The Galaxy A13 5G gets the MediaTek Dimensity 700, whereas the A23 is based on the Snapdragon 680 chip and they can both capture 4K video too.
All three phones have 5,000 mAh batteries, but the A13 pair is limited to 15W charging, while the Galaxy A23 can charge at up to 25W. Like we said – subtle difference in these parts of Samsung‘s lineup.
Unboxing
Before we get into the actual review, let’s check out the retail package. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to go over here. Samsung has really slimmed down the accessory bundle. In fact, there are no accessories to speak of unless you count the Type-C to Type-C USB cable. We gave it a quick test, and it seems to be a simple passive cable without an e-marker chip. Then again, it just needs to handle 15W of charging and USB 2.0 data transfer speeds (480Mbps).
This means that you’ll have to pick up a charger separately. Any decent PD unit or one of Samsung‘s older-style Adaptive Fast Charging adapters should work since the A13 can’t use more than 15W.
While the lack of a charger in the box is a bit unfortunate, there is the ecological angle to consider. Indeed, shipping fewer chargers likely means fewer will eventually end up in a landfill. Also, the entire packaging of the Galaxy A13 is made from non-corrugated fiberboard (paperboard), also marked as 21 PAP. It is made of cellulose fibers that are recyclable and biodegradable (compostable).
Alternative offers
At the time of release, the Samsung Galaxy A13 is listed in India for INR 14,999 or right around EUR 180 and just shy of $200US or $298.07AUD. The official Samsung UK website also has a price – GBP 179. That’s fitting some pretty tight budgets, but it doesn’t mean the phone runs uncontested.
Looking at the Galaxy A13’s close siblings first, you could easily save a few bucks and go for the older Galaxy A12 instead while stocks last. Its 48MP main cam, while a slightly older design, is not that different in practice. The HD+ display resolution is a bit more of an unfortunate downgrade, but then again, the Galaxy A13 actually has trouble even running its own One UI at FullHD+, so HD+ is realistically a more comfortable environment for the lower-end hardware. And sure, the new Galaxy A23 looks better all around, notably with a usable chipset on board 4K video capture and OIS, but also a notably higher price tag. If you don’t want to deal with sub-par sharpness or irritating performance glitches though, you might need to stretch your budget to meet it.
The slightly-older Galaxy A22, however, is a different beast. It can currently be had for right around EUR 190 and gets you a 90Hz Super AMOLED panel, albeit of lower HD+ resolution. The MediaTek Helio G80 is also arguably more powerful if not as efficient. The slightly older but comparable 48MP main cam on the Galaxy A22 gets OIS too. And beyond that, you are not sacrificing any of the other quality of life aspects of the Galaxy A13. Notably, the big battery with excellent endurance.
A slightly more regional suggestion would be the Galaxy F23, which isn’t all that more expensive than the Galaxy A13 and is currently selling in India. You will have to settle for an PLS display instead of AMOLED, but a fast 120Hz one. The F23 also includes a more capable Snapdragon 750G chipset with 5G connectivity, in case that’s on your list of priorities. Other than that, it is a similar device to the Galaxy A13 in most other aspects.
Of course, we can’t talk about budget phones without mentioning Xiaomi and specifically the Redmi line. The Redmi Note 11 is a viable and direct competitor to the Galaxy A13. For just shy of EUR 200, it gives you a 90Hz 6.43-inch AMOLED display, stereo speakers and 33W charging on its 5,000 mAh battery. The Snapdragon 680 chipset, while limited to 1080p video capture, is still better than the Exynos 850. It is also paired with faster UFS 2.2 storage.
Xiaomi has a pretty viable 5G alternative in this price range as well in the Poco M4 Pro 5G. Like the Galaxy F23, it comes with some other specs compromises here and there to fit 5G into the budget, like a 90Hz IPS display and a lighter camera setup also capped at 1080p video capture. Still, the compromises really aren’t that many, and you still get things like stereo speakers, Gorilla Glass 3 and 33W charging.
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G • Realme 8
Finally, the Realme 9i fits within the same budges and matches most of the aforementioned specs of the Poco M4 Pro 5G, but notably skips the 5G part, which hurts its value proposition a bit. A much smarter play would probably be the Realme 8 if you can still find one of those. It has a Super AMOLED HDR10 display, a versatile camera setup, and a huge 5,000 mAh battery with excellent endurance and 30W charging.
Verdict
There is a lot that can go wrong when creating a phone, especially a budget one. The trouble is that most of these devices look very similar on paper. You have to spend some time with them to uncover any issues hidden beneath the surfaces and unfortunately we located a few pretty major ones on the Galaxy A13.
While the A13 is structurally solid, it was obviously made cheaply with soft plastics, susceptible to damage. It also looks and feels quite cheap in person. The same goes for the display. While it offers a sharp picture thanks to its FullHD resolution, its pixel response time is sluggish, with plenty of smearing and ghosting. It also suffers from poor backlight uniformity, and since Samsung did not include a proper proximity reader or an ambient light sensor, you have to do a lot of manual adjustments.
But perhaps the biggest issue the Galaxy A13 has is its performance or rather lack thereof. The Exynos 850 is particularly lacking in the GPU department and faced with the daunting task of pushing pixels on a FullHD+ panel, it simply fails to deliver. The otherwise slick and feature-rich One UI 4.1 Core lags and stutters frequently on the Galaxy A13, badly hurting its general usability.
It’s a real shame since the Galaxy A13 still delivers in other key aspects. It has stellar battery life, and its cameras, while not exactly impressive, benefit from mature processing and deliver decent results. We just can’t recommend the Galaxy A13, especially since Samsung itself has other better and more well-rounded Galaxy devices in the same price range to get instead.
Pros
Gorilla Glass 5 finish on the front.
Large screen with good contrast and max brightness. Decent color reproduction.
Great all-around battery life.
The daylight camera quality is solid. Video capture is also good, despite 1080p resolution cap.
Latest Android 12 and solid One UI Core with lots of features.
3.5mm jack, microSD, NFC.
Cons
Subpar performance, especially graphics on the FullHD+ display. Lag and slowdowns are frequent.
Unibody has soft plastic prone to scratches and blemishes.
Virtual proximity sensor is unrealiable, lack of ambient light sensor means brightness adjustment is even worse.
No color mode options. Sluggish pixel response times with smearing and ghosting. Poor backlight uniformity.
Single speaker with mostly unimpressive quality.
No Night mode, Scene optimizer or video stabilization.
As phones have become more and more advanced, they physically take on more components. With that, a certain phenomenon has plagued the Android market in which phones like the Pixel 7 and Samsung Galaxy S23 make rattling sounds when shaken. This would be concerning if we didn’t know why, but we do.
Of those many little parts and pieces that are secured and glued together in your device, one of the most advanced is the camera. As far as gadgets go, flagships have some of the best cameras ever to find their way inside smartphones.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, for example, touts a 200 MP camera sensor. Right under that set of elements and a heavy-duty sensor sits a 10 MP telephoto camera, which incorporates an even more impressive lens array. From the outside, the Galaxy S23 doesn’t look so abnormal, and the camera only seems to be a small part of the body. The actuality, however, is that the entire camera setup takes up a large proportion of the phone itself, more than most other components.
Another good example is the Pixel 6 and 7 series, which both feature a large camera bar spanning the entire width of the device. That casing is built not only to contribute to the device’s handsome design but also to protect the camera system that lies underneath. That entire bar hides much of the 50 MP sensors and robust image stabilizers. Outside of that, the rest of the phone is actually quite thin.
Here’s what every camera on the Pixel 7 Pro does
The Pixel 7 series takes a lot from its predecessor and builds on it slightly, with the biggest improvements being in the camera array – both physically and in software. This guide will take you through what the main, ultrawide, and telephoto camera on the Pixel 7 Pro does best.
The Pixel 7 has three cameras lined along the back of the device. The first is the main sensor, which takes care of your average range needs and provides you with the most detail. Next to it sits the ultrawide lens for both wide-angle shots and also the Pixel 7 Pro’s new Macro Focus mode, which we’ll touch on.
Lastly, the Pixel 7 Pro has a telephoto lens for taking shots far away from your subject. This year, the telephoto lens gains some incredible improvements, expanding its zoom capabilities by quite a margin.
When used in conjunction, the Pixel 7 Pro’s camera lineup can be quite the photography toolbelt, giving you just about anything you need to take photos anywhere.
Pixel 7 Pro’s 50 MP main camera
On a phone, your main sensor is the camera you’re going to use more often than not. It isn’t for shots with a faraway subject or even most of the time for shots with the subject close up. Rather, it’s the Goldilocks lens, providing you with just enough wiggle room to take a great photo.
On the Pixel 7 Pro, the main camera is a 50 MP sensor with an ƒ/1.85 aperture and OIS and EIS (optical image stabilization and electronic image stabilization, respectively). The 50 MP count is pretty high for a mobile lens, and it shows up well in most photos you take with the Pixel 7 Pro. Images are clear and crisp while maintaining plenty of detail. This lightens the load of the Tensor G2 chip when using tools like Photo Unblur and Magic Eraser.
The main sensor comes in at an 82-degree field of view, which is generally considered a wide lens. Even though it’s wide, it makes for a good all-around lens on the 7 Pro. Post-processing generally handles any distortion in your photos, and you’d never really notice that the main Pixel 7 Pro camera is a wide lens. One thing to note is that when zooming in to 2x, your image is cropped at 12.5 MP, rather than a full 50-megapixel count.
Pixel 7 Pro’s 12 MP ultrawide lens
Most devices on the market now come with an ultrawide lens. Its usability has been well established, especially when it comes to group shots and close-up photos of everyday objects.
On the Pixel 7 Pro, the camera array includes a 12 MP ultrawide lens, much like last year’s Google-made device. The difference here is the inclusion of autofocus in the lens and a much wider field of view at 125.8 degrees.
With that, the Pixel 7 Pro has a mode called “Macro Focus,” which allows you to turn that camera into a virtual macro lens. While it isn’t a true macro lens, the Pixel 7 Pro works hard to focus on close-up subjects and get as much detail as possible, making for some really cool-looking shots.
Pixel 7 Pro’s 48 MP telephoto lens
Perhaps the best feature of the Pixel 7 Pro is the unique telephoto lens and the heavy-lifting software behind it.
The telephoto lens comes in at 48 MP, which is just shy of what the main sensor has to offer. It has a narrow 20.6-degree field of view and can reach a 5x optical zoom. However, when combining optical and digital zoom, the Pixel 7 Pro can reach up to 30x zoom.
This year, the 48MP telephoto sensor has a new 5x optical zoom length – built from an entirely new optic layout instead of a simple sensor crop – which lets you take sharp pictures from even further away.
Impressive as it is, this feature is called Super Res Zoom, and it combines the optical performance of the lens itself and uses the Pixel 7 Pro’s Tensor G2 chip to enhance the image at great distances. Simply put, the Pixel 7 Pro will combine composite photos at different zoom rates to give you a clear photo.
Something to note is that when using the 48 MP camera at its idle 2x zoom, you’ll get full detail in that image. When moving in closer, the image becomes cropped and dives down to 12.5-megapixels. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily feel like a 12.5 MP image due to the heavy lifting Tensor does in the background.
Front-facing 10.8 MP camera
Of course, you can’t forget about the selfie camera in front of the phone. This year, the Pixel 7 Pro’s front-facing camera has a slightly lower megapixel count than last year’s device, though it won’t matter too much. The selfie camera has a 92.8-degree ultrawide field of view for just about any selfie shot you’d need. Other than that, this punch-hole camera is pretty basic.
As a whole, the camera setup on the Pixel 7 Pro works very nicely. Each camera compliments the other, and zooming in and out in the camera app on Pixel is extremely smooth. In general, the transition between each lens is more than satisfying. Together, the main sensor, ultrawide, and telephoto lens make up a great rear camera system with just about anything you might need.
What’s that rattling sound?
All that is said because it gives a little weight to the idea that the rattling sound you’re hearing in a Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone when shaken is actually the camera. No, the sound does not mean that anything is wrong with your device. Rather than improbably loose screws or S Pens rattling around in your device, the noise is nothing but the lens and sensors within their corresponding image stabilizers.
OIS (optical image stabilizers) work in a very specific and excitable way. Built on a suspended system of shock-absorbing material, the lens or sensor is free floating. Built on the concept of absorbing the momentum of your device, a lot of that slight movement that might translate to your phone while taking pictures or recording videos is dissipated into the OIS.
Phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Pixel 7 Pro have quite impressive OIS systems specifically built for telephoto lenses. With the Pixel 7 Pro hitting 30x zoom, a reliable image stabilization system is needed. When in action, that rattling sound is the sensor or lens hitting the OIS walls – its maximum extension in any direction.
Devices like the Galaxy S23 lineup and Pixel 6 and 7 series all make this rattling sound when shaken, and again, it’s completely normal. The Google Pixel 6 Pro and 7 Pro make the loudest sounds since they make use of large 48 MP telephoto lenses. The Pixel 7 Pro, in particular, houses enough hardware to facilitate 5x optical zoom, with the rest of that 30x zoom being AI-assisted.
As more devices hit the market with a focus on telephoto capabilities, there’ll be a fair share more that make sounds when shaken. Even if that is the case, you still probably shouldn’t shake them too much. The durability of OIS isn’t an exact science, and it often doesn’t seem to fail, though it’s still an internal moving piece prone to wear. Violently shaking your device just to hear the sound is probably a bad idea.
Samsung launched its Galaxy S23 series earlier this year as its first flagship in years to ditch Exynos chips and instead use Qualcomm Snapdragon on a global scale. Apparently, though, the Galaxy S23 FE will do the exact opposite, using Exynos in every region, including the United States.
The Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra are all built on top of a special version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that’s specific to Samsung. The chip is used globally, where in years past Samsung would have only used Snapdragon chips in regions such as Korea, the United States, and a few others. Elsewhere, such as in Europe, Samsung has usually left its users with Exynos chips, often leading to tons of problems with software glitches, overheating, or worse.
Samsung is largely expected to stick with this Snapdragon-only model for the foreseeable future, but that won’t apply to all devices.
it seems the former is true, according to what we’re hearing: Samsung really is planning to launch a Galaxy S23 FE, and it will arrive sometime in the fourth quarter of 2023. And it could have a surprise in store, one that may or may not make you happy.
SamMobile reports that the Galaxy S23 FE is, firstly, actually happening.
SamMobile also claims that the Galaxy S23 FE will arrive with a 50MP primary camera, 4,500 mAh battery, and a base model with 128GB of storage, with 256GB as an optional upgrade.
Apparently, the more affordable device is slated for release in Q4 of this year, which puts it ahead of schedule compared to the last “Fan Edition” release, with the Galaxy S21 FE having launched in January 2022 (mere weeks before the Galaxy S22 series). This was previously reported in February.
But, more interestingly, Samsung is apparently planning to ship the Galaxy S23 FE exclusively with an Exynos chip. Specifically, this would be the Exynos 2200 which was used in the Galaxy S22 series in some regions, and brought Samsung’s partnership with AMD to the GPU. The chip wasn’t well-received, but it can still certainly get the job done.
Using Exynos on a global scale for the Galaxy S23 FE is certainly a choice with the company having so publicly gone all-in on Qualcomm, but the decision to use the chip in the US has even more of an impact. As it stands today, the only “flagship-tier” smartphones sold in the US with Exynos chips are from Google, technically, as Tensor chips are heavily based on Exynos devices. The last time Samsung sold a flagship with Exynos in the US was with the Galaxy S6 series, which opted for the chips as Qualcomm’s designs were dealing with overheating issues at the time.
Galaxy S23 FE coming with Exynos chip worldwide
The Galaxy S23 series launched earlier this year and is exclusively powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor, but with the Fan Edition, Samsung is apparently going to flip the script: The Galaxy S23 FEwill be powered by the Exynos 2200 chip in all markets, including the USA!
the Exynos 2200, the chip that powered the Galaxy S22 series in Europe, will also power the S23 FE from what we’ve heard. The Exynos 2200 was Samsung’s first chip with an AMD GPU and was, if we’re being honest, quite a mess, which is probably why Samsung decided to go all in with Qualcomm for the S23 series.
The Exynos 2200 will be nearly two years old by the time the Galaxy S23 FE makes its debut, so it will hopefully not cause the kind of issues we saw on the Galaxy S22 lineup. In fact, Samsung better make sure that is the case if it is planning to use the chip for the US market, where customers and Samsung fans have been spoiled by Snapdragon chips on high-end Galaxy phones for many years while customers in the rest of the world have suffered the increasingly problematic Exynos chips.
Galaxy S23 FE will bring an upgraded rear camera
Anyway, let’s talk about some other Galaxy S23 FE specs that we have learned about. One of the S23 FE’s biggest upgrades could be a 50MP rear camera. The S20 FE and S21 FE used the same 12MP rear camera as the standard S20 and S21 models, and with Samsung upgrading the main camera to a 50-megapixel sensor on the (non-Ultra) Galaxy S22 and S23, we guess it’s only natural that the S23 FE get the same upgrade.
The S23 FE will come in 128GB and 256GB storage tiers, and we assume there will be 6GB or 8GB of RAM accompanying that storage. We also learned that the S23 FE will have the same 4,500 mAh battery as its predecessors, likely with 25W fast charging (though we won’t say no to Samsung doing a little charity by adding 45W charging support while keeping the price of the phone the same as the S20 FE and S21 FE).
And finally, it seems Samsung is bringing the model numbers for the Galaxy S FE series in line with what it has been using for the flagship S line since last year. The S23 FE will have model number SM-S711x – notice the 7xx series of numbers here is what Samsung also uses for the Galaxy Z Flip lineup, indicating that while these are high-end devices, they aren’t supposed to be considered proper flagships.
While we make sure we only put exclusive information out there if we trust the source, it’s always possible a few details could change by the time the new phone makes it to market. As usual, we’ll keep you updated whenever new information pops up, so stay tuned!
Samsung’s Galaxy A mid-range lineup has undergone its yearly refresh, and it’s looking really good. The new Galaxy A33 is probably one of the most interesting models this year as it has been significantly upgraded since the Galaxy A32 and makes for an excellent bang for the buck offer at the €300 mark.
The Galaxy A33 5G has been promoted to the waterproofed league, and it now features the same IP67-rated ingress protection treatment as the higher tier models. Until now, the A3x models weren’t sealed against water. But that’s not all, of course.
The Galaxy A33 is keeping the 90Hz Super AMOLED screen of the Galaxy A32, but it employs a much more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset with a newer processor and gaming-friendly graphics. And there is an integrated 5G modem, too, so now you won’t have to choose between 4G and 5G versions.
The camera has been improved, too. Now the 48MP primary features optical stabilization and supports up to 4K video capturing. The 13MP selfie camera can do 4K videos, too.
The Galaxy A33 also brings stereo speakers, something that was reserved for the A5x and higher models in the previous generations. And finally, but not of least importance, the Galaxy A33 now supports faster 25W wired charging.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
It’s not all updates, though, as two things have changed for the worse since the Galaxy A32. The Galaxy A33 has no audio jack, and the microSD bed is now shared with the second SIM option.
Still, we have to say we are intrigued by the Galaxy A33 5G as it has been clearly promoted in rank and now can be considered as part of the premium mid-rangers like the Galaxy A53 and A73.
Unboxing the Galaxy A33 5G
The Galaxy A33 5G is packed into one of the thinnest retail boxes we’ve seen, and we thought we’d find the phone all alone in there.
Well, there is no charger in the retail bundled, but that was expected. And while we didn’t see a cable at first, it turned out there is a USB-C cable inside the thin paper compartment.
The cable is compatible with 25W fast charging, so if you purchase Samsung‘s 25W Samsung USB-C charger or similar, you should be able to use that straight away.
The competition
The Galaxy A33 5G turned out to be not only an excellent upgrade over the previous A32 model but also one thoughtful all-round mid-ranger with many attractive treats and one nicely low pricing. Indeed, there is a lot to like about the A33 5G – its water-resistent design and seamless shape, the good 90Hz OLED, the powerful hardware, the larger battery, and even all cameras on both sides as they provide some notably good photo and video quality.
The Galaxy A33 5G costs €290 for the 4GB/128GB model, and we’d say this is quite reasonable, all things considered (war, pandemic, chip shortages, production delays, inflation).
Of course, 2021 was a better year for smartphones as the overall state of the economy was not as bad. The Galaxy A52s is still available, and it costs exactly as much as the Galaxy A33 5G. The A52s has a 120Hz AMOLED, a more powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset, and a higher-res primary camera, but it’s also larger. We would recommend getting the A52s instead of the A33 if the size doesn’t bother you.
The Realme 9 Pro+ is about €40 to €80 over the Galaxy A33 5G, depending on the retailer. It offers a similar screen and performance, and even camera experience, but we had some issues with its ultrawide camera, and the Realme has no ingress protection whatsoever.
The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is about €50-€60 over the Galaxy A33 5G. It offers a faster 120Hz AMOLED screen with HDR10 support, a similar performance, and an overall good camera experience. This Redmi offers a speedy 120W charging, there is an audio jack on it, and together with the better display – we’d say this is a deal you may want to consider. You will trade the IP67 resistance for a basic IP53 splash-proofing, and there is no OIS on the main camera, though.
And, finally, you may want to consider the Poco X3 GT, which is still widely available and priced at €290. This Poco has a more traditional 120Hz LCD display, but it offers flagship-grade performance courtesy of the Dimensity 1100 5G chipset. The X3 GT offers a similar camera experience (even if there is no OIS); the stereo speakers and the battery life match the A33’s, while its charging is much faster at 67W (and there is a charger inside its box, mind you). The Poco X3 GT is an excellent choice for gaming on the go if you are on a budget, so it’s worthy of your consideration.
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G • Realme 9 Pro Plus • Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G • Xiaomi Poco X3 GT
Our verdict
The Galaxy A33 5G turned out to be a well-executed sequel to the Galaxy A32, one that leveled up the A3x models by putting an IP rating and OIS. This means the Galaxy A33 is where the premium part of the A series begins now.
So, to sum up, the Galaxy A33 has a really attractive design. The 90Hz OLED display is bright and fast, and we are happy with its color accuracy and the overall experience. The same goes for the battery life and the charging speed, though you will need to buy a 25W charger if you don’t own one already.
The Galaxy A33 did not only upgrade the design and the camera but the speakers, too. It now offers stereo speakers with good loudness and sound quality. Oh, and its performance has improved significantly since the A32, and there is now 5G by default. Nice!
Finally, we were also impressed with the photo and video quality across all cameras, even if the colors often go a bit overboard with the saturation. This often happens with Samsung phones, so it’s not entirely surprising, though.
Maybe the best part about the Galaxy A33 5G is the thoughtful pricing that starts at just under €300. Which makes it easy to forgive the missing charger and audio jack. In fact, these are probably our only beefs with this phone, which says a lot.
So, if your budget is around the €300 mark, and you can’t get a faster recent Galaxy smartphone (like the A52s), the Galaxy A33 5G will be an excellent choice, and we do recommend it for its all-round feature set.
A year later, the Note that isn’t returns. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra brings predictably minor upgrades – camera tweaks here and new chipset there, mostly – but how much can you really improve on the S22 Ultra in just a year? We’ll attempt to answer that question and see if the new Ultra can spark excitement in ways the specsheet couldn’t.
And it’s an expansive specsheet, of course. At the Ultra’s heart is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and it’s one specifically made for the Galaxies – with higher clock rates than competitors get. The latest Qualcomm top-end chip also comes with efficiency promises, and we would never say no to some extra endurance.
The camera sees the introduction of a new 200MP sensor, up from the 108MP resolution of Ultras past. The couple of telephotos remain a staple of the lineup and a standout feature in the market where 10x optical zoom is nowhere to be found outside of the Samsung offerings. The 2023 Ultra is still the only model in the lineup with an autofocusing ultrawide – more of an ongoing rant we just had to include here about the lack of it on the lesser S23s than an actual noteworthy feature of the ultimate Galaxy.
Galaxy S22 Ultra (top) next to Galaxy S23 Ultra
The otherwise lengthy list of numbers and features below doesn’t really bring major changes from the previous generation. Battery capacity remains the same as does the charging rating; the ultrasonic fingerprint reader hasn’t gotten optical all of a sudden, proprietary features like DeX and Samsung Pay are still here, and you can count on the display being the best in the business. A small victory is the 256GB base storage – last year’s model started at an unreasonably low 128GB – so yay?
Nano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by)
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
We did call the S23 Ultra a Note from the get-go, and the S Pen is indeed here to stay – despite habitual pessimists around the office writing if off after the beloved Note moniker disappeared with the S22 Ultra. Sure, you can have an S Pen (a different one) for your Fold, but no S Pen case beats the convenience of an in-body stylus like the one you get here.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra unboxing
You don’t get a lot else, though. The Ultra shows up in what has become the norm for Samsung high-end phone packages – a thin as possible black cardboard box with a likeness of the handset printed on the lid in a corresponding color to the actual unit inside.
The size of the box guarantees there’s no charger inside, but there’s still a USB-C cable – despite our continued droning how ‘this time may be the last time you’re getting a cable’, Samsung actually persists in including one – does that count as winning? There’s also a SIM eject pin, which we normally wouldn’t mention, but the unboxing section could use the extra words.
Competition
In the rarefied atmosphere the Galaxy S23 Ultra calls its home market segment, purchasing decisions are likely not necessarily driven by value for money, at least not as top priority. Perhaps more important here are factors like having the absolute best camera, or getting all the productivity, or less reasonable but still entirely understandable motivators like brand loyalty or having the latest and greatest there is.
With those last couple of thoughts in mind, the S23 Ultra‘s standing is challenged by the Z Fold4 – isn’t a cutting-edge foldable more modern and awesome than a bar that’s, in principle, the same as any other? And the fact that it’s a Galaxy foldable helps too. The Fold can also win a productivity battle with the Ultra – easily, thanks to a way larger display and, yes, S Pen support too, even if the stylus is not quite as convenient to store as the Ultra’s. But the bendy Galaxy is merely an okay cameraphone, and that’s where the Ultra’s victory isn’t up for debate.
Cameraphones from Xiaomi are among our favorites, but it’s hard to name a Galaxy rival at this point in time. The Mi 12s Ultra is a remarkable picture-taking device, but it’s limited to the Chinese market. The Mi 11 Ultra may be international, but can’t really be found in stores, plus it’s now a full two years old. We’ll go with the 13 Pro for its specsheet – promising in many ways, but it’s zoom-challenged, not to mention we haven’t seen it in person yet.
How about a Google Pixel 7 Pro then. Once an undisputed photo taking champ, if a relatively niche one, the Pixel is no longer one-of-a-kind in its capabilities. But the 7 Pro does capture great photos, and its 5x zoom might be just what you’re missing on the Galaxy. There’s also the tiny detail that the Pixel is way less expensive than the S23 Ultra (call it a $500/€500 difference), and you may be giving a second thought to that ‘money is no object’ preamble.
Finally, a rather obvious alternative presents itself in the shape of an iPhone 14 Pro Max. The iPhone stands out as the best option for video capture, and it’s got a compelling camera system altogether, even if it can’t compete with the Galaxy for reach. Then come arguments of the non-quantifiable kind like status, brand preference, and bubble color.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 • Xiaomi 13 Pro • Google Pixel 7 Pro • Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Verdict
The ultimate Galaxy smartphone for 2023 (that doesn’t bend in the middle) doesn’t bring anything ground-breakingly new and exciting – how’s that for a single con?
Indeed, the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s one flaw is perhaps entirely not its own – the S22 Ultra was just too good. Following up on that was always going to be little more than polishing touches that inevitably lack the wow factor. But if you can switch into managing expectations mode, rather than moan about the lack of innovation or originality, you’ll appreciate this year’s Ultra for its maturity.
A increase in battery life, faster charging (only slightly, but still quicker than Apple or Google will give you), one of the best displays in the business – that’s a strong start on the fundamentals. The camera, too, is improved, beyond just the 200MP number on the posters, cementing the Ultra as one of the top cameraphones on the market. And then there’s the S Pen – a proposition as unique in its utility in 2023 as it was last year. None of this is novel or thrilling stuff, but it all adds up.
With all of that in mind, the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s only verdict can be ‘Highly recommended’.
Pros
Traditional Note form factor, improved handling, still premium as ever.
S Pen has wide-ranging functionality for work and play, is virtually without competition.
Wonderful display.
Excellent battery life, faster charging than big-name competitors.
Ultra-grade camera system is one of the best on the market; primary module is a genuine improvement, zooming capability is hard to rival.
Cons
Nothing is, in principle, really new or different.
One of the best compact phones in the world just got better – the Samsung Galaxy S23 is faster, sturdier, better connected, and with more battery juice. The Galaxy S23 is still as small, lightweight and attractive as ever, and we expect it to become a fan-favorite in the compact segment.
The new Galaxy S23 models introduce a refined design, and that’s the first thing you will notice. The contour-cut camera housing is no more; there are just three small rings for the lenses. Additionally, the front and rear glass panels are now made of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheets with improved drop resistance.
The Galaxy S23 retains the compact 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with extended 1080p resolution and dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. The peak brightness of the panel has been improved, and it’s now 1750 nits, up from 1300 nits on the Galaxy S22.
For the first time in a long time, the entire Galaxy S23 lineup uses a Snapdragon chipset, so you don’t need to import a Qualcomm-powered unit if you are not a fan of the Exynos platform (we won’t blame you). Even better, Samsung used an overclocked version exclusive to the Galaxy S23 phones with higher CPU and GPU clocks. The new models also rely on next-generation memory chips made by Samsung themselves.
The triple camera on the back has seen no improvements – the 50MP OIS primary, the 10MP 3x telephoto, and the 12MP ultrawide camera stay the same. What has been upgraded is the selfie camera – it is now 12MP and supports Super HDR, while autofocus and 4K capturing remain available.
The battery capacity has been increased by 200mAh, and it’s now 3,900mAh. The charging capabilities are the same as on the S22 – 25W wired charging, with wireless and reverse wireless options available.
Connectivity-wise, the Galaxy S23 introduces tri-band Wi-Fi with 6e support and Bluetooth 5.3. The Ultra Wideband support is still reserved for the Plus and Ultra versions.
Long story short – the Galaxy S23 is a faster version of the Galaxy S22 with a brighter screen and a larger battery. And a more beautiful design, though that is always subjective.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The Galaxy S23 is a flagship by the book; there are no two words about that – it has the build and looks, the screen, the chipset, and the cameras of a premium smartphone. The only things we consider missing are 10-bit color depth for the screen – something many high-end phones are offering, and the Ultra Wideband support – a connectivity option that would have allowed support for the SmartTag+. You can still use the regular Bluetooth-reliant SmartTags, of course.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a minor update over the Galaxy S22, and we doubt that many S22 owners will find enough novelties to make them upgrade. But it has more than enough new features over the Galaxy S21 and older to make it an attractive offer. Even better, it is shaping as the best compact Android phone on the market. And now it’s time to properly meet it, shall we?
Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy S23
The Galaxy S23 arrives in a thin paper box, which contains the phone itself, a USB-C cable, and a SIM ejection tool.
Samsung removed chargers and headphones from its boxes a couple of years ago, but we are glad it still provides cables (unlike Sony). And if you’ve bought a Samsung 25W charger, the one that has been available for a few years already, or any USB-C PD + PPS power adapter, you are already well prepared.
Alternative offers
Samsung has priced the Galaxy S23 at €950 for the 8/128 model and about €1,000 for the 8/256 version. Some retailers may be offering the higher-tier storage at the same price as the base one, and we do recommend getting it for the faster UFS 4.0 chip.
The compact niche, especially the compact flagship class, rarely sees new additions, and those mostly come from Samsung, Asus, Apple, and sometimes – Xiaomi. And naturally, we’d explore their most current offers.
Let’s start with the Zenfone 9 by Asus. It is €200 cheaper than the Galaxy S23 and has an identical size, but its screen is a bit smaller (5.9-inch vs. 6.1-inch), and the Zenfone runs on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The Zenfone 9 has no dedicated telephoto camera, instead, it relies on a sort of lossless zoom from its primary shooter, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Still, if you are after a compact flagship, and the Galaxy S23 is not in your budget, the Zenfone 9 is an excellent choice.
The Galaxy S22 price has dropped significantly and it’s not about €350 cheaper than the current S23. It has the same screen, camera department and charging capabilities, while its performance isn’t that behind either. The only thing that’s noticeably worse on the Galaxy S22 is its battery life, but then again, at €350 cheaper, we’d say that is a rather acceptable deal.
Apple’s iPhone 14 is much lighter and thinner than the iPhone 14 Pro and a good match to the Galaxy S22 because of its lightweight design. It’s a powerful phone with good battery life and top-notch performance, but it’s 60Hz OLED, and the lack of optical zoom are some big omissions, especially considering its €900 price.
The iPhone 14 Pro is 40g heavier than the Galaxy S23 – it has a more luxurious design with a stainless steel frame. It offers a better Dolby Vision display, and 2x lossless zoom in addition to the 3x optical one provided by its triple-camera setup. There are other cool features like UltraWideband support, LiDAR scanner, but, as we said, it’s heavier, and costs €350 over the Galaxy S23.
Finally, the Xiaomi 13 deserves a mention, too. It will soon hit the international markets, and it’s shaping as one of the cheapest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 featuring smartphones with a rumored price between €700-€800. It is also among the first IP68-rated Xiaomi phones. It is slightly larger than the Galaxy S23 because of its bigger 6.36-inch Dolby Vision OLED screen, and its rear cameras are a match to Samsung‘s. The selfie department is still years behind the Galaxy’s, and that’s probably its only downside.
Asus Zenfone 9 • Samsung Galaxy S22 5G • Apple iPhone 14 • Apple iPhone 14 Pro • Xiaomi 13
Verdict
Samsung has made yet another excellent compact flagship that excels in every aspect and aces every test. The phone has an excellent 6.1-inch OLED screen with high brightness and adaptive refresh rate, the most powerful chipset on the Android market, and a superb quartet of cameras that will reliably capture whatever you put in front of their lenses.
We are glad that Samsung took the extra step and made an exclusive deal with Qualcomm for an overclocked version of the SD8G2 chip, and this will surely convince quite a few Exynos-doubting users to grab a Galaxy S23.
Throughout our review, we found that the Galaxy S23 has an excellent design with great handling experience, improved battery life and speaker quality over the Galaxy S22, it is also more powerful, too, and offers an improved camera experience thanks to faster Night Mode shooting. Things that didn’t change this year, but are still alright, are the charging speed and the camera hardware.
The Galaxy S23 has its peculiarities, too. The 128GB model uses the older UFS 3.1 storage chips. And while this year the S23+ got UWB support, it is still missing on the Galaxy S23. Then, many competitors’ displays have 10-bit or even 12-bit color depth, while the Galaxy S23 series is still stuck on standard 8-bit color. And, finally, the GPU stability is not ideal, though this is an occasional thing among phones with passive cooling solutions and top of the line chipsets.
The Galaxy S23 isn’t a major upgrade over the Galaxy S22, and we doubt many people will jump on the new generation. But we can see a lot of people using older phones chose this one for its compact design and all-around package and experience. Even better, those who chose not to get a Galaxy S because of Exynos – well, they can finally get a phone they like, with an overclocked chipset at that.
The new Galaxy S23 made our verdict quite easy this time – it’s an impressive smartphone with modern specs and capabilities. It’s a compact and lightweight phone, still priced below or around €1,000, making it much more attractive than Apple’s offers. And for all of these, the vanilla Galaxy S23 gets a big thumbs up from us!
Pros
No-nonsense sturdy and grippy design, IP68.
Outstanding OLED screen, bright and fast.
Great battery life.
Superb stereo speakers.
Top-notch performance, the fastest Android chip inside.
Excellent photo and video quality across the board.
Exciting One UI with DeX support, great connectivity options.
Cons
128GB uses UFS 3.1 instead of UFS 4.0 memory chips.
No UltraWideBand support.
No Dolby Vision or 10-bit color depth support for the screen.
The GPU is very quick to throttle under load to 60% of its max performance.
Our exploration into the complicated world of the Samsung entry-level smartphone lineup continues – we now have the Galaxy A02s for you. Pushing the limits of what can fit a tight budget and still be worthy of the badge, the A02s’ compromises are what we’re here to assess.
We mentioned that it’s a confusing roster that Samsung has, and the A02s is also available as M02s in some regions. While they do have separate model numbers, the hardware is identical, so it could be said that our findings here will apply equally well to the M02s, even though it says A02s on our review unit’s packaging.
Samsung Galaxy A02s • Samsung Galaxy M02s
The ‘s’ in those names carries a lot of significance, mind you. Galaxy A02 and M02 non-s models exist too, identical between them just as well, but with further downgraded internals when compared to the A02s and M02s. Keep your eyes open to what it says on the box.
So, the Galaxy A02s packs a 6.5-inch LCD – AMOLEDs are too expensive for this segment. The chipset won’t win any awards either – the Snapdragon 450 is more than three years old, though it is made on a 14nm process (compare to the 28nm Mediatek in the non-s models).
The triple camera on the back is mildly deceptive – the 13MP main module is joined by the usual (and questionably useful) duo of 2MP ‘macro’ and depth cameras. Which is to say, there’s no ultra-wide camera – you’ll need to look at the A12 for one of these. The 5MP selfie cam is another small downgrade.
Samsung didn’t mess around with the battery, though, and the A02s comes with a 5,000mAh powerpack – same as on the A12 and A02. We wouldn’t call the hardware demanding, so we expect to see great endurance numbers.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Samsung Galaxy A02s unboxing
There’s nothing surprising about the presentation – the A02s ships in the same packaging as the A12 we had before and most other affordable Galaxies. Pull out the cardboard tray out of the sleeve, and you’ll get the same bundle – the phone itself, a 15W adapter and a USB-A-to-C cable. A simple case would have been nice, but every penny is important in this class, so we’re not bothered by its absence.
Much like the A12, the Galaxy A02s has a special back texture – more on that on the next page where we take a look at its design and build quality.
Competition
The Galaxy A02s hovers around the €150 mark for the base 3GB/32GB version in continental Europe, or some £140 in the UK, while its M02s alter ego can be had for as little as INR9,000 in India. That’s clearly at the lower end of the price spectrum, but what else is there for the money?
For one, the Galaxy A12. In most of Europe, that retails for some €10 above A02s money in 4GB/64GB trim, and, for all its flaws, it’s the better phone. You’d be getting an ultra-wide cam, better low-light performance from the main cam, and a marginally quicker chipset. It’s not quite so in the UK or India, for example, where the A12 is appreciably more expensive than its lesser stablemate (£170/INR13,000), and the A02s/M02s does make a case for itself by offering savings.
The Redmi 9 is among the go-to options in the segment, and it’s either selling for A02s money or it’s cheaper (or, you know, not officially available). You get more, too – an ultra-wide camera, a better close-up shooter, much more powerful chipset, and a 1080p display. Sounds like a better deal altogether, but a Redmi is no Galaxy.
Neither is a Realme, but the company does have a few compelling offers in the price range. The Narzo 20A is one of the most affordable Realmes in India, at A02s’ price, and it beats the Galaxy with a beefier chipset and 4K video recording capability. Meanwhile, in Europe, you can get your hands on a Realme 7i for a small premium over a Galaxy A02s. That is also a thoroughly more capable package with a superior camera system and chipset.
A Moto G9 Play is a viable alternative to the Galaxy A02s too. The Moto’s chipset is, once again, more powerful than the Galaxy’s, and the camera experience is better on the G9 Play. Mind you, the Moto G9 Play goes by Moto G9 in India, and it’s tangibly more expensive than the competing Galaxy M02s there.
The Galaxy A02s is one of the least expensive Samsung phones you can buy, and as such, it offers good value to those looking for a budget entry into the brand. It’s not a bad choice for a less demanding user either, and those will appreciate the long battery life, decent picture quality and overall look and feel.
A more discerning buyer will likely be put off mostly by the dated, low-performance chipset and lack of a fingerprint reader. The relatively low brightness display and missing camera features don’t help either.
Ultimately, if you’re on a tight budget and looking to get the most out of it, perhaps brand loyalty shouldn’t be on top of your priorities list, and you should look at competing offers from classic value-oriented makers. If you insist on a Galaxy, certain concessions are inevitable.
Pros
Very good screen contrast ratio due to deep blacks.
Samsung’s midrange devices are generally seen as some of the better phones on the market, partially due to what Samsung hides inside. To keep that going, Samsung is ready to equip the net generation of midrange devices with its newest chip, the Exynos 1380.
The Exynos 1380 brings to the table a couple of minor improvements on the overall performance.. The chip follows the 5 nm EUV process and comes with 4 Cortex-A78 and 4 Cortex-A55 cores. To pair, the 1380 incorporates an Arm Mali-G68 MP5 GPU and an AI engine that goes a little further.
According to Samsung, the new AI engine can handle more advanced language recognition specifically for voice assistants. The broader AI capabilities also expand into image recognition, enhancing the SoC’s ability to identify and process images and details. This comes as Samsung focuses more on AI-processed images.
Interestingly enough, the Exynos 1380 from Samsung can also support a camera of up to 200MP – quite the jump in megapixel count for midrange devices. With that, it can also support 4K at 30fps and utilizes USF 3.1 storage for quick saving and recall.
As a successor to the Exynos 1280, the Exynos 1380 is meant to be a midrange chip, likely used in upcoming A series devices. Last year, the Galaxy A33 found itself with the Exynos 1280, so it would be easy to assume that the upcoming Galaxy A34 would see Samsung’s newest SoC, though some regions may see the Dimensity MT6877V. The Galaxy A34 is set to come with 6Gb of RAM and 256GB expandable storage, according to the latest leaks.
Power like a pro
Experiences powered up. With powerful performance, pro-grade camera, and on-device artificial intelligence (AI), the Exynos 1380 5G mobile processor will upgrade your mobile experience to pro-grade.
Pro-grade power
Load fast. Multitask in a flash. The octa-core CPU of the Exynos 1380 processor consists of four high-performance cores that enable fast app loading and multitasking – along with four power-efficient cores that drive long-lasting battery life. Furthermore, the advanced scheduler allocates tasks to appropriate CPU cores for fast and power-efficient computing. With the optimal balance to manage intensive and always-on tasks, the Exynos 1380 processor is designed to unlock new experiences, enhanced with 5G and AI technologies.
Gaming. Beyond.
Level up with great ease. Equipped with the Arm® Mali™-G68 GPU that features five cores running at 950 MHz, the Exynos 1380 offers powerful and steady graphics processing performance for an immersive and steady 3D gaming experience. With its enhanced performance and the advanced API supports, the Exynos 1380 offers users a new kind of gameplay experience based on augmented reality.* The GPU also has efficient power consumption to help prolong battery life for entertainment on the go.
* Based on internal test result compared to the Exynos 1280
Intelligent intelligence
Unlock the potential of mobile experiences. The Exynos 1380 is designed to enable new mobile experiences with an AI engine featuring an enhanced NPU that supports up to 4.9 trillion operations per second.* With the on-device AI capabilities, the Exynos 1380 enables new and smarter mobile experiences such as advanced language recognition for voice assistance. Notably, the Exynos 1380 with NPU enables multiple object recognition in the image to enhance the quality of each object.*
* Based on internal test result compared to the Exynos 1280.
When cameras meet AI
Pro-grade camera for all. The Exynos 1380 features the advanced Triple Image Signal Processor (ISP) based on the cutting-edge technology of flagship processors. The ISP offers flagship-level camera features including up to 200MP image sensor support, zero shutter-lag at up to 64MP, High Dynamic Range, and Electronic Image Stabilization. With cutting-edge AI imaging technology, the Exynos 1380 can recognize various objects to provide optimal image processing of each object, resulting in great photo quality.
Vivid screen Smooth experience
Built for visual comfort. With a fast display refresh rate up to 144Hz at Full HD+, the Exynos 1380 enables a seamless viewing experience and smooth scrolling. Adaptive Tone Control technology adjusts brightness and contrast according to the ambient light to improve visibility, whatever the weather, even in very bright outdoor environments.
Hit 5G speeds
Performance accelerated with 5G. Equipped with an integrated 5G modem, the Exynos 1380 offers fast download speeds up to 3.67 Gbps and upload speeds up to 1.28 Gbps. With this speed and low latency of 5G, the Exynos 1380 supports the user experiences that require lightning-fast network speeds such as live broadcasts or streaming on the go.
Samsung’s intelligent interface improves performance and provides users with greater options for control
Samsung Electronics announced new updates to Bixby that improve user experience, performance and capabilities of the intelligent assistant and platform. The new updates deliver significant improvements in Bixby’s ability with enhanced language recognition, giving people greater control over their mobile experience.
“When Samsung first launched Bixby as a voice assistant, it was part of a vision to create a human-to-machine interface that makes life easier and can advance over time with Samsung Galaxy innovation,” said YoungJip Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Artificial Intelligence Team in Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Today, we introduce updates to build a more intelligent interface that is proactive and adaptive, giving people greater control over their mobile experience.”
Giving People Greater Control Over Their Mobile Experience
The new Bixby updates bring several new features and improvements that allow people to customize their user experience further, including the recent availability of Bixby Text Call1 in English. Now, English speakers can answer calls from anywhere by typing a message, which Bixby converts to audio and communicates to the caller directly on their behalf.
Users can also personalize their Bixby Text Call voice. Using the new Bixby Custom Voice Creator,2 users can record different sentences for Bixby to analyze and create an AI generated copy of their voice and tone. Currently available in Korean, this generated voice is planned to be compatible with other Samsung apps beyond phone calls. And for those who want to customize their wake word, Bixby now supports changes to the Custom wake-up3 phrase within Bixby settings as well, adding a new option to create a personalized wake-up phrase.
From Intelligent Assistant to Intelligent Platform
Today, Bixby can provide more seamless continuity and better attune to user needs with the introduction of new scenarios,4 including playing music depending on the type of exercise in Samsung Health or saving schedules in Calendar. Now, Bixby can better understand intent and process follow-up requests by understanding context and associating words previously used in interactions. For example, Bixby users can first launch a workout on Samsung Health and then ask Bixby to play music5 that best suits that exercise by saying “Play music for this workout.”
Enhanced Language Recognition, Processing and Response
In addition to these great new features, Samsung also expanded Bixby’s on-device AI support.6 Users can run key commands entirely offline, such as setting a timer, taking a screenshot or turning on the flashlight. By integrating on-device AI with its native applications,7 Samsung was able to further expand its language offering8 and capabilities with advanced AI-based voice dictation. These updates to Bixby will be made possible by the powerful innovation found in Samsung Galaxy devices, including the industry-leading performance that enables on-device AI applications.
Availability
Bixby updates will be available for Samsung Galaxy users in February9 through a software update. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/bixby.
1 Bixby Text Call is available on selective models including Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, Z Fold4 and Z Flip4. It works on phones with One UI 4.1.1 or above for Korean and phones with One UI 5.1 or above for English.
2 Bixby Custom Voice Creator is available on selective models including Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra. It works on phones with One UI 5.0 or above. Availability of functions may vary depending on the device model. The application is available for download via settings within Bixby or the Samsung Phone application (native call app).
3 The feature is available in Korean as of date and on selective models including Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra. Exact timing and availability of the updates may vary by market and are subject to change.
4 The eight scenarios are all currently available in Korean. More languages to be supported.
5 Supported music applications include Melon, Bugs, Genie and FLO as of date.
6 Availability of the on-device AI support may vary by market and model.
7 Supported native applications include those apps that require on-device AI support only.
8 The on-device mode currently supports English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Korean.
9 Exact timing and availability of the updates may vary by user and market.
