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I tried gaming on a Chromebook for a week — and it’s better than I expected

But it still has a long way to go

Let’s be real — nobody buys a Chromebook for gaming. Their true strengths lie in the simplicity and efficiency for workers and students, alongside being good for binge-watching to your heart’s content.

But for playing games? That’s a “no” from me. Even when Google promoted its laptops as being the “ultimate cloud gaming machine” a few years back (thead with Michelle Rodriguezstill runs through my mind), they couldn’t stand up to thebest gaming laptopssporting the latest in gaming-focused specs.

Not even theAcer Chromebook 516 GE($649), which isspecificallymade for gaming, could compete with the raw might of, say, anAsus ROG Zephyrus G14($1,999). Considering their price differences, though, that’s to be expected. But here’s the thing: wouldn’t it be great to play the latest games on a more generally affordable lineup of laptops? Of course, and Chromebooks present that chance.

Since 2011, I’ve seen Google’s laptops evolve — delivering better performance, greater connectivity and now a new category of beefier notebooks: Chromebook Plus. Surely, the best Chromebooks of today could manage to pull off decent gaming performance, right?

Well, that’s what I hoped, and after using a Chromebook as my main way to play games, I can say that the results are mixed. Ultimately, though, I was surprised by what was on offer, even if it still has a long way to go.

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The many ways of gaming on a Chromebook

While these laptops aren’t made for gaming, you might be surprised to know that there are several ways to boot up a game on a Chromebook. There are plenty of compatible gaming apps on the Google Play Store, cloud gaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce Now and yes, you can alsoinstall Steam on a Chromebook.

Each delivers a variety of titles new and old, fromIndiana Jones and the Great Circleto Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Great, the games are here, but the real question is: can a Chromebook handle them?

I booted up aSamsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, a fine laptop with an excellent 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) AMOLED display and the following specs: Intel Core i3 100U CPU, Intel Graphics, 8GB DDR5X RAM and 256GB for storage. Not exactly beefy, but it meets the minimum requirements to play Steam on a Chromebook — and that’s enough for me.

I tried playing games in each category, with the Play Store being the easiest — and my most viable — option.

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All for Android gaming

AsApple continues to make gaming good on Macs, Google has quietly been populating its Play Store on Chromebooks with a strong catalog of Android games. NotResident Evil 4-type good, but more in the classic and addictive, popular titles type of way.

There’s everything from Roblox and Among Us to Dead Cells, Stardew Valley and Loop Hero. There are even all-time classics like GTA: San Andreas, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Final Fantasy III 3D Remake. Then there are addictive card-based titles such as Balatro, Slay the Spire and Marvel Snap.

These games may not be high-quality blockbuster hits that we see on Steam, but they’re popular games that I would spend dozens of hours sinking my thumbs into regardless of the gaming device I play them on.

I booted up Balatro first, and it worked like a charm. It’s not exactly a demanding title, and it’s easily playable on many smartphones. Still, seeing as this break-out hit is even on a PS5, you bet this is the kind of game many gamers are checking out, and having this easily playable on a Chromebook is a major bonus.

I continued with the low-demanding title streak by playing the all-time classic RPG Chrono Trigger, made way back in 1995. And yes, now a full 30 years later, it can be played on a Chromebook. Hardly a surprise, but it’s an engaging title to play on a Chromebook nevertheless.

Now, I decided to up the stakes a tad. I installed Call of Duty Mobile to see how well the Galaxy Chromebook Plus could handle 3D rendering, but I never got past the launch screen. Every time I opened the app, it would automatically force quit shortly after showing logos for a split second. Even after looking at the minimal troubleshooters online, like reinstalling the app, none of it worked. Apparently, it only works on certain Chromebooks, and one of them isn’t mine.

So Genshin Impact it is. Not my general cup of tea, but a popular title fit for any gaming device. Unfortunately, though, to no avail. After what took over an hour to download the game and compile shaders, I was treated to the opening cinematic, where I could also choose my character. Afterward, though, it crashed. After booting it up multiple times, it kept crashing. Of course, this leads me to believe this isn’t made for 3D graphics.

All in all, a Chromebook does have a nice selection of games to play from the Play Store, unless they demand the third dimension. One point of annoyance: Netflix has a great catalog of gaming apps to download that are included in subscriptions. Unfortunately, none of these apps are compatible with Chromebooks, which is a shame seeing as there are games like Dead Cells, Oxenfree, Katana Zero, Into the Breach and more.

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Cloud gaming highs (and lows)

If it’s the latest AAA titles you want, a Chromebook can provide — but only through cloud gaming. Chromebooks don’t have the specs to pull off premium gaming features like Nvidia’s ray tracing or DLSS 4 to boost frame rates, but they can stream games from a gaming PC that does.

More than anything, this all depends on your internet speeds and Wi-Fi connections. The gamer-ready Acer Chromebook 516 GE even comes with an Ethernet port for uninterrupted streaming. However, with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus’Wi-Fi 6Econnectivity (althoughWi-Fi 7is preferred), along with my home network’s internet speeds (up to 500Mbps), it should be enough to stream games on.

Lo and behold, it is! After using Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in a Chrome browser, I could scroll through a library of top-sellers, and that includes the updated Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. The thing is, these games need a controller to get going. A shame, seeing as there is a perfectly good keyboard here for certain titles, but a PS5 DualSense controller does the trick.

Without any installs, I tried out the latest, upscaled edition of Ryu Hayabusa’s action-packed adventure. At first, visuals and gameplay were super smooth, and I was slicing, dicing and Izuna Dropping enemies without any lag. Then, as the on-screen action got more chaotic with waves of foes, the game dropped quality and stuttered far too frequently. As any fan of the fast-paced action franchise would know, this is not the way to play Ninja Gaiden.

I then tried Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and had a far better time. Perhaps it’s the slower pace of action-adventure’s stealth sections, exploration and combat, but I was able to get through an entire level without any hiccups. A tiny stutter here and there, but nothing game-breaking. That’s genuinely impressive, especially for a laptop that would never be able to handle such a game on its own.

Cloud gaming is a great option for Chromebooks, as Microsoft appears to have put the legwork in to make its cloud gaming a more viable service for gamers over the years. While titles that require minimal input lag aren’t a great match, more slow-paced games, even like Persona 3 Reloaded or Citizen Sleeper. Of course, though, this all depends on your internet speeds.

As a quick note: I tried to use Nvidia’s cloud-gaming service GeForce Now as a free user, trying out Ghostrunner. However, not being a paying subscriber myself, I didn’t get the best experience. In fact, it barely ran a few minutes before the directional inputs spun out of control (as evidenced below).

Steam on Chromebooks is a step forward

Steam for Chromebooks has been around for a while now, and even though it’s still in beta, Valve’s gaming client looks good on a Chromebook. It’s easy to install for Chromebooks that meet theminimum requirements, and it’s the full Steam package you’d expect on Windows. There are still a few issues, but overall, you can install and play games from your library as usual.

Well, therightgames. There’s no chance my Chromebook could run the likes of Cyberpunk 2077. I even tried playing one of my favorite titles of 2024, Anger Foot, which doesn’t require demanding specs, and it didn’t stand a chance of getting to the title screen before shutting down.

Instead, I stuck to more 2D indie games, such as Hotline Miami. This worked without a hitch, and gameplay was even snappy and smooth — two things required in this fast-paced top-down shooter.

Using Steam to game on a Chromebook is more trial and error, and depends entirely on the specs of a Chromebook, like any gaming PC. I can’t imagine all games will work, especially ones that push the limits of having 8GB of RAM, but for those classic titles and more pixelated games, Chromebooks can pull it off.

So, this leads back to the all important question…

Is gaming on a Chromebook any good now?

Truthfully, I don’t think gaming on a Chromebook is a terrible option anymore. At one point, I had no faith in what a Chromebook could offer, and couldn’t fathom trying to game on one. Seeing as the main focus of these laptops is for education and workers using web-based applications, gaming hasn’t been a high priority.

However, that doesn’t mean games can’t be played on one. Set your expectations, and you’ll be happily playing popular titles that don’t require an RTX 50-series GPU or equivalent. There are plenty of classic RPGs on the Play Store and Steam worth investing time into, and the latest Chromebooksshouldbe able to handle it all.

Moreover, cloud gaming is better than ever, and if you have a decent internet connection (and a controller), you can game to your heart’s content with the latest titles that come to Game Pass — and there are quite a few.

Will I continue to game on a Chromebook? Unlikely, especially when I have a proper gaming laptop and PS5 at hand. But for those interested in an affordable Chromebook and wondering if it’s possible to game on it, yes, you can. You’ll get a far better experience on a value gaming laptop like theAsus TUF Gaming A14, but if you’re looking to keep things cheap and cheery, Chromebooks aren’t the worst shout.

Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: which should you choose?

We test every Apple Pencil model vs Logitech Crayon to see which is the best iPad stylus.

(Image credit: Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon)

Apple Pencilvs Logitech Crayon – the ultimate battle of the smart styluses, but which is best? While there are a host ofApplePencils to pick from (including this year’s swanky new Apple Pencil Pro) it can be tricky to decide which to pick to accompany thebest drawing tablets, especially when compared to the humble yet powerful Logitech Crayon.

We’ve already reviewed the latest version of theLogitech Crayonand the newApple Pencil Pro, but each has its own unique pros and cons. If it’s compatibility that you’re after, you might require the more mature Apple Pencil 1,2 or USB-C options for older iPad, Air and Mini generations.

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Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Design

In all of its iterations, the Apple Pencil is an elegant object, designed very much to mimic a designer pencil, even down to its circular design and carefully tapered tip (rather than, say, a stepped lip where the tup enters the pen body, as many designers have lived with perfectly well on styluses for years).

When it comes to the first version, its elegance at times slightly interferes with its practicality, though not in ways that are major problems: to stop it rolling off desks, Apple has weighted it slightly, which is quite clever, but isn’t 100% effective, since enough momentum just overcomes this and it still rolls. And there’s an end cap covering the charging plug that’s held on by magnets, which is fine when writing/drawing with it (and fun to fiddle with), but is still not too hard to pop off and lose.

The Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro both feature a flat edge for magnetic charging, solving the rolling issue. There’s no magnetic cap either, so no risk of losing that.

The Logitech Crayon is designed with the classroom in mind as much as work, and it shows – it’s chunkier than the Apple Pencil, it’s squared off so it never rolls (and its cross section is roughly rectangular rather than circular), and it has a flappy plastic cover for its charging port that can’t be lost.

That plastic comes in a choice of fun/kiddy-looking orange on a grey body, or there’s a grey plastic on grey body version that’s actually quite reserved.

The Crayon also appears to be more durable than the Pencil – we’d expect to take being sat on better, or dropped, though we’ve never actually broken a Pencil this way ourselves.

Winner: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro, Logitech Crayon

(Image credit: Apple)
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Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Performance

When it comes to performance, there’s one major difference you need to know about: the Apple Pencil has pressure sensitivity, and the Logitech Crayon doesn’t. The Apple Pencil Pro also boasts added features like barrel roll which allows you to change the orientation of shaped tools, squeeze for easy switching and customisation, and even haptic feedback.

Both styluses write or draw with the same level of precision (technically speaking), and they both include tilt detection, enabling some artistic tool control in that sense. But the Crayon simply doesn’t handle pressure at all, while the Apple Pencil is great for fine-grained pressure sensitivity.

You probably know already whether this is a deal-breaker for you. If you just want to take notes on it, pressure sensitivity isn’t required (though some ink-mimicking notes apps do make use of it for a more natural look) and the Crayon is perfectly functional. If you’re planning to use a stylus for the precision application of effects in photo editing apps, then pressure sensitivity isn’t a requirement.

But for professional art, you need it. That the Crayon draws with the same level of precision as the Apple Pencil doesn’t matter if you can’t control the lines as finely, since you end up drawing so much more crudely, because that’s all the stylus is capable of.

Illustrators looking to do anything more than highly basic outlines should avoid the Crayon and go for the Apple Pencil. For everyone else, you can decide if you want the potential of making use of pressure sensitivity in the future.

Winner: Apple Pencil Pro

Apple Pencil has pressure sensitivity, the Logitech Crayon doesn’t(Image credit: Apple)
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Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Ergonomics

Though the Crayon is larger than the Pencil, there’s not too much difference between them ergonomically. The way the Pencil’s size copies real pencils will be a boon for some, but plenty of people will equally prefer a chunker grip that they’ve become used to withWacomstyluses (though the Crayon is still only thick in one dimension, so isn’t quite the same as a big rubbery Wacom grip).

The Apple Pencil 1 has a glossy exterior, which can easily become a little slick with oils from your skin – Apple fixed this with a matte finish on all later models. The Crayon has a more matter-feeling finish, and the extra size helps you to keep a strong grip too.

For those doing fine and precise work, the Apple Pencil is more easily manipulated in tiny ways (and gets in the way of what you’re looking at a little less) so when combined with its pressure sensitivity, it becomes even more the artists’ choice.

But for those who want to be able to take notes or annotate while on the move, the extra grip of the Crayon may be more welcome – though, as we said, it’s not a huge difference. It will be more of a benefit for kids (who are, again, a key audience for the Crayon) lacking as fine motor control as adults.

Winner: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro

For those who want to be able to take notes or annotate while on the move, the extra grip of the Crayon may be more welcome(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Charge

The older generations of Apple Pencil are famous for their slightly ridiculous charging system. With a Lightning connector under the cap, you can plug this into an iPad’s Lightning port to charge from the iPad’s battery.

The 2nd Gen Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro mitigate this stress with seamless wireless charging. Simply place the pencil on the magnetic storage strip and it’ll charge the stylus when it’s not in use. They both boast up to 12 hours of continuous use with storage and charging combined they’ll always be ready to use when you’re on the go.

The 1st Gen Logitech Crayon has a regular Lightning port on it for charging, so you can use the same cable as your iPad without any need for an adapter. The 2nd Gen boasts a USB-C charging port for pairing with newer iPad models which isn’t as seamless as Apple’s wireless charging capabilities. However, the Logitech Crayon has an off button, so you can be sure it’s not wasting battery when it’s waiting in your bag between uses, and it also powers off automatically after 30 mins of non-use.

It gives you around 7.5 hours of charge in total from a full battery – notably less than the Pencil, but it has a triple light system to let you know how charged it is, which is great extra affordance that the Pencil doesn’t have (though you can use Apple’s ‘Battery’ widget on the iPad to check the Pencil’s current levels).

Winner: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro

The Apple Pencil is famous for its slightly ridiculous charging system(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Compatibility

The Logitech Crayon is interesting for compatibility because it works with every single iPad currently available, including the new iPad Pros that work with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. It also works with the 10.2-inch iPad, the previous 9.7-inch iPad model with Apple Pencil support, the current iPad mini, and the currentiPad Air.

However, there’s no support for older iPads than these, so if you have an old-designiPad Pro, the Crayon is not an option.

As for the Apple Pencil, compatibility depends on which iPad you have. In fact, the compatibility so ridiculously confusing that instead of attempting to write it out here, I’m just going to show you Apple’s own chart (below), which, let’s be honest, hardly simplifies things at all.

Winner: Logitech Crayon

Thanks, Apple… (Image credit: Apple)

The Logitech Crayon works with every single iPad currently available(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Price

The original Apple Pencil costs $89, while both versions of the Logitech Crayon cost $69.95. The Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro will both set you back$199

The extra money for the Apple Pencil gets you extra hours of battery life (though, as we say, because the Crayon is better at preserving battery, it’s hard to say exactly how beneficial that will be in practice), but most importantly it gets you pressure sensitivity.

For artists, there’s no question that this is worth the higher price. For everyone else, it’s a judgment call – we think the added value of the Pencil is certainly worth the price upgrade if you choose to go for it, though.

Winner: Logitech Crayon

For artists, there’s no question that the Apple Pencil is worth the higher price(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Replacement tips

Both of these styluses have replaceable tips, but while the Apple Pencil comes with an extra tip, the Crayon doesn’t, so that’s another small extra value win for the Pencil.

Here’s an oddity, though: Logitech sells extra tips for the Crayon in packs of three for $14.99 in the US… but availability in other countries seems to be lacking, or non-existent. The good news is that users online report that Apple’s own replacement Pencil tips work in the Crayon, but it’s still not an ideal situation.

Apple’s tips cost $19 for a four-pack, which is fine for value, particularly since they last really well. Exactly how well they last will depend on your use, but the nice smooth glass of the iPad is quite kind on the tips, and it’s normal for them to last two years. However, using a screen protector can reduce that a lot, depending on the finish of it.

Winner: Apple Pencil (all models)

Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Storage

The Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro’s magnetic storage capabilities are a natural winner over the Logitech Crayon. With easy on the go access (and the added bonus of charging and pairing) the Apple Pencil is an excellent choice for artists (or anyone that has a habit of misplacing their stylus pens).

The Logitech Crayon doesn’t have any kind of official way to handily store it on or with the iPad. Various iPad cases will have Apple Pencil storage built in, so you can buy one that fixes this oversight, but not so much with the Crayon. The storage is “knowing which pocket you put it into in your bag”.

Winner: Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro

(Image credit: Apple, Logitech)

Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Conclusion

If you’re looking to do remotely serious art on your iPad, you want the Apple Pencil, there no question there. Pressure sensitivity is non-negotiable.

Beyond that, there’s not that much to choose between them. They’ll both work as well for each other at note taking or precision tool selection, though even then some apps can take advantage of the pressure sensitivity – it’s just not as much of a dealbreaker.

They both have advantages over the other when it comes to aspects such as design or charging/battery life.

The Logitech Crayon is cheaper, but we suspect most people go for the more adult-looking Apple Pencil and it’s familiar pen-like design.

Wacom completely redesigns its flagship Intuos Pro drawing tablets – inside and out!

Drawing tablet and pen display titan Wacom has completely refreshed its premium range of Intuos Pro tablets

Illustrator using Wacom Intuos Pro (2025) with a laptop on a coffee table

The thin and light tablets look like great options for photographers and illustrators on the go(Image credit: Wacom)

Wacom has rocked thebest drawing tabletsmarket by announcing a complete redesign of its flagship Intuos Pro range. The Intuos Pro is a mainstay of thebest Wacom tabletsand with its new chip and digitizer set, Wacom claims the tablet boasts its “most accurate pen stroke (…) and intuitive controls in an ultra-slim, compact design.” It also features an improved battery life over the Intuos Pro 2017.

Wacom says the Windows and Mac-compatible tablets have been redesigned inside and out, with the most noticeable difference being physical controls positioned along the top of the tablet, rather than to one side, to better accommodate left-handed users. Another big update is the inclusion of the Pro Pen 3, found in the Cintiq Pro, Wacom’s flagship range of pen displays.

With three different sizes of tablet, you can select the Wacom Intuos Pro that suits your workflow best(Image credit: Wacom)

The Pro Pen 3 is said to provide Wacom’s “most sensitive, accurate, and natural pen performance,” while it can be customized with different grips, button configurations, nibs, and even weight adjustments, and doesn’t contain any batteries, removing the need for charging. It’s also Wacom’s first professional creative pen tablet that will work with older Wacom pro pens or a stylus made with EMR technology from Pilot, Lamy, or Staedtler.

The new Intuos Pro tablets boast enhanced ergonomics, thanks to the repositioning of mechanical dials and ExpressKeys, again, designed to better accommodate both right- and left-handed users, while also being customized for use with specific applications. The medium and large tablets have ten ExpressKeys and two dials, while the small tablet has five ExpressKeys and one dial. Each tablet is also extremely thin. All sizes boast a very sleight 0.16-0.28in (4 to 7mm) graduated thickness, with a sleek magnesium-alloy back.

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The Wacom Intuos Pro features the customizable Wacom Pro Pen 3 (Image credit: Wacom)

Intuos Pro drawing tablet sizes

	Intuos Pro Small	Intuos Pro Medium	Intuos Pro Large
Dimensions	8.5 x 6.4in (215 x 163mm)	11.5 x 8.1in (291 x 206mm)	14.8 x 10in (377 x 253mm)
Dimensions (active area)	7.4 x 4.1in (187 x 105mm)	10.4 x 5.8in (263 x 148mm)	13.7 x 7.7in (349 x 195 mm)
Weight	8.47oz (240g)	14.50oz (411g)	23.28oz (660g)
Pen pressure levels	8,192	8,192	8,192
Physical controls	5 ExpressKeys, 1 dial	10 ExpressKeys, 2 dials	10 ExpressKeys, 2 dials

The new Intuos Pro range can be paired and charged with the included USB-C to A cable or via Bluetooth 5.3. A useful enhancement is the tablets’ ability to pair to two computers simultaneously, making it easier to switch from one device to another, while a connector button allows users to “switch between the wired connection and either wireless computer,” so you can bring a third device into the mix. Wacom rates the tablets to provide 16 hours of battery when fully charged.

Drawing tablets can prove more comfortable than pen displays for long sessions, because you can sit upright(Image credit: Wacom)
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The tablets come with free trials of Clip Studio Paint, MASV andCapture One, as well as access to Wacom’s digital rights management tool, Yuify, so artists can protect their work via a micromark in conjunction with compatible software. The range is compatible with Windows 10 (or later) and macOS 13 (or later).

The tablets are set to launch in March and will be priced as follows: Intuos Pro Small, $249.95, Intuos Pro Medium, $379.95, and Intuos Pro Large, $499.95.

You can now talk to Microsoft Copilot Voice in 40 more languages

The AI assistant’s speech goes globe-trotting

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft’s Copilot Voice has been upgraded with 40 new languages
The AI has also improved its real-time responses
Microsoft wants to encourage people to engage with Copilot in their everyday lives

MicrosoftCopilot Voice has become a lot more cosmopolitan. The AI assistant has added support for 40 new languages and improved its real-time responses in a bid to make conversations feel more natural and comfortable for users.

Copilot Voice debuted in October, adding a vocal component to the AI, but with more power than the previous standard form of voice assistant. It can handle multi-turn conversations, recognize interruptions, and even adjust its tone based on emotional cues. It’s also free, which is a pretty big selling point in a world where AI subscriptions are becoming the norm.OpenAIhas Advanced Voice Mode forChatGPT, whileGoogle’s Gemini Liveoffers its vocal interface.

The expanded language support is a big deal, especially for users outside of English-speaking markets. Whether you’re switching between languages or simply want an assistant who understands your native tongue better, this is a welcome change. This also points to Microsoft’s strategy for making Copilot more of an international AI assistant through the Voice feature.

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Speedy speech

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In general, Copilot supports the following languages for prompts:

Arabic
Bulgarian
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Catalan
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English (United Kingdom)
English (United States)
Estonian
Finnish
French (France)
French (Canada)
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian
Indonesian
Italian

Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Norwegian (Bokmål)
Polish
Portuguese (Brazil)
Portuguese (Portugal)
Romanian
Russian
Serbian – Latin script
Slovak
Slovenian
Spanish
Spanish (Mexico)
Swedish
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
Welsh

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Another key improvement is in real-time information retrieval. Voice assistants have always had a slight lag when pulling information from the web, often leaving users waiting while the AI “thinks.” With this update, Copilot Voice is now much faster and more responsive when answering questions, making interactions feel smoother and more natural. No more awkward pauses while you wait for an answer to a simple question.

The update also highlights Microsoft’s efforts to enhance Copilot’s place as a digital assistant, not just a glorified search engine. Copilot Voice might succeed after the failure of Cortana as Microsoft’s AI voice assistant. The gap between what people expect from an AI assistant and what they actually get is closing, and voice AI tools will likely be a major facet.

Apple Watch speaker not working? Here’s what you should do – according to Apple

Apple has published a handy support document

apple

Apple has published a support document outlining what to do if your Apple Watch speaker isn’t working
It follows a spate of reports about problems with the Series 10’s speakers
Customers can clean, update, or re-pair their Apple Watch, along with other steps

Following a raft of reports thatApple Watch Series 10users were having problems with their speakers,Applehas published a support document detailing how users can tackle some of the problems reported.

While the company has not officially responded to or acknowledged the speaker issues, the new document waspublished on February 13and states:

“If the microphone or speaker isn’t working as expected on yourApple Watch

Try these steps if your Apple Watch microphone or speaker isn’t working as expected. You can also use these steps if the sound is crackling, distorted, muffled, or intermittent.”

As you might expect, it features the usual slew of troubleshooting, including updates, re-pairing the watch, and cleaning. Here’s what you need to know.

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How to fix your Apple Watch Series 10 speaker problems

Apple says that the first thing users should do is update their iPhone and Apple Watch software. If you’re having speaker troubles, it’s possible your issue has been solved by a software update, so this is a good starting point.

The next step is to clean your Apple Watch. Apple says you should check your Watch’s microphone and speaker for obstructions. Because Apple Watches are water-resistant, you can run it under “lightly running, warm, fresh water until it’s clean.” Apple Watch Series 10 speakers can be cleaned with a soft bristle brush, just don’t use cleaning liquids, sprays, or abrasives.

Apple also says you should check your Watch for water and dry it, as this can degrade speaker performance. “To check whether water is in the microphone or speaker port, place your Apple Watch microphone or speaker side down on a lint-free microfiber cloth,” the company says.

If there’s any present, you can dry it with a lint-free microfiber cloth; just don’t use heat, compressed air, or sprays. A top tip: charge your Apple Watch overnight to speed up evaporation.

Apple also offers the classic options of restarting, unpairing, and re-pairing your Apple Watch with your iPhone.

Finally, there are suggestions to check Silent Mode, Do Not Disturb, and your Watch’s sound settings in case you haven’t inadvertently silenced your Watch.

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Since reporting these issues, multiple Series 10 users have confirmed they’ve been experiencing the issue. While not limited to the Series 10, the problem is more noticeable because 2024’sbest Apple Watchis the first mainstream model to offer audio playback for media through its speakers.

If you try all these steps and still have issues, it might be time to contact Apple Support or your local Apple Store.

Google Maps is ramping up its Waze-like incident reports – and that could split opinion among users

New reports include ‘flooded road’ and other weather-related incidents

(Image credit: Google / Truckin_18)

Google Maps is testing the rollout of more incident reports
These are weather-related options such as ‘flooded road’ or ‘low visibility’
The growing library of incidents is a source of annoyance for some drivers

Google Mapsis introducing new incident reporting options, fresh additions that pertain to weather-related conditions.

Android Policespotted these new kinds of report, and they include the likes of ‘flooded road’ for when there’s been a huge deluge of rain, or ‘low visibility’ for when it gets foggy. And indeed ‘unplowed road’ for when, well, you should probably turn around and find a plowed road that’s not wheel-deep in snow.

The site noticed these new options inGoogle Mapsfor Android Auto first off, and then in the iPhone app.

The not-so-great news for those keen on being able to benefit from a wider variety of untoward happenings being reported is that these new introductions have not yet made it to the Android version of Google Maps.

However, it surely won’t be long before the ability to report a flooded or snowed-up road arrives on Android.

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Is an ever-growing library of incidents a good thing?

This is a continued expansion of the reporting of incidents in Google Maps, on top of clearly-labeled Waze reports being piped through alongside native reportssince last year. There’s already a wide range of incidents that can be flagged, such as road traffic accidents, stalled cars, lanes being closed, speed traps, and so on.

Sometimes, these kind of alerts can be very useful, of course, and plenty of folks are grateful to have been warned of an incoming thorny issue on the road ahead.

However, not everyone is keen on being subject to more and more of these reports being highlighted in Google Maps – withcomplaints about them being too frequentonly likely to multiply, as Google further expands the library of incidents that can be reported.

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The problem is compounded by errant reports – incidents that aren’t there, or were resolved some time back – and there being no easy way to switch off said reports.

It looks like this is a road Google is insisting on driving down, though, despite the ‘stop’ signs being waved by some of the drivers who use itsnavigation app.

New reports include ‘flooded road’ and other weather-related incidents

(Image credit: Google / Truckin_18)

Google Maps is testing the rollout of more incident reports
These are weather-related options such as ‘flooded road’ or ‘low visibility’
The growing library of incidents is a source of annoyance for some drivers

Google Mapsis introducing new incident reporting options, fresh additions that pertain to weather-related conditions.

The site noticed these new options inGoogle Mapsfor Android Auto first off, and then in the iPhone app.

However, it surely won’t be long before the ability to report a flooded or snowed-up road arrives on Android.

>>>GWRL2 Battery for Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Is an ever-growing library of incidents a good thing?

Sometimes, these kind of alerts can be very useful, of course, and plenty of folks are grateful to have been warned of an incoming thorny issue on the road ahead.

>>>GDHB7 Battery for Google GDHB7

The problem is compounded by errant reports – incidents that aren’t there, or were resolved some time back – and there being no easy way to switch off said reports.

It looks like this is a road Google is insisting on driving down, though, despite the ‘stop’ signs being waved by some of the drivers who use itsnavigation app.

Windows 11 is set to offer the option nobody was crying out for – having Copilot automatically load in the background when the PC boots

New choice for Copilot app is currently in testing

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 11’s Copilot app has a new feature in testing
It offers the ability to ‘auto start on login’ for the app
This could be a handy timesaver for those who use Copilot regularly

Windows 11has an incoming change for the Copilot app whereby it can be set to automatically load in the background when you start your PC.

PhantomOfEarth, who regularly posts bits and pieces of Windows-related observations and rumors on X, noticed the development.

As shown in the above post, there’s a new ‘auto start on login’ choice in the Settings for the Copilot app, which when enabled does just that – it automatically starts Copilot (in the background) when your system is fired up.

Right now, the option is still in testing (in version 1.25014.121.0 of the app), but providing there’s no pushback or problems, it should go live for all Windows 11 users before too long.

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(Image credit: Microsoft)

Analysis: The stumbling journey of the Copilot assistant

You might be thinking ‘who cares’ when it comes to this additional feature for Copilot, and that’s a fair enough point. I don’t imagine usage of the Copilot app is all that widespread, and indeed, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t a niche feature in Windows 11 – but for those people who do make use of the AI, this is still a handy little extra touch.

What it means is that they can invoke the Copilot app with the Alt+Space keyboard shortcut (assuming that’s also enabled), without having to wait for it to load up the first time this action is taken in a new computing session. (Because it will have already loaded up already, in the background).

The good news is that the option isn’t on by default, so Copilot isn’t being forcefully pushed into the background of everybody’s Windows 11 installation. You can either use this option, or just feel free to ignore it.

All in all, it’s a relatively minor change, and as with anything to do with Copilot, I’m waiting forMicrosoftto justify its existence in a more convincing manner. There were some big promises of an AI that could make sweeping system-wide changes based on simple requests back at the launch of the Copilot assistant on the desktop. However, all that appears to have been, well,swept under the carpetas time passed by, and Copilot was decoupled from the internals of Windows andmade a standalone app.

Maybe Copilot will be realized in this form eventually, but I can’t help but think that this destination feels a long, long, way off, given how things have progressed – or rather haven’t – with the desktop assistant thus far.

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ViaWindows Latest

Apple finally admits a new product is coming next week, but is it the new iPhone that everyone is hoping for?

Apple’s Tim Cook has confirmed that the “newest member of the family” will launch on February 19

(Image credit: Apple / Tim Cook)

The possibility of an iPhone 4 SE has been circulating in theApplerumor mill for awhile – but now Apple is finally admitting thatsomethingis coming. Today, Apple’s Tim Cook shared an obscure teaser with a February 19 launch date on X (formerly Twitter).

The teasersimply reads: “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family. Wednesday, February 19.” The text is shared with a GIF of a shimmery metallic Apple logo.

The text and video don’t do much except indicate that some sort of new Apple product will be announced next week. The post on X doesn’t offer any hints as to what category the launch will even fall under, where that’s smartphones, tablets, computers, headphones or even VR headsets. (Although, the white circle behind the logo does remind me a bit of a MagSafe charger.)

But while Cook’s post doesn’t offer much insight outside of the launch date, rumors have been circulating about potential launches for several products. Apple tends to launch its more budget-friendly iPhones in the spring – though historically March has been the typical timeframe for iPhone SE launches.

With the traditional timeline for a budget iPhone quickly approaching, many are speculating that next week’s launch is theiPhone SE 4. Apple, naturally, hasn’t confirmed the rumors. Current speculation has the iPhone SE 4 expected to still have only a single camera but to potentially axe the home button like the more advanced iPhones. Of course, rumor sites were calling for the iPhone SE 4 to launch last week, so these reports shouldn’t be treated as certainties.

Another Apple product that tends to launch outside the big September event is theMacBook Air. Speculation points tothe slimmer laptop getting the M4 chip. That’s a safe guess with the M4 chip already available on theMacBook Pro, but again, Apple hasn’t offered any sort of hint at what specifically will launch on February 19.

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While the rumors have been circulating for a while now, Cook’s post means something (or perhaps multiple things) is coming next week.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera crushed its old rival in our test

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra

Is theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultraworth an upgrade if you own the last Ultra phone? Equally, if the Galaxy S25 Ultra is on your buy list, understanding how Samsung has improved the camera this time around will be an important point to understand before splashing out on it. To help answer these questions, we put Samsung’s latest Ultra phone against its predecessor, theGalaxy S24 Ultra, in a serious camera battle.

Camera specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra

The first thing to understand is not much has changed on the hardware front. Both have a 200-megapixel main camera with an f/1.7 aperture, phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) and optical image stabilization (OIS). It’s joined by a pair of telephoto cameras on both, one 10MP telephoto with OIS for a 3x optical zoom, and another 50MP telephoto with OIS for a 5x optical zoom.

The single hardware change is the wide-angle camera, which is a 12MP camera on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and a new 50MP wide-angle on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The new wide-angle camera has an f/1.9 aperture compared to the f/2.2 on the S24 Ultra, while both have the same 120-degree field of view.

Inside each phone is a different processor, which can have a considerable impact on the photographic experience. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powers the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it’s the latestSnapdragon 8 Eliteinside the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both chips have been optimized “for Galaxy,” which Samsung says improves overall performance.

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Main camera

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

There is very little to split the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra’s main cameras, but there are two things you need to know before deciding whether to upgrade. The tiny differences in tone, color, and dynamic range will be split by personal preference, as one isn’t better than the other, but I’ve continuously noticed the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s main camera takes sharper photos with a wider focal area.

The front of the church is a great example. Take a close look at the windows on the building deeper in the frame than the entrance, and you’ll see the S25 Ultra introduces blur where the S24 Ultra’s photo is pin sharp. It’s evident elsewhere in the photo too, but because you have to look really closely, it won’t bother everyone. However, it detracts from the overall photo once you’ve seen it.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Galaxy S25 Ultra can redeem itself with less noise, which can be seen in the photo of the street, specifically under the awning and through the window. Lets finish with a photo that shows the differences as a whole. The Firebird sign and sky in the photo below has better white balance in the S25 Ultra’s photo, but isn’t as sharp as the S24 Ultra’s picture, and although the contrast is well-judged in the S25 Ultra’s photo, I prefer the color pop in the S24 Ultra’s photo.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

It’s very difficult to say one is better than the other, as some won’t notice the differences at all, and both do have positive and negative points. I wouldn’t rush to upgrade the S24 Ultra to the S25 Ultra, but I also wouldn’t hold back on the S25 Ultra over any concerns the camera is somehow worse. The main camera category is a draw.

Winner: Draw

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Wide-angle camera

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wide-angle
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wide-angle

Now we come to the category where the Galaxy S25 Ultra should beat the S24 Ultra. Out testagainst the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Maxhas already shown the wide-angle camera takes good photos, so how does it do next to the Galaxy S24 Ultra? Anyone expecting dramatic differences is going to be a little disappointed.

The wide-angle photo of the church shows you have to look very closely to spot any differences at all, and even when you do, they’re negligible. There’s a bit less noise in the S25 Ultra’s photo, but more pop in the S24 Ultra’s photo, and both have an almost identical level of detail. Neither photo is better than the other.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wide-angle
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wide-angle

The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s wide-angle camera is a little better in low light. In the shot of the cabinets inside a cafe, there’s markedly less noise and edge blurring at the top of the S25 Ultra’s photo, and the white balance is more accurate too. However, if I didn’t tell you about these differences, would you actually notice?

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wide-angle
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wide-angle

Here’s a test for you. Which wide-angle photo out of the two above do you prefer? The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s wide-angle camera takes sharper photos, but it’s really marginal, and I’m not convinced it makes that much of a difference. Both photos are technically quite similar, with no obvious negative points. Yes, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s wide-angle camera is “better” than the S24 Ultra’s, but whether you will ever notice is another thing entirely. It gets the win, but don’t read too much into it.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

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Telephoto cameras

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 3x
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 3x

Finally, as we reach the telephoto category, we can see some consistent improvements in the photos taken by the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Across the 3x, 5x, and 10x zoom the S25 Ultra takes sharper and less noisy photos than the S24 Ultra, and you don’t always need to pixel-peep to see the changes.

The 3x zoom photo of the archway is the hardest to immediately see the changes, but the wooden archway and gate do have more sharpness and texture when you take a moment to examine the photo. This continues into the background. I do prefer the S24 Ultra’s visual pop though, a running theme throughout the test.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5x
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x

The photo of the cat was taken at 5x zoom, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra has nailed the color of its coat, and lessened the intense contrast of the S24 Ultra’s image, giving it a natural look and tone. There’s a lot less noise in the background too.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 10x
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 10x

Finally, the clock at 10x zoom shows how much the S24 Ultra relies on smoothing to keep noise at bay. The textures in the stone around the edge of the clock face are sharper in the S25 Ultra’s photo, and there’s a lot less pixelation in the darker sections at the top of the image. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s three primary zoom levels easily surpass the quality of the S24 Ultra’s cameras.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

30x and 100x zoom

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 30x
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x

More for fun than anything else, here’s how things have changed for the 30x and 100x zoom levels both phones can achieve. Interestingly, the 30x zoom is getting more and more usable, with far less smoothing, more sharpness, and additional texture to make the 30x photos taken by the Galaxy S25 Ultra much improved over the S24 Ultra.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 100x
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 100x

The 100x zoom photos still aren’t ones you’d take and want to keep, but similar updates to the 30x mode make them less artificial looking than before, with more texture and realism. It’s advancements made in the software and processing which make all this possible, rather than the camera hardware, and it’s perhaps the area where we can see the most obvious changes between the two phone generations.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Night mode

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The software and processing improvements extend to the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s lowlight performance too. The first photo was taken in practically dark conditions, with ambient light coming from a security lamp behind me. The S25 Ultra’s photo is sharper, and makes better use of the contrast and exposure time to make the scene look more natural, and bring out more of the textures in the wood.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The next two photos show the S25 Ultra’s greater ability to take a natural looking photo in lowlight. The first has plenty of ambient light, but it was nowhere near as green as the S24 Ultra makes it seem, but there’s a lot less noise in the photo due to its additional smoothing. However, textures are greater and more realistic in the S25 Ultra, such as on the tarmac and the tree trunk.

1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

All this is then emphasized in the photo of the same scene taken from a different angle. The S25 Ultra’s colors are much more accurate, and there’s less blur on the vehicles too. However, it’s less effective at capturing the text on the van, and both photos have noisy skies. When the Galaxy S25 Ultra is this effective in very lowlight, it’ll suit more environments than the S24 Ultra.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

An easy win

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has beaten the S24 Ultra in all but one category, with the telephoto sections proving to be the most decisive. The new wide-angle camera is obviously improved, but it’s not as dramatic as you may expect. However, I have been really impressed with it outside of this test piece, and you can see more examples of the photos it takesin our review.

It’s no surprise the two main cameras are equally matched as the hardware is unchanged, but I remain concerned about the introduction of blur and a lack of sharpness. I don’t think this should happen on a camera attached to a $1,300 smartphone, and look forward to Samsung addressing it in future software updates.

While the Galaxy S25 Ultra has won this test, it’s hard to say it provides a compelling reason to upgrade if you own the Galaxy S24 Ultra, unless you use the telephoto cameras a great deal. It’s not like the S24 Ultra has a bad camera, as it still managed tobeat the iPhone 16 Pro Maxat the end of 2024. We’ve got some other interesting tests if you’re still considering the S25 Ultra, as we’ve also put itagainst the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and we’ve got an in-depth look at how thetelephoto capabilities compare to its rivalshere.

Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra zoom the best? I tested it and it’s close

The back of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The year was 2020, the month was February and Samsung had just kicked off yet another smartphone generation. The Galaxy S20 Ultra brought a lot of new features to the market, but crucially, Samsung’s marketing also made long zoom features and Ultra branding extremely desirable.

One of the key reasons to buy the Galaxy S20 Ultra — and subsequent Ultra phones from Samsung — was the camera. It featured a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP periscope telephoto camera that offered 4x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom. The latter also enabled the new 100X Space Zoom feature, which Samsung still promotes on its Ultra phones today.

Fast forward five years, and while the lineup has changed, the premise is still the same. The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide sensor, and two periscope lenses, one at 10MP with 3x optical zoom and the other at 50MP with 5x optical zoom. Yet, Samsung faces a problem: its Ultra phones face huge competition from the competition and it may no longer have the best zoom camera in the US.

To find out if it’s still the best, I tested it against the main competition and it’s very close: here’s what happened and which phone wins.

>>>EB-BS928ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

How Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra camera has evolved

For a few years, Samsung faced no real competition in the US or most Western countries. As a result, the company was mostly able to refine its lineup at its own pace, without the added pressure of intense competition.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra introduced the Zoom race, whilst the Galaxy S21 Ultra saw Samsung adopt the quad-camera approach that it still uses today. It featured the same 108MP main camera, but introduced a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — still in use today — and a secondary 10MP periscope lens with 10x optical zoom.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra featured the same camera as the S21 Ultra, but with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung introduced a new 200MP main camera. This is the same one that’s found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Last year’sGalaxy S24 Ultrathen saw Samsung tweak its approach to the zoom camera, by dropping the 10MP periscope lens with 10x optical zoom in favor of a 50MP periscope lens offering 5x optical zoom.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra keeps the same camera array as the Galaxy S24 Ultra but introduces a new 50MP ultrawide lens. However, the 3x and 5x telephoto lenses have proven to be fairly capable at low zoom lengths, but struggle to match another phone at the same 100x zoom length. The kicker for Samsung is that the other phone only has a single telephoto lens that only offers a 3x optical zoom.

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How the competition has evolved

Galaxy S25 Ultra next to the Galaxy S24 Ultra

As Samsung has proven there is global demand for phones with strong zoom capabilities, the competition has taken notice. Apple, Google, and OnePlus have all considered Samsung’s success and sought out different approaches to the camera to achieve similar, or better, results than Samsung’s best phone.

Here’s how the Galaxy S25 Ultra camera compares to the key flagship from each phone:

	Galaxy S25 Ultra	OnePlus 13	Pixel 9 Pro	Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Main Camera	200MP, f/1.7, 24mm 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/1.6, 23mm 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/1.7, 25mm 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS	48MP, f/1.8, 24mm 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
Ultrawide Camera	50MP, f/1.9, 120° 0.7µm, Super steady Video, dual pixel PDAF	50MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 120° 0.64µm, PDAF	48MP, f/2.8, 123°, dual pixel PDAF	48MP, f/2.2, 13mm 0.7mm, PDAF
Telephoto Camera	10MP, f/2.4, 67mm Telephoto, 3x optical zoom 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/2.6, 73mm Periscope telephoto, 3x optical zoom 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS	48MP, f/2.8, 113mm Periscope telephoto, 5x optical zoom dual pixel PDAF, OIS	12MP, f/2.8, 120mm Periscope telephoto, 5x optical zoom dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
Telephoto Camera 2	50MP, f/3.4, 111mm Periscope telephoto, 5x optical zoom 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS	–	–	–
Selfie Camera	10MP, f/2.4, 67mm Telephoto, 3x optical zoom 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/2.6, 73mm Periscope telephoto, 3x optical zoom 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS	42MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF	12MP, f/1.9, 23mm PDAF, OIS

Samsung remains the only company in the US to adopt two telephoto lenses, with the 3x telephoto matching the one on the OnePlus 13, while the 5x matches the same zoom capabilities found on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro.

However, as we’ll see, the adage continues to ring true: it’s not just the hardware that matters, but how each camera and ISP uses the hardware. Further complicating this is the use of AI in post-processing and how each company uses it to further enhance the final photo.

>>>A2830 Battery for Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Testing the Galaxy S25 Ultra Zoom vs the US competition

On paper, the Galaxy S25 Ultra should be the most capable zoom camera in the US, but as the headline suggests, this is no longer the case. I’ve been traveling with Samsung’s latest flagship for several weeks and have tested it against the key competition in the US during both day and night.

For each zoom length, I’ve picked two sets of daytime photos to evaluate the zoom. One of these focuses on the ability to zoom into text and finer details, while the other points to its ability to zoom into landscapes and other subjects. Each phone has plenty of zoom lengths, but for this comparison, I’ve focused on the key ones: 1x, 3x/5x depending on which each phone has, 10x and 25x or 30x.

What about the competition? First, let’s consider thePixel 9 Pro. Google’s flagship offers a 5x zoom and a maximum of 30x zoom, so let’s look at each comparison. Here’s the first sample set.

1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
4.Pixel 9 Pro 1x
5.Pixel 9 Pro 5x
6.Pixel 9 Pro 30x

Next, let’s look at the performance in the second scene.

1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
5.Pixel 9 Pro 1x
6.Pixel 9 Pro 5x
7.Pixel 9 Pro 30x
8.Pixel 9 Pro 30x

The Pixel 9 Pro is fairly impressive in these two scenes, and I prefer it for the first two images in the first scene. However, once you get into the details, the Galaxy S25 Ultra beats it thanks to extra detail in the balcony railings, the cruise ship deck, and the sign on the cruise ship. It’s quite close, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra still wins this comparison.

Next, let’s look at theiPhone 16 Pro. Samsung’s flagship is billed as a competitor to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which features the same camera as its smaller sibling. The iPhone 16 Pro also features the same 5x found on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which was previously exclusive just to the Max lineup.

Here’s how the two compare.

1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
4.iPhone 16 Pro 1x
5.iPhone 16 Pro 5x
6.iPhone 16 Pro 25x

Next, let’s look at the performance in the second scene.

1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
5.iPhone 16 Pro 1x
6.iPhone 16 Pro 5x
7.iPhone 16 Pro 25x
8.iPhone 16 Pro 25x

The iPhone 16 Pro is limited to just 25x maximum zoom and these images show why Apple limits the maximum zoom on its phones. The Galaxy S25 Ultra wins, but like the Pixel 9 Pro, I think both phones are quite similar at the lowest zoom lengths.

If we were to stop this comparison right now, Samsung would probably still rein supreme, but there’s one device remaining. On paper, theOnePlus 13shouldn’t be able to compete with the Galaxy S25 Ultra given its telephoto lens only has a 3x optical zoom and it lacks the 6x found on its non-US sibling, the Find X8 Pro. It does still feature a 6x option that’s billed as a hybrid between digital and optical zoom, so I’ve included this in the test as a comparison against the 5x on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 3x
3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
5.OnePlus 13 1x
6.OnePlus 13 3x
7.OnePlus 13 6x
8.OnePlus 13 30x

Next, let’s look at the performance in the second scene.

1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 3x
3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
5.OnePlus 13 1x
6.OnePlus 13 3x
7.OnePlus 13 6x
8.OnePlus 13 30x

Both phones are evenly matched throughout these comparisons, and it’s quite surprising that the OnePlus 13 can match the Galaxy S25 Ultra despite the lack of a fourth camera, and the smaller 3x optical zoom. At 30x zoom, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is just slightly better, but overall, they feel equally matched.

Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, the OnePlus 13 also goes further than 30x and this is where I’ve been blown away. From the same sets above, here are the same shots at 100x on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the maximum 120x on the OnePlus 13.

1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 100x
2.OnePlus 13 120x
3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 100x
4.OnePlus 13 120x

As you can see, the OnePlus 13 picks up where Google left off and proves that you don’t necessarily need the best hardware to capture the best photos. Despite inferior zoom capabilities — on paper, at least — it has the best zoom of any of these phones I’ve tested. In particular, the AI does an excellent job of filling in missing details and throughout all my testing, it’s consistently proven to be better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra at the higher zoom lengths.