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Are they blocking you, or is there another explanation?
If your calls and texts aren’t getting through to someone, there’s a chance your number might have been blocked.
But don’t jump to conclusions just yet. It’s just as plausible that the person’s phone you’re trying to reach has been turned off or is out of service.
There are a few telltale signs that indicate you’ve been blocked, but they’re not 100% foolproof. Still, until you’ve tried out these methods to test whether your number has been blocked, don’t fret too much.
Try calling the person you think blocked your number
One of the easiest methods to figure out if you’ve been blocked is to simply call the person you think blocked you. By paying attention to how many rings, if any, there are before being sent to voicemail, you can figure out what’s going on.
If you hear multiple rings before being sent to voicemail, the person on the other end has likely just missed your call. Only a few rings or a ring interrupted by the voicemail prompt indicates your call has been rejected.
When you call someone and immediately get their voicemail, this means their phone is currently turned off. If the call is perpetually ringing, it’s possible the person has never set voicemail up and isn’t able to take your call at the moment.
If you’ve been blocked, look for a single ring followed by the person’s voicemail. If you leave a voicemail at this point, it’ll be directed to a special voicemail area for blocked numbers, not the person’s regular voicemail.
To double-check your findings, call the number in question from someone else’s phone.
Try calling the person you think blocked you from someone else’s phone to see if you can get through. If you have a work phone or home phone with a different number to your phone, you can use that. Otherwise, you’ll need to borrow a friend’s phone.
There’s a chance the person you’re calling could answer. But we’re hoping for the default response to an unknown (or even known) number: not answering and letting it go to voicemail.
If you get multiple rings or no rings before reaching voicemail — compared to one ring before voicemail — that’s a pretty solid indication you’ve been blocked. If you get some type of “unavailable” message from both your phone and someone else’s phone, the person might have changed their number.
Before trying this method, you should be prepared with what to say or ask if the person you think blocked you answers the phone. Furthermore, be ready for the person to potentially hang up on you or not explain why you’re blocked. If someone blocked your number, the best thing you can do is give the person space.
For anyone who doesn’t want to make a call for fear of the person actually picking up, there’s one more method you can try.
See what happens when you send a text message
This method is easier for seeing if you’ve been blocked on iMessage for iPhone, but it’s also possible to discern some details from Android messages. On iPhone, you’ll typically see ‘Delivered’ or ‘Read’ under a message you send. If you don’t see any text below your message, one of two things is going on. You’re blocked, or their phone is currently in Do Not Disturb mode. Once the person turns off Do Not Disturb, a message will appear if you haven’t been blocked.
If your iMessage bubbles turn green when they’ve always been blue, that’s another indicator that your number might be blocked (or that the person switched to Android).
It’s a bit harder to tell if you’ve been blocked from sending a text from an Android phone. If you get an “unable to send message” response, you could be blocked, or the issue could be related to a connection or billing issue.
Checking ‘suggested contact’ recommendations might be a more foolproof method for Android users.
You’ll first have to delete the person in question’s number (make sure you write it down somewhere if you don’t want to lose it). Then, search for their name in your contacts. They probably haven’t blocked you if you see them pop up as a suggested contact. If you don’t, you’ve likely been blocked.
Don’t pester someone who’s blocked you
It can hurt if you find out a friend or family member has blocked you. You might be angry, embarrassed, sad, or any combination of these emotions, but it’s important not to act rashly and continue contacting the person who blocked you from other phones or apps. It’s possible the person who blocked you could need a little space before unblocking you and having a mature conversation, but you have to be willing to give them that space. On the other hand, that person might keep you blocked for a while, and it’s up to you to make peace with that and respect people’s privacy.
The iPhone 16 Pro is set to succeed 2023’s iPhone 15 Pro, introducing over 30 new features and improvements to Apple’s high-end smartphones. With many users adopting two-year upgrade cycles, plenty of iPhone 14 Pro owners will be looking to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro, so this guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations based on rumors.
In 2022, Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 Pro as the successor to the popular iPhone 13 Pro, introducing an always-on display, the Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel camera, the A16 Bionic chip, longer battery life, and more. Two years later, the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to offer at least 60 upgrades. All of the changes the iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to feature compared to their 2022 predecessor are listed below.
The design of the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to be a relatively significant evolution over the iPhone 14 Pro, iterating on the titanium frame and slightly rounded edges introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro models last year.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Surgical-grade stainless steel chassis
Aerospace-grade titanium chassis
Glossy frame with squared-off edges
Brushed frame with contoured edges
Ring/Silent switch
Action button
Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing
New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing
More repairable design
Lightning port
USB-C port
Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple color options
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium color options
To accommodate larger displays, both iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to grow in height and width. In addition to last year’s increase in depth, the devices are due to be considerably larger, but with a notable reduction in weight thanks to the adoption of a titanium frame.
Both iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the iPhone 16 Pro Max to be the biggestiPhoneever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store, in addition to last year’s slimmer bezels, making for a noticeable overall display upgrade.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
6.1- or 6.7-inch display
6.3- or 6.9-inch display
Slimmer borders around the display
More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology
Performance
The iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, including a3nmApple silicon chip and 33% more memory.
Enhanced neural Engine with “significantly” more cores to support Apple Intelligence more effectively
Dedicated AV1 decoder
6GB memory
8GB memory
Connectivity
Connectivity is also due to get a significant upgrade on the iPhone 16 Pro, bolstering the device’s 5G, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ultra Wideband specifications.
Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away)
Precision Finding forFind Myfriends
Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
1/1.28-inch main camera sensor
iPhone 16 Pro: 1/1.28-inch main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger)
Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor
iPhone 16 Pro: Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control
7P main camera lens
8P main camera lens
48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos
24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos
Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization
Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module
77mm maximum focal length
120mm maximum focal length
13mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 120mm focal length picker
0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom
0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom
4P telephoto camera lens
5P telephoto camera lens
12-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/2.4 aperture
48-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 48-megapixel ProRaw support, and improved low-light performance
5P ultra wide camera lens
6P ultra wide camera lens
Anti-reflective coating on camera lenses
Smart HDR 4
Smart HDR 5
Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control
Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
Night mode and Night mode portraits
Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits
Support for new JPEG-XL format
Shoot and instantly transfer 48-megapixel ProRAW images to Mac via USB 3
Record video directly to an external drive
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording
Support for 3K video at 120 fps with Dolby Vision
Action mode
Improved Action mode and low-light video
Log video recording
Academy Color Encoding System
Record spatial video forApple Vision Pro
Capacitive “Capture Button” with force-sensitive half-press and sliding gestures to trigger photography and videography features
Batteries and Charging
The iPhone 16 Pro models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Setting to prevent charging above 80%
Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings
Single-layer battery technology
Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan
iPhone 14 Pro: 3,200 mAh battery iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4,323 mAh battery
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355 mAh mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery
Up to 27W wired charging
Up to 40W wired charging
15W charging viaMagSafe
20W charging via MagSafe
Other Features and Changes
One of the major differences between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro is support for Apple’s new suite of AI features called Apple Intelligence.
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple Intelligence support with iOS 18.1, plus a suite of exclusive AI features
Microphone
Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance
Improved audio quality on phone calls
USB 2 transfer speeds (up to 480Mb/s)
USB 3 transfer speeds (up to 10Gb/s, 20x faster)
DisplayPort support for up to 4K HDR video output
Up to 1TB of storage
Up to 2TB of storage
Release Date
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to be announced at Apple’s”It’s glowtime” eventon Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. For more information about the iPhone 16 Pro models,see our comprehensive roundup.
Will It Be Worth Upgrading?
The iPhone 15 Pro was a fairly significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 Pro in 2023, introducing a titanium chassis, slimmer bezels, the Action button, and a USB-C port. The iPhone 16 Pro will build on these upgrades, offering larger displays, the Capture button, and improved cameras. With at least 60 upgrades likely to be in store, many iPhone 14 Pro users will find upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro model worthwhile.
The rumored specs of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple has confirmed that its next major product showcase will take place on September 9. Titled ‘It’s Glowtime’, the event will almost certainly bring official news of the iPhone 16 lineup, which we expect to include the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
We reckon we’re not the only ones looking forward to seeing the official specs of Apple’s highest-end smartphones, as the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max were the two best-selling smartphones worldwide in 2023.
If, as we predict, resource-heavy AI in the form of Apple Intelligence lands on the iPhone soon, it will be crucial for Apple to ensure that its very best iPhones have the power to handle these new features.
Naturally, leaks and rumors regarding the spec sheets of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have been circulating for a while, and below, we’ve rounded up the most relevant predictions regarding Apple’s next powerhouse phones.
We expect to see some changes to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in the chipset and storage capacity departments, but nothing as revolutionary as on the software side of things.
The new Pro iPhones will likely receive a new ‘A18 Pro’ SoC, offering a boost in performance when compared to the A17 Pro chip found in the previous generation, especially when it comes to AI.
According to Geekbench, the iPhone 15 Pro saw an 11.4% increase in single-core CPU performance and a 7.5% increase in multi-core CPU performance compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, with similar changes for the Pro Max.
If the trend continues, we can expect a small but noticeable improvement in performance for the supposed ‘A18 Pro’ – we will, of course, do our own testing once we have the new iPhones in-hand.
As for RAM, we aren’t expecting any change from last year, and one leak even specifically paired the A18 Pro with 8GB of RAM. This has raised questions over the iPhone 16 Pro’s ability to handle AI, though with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus tipped to match the Pro models at 8GB of RAM, it could just be that Apple Intelligence is optimized for this amount of memory.
There may be a bit more movement when it comes to storage. We expect to see the same 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options present, though one leaker with a mixed record suggests a 2TB option will join the lineup.
It’s worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will likely continue to eschew the 128GB option its smaller sibling starts with, and instead come with 256GB as a minimum.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will probably still sport OLED panels with a 1-120hz adaptive refresh rate (which Apple terms ‘ProMotion’), but there are some suggestions that the size of these panels could be changing.
In April, leaker Sonny Dickson shared images through X (formerly Twitter) which seemed to show prototypes of the iPhone 16 lineup, with the Pro models both measuring 0.2 inches larger than the previous generation.
This same amount – 0.2 inches – was suggested by another leak in October 2023. Other leakers suggest that part of the increase could be due to reduced bezels, which MacRumors proposed could be the thinnest ever on a smartphone.
We expect Apple will fill that larger frame with a slightly larger battery, with the iPhone 16 Pro’s battery increasing from 3,290mAh to 3,355mAh and the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s battery increasing from 4,422mAh to 4,676mAh.
Camera upgrades
(The iPhone 15 Pro Max Image)
In the case of the iPhone 16 Pro, this larger frame is also rumored to make room for a 5x telephoto lens inherited from the Pro Max, an improvement on the present 3x lens.
Any potential parity hinges on whether the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get the ‘super telephoto’ camera suggested by an old leak, which could finally allow Apple to challenge the 10x lenses used by Samsung and Huawei.
Other rumored iPhone 16 Pro camera upgrades include a larger sensor, a bump from 12MP to 48MP for the ultra-wide camera, a new artifact-reducing lens coating, and a ‘stacked camera’ design that could allow the capture of much more light. The front camera is unlikely to change, meaning any sharper selfies would be the product of better software or AI.
What happened at the last Apple Event?
WWDC 2024 revealed big upgrades to iOS, macOS, wachOS and more
Apple Intelligence is Cupertino’s push into AI
A smarter Siri with generative AI powers
Apple Vision Pro finally gets global launch dates
Apple’s last event was at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2024. We’ve seen official updates for all of Apple’s major software platforms.
These include smarter features for iOS (and new game modes), more flexible fitness tools for macOS, and watchOS and… Errrm… Local calculator application for iPadOS 18. If you want to try out early versions of these updated operating systems, check out our guide on how to download the iOS 18 beta on your iPhone, and how to download the watchOS 11 beta on your Apple Watch.
But most notable was the release of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s big move into consumer-focused artificial intelligence; So bring AI tools and services to iphones, ipads, and Macs while keeping user data as private as possible.
With ChatGPT, Siri gains a lot of intelligence, allowing users to naturally talk to the virtual assistant and let it understand them better. On top of that, the smart Siri will be deeply integrated, allowing you to type questions into Siri and switch between voice and text by double-tapping the bottom of the screen.
With the Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google is reinventing the flagship. The new ultra-premium flagship delivers sensible upgrades and positions the Pixel as a proper and even better alternative to the iPhones and Galaxies of the world.
One of those rivals is none other than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is Samsung’s best conventional smartphone released in 2024 so far. The S Pen-clad flagship is one of the most versatile phones of the year, and could definitely give the Pixel 9 Pro XL a run for the money.
From a design perspective, we get an aluminum and mostly flat design with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is the clear design choice these days. From a visual standpoint, it follows the signature Pixel design style.
There’s a redesigned camera strip at the back, a bold moving away from the distinct 3D Visor look of previous Pixels. The rear back panel is a classy matte one, while the frame has that glossy look going for it. We dig that, it looks quite mature and classy.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra employs a mostly flat titanium frame, which still features an ever-so-slight curvature for enhanced ergonomics. It’s Samsung’s largest traditional phone released thus far in 2024, with a completely flat 6.8-inch screen up front. Of course, just like previous Galaxy devices, this one comes along with the S Pen tucked into its silo right out of the box.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is lighter than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it’s slightly wider and taller. This essentially means that while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is technically the heavier phone, it’s slightly more single-hand friendly, as it is narrower.
Both phones match each other’s endurance against the elements with an IP68 water and dust resistance. This means you can dunk each phone for up to half an hour in up to 1.5m of water, and they’ll live to tell the tale.
Colors-wise, the Pixel 9 Pro XL arrives in Obsidian, Porcelain, Rose Quartz, and Hazel colors (black, white, pink, and green).
At the same time, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, and Titanium Orange.
Display Differences
Although the displays of the two phones will differ slightly in terms of overall size, they aren’t that much different.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 6.8-inchSuper Actua screen with a dynamic refresh rate of 1 to 120Hz. It’s a high-end QHD+OLED screen that can hit 3,000 nits of peak brightness, building upon the 2,400 nits that the Pixel 8 Pro could achieve. That’s spectacular and beats the Galaxy S24 Ultra in this one key area.
At the same time, the Galaxy S24 Ultra also comes with a 6.8-inch screen, also a QHD+ one with smooth 1-120Hz refresh rate. Samsung is also participating in the brightness wars, so its latest flagship can hit upwards of 2,500 nits of peak brightness in the right ambient conditions. However, that’s not enough to beat the new top Pixel.
As per our display benchmarking test, the Pixel 9 Pro XL crushes the Galaxy S24 Ultra in terms of peak brightness: we measured 2052 nits on the Google phone, while the Galaxy could only hit 1280 nits, which is a massive difference. However, the Galaxy has that anti-reflective coating over the display, which kind of evens things out.
However, the minimum brightness is lower on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL can’t really match it.
Display Measurements:
Screen measurements
Color charts
Maximum brightnessHigher is better
Minimum brightness(nits)Lower is better
Color temperature(Kelvins)
Gamma
Delta E rgbcmyLower is better
Delta E grayscaleLower is better
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
2052 (Excellent)
1.9 (Good)
6731 (Excellent)
2.26
1.39 (Excellent)
4.98 (Average)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
1280 (Excellent)
1.1 (Good)
6543 (Excellent)
1.93
2.86 (Good)
6.45 (Average)
Regarding biometrics, the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Galaxy S24 Ultra both come with a fast and accurate ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. That’s a major upgrade over the previous fingerprint iterations with older Pixels, which all had optical scanners (slow and not very accurate).
Performance and Software
Just like previous Tensor chips, this one is betting heavily on on-device AI and machine-learning, shifting the focus away from raw performance. AI is all the rage with the Tensor G4, delivering a specialized environment for all things artificial intelligence.
And indeed, all Pixel 9 devices arrive with Gemini Nano with multi-modality, which is exclusively run on the Tensor G4. Google says this one is the most capable on-device AI model, which is capable of not only understanding text and speech, but also images and audio.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, comes along with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which is pretty much one of the top choices in 2024 as far as raw performance comes. Aside from besting our synthetic benchmark tests, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is one of the more efficient chips out there despite being based on a 4nm manufacturing process.
As per our synthetic benchmark tests, it’s the Galaxy S24 Ultra that decidedly takes the throne. Both in the CPU and GPU-centric tests, it’s the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the Galaxy phone that’s much faster. However, the Tensor G4 isn’t that far off in the Geekbench single-core test, but the Google chip steps off on the wrong foot in the gaming tests.
There’s a massive amount of 16GB of RAM on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, more than enough to accommodate all on-device AI necessities. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes along with 12GB of RAM, which is plenty-ish, but might not be quite future-proof given the massive hardware requirements of AI that will only grow in the coming years.
Storage-wise, the Pixel 9 Pro XL arrives with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
Both Samsung and Google now have a top-of-the-line seven-year software update policy in place. This means that the Pixel 9 Pro XL will be supported until 2031, which is just as long as the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Surprisingly, the Pixel 9 Pro XL doesn’t come with Android 15 out of the box. The next software update is coming this year, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL arrives with Android 14 out of the box. The same applies to the Galaxy S24 Ultra which comes along with One UI 6.1 (based on Android 14), but Samsung will probably release One UI 7 based on Android 15 not long after Google officially pushes the software out.
Camera
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is equipped with a 50MP primary camera that features an aperture of f/1.68 and a substantial sensor size of 1/1.31″.
Both the ultra-wide and 5X telephoto are 48MP cameras with fairly large apertures, measuring f/2.8 and f/1.7. Despite lacking dedicated cameras for those specific zooms, the Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts optical-quality zoom at both 2X and 10X, thanks to sensor-cropping and hybrid zoom.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a plethora of AI and software features on board: Pro controls, Add Me, Macro Focus, Night Sight, Astrophotography, Portrait Mode, Face Unblur, Long Exposure, Action Pan, Real Tone, Panorama, Top Shot, and Frequent Faces. Both devices also support the AI-powered Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, Zoom Enhance, and Portrait Light.
In the case of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, we got the same camera as the one on the S23 Ultra… but with a twist. Instead of a 10MP periscope camera with 10X optical zoom, we got a 50MP telephoto with 5.0X optical zoom. This turned out to be an upgrade, as the device still hit the same 100X Space Zoom levels, but delivered arguably better zoom quality, which is key in such scenarios.
Battery Life and Charging
The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with a 5,060mAh battery, which is just a negligible upgrade over the previous model’s 5,000mAh battery. Paired with the efficient Tensor G4, the next top Pixel phone should deliver excellent battery life, more likely than not better than the Pixel 8 Pro. Or, at least, we hope so!
The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a 5,000mAh battery which delivers superb battery life in concert with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It fares pretty well in our custom battery tests, setting high standards for all other flagships to follow in 2024.
Summary
The Pixel 9 Pro XL shapes to be the phone to get if you’re into AI in 2024, with sensible upgrades and notable improvements in most key areas that matter. With a fresher design, decent performance, a pretty great camera, and the best AI suite in late 2024, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is undoubtedly one of the best phones of 2024 so far.
At the same time, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is undoubtedly the best alternative and easily one of the best phones released in 2024. It usually aces just about any category you can think of.
Which one is better? Objectively speaking, it’s the Galaxy S24 Ultra that’s the better all-around phone that brings more versatility to the table. That’s better bang for the buck, and that’s what matter at the end of the day.
Weight: 232g Dimensions: 162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm Screen size: 6.8-inch Resolution: 1440 x 3120 Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 RAM: 12GB Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB Battery: 5,000mAh Rear camera: 200MP+50MP+12MP+10MP Front camera: 12MP
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best Android phone of 2024, offering a titanium frame and stellar cameras that are a cut above almost anything else on the market right now.
Weight: 167g Dimensions: 147 x 70.6 x 7.6mm Screen size: 6.2 inches Resolution: 1080 x 2340 Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US, Aus) / Exynos 2400 (UK) Memory: 8GB RAM (LPDDR5X) Storage: 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) Battery: 4,000mAh Rear camera: 50MP+12MP+10MP Front camera: 12MP
Galaxy AI features are no longer exclusive to the Galaxy S24, but the newer phone does still offer superior power and longevity over the Galaxy 23.
For
Great screen
Superb update commitment
Compact powerhouse
Against
Overstuffed user experience
Galaxy AI features are no longer exclusive
Minor upgrades over S23
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Ultra are members of the same 2024 flagship smartphone family, but they look and feel surprisingly different. So which of these two phones is the best for you?
Having posted our reviews and spent a fair amount of time with both phones, we think we’re in a pretty good position to help you decide. While we have a definitive answer for which phone is objectively the better of the two, we also have a few noteworthy caveats to consider depending on your specific tastes and needs.
While one phone clearly outperforms the other by all key metrics, there are a couple of trade-offs to consider before you hit that ‘Buy’ button. Indeed, we would go so far as to suggest that the best phone here isn’t in fact the best for most people.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: specs comparison
Here’s an overview of how the Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy S24 Ultra match up, spec for spec. As you can see, there are a surprising number of contrasting elements to consider.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: design and display
The Galaxy Ultra line has been on its own separate design path for some time now, and this year’s model is no different. The Galaxy S24 is a smaller device with rounded corners, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is huge and pointed. The Ultra is a good 15mm taller, 8mm wider, and 1mm thicker. It also weighs 65g more, which is a big difference.
This means that only the Galaxy S24 can be used one-handed. The Galaxy S24 Ultra demands all of your attention and both of your hands, as befits its power-user focus.
Both of these phones look quite a lot like their predecessors, albeit with some notable tweaks. The Galaxy S24 this year loses the curved rim for a flatter aluminum finish, making it look rather like the iPhone 15. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, meanwhile, switches to a new, more premium titanium alloy material for its frame, but otherwise essentially retains the look of previous Ultra phones. That means a flat top and bottom edge, but subtly rounded sides.
Besides having a tougher frame, the Galaxy S24 Ultra also features Gorilla Armor glass, which is more scratch-resistant than the Galaxy S24’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Both phones are IP68 rated though, which means they’re equally dust and water-resistant.
The Galaxy S24 benefits from reduced screen bezel sizes, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra has lost any sense of curvature and has completely flattened out its display.
On the color front, the Samsung Galaxy S24 comes in Onyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire Blue. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Ultra leans into its new rugged material with Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, and Titanium Orange options.
One other major design difference, of course, is the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s bundled-in S Pen stylus. It continues to be a powerful tool for both productivity and artistic output, and it’s something you don’t get with the Galaxy S24.
What with the huge size difference, it should come as no surprise to learn that the Galaxy S24 Ultra display is much bigger than its sibling’s, though that gap has narrowed slightly. The Galaxy S24 screen has increased a little to 6.2-inches (up from 6.1-inches), while the Galaxy S24 Ultra screen has held fast at 6.8-inches.
There’s a considerable resolution disparity here, with the Galaxy S24 going with FHD+ and the Ultra model maxing out at QHD+. The smaller size of the Galaxy S24 screen helps negate that advantage, though.
Both screens can get to 2,600 nits in peak scenarios, which is extremely bright. The Galaxy S24 display has also closed the gap on the Galaxy S24 Ultra in offering LTPO panel technology, meaning it can scale between a 1 and 120Hz refresh rate as necessary, making it more energy-efficient.
Ultimately, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has what could be the best display of any phone on the market. It comfortably wins this round against its (still impressive) little brother on size and sharpness alone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 : cameras
There’s really no contest when it comes to camera quality, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra beating the Galaxy S24 in almost every single department. The Ultra has four cameras to the S24’s three, for a start, with an extra 50MP 5x telephoto providing far greater zoom flexibility.
With the Galaxy S24, you’re getting a 1/1.56″ 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP 3x telephoto.
As for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you’re getting a significantly larger and sharper 1/1.3″ 200MP main sensor, a similar-looking 12MP ultra-wide camera, a larger 10MP 3x telephoto, and an all-new 50MP 5x periscope telephoto.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: performance and software
We found both of these models to be extremely rapid, even beating the mighty iPhone 15 Pro Max in many respects. In both cases you can run high-end games at maximum graphical settings with rock solid 60 frames-per-second frame rates, run multiple windows in Samsung DeX, and watch your photo edits happen in real-time in Adobe Lightroom.
However, if you’re anywhere else in the world, the Galaxy S24 Ultra holds a clear performance advantage. This is because Samsung has opted to supply its own Exynos 2400 processor for the so-called international model of the Galaxy S24. It has stuck with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the international model.
As numerous benchmark tests have shown, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has a clear performance advantage over the Exynos 2400, particularly when it comes to the GPU. You won’t notice this performance difference in general use, as both of these phones are way faster than they need to be.
On the one hand, the Ultra technically has the greater performance headroom. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s chip is having to push around more pixels on that QHD+ display, which will at least partially nullify that GPU advantage on the International model.
You get more and greater storage options with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which comes in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants. With the Galaxy S24, there’s just the 128GB and 256GB options in most regions. Australia also has access to a 512GB model, which would have been a nice option to have had elsewhere.
While there are hardware differences, these two phones run practically identical software in One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14. That includes access to Samsung’s all-new AI features, which are a constant across both phones. Once you locate these options, you’ll find that they’re a mix of the magical (AI call translation) and the somewhat disappointing (Voice Recorder transcripts), but it’s good that there’s parity between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24 at least.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: battery life
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery, which is way bigger than the Galaxy S24’s 4,000mAh cell. Of course, the bigger phone also features a larger, sharper display, so some of that extra capacity is accounted for.
Even so, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the better stamina of the two. You’ll struggle to find a smartphone that lasts as long on a single charge as Samsung’s flagship. It outlasted both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and last year’s Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra by a couple of hours in our 5G web browsing test.
That’s not to say that the Galaxy S24 has poor battery life. It’s more than capable of lasting a full day of fairly intensive usage, which is a great result for such a compact phone. But the Galaxy S24 Ultra could well see you through a second day as well.
Samsung’s larger, more expensive phone also charges a little faster. With 45W wired charging support, it’ll get to 65% in around 30 minutes. In the case of the Galaxy S24, with its 25W charging support, it’ll get to 50% in the same time. Neither is the fastest within their weight class, and you’ll need to supply your own charging brick for both.
On the plus side, both phones support 15W wireless charging, as well as 4.5W reverse wireless charging, which is always a welcome provision.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: verdict
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the company’s all-singing, all-dancing everything-phone, and a power-user’s dream. If money’s no object and you demand the very best, it’s already in the conversation for the best phone on the market, let alone the best Samsung phone.
Its camera system is the most comprehensive around, with the clincher being its phenomenal zoom capabilities. Meanwhile, there is no phone with a better display than the Ultra’s. Performance is unimpeachable wherever you are in the world, and its battery life is also among the best.
The Galaxy S24 is objectively an inferior phone. However, we’d still suggest that it’s a better buy for most people. It’s compact yet powerful, has a more than capable camera system, a fabulous display, and solid battery life. While we’re starting to have some real issues with Samsung’s congested software, in a straight comparison these two phones have identical UIs and access to the same novel AI features.
Choose the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you’re after the all-singing, all dancing everything-phone with the very best specs. This one is for the power user who spends large chunks of their day on their phone, consuming swathes of media when they’re not getting things done.
Go for the Galaxy S24 if you’re after something significantly smaller and cheaper. It’s ideal for the more casual phone user looking for a compact and classy phone that won’t stretch the pocket in any sense.
The rumored specs of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple has confirmed that its next major product showcase will take place on September 9. Titled ‘It’s Glowtime’, the event will almost certainly bring official news of the iPhone 16 lineup, which we expect to include the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
We reckon we’re not the only ones looking forward to seeing the official specs of Apple’s highest-end smartphones, as the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max were the two best-selling smartphones worldwide in 2023.
If, as we predict, resource-heavy AI in the form of Apple Intelligence lands on the iPhone soon, it will be crucial for Apple to ensure that its very best iPhones have the power to handle these new features.
Naturally, leaks and rumors regarding the spec sheets of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have been circulating for a while, and below, we’ve rounded up the most relevant predictions regarding Apple’s next powerhouse phones.
We expect to see some changes to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in the chipset and storage capacity departments, but nothing as revolutionary as on the software side of things.
The new Pro iPhones will likely receive a new ‘A18 Pro’ SoC, offering a boost in performance when compared to the A17 Pro chip found in the previous generation, especially when it comes to AI.
According to Geekbench, the iPhone 15 Pro saw an 11.4% increase in single-core CPU performance and a 7.5% increase in multi-core CPU performance compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, with similar changes for the Pro Max.
If the trend continues, we can expect a small but noticeable improvement in performance for the supposed ‘A18 Pro’ – we will, of course, do our own testing once we have the new iPhones in-hand.
As for RAM, we aren’t expecting any change from last year, and one leak even specifically paired the A18 Pro with 8GB of RAM. This has raised questions over the iPhone 16 Pro’s ability to handle AI, though with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus tipped to match the Pro models at 8GB of RAM, it could just be that Apple Intelligence is optimized for this amount of memory.
There may be a bit more movement when it comes to storage. We expect to see the same 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options present, though one leaker with a mixed record suggests a 2TB option will join the lineup.
It’s worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will likely continue to eschew the 128GB option its smaller sibling starts with, and instead come with 256GB as a minimum.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will probably still sport OLED panels with a 1-120hz adaptive refresh rate (which Apple terms ‘ProMotion’), but there are some suggestions that the size of these panels could be changing.
In April, leaker Sonny Dickson shared images through X (formerly Twitter) which seemed to show prototypes of the iPhone 16 lineup, with the Pro models both measuring 0.2 inches larger than the previous generation.
This same amount – 0.2 inches – was suggested by another leak in October 2023. Other leakers suggest that part of the increase could be due to reduced bezels, which MacRumors proposed could be the thinnest ever on a smartphone.
We expect Apple will fill that larger frame with a slightly larger battery, with the iPhone 16 Pro’s battery increasing from 3,290mAh to 3,355mAh and the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s battery increasing from 4,422mAh to 4,676mAh.
Camera upgrades
(The iPhone 15 Pro Max Image)
In the case of the iPhone 16 Pro, this larger frame is also rumored to make room for a 5x telephoto lens inherited from the Pro Max, an improvement on the present 3x lens.
Any potential parity hinges on whether the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get the ‘super telephoto’ camera suggested by an old leak, which could finally allow Apple to challenge the 10x lenses used by Samsung and Huawei.
Other rumored iPhone 16 Pro camera upgrades include a larger sensor, a bump from 12MP to 48MP for the ultra-wide camera, a new artifact-reducing lens coating, and a ‘stacked camera’ design that could allow the capture of much more light. The front camera is unlikely to change, meaning any sharper selfies would be the product of better software or AI.
What happened at the last Apple Event?
WWDC 2024 revealed big upgrades to iOS, macOS, wachOS and more
Apple Intelligence is Cupertino’s push into AI
A smarter Siri with generative AI powers
Apple Vision Pro finally gets global launch dates
Apple’s last event was at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2024. We’ve seen official updates for all of Apple’s major software platforms.
These include smarter features for iOS (and new game modes), more flexible fitness tools for macOS, and watchOS and… Errrm… Local calculator application for iPadOS 18. If you want to try out early versions of these updated operating systems, check out our guide on how to download the iOS 18 beta on your iPhone, and how to download the watchOS 11 beta on your Apple Watch.
But most notable was the release of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s big move into consumer-focused artificial intelligence; So bring AI tools and services to iphones, ipads, and Macs while keeping user data as private as possible.
With ChatGPT, Siri gains a lot of intelligence, allowing users to naturally talk to the virtual assistant and let it understand them better. On top of that, the smart Siri will be deeply integrated, allowing you to type questions into Siri and switch between voice and text by double-tapping the bottom of the screen.
When is the next Apple event or product reveal?
Expect the iPhone 16 to debut on September 9
The Apple Watch 10 could be revealed in the same month
We could even see the rumored AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2
Apple has revealed that the next Apple event will take place on September 9, which is traditionally the timing when Apple reveals new iPhones. This event will start at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST on September 9, 2024, which is 3am on September 10 AEST.
We expect to see the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. And we could also get a new Apple Watch, and maybe even the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2.
Expect design changes and smart software tools and features for these devices.
Lenovo’s ‘Flex’ series of laptops are affordable 2-in-1 convertible systems that offer claimed all-day battery life. That’s a simple and appealing proposition.
In practice, it’s all a bit more complicated. You see, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, to give it its full name, is available in both 14-inch and 15-inch variants and with both AMD and Intel CPUs. And with various iterations of those CPUs.
It’s all a bit baffling if you’re buying, but the specific model showcased here is the 15-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 powered by Intel’s latest 10th Gen processors, in this case an Intel Core i3-1005G1 chip.
Arguably, AMD’s laptop CPUs offer both better value and more performance right now. But given the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 remains pretty keenly priced and isn’t being pitched primarily on performance, that needn’t be an automatic deal-breaker.
Indeed, this laptop offers a very compelling all-round proposition. Along with that Intel CPU, the highlights kick off with a 15.6-inch touchscreen. It offers a FullHD 1,920 by 1,080 pixel resolution and IPS panel technology. As a ‘Flex’ model, that screen is hooked up to the IdeaPad’s chassis via a full 360-degree hinge and thus supports operation in full Tablet mode. Next up is a 128GB SSD. OK, that’s not a huge amount of storage, but it is a M.2 drive supporting the latest NVMe control protocol.
Other details include a decent 65 watt charger and claimed battery life of over 10 hours. You get it all at a great price on an attractive chassis with a high quality feel from one of the biggest brands in the industry, which is impressive. But inevitably, it’s not the whole story.
At this price point something inevitably has to give and as reviewed the most obvious weakness is the meagre 4GB of RAM. It doesn’t have a huge impact on your benchmark numbers. But if you’re partial, say, to running loads of browser tabs while you edit images – or some other typical multitasking scenario – you’ll quickly run out of system memory with only 4GB at your disposal, especially as some of that is pinched by the integrated graphics.
That’s a pity because in most other regards, this is a pretty nice portable. It’s good for that 10 hours-plus of claimed battery life, for instance. And the screen is accurate and pleasant to use, if a little dim. The keyboard is firm, crisp and pleasant to use.
Yes, there are a few tell tales of corning curing beyond the 4GB of RAM. The trackpad is a little small for this class of portable. The sound quality from the integrated speakers is fairly poor. The supplied charger is a barrel type rather than USB-C despite the fact that the Flex 5 has a USB-C port that supports charging (further connectivity includes two USB-A ports, HDMI and a full-size SD card reader). That’s sort of both a plus and a minus, but you get the broader point. This is a nice machine for the money.
Spec Sheet
CPU:1.2GHz Intel Core i3-1005G1 (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost) Graphics:Intel UHD Graphics RAM:4GB DDR4 Screen:15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080, IPS, touch Storage:128GB M.2 NVMe SSD Ports:USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, SD Card Connectivity:Lenovo AC Wifi, Bluetooth Camera:720p webcam Weight:4.4 pounds (2 kg) Size:14.08 x 9.37 x 0.7-0.8 inches (357.6 x 237.9 x 17.9-20.35 mm; W x D x H)
Design and features
Entry-level systems from the bigger brands have stepped up their game in design and quality terms in recent years and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is no exception. Granted, it’s not going to put the frighteners on an Apple MacBook Pro for sheer material class.
The 15.6-inch 1080p touch-enabled display, for instance, sports IPS panel technology and is housed in a high-quality metal enclosure with slim side bezels and a shuttered 720p webcam up top.The 360-degree hinge feels robust and the keyboard is stable and firm with only traces of flex and bounce.
Ports wise, Lenovo likewise has you well covered. On the left side of the chassis, you’ll find a full-sized HDMI socket, a barrel-type power connector, headphone jack and a USB-C port. The latter supports charging the laptop itself, mitigating the slight disappointment of the barrel connector. While we’d prefer the Flex 5 came bundled with a USB-C charger, support for USB-C charging at least means you can carry a single charger to keep multiple devices juiced up.
On the right, a pair of USB-A ports and situated next to a 4-in-1 card reader that supports full sized SD cards, plus MMC, SDHC and SDXC cards. That’s one less plug-in adapter you’ll need to carry, in other words. Other features worthy of mention are the 720p webcam located on the top bezel and complete with a physical shutter and support for an optional digital input pen.
It’s also worth noting that the Flex 5 ships as standard configured withWindows 10Home in S Mode. The sales pitch for S Mode is that it boosts performance and improves security. The latter is almost certainly true given it only allows software from theMicrosoftapp store to be installed. The downside, of course, is that it only allows software from the app store to be installed, excluding the vast majority of the huge ecosystem of Windows compatible apps and software that’s accrued over the years. That includes noAdobesoftware, no Apple apps, no non-Microsoft video conferencing apps, none of those handy little legacy apps.
S Mode is also streamlined to reduce CPU and memory usage, the latter being especially relevant for a laptop with just 4GB. Long story short, S Mode can make a lot of sense for schools and businesses, but is probably too restrictive for more general home and business users. However, it is the work of around five minutes to turn S Mode off via the Microsoft Store, so it shouldn’t be an impediment to anyone considering this system.
Performance
As a content consumption device, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 usually gets the job done. The combination of the dual-core Intel Core i3-1005G1 chip, 128GB M.2 SSD and 4GB of RAM delivers a responsive experience within certain confines. With a few tabs open in a browser and editing a text document, for instance, all is well.
Up the tab count and run some image editing in parallel, however, and you can run out of memory and into relative trouble. Of course, having a modern M.2 SSD helps enormously when that happens and files are being swapped to main storage. But we’d still prefer to have 8GB in this class of device.
By other metrics, performance is about as mixed as you might expect given the market positioning. The 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display has good colours and viewing angles, but lacks brightness. The dual 2 watt Dolby-powered speakers, meanwhile, deliver weak, thin audio lacking in much by way of dynamic range. And for the record, don’t expect to go gaming with the entry-level Intel integrated graphics.
Benchmarks
Here’s how the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 performed inour suite of benchmark tests: 3DMark: Sky Diver:3,761;Fire Strike:919;Time Spy:N/A Cinebench CPU: 743 points GeekBench 5:1,058 (single-core); 2097 (multi-core) PCMark 10 (Home Test):3237 points PCMark 10 Battery Life:9 hours and 43 minutes Battery Life (TechRadar movie test):11 hours and 50 minutes
Battery life
At this price point, battery life can often fall victim of cost cutting. Happily, the Flex 5 is configured with a fairly hefty 52.5Wh battery.
That translates into nearly 12 hours of video playback and nearly 10 hours in the more demanding PCMark battery test. That’s enough for all-day operation at school or the office or plenty of movies on a long-haul flight. Support for charging via USB-C also makes it easy to ‘borrow’ some power should you find yourself running low.
Buy it if…
You want a versatile all-rounder at a reasonable price The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 offers a very wide range of features and functionality, including USB-C connectivity and multi-format memory card reading, at an attractive price point.
You want touchscreen, 2-in-1 functionality on a large screen The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 combines touchscreen and 2-in-1 tablet convertible functionality with a large 15.6-inch screen. It truly is a jack of all trades that does it all, albeit with a few compromises.
You need all-day battery life At nearly 12 hours of video playback, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 certainly has long legs. Even running more demanding applications, you can expect nine to 10 hours of battery life.
The iPhone 14 is a very good phone for the money, offering improved cameras, a faster A15 Bionic chip and fun Action mode for video capture. But at this price, we’d like to see a telephoto zoom and 120Hz display. Some may want to get the iPhone 14 Plus instead for its larger screen and bigger battery.
Pros
+Excellent cameras
+Vibrant display
+Fast A15 Bionic performance
+Impressive Action mode video
Cons
-Still just 60Hz refresh rate
-No optical zoom
-Lack of SIM card slot will annoy some
Whether you already own one, or are considering upgrading to an older, cheaper iPhone, the iPhone 14 is a strong pick even a year and a half after it first launched.
Some may prefer the bigger iPhone 14 Plus if you want a larger screen and longer battery life. And the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max, plus the latest iPhone 15 series, offer more exciting features like an always-on display, Dynamic Island, 120Hz refresh rate and telephoto zoom.
But the iPhone 14 still features welcome updates like a revised design and improved display, camera and performance. My iPhone 14 review breaks down all the pros and cons so you can decide if this is the right handset for your needs.
iPhone 14 specs
Row 0 – Cell 0
Row 0 – Cell 1
Price
from $799
Display
6.1 inches (2532 x 1170 pixels, 60Hz)
CPU
A15 Bionic
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Cameras
12MP wide (f/1.5), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.4), 12MP front f/1.9
The iPhone 14 design is not what I’d call fresh. It’s basically a carbon copy of the iPhone 13, complete with the notch.
Don’t get me wrong, the aluminum and glass body is solid and fairly attractive — and you get the same tough (removable) Ceramic Shield front and tough glass back, along with IP68 water resistance. But you’ll probably be jealous when you see the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island, which replaces the notch with a smaller and interactive cutout for alerts and live activities.
The iPhone 14 colors are Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow. We tested the paler blue model, which is an attractive cornflower blue shade. Apple announced the iPhone 14 in yellow on March 7.
The iPhone 14 remains compact and fairly light, weighing 6.07 ounces and measuring 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches. That’s actually a bit lighter than the iPhone 13’s 6.17 ounces, although that model was a slightly thinner 0.30 inches.
In a somewhat controversial move, Apple removed the SIM Card slot from the iPhone 14, relying on eSIMs only. Fortunately, it’s easy to add a line of service in the Settings app, and you can have up to eight 8 SIMs on your phone with two active at any given time (say one for personal and one for business). There are some smaller and international carriers that don’t yet support eSIM, but the technology is gaining traction.
iPhone 14 review: Cameras
The iPhone 14’s main camera doesn’t get the bump to 48MP that the iPhone 14 Pro series does, but it does feature enhanced cameras in its own way. The main 12MP wide camera has a larger sensor than the one in the iPhone 13, with 1.9 micrometer pixels and a faster f/1.7 aperture. As a result, you should expect better action shots and low-light performance.
The iPhone 14 also packs an ultrawide camera that’s rated to capture 4x more of a scene and deliver 2x better low-light performance. And the TrueDepth camera offers autofocus for the first time along with a faster f/1.9 aperture. To help capture brighter images across the board, there’s a new computational photography feature called Photonic Engine.
iPhone 14 review: iOS 16
The iPhone 14 runs iOS 16 by default, and there’s a lot to like in this new software update. You can customize the lock screen with widgets, photos and more. Other highlights include the ability to unsend texts and edit them, a replacement for passwords called Passkeys, a new Fitness app and (finally) the return of the battery percentage indicator.As of fall 2024, the iPhone 14 series is able to update to iOS 17, and iOS 18 once it’s out of beta. Unfortunately, no iPhone 14 models are capable of using Apple Intelligence once it’s available.
iPhone 14 review: Emergency SOS via satellite and crash detection
Apple will launched two key safety features for the iPhone 14. The first is Emergency SOS via satellite, which combines new antennas and software to connect to satellites when you can’t get a cellular or Wi-Fi signal. You’ll then get help from emergency services to your location, or can send your location to a contact. This is available for free for three years after the phone’s activated, meaning that you’ll at least make it to 2025 before needing to pay for this service.
During a demo, the iPhone 14 locked onto a satellite quickly, and the phone walks you through a series of questions so Apple can tell dispatchers everything they know about your condition and exact location.
The second safety feature is Crash Detection, which leverages the iPhone 14’s improved accelerometer and gyroscope to detect whether you’re in a car crash. From there, it can automatically dial emergency services, as well as notify your emergency contacts you designate.
In one iPhone 14 Crash Detection test by a YouTuber, the feature worked well during simulated crashes using a remote-controlled vehicle. Both times, the iPhone began its countdown to automatically call emergency services before being canceled.
iPhone 14 review: Verdict
The iPhone 14 is the best iPhone for most people, but despite that, it’s not that exciting. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max get the biggest upgrades this year, including always-on displays, a clever replacement for the notch and a 48MP main camera.
The iPhone 14 delivers fantastic-looking photos and video; the display is stellar; and you get performance that still beats the best Android phones — except for the new Galaxy S23. Action mode is another plus if you’re looking for super smooth video. Plus Apple may be offering easier access to repairs for this generation, giving the iPhone 14 a surprise advantage over the iPhone 13.
If you’re not wedded to iOS, Samsung’s Galaxy S22 is better in some ways, as it offers both a telephoto zoom lens and 120Hz display — two features Apple reserves for its Pro models. But the S22’s cameras and performance aren’t quite as good as the iPhone 14. You can check out our detailed comparison between the phones in our iPhone 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S22 face-off.
If you want longer battery life and a bigger display, you might want to wait for iPhone 14 Plus, but overall the iPhone 14 is a great — yet safe — choice.
Here are all the most significant upgrades between the 2022 and 2024 iPhone flagships
The launch of a brand new iPhone is always a very big deal, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be no exception. But those of you rocking an iPhone 14 Pro Max might be paying the most attention, especially if you’re on a 2-year phone plan that’s coming to an end. However, whether you should upgrade or potentially hold off a little longer depends on what the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers and whether it’ll be worth the money.
We know that the iPhone 16 series will be officially announced at Apple’s Glowtime event on September 9, so we don’t have long to wait to see what Apple has in store for us. Thankfully, for those of you who don’t want to wait to start making that decision, we have heard plenty of rumors about what the iPhone 16 Pro Max could offer.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to come with a new Capture Button for photography, a larger 6.9-inch display, a larger primary camera sensor and a bigger battery than its predecessors. Not to mention the processing power to handle Apple Intelligence’s on-device AI features. That’s all on top of upgrades that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, like USB-C, the Action Button and the tetraprism telephoto lens with 5x optical magnification.
Here are all the biggest rumored upgrades to expect on the iPhone 16 Pro Max compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Price and availability
The iPhone 14 Pro Max started at $1,099 when it was released in 2022. That price got you 128GB of storage, though you could pay extra for as much as 1TB of space. The Apple Store and website stopped selling the iPhone 14 Pro Max after the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year, but it is still available from many retailers. However, the options aren’t as plentiful as when the phone was new.
It’s unclear exactly how much the iPhone 16 Pro Max might cost this year, but we’re hoping that Apple will leave well alone and stick with the same $1,199 starting price as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That’s $100 more than it cost to buy the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but the added benefit is that the cheapest model came with 256GB of storage rather than 128GB.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max will likely start with 256GB of storage, and rumors suggest we may see a 2TB storage option for the first time. As for an official release, Apple typically opens pre-orders the Friday after launch, which would be September 13. The official release happens a week later, meaning the phone could be in our hands on September 20.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Design and display
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display complete with an LTPO panel that offers a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It’s also one of the last phones to come with a Lightning port and lacks any additional buttons or features around the side.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to come with a larger 6.9-inch display, making it the biggest iPhone Apple has ever made. The fact that this new size seems to have been confirmed by dummy units means that it’s pretty likely this size upgrade is on the way. Other rumors claim that we could see the bezels around the screen shrink to 1.15mm, meaning more screen space without necessarily making the iPhone 16 Pro Max too unwieldy for people who don’t have huge hands.
Other rumors suggest that the remaining Face ID sensors could be hidden under the phone’s display, shrinking Dynamic Island’s pill to a more typical hole-punch design. A solid-state “Capture Button” could also be included at the bottom right side of the phone to help open and activate the camera more quickly.
Naturally, the 16 Pro Max is expected to have an Action Button, a titanium frame and a USB-C port, three things that the iPhone 14 Pro Max lacks.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Cameras
The iPhone 14 Pro Max was one of the best camera phones at the time of release. Its triple-lens main camera system included a 48MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide-angle lens and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Up front, there was a 12MP selfie camera.
Of course, being two years old, it’s since been knocked off our list of the best camera phones, thanks to an explosion of improvements from various other phone companies—Apple included. That means the difference in camera performance from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max could be pretty large.
We don’t know much about the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s camera setup yet, but we have heard a bunch of different rumors about how the cameras could be improved compared to the previous two generations. The main one is that the main camera lens could feature a large 1/1.4-inch sensor, which would allow the camera to capture more light, improving performance and quality, especially in low-light conditions.
We’ve also heard rumors of a 48MP ultrawide-angle lens, up from 12MP, and a telephoto lens that increases the focal length to 300mm—more than double the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s, which was, in turn, significantly larger than the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s.
That telephoto lens may also be thinner to improve magnification, but no matter what happens, we’re expected to see the tetra prism lens make a comeback with at least 5x optical zoom. That’s still a big improvement over the 3x optical magnification on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Performance The iPhone 14 Pro Max was powered by an A16 Bionic chipset and 6GB of RAM. While benchmarking tests at the time indicated that this was one of the most powerful phones on the market at launch, things changed. The least of which is the A17 Pro, which utilizes a 3nm process that makes chips smaller, more efficient and potentially more powerful.
Rumors claim that all iPhone 16 series phones will have some kind of A18 chipset, but that doesn’t mean the iPhone 16 Pro Max (and iPhone 16 Pro) won’t have a better chip than its non-Pro counterparts. We may see the A18 available on standard models, with a more powerful A18 Pro on the Pro and Pro Max — offering superior performance. And odds are this extra performance will be greatly beneficial to Apple Intelligence and on-device AI.
Leaked benchmarks even speculate that the Pro chips could outperform Apple’s M-series on single-core tests. Hopefully, the TSMC’s 3nm process has been a bit more refined this year, aiding that performance and boosting efficiency.
It’s unclear whether we’ll get more RAM on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. We know Apple needs at least 8GB of memory to run Apple Intelligence on-device, which is still 2GB more than the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers. Still, it’s possible that Apple may avoid going down the same route as Google and offering a chunk of extra RAM—even if it is for AI.
Don’t expect the Qualcomm modems to go anywhere this year, either. The Apple-made modem keeps getting delayed, and now Qualcomm seems to have signed an agreement with Apple to provide modems until at least 2026. But we may see Wi-Fi 7 debut on iPhone 16 Pro Max, for those of you that have the newest Wi-Fi standard available.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Software While both iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be compatible with iOS 18, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be able to do a lot more. Whether Apple will announce any exclusive features isn’t known right now, but we do know that the 14 Pro Max doesn’t have what it takes to run Apple Intelligence. This means Apple’s all-new AI features will be limited to newer models like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
So while both phones can enjoy extra-customizable home screens, a redesigned Control Center, an all-new Photos app and other general iOS 18 upgrades, AI will be firmly off-limits to the 14 Pro Max. This means anyone with the older handset can’t use native ChatGPT integration, the smarter version of Siri, image generation and editing tools, and everything else Apple Intelligence will have to offer.
Depending on your priorities, that may be worth the upgrade.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Battery Battery life has exploded in recent years, cleanly knocking the iPhone 14 Pro Max off our list of the best phone battery life — despite it holding one of the top spots in the ranking. That’s not to say that 13 hours and 39 minutes in our custom battery test is insufficient. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max performed a lot better.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to extend battery life even further, not just in terms of extra efficiency but also thanks to rumors that the phone’s battery could increase to 4,676 mAh. This may be simply down to adding a larger battery pack, with extra space provided by the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s slightly larger design, but there have been reports that Apple could increase the density of its batteries.
That means there’s more power capacity in the same space, though the trade-off is that this can increase heat production. It’s good that Apple is also reportedly looking at ways to boost heat dissipation and thermal management across its phones.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Outlook When it first launched, the iPhone 14 Pro Max had a lot to offer, and it still does. The only thing that’s changed is that a bunch of newer and better phones have been released that make the 2022 iPhone seem less impressive by comparison. But this doesn’t change the fact that it still offers great performance, solid 13+ hours of battery life, and takes some great photos—not to mention the fact that it’s due an upgrade to iOS 18 later this year.
However, a lot has changed over the past few years, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be a considerable upgrade. It may not offer quite as big of a leap as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but combining all the upgrades that debuted last year with what’s supposedly coming at the Glowtime event, you have a very large pool of upgrades to choose from.
Apple Intelligence alone might be reason enough to upgrade from the iPhone 14 Pro Max, let alone all the expected improvements to performance, photography and battery life. Then again, considering the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be getting all those shiny new AI features, it offers a solid alternative — especially if the price drops between now and the end of the year
Samsung adds new Galaxy AI features, a larger battery, and a faster processor to offset the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s higher cost, but the flip phone sSamsung ruled the flip-style phone space for years with its Z Flip devices.
Obviously, all the usual upgrades are in tow with this charming little flippable, like its new 50MP main camera, more durable design, and more functional FlexWindow display. These hardware changes are good, but they’re supplemented by the same Galaxy AI features I found helpful in saving me time with the Galaxy S24 Ultra — plus a few new AI capabilities. If that’s not enough, there’s a much bigger emphasis on personalizing the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 comes in four different colors
At first glance, it doesn’t look like much has changed with the design of the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which sports a familiar trim and aesthetic as last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 5. The phone remains incredibly compact when closed, and its Armor aluminum frame gives the Flip a solid feel in the hand.
However, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is not as ergonomic as I’d like because of its flatter edges. The only visible difference with the design this time around is how the outlines of the camera lenses are accented by the same paint job as the phone, giving the phone a much more pleasing contrast.
Speaking of trims, I really like the pastel-like colors Samsung’s using for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 — like my blue colored review unit. It’s better made, too, with a matte finish that prevents smudges and fingerprints from dirtying up the Z Flip 6.
Samsung did increase the Flip 6’s durability with a new dual rail hinge design, giving the phone a more responsive feel whenever I close it. More importantly, however, the crease in the middle of the phone is much more subdued. In fact, I’d argue it’s less noticeable than the Razr Plus 2024’s crease.
On another note, I’m delighted by the dose of personalization that’s added to the Flip 6 when it’s paired with the new FlipSuit cases that combine interactive lock screens to the FlexWindow. There are even a couple of new ones I checked out with built-in LEDs that light up the back of the phone, which takes power via the phone’s wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review: Cameras
I’m very excited for the cameras in the Galaxy Z Flip 6. That’s because the phone now features an upgraded 50MP main camera paired with a 12MP ultrawide lens. The former is a huge step up from the Z Flip 5’s 12MP camera, but it’s made better because of how the Galaxy Z Flip 6 leverages pixel binning to offer a reasonable 2x zoom with optical-like quality. This is the smarter way of approaching the cameras, seeing that it effectively offers the range in most triple camera setups, but with a more compact dual camera arrangement instead.
There’s also a new camcorder mode, just like on the Razr Plus 2024, that gives a nostalgic feel when the phone’s folded in the halfway position — complete with zoom controls at your fingertips. Another new feature is the intelligent way the Galaxy Z Flip 6 can frame my shots with AI zoom. No matter who I’m shooting, whether it’s just myself or a group of people, the AI zoom will automatically frame the shot correctly.
Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S flagships, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 benefits from a rich camera app that’s filled with all the modes you’d want in a phone and a few extras — like hyperlapse, dual recording, and portrait video. There’s even a pro video mode with full manual controls, which few camera apps offer. I also love how the FlewWindow can be turned on to act as a preview screen, making it perfect for vlogging and self recordings.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is undoubtedly a phone for creators with its rich set of features and tools, but ultimately its camera performance will show me if it’s worthy of being a best camera phone contender.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review: Performance
Powered by the same chip in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 flagship devices, the Z Flip 6 leans on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for all of its muscle power. I’m instantly attuned to the fluid actions of navigating around the software, since just about every movement is met with tight responses. Furthermore, it extends to other aspects of the experience, including my regular routines running apps and switching between them.
Benchmark results reveal what I suspected initially: the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a powerhouse in the flip-phone space. GeekBench single and multicore scores for the Z Flip 6 have it registering scores of 2,091 and 7,022 respectively, which are incrementally better than the previous Z Flip 5.
Z Flip 6
Z Flip 5
CPU
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Geekbench 5 (single core/multicore)
2,091 / 7,022
1,354 / 4,288
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (fps)
113.4
79.1
Adobe Premiere Rush (Mins:Secs)
0:46
0:42
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review: Software and AI
Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1 runs on top of Android 14 on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. The aesthetics look familiar for anyone who’s used a recent Galaxy phone, but this year’s flip phone comes out of the box with the same suite of Galaxy AI features first introduced by the S24 series earlier this year.
These include things such as Instant Slow-Mo, Generative Edit, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, and much more. They function the same way as they do on the S24, with some being more useful in saving me time with my day-to-day activities. It also comes with Circle to Search and Google Gemini, although you can’t run Circle to Search on the FlexWindow display — but Gemini works like a charm on the smaller screen.
I’m still a little annoyed that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 doesn’t natively let me run full apps on the FlexWindow display. Instead, I’m forced to go through the same work around as before with the Flip 5 by downloading the Good Lock app through Samsung’s Galaxy Store. After that’s all taken care of, I’m able to access even greater utility with the outer screen — much like how the Razr Plus 2024 does it natively.
Samsung introduces a few new AI features with its latest foldable phones, as well as new optimizations that make them work more effectively with the external displays on those devices. Here’s all of them that I got to check out on the Flip 6:
Photo Assist: Through the Gallery App, Photo Assist lets me take selfies and photos I’ve taken of myself and transform them into drawings, sketches, and 3D models with the help of generative AI.
Photo Ambient: In addition to the AI-generated wallpapers I can create, there’s also another option called Photo Ambient specifically for the lockscreen wallpaper. It works best when I use photos of landscapes I’ve captured with the camera, which Photo Ambient will use to change its look in real-time based on the weather and time. For example, I’ve seen it transform into a warmer color tone right for bedtime.
Auto Zoom: This AI-feature takes the hassle of framing a shot by automatically zooming in the camera app when it detects people. It dynamically adjusts to zoom appropriately to include everyone, but I still sometimes manually adjust it to get the composition I want — even if it means having more dead space in the frame.
Interpreter Mode: Functionally it’s the same here as it is with the Galaxy S24 by allowing for real-time translation between two people speaking. But the difference here is how much more practical it becomes when it’s used in conjunction with the FlexWindow display by allowing both parties to see the translation on their respective displays when the Flip 6’s folded halfway.
Suggested Replies: This Galaxy AI feature is exclusive only to the Z Flip 6 and offers AI-generated message replies that appear on the FlexWindow display. But forever what reason, I haven’t been able to properly test it out after following instructions of how to set it up. I’ll revisit this as soon as I get it to work.
For a flip-style phone, the Z Flip 6 is pretty adept at multitasking — with upwards of three apps running simultaneously. However, I wish more apps were optimized for Flex Mode apart from the native offerings and some Google apps. Take for example Google Photos, which I initially suspected would shift photos and video to the top half of the screen in Flex Mode, but it doesn’t.
Beyond all of the AI features, the one thing I’m curious to find out is if more apps have been optimized to work in Flex Mode, like the hands-free experience of putting the phone down and shooting selfies. And of course, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 also benefits from the same seven years of software and security updates as the Galaxy S24.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review: Battery
Samsung is able to cram in a larger 4,000 mAh battery into the Z Flip 6, up from 3,700 mAh in the Z Flip 5, all while keeping the same svelte profile as before. Along with the power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 easily carries me through a full working day with a single charge.
Galaxy Z Flip 6
Galaxy Z Flip 5
Battery size
4,000 mAh
3,700 mAh
Battery life (Hrs:Mins)
11:01
9:53
Charging speed
25W wired, 15W wireless
25W wired, 15W wireless
Charge % after 30 minutes
55%
52%
conclusion
I genuinely like the Galaxy Z Flip 6. It’s a charming flip phone with more utility than the average slate, while still offering one of the best-in-class cameras among foldables. There are also the handful of new Galaxy AI features that add a dash of extra convenience into the mix. The sixth-generation Flip is a fairly minor update featuring a few small refinements to the design and a big boost in battery life to help keep it on a par with regular premium phones. The flattened sides and coloured accents give it a more modern feel. The internal screen is one of the very best on the market, rivalling the colour, smoothness and brightness of a quality flat phone display. Two-day battery life means it should make it to the end of even the heaviest of usage days, while an improved main camera and some fun new AI tricks are welcome additions.
