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I was initially skeptical of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, especially because I didn’t get a chance to try the previous phone.
Foldable phones exist in a vulnerable area where it’s hard to know who these phones are really designed for. The gimmick of the foldable screen is the high price and specifications, which are often not as good as flagship phones at the same price. It’s no wonder they’re hard to pull off quickly – but after using the Pixel 9 Pro Fold for a week, I’m feeling a lot better about this smartphone subcategory.
This year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are closer to the Galaxy S24 series in terms of specs and aesthetics, but this is only Google’s second attempt at a foldable phone. Google’s phones are also known for being underpowered compared to other Android devices – that’s true of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but Google’s excellent operating system makes the transition to a foldable form much easier – and, in my opinion, it makes all the difference.
I’m quite a big fan of the Google Pixel range. Ever since the gentle reboot that introduced the camera bar with the Pixel 6 range, it has maintained a top spot for me as the phone I recommend to iPhone users that want to leave to Apple’s walled garden. I don’t think Google’s phones are as well suited for longtime Android users as you’ll get better performance from similarly priced flagship phones from Samsung, but the clean and lightweight Android OS on Pixel phones would give Apple lovers a sense of familiarity.
That’s absolutely true for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – this phone is great if you’re an iPhone 14 or iPhone 13 user who wants to upgrade to a foldable, but don’t want to deal with a lot of the complications some versions of Android bring. It’s well designed and feels like a genuine competitor to Samsung’s foldable, while being cheaper than Samsung’s Fold.
That being said, it’s a bit expensive at $1,799 / £1,799 / AU $2,699 – a huge price increase from the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849 price tag. I don’t think the screen necessitates such a drastically higher cost than what is, specs-wise, a better phone, but it does make for a great option if you want a tablet and a phone in one device. If Google could make the price of its foldable more competitive, I think there’d be a lot more to love with this device.
The problem with foldables is that they exist in a small market with underlying disadvantages. You’re asking users to pay quite a lot of money for a gimmick that offers not much actual benefit, fitted to a device that’s not as powerful as flagship devices. That’s Samsung’s pitch at least – and although I do love Samsung’s latest slew of folding phones, it’s no wonder why international sales were reportedly low (per Phone Arena).
But I think that these problems expose a general advantage that Google can obtain over Samsung in the foldable market. Because it’s such a small space within the larger phone market, Google has a real opportunity to make some headway and convert iPhone buyers into the Android ecosystem with a flashy gimmick that has consumers curious. At the same time, foldable-curious Android users could latch onto the Pixel 9 Pro Fold as their first try at the technology.
The specs differences between the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the 9 Pro XL are subtle, with the 9 Pro XL including a much more impressive camera array and a bigger battery – but the differences are not as dramatic when comparing the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. A better camera system, better processing power and probably the best display you can get on a smartphone right now are just some of the things that put the S24 Ultra against its foldable cousin.
So the real win for Google stems from the fact that they’ve closed the gap between their flagship device and their foldable. I can’t give Google too much credit for this, given that Pixel phones are underpinned by an SoC that is effortlessly bested by Snapdragon’s silicon in Samsung devices, but it does lead to a great option for consumers – a cheaper book-style foldable than what Samsung is offering. Couple this to Google’s much friendlier OS and I think there’s an absolute winner here.
But it’s up to Google to do something really interesting here
Of the three foldables released over the past three months, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold has won my heart – but despite this discussion of synchronization between foldables and flagships, Samsung’s Z Flip 6 is still technically the budget winner, even if the foldable aspect is less useful.
It’s honestly difficult to talk about the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Pixel Fold 9 Pro in the same article because the Z Flip 6 is much less powerful than its flagship counterparts and it’s a massively different form factor to its foldable siblings. The Flip is a winner as a compact phone (as its predecessor is currently listed as the one to pick on ourbest phonespage) and the design is easy to love if you long for the pre-smart phone age of flipping screens, but it’s an anomaly beyond these two niches.
My hope is that with an upcoming generation of Pixel devices, a Pixel Flip will launch as well. Google could avoid higher year-on-year costs by releasing updated Flip and Fold models interchangeably, so that one year there’s a Flip and one year there’s a Fold. Better yet, it’d be great for Google to release a foldable that has more in common with the standard Pixel device for its small form factor and less powerful specs, both as a way of further reducing the price and to introduce a better separation between the standard Pixel range and the annually-released ‘A’ series model – which is often so good that I’ll happily recommend it to people over Google’s standard range of devices.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a brilliant phone and I’ve loved using it. It feels great to use as a tablet at home and the office, as well as a phone on the go. I would love to see Google keep the momentum going with future devices, in presenting an accessible product in terms of both price and operating system.
Here’s everything we learned during Apple’s huge ‘It’s Glowtime’ event
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple’s iPhone 16 event is now over, but we’re only just starting to get to grips with everything that was announced by Tim Cook and friends.
There was a lot to unpack – four new iPhones, one new Apple Watch, two new AirPods models, and a bunch of clever Apple Intelligence features. But there were also several notable absentees that had been heavily rumored before the event, and some notable updates to existing devices.
To get you up to speed with all the big announcements here’s our guide to everything Apple revealed, and a few things we learned along the way.
At first glance, the iPhone 16 might look a lot like its predecessor, but Apple has brought a handful of meaningful upgrades to its latest base model. On the design front, the iPhone 16 inherits the Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro, but the more exciting addition is an all-new Camera Control button, which can be used in a manner akin to Google Lens to help you quickly learn about your surroundings.
The iPhone 16 also gets a new, exclusive A18 chipset, which will power Apple Intelligence features from October onwards, and the phone’s rear camera lenses are now arranged vertically to allow for spatial video capture.
The iPhone 16 ships in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black, and will be available to pre-order from Friday, September 9. The new device hits store shelves on Friday, September 20 alongside the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
2. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are now even more Pro – and bigger
We were expecting the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to have a solid suite of upgrades, but what Apple has added to its next-gen smartphones is rather impressive – and a tad overwhelming.
Both phones get larger screens – 6.3 and 6.9 inches respectively – and have a powerful A18 Pro chipset that promises a heck of a lot more gaming power and the ability to deliver high-quality 4K video capture at 120 frames per second, which Apple is touting as a pro feature.
The Action button is more capable, and as with the base iPhone 16 there’s a new haptics-based Camera Control button that can recognize a mix of taps and swipes to trigger different camera and shooting modes.
Plus, for people who want to capture great sound, there are now four mics in the Pro phones with the ability to record Spatial Audio when capturing video.
On top of this, there are four color options – Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium – and smart features via an upgraded Siri and Apple Intelligence. And somehow Apple has decided not to increase the price of the Pro phones, despite the upgrades. We could be looking at two very powerful contenders for the top spot on our best phones list.
3. The iPhone 16 Plus is… well, it’s just bigger
The iPhone 16 Plus is one-to-one with the iPhone 16 in all but one area: size. With a 6.7-inch display, the Plus is now Apple’s second-largest phone behind the newly enlarged iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Along with the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16 Plus comes equipped with the new Action Button and Camera Control capacitive button. Powered by the A18 chipset, the iPhone 16 Plus will receive a suite of Apple Intelligence features as a beta release in October before they officially launch in December.
New AI tools include Visual Intelligence, which uses the vertically-aligned cameras to provide information about your surroundings (more on that below).
Preorders go live on September 13, with prices starting at $899 / £899 / AU$1,599 for the model with 128GB of storage.
4. Apple has – remarkably – kept iPhone prices static
Speaking of prices, we can’t believe we’re saying this, but given the upgrades Apple has brought to its iPhones with the iPhone 16 family, Cupertino’s smartphones might actually be good value. That’s because they haven’t risen in price.
That means the iPhone 16 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399, the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 / £899 / AU$1,599, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149.
Obviously, the prices can get a little eye-watering when you bump up the storage options, with the 1TB iPhone 16 Pro Max topping out at $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,849. But go for a more conservative amount of onboard storage and the prices are easier to swallow.
All four new iPhone models will be released on September 20, butiPhone 16 pre-orders start on September 13. And we’ll flag anyiPhone 16 dealsas and when they pop up, so do keep that page bookmarked.
5. Seeing double? The iPhone 16 gets two new buttons
Alongside the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action button – a programmable shortcut button which replaces the mute switch on older models – Apple has given iPhone 16 models another new button: Camera Control.
You can tap the button once to open the Camera app, tap it again to take a picture, and by sliding your phone along the button you can adjust various camera settings to adjust the composition and appearance of your snaps. It looks like it’ll make taking pictures on the iPhone 16 more convenient, and we’re excited to try it out.
6. iPhone 16 Pro promises ‘studio quality’ recording hardware
Apple really wants creatives to use the iPhone 16 Pro for their music and video needs. It boasts four “studio quality” mics which – in combination with AI trickery – can be used to adjust the sound mix of your shots (focusing on just the key actors, what’s in frame, or a balance of all the sound), or used to help you layer song ideas in notes.
In one example shown during the event, a musician played a guitar riff they had recorded earlier while recording new lyrics over the top; they could then play back both together, or isolate just the riff or lyrics to help them create a new tune.
The iPhone 16 Pro is also able to capture 4K video at 120fps, and once you have your video you can adjust playback speed in the app to create cinematic slow-mo segments after the fact. You can also rely on the new Camera Control button to more easily adjust camera settings on the fly.
7. All iPhone models get new chipsets
The iPhone 16 family has brought with it the new A18 and A18 Pro chipsets, and as usual Apple has made some impressive claims about performance improvements without much in the way of actual benchmarks.
Nevertheless, the company claims the A18 found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus has a 30% faster CPU and 40% faster GPU than the A16 Bionic chipset it replaces. As for the A18 Pro found in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple is claiming 15% CPU performance gains and a 20% GPU boost.
The A18 Pro also doubles video encoding speeds; welcome news to those making use of the iPhone’s ProRES recording abilities.What is concretely impressive is that these are the world’s first commercially available 3nm smartphone chipsets, something we heard relatively little about until the event itself.
8. Apple Intelligence is coming soon. Honest
Apple Intelligence finally has a release window, and while it won’t be available for the iPhone 16 lineup’s launch on September 20, we won’t have long to wait.
Apple says the new AI features will arrive in October as part of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, although only in US English to start with. Initially, Apple Intelligence will launch in beta with writing tools, summaries, and Siri’s redesign, to name a few of its tricks.
More localized English languages will be added in December, and we expect to see more Apple Intelligence features such as Genmoji and Visual Intelligence trickle onto our Apple devices over the next few months. The version of Siri we’ve all been waiting for won’t arrive until 2025, however, so you’ll need to wait to ask the voice assistant about what’s on your device’s screen.
9. Visual Intelligence is like Google Lens for iPhone
(Image credit: Apple)
We were all hoping for a new Apple Intelligence feature exclusive to the iPhone 16 lineup, and Apple well and truly delivered. Press the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Pro, or Pro Max to activate Visual Intelligence and search for whatever you see using AI.
This new Apple Intelligence feature might sound similar toGoogle Lens, but it’s on an iPhone now and it looks seriously cool. Visual Intelligence arrives on the iPhone 16 later this year, so for now you’ll need to use the Camera Control button to, well, capture photos.
10. The Apple Watch 10 has a bigger screen and thinner body
(Image credit: Apple)
The Apple Watch Series 10 has arrived with its biggest-ever screen, thinnest-ever body, and fastest-ever charging.
With a new display that’s bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra’s 49mm beast (although we didn’t get an exact size for the Series 10’s new display) the wide-angleOLEDoffers 30% more screen space in comparison to the old Apple Watch Series 6.
Want more? A new S10 chipset offers the Translate app and machine learning-powered health smarts, including a new Breathing Disturbances feature for sleep apnea detection. And then there’s the speaker…
11. …and the Watch 10 has unlocked its speaker for music playback
Yes, the Apple Watch Series 10’s speaker can finally play music. That’s right, this oddity of the Apple Watch has been fixed so that you no longer need to connect a pair of AirPods to your Apple Watch to enjoy music you’ve downloaded to the wearable.
We expect the audio quality won’t be the most stellar – think of this as a back-up rather than your go-to music listening experience – but it will certainly be better than nothing on the occasions you forget your iPhone, or your AirPods run out of charge while you’re out on the go.
12. There’s no Apple Watch Ultra 3 – but the 2 does get some upgrades
(Image credit: Apple)
Even though we didn’t see an Apple Watch Ultra 3 make an appearance this year, Apple did offer a small update to the Ultra series overall. As well as the previously Ultra-exclusive Depth and Oceanic+ apps being available on the Apple Watch Series 10, the Ultra 2 now comes in a new, slick color – Satin Black.
The cool new look is complete with a new band style, Milanese titanium, which is meant to evoke the style of classic dive watches – and as such is corrosion-resistant for all your deep-sea needs.
13. The Apple Watch 10 and Watch Ultra 2 both get a sleep-apnea detection feature
(Image credit: Apple)
The Apple Watch 10 and Watch Ultra 2 are getting a potentially life-changing sleep apnea detection feature. Using the device’s accelerometer, the wearables will detect sleep disturbances that could indicate that the wearer temporarily stopped breathing, and analyze these findings every 30 days to identify signs of sleep apnea.
Given that up to 80% of people who suffer from the potentially life-shortening disorder may not even be aware they have it, this could be a valuable first line of defense in helping detect it.
14. The Apple AirPods 4 are here – and yes, you are seeing double
You know when you wait ages for a bus and then… that. Apple launched not one buttwo new sets of AirPods 4at ‘It’s Glowtime’, both with upgraded acoustic architecture in Apple’s original open-ear design.
The chief difference between the two? Active noise cancellation, Adaptive Audio and conversation awareness, which are reserved for the pricier pair. However, you do get personalized Spatial Audio and gesture detection in both, thanks to Apple’s H2 chip.
15. The AirPods Pro 3 didn’t show up, but the Pro 2 get some upgrades
While we’re a little sad that the AirPods Pro 3 weren’t revealed, the AirPods Pro 2 are at least going to get three new features aimed at protecting your hearing health.
There’s improved noise cancellation for particularly loud sounds, a hearing test so that you can chart changes to your hearing over time, and – most interestingly – the ability to turn your buds into hearing aids.
These features will come to the iPhone Health app with an iOS 18 update some time later this year, only for AirPods 2 owners, but presumably the future AirPods Pro 3 will get them too.
16. The AirPods Max 2 didn’t materialize either. Shame
(Image credit: Apple)
There were rumors that we’d be seeing the new AirPods Max 2 launched at the event, but instead we saw some minor upgrades to the existing AirPods Max.
It’s unsurprising, given that it’s been mandated by European regulators, that the Lightning port is gone, replaced by the USB-C ports used across the rest of the AirPods range. And the Max have received a glow-up with new Midnight, Orange, Starlight, Blue and Purple colorways. It seems like we’ll be waiting a little while longer for features like lossless audio and weatherproofing, though.
It’s difficult to break out of the Apple ecosystem. Sure, plenty of people find it a comfortable place to be, as Apple provides an exceptionally well-crafted user experience and interface, but for folks wanting a little bit more out of a device – particularly for better compatibility with Windows devices and a greater range of apps – Android is there for you… if you can deal with Android. Thankfully, Google offers the best Apple detox.
Back in 2022, I switched from the iPhone 12 mini to the Google Pixel 6a, and I loved it. I instantly fell in love with Google’s assortment of apps and the on par experience offered by Google. The search giant completely mastered the ins and outs of a competitive Android experience, backed up by a range refresh with the Pixel 6 phones from the year prior. It’s no surprise why I liked the phone so much; while Samsung and Oppo are both competitive smartphone rivals in terms of performance and stats, Google went all in on user experience and mastering the camera.
And in my opinion, this remains the secret sauce of the Google Pixel range – which I have rediscovered with the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Samsung’s phones are brilliant, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra remains my personal phone because of its immense performance. Google Pixels are, however, the best iPhones that Apple doesn’t make.
Using the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL over the past week has been brilliant. Google’s phones remain the easiest Android devices to get used to, without unnecessary bloatware heaped on top of the OS. The bloatware problem remains an annoying disadvantage to phones from, for example, Oppo and Asus – and to a lesser extent Samsung. Instead of a slurry of apps from a wide range of developers, Google sticks to its own in-house developed apps and nothing more until you hop on the Play Store. The company already has the best maps app in the world, along with what I would consider to be the best cloud-based Drive and Photos app, so those bases are well covered.
For many Android phones, setup is an awkward tap dance between services linked to Google and services linked to the phone maker. Many of the apps made available to me on my Galaxy S24 Ultra have gone unused because I simply don’t want to use Samsung’s version of them (for example, Samsung Gallery and Samsung Pay) when I can simply use Google’s versions.
On a Pixel, setup is simple and reliant on a Google account that you probably already have (by virtue of Gmail being the world’s most popular emailing service, which doubles as a Google account). If you don’t, that’s fine, you can use a non-Gmail account to create a Google account. It’s an extremely clean process that’s helped by a really user-friendly OS design. And then once all of this is done, you’re free. Install the apps that you want and enjoy the wider compatibility with non-Apple devices (including Android and Windows devices). There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to Apple, but the Pixel represents an easy way out if you’re looking for one.
Not only does Google’s approach to software make it an attractive Apple alternative, but the hardware side of things has gotten noticeably more premium in recent years.
The camera bar, introduced with the Pixel 6 range, made the phones look both unique and exceptionally premium, while also ushering in a new camera system that put Pixels on the same stage as the iPhone and Galaxy S range. The Pixel 9 range includes a fairly redesigned camera bar that’s much more rounded, essentially making the need for a case necessary for how much it protrudes out.
In fairness, Google has squandered one of the more competitive aspects of the Pixel range. A modest price jump for thePixel 8 andPixel 8 Proin 2023, followed by another price jump in 2024 for thePixel 9and Pixel 9 Pro XL (spurred by the introduction of the Pixel 9 Pro as a separate device from the Pro XL) has made the phone noticeably less competitive on the price front.
Keep in mind that Google’s proprietary Tensor processors, now theTensor G4 chipwith the latest phones, is historically less powerful than its competition from Apple and Samsung. This performance gap was previously alleviated by a much lower cost, but it’s now exacerbated by costs that put it in more heated rivalry with those other companies. Most people probably wouldn’t notice a performance gap, but it’s something that might irk power users who use hugely demanding apps or play graphically intensive games.
Google has also opted out of a ‘Titanium’ model, bucking a trend established by Apple with the iPhone 15 Pro and followed by Samsung with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Unlike higher-end Samsungs, which also followed through with a price increase, there’s also no vapor cooling chamber to speak of and a noticeable lack of UFS 4.0 storage (Google uses 3.1) which results in slower read/write speeds compared to the S24 range.
So this is where my head is at: if you’re looking to try out an Android phone for the first time, then I would strongly recommend theGoogle Pixel 8aas a starter phone. If you want something more powerful, then consider gravitating to the Pixel 9 for better performance, or the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL for better photography.
If you’re comfortable with the Android world, then I would highly recommend the phones from the Samsung Galaxy S24 range or many other phones.
Google has announced that the final version of Android 15 has been pushed out to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) – that’s where developers and manufacturers can pick up the code, and adapt their apps and Android releases accordingly.
It’s an important step towards a public release, but we’re not quite there yet. Google says Pixel phones like the Google Pixel 9 will get the update “in the coming weeks” (most likely October), while phones from other manufacturers (such as the Samsung Galaxy S24) will be getting Android 15 “in the coming months.”
Google’s announcement post highlights some of the new features we heard about at Google I/O 2024 back in May: a Private Space for your most important apps, better support for multitasking on large screens, improved battery life, and a low light boost for the camera that makes it easier to see what’s in the frame before you take a shot.
Now it’s up to Google, Samsung, OnePlus, and the rest to add their own tweaks and flourishes to Android 15 before it’s pushed out to users. For Pixel phone and tablet users, that could well include new screensavers and avatar options.
While the wait for Android 15 continues, Google has also pushed out four new Android updates. Google hasn’t specified which versions of Android these are for, so we’re assuming that means they’ll work on most modern phones and tablets running Android.
(Image credit: Google)
1. Earthquake alerts Google has been experimenting with using Android phones as earthquake detectors for years, but now the feature is expanding across the whole of the US, which means a lot more people can get an important heads up about seismic activity. Google has posted a dedicated blog post about the feature, which explains more about how it works.
2. Audio descriptions powered by Gemini AI Of course, AI is involved too: Android includes a TalkBack screen reader to describe images for those with visual impairments, and those descriptions are now going to be powered by Gemini AI. That should mean more detailed information about what’s on screen, whether it’s pictures in a chat thread, on a shopping website, or in a phone’s camera roll.
3. Search for music with Circle to Search As previously rumored, Circle to Search is getting the ability to identify songs. If it’s available on your phone, you can activate Circle to Search with a long press on the home button or navigation bar, then tap the music button to identify a song – whether the song is playing somewhere around you or in an app currently running on the phone screen.
4. Chrome can read out webpages to you This is something we’ve previously seen tested, but it’s now officially available for everyone: in Chrome for Android, you can tap the three dots in the top-right corner of a browser tab, then choose Listen to this page to have it read out to you. You even get some simple, podcast-style playback controls (including speed control), and a choice of voices.
Xiaomi 14 was released in India in March this year. It is one of the best compact flagship phones available on the market. The smartphone boasts a solid set of specifications. However, it lags behind its competitors in some key areas.
If you plan to upgrade to the Xiaomi 14 (full review), don’t forget to check out its best alternatives, which will help you make a better decision. Before we move on to the alternatives, let’s quickly recall the device via the spec sheet below.
5G/4G/3G/2G Wi-Fi 7/Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.4 NFC supported
Unlike Xiaomi 14, the Vivo X100 has a curved display that’s around 6.6% bigger in size. The Xiaomi 14 uses an OLED panel, while the rest of the display specifications are almost similar.
Both smartphones are IP68 certified for dust & water resistance. However, the Vivo X100 lacks protection, whereas the Xiaomi 14 uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
The Vivo X100 rocks a big circular camera module that’s easily distinguishable from the crowd, whereas the Xiaomi 14 features a rectangular camera module.
Both smartphones have a 50MP primary camera with OIS and a 50MP ultrawide camera (the Vivo X100 has a larger field of view). The periscope telephoto lens on the Vivo phone supports 3x optical zoom, while it is 3.2x on the Xiaomi 14).
Both smartphones take stunning photos and videos using the main camera in varying lighting conditions with fine details, sharpness, and colour accuracy. However, the dynamic range could have been better on the Vivo X100.
The Vivo phone takes good shots with its ultrawide cameras in various lighting conditions. It also takes good macro shots. However, the selfies and videos using the front camera are pretty decent, with some sort of skin smoothing.
Notably, the Vivo X100 supports up to 4K video recording using the rear camera, but only 1080p with its selfie camera. In contrast, the Xiaomi 14 can record up to 8K videos using its rear camera and 4K with its selfie camera.
Both smartphones take excellent photos and videos. However, in most cases, the Xiaomi 14 produces better shots, particularly with its rear camera setup. The Vivo X100 might have an edge when it comes to portrait selfies.
The Vivo X100 is powered by a Dimensity 9300 chip, whereas the Xiaomi 14 uses Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Both are the fastest mobile CPUs from their respective manufacturers and have similar benchmark results. They deliver excellent performance, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has slightly better gaming stability. Check out the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs. Dimensity 9300 for more details.
The Xiaomi 14 and Vivo X100 have similar connectivity features, except the former has a faster USB data transfer rate.
The Vivo X100 has a larger battery capacity and supports much faster wired charging compared to Xiaomi 14. This means you’ll benefit from more screen time and quicker battery filling on the Vivo phone. However, the Vivo phone lacks wireless and reverse wireless charging.
5G/4G/3G/2G Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 NFC (supported) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
The Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon version) is another good alternative to the Xiaomi 14. It’s more compact and lightweight than the Xiaomi 14 and features a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X screen — the brightness peaks at 2600nits (slightly lower than Xiaomi 14).
The Galaxy S24 uses the second-generation Gorilla Glass Victus, while the Xiaomi 14 has the first-generation Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Both devices are powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. There’s also an Exynos version, but it’s difficult to recommend because of Exynos problems.
The Galaxy S24 packs a lesser battery capacity than the Xiaomi 14, and as you may already know, Samsung is not a fan of superfast charging. Hence, you only get 25W charging support, while the Xiaomi 14 supports 90W fast charging. Both devices support wireless and reverse wireless charging, although they are faster on the Xiaomi phone.
Samsung phones are better known for software updates. The Galaxy S24 is promised seven years of Android and security updates, while the Xiaomi 14 will only get 4 Android updates and five years of security patches.
3. OnePlus 12
OnePlus 12 Specs
Body
164.3 x 75.8 x 9.2mm 220g
Display
6.82″ 120Hz LTPO AMOLED 1440 x 3168 pixels resolution HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 4500nits (peak) Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
5G/4G/3G/2G Wi-Fi 7/Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.4 NFC (supported) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
The OnePlus 12 is another solid alternative to the Xiaomi 14. It’s slightly bigger and bulkier and has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. Both smartphones have the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which delivers superior performance.
The OnePlus 12 has a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision support, and 4500nits of peak brightness. Compared to Xiaomi 14, it has a bigger display with more pixels and higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility. Also, it is protected by a Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the Xiaomi 14 uses first-gen protection.
Both smartphones come with Android 14 out of the box and have been promised four years of Android updates from their respective brands.
The OnePlus 12 boasts a circular camera module featuring a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens with OIS, 3x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide lens with 114-degree field of view (FOV). The camera setup is made in collaboration with Hasselblad to achieve better colour accuracy. There’s a 32MP camera for selfies.
5G/4G/3G/2G Wi-Fi 7/Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.4 NFC (supported) USB Type-C 2.0
iQOO 12 was released last year with a strong spec sheet. It boasts a slightly larger LTPO AMOLED screen than the Xiaomi 14 with a higher refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3000nits.
The iQOO device is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the same chip inside the Xiaomi 14. It’s the most powerful chip for Android phones, ensuring superior performance and efficiency.
Let’s get to the cameras. The iQOO 12’s main camera takes detailed, sharp daylight images with excellent dynamic range. The overall image processing is sound, but sometimes, you may observe various imperfections due to weak processing.
The telephoto cameras are excellent, offering great details, colours, right sharpness, and less noise. The dynamic range and overall contrast are also impressive. The 64MP high-res zoomed images are okay(ish) with a good amount of details, accurate colours and good dynamic range, but they are pretty noisy.
5G/4G/3G/2G Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.3 NFC (supported) USB Type-C 3.2
The Pixel 8 has similar pricing to the Xiaomi 14 and offers good value for money. Hence, it is an alternative to the Xiaomi 14 worth exploring.
The Pixel 8 is a compact flagship phone featuring a 6.2-inch OLED screen, although it’s not an LTPO panel and has a lower peak brightness than the Xiaomi 14.
The smartphone is powered by an in-house Tensor G3 chip, which isn’t as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the benchmarks. That doesn’t make it a bad choice for high-end phones. The chip can still deliver great performance.
The Pixel 8 has only two camera sensors on the back — a 50MP primary camera with OIS and a 12MP ultrawide camera with a 126-degree FOV. It is also equipped with a 10.5MP camera for selfies.
The smartphone takes good daylight shots with nicer details, consistent white balance, and good saturation. The ultrawide camera also shoots great images. It also has an autofocus that enables both general close-up shots and macro shots.
The Pixel 8 does an impressive job in low-light conditions, all thanks to good image processing. However, the portrait shots are just acceptable. The device takes nice selfies with good details. The video quality of the Pixel 8’s main camera is impressive. The ultrawide camera outputs an average video quality at night but does a fantastic job in daylight.
note:
The Xiaomi 14 is a solid flagship phone. However, these five phones are better than that in one or more key areas. Would you pick Xiaomi 14 or any of these alternatives? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Despite its modest appearance, the Galaxy S24 Plus feels every inch a flagship phone. It boasts a better display, slightly better battery life, and more RAM than its standard-sized sibling, while Samsung’s suite of hit-and-miss AI features – which are available in equal measure across the Galaxy S24 range – narrow the gap between the Plus and the more expensive S24 Ultra. You don’t get the latter’s titanium frame and superior camera credentials here, but the Galaxy S24 Plus offers a comparable smartphone experience at a more accessible price.
-Design feels distinctly less premium than the Ultra
Two-minute review
Despite offering Galaxy Ultra sizing at a more accessible price, Samsung’s Galaxy Plus phones have seldom, if ever, proven better value for money than its all-singing, all-dancing Ultra devices. This year, though, the Galaxy S24 Plus is a much more enticing proposition: its display is objectively better than the one you’ll find on the standard-sized Samsung Galaxy S24, and it doesn’t lose out when it comes to the myriad AI features that Samsung is touting as the key selling point of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Specifically, the Galaxy S24 Plus benefits from QHD+ display technology – a feature previously reserved for the Galaxy S23 Ultra – and a bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset (or Samsung’s own Exynos 2400, depending on your region) that places AI at the forefront of the mobile experience. The former upgrade is far from game-changing – it essentially means the Plus’s 6.7-inch screen is sharper and more detailed than the S24’s FHD+ equivalent – but it’s enough to better differentiate the Plus from its cheaper sibling. The AI features, by contrast, bring a parity to the Galaxy S24 range that we haven’t seen, well, ever; it’s one of the best AI phones.
Galaxy AI is the umbrella term for Samsung’s suite of AI-powered features, which range from real-time text and call translation to generative photo editing. In truth, I suspect that only a handful of these tools will be genuinely useful long-term – namely Circle to Search and Live Translate – but I’m glad that Samsung opted to distribute its suite of Galaxy AI features across the Galaxy S24 line equally. If nothing else, it gives Galaxy S24 Ultra owners one less feature to boast about.
On the physical upgrade front, the Galaxy S24 Plus sports marginally narrower bezels and a slightly flatter design than its predecessor, though its stronger Armor Aluminum frame is the most noticeable change. The phone’s 4,900mAh battery is a touch larger, too; however this doesn’t equate to much real-world battery life improvement over the Galaxy S23 Plus (presumably due to the newer phone’s more demanding software). Still, the Galaxy S24 Plus is objectively the battery-life king of the Galaxy S24 line.
If you’re after the best camera phone around, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the way to go, but the new Plus model boasts some decent, if not groundbreaking, photography hardware nonetheless. The phone retains its predecessor’s 50MP wide lens (f/1.8), 12MP ultra-wide lens (f/2.2), 10MP telephoto lens (f/2.4, 3x optical zoom), and 12MP selfie camera (f/2.2), though the aforementioned addition of Galaxy AI has thrown some neat new AI-powered editing capabilities into the mix.
All told, then, Samsung’s latest second-tier flagship is an objectively better phone than last year’s S23 Plus, and it should make prospective Galaxy S24 Ultra buyers think twice about what they really value in a smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus review: Design
Slightly flatter edges and narrower bezels
New Armor Aluminum frame
For the second year running, Samsung’s newest Galaxy Plus model places an emphasis on meaningful internal upgrades over a dramatic aesthetic redesign; but that’s not to say the Galaxy S24 Plus looks identical to its predecessor.
Measuring 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm and weighing 196g, this year’s Plus phone has slightly narrower bezels, slightly flatter edges (think theiPhone 15 ProandGalaxy Z Fold 5) and a more durable Armor Aluminum frame than the Galaxy S23 Plus. Personally, I’m all for the changes – the S23 Plus’s mirrored frame was a garish fingerprint magnet – although you’d be hard pressed to distinguish the Galaxy S24 Plus from its predecessor when viewing the two phones at a glance.
The Galaxy S24 Plus is still stuck with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, which wouldn’t be a problem if the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Gorilla Armor wasn’t so much more effective at reducing scratches. Annoyingly, my Galaxy S24 Plus review unit has picked up a fair few screen blemishes while bouncing around in my pocket and work bag, so I’d suggest picking up a compatible screen protector (if not a full-blown protective case) if you do purchase this phone.
As for theSamsung Galaxy S24 colors, the Galaxy S24 Plus ships in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire Blue and Jade Green, with the latter three colors exclusive to the Samsung store. I was handed the Cobalt Violet color for this review, which shows off the phone’s matte finish and rear glass texture pretty nicely, though it’s no secret that the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s titanium color options are much more premium-looking.
Design score: 3 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus review: Display
QHD+ display for the first time in a Plus model
Enhanced outdoor visibility
New 2,600-nit peak brightness
For the first time, the display on Samsung’s latest Galaxy Plus model is objectively superior to the display used by its standard sibling. Specifically, the Galaxy S24 Plus uses a 6.65-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with QHD+ technology that delivers improved sharpness and detail compared to the screen on the smaller Galaxy S24. Previously, QHD+ displays have been reserved for Samsung’s Ultra phones, and although the differences here aren’t all that noticeable, it’s good to see Samsung giving the Galaxy S24 Plus the best screen possible.
The other display upgrades are shared between the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. Both phones get a new peak brightness of 2,600 nits, as well as improved outdoor visibility thanks to Samsung’s Vision Booster feature. Their refresh rates have also been improved – you’ll now get 1-120Hz instead of 48-120Hz.
The usual color, anti-distortion and wide-angle viewing benefits of AMOLED display technology are present and correct on the Galaxy S24 Plus, too, and all of the above features combine to deliver the biggest, boldest and brightest Galaxy S Plus display yet.
Display score: 5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus review: Performance
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the US, Exynos 2400 elsewhere
Larger vapor chamber and ray tracing support
Phenomenal speakers
Much to the chagrin of Samsung fans the world over, Samsung has again split the chipset offering for its latest Galaxy phones – though the situation isn’t as bad as it was for the Galaxy S22 line, where the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 outperformed the Exynos 2200 by some margin.
Specifically, the chipset powering your Galaxy S24 Plus depends on the region in which you buy the phone. Those in the US get a bespoke version of Qualcomm’s newly released Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while those in Europe and other regions get Samsung’s new Exynos 2400. As I’m based in London I reviewed the Exynos-equipped version of the Galaxy S24 Plus, and I can safely say that I never once felt that my phone was equipped with a second-rate chipset.
If you’re interested in benchmarks, my Exynos-equipped Galaxy S24 Plus achieved a single-core Geekbench 6 score of 2002, a multi-core score of 6732, and a machine-learning Geekbench ML score of 423. For comparison, our Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-equipped version of the S24 Plus – which we tested in the US using the same Geekbench programs – achieved a single-core score of 2272, a multi-core score of 7083, and a machine-learning score of 694 (using Geekbench ML). All tests were conducted with the phones in Standard mode rather than Light mode, which prioritizes battery life and cooling efficiency over processing speed.
Performance score: 5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus review: Battery
4,900mAh battery is a slight upgrade
45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging
The Galaxy S24 Plus has a 4,900mAh battery, which is a 200mAh increase over the S23 Plus’s 4,700mAh power pack. Unfortunately, that size increase doesn’t result in much (if any) tangible battery life improvement, but the Galaxy S24 Plus is still a phenomenally long-lasting phone, and one that trumps the standard Galaxy S24 by some margin in this respect.
During testing, my Exynos-equipped Galaxy S24 Plus lasted well over a day and a half with moderate use, even with the always-on display enabled. In the US, our Snapdragon-equipped Galaxy S24 Plus registered 16 hours of battery life in two separate rundown tests (one with Adaptive mode enabled, the other with Standard mode enabled). So, regardless of which Galaxy S24 Plus model you choose, you won’t be left wanting for battery life.
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
The Galaxy S24 Plus is significantly cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it’s still a mightily expensive phone.
4 / 5
Design
The phone’s slim bezels and flatter sides look great, but the lack of Gorilla Armor glass is dissapointing.
3 / 5
Display
The Galaxy S24 Plus’ display is big, bright, outdoor-friendly and as good as the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s.
5 / 5
Software
Samsung’s Galaxy AI features are welcome addition, but they don’t do enough to mitigate OneUI’s dizzying complexity.
3 / 5
Cameras
The Galaxy S24 Plus’ camera array is objectively solid, but some hardware upgrades are long overdue.
3 / 5
Performance
Despite the region-based chipset discrepancy, the Galaxy S24 Plus is a phenomenally powerful phone.
5 / 5
Battery
The phone’s class-leading battery life and speedy charging make it a battery champion.
5 / 5
Buy it if…
You want Ultra-level specs for a cut price The Galaxy S24 Plus is $200 / £250 / AU$500 cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, yet you still get an equally-powerful chipset, the same amount of RAM, the same charging capabilities, the same peak brightness, the same variable refresh rate, and even better battery life.
You’re a fan of big phones If you’re after a big-screened Samsung phone that won’t weigh down your pocket, the Galaxy S24 Plus is as portable as 6.7-inch phones come.
You want class-leading battery life The Galaxy S24 Plus ranks among the best Android phones for battery life; if endurance is your primary concern, this is the phone to go for.
Apple’s most affordable iPhone may be making a comeback, as the rumoured iPhone SE 4 is again tipped to arrive in early 2025 – and it may get a major display upgrade.
According to The Elec (translated using Gemini), known for its Apple rumours, the iPhone SE 4 will launch “early next year.” Moreover, the South Korean new site doubles down on the next-gen SE to finally swap out its LCD screen for an OLED display. This will be the first time an iPhone SE turns to OLED, which has been seen on Apple’s phones leading up to the iPhone 15 since 2017.
According to the report, Samsung and other suppliers are “competing to supply OLED panels for Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE 4.” Apparently, the next SE model will reuse the OLED panels from the iPhone 14. This is expected, as this is how Apple tries to keep the cost down.
This isn’t the first we’ve heard of the iPhone SE 4 arriving in 2025 with significant upgrades. That rumour suggested the next SE model would have an OLED panel and bring Face ID rather than the usual Touch ID.
As for further improvements, we may expect the new Action Button that also arrived on the iPhone 15 Pro. If this checks out, we may see Dynamic Island on the iPhone SE 4. Apple hasn’t changed the iPhone SE’s ageing design since its first iteration in 2016, and seeing as the tech giant tries to streamline its design updates with each annual release, the next SE model may make a giant leap in form factor.
Rumours also suggest that the smartphone will get a 48MP rear camera like the new iPhone 15. However, by the time it releases, the inevitable iPhone 16 this year may deliver an improved camera. That said, if past SE models are anything to go by, expect this to be the only shooter it boasts.
As previous reports suggest, the iPhone SE 4 will ditch its current design for a more modern look akin to the iPhone X or later. That means no 4.7-inch display with massive bezels or Touch ID. For now, only time will tell.
With the original iPhone SE officially being vintage, it’s about time Apple changed the design of its most affordable iPhone, especially nearly a decade later, if rumours about its 2025 launch are accurate.
On April 23rd, HP unveiled a series of AI-enhanced PCs in New Zealand, marking a significant shift towards integrating artificial intelligence into everyday computing.
Recognising the growing reliance on AI in various software and systems, HP has integrated its Core Ultra/Meteor Lake system with its Neural Processing Unit in these devices to optimise AI performance, compatibility, and efficiency.
The new range includes the HP Elite/Pro series laptops tailored for business users, Z by HP workstations for creative professionals, Pavilion PCs for budget-conscious consumers, Spectre 2-in-1 devices, and the OMEN Transcend 14 Gaming Laptop, which is ideal for both gaming and creative endeavors.
This article will cover everything you need to know about HP’s latest AI-enhanced PCs.
Late last year, Intel unveiled its Core Ultra chip, named Meteor Lake, which focuses on enhancing AI capabilities in PCs. Intel describes this development as its “biggest architectural shift in 40 years.”
The chip introduces several new technologies, with the most significant being the inclusion of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in its system-on-a-chip architecture. This is the first time Intel has integrated an NPU, which is specifically designed to handle AI workloads.
As a result, the NPU can carry the bulk of the workload when performing AI tasks, allowing the CPU and GPU to manage other functions. This integration is expected to improve application performance, extend battery life, and increase overall efficiency.
The majority of the device’s HP announced are equipped with Core Ultra chips meaning they have dedicated NPUs for enhanced AI integration. See below:
HP has released new PC solutions within its Elite and Pro series, now featuring AI capabilities powered by Intel vPro technology.
These systems are equipped with Intel Core Ultra 5 and 7 processors, and additionally, HP has integrated its Smart Sense technology, which automatically adjusts the PC’s settings based on user behaviour to optimise performance and power consumption.
At the top of the range are the HP Elite 1040 Series Notebook PCs which offer up to 21 hours of battery life and significant improvements due to AI integration including 80% better graphics performance, 38% less power consumption for AI tasks, and 132% faster AI video editing than previous models.
Below that is the 840 Notebook range which is marketed as a device for enterprise workers in managerial-type positions. And at the bottom of the range is the 640-range designed for corporate and public sector organisations.
HP Pavilion The latest HP Pavilion PCs are targeted towards Gen Z customers. They include built-in AI engines and are developed with performance, mobility and quality in mind.
Z by HP
HP’s ZBook range is designed with creatives in mind. These mobile workstations are equipped with Intel Core Ultra 5,7 and 9 processors and dedicated AI units, they’re designed to ensure reliability, security, and mobility for creative professionals.
The devices released include the ZBook Power G11 designed to support demanding workflows such as 3D modelling and AI-powered content creation. It features a 16-inch premium design and is equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada Laptop GPU. The device can also be configured with NVIDIA RTX 500 and 1000 Ada Generation Laptop GPUs.
And the ZBook Firefly G11 which aims to combine professional performance with portability. Equipped with the NVIDIA RTX A500 Laptop GPU for AI-accelerated performance and features dynamic power efficiency and long battery life.
HP Spectre
The HP Spectre x360 14-inch and 16-inch 2-in-1 Laptops are powered by Intel Evo with Intel Core Ultra processors.
They include a 9 MP camera with low-light adjustment, built-in security with walk away lock and privacy alerts, adaptive screen adjustments for power efficiency, and automatic performance optimisation.
They also have powerful AI technology for efficient content creation and collaboration, audio tuning by Poly for clear sound, and a 2.8K OLED screen with IMAX Enhanced Certification for vibrant visuals.
OMEN Gaming Laptops
HP released its latest OMEN Transcend 14 Gaming Laptop which is not only designed for gaming but creative tasks like video editing as well.
It features an IMAX Enhanced Certified 2.8K 120Hz VRR OLED display and a lattice-less sky printed RGB keyboard. It weighs 1,637 grams and offers up to 11.5 hours of battery life, equipped with a type-C PD 140W adapter.
The device is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. It also includes an NPU for AI task
The chassis has been redesigned to incorporate a vapor chamber and Intel’s dual channel flow technology for heat management, all within a 12 mm base. And the audio system is tuned by HyperX.
HP also announced that its OMEN Transcend 16.1-inch Gaming Laptop PC has been upgraded with a 2.5K 240Hz OLED display option. Additionally, the OMEN 16.1-inch Gaming Laptop PC and Victus 16.1-inch Gaming Laptop PC have been updated with Intel® Core™ i7 HX processor (14th gen).
Relatively expensive but no titanium frame like S24 Ultra
AI features only guaranteed to be free through 2025
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus The Galaxy S24 Plus is ideal for anyone who wants a big, powerful Samsung phone but doesn’t want to overspend on the increasingly expensive Galaxy S Ultra series.
The Galaxy S24 family has landed with super-long update support and Galaxy AI in tow. The Galaxy S24 Ultra might get the lion’s share of attention in Samsung’s marketing, but you would do well to remember Samsung’s oft-forgotten middle child before buying a new smartphone. It has much more screen real estate than the baby S24, but it’s not as heavy or expensive as the monstrous S24 Ultra, offering a competent middle ground. Sure, it’s missing some Ultra-tier features like the S Pen and dual telephoto camera lenses, but the Galaxy S24 Plus has a lot to offer the right buyer.
What is it?The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the mid-tier option in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 lineup, featuring a 6.7-inch OLED screen, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and a triple camera array.
Where can you buy it?The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is available unlocked directly from Samsung, but it’s also at all major carriers and retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.
How did we test it?I tested the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus for two weeks. The review unit was supplied by Samsung.
Is it worth it?The Galaxy S24 Plus is ideal for someone who wants a big, powerful Samsung phone withoutoverspending on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
What I like about the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
There’s a flat panel of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, a flat aluminum frame between them, and three camera cutouts on the back. The phone is almost all display from the front — the OLED takes up 92% of the footprint, with a narrow, symmetrical bezel running all the way around. It is the flat slab smartphone, distilled to its most essential elements.
If you choose to fondle the S24 Plus caseless, you’ll be impressed with the build quality. The frame is extremely rigid, and the buttons are clicky and wobble-free. The iPhone-y flat edges don’t feel much different than the Galaxy S23’s rounded shape. Samsung did round off the edge where the frame meets the back, making it more comfortable to hold.
The Galaxy S24 Plus is the flat slab smartphone, distilled to its most essential elements. But the build quality is sublime.
The centerpiece of the Galaxy S24 Plus is the 6.7-inch OLED screen, which has been upgraded this year from 1,080p to 1,440 x 3,120. That’s the same resolution as the S24 Ultra, and the panel itself is only a tenth of an inch smaller. It’s still a 120Hz display with a great peak brightness of 2,600 nits, so it’s still a little off Samsung’s top dog in the specs race, but even phones with half as much luminance are pretty readable in direct sunlight, so you can bet this one is, too. The S24 Plus gives you an option if you want a larger screen than the baby S24’s (6.2-inch) but without going all the way to the S24 Ultra.
The Galaxy S24 Plus runs Android 14 out of the box with One UI 6.1 on top, and while we always like to see the latest version of Android, that’s not what makes this phone’s software special. Samsung and Google have been going back and forth as they strive to offer the longest Android software support, and Samsung has set a new milestone. All members of the Galaxy S24 family get a whopping seven years of OS and security updates. That means the Galaxy S24 Plus could be running Android 21 in 2031, putting it in line with the Pixel 8 series as the best update policy in the game. So far, our Galaxy S24 Plus has picked up its share of security patches, but we’re still waiting on One UI 6.1.1, which will add Galaxy AI wrinkles like the Portrait Studio.
Whether or not the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will still be fast enough to run the show in seven years is uncertain. As it currently stands, this phone is ludicrously fast. Apps open immediately, multitasking is a breeze, and games render at the highest quality. Samsung phones have great speed in short bursts, but they (Galaxy S24 Plus included) tend to heat up quickly.
If you’re playing a high-end game for longer than a few minutes, you’ll lose some of your performance from thermal throttling. The graph above shows the worst-case scenario, keeping the SoC cranked to the max for 20 minutes. In some of these tests, the chip drops 30-40%. Luckily, Samsung’s overclocked version of Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship chip — dubbed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy — has speed to spare. Even when it gets warm, the phone can handle the basics.
Of course, the elephant in the room on performance is that not everyone will get to enjoy the power of Snapdragon. In various global markets, including the UK and across Europe, the Galaxy S24 Plus is instead powered by the Exynos 2400. Thankfully, our testing has shown that unlike the darker years of the Snapdragon vs Exynos battle, Samsung’s own silicon actually holds up pretty well this time. Check out our Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Exynos 2400 deep dive or watch the video below for all the nerdy data.
The battery life is not objectively amazing, but it’s improved from 2023’s Samsung flagships. I consider that a victory with the increase in display resolution from 1080p to 1440p. The battery growing from 4,700mAh on the S23 Plus to 4,900mAh on the S24 Plus helps there. You shouldn’t have any trouble making it through a day with the Galaxy S24 Plus. With a mix of browsing, messaging, games, and video, the S24 Plus has lasted roughly a day and a half with 7-8 hours of screen time during my testing. Two full days without a recharge was also possible, but only with careful battery management. That gives you some leeway as the battery loses capacity over the years, but you’ll probably need at least one battery swap if you use this device for the full seven years.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus camera review
The Galaxy S24 Plus camera setup has not seen any updates this year, so we’re still working with a 50MP primary, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide, just like the Galaxy S23 Plus. On the front, there’s a 12MP selfie camera. The Galaxy S24 Ultra adds a 5x telephoto lens, which is 50MP and can sensor crop for even more reach, as well as a 200MP primary camera. The base Galaxy S24 has the same camera setup as the S24 Plus.
Most of the photos I took with the S24 Plus looked great. The phone evens out highlights and shadows reasonably well, and there’s very little noise. But if you didn’t like Samsung’s photo processing before AI came to town, you won’t like it now. The camera leans toward longer exposures with higher brightness and more vibrant colors. The resulting photos really pop (especially if you use Samsung’s new Ultra HDR option), but they can look a bit unnatural. The longer exposures make motion harder to capture, too. In fact, Samsung’s issues with moving targets is yet again a general issue, just like it was with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
You want Ultra-level specs for a cut priceThe Galaxy S24 Plus is $200 / £250 / AU$500 cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, yet you still get an equally-powerful chipset, the same amount of RAM, the same charging capabilities, the same peak brightness, the same variable refresh rate, and even better battery life.You’re a fan of big phonesIf you’re after a big-screened Samsung phone that won’t weigh down your pocket, the Galaxy S24 Plus is as portable as 6.7-inch phones come.You want class-leading battery lifeThe Galaxy S24 Plus ranks among the best Android phones for battery life; if endurance is your primary concern, this is the phone to go for.
26 hours of battery! And, of course, AI-ready hardware
why this matters?
Portable devices are increasingly expected to deliver both high performance and long-lasting battery life, and Dell’s Intel XPS 13 exemplifies this balance.
Dell’s latest XPS 13 laptop is a compelling choice for those who need performance on the go. Dell highlighted significant upgrades under the hood, aiming to deliver more than just a sleek design.
The Dell XPS 13 now features Intel’s Core Ultra processors from the Series 2 lineup. This makes it more capable of handling heavy multitasking, intensive software applications, and other demanding tasks. Its dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) can perform up to 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This NPU boosts AI capabilities, enabling advanced tasks like generative AI for text and image creation, and faster photo and video editing.
Dell’s XPS 13 is now available with an OLED display.
OLED’s excellent contrast and deep, inky shadows demolish LCD screens.
Brightness and HDR performance are still OLED’s Achilles heel.
Dell’s XPS 13 is now available with an OLED display, and it’s gorgeous.
OLED remains strangely rare among laptops. All of today’s most popular phones, including Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy line, have embraced it in a warm, fuzzy, high-contrast hug. Yet few laptops have taken the same step, and those that have are typically large, powerful 15-inch models aimed at a niche audience.
A week with the Dell XPS 13’s OLED left me wishing the tech was more readily available on modern laptops. Yet its arrival in the XPS 13 might be a case of too little, too late.
The XPS 13 introduces a tandem OLED display, a first for any laptop, which not only delivers higher brightness but also extends battery life compared to traditional OLED screens. Combined with a claimed 26 hours of battery life while streaming on an FHD+ display, this makes the Dell XPS 13 a practical choice for those who need long-lasting performance, whether for work or media consumption, without constantly searching for a power outlet.
The laptop has a 13.4-inch InfinityEdge display, Intel Arc graphics, a 1080p webcam, Windows Hello support, and two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports. Graphite and Platinum are the case color options.
OLED is self-emissive, which means each individual pixel creates its own light. This also means each pixel can be shut off entirely, achieving a deep, abyssal black that a typical LCD panel can’t match.
Most high-end laptops have great displays: the MacBook Pro 13, Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, and prior Dell XPS 13 all can impress with bright, vibrant images. Yet they fail when displaying photos or dark, atmospheric movies.
Starlit skies that should contrast the infinite darkness of space against brilliant points of light instead look hazy, as if a light fog had crept into the shot. Dell’s XPS 13 with OLED doesn’t have that problem. Shadows have true depth, providing a sense of presence and realism not found from competing LCD laptop displays.
This advantage isn’t just for 4K movies or high-res photos. On the contrary, I appreciate it most when doing what I’m doing at this very moment: writing.
The Dell XPS 13’s OLED looks distinct from LCD laptops. It’s as if the screen is not a screen at all, but instead a page ripped from an enchanted high-gloss magazine that can magically change form. It’s simply fantastic.
Dell XPS 13 vs. MacBook Pro vs. iPad Pro OLED’s downsides make it more of an alternative, rather than a straight upgrade, over the quality LCDs available in Apple’s MacBooks and in Lenovo laptops. In fact, Dell offers its own 500-nit 4K LCD for the XPS 13, and I can see why some would choose it. OLED makes sense in a home office with proper light control, but a brighter LCD could be preferable for travel.
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