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Users outside the U.S. will see something different, however.
What you need to know
Google Maps is rolling out its name change for the Gulf of Mexico, and users will see one of three different names based on their region.
Users in the U.S. will see the Gulf of America name, users in Mexico will see the Gulf of Mexico name, and users in other regions will see both names.
The region is set by your device’s operating system and SIM provider, so it’s hard to change manually.
The Gulf of Mexico is now the Gulf of America onGoogle Maps, at least in the U.S. The body of water bordering the southeastern North American coast will now appear differently on Google Maps depending on a user’s location, following a change that is rolling out now.
AsGoogle announced weeks ago, the company said it has “a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” and thus planned to rename the Gulf of Mexico when the U.S. officially completed its name change. That process has been completed, as the Gulf of America is the new name for this body of water in theU.S. Geographic Names Information System.
The move is only indirectly related to President Donald Trump’s executive order issuing the name change. This is why the renaming is taking effect on Google Maps now, not when the executive order was first issued. Instead, the reason for the name change in the U.S. is because the U.S. Department of the Interior officiallyupdated the Gulf of Mexico’s name in the GNIS by Order 3423issued by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Of course, the controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico was directed by President Trump. The resulting effect on Google Maps is as follows:
United States users will see the name “Gulf of America”
Mexico users will see the name “Gulf of Mexico”
Users in all other regions will see both names
“The names you see in the Maps app are based on your country location, which is determined by information from your phone’s operating system (e.g., iOS and Android), including your SIM, network, and locale,” Google explains. “If you’re using Google Maps on the web, the names are based on the region you select in your Search settings or your device’s location, if you haven’t selected one.”
Based on these conditions, it is virtually impossible to change the Google Maps name of the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America to your preference manually.
Apple Maps plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, too. Other popular navigation providers, like Bing Maps and MapQuest, haven’t made a public decision yet.
They may look similar, but actually aren’t. We explain the key differences between Thunderbolt vs USB-C.
If you’ve bought a computer recently—whether that’s one thebest laptops for graphic designor aMac for video editing—it’ll probably come with either Thunderbolt ports, USB-C ports, or a mix of both. These little slots in the side allow you to connect a range of peripherals, from printers to thebest monitor for MacBook Pro.
But which is which? It’s not obvious. Thunderbolt and USB-C ports look identical, and they work in pretty much the same way.
The broad-brush answer is thattypically, Thunderbolt works faster and more efficiently than USB-C. But that’s not always the case, and there are some other important differences between them too. We’ll explain all below.
What are Thunderbolt and USB-C?
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. It’s basically a standard way for devices to connect and communicate with each other. This allows many different devices to connect to each other, including phones, printers, mice and external hard drives.
USB sends data back and forth between devices. This data could be anything from photos and videos to documents and music. USB can also deliver power to devices, which is why you can charge your phone by plugging it into the USB-C port on your computer. These days, most laptops, computers, smartphones and tablets come with USB-C ports. These are faster and more efficient than the older USB-A ports, which are larger and require a different (again larger) connector. The most common standard is USB 3.2 Gen 2, although the latest standard, USB4, is now increasingly being rolled out. (More on that in a moment.)
Thunderbolt is a special type of USB-C connector. Born from a 2011 collaboration between Intel andApple, it allows for high-speed data transfer, video signal transmission, and device charging.
Initially exclusive to Apple products, Thunderbolt later evolved to become more universal with the introduction of Thunderbolt 3 and 4, both of which are compatible with USB-C.
Thunderbolt 4 is a significant upgrade from Thunderbolt 3. Most notably, it allows you to connect two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor, doubles the minimum data transfer speed to 3,000 MB/s, and offers enhanced security.
What devices are Thunderbolt and USB-C compatible with?
USB-C is virtually ubiquitous in modern tech. Most new smartphones, tablets, and laptops, regardless of brand, come equipped with USB-C ports.
Thunderbolt ports, however, are typically found on high-performance devices, especially those designed for creative professionals. Apple’sMacBook ProandMacBook Airlaptops, along with some Intel-powered Windows laptops, often feature Thunderbolt ports. Peripherals like external hard drives, monitors and docking stations also increasingly support Thunderbolt connectivity.
How do you know if your device is compatible with Thunderbolt? The quickest way to find out is by checking the product specifications on the box or manual that came with your device, or by taking a look at the manufacturer’s website.
Most of the time, you can’t tell by looking. Sometimes, though, there might be a lightning symbol to identify a port as Thunderbolt-compatible.
How fast do Thunderbolt and USB-C transfer data?
Thunderbolt offers significantly faster data transfer speeds than the standard (USB 3.2 Gen 2) version of USB-C. For example, Thunderbolt 4 boasts speeds of up to 40 Gbps, while USB 3.2 Gen 2 typically maxes out at 20 Gbps.
Often, then, you’ll read online that Thunderbolt is “better than USB-C” for tasks involving large files, such as video editing or 3D rendering. The very latest version of USB-C, however, has muddied the waters there. While USB4 is still relatively new, it’s gaining traction, and you’ll find it in a growing number of devices.
USB4 is actually based on the Thunderbolt protocol, which was developed by Intel. This means it can achieve similar speeds and capabilities as Thunderbolt. However, there are some subtle differences.
Most notably, USB4 has some flexibility in its specifications. So while itcansupport speeds up to 40Gbps, it can also be implemented with a minimum speed of 20Gbps. In other words, unlike Thunderbolt devices, not all USB4 devices will offer the same level of performance.
The final thing to add is that Thunderbolt 5 is currently being rolled out, which boosts speeds up to 80Gbps. It’s new technology, so the number of devices that fully support it is still somewhat limited. It is, however, already implemented on some, including theMacBook Pro 2024.
Thunderbolt vs USB-C: Which one is best?
We’ve talked about how Thunderbolt cables are generally faster and more powerful than typical USB-C cables. However, if your device is not compatible with Thunderbolt then you’re probably not missing out on much. If you only need to connect to a singular monitor and don’t do an awful lot of file transfers, then Thunderbolt ports aren’t a necessity for you.
Conversely, for creative pros who already own Thunderbolt-equipped tech, we think it’s a no-brainer to invest in a Thunderbolt cable or a device with Thunderbolt ports to use with your workstation for maximum productivity. That said, expect to pay a higher price for this.
Thirdly, as we mentioned earlier, the introduction of USB4 offers a decent alternative to Thunderbolt that’s usually more affordable. Be aware, though, that as well as potential differences in speed, USB4 only supports a single 4K display, while Thunderbolt can support two 4K displays or a single 8K display, making it more suitable for multi-monitor setups.
USB-C
Thunderbolt
Pros
• Flippability (no right side up or down) • Can transmit data at speeds up to 20Gbps (up to 40Gbps with USB4) • Can deliver up to 100 watts of power to charge devices • It can transmit DisplayPort audio and video signals
• Much faster than standard USB-C ports • Can transfer data at up to 40Gbps • Thunderbolt 4 supports sending video signals to two 4K displays or one 8K display • Backwards-compatibility with USB-C devices
Cons
• Slower for data and file transfers • USB-C can only connect one device at a time.
• Not as common as USB-C ports • An adapter is required to use with smaller devices
FAQs
Are Thunderbolt ports only on Apple products?
Thunderbolt technology is the brainchild of Apple and Intel, so of course you’re likely to find Thunderbolt ports on most if not all Apple laptops. However, Thunderbolt is not exclusive to Apple, and several Windows laptops are also compatible with Thunderbolt cables and ports.
You’ll also find that most external hard drives, docking stations, monitors, and other peripherals now also support Thunderbolt, so there are plenty of options for you to choose from to benefit from Thunderbolt’s high transfer speeds.
The controllers will function like PC gaming mice, opening up tons of new possibilities
Fans have been speculating about PC gaming mouse-like functionality for the Switch 2 ever since optical sensors appeared in leaks last month. Nintendo then teased the feature in the new Switch’s reveal trailer shortly after. Now the potential game-changer has been all but officially announced thanks to a new patent breaking down how the Joy-Con mouse functionality will work.
The patent documents were filed back in 2023 andpublished on Thursdaybefore being shared on social mediaby Wario64. “This input device comprises a front surface, an upper surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a direction input unit, a first upper surface button, and a sensor for mouse operation,” it reads.
The patent description continues, “The sensor for mouse operation detects reflected light from a detected surface, the light changing by moving over the detected surface in a state in which either the first side surface or the second side surface is placed on the detected surface.”
This confirms what many fans suspected upon seeing the Joy-Con controllers sliding around a surface on their sides during the announcement trailer last month. Presumably, the “mouse operation” feature will allow some games on Switch 2 to be played with either traditional controller inputs or mouse inputs.
That could make it ideal for games likeCivilization 7and potentially shooters likeFortniteandCall of Duty, which Microsoft is expected to begin porting to the Switch 2 at some point in the future. Other Microsoft shooters likeHaloandDoomare also expected to get ported at some point, and the new Joy-Con could let players aim with traditional PC mouse precision while moving and strafing with a controller thumbstick.
Even more exciting is how Nintendo might find ways to use a dual-mouse feature for creative new gameplay. One of the patent drawings shows both Joy-Con being used as mice simultaneously.On his podcast,Giant Bombco-founder Jeff Gerstmann speculated that dual mice might let players control something like a mech with two reticles for aiming arm-mounted weapons. Or it could be used for some very weird, innovative launch game only Nintendo would think of. We’ll know better when theSwitch 2 Nintendo Direct airs in April.
Z-series cameras have a variety of shutter options. Here’s how they work…
When taking action shots of fast-moving subjects with a camera that has a conventional image sensor, the mechanical shutter avoids the ‘rolling shutter’ effect
A conventional camera shutter works in an entirely mechanical way. The shutter is fully closed before taking a shot. At the start of an exposure, the ‘first curtain’ opens, traversing the image sensor in the process. At the end of the exposure, the second curtain slides across in front of the sensor.
But at very fast shutter speeds, the second curtain starts to close before the first curtain has fully opened. That can cause a dark band in images when using a flashgun. The solution is to use ‘Auto FP’ (Auto Focal Plane) orHigh-Speed Sync’flash, which fires a short burst of flashes rather than a single flash.
NikonZ-system mirrorless cameras with mechanical shutters offer other options with pros and cons, but curing the flash sync problem isn’t one of them.
Going electric
Almost all Z-system cameras default to an ‘Auto’ shutter mode. This uses a conventional mechanical shutter most of the time, automatically switching to an ‘electronic first curtain shutter’ when it would be beneficial. As its name suggests, this uses electronics to initiate the exposure, but a mechanical second curtain to end the exposure. As well as letting the camera choose which type of shutter to use, you can select either option for yourself in the Custom Setting menu. In the Photo Shooting menu, you’ll also find a ‘Silent photography’ option. This enables a fully electronic shutter, making the mechanical shutter redundant.
TheNikon Z8andZ9are exceptions in that they ditch the mechanical shutter for stills exposures. Thanks to the super-fast data readout of their fully stacked image sensors, these cameras rely purely on an electronic shutter.
TheZ6 IIIhas a partially stacked image sensor, which is much faster than conventional sensors but not quite as fast as in the Z8 and Z9. The Z6 III therefore has a mechanical shutter and offers the same range of options as most other Z-system cameras.
To select shutter types, head to the Custom Setting menu of Z-system cameras. You’ll need to go to the Shooting/display section and select the option showing as ‘d4 Shutter type’ in the Zfc camera that we’re using here by way of example. And lest we forget, some Nikon DSLRs also have an electronic first curtain shutter option, including theD7500,D500,D810andD850.
Cameras with a mechanical shutter default to it automatically. As detailed in this image, the camera automatically selects the most appropriate shutter mode for the shooting conditions, usually sticking to the mechanical option but swapping to electronic first curtain shutter when this would be beneficial. Leave the camera in Auto mode unless you have particular needs.
Mechanical shutter
As defaulted to in Auto mode, the Mechanical shutter option usually works best. The mechanical shutter takes a snapshot of the scene, which is read out from the image sensor to the image processor. The full range of shutter speeds is available whereas, in Electronic first curtain mode, the maximum shutter speed is often limited to 1/2000 sec. However, the latter mode can be beneficial.
Electronic front-curtain shutter
At shutter speeds of around 1/60 sec or slower, mechanical movement, often referred to as ‘shutter shock’, can degrade sharpness as it can destabilize the camera. The effect can also be problematic when shooting with long telephoto lenses and inmacrophotography. Shutter shock is reduced in Electronic front-curtain mode, as the mechanical shutter only moves at the end of the exposure.
Silent photography off
There are options for switching the Silent photography mode on or off in the Photo Shooting menu, rather than the Custom Setting menu. When switched off, the camera uses Auto, Mechanical or Electronic front-curtain shutter, as set up in the Custom Setting menu. If you want to use a fully electronic shutter, disabling the mechanical shutter altogether, switch on Silent photography.
Silent photography on
The Silent photography mode uses a fully electronic shutter, as well as disabling flash, long exposure noise reduction, flicker reduction and the beep speaker. There’s no shutter shock but, due to the relatively slow line-by-line readout of conventional image sensors, moving subjects change their position throughout an exposure, causing lateral distortion (rolling shutter effect).
Here’s everything you need to know about JPEGs, one of the most widely used file formats for photographs
While much of the technology behind digital cameras has changed since the first prototypes, one feature that’s nearly as old hasn’t: the JPEG. A JPEG is one of the most widely used file formats for a digital photograph. The file format’s widespread popularity means the file can be opened by nearly any device and thousands, if not millions, of different programs.
If you want to share a digital photograph, the odds are the file type that you want is a JPEG. But just because the JPEG is one of the most widely used formats doesn’t mean it’salwaysthe best option. Photographers – and anyone who has ever snapped a photo with a camera or a smartphone – should know what a JPEG is, when to use one, and when not to use one. Consider this your Photography 101 course to the ins and outs of a JPEG.
What is a JPEG file type? Explaining the most common image format
A JPEG is a compressed, processed image file that is easily shared. Because the JPEG is one of the world’s most widely used file formats for a digital image, it’s typically the best file format for an image that’s meant to be shared. If you want to share a photograph, whether through email, social media or uploading it to a photo printer, a JPEG is the file type you want because anyone can open one.
JPEG stands for Joint Photographics Experts Group, the name of the committee that maintains the list of standards for the JPEG file type. But don’t worry, you don’t have to memorize the long name to understand and use a JPEG properly. The JPEG was first developed in the late 1980s, with the standards first published in 1992, to create a smaller yet standarized digital image file type. Before the JPEG, graphics were often saved as Bitmaps, which took up quite a bit of hard drive space.
JPEG files end in .JPG. A JPEG and JPG are the same thing, but file formats typically only have three letters so the E is dropped in the file extension. If a file ends in .JPG, it’s a JPEG. You can also check the file type by viewing the files in File Explorer (on PC) or Finder (on Mac) and look under the file type column in the list view. On a smartphone, you can check the file type by clicking on the photo in the Camera Roll (iPhone) or Google Photos and tapping the i icon.
Because a JPEG can be opened by nearly any device, the file format is often the best choice formost peoplewhen saving a photo that is meant to be shared. But, understanding a few other key image file formats will help you determine if the JPEG is the best choice for your particular project.
JPEG isn’t always the best file format for photography, this is why
The RAW file type is often favored by advanced photographers for its editing flexibility
Psst! Here’s a hint
Don’t know whether to use RAW or JPEG? Most cameras will allow you to select RAW + JPEG to save both file types.
While JPEGS are one of the most widely image formats used, it’s not the best for every situation. If you don’t want to edit the image and aren’t short on hard drive space, then the JPEG is a great format to use. But file types like HEIF save space on your device while RAW files are more versatile for photo editing.
HEIF, or High Effeciency Image Format, is a file type that takes up less space than a JPEG, without a noticeable impact on image quality. However, HEIF isn’t as widely compatible as the standard JPEG. An HEIF file can be opened by mostAppledevices, while many Windows users need to download extra software to be able to open them, and if you send an HEIF by text to an Android phone, it looks tiny. Apple also has a similar format called HEIC that’s newer though less widely compatible than HEIF.
PNG or Portable Network Graphicis a file type that’s designed more for graphic design than for photographs. But while photographs are easiest to save as a JPEG, you may need to use the PNG format for things like logos and, in particular, graphics designed to have a transparent background.
A RAW fileis uncompressed and often preferred by professional and advanced photographers. A JPEG is a compressed image file with the camera’s automatic edits already applied. A RAW file doesn’t have any edits applied from the camera and it retains more of the original data, which makes the file type better for photo editing.It’s worth noting, when comparingRAW and JPEG, that once photographers edit their RAW photos, they typically export the finished file as a JPEG so it can be easily shared.
FAQs on JPEGs and other popular file types
Is JPEG and JPG the same?
A JPEG and a JPG are one and the same. JPEG is the official name of the file type, but since file name extensions typically use three letters, you’ll see a .JPG at the end of the file name. Sometimes the E is dropped beyond just the file extension as well.
What is the difference between a PNG and a JPEG?
A PNG file is meant for graphic design while a JPEG is meant for a photograph. PNG files support transparent backgrounds, a feature that you don’t need for sharing a photograph. For example, if you great a circle-shaped logo in Photoshop, but save it as a JPEG, you’ll probably see a white background around the logo when you try to upload it to your website. Instead, save it as a PNG and you won’t see any of that annoying white background.
What is the difference between a JPEG and a PDF?
A JPEG is designed for a photograph while aPDF is designed for documents– it actually stands for Portable Document Format. Both JPGs and PDFs can be opened by most devices and many different apps.
A JPEG file is typically smaller in size. A PDF allows you to do things like copy text and also tends to render text better when enlarged.
PSN downtime was due to ‘operational issue’ and Sony is giving 5 free days as compensation
PSN has just recovered from a 24-hour outage
Sony says the downtime was caused by an “operational issue” with network services
Compensation is 5 free days of service for PlayStation Plus members
Sonyhas informed us of the compensation that PlayStation owners – well,PlayStation Plusmembers – will receive due to themajor outage that struck PSN this weekend, which is thankfully now in the rearview mirror.
The PlayStation Network outage ran for 24 hours in the end, blotting out Saturday online gaming sessions across the globe (or Friday night in some places).
Finally, we were given a reason for the service dropping out, namely an “operational issue” with network services as explained by the PlayStation North American support account on X.
The post on the social media outlet also apologized and gave us details on the compensation that’s going to be provided: “All PlayStation Plus members will automatically receive an additional 5 days of service.”
Predictably, there’s quite a bit of unhappiness around the response here. Just a cursory glance through the replies to the announcement from Sony support gives you a good flavor of the disgruntled gamers out there. The main theme is ‘just five days, what about a month?’ – or ‘why aren’t you giving us a free game instead?’
Okay, the latter is pushing it, but I must agree that five days feels like, how can I put this tactfully… a minimal gesture?
I think Sony could have done better than that in mitigating what was clearly a lot of bad feeling from the broad PlayStation community around this weekend-spoiling (for some) outage.
Heck, even non-PlayStation gamers are chipping in on X and saying this feels stingy from Sony.
It’s worth noting that far from everyone has received the five-day bonus yet, and it’s likely in the pipeline for many.
The other frustrating element during this PSN outage was the lack of any communication as to what was going on from Sony.
Everything was down –all PlayStation services on the status dashboard, which was nothing but red lights – and yet not a peep was heard from official channels about the cause (or suspected fault), or an estimated delivery time for the fix to the PlayStation Network.
In some ways, that’ll doubtless have been about the fear of getting something else wrong – giving false hope of a ‘fix soon’ that then doesn’t appear, and which only makes PlayStation owners angrier – but still, it wasn’t a good situation.
The final verdict emerging as just an “operational issue” is not much of a reason, either, and that term feels very vague. Yes, apparently it was a large spanner in the works with the network infrastructure somewhere – but what kind of gremlin was crawling about in there? A little more of a clue wouldn’t hurt, in terms of: how did this happen, and how might Sony guard against this in the future?
In fairness, a fuller explanation could be coming shortly. And service downtime happens – it’s inevitable, of course. But I feel it’s clear enough that the response during the outage, and this final outcome and compensation, could – and should – have been better from Sony.
Samsung’s newGalaxy S25 lineuparrives in stores February 7, giving you the chance to get your hands on one of the new models (assuming you didn’t already preorder your Galaxy S25, that is.) And with Samsung’s latest flagships officially on sale, would-be shoppers have an important question to answer: which of the three Galaxy S25 models are you going to buy?
For some people, that’s a question they’ve already answered, whether their choice of Galaxy S25 models boils to down to price, screen size or some other features. Still, others might be weighing the relative merits of the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Ultra, trying to figure which one best fits their needs. And it’s those folks that I’m here to help.
We’ve already had a chance to post ourGalaxy S25 reviewas well as ourGalaxy S25 Ultra review. We’re finishing up testing on the Galaxy S25 Plus, and that review will be arriving shortly. Suffice it to say, though, we’ve spent some time with all three models and can provide all the details about how each one differs from the others.
Here’s a breakdown of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 lineup, looking at what the standard S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra have in common as well as what distinguishes each different model. Armed with our Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra comparison, you’ll be better equipped to decide on which version of Samsung’s flagship you should grab.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Price
If you remember the starting prices for last year’sGalaxy S24 lineup, you already know what the S25 models will cost. Samsung is keeping the prices the same this time around.
The Galaxy S25 starts at $799 for the 128GB version of the entry level phone. You can upgrade to the 256GB model for an additional $60.
The Galaxy S25 Plus already starts at 256GB, with that base model costing $999. Doubling the storage to 512GB brings your price to $1,199.
At $1,299 for its 256GB version, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the most expensive of Samsung’s new phones. An extra $120 increases the storage to 512GB, while the 1TB version of the phone sells for $1,659
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design
Samsung gives its Galaxy S lineup a common look, with flat sides and a row of camera lenses descending vertically down the back of the phone. In the case of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, its two rows of lenses to account for that phone’s extra cameras. As before, the models come in different sizes to accommodate their different-sized screens, though if you compare these latest phones to theirGalaxy S24counterparts, they’re thinner and lighter.
If you drill down to the details, the Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the fanciest materials of the new models, featuring a titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor 2, which is supposed to be more durable than the glass on last year’sGalaxy S24 Ultra. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are no slouches when it comes to materials, using Armor Aluminum 2 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra remains the only model to come with an S Pen, though there’s a change with this year’s version. To make the phone lighter, Samsung removed theBluetoothradio from the stylus, so the S Pen can no longer double as a remote control or support Air Gestures.
Color options are a little more varied for the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus, as you can pick from Navy, Mint, Icyblue and Silver Shadow. Order your phone from Samsung, and you get three more color choices exclusive to the phone maker — Blueblack, Coralred and Pinkgold.
With a titanium sheen on each color option, the Galaxy S25 Ultra tries to take on a more sober air, with black, gray, whitesilver and silverblue options. Samsung exclusive colors add Jadegreen, Jetblack and Pinkgold to the mix, but with the same Titanium sheen.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Display
Galaxy S25 Ultra
We mentioned the different sizes of the Galaxy S25 phones reflecting the three display size options. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus will look very familiar, with both phones sporting the same 6.2- and 6.7-inch panels of their respective predecessors.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra, in contrast, offers a larger display than before, as the phone now sports a 6.9-inch screen. Samsung managed to increase the screen size by shrinking down the bezels and not really adding on to the size of the new Ultra model. The S25 Ultra is only fractionally taller but not as wide as the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Peak brightness (nits)
1,789
1,860
DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (%)
108.2 Vivid / 91.7 Natural
107.3 Vivid / 90.8 Natural
Delta-E color accuracy (lower is better)
0.25 Vivid / 0.31 Natural
0.25 Vivid / 0.24 Natural
Regardless of whether you prefer the compact form of the Galaxy S25 or the expansive screen space of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, you can expect a bright panel on your new phone. We measured the Galaxy S25 at 1,789 nites and the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 1,860 nits. Both of those light meter readers were higher than what we recorded testing last year’s phones.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras
Galaxy S25
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the model to get if you want thebest camera phoneSamsung has to offer. As before, it has the most lenses of any of the Galaxy S models and uses a 200MP main camera along with a pair of telephoto lenses that offer 5x and 3x zooms, respectively.
The ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S25 Ultra has gotten an upgrade to a 50MP sensor, up from 12MP on the S24 Ultra. That helps the new phone take much sharper, more detailed macro photos.
The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus share the same camera setup — 50MP main shooter joined by 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto lenses. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the cameras have gone unchanged since the Galaxy S23 series.
But that’s not to say that you won’t see improved images from either the Galaxy S25 or the Galaxy S25 Plus. All three new models benefit from improvements to the ProVisual Engine that handles photo-processing. The biggest impact from this change that we’ve noticed in our testing involves color reproduction. Past Samsung camera phones tended to oversaturate some colors, but images look a lot more realistic when shot by Samsung’s new phones. We also think low-light photography has improved with Samsung’s software tweaks, too.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung made a big change from recent Galaxy S releases when it came to the silicon that powers its new models — it’s no longer using different chipsets on phones released in different parts of the world. Rather than splitting the difference between Snapdragon and Exynos silicon depending on the model, every Galaxy S25 phone features a Snapdragon 8 Elite system-on-chip.
Galaxy S25
Galaxy S25 Ultra
iPhone 16 Pro
OnePlus 13
Chipset
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Apple A18 Pro
Snapdragon 8 Elite
Geekbench 6 (single-core/multi-core)
2,916 / 9,886
3.031 / 9,829
3,400 / 8,391
2,893 / 9,058
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (score/fps)
5,841 / 33.9
5,912 / 35.4
3,840 / 23.03
5,727 / 34.3
3DMark Steel Nomad Light Unlimited (score/fps)
2,304 / 17.1
2,116 / 16.2
1,582 / 11.7
2,206 / 16.4
Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs)
0:53
0:52
0:21
1:01
That’s turned out to be a winning move for Samsung, as the Snapdragon 8 Elite provides a noticeable performance boost over last year’s models. (And, as we’ll discover in just a bit, it’s better at delivering that power while consuming less battery.) Even better, Samsung is going with an optimized version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite that’s fine-tuned for performance. As a result, Samsung’s phones outperform theOnePlus 13on some benchmarks, even though that Android phone is using the same chipset.
All three Galaxy S25 models come with 12GB of RAM in their base configurations. The memory is on hand to help the new phones run more AI-powered features on the device itself.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery life and charging
Galaxy S25 Plus
Apart from the screen size and Ultra camera setup, here’s where you’ll find the biggest disparity between the different Galaxy S models. Again, it’s a function of size — the larger models have more space to fit in big batteries and, as a consequence, tend to last longer on a charge.
Indeed, history repeats itself with the Galaxy S25 lineup — quite literally, too, as the new phones have the same battery sizes as their S24 counterparts. That means a 4,000 mAh power pack inside the Galaxy S25, while the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra use 4,900 mAh and 5,000 mAh cells, respectively.
It will not surprise you to know that the Galaxy S25 Ultra with its giant battery posted the best time of any Samsung phone ever, pending the result of Galaxy S25 Plus testing results. Samsung’s premium phone lasted 17 hours and 14 minutes on our test, holding out for 7-plus hours longer than the average smartphone.
But don’t discount the Galaxy S25 either, which also cracked into thebest phone battery lifelist despite its compact size. This phone posted an an average time just shy of 15.5 hours, besting the Galaxy S24 result by more than 2 hours.
Nothing’s changed with charging speeds, with the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra continuing to support 45W wired charging while the Galaxy S25 gets by with 25W speeds. The new phones support Qi2 wireless charging, but without the magnets embedded in the back of the phones to secure a correct fit with MagSafe charging pads. You’ll need to buy a separate case that supports Qi2 if you want to take advantage of that capability.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Software and Galaxy AI
My favorite thing about the Galaxy S25 series is that same Galaxy AI features that work on one device work on all of them. So if you wanted to take advantage of cross app actions or the newNow Brief featureor upgraded capabilities like Circle to Search, they’ll work just as well on the $799 Galaxy S25 as they do on the $1,299 Galaxy S25 Ultra. That brings tremendous value to Samsung’s less expensive models, while also eliminating your feelings of FOMO if you don’t want to pay up for the S25 Ultra.
The Galaxy S25 models also receive the same level of support from Samsung. Running Android 15 via the One UI 7 interface, these new phones can expect 7 more years of software and security updates.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Outlook
Deciding among the three Galaxy S25 models essentially comes down to screen size, battery life and price, though you could also argue that the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers the most premium photo experience with its more powerful zoom lens and upgraded ultrawide camera sensor. Otherwise, you can expect similar levels of performance from any Galaxy S25 phone right down to the Galaxy AI features that are the focus of the release.
So if you want a big screen phone with multiday battery life, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the obvious choice, with the Galaxy S25 Plus offering a fine big-screen alternative if you can’t or won’t pay $1,2999 for a phone. (Not that a $999 purchase is easy to swing, but it is $300 cheaper than the Ultra.) Fans of compact phones should turn to the Galaxy S25, confident that this phone lasts a pretty long time on a charge, too. And even if your budget only allows for an S25 purchase rather than one of the big-screen models, you can take comfort in the fact that AI features are exactly the same.
Settlement payout from theiPhone 7 class action lawsuit against Appleare starting to roll out. Those who participated in the class action lawsuit have started to receive payments, with amounts varying based on whether you spent any money on repairing the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 7 Plus.
Some of the co-applicants in the lawsuit have started to receive around $200 as part payment from the $35 million settlement,9to5Macreported. While the payout is less than the maximum of $350 initially approved by the court, it should still feel satisfactory to the appellants.
The report does not clarify if payment terms have been revised, but it was supposed to fall between $50 and $350 for those who paid Apple to get the “audio IC” defect rectified. Those who notified Apple but didn’t pay for repairs were eligible for compensation up to $125. The actual payouts are supposed to be split judiciously between the plaintiffs and after squeezing payments for the class representatives and attorneys from the sum of $35 million.
Members of the settlement class who have yet to receive their payments can dial 1-833-633-0343 to check the status and the exact amount of the payments. You can also visit the designated contact page to find a mail-in address where you can send your queries or fill a contact form with your details to receive a call-back.
If you are unsure of whether you qualify for these payouts, we may have some bad news. That’s because the deadline to participate in the ended in July last year. If you missed the window, you are likely not eligible for the payouts, even if you own an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus — or did at some time between 2016 and 2023.
In case you are unaware why Apple had to part ways with such as high sum of $35 million, it is because of a widespread flaw found on the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. Often referred to as the “loop disease” or the “audio IC” defect that led to issues with the speaker and microphone on the specific iPhone models when subjected to pressure. Widespread outrage culminated in a class action lawsuit against Apple, which it decided to settle in 2024.
Despite agreeing to settle the class action for $35 million, Apple continues to deny the allegations. For the three-trillion dollar company, that is surely loose change and badgering itself with legal woes would probably cost more.
Samsung’s latest flagship Android smartphone has attracted some criticism since its launch, mostly due to apparent hardware and feature downgrades compared to its predecessor. Now, popular channels such as JerryRigEverything have verified that the most obvious work-around for these problems do not work. On the other hand, the S25 Ultra might also be the most reparable member of its series thus far.
The S24 Ultra (left) vs. the S25 Ultra. (Image source: PhoneRepairGuru via YouTube)
TheGalaxy S25 Ultrahas been hyped as the best-designed iteration of its line to date since its launch; however, it has also became apparent that it is in fact less capable than the thicker, heavier and longer S24 Ultrain certain areas.
The new flagship has lost the ability to supportOne UI’sAir Actions, as they require anS Penwith Bluetooth functionality. It was oncethought thatthey might be restored to the S25 Ultra with a simple stylus upgrade – however, Samsung hasdeclaredit will not be selling those. Nevertheless, it now seems that the OEM was indeed considering it during the smartphone’s development.
The S25 Ultra’s internals do in fact include the inductive coil necessary to charge an S Pen in its silo, as found by popular YouTubersJerryRigEverythingandPhoneRepairGuruduring their respective teardowns of the device.
Unfortunately, that does not really matter, as the S25 Ultra’s S Pen is devoid of the inbuilt battery normally found within the accessory, as demonstrated by JerryRigEverything’s host Zach Nelson by the simple expedient of snapping it in half.
In addition, the YouTuber observed that the S24 Ultra’sS Pen refuses to “click into place” properly when inserted into the S25 Ultra instead in any case.
On the other hand, the device-design enthusiasts also found it markedly easy toremovethe rear panel (in the presence of a good heat-gun and suction tool, that is) – not to mention the battery, which has a new and improved pull-pouch that is also re-usable.
The potentially commendable feature is also present in the vanilla Galaxy S25 (currently available for$799.99on Amazon), asPBKReviewscould attest during a teardown of that device.
The S25 also has the same new cosmetic stick-oncamera ringsas its Ultra sibling – which, despite their increased dust-magnet potential, might actually make it easier to replace the devices’ rear-facing lenses if necessary.
The clock is ticking on Windows 10 as the decade old operating system will lose official Microsoft support in October. A decade is a long time, and in the last 10 years Microsoft has garnered a huge install base that will shortly need to move over to the successor; Windows 11.
With that in mind, here’s need to know about moving over to Windows 11 and what the end of Windows 10 means for your computer.
When does Windows 10 support end?
Windows 10 has been offered in several editions — Education, Enterprise, Home, Pro and Workstation — and all of those will stop getting official Microsoft support on October 14, 2025.
Starting on that date, PCs running Windows 10 will not receive security fixes via Windows Update. To extend that you’ll need to pay Microsoft for an Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription. Without it, future security flaws will not be patched, making them potentially vulnerable to attacks.
That ESU purchase will only get you a year of support though. Businesses and education systems get to add three years of support, as corporations likely don’t want the hassle of transitioning after investing in the Windows 10 ecosystem.
One version of Windows 10 gets an exception to all of this, though. Anyone running Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing. There have been four editions since 2015 with the 2015 one ending support on October 14.
The 2016 version ends in 2026 and the 2019 edition, redubbed Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) will stop on January 9, 2029. Strangely, the LTSC 2021 edition only has a five-year cycle meaning it stops getting support on January 12, 2027.
Beyond that, if you insist on Windows 10, your PC will continue to run as normal, just a little more vulnerable.
Unlike Windows XP, which received support until well after it ended support in 2014 or Windows 7 which still got some security updates up to 2021, Windows 10 may not got that kind of support.
Of course, the Microsoft End of Support page highly recommends an upgrade:
“Once a product reaches the end of support, or a service retires, there will be no new security updates, non-security updates, or assisted support. Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest version of the product or service. Paid programs may be available for applicable products.”
The difference between Windows 10 and its predecessors is that users of older version had the option to upgrade.
However, transitioning from 10 to 11 may be more difficult.
Windows 11 has a more restrictive hardware requirement as even more recent PCs might not have the required Trusted Platform Module that Windows 11 claims is necessary.
You canrun Windows 11 on unsupported PCs, and Microsoft even has official instructions on how to do so via some technical loopholes and ominous warnings that updates aren’t guaranteed.
Based on Microsoft messaging, it does not appear that Windows 10 will get the same post-life support that XP and Windows 7 received.
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