Samsung Galaxy S24 Series RAM Variants Tipped; Phones Reportedly Spotted on FCC Site
Samsung Galaxy S24 series is rumoured to launch on January 17, 2024. The upcoming lineup will succeed the Galaxy S23 series that was unveiled in February this year. It is likely to include a vanilla Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The purported Galaxy S24 models have been spotted on several certification and benchmarking sites recently. Some key details of the handsets, including design renders, have leaked online. The phones have now been reportedly spotted on another certification site. Meanwhile, a tipster has leaked the RAM options for the Galaxy S24 models.
Tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) said in a post on X that Samsung is likely to introduce the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra models in 8GB and 12GB RAM variants, while the vanilla Galaxy S24 model is expected to come with only 8GB of RAM. The tipster also notes that the Galaxy S24 series is not likely to offer a 16GB RAM option.
Recently, the Galaxy S24 Ultra was spotted on Geekbench with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC paired with 12GB of RAM. The model is said to arrive in two configurations - 12GB RAM + 256GB and 8GB RAM + 128GB. A Korean variant of the base Galaxy S24 was also spotted on Geekbench with an in-house Exynos 2400 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM.
Notably, the vanilla Galaxy S23 is available in 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB options, priced in India at Rs. 74,999 and Rs. 79,999, respectively. The Galaxy S23+ comes in configurations of 8GB + 256GB, priced at Rs. 94,999, and 8GB + 512GB which costs Rs. 1,04,999. The high-end Galaxy S23 Ultra is offered in three variants - 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, and 12GB + 1TB in the country. These options are listed at Rs. 1,24,999, Rs. 1,34,999, and Rs. 1,54,999, respectively.
The Galaxy S24 series has also been spotted on the FCC website with 5G and NFC connectivity options, according to a report by MySmartPrice. The Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra models were seen to include UWB support. The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is reportedly listed on the site with the model number SM-S926U which suggests that the phone could get 25W wired charging support.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Releases iOS 17.1.2, macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 With Security Updates, Fixes for WebKit Flaws
Apple publicly released the iOS 17 update for the iPhone 15 lineup along with a few select older iPhone models a couple of months ago. Since then, the Cupertino-based tech giant has been seeding smaller updates to address some of the known bugs and patch actively exploited security vulnerabilities. Now, the company has released iOS 17.1.2 and macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 as the latest OS versions to address the minor issues on supported iPhone and Mac models. Apple is also working on iOS 17.2, which is expected to be released sometime next month. The update will bring the new Journal app (Review) and various notable improvements in the Music app.
iOS 17.1.2 and macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 updates for eligible iPhone and Mac models is rolling out now. The latest update brings some security improvements and fixes to address some of the known problems of iOS and macOS. The updates will be available over the air and installed on all compatible iPhone and Mac models starting from the iPhone 11 and iMac Pro (2017 or later).
iOS 17.1.2
The iOS 17.1.2 update can be downloaded from the Settings app on compatible iPhone units. You can head to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest update by following the on-screen instructions. Users are recommended to connect their handsets to a power source until it finishes installing the OS update.
With the latest iOS 17.1.2 update, Apple has offered fixes for two actively exploited flaws in its WebKit browser engine that have been exploited against older models. These vulnerabilities can be exploited to snatch sensitive content. “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.1,” the company said. It has patched CVE-2023-42916 and CVE-2023-42917 updates. Apple states that CVE-2023-42916 was fixed with improved input validation while the memory corruption vulnerability was addressed with improved locking.
Meanwhile, Apple is also working on the iOS 17.2 update that is expected to be released later this month. The update will bring the new Journal app for iPhone. It will also bring improvements to the Apple TV app, add new clock and weather widgets, collaborative playlists in Apple Music, and more.
Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Oppo Find X7 Pro’s Odd-Looking Rear Camera Poses for a Real-World Image Suggesting New Design Details
Despite appearing in several leaks, very little is known about the upcoming Oppo X7 Pro, a camera-centric flagship smartphone that is set to replace the Oppo Find X6 Pro. While the phone was recently expected to launch in China in November, a new launch timeline hints that it will be announced with several other products before the Spring Festival (which takes place early next year in the month of February). While earlier leaks have suggested interesting details about its rear camera's unique telephoto setup, there's now an alleged real-world image that shows the design of the camera itself.
A post on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, shows an image of what has been reported as the Oppo Find X7 Pro, being used in public transit. The phone is seen with a rounded silver metal frame, but seems to have a soft finish (or faux leather) real panel.
What's unmissable is the colossal rear camera module that sees four cameras arranged into a hexagonal shaped layout. The camera module also protrudes quite a bit and appears quite chunky. The new hexagonal rear camera module seems to be a drastic shift in terms of appearance and design compared to the outgoing Find X6 Pro, which borrows a lot of its aesthetics from high-end Hasselblad cameras, a brand which is Oppo and OnePlus' current partner when it comes to cameras hardware and imaging.
A leaked photograph of the Oppo Find X7 Pro Photo Credit: Moss (Weibo)
While the handset in question appears very much like a prototype, it's important to note the placement of the LED flash at the top left corner. This is a new design trend that was first seen with the launch of the Oppo Find N3 Flip, followed by the OnePlus Open, and more recently by the Oppo Find N3. All three models now have the LED flash placed outside their respective camera modules. So, while we would recommend that our readers take the above information with a pinch of salt, there is a good chance that the phone in the photograph may turn out to be a genuine design.
Other recently leaked details about the Oppo Find X7 Pro have to do with its unique telephoto cameras. Unlike most camera-centric flagships currently available, the Oppo Find X7 Pro, according to a recent report, will feature dual periscope telephoto cameras. One camera with a 50-megapixel sensor is said to offer 2.7X optical zoom while the other camera, another a 50-megapixel sensor, may feature 6X optical zoom. Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra also offers a dual telephoto camera setup, but with one periscope telephoto camera.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Do The Flagship Specs Deliver?
Samsung's FE series has always been a fan favourite since the first Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was released with almost flagship-level specs and a price that sits right between the highest-end A Series smartphone and the entry-level S Series smartphone. This year, Samsung launched two FE devices, the refreshed S21 FE with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 and the new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE with Exynos 2200 SoC and a lot of the features that might make the smartphone look like a flagship on paper. Does the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S23 FE deliver on the brand's promise when they introduced the first ‘Fan Edition' smartphone, and should you buy it at a starting price of Rs. 59,999? Let's find out in this detailed Samsung Galaxy S23 FE review.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE price in India
I've been using the base variant for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in the Mint colour option, which is priced at Rs. 59,999. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is available in a higher-end 256GB storage variant as well, with the same amount of RAM, that is 8GB for Rs. 64,999, which makes this smartphone come very close to the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 that comes equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The smartphone can be bought in two more colour options: Graphite and Purple. The brand has also launched two special edition colour options for this smartphone, Indigo and Tangerine, which can only be bought through their official website. The 256GB storage variant is a good addition, but a higher-end variant with more RAM would've been better and justified the price more.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE sports a design that might be familiar to many people. It uses the same design language as the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Samsung Galaxy A54, with matte-finished aluminium side rails, volume rockers and a power key that is very responsive and tactile, as a flagship smartphone should. The smartphone uses a dual nano sim card slot with an option to either use one physical and an E-Sim or two physical SIM cards at the same time. It does not come with expandable storage, which is slightly disappointing. It comes equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port and stereo speakers that are decently loud. The smartphone comes equipped with Corning's Gorilla Glass 5 protection for the display and the back panel with a glossy finish instead of the matte finish that the Samsung Galaxy S23 sports.
The smartphone sports Gorilla Glass 5 on the front as well as on the back.
This makes the smartphone prone to fingerprints and smudges a lot. At 8.22mm thick, the smartphone feels a little thicker than your usual smartphone, and 209 grams of weight puts it on the heavier side. It is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, which is a plus. I had the smartphone with me for a decent amount of time and used it without a case. After only a few days, I started noticing scuffs and scratches on the display glass, protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass 5. The smartphone is a little slippery without the case. Despite the thicker chassis and higher weight, the smartphone still carries the premium look and feel that Samsung flagships are known for.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Display
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE sports a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution. The display itself is impressive, no matter if I talk about the colours that it produces or the sharpness. I didn't have any complaints on that front, but the bezels are particularly thick for a smartphone that costs more than 50K and is marketed as an entry-level flagship by the manufacturer. I'd be lying if I said it disappears after you immerse yourself in content; it doesn't and stares right in your face.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE features a flat display
It is HDR10+ certified and supports a peak brightness of up to 1450 nits, which feels super bright indoors and outdoors. I did not see much discolouration on the display while using the smartphone in harsh sunlight. The smartphone lets you choose between a standard 60Hz refresh or an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz. It feels smooth across the board while scrolling through the UI and apps or gaming.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Camera
It sports a triple-rear camera setup that includes the primary 50-megapixel camera with an f1.8 aperture with a 24mm focal range that comes equipped with OIS, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera that provides 3x optical zoom with f2.4 aperture and a 75mm focal range with OIS and lastly a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with f2.2 aperture.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE features the signature Galaxy design language
The smartphone does a pretty good job when focusing on moving subjects, thanks to the inclusion of PDAF for the primary as well as the telephoto camera. Daylight shots from the primary camera came out pretty well; it produced plenty of sharp images from corner to corner and had good details in the shadows and the highlight.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE daylight primary camera samples (tap to see full size)
Bokeh without the portrait mode looks very pleasing, and to my surprise, this Samsung smartphone didn't overdo with saturation levels. The telephoto camera also maintained the same saturation levels but produced slightly softer images.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE daylight telephoto camera samples (tap to see full size)
This smartphone's ultrawide camera maintains the colour scheme like the two other rear cameras, but the images tend to distort a lot on the corners, which could be fixed with a future software update.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE daylight ultra-wide camera samples (tap to see full size)
The smartphone has a 10-megapixel camera for selfies, which clicks pretty detailed images in daylight.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE selfie camera samples (tap to see full size)
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE also has a good camera system for nighttime shots. The images take longer to shoot, but OIS helps the user with it, and the shots you get look pretty good. I did notice some noise in the ultrawide shots.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE nighttime camera samples (tap to see full size)
It uses a 10-megapixel camera with f2.4 for selfies that does an excellent job with daylight, nighttime and portrait shots. It maintains the colour scheme as the other cameras on board, and you will notice that there is some post-processing happening in the background after you click, as it takes a second to show the final image.
The smartphone can shoot up to 8K 24fps with the primary camera; this is a feature that you do not see very often on a smartphone in this price range. I shot multiple handheld 8K videos using this smartphone, and I was impressed with the results I got. The videos were stabilised, had plenty of details and had plenty of dynamic range to play around with if you ever want to edit these videos. It can shoot 4K 60fps videos as well. The front camera, too, can shoot videos at up to 4K 60fps, which is pretty good for content creators.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Battery and Charging
The 4500mAh battery does a decent job for a light usage day, but as soon as you include gaming and video streaming, with a high refresh rate turned on, the smartphone does not last very long. The Samsung S23 FE lasted 16 hours and 25 minutes in our battery loop test. Considering Samsung does not provide a charger inside the retail package, support for charging would have been appreciated, as 25W charging support is way too slow for 2023. In our testing, the smartphone charged up to 25% in 30 minutes and 65% in an hour, which is way too slow compared to the competition in this price range.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Performance
Samsung S23 FE uses Samsung's Exynos 2200 4nm SoC in India and not Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that the consumers in the US are getting, which is a bummer, at least on paper. We ran all the required benchmarks on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, and the results were pretty good. It scored 1,174,800 on AnTuTu v.10.0.10, 1130 single core and 3232 for GeekBench 6. I played Call of Duty & Real Racing 3, which ran just fine with high graphic settings.
The smartphone features the 4nm Exynos 2200 SoC
The frames didn't drop a lot, and the gameplay was smooth. The smartphone did get a little warm after each gaming session. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE runs OneUI 5.1 out of the box, which is based on Android 13, and it offers a pretty smooth user experience and does not have a lot of pre-installed apps.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a smartphone focused on consumers who wish to get the flagship experience but do not want to spend on something like a Samsung Galaxy S23 or S23+. This one lives up to the FE legacy with flagship-level cameras, a good display, decent battery life and a great processor for almost anything you want to do with this smartphone. All this combined does deliver a premium experience, only if you can live with thicker bezels on a smartphone that costs more than 50K in 2023. Considering this smartphone does not have expandable storage, the base 128GB storage variant might not be sufficient for most people and buying the 256GB variant puts this smartphone in the sub 65K price category, which is already very saturated with the likes of OnePlus 11 (Review) with better performance and modern looking curved display.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G Receives Price Cut in India: Here's How Much It Costs Now
OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G has received a price cut in India. The price of the Nord series smartphone has been slashed by Rs. 2,000 in the country. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G was launched in India in June in the sub-Rs. 25,000 segment and it runs on a Snapdragon 782G SoC. It sports a 6.7-inch fluid AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 packs a triple camera unit, led by a 50-megapixel primary camera.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G price in India (revised)
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G's price in India has been reduced by Rs. 2,000. The handset is currently listed with a price tag of Rs. 24,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The smartphone was initially launched at Rs. 26,999. The top-end model with 12GB RAM +256GB storage is available for Rs. 27,999, down from Rs. 28,999. It is available in Aqua Surge and Grey Shimmer shades. The new price tag is currently showing up on Amazon.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G specifications, features
The dual-SIM (Nano) OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G runs on Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1 and sports a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080 x 2,412 pixels) fluid AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. The handset runs on an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G chipset with an Adreno 642L GPU and up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM.
For optics, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G features a 50-megapixel 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX890 sensor with OIS and EIS support. The camera setup also includes an 8-megapixel Sony IMX355 ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2-megapixel 4cm macro lens. For selfies, it has a 16-megapixel front camera.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G packs 256GB storage that supports expansion up to 1TB using a microSD card slot. Connectivity options on the handset include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, A-GPS and a USB Type-C port. It features an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, e-compass, IR blaster, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and temperature sensor. Further, there is an in-display fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication.
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G houses a 5,000mAh battery with support for 80W SuperVOOC charging.
OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Amazon Announces New AI Chip for AWS Amid Competition With Microsoft
Amazon.com on Tuesday announced a new artificial intelligence chip for its cloud computing service as competition with Microsoft to dominate the market for artificial intelligence heats up.
At a conference in Las Vegas, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Chief Executive Adam Selipsky announced Trainium2, the second generation of chip designed for training AI systems. Selipsky said the new version is four times as fast as its predecessor while being twice as energy efficient.
The AWS move comes weeks after Microsoft announced its own AI chip called Maia. The Trainium2 chip will also compete against AI chips from Alphabet's Google, which has offered its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) to its cloud computing customers since 2018.
Selipsky said that AWS will start offering the new training chips next year. The proliferation of custom chips comes amid a scramble to find the computing power to develop technologies such as large language models that form the basis of services similar to ChatGPT.
The cloud computing firms are offering their chips as a complement to Nvidia, the market leader in AI chips whose products have been in short supply for the past year. AWS also on Tuesday said that it will offer Nvidia's newest chips on its cloud service.
Selipsky on Tuesday also announced Graviton4, the cloud firm's fourth custom central processor chip, which it said is 30 percent faster than its predecessor. The news comes weeks after Microsoft announced its own custom chip called Cobalt designed to compete with Amazon's Graviton series.
Both AWS and Microsoft are using technology from Arm in their chips, part of an ongoing trend away from chips made by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices in cloud computing. Oracle is using chips from startup Ampere Computing for its cloud service.
OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Samsung Galaxy A05 With MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, 5,000mAh Battery Launched in India: Price, Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A05 has been launched in India on Tuesday (November 28). The new budget smartphone runs on MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, coupled with a maximum 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of onboard storage. With Samsung's RAM plus feature, the available memory can be expanded up to 6GB. The Galaxy A05 comes as a successor to last year's Galaxy A04 and runs on Android 13. Samsung has confirmed two generations of OS upgrades and four years of security updates for the phone. It flaunts a 50-megapixel dual rear camera setup and houses a 5,000mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy A05 price in India, availability
Price of the Samsung Galaxy A05 in India is set at Rs. 9,999 for the base 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant. The top-of-the-line 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model costs Rs. 12,499. It comes in Black, Light Green, and Silver colour options.
The new Samsung Galaxy A-series smartphone will be available for purchase via the company website, e-commerce websites, and other retail outlets across the country. As an introductory offer, Samsung is providing Rs. 1,000 cashback when you purchase the Galaxy A05 via SBI credit cards. EMI options start at Rs. 875 per month. Customers can avail no-cost EMI option using Samsung Finance+.
Samsung Galaxy A05 specifications
The dual-SIM (Nano) Galaxy A05 runs on Android 13-based One UI skin and Samsung is promising four years of security updates and two generations of OS upgrades for the handset. It features a 6.7-inch HD+ (720x1,600 pixels) PLS LCD display. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, coupled with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of onboard storage. As mentioned, the available memory can be expanded further up to 6GB by using the additional unused storage to ensure smooth app operation and enhance multitasking capabilities.
Samsung Galaxy A05 Photo Credit: Samsung
For optics, the Galaxy A05 has a dual rear camera unit comprising a 50-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture lens and a 2-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture lens. For selfies and video chats, there is an 8-megapixel camera at the front. Further, it offers up to 128GB of inbuilt storage, expandable (up to 1TB) via a microSD card slot.
Connectivity options on the Galaxy A05 include 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, light sensor, and proximity sensor. Further, it supports face unlock feature for authentication.
Samsung has packed a 5,000mAh battery on the new budget handset with support for 25W fast charging. It measures 168.8x78.2x8.8mm in size and weighs 195 grams.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
OnePlus 12 May Launch Globally and in India on January 24, Suggests Official Website
OnePlus 12 is set to launch in China on December 5. The launch has moved ahead a bit, since initially the phone was scheduled to be unveiled on December 4 during the company's 10-year anniversary celebration event. The OnePlus 12 is said to succeed OnePlus's current flagship model, the OnePlus 11 5G, which was launched in February this year. The company has already confirmed some key specifications of the upcoming OnePlus 12. Its design and colour options have also been revealed. Now, OnePlus may have accidently confirmed the global and India launch of the phone.
The official OnePlus sites in the UK, the US, and India have now the listed OnePlus 12. The listing does not confirm a launch date, but does promote a lottery to win the upcoming flagship phone for free. If you subscribe to the launch of the product using you email IDs, you will become eligible to win the phone through a lucky draw.
Noted under the terms and conditions of this contest is the window for this contest, which runs from November 27 to January 23, as detailed on the UK site. The details on the India site confirm that the contest will close a day before the launch of the OnePlus 12, but it no longer mentions the contest window. The India OnePlus website now mentions November 27 2023 to 2024, clearly proving that the company may have accidently leaked the launch date. However, we can assume that the phone will launch globally and in India on the same day, January 24, 2024.
The design of the OnePlus 12 was recently revealed by the company ahead of its China launch. It shares a similar design language to that of the preceding OnePlus 11. A large circular camera module placed in the top left corner of the back panel comes with the Hasselblad logo in the middle. It also has curved edges, slim bezels, and a centre-aligned hole-punch cutout at the top of the display to house the front camera. The phone has been teased to launch in three colour options - Pale Green, Rock Black, and White (translated from Chinese).
OnePlus 12 is confirmed to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and sport a Sony LYTIA LYT808 primary rear camera sensor alongside a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. The phone will run Android 14 with ColorOS 14 on top and feature a ProXDR display that comes with 2K resolution, a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, and DisplayMate's A+ certification.
OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
iQoo 12 5G Confirmed to Get Three Years of OS Updates in India; to Arrive With Lesser Bloatware
iQoo 12 5G is confirmed to launch in India on December 13. The iQoo 12 series was unveiled globally on November 7 and included the vanilla variant and the iQoo 12 Pro. The company has previously confirmed the processor, OS, and availability of the phone in the country. The Indian variant of the iQoo 12 has been confirmed to get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and run Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14. It will launch as a successor to the iQoo 11 5G. Now, iQoo India CEO has revealed some more software details of the upcoming handset.
iQoo India CEO Nipun Marya confirmed in a post on X, that the upcoming Indian variant of the iQoo 12 5G will offer three years of software updates and four years of security patches. The image shared in the post added that the phone will arrive with less bloatware. For instance, it may not have Hot Apps or Hot Games. iQoo 12 was already confirmed to come with Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14 out-of-the-box. Once launched, the phone will be available for purchase only via Amazon and the official iQoo e-store.
Earlier, the company had revealed that the Indian variant of the iQoo 12 will come with the octa-core 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC similar to its Chinese counterpart. The global variant of the phone also carries a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1.5K (1,260x2,800 pixels), a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and an aspect ratio of 20:9.
For optics, the base iQoo 12 model comes equipped with a 50-megapixel 1/1.3-inch primary sensor, a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto shooter with 100X digital zoom, and a 50-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens at the back. The front camera of the phone has a 16-megapixel sensor. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired fast charging support. For security, it carries an in-display fingerprint sensor.
The iQoo 12 is available in China in three colour options - Burning Way, Legend Edition, and Track Version (translated). The model starts at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 45,000) for the 12GB + 256GB variant. So far, the price details or storage variants of the Indian variant of the phone are not known.
Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
OnePlus 12 Design Revealed in Official Renders; Now Said to Launch on December 5
OnePlus 12 launch date has been moved forward, now set to go official in China on December 5. It was earlier said that the phone will be unveiled during the company's 10th-anniversary celebrations. Just days before the official debut, OnePlus has provided high-quality images revealing the design of its upcoming flagship smartphone. The official renders confirm the leaked schematics and renders we've seen over the past few weeks. The OnePlus 12 features a hole-punch display design and has a triple camera setup at the rear with the Hasselblad branding.
Just a day after teasing Pale Green, Rock Black, and White colour options (translated from Chinese) for the OnePlus 12, OnePlus has unveiled the official look of the handset via Weibo. The renders show a punch-hole cutout in the display to house the selfie camera. It has curved edges and narrow bezels all around the display. At the rear, the handset is seen with a circular camera module with the Hasselblad logo in the middle.
OnePlus 12 Photo Credit: OnePlus
The images shared by the brand show a similar design to its predecessor — OnePlus 11, which was launched in China in January. As you can see, the previously leaked renders from Steve H. McFly (@OnLeaks) and others appear to have been mostly accurate.
OnePlus 12 will no wlaunch in the Chinese market on December 5 at 2:30pm local time (12:0pm IST) following the company's 10th anniversary celebrations on the preceding day. OnePlus is currently taking pre-reservations for the phone via its official online store and JD.com. It could see a global launch in January.
The upcoming OnePlus 12 will pack a BOE's ProXDR display with 2K resolution and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. It is claimed to be the first smartphone in China with a 2K resolution display to receive A+ certification from DisplayMate. It will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It will include an in-built new generation X-axis motor for gaming. It is teased to run on ColorOS 14 based on Android 14. Further, it will include a Sony LYTIA LYT808 primary rear camera sensor and a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens.
OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Samsung's Galaxy S series of smartphones has been quite popular since its inception. The anticipation for this year's Galaxy S24 Ultra is high, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra being one of the best Android smartphones of 2023 (Review). Most recently, we got our first look at the Galaxy S24 Ultra through leaked renders. Now, alleged hands-on images have surfaced online that appear to show a silver colour variant of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It looks exactly like its predecessor but with a flat screen and back.
Tipster David Martin (@DavidMa05368498) posted alleged live images of the Galaxy S24 Ultra on X offering us a good look at what to expect from the flagship handset. It is seen with the flat back panel and a flat display. It appears to have a quad camera setup on the rear with all four cameras housed inside separate metal rings. The physical buttons are all located on the right-hand side of the handset, and there's also a center-hole punch selfie camera in the display. For the most part, it looks exactly like the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The S Pen is arranged at the bottom of the handset and protrudes slightly.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra recently appeared on the BIS website with model number SM-S928B/DS. It was also spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking platform with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Samsung is expected to use a tweaked version of the chip on the upcoming phone with overclocked GPU and CPU cores. It is said to come in 12GB RAM + 256GB and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configurations.
Samsung is expected to pack a quad rear camera unit on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, comprising a 200-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel periscope camera, a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle shooter, and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor. It is likely to be backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging. The handset might also feature a titanium frame.
As per past leaks, Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event will take place in San Jose, US on January 17, 2024. The brand will reportedly start taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra on the same day and general sales could begin on January 30.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Redmi 13C Tipped to Launch in India Soon; Key Specifications Leaked
Redmi 13C was launched globally earlier in November. The phone succeeds the Redmi 12C, which was unveiled in December 2022. The global variant of the Redmi 13C is powered by a 9nm MediaTek Helio G99 SoC. Xiaomi also packed a 5,000mAh battery with 18W wired fast charging support into the Redmi 13C. Now, a report has surfaced online that suggests that the phone may launch in India soon. Key specifications of the purported Indian variant of the handset have also leaked.
According to a 91Mobiles report, Xiaomi will introduce the Redmi 13C phone to the Indian market as a budget offering in December. Citing industry sources, the report says that the Indian variant of the Redmi 13C will likely be powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, similar to its global variant. The report adds that the Indian model will also carry other similar features to its global counterpart.
The Indian variant of the Redmi 13C could come with a 6.74-inch HD+ (1,080 x 2,460 pixels) LCD display, just like the global variant, with a refresh rate of 90Hz, according to the report. Its triple rear camera unit is said to include a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 2-megapixel macro shooter, and an auxiliary lens. Even the front camera is expected to get an 8-megapixel sensor like the global model.
Redmi 13C is also likely to run Android 13-based MIUI 14 out-of-the-box in India, like in all other markets. The Indian variant is said to pack a 5,000mAh battery with 18W wired fast charging support. The report has not confirmed any other details of the Indian variant of the phone. It has also not mentioned a specific launch date.
Notably, the global variant of the Redmi 13C is offered in Clover Green, Glacier White, Midnight Black, and Navy Blue colourways. The 4GB + 128GB variant is priced at $139.99 (roughly Rs. 11,700), while the 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB options are listed at $159.99 (roughly Rs. 13,300) and $164.99 (roughly Rs. 13,800), respectively.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Elon Musk's X Could Lose Nearly $75 Million in Ad Revenue by Year-End: Report
Elon Musk-owned social media company X could lose as much as $75 million (nearly Rs. 625 crore) in advertising revenue by the end of the year as dozens of major brands pause their marketing campaigns, the New York Times reported on Friday.
Musk backing an antisemitic post on the platform last week has led several companies including Walt Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery to pause their advertisements on the site formerly called Twitter.
X has struck back and sued media watchdog group Media Matters, alleging the organization defamed the platform with a report that said ads for major brands including Apple and Oracle had appeared next to posts touting Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.
Internal documents viewed by The New York Times this week list more than 200 ad units of companies from the likes of Airbnb, Amazon, Coca-Cola and Microsoft, many of which have halted or are considering pausing their ads on the social network, the report said.
X said on Friday $11 million (nearly Rs. 92 crore) in revenue was at risk and the exact figure fluctuated as some advertisers returned to the platform and others increased spending, according to the report.
The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Advertisers have fled X since Musk bought it in October 2022 and reduced content moderation, resulting in a sharp rise in hate speech on the site, according to civil rights groups.
The platform's US ad revenue has declined at least 55 percent year-over-year each month since Musk's takeover, Reuters previously reported.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple’s Journal App Review: A Simple Journaling App With Some Smarts
Apple announced its brand new Journal app during WWDC in June this year. The app is said to help users to write down their thoughts, keep a daily log, and as Apple says, a “new way to reflect on and relive special moments”. It can also give you suggestions on what to write about, and that's done by using data from your phone. Now, that sounds scary, but it's actually not. The Journal app is currently available in iOS 17.2 Public beta 2 and will be available to all compatible iPhone users when iOS 17.2 is released.
I've been using Apple's Journal app for a couple of weeks now, and here's what I think of it.
Journal app features
I've never been one to write down my thoughts, but the Journal app made me want to. It has been proven that journaling or writing down your thoughts is good for your mental health. To me, writing things down was and is mostly associated with remembering things. And I've mostly used the good old Notes app for all note-taking endeavors. I've got notes going all the way back to my iPhone 4, which is when I first started using the Notes app.
Journaling is different though, and if you're looking to start, but don't want to use a pen and notebook, you could give the Journal app a try. You will have it with you almost all the time, since it's on your phone, and all you need to do is pick up your phone and type. But why not just use the Notes app, and why Journal?
The Journal app has a simple user interface that shows your entries and suggestions
Well, Apple's Journal app, apart from being a simple journaling app, also features some AI and machine-learning tech that make it a little bit smarter than the Notes app. When you first open the app, there's not much happening. In fact, you'll only see a ‘+' button at the bottom of the app. Tap on this button and you have three options here. You can start writing a new journal by tapping ‘New Entry' or you can choose to write using a topic suggested by Apple. These suggestions are sorted under ‘Recommended' and ‘Recent'.
Apple lets you add photos, videos, voice memos, and location tags to an entry. There's a filter that lets you choose between all your entries, entries with photos, or bookmarked entries. And that's about it.
Journal app Suggestions
Let's talk about the Suggestions feature in Journal because this is what makes it different from all the other journaling apps. When you want to write a new entry, Suggestions can help you. Your iPhone comes up with these suggestions using on-device machine learning. It uses your photos, videos, music, health data from your Apple Watch, and more to offer journaling ideas.
In ‘Recommended', you'll see some suggestions for what you can write about, along with something called ‘Reflections'. This lets you reflect on your day or life and includes questions such as ‘Write about something great in your life that you don't always think about'.
On the other hand, the ‘Recent' section, as the name suggests, simply shows you your recent activities, which may include a visit to a park nearby or a walk that you went on recently.
There's also something called Moments, which Apple says your iPhone can learn to recognise over time. After using the Journal app for a while, you will be shown these special moments or memories from your life. It will include photos or videos from one of those romantic dates, a fun outing with friends, a bike ride, a marathon, a family get-together, and so on.
Memories are what we humans live for, but to go back isn't realistically possible unless someone invents a time machine. The Journal app can give you a look back at those memories or moments and even let you write down things related to the memory. Using all the data that you allow Apple's Journal app to tap into, it can figure out memories by itself and help you write them down.
Apple is also making this available to third-party journaling apps in the form of Suggestions API. Third-party apps can also tap into the API and show you suggestions, but they only get access to what you agree to share. The processing and machine learning will happen on your phone, which means that your data will be safe. Your Journals are only uploaded to iCloud for backup, but that is also end-to-end encrypted.
You can also share from other apps currently and write in Journal. For example, I was listening to a song on Apple Music, and I wanted to write down something related to the song. I simply opened the Share sheet and was able to add the track as an entry in the Journal app. I was also able to share a web page from Safari and add it as an entry in the app.
Journal app Settings
Since the Journal app has access to all your data, it may be concerning to some. What if it suggests you write about something that you don't want to write about? Well, there are plenty of Settings that can help the app avoid such instances.
Journal app offers users plenty of control over their data
To access all the settings, you'll need to open the Settings app and scroll down to Journal. Here, you can choose what Photos the app can access and whether to include Location and Captions. You have the option to Lock the app using Face ID, which is recommended, and you can also have the app help you keep a schedule. In Journaling Suggestions, you can choose what data can be accessed by the Journal app. There are toggles for Activity, Media, Contacts, Photos, and Locations. You can turn off all these, but I wish Apple had given even more granular control over things here.
Journal app - Should you use it?
Yes, if you're someone who already keeps a journal. The Journal app lets you add media to your moments, and that's great. If you're new to journaling, you should still give the Journal app a try. The suggestions feature is really powerful, the app is easy to use thanks to the simple user interface, your data is safe, and you can protect everything with Face ID. However, it's currently only available on the iPhone and on the iOS 17.2 Public beta 2. Apple did not mention if it's coming to iPad or Mac, but who knows, it might. There's also no search option to find an entry.
Overall though, I'd totally recommend using the Journal app on your iPhone app to journal. It's been great!
Facebook, YouTube Said to Be Warned Against Misuse of Deepfakes by Indian Government
India's government on Friday warned social media firms including Facebook and YouTube to repeatedly remind users that local laws prohibit them from posting deepfakes and content that spreads obscenity or misinformation, two sources told Reuters.
The warning was conveyed by deputy IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a closed-door meeting where he said many companies had not updated their usage terms despite 2022 rules that prohibit content "harmful" to children, obscene or that "impersonates another person".
It comes amid growing concerns over deepfakes — realistic yet fabricated videos created by artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms trained on online footage — which a top minister this week said this week India is drawing up rules to address.
Chandrasekhar said the companies must raise awareness of the rules by reminding users every time they log in that they cannot post such content, or by issuing reminders.
He said otherwise he will issue directions forcing them to do so, said the two sources, who declined to be named as the meeting was private.
The minister described it as a "non-negotiable" demand of the Indian government during the meeting, said one of the sources.
India's IT ministry said in a press statement all platforms had agreed to align their content guidelines with government rules.
Facebook and Chandrasekhar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Alphabet's Google, which owns YouTube, said in a statement it was committed to responsible AI development and has robust policies and systems to identify and remove harmful content across its products and platforms.
The Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have raised concerns over deepfakes in recent days.
During a virtual summit of G20 nations on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi called on global leaders to jointly work towards regulating AI, and raised concerns over the negative impact of deepfakes on society.
Countries across the world are racing to draw up rules to regulate AI. India has been tightening regulations of social media companies, which count the South Asian nation as a top growth market.
Last year, the government privately criticized the companies for not removing what it described as fake news on their sites, which it said had forced it to order content takedowns.
Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company's recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Honor 100, Honor 100 Pro With 50-Megapixel Front Camera, 5,000mAh Battery Launched: Price, Specifications
Honor 100 series was launched in China on November 23. It succeeds the Honor 90 lineup that includes the base Honor 100 and the Honor 100 Pro. The phones carry 120Hz full-HD+ OLED quad-curved displays and house 5,000mAh batteries. The base model is powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC, while the Pro variant is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Honor 100 models also have a 50-megapixel front camera sensor with the high-end Pro variant carrying an additional 2-megapixel depth sensor to accompany the primary selfie camera.
Honor 100, Honor 100 Pro price, availability
The base Honor 100 comes in three RAM and storage variants - the 12GB + 256GB options in priced at CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 29,200), while the 16GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB variants are listed at CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 32,700) and CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 35,000), respectively.
Meanwhile, the high-end Honor 100 Pro starts at CNY 3,399 (roughly Rs. 39,700) for the 12GB + 256GB option. The Honor 100 Pro with 16GB RAM can be bought with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage, which are marked at CNY 3,699 (roughly Rs. 43,200), CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 46,700), and 4,399 (roughly Rs. 51,400), respectively.
The Honor 100 and Honor 100 Pro models are offered in Bright Black, Butterfly Blue, Monet Purple, and Moon Shadow White colour options. The phones are available for pre-orders in China and will go on sale from December 1. Honor confirmed that the phone will be available for purchase in China via the official Honor online store alongside TMall and JD sites.
Honor 100, Honor 100 Pro specifications, features
Honor 100 features a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (2,664 x 1,200 pixels) OLED quad curved display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a peak brightness level of up to 2,600 nits, and a PWM dimming rate of 3,840Hz. The Honor 100 Pro, on the other hand, sports a 6.78-inch full-HD+ (2,700 x 1,224 pixels) OLED quad curved screen.
The Honor 100 is equipped with the 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset paired with Adreno 720 GPU, whereas the Honor 100 Pro gets a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC paired with Adreno 740 GPU. Both models run Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2 out-of-the-box.
For optics, the Honor 100 is equipped with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX906 1/1.56 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and a 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens with macro support alongside an LED flash unit. For selfies and video calls, there's a 50-megapixel camera sensor at the front.
The Honor 100 Pro comes with a dual front camera setup that includes a 50-megapixel Sony IMX816 main sensor alongside a secondary 2-megapixel depth sensor. At the back, there's a triple rear camera unit on the Pro model that has the same two sensors as the base model with an additional 32-megapixel OIS-supported telephoto shooter with 2.5x optical zoom and 50x hybrid zoom.
Both Honor 100 models support dual nano-SIM, 5G, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, USB Type-C, and NFC connectivity. For security, the handsets are equipped with in-display fingerprint sensors. The Honor 100 series packs 5,000mAh batteries with 100W wired fast charging support, while the Honor 100 Pro also supports 66W wireless charging.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
OnePlus 12 Colour Options Confirmed Ahead of December 4 Launch
OnePlus 12 is all set to go official in China on December 4 during the company's 10th-anniversary celebrations and it should offer stiff competition to phones such as the iQoo 12 and Oppo Reno 11 Pro. Multiple teasers in recent weeks have revealed a few important tidbits about the handset and the company has now teased three colour options for the handset. The OnePlus 12 will run on Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and will ship with the company's ColorOS 14 UI layer based on Android 14.
As per a new Weibo post by OnePlus, the OnePlus 12 will be offered in Pale Green, Rock Black, and White colour options (translated from Chinese). The white shade refers to the touch of blank space while the green finish refers to a pale rock among thousands of rivers and mountains, says the company. The black shade represents ten years of hard work. The handset may also offer a wood textured rear panel if a recent leak is to be believed.
The predecessor — OnePlus 11 5G was launched in Endless Black and Flash of Green colours. However, it is not clear if the global variant of the phone will have the same finishes.
OnePlus 12 is confirmed to debut in the Chinese market during the company's anniversary celebrations on December 4 at 7:00pm local time (4:30am IST). The brand is currently taking pre-reservations for the phone via its official online store and JD.com. It is expected to go global sometime in January.
The upcoming OnePlus 12 will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and pack a BOE's ProXDR display with 2K resolution and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. It is claimed to be the first smartphone in China with a 2K resolution display to bag DisplayMate's A+ certification. Further, it is confirmed to come with an in-built new generation X-axis motor for gaming. It is teased to run on ColorOS 14 based on Android 14. It will pack a Sony LYTIA LYT808 primary rear camera sensor and a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens.
The OnePlus 12 is tipped to sport a 6.82-inch QHD+ (1,440 x 3,168 pixels) curved low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display. It is also expected to get a 50-megapixel triple rear camera unit, a 32-megapixel selfie sensor and a 5,400mAh battery with support for 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.
OnePlus Nord 3 brings some serious upgrades over its predecessor, including some flagship-grade specifications. We discuss this and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Sam Altman Returns as OpenAI CEO; Bret Taylor to Chair ChatGPT Board
Sam Altman's return as OpenAI's chief executive will strengthen his grip on the startup and may leave the ChatGPT creator with fewer checks on his power as the company introduces technology that could upend industries, corporate governance experts and analysts said.
OpenAI is bringing Altman back just days after his ouster as well as installing a revamped board that could bring sharper scrutiny to the startup at the heart of the AI boom, but strong support from investors including Microsoft may give Altman more leeway to commercialize the technology.
"Sam's return may put an end to the turmoil on the surface, but there may continue to be deep governance issues," said Mak Yuen Teen, director of the centre for investor protection at the National University of Singapore Business School.
"Altman seems awfully powerful and it is unclear that any board would be able to oversee him. The danger is the board becomes a rubber stamp," he said.
OpenAI's new board will boast more experience at the top level and strong ties to both the US government and Wall Street.
The board fired Altman last week with little explanation and attempted to move on by naming an interim CEO twice. However, pressure from Microsoft — and the 38-year-old's strong loyalty among the 700-plus OpenAI employees that caused nearly all of them to threaten to leave the company — led to Altman's reinstatement as of Wednesday.
"Altman has been invigorated by the last few days," GlobalData analyst Beatriz Valle said. But that could come at a cost, she said, adding that he has "too much power now."
Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce who also played a key role in forcing through Elon Musk's $44 billion (nearly Rs. 3,66,530 crore) purchase of Twitter as a director, will be chairing the board.
Other members include former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, a Harvard academic and longtime economic aide to Democratic presidents.
"The fact that Summers and Taylor will join OpenAI is quite extraordinary and marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes in the company," Valle said.
Summers, who also sits on the board of Jack Dorsey's fintech firm Block, has in recent months been vocal about the potential job losses and disruption that could be caused by AI.
"ChatGPT is coming for the cognitive class. It's going to replace what doctors do," he said in a post on X in April.
OpenAI's previous board consisted of entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner, director of strategy at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, as well as Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, who also sits on the new board.
It was not immediately clear if any of the other directors would remain, including Sutskever, who joined in the effort to fire Altman then signed onto an employee letter demanding his return, expressing regret for her "participation in the board's actions."
OpenAI on X said it was "collaborating to figure out the details" of the new board.
Microsoft declined to comment. Summers and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sutskever, Altman and Taylor could not be immediately reached for comment.
Some analysts say the management fiasco will ensure that OpenAI executives proceed cautiously, as the high-flying startup will now be subject to more scrutiny. Several noted that companies such as Facebook parent Meta have flourished with a powerful CEO despite concerns about corporate governance.
"Sam definitely comes out stronger but also dirtied and will have more of a microscope from the AI and broader tech and business community," Gartner analyst Jason Wong said. "He can no longer do no wrong."
From the launch of the Infinix GT 10 Pro to Amazon's latest mega-sale, we discuss the most noteworthy technology news events of the week on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Samsung Galaxy Z Foldable Phones in 2025 May Debut With Blue PHOLED Displays: Report
Samsung Display, a major display manufacturer and supplier, is reportedly working to add blue phosphorescent OLED (PHOLED) material to its mobile screens. The transition to PHOLED in its mobile OLED panels is expected to take place by the second half of 2025. The South Korean tech giant is currently using blue fluorescent materials instead of phosphorescent material. The seventh iteration of the company's foldable phones — Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 — are expected to debut with the next-generation PHOLED solution. Replacing the blue fluorescent with blue phosphorescent is expected to bring improved battery life and reduced power consumption on smartphones.
A report by The Elec, citing officials from UBI Research, states that Samsung is gearing up to use blue phosphorescent OLED display technology in devices by the second half of 2025. At present, the company is employing blue fluorescent materials on its panels that have an internal luminous efficiency of 25 percent. The red and green PHOLEDs are said to offer 100 percent efficiency. By replacing fluorescent materials with blue phosphorescent, Samsung could be able to reduce overall power consumption and improve energy efficiency.
The implementation of blue phosphorescent OLED screens might line up with the potential launch of Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 in 2025. Samsung usually unveils its foldable devices in the second half of every year.
Initial rumours indicated that Samsung Display would be using blue phosphorescent material for the foldable phones that were supposed to be released next year — Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. However, as per the report, "the development of (blue phosphorescent material) does not seem to be going smoothly”. Therefore, we can expect the material to debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in 2025.
The major drawback with blue PHOLED technology is durability. As per the report, the blue PHOLED displays have a lifespan of 55 percent of that of the fluorescent blue diodes. Since Samsung hasn't confirmed any details regarding the implementation of PHOLED in its mobile OLED panels, it is advised to take the reported details with a pinch of salt.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company's new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
