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kfcdoubledown · 5 months

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I bought Nothing Ears! (2024)

Picture credit to PCMag.

I'm a very big fan of the Nothing aesthetic but haven't committed to any of their non-earbuds products, because unfortunately I like having specs and RAM more than I like having LEDs on the back of my phone. That said I've bought all of their flagship earbuds at this point and liked the Ear (1)s enough to later buy the Ear (2)s, and after unfortunately setting one earbud through the laundry and the case simultaneously deciding it didn't want to charge the remaining earbud, I am now in possession of Nothing Ears at $150.

What a horrible naming scheme they've got going! They're already giving up the (1) (2) thing and not doing (3) and just dropping that. Now it's not clear what the latest model is actually supposed to be without checking release dates. Ear (1), Ear (2), Ear (A) floor models, and Ear? Fuck off.

Despite the schizophrenic reuse of their own case and earbud design for the third generation in a row and their inability to settle on a name after giving up the (Numbered) aesthetic the Ears are excellent, they fit comfortably into the ear, have pinch touch-controls on the stem, and look super sleek. The default controls are intuitive and have forward/reverse/play already bound, with a pinch-and-hold maneuver flipping through noise-cancellation settings. Pinch controls also aren't susceptible to water, unlike some Google Pixel Buds Pro I have that seize their touch controls if my fingers are damp. Pairing is quick and can be done with two devices simultaneously. Low-lag mode is still just as anemic as it is on any other wireless headset that claims the feature, I really don't think it's gonna happen for any earbuds at this point, just stop trying to give us wireless as a replacement for wired.

Noise cancellation on Nothing earbuds have an excellent bonus in that you can actually use the feature with just one earbud in. Very good for noisy work environments that still require you be attentive (like mine) or if you just don't want the volume at 75% of the way up on your phone just to hear everything. Transparency mode being the only available setting on basically any other wireless in-ears can eat me, I want to make just one ear feel full sometimes. Either way Nothing's algorithm for transparency mode and noise-cancellation is actually very good, and noise-cancellation especially shines for the aforementioned purpose of using it as a form of volume control. Detail in sound is not lost with noise-cancellation, but can be lost with transparency mode.

Sound quality is quite good, Nothing Ears come equipped with ceramic drivers (more of a marketing point than an actual benefit) and a mostly complete equalizer in the Nothing X app. A bass boost feature and a much more generalized equalizer feature also exist. Supports the AAC, LDAC, LHDC 5.0, and SBC audio codecs. Battery life is estimated by Nothing to be 8 1/2 hours on a full charge for both buds and a cumulative 40 1/2 hours with a full case charge. Sound comes across to me as fairly balanced but trends a bit towards bassy, which is a good thing in an earbud or TWS headphone.

I'm overall very pleased with the Nothing Ears and do recommend them as a $150 offering, but I'm not pleased that the Ear (A) floor model equivalent does not have Qi charging. I haven't tried Xiaomi's buds in a fat minute so I can't say anything about how they compare to Buds 4 Pro or Buds 5 Pro, but I do know Xiaomi's typically budget earbuds are getting heftier in price (5 Pro are at $100 now) and Nothing is $150 for a very solid option in the more "flagship earbuds" space while still being compatible with both iOS and Android. Xiaomi also dropped Qi charging on anything above the Redmi Buds 3 Pro which totals at $50, so I don't think it's a cost thing for them to have just stopped offering Qi charging. There are also Earfun earbuds at the same RB3P price-point with Qi charging.

#nothing #nothing ear #earbuds #headphones #wireless headphones #wireless earbuds #tech #look at my flop reviews boy

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jcmarchi · 1 month

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Google advances mobile AI in Pixel 9 smartphones

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/google-advances-mobile-ai-in-pixel-9-smartphones/

Google advances mobile AI in Pixel 9 smartphones

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Google has unveiled its new range of Pixel 9 smartphones, emphasising their enhanced AI capabilities.

The company released the devices much earlier than usual, as Google typically presents new Pixel models in the autumn. However, compared to previous versions, the changes in the new models are revolutionary.

The new smartphones feature more advanced integrations of Google’s AI technology. For instance, one unique Pixel feature allows users to search for information and images within their screenshots, thanks to a more deeply integrated approach. Additionally, through the Gemini chatbot, some features of these smartphones are available as overlays from other apps.

At Alphabet’s Bay View campus in Mountain View, California, Rick Osterloh, the Senior Vice President of Devices and Services at Google, informed visitors that the company plans to focus on practical applications of AI. He spent time describing the “Gemini era” to the audience, which will commence with the creation of Google’s advanced AI model.

The Pixel 9 series offers several models. The base model, the Pixel 9, features a 6.3-inch screen and costs $799. A larger alternative, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, has a 6.8-inch screen. A slightly enhanced version, the Pixel 9 Pro, offers a better camera system, though its price is higher. The final option is the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Regarding the initial shipping date, Google stated at the event that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL would ship in late August. The Pro and Pro Fold models will ship in September, with all models available for preorder starting August 13. During Google’s presentations at the event, Gemini’s new functions were showcased in a live demo, focusing on the latest conversation features. Additionally, the company announced updates to the product’s exterior design, the installation of Google’s advanced camera system, and the integration of the new Tensor G4 chip.

In addition to smartphones, the company unveiled new versions of the Pixel Watch 3 smartwatch and Pixel Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds. The watch can track the user’s heart rate; if it stops, it will call emergency services. This feature will be available in the UK and the EU.

As reported by IDC, Google’s share in the global smartphone market was less than 1% in the second quarter of 2024. Samsung and Apple took the first and second places, with market shares of 18.9%, and 15.8%, respectively. In the US, Google ranks fourth among smartphone operating systems, holding 4.5% of the market share.

Industry analysts note that although Google Pixel is not among the best-selling smartphones, it showcases some of the benefits of the Android operating system. Android has become the dominant operating system, used by more than 80% of smartphone users worldwide. Consequently, many people, even those who have never used a Google Pixel, may indirectly experience and appreciate the features that Google products offer.

The event also touched upon Google’s further intentions and previous efforts to implement AI across its product lineup to stay at the top of the game. Not long ago, the company integrated AI improvements into its core products, including its search engine. Additionally, Google announced a content-sharing agreement it reached with Peloton. As a result, Fitbit Premium subscribers will have free access to the Peloton training class library.

(Image Credit: Google)

See also: Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro dethrones GPT-4o

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, gemini, Google

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recentlyheardcom · 1 month

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Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Buds Pro 2: Specs, Features, Release Date

It is accessible for preorder now and prices $1,799 with a $300 retailer credit score, with official gross sales beginning on September 4. Anybody who purchases it’s going to get one yr freed from the Google One AI Premium Plan. New Apps, Providers, and AI Options Pixel Screenshots permits Gemini’s AI to drag data from screenshots and offer you new methods to work together with the knowledge in…

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news2024news · 1 month

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Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Buds Pro 2: Specs, Features, Release Date http://dlvr.it/TBspdM

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hellojijoejoshi-blog · 1 year

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Google Reveals the Pixel Fold: Here's What We Know So Far

Google has finally put an end to all the rumors and speculations around its first foldable phone by unveiling the Pixel Fold. The company showcased the phone through a short teaser video on Twitter ahead of the Google I/O event, and also confirmed its name for the first time. Here’s what we know so far about the Pixel Fold. https://twitter.com/madebygoogle/status/1654170933417086978?ref_src=twsrctfwtwcamptweetembedtwterm1654170933417086978twgrbfa2ca2e94f19c87ffc06fdbab9481136ba4de16twcons1_&ref_url=httpsbeebom.comgoogle-pixel-fold-officially-revealed Design and Display The Pixel Fold features a design similar to that of the Pixel 7 Pro, with the same camera setup at the back. It is a horizontal foldable phone that competes with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5. The device has a thick bezel around the display that may be a bit jarring, but the subtle gold color is pretty attractive. It features a 7.6-inch primary OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 5.8-inch outer screen that also supports a 120Hz refresh rate. Expected Features and Specs The phone is expected to be powered by the Tensor G2 chipset with the Titan M2 chip. It could have a 48MP main snapper, a 10.8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens for the camera array. The inner screen has an 8MP selfie shooter, while the outer screen features a 9.5MP shooter. It is speculated to run Android 14, but Android 13 is also a possibility. Release Date and Price The Pixel Fold is expected to launch on May 10, alongside the Pixel 7a, the Pixel Tablet, and possibly the new Pixel Buds. According to leaks, the device may be made available on June 27 and is likely to cost around $1,799 (~ Rs 1,47,000). However, official details are still under wraps, and we need to wait until the Google I/O event to get more information. Stay Tuned for More Updates The Pixel Fold has generated a lot of excitement among tech enthusiasts, and Google I/O 2023 is just around the corner. We will be closely following the event to provide you with all the latest updates on Google’s first foldable phone, so don't forget to tune in for all the Google I/O 2023 updates you need! Read the full article

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macnews-org · 2 years

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'Made by Google' joins fall tech event fray on October 6

‘Made by Google’ joins fall tech event fray on October 6

Google has announced the date for its Pixel-centric “Made by Google” event, joining Microsoft and presumably also Apple with fall product releases. Google Pixel Buds, Pixel Watch, and Pixel phone The live event will be held on October 6 at 10:00 AM ET, and Google is expected to announce its latest Pixel devices. The lineup is most likely the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and the Google Pixel Watch. Read…

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isfeed · 2 years

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Here’s where you can preorder Google’s Pixel 6A and Pixel Buds Pro

Image: Google Google’s more affordable and palm-friendly spin on the Pixel 6, the $449 Pixel 6A, is now available to preorder, as are the new Pixel Buds Pro. Focusing on the phone first, your preorder will ensure that you’re among the first to get the Pixel 6A on or close to launch day, which is Thursday, July 28th. Google announced the release date all the way back at its I/O conference in May,…

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#Business

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techtosee · 2 years

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Google Pixel Buds Pro release date, price and everything we know

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abangtech · 4 years

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Google Pixel Buds 2 release date: New Google earbuds now available in the UK

The wait is over: Google’s new Pixel Buds headphones have finally made their way to UK shores. First announced at a Made by Google event in October last year, the Google Pixel Buds (2020) have been on sale in the US since April but have only just received a wider international launch.

They’re the successors to the first-generation Pixel Buds, which were released in late 2017. We described the original Buds as “innovative, clever and exciting all at once” but felt they were let down by a lack of comfort, messy touch controls and fussy features.

This new model has undergone a significant overhaul – they’re now true wireless earbuds rather than earphones connected by a length of wire – but the majority of the features Google championed last time around make a return. Among them are quick pairing with Android devices, an always-listening Google Assistant and real-time foreign language translation.

We’ll be getting a pair in for review soon but for the time being, here’s the lowdown on everything we know about Google’s latest in-ear offering.

Google Pixel Buds (2020): Everything you need to know

Google Pixel Buds (2020) price: How much do they cost?

The new Pixel Buds will set you back £179. To put that price in context, Apple sells its AirPods for £159 or £199 depending on whether you want a case capable of wireless charging and its Pro version retails at £249. Sony’s WF-1000XM3 have an RRP of £220 but are typically found selling for closer to £170, while our favourite wireless earbuds, the Libratone Track Air+ cost £179.

So, the Pixel Buds are priced relatively competitively, though a number of the aforementioned options offer active noise cancelling, while the Pixel Buds only offer what Google describes as “adaptive sound capabilities”, which there will be more on later.

Google Pixel Buds (2020) release date: When can you buy them?

The new Pixel Buds are available for purchase directly from the Google Store but we’ve also seen them being sold by Argos, John Lewis and BT, with more retailers likely to be stocking them in the coming weeks.

Buy now from Google Store

Google Pixel Buds (2020) features and specs: What’s new?

As mentioned above, Google has joined the true wireless revolution with its new Pixel Buds. Gone is the wiring connecting the earpieces and the Pixel Buds look a lot better for it.

Unlike their predecessors, the buds feature silicone eartips that will seal your ear canals rather than sit in the recesses of your ears. Spatial vents have been incorporated into the design to allow a certain amount of environmental sound in and prevent the feeling of totally plugged-up ears.

Inside the buds are 12mm dynamic drivers that utilise something called adaptive sound technology. This adjusts the volume of your audio depending on your environment, though manually adjusting your volume temporarily disables the feature.

The stated battery life of the buds is up to five hours of listening time, while the charging case takes the total listening time up to 24 hours. The case can be charged wirelessly using a Qi charger or via a USB-C cable.

The Pixel Buds are IPX4 rated meaning they’re sweat- and splash-resistant and there are touch controls on both buds, allowing you to control your audio without having to take your phone out of your pocket.

Probably the Pixel Buds’ biggest selling point is their integration of Google Assistant. The assistant is always listening so, in theory at least, you should be able to control every aspect of them with your voice. They can also operate as a real-time language translation tool using Google Translate. Other features include the ability to locate your earbuds using the Find My Device app and one-tap pairing with Android devices.

You’re going to need an Android-powered device to get the most out of the Pixel Buds as many of the features listed above require Android 6.0 (or above) to function. This limits their widespread appeal, but those that are part of the Android ecosystem may finally have earbuds to rival Apple’s AirPods.

Look out for our full review of Google’s Pixel Buds (2020) coming soon.

Source

The post Google Pixel Buds 2 release date: New Google earbuds now available in the UK appeared first on abangtech.

from abangtech https://abangtech.com/google-pixel-buds-2-release-date-new-google-earbuds-now-available-in-the-uk/

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4evafitstore · 5 years

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Beats Wireless Earbuds PowerBeats Pro | True Bass Earbuds

Not only in price but also performance it's been quite some time and I'm sorry that's just the truth over the years Beats hasn't really said anything new that is in your audio department but today finally we got the Powerbeats Pro and the specs are quite impressive. Now it's a hefty $250 retail at the time. They're very much on the upper end with the Sennheiser and the Vino truly wireless earphones are priced slightly above and with let's say the bose sound sports the Jabra lineup and also the truly wireless earphones from jaybird those are a little bit below as always. I'll be going over both pros and cons also click on my affiliate links down below for the most updated prices in real time you never know when these things might go on sale.

Overview

Release Date May 2019 Price $249.95 Bluetooth 5.0 weight Earbuds: 21 grams Model Number PowerBeats Pro Waterproof IPX4 Check Price On Amazon

Physical Features

Going over the physical features first. I anticipated these were going to be bulky and they were going to stick out that the earphones would also bounce around during intense movements with my testing on all fronts. They don't, they're actually quite flush against my ear and for the first time I can run with a hoodie on and the earphones don't feel as though they'll fall out from gently rubbing against that fabric. Now with more intense movements simply demonstrate myself jump-roping here I'd never had any doubt that they would fall off and more importantly I don't feel that the ear tips will be lifting off my ears and losing sound quality. That's really impressive, these are truly wireless earphones. One of the issues that I've noticed when I had the Powerbeats 3 now of course cosmetically I think they look pretty damn good too. Now all of this praise off physically being stable it's because of these ears they are adjustable and does retain its shape. They do feel more competent than the Powerbeats 3 as it's a bit stiffer and the casing feels a little bit more durable. So, we'll see over time now I love the fit on my draw bars and my Samsung Galaxy buds more recently those who were great but I will admit the ear hooks do provide that extra level of stability.

water resistance

Now moving on beats are claiming these are water and sweat resistant spraying the crap out of these things right here they are still working perfectly fine. I was hoping for some sort of ingress rating or considering that we've had all this time to design these having it be submersible/ Although overkill would have given me more peace of mind there's a few other competitors out there that offers just that why not the Powerbeats Pro. You can't be in your shower listening songs under heavy water pressures. It's water protection rating IPX4 can't help you there, it has physical buttons and not touch buttons. 12 BEST NOISE CANCELING EARBUDS FOR WORKOUT IN 2020

Mic, Buttons & voice commands

But getting a closer look easily identifiable multi-function button. The actions are identical on either side which I really liked. Little volume rocker buttons are located at the very top and also are easily identifiable. Everything is there except for transparency mode. Maybe some people call it here through ambient to air whatever name these companies give them beats does not have the ability to turn on the internal microphones so you can hear your environmental noises nearly. Everyone else is offering it and I know a bunch of you use it for safety while running. Some uses these truly wireless earphones while working to hear if your boss sneaks up on you. We don't get that again with your Powerbeats Pro. Last test I confirm you can activate Siri with your voice as it seems to always be listening for that command. Awesome feature or of course you can always hold down the beats logo again on either side of these earbuds. Now with Android using my voice didn't work for me. You can only activate Google assistance with the button press or telling the button hold all right.

Bluetooth & Apple H1 Chip

Now moving on to the good stuff here. The technology there's this new Apple H1 Chip inside and it's working wonders. Yes, you do get amazing fast and seamless bluetooth pairing a very similar experience to those who had ear pods previously and with my iPhone I'm averaging about two seconds when the case opens to when the iPhone brings up this cool 3d spinning thing in battery life. In states definitely fast enough for me though but I love how seamless and more importantly how consistent it's been with Android, it's honestly not a slouch either. On screen is proof with my new pixel 3a I've been testing it connects on average in three seconds. Either scenario either phones by the time you put these earphones back into your ear. Adjust them, get them properly seated. It's already been paired. Now since we're on the topic of Bluetooth, yes, I can't connect to more than one device at a time. yes, after testing playing video on either Android or iPhone where the YouTuber Netflix, I had zero syncing issues. Now although I couldn't find if the Powerbeats Pro uses bluetooth 5.0 or not which is typically used to signify which version a device uses. Apple States instead on their websites this uses a class 1 signal instead which means the earphones should be good up to 150 to 200 linear feet and yes wireless range and stability it has been great. I've been able to walk my entire apartment here with several walls in between and had zero signal loss. Now I also couldn't find if beats use apdex HD to determine how high of a resolution audio file it can handle but again I usually don't as there's been some great headphone / earphones without that high-resolution designation.

Battery & charging case

In addition to that chip we get one of the best battery performances on any truly wireless earphones that I've tested. Fast fuel just 5 minutes on that charger gives you back an hour and a half. This is the fastest I've experienced on any pair of truly wireless earphones that I've tested. Not to mention beats claims up to nine hours of use with the case you're getting about an additional 15 hours of use for a total of up to 24 hours. Most truly wireless earphones I have tested, they've ranged from 12 hours to 15 hours give or take an hour for the extremes but the Powerbeats Pros, they're class leading with my testing at 50 percent volume like all my other truly wireless earphones. Since we're talking about the case or maybe you have seen that in the image here. I know some will say this case is quite large and it is but to be fair how else are you going to have these ear hooks attached to the earphones themselves. The case itself had more than one light to indicate battery life. I wish the case featured USBC versus lightning to have a truly wireless port for all my devices. I know Apple fans will be upset hearing that but the iPad pro has USB C there might be a USB C iPhone coming down the road so if that's the case no pun intended, here that's future proofing yourself that would be ideal unless I don't think there's any other company doing this just yet but if we can make this case dust proof in or water proof that would give me 100% peace of mind. But again, that's me being nitpicky right there and wishing for features at this point. And before I forget about this, there is audio pause and play when you take off your earphones the audio stops you put them back on and the audio plays again and this also works for video as well. Seconds, you can leave either one of these earphones out of your ear and the audio will still play. You can have the other earphone on the other side of the room if you want and the audio will still continue this signal is not dependent on the other earphone like traditional truly wireless earphones.

Powerbeats Pro Check On Amazon

Audio Quality Noise Canceling

Alright, let's get into some of the audio features. First up, let's talk about the microphone get ready that is and the audio is completely unedited and it's a little bit of breeze. Only guys can tell us by here being all crazy or jacked up right now but let me know what you guys think down the review description below. There's no good sound bad sound to pick it up. Let's test out this audio. as nice and expensive as my microphones are audio recorded on my end and then played through your speakers are not the best depiction of audio accuracy. It's just a sample but it is better than nothing but hence my filing audio review here the Powerbeats Pro is loud enough for most people. Loud but still comfortable to me is at about 75 percent volume, there is some sound leaking occurring, So those sitting right next to me in a very quiet room, library whatever. Can hear what you're listening to so just be a little bit cautious about that. The ear tips do sit around the ear canal but they don't sit fully inside. Most people will find that more comfortable but keep in mind that it won't give you the best passive noise isolation as other truly wireless earphones and of course a little bit more sound leaking as well. These do let in some noise as much as it leaks out so if you're in a busy place you might have to turn it up to maybe 75 percent volume to encapsulate yourself here with your own audio and kind of drone out the outside noise. Again, that's only if you're in a very busy environment.

Powerbeats Pro True Bass

Now jumping into bass. it's deep at loud volumes its rumbling. It feels like I'm wearing wired earphones at times considering how deep these actually go. If you like bass no question the Powerbeats Pro is it the Jaybird X4 run ex tees were the next closest in bass for me but Jaybird X4 offers a punchy variation or more of a bass boosted audio signature. Versus offering deep bass like the Powerbeat Pros. Now going into the mid-range, the louder you go the more basses experience that's pretty obvious but I do notice the mid-range is just ever so slightly overshadowed by bass most. Having most average consumers, I think they'll be fine with this or the tolerance level is still within reason for most consumers. Now if you're more of a technical audio listener or if you don't like the bass then you might prefer something more has more emphasis on the vocals / mid-range something that may be a little bit more forward in that mid-range frequency. This is simply a matter of preference the high frequencies would never ear in your tingey in my opinion but if anything, that is clear or lacking actually in some resolution or detail on the top and especially that loud volumes at moderate listening levels. It's not a big deal, a little bit more detail a little bit more Sparkle up top would have been much better as for soundstage there isn't much of a wide soundstage either you get decent audio separation but nothing huge or class defining. powerbeats pro These are great with hip-hop and EDM most but not all pop songs will do well. Those favoring vocals, I would consider these. Powerbeats Pros are no question bass ear truly wireless earphones if you prefer a pair that's more so for jamming outs verses technical accuracy, the Powerbeats Pro are recommended to. At least give them a try if you highly value the better life connectivity, the ear hooks alone comfort instability. I'd go from recommended to highly recommend it as not many other are offering the core functionalities at this level. Again, I think the biggest thing for you as a consumer you have to consider if you like Basie audio or not. check on Amazon Read the full article

#bluethoothheadphones #earbuds #noisecancelingearbuds #powerbeatspro #wirelessearbuds

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thenewsvideos · 5 years

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Watch The Google Pixel 4 has been unveiled: it’s Google’s latest flagship smartphone, and it brings a number of upgrades over the Google Pixel 3, which launched in 2018. Many of those upgrades are in the camera department, and with the new Pixel 4, Google is bidding to stay in the running for having the best camera phone – the Pixel 3 held that crown until it was bested by the Huawei P30 Pro, and now Google is back to try and usurp the Chinese brand. All of our Made by Google coverage: Google Pixel 4 hands-on reviewGoogle Pixel 4 XL hands-on reviewGoogle Pixelbook Go hands-on reviewGoogle Nest Wifi hands-on reviewGoogle Nest Mini release date, price, news and featuresNew Google Pixel Buds: everything you need to knowHere's everything Google announced at the Pixel 4 launch event But what’s actually new in the Google Pixel 4, compared to the Pixel 3? Well, quite a lot actually. Below we’ll run you through what's new in the Pixel 4, and how it compares to its predecessor. Google P.. video

#Games - #video -

#Games

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arifulislam312 · 5 years

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Hands on: Samsung Galaxy S20 Review

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is finally here – here is our first look at the brand-new flagship

Max Parker Contact via Twitter | February 17, 2020 5:03 pm GMT

pinned

S20

First Impressions

While the focus is clearly on the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the S20 is a strong update to one of the most popular Android phones on the market. There are welcome upgrades in all the right places, especially to the camera, but without a hike to the starting price.

Key Specifications

Review Price: £799

Display: 6.2-inch 120Hz OLED QHD+

CPU: Snapdragon 865/Exynos 990

Memory: 8/12GB RAM

Battery capacity: 4000mAh

Interface: OneUI 2.0

Audio: no headphone jack

5G? Yes - 4G/5G options

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is finally here – although there isn’t much that will surprise given the months of leaks up to this point.

Still, it’s your typical Samsung flagship, offering up a beautiful display, glass-fuelled design and plenty of improvements to the camera. There’s plenty to like though, even at this early stage.

There are three models in the S20 series: Galaxy S20, which we’re talking about below, Galaxy S20 Plus and Galaxy S20 Ultra. There’s no cheaper “E” model this year, with the regular S20 sitting at the affordable end of the pack at £799 (4G) and £899 (5G). You can pre-order the handset starting today, with it shipping on March 13 – see below for our pick of the early deals.

Last year’s Galaxy S10 was an excellent phone, but it hardly pushed the series forward. The screen was similar to that which came before, the camera continued to lag behind the competition, and battery life was an issue. With the Galaxy S20, it appears that Samsung might have fixed all of those issues.

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What’s the S20’s camera like?

Let’s start with the camera, since it’s the big focus here – and even though it’s the Galaxy S20 Ultra that benefits from all of the fancy new additions (108MP-megapixel main sensor, 100x zoom, 40-megapixel selfie), the S20 is a significant upgrade nevertheless.

There are three main rear cameras here:

a wide 12-megapixel with an f/1.8 lens and OIS

an ultra-wide 12-megapixel, and

a 64-megapixel telephoto with an f/2.0 lens and OIS.

Samsung says the sensor on that main 12-megapixel camera has been completely rebuilt, with bigger pixels that capture more light. The demo shots I photographed with it certainly looked impressive, displaying plenty of sharp detail. The unit was quick to focus, too, even in poor light – although, of course, I’ll only be able to judge it properly against the iPhone 11 Pro and Google Pixel 4’s cameras on spending more time with the phone.

Nevertheless, it’s the 64-megapixel telephoto that really catches the eye, which comes with a feature Samsung is calling “Space Zoom”. This combines a “3x hybrid optical zoom” and “30x Super Resolution Zoom” into one package. Samsung says it uses AI in this process, too, and that the results should apparently far exceed that of previous Galaxy devices.

Related: Best Galaxy S20 Deals

The camera also has a few other tricks up its sleeves, notably the ability to shoot 8K video. This is the first time we’ve seen this capability on a phone – although since it’s supported by the Snapdragon 865 chipset, we’d expect to see it become a regular on upcoming flagships.

It’s an impressive feat, even if you’re unlikely to have any way to playback 8K content just yet (I know I certainly don’t). Samsung is aware of this, and as such has made it easy to capture high-res stills from 8K footage. You can also export footage at 4K or FHD to share with others.

To capture the 8K footage the Galaxy S20 uses the telephoto 64-megapixel camera and it’ll take up 600MB of storage per minute of video recorded. You’ll also be limited to five minutes of footage at a time.

Has the S20’s Screen been improved?

Displays on Samsung’s flagships have long been considered the best around, and with the Galaxy S20 the company is adding a much-requested feature: a 120Hz refresh rate.

In the simplest of terms, this means the 6.2-inch OLED panel will refresh 120 times a second, rather than 60 times a second. The result? Everything just feels far smoother, which gives the impression the phone is faster. This feature isn’t necessarily new – the OnePlus 7T Pro has a 90Hz display – but it’s welcome nonetheless.

There is a catch with the 120Hz display, though: it will only work when the screen resolution is set to FHD (Full High Definition), and it won’t be switched n by default.

So if you want to use the S20’s QHD+ resolution to its full, you’ll need to dial things back to 60Hz. This is a real shame, and means you’ll have to make a decision over whether you plump for resolution or speed, sacrificing one of the phone’s features in the process. The reason for limiting this feature? Battery life. It appears that running the display at 120Hz at full resolution would have likely put far too much strain on the 4000mAh cell.

Samsung also revealed that the display doesn’t have a variable refresh rate, so the panel will stick to 120Hz all the time, even in situations such as watching a video, where it offers no benefits.

I love the bright, vivid colours produced by Samsung’s OLEDs and the Galaxy S20 delivers on this front. The camera cutout is still present, but it now mirrors the smaller design of the Note 10 and is therefore more inconspicuous.

Support for HDR10+ remains, the panel is super-responsive thanks to the 240Hz touch layer, and there’s still a fingerprint sensor buried beneath the display. Overall, it’s a fantastic display and will likely be one of the best of the year.

The Galaxy S20’s Design – no more headphone jack

Samsung hasn’t really delivered a huge redesign of its flagship “S” handsets in a number of years, and visually the entire S20 series looks very much like its predecessors. However, it feels as though there isn’t much that could change: the front is just a big screen; the back is glass; and there is a smattering of curves.

I can’t see this overall aesthetic changing anytime soon. That’s not to say it’s in need of change, though. The Galaxy S20 feels great to hold and it’s fairly compact by 2020 standards. What it isn’t though is particularly interesting to look at – even the colour choices are somewhat dull. The Cosmic Grey hue especially is instantly forgettable and only really the pink stands out. Samsung has done far more interesting colours before so I am not really sure why we’ve ended up with the ones available here.

One notable omission is a 3.5mm headphone port. The Galaxy S20 is the first S-series flagship to ditch the port – while this has become the norm on flagship from Apple and OnePlus, Samsung has been late to join that party. With the S20 you instead get a pair of USB-C buds in the box, or if you plump for Plus or Ultra you’ll get a free pair of Galaxy Buds Plus if you pre-order. Thankfully, the phone retains its microSD slot (you can pop a 1TB card in here) and IP68 rating.

The Galaxy S20 series

S20 specs and battery life

Inside the Galaxy S20 you’ll find the usual array of high-end components. Either an Exynos 990 (Europe) or Snapdragon 865 (USA), 8 or 12GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM, and 128GB of storage. The handset felt pretty speedy throughout my hands-on time with it – but then I wouldn’t expect anything else.

Samsung will be selling both a 4G or 5G version of the S20; note that it’s the only model of the S20 that comes in a 4G variant. You’ll benefit from an extra 4GB of RAM if you opt for 5G, but everything else remains the same.

Battery life has been my biggest concern when it comes to previous Galaxy phones, and while I can’t say for sure how the S20 will perform, there are reasons to be optimistic. The 4000mAh cell is a good size for the display and Samsung has finally upped the fast-charging speed to 25W – this isn’t the fastest, but it represents improvement nonetheless.

These are the best phones to buy this year

We’ve compared the Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20 Ultra – which one should you buy?

Galaxy S20’s software

One of the big new software additions for the Galaxy S20 is Quick Share, an AirDrop rival that’ll use Wi-Fi Direct to quickly share files between Samsung devices. While Samsung did say some S20 features would trickle down to the S10, it wouldn’t confirm whether Quick Share will be one of those.

Samsung’s UI has improved a lot recently and One UI 2 (which is built upon Android 10) is very nice to look at and smooth to use. Dark mode has been extended to more apps; the main portion of apps are shunted towards the bottom to make single-handed use easier and it just feels a bit more complete than the first One UI.

Samsung Galaxy S20 – prices and release date

The Galaxy S20 price is currently £799 in the UK – that’s with 128GB of storage. It’s on sale from March 13th, and you can find our pick of the pre-release deals below:

https://ift.tt/2UXBjbw https://ift.tt/37E9qbc

#IFTTT #Blogger

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ifixscreens-universe-blog · 5 years

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Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL Release Now with Dual Rear Camera, Motion Sense and more

Google has announced the successors to its Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices in the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Here is everything we know regarding the new Pixel 4 smartphone, including what they offer, how much they cost and when they will be available.

Google Pixel 4 features:

· Pixel 4 release date:

Announced 15 October 2019

Pre-orders open now

Ships 21 October 2019

Google announced the Pixel 4 and 4 XL on 15 October during its Made by Google event in New York City.

The Phones are available to pre-order from 15 October and they will be available to buy on 24 October. Shipping will be available from 21 October.

The company also announced a new Pixel Buds, a Pixel book Go and the Google Nest Mini during the event.

· Pixel 4 price:

Pixel 4: From £669, $799

Pixel 4 XL: From £829, $899

The Google Pixel 4 starts at £669/$799 for the 64GB model, jumping to £769 for the 128GB model.

The Google Pixel 4 XL starts at £829/$899 for the 64GB model and jumps to £929 for the 128GB model. Both are available in Just Black, Clearly White and Oh So Orange color options.

· Pixel 4 camera

o Dual rear camera

o 12.2-megapixel, f/1.7 main camera

o 16-megapixel, f/2.4 telephoto camera

o 8-megapixel, f/2.0 front camera

The Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL have a dual-camera system in a square housing positioned in the top left of the device. The dual camera is comprised of a 12-megapixel main sensor and a 16-megapixel telephoto sensor moving on from the single sensor offered by Pixel 3.

New features on the Google Pixel camera include a boost to Night Sight, introducing an astrophotography function that will let you shoot stars and planets, allowing really long exposures, taking multiple frames and knitting them together.

There's a range of AI improvements to boost Night Sight and HDR performance, the portrait shooting is said to be better and there's also an advanced system to determine the correct white balance.

One of the unique things is a dual exposure option that will let you adjust the foreground exposure in a scene independent from the background. This gives you more creative control for the pictures you take.

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Common Problems

· Pixel 4 display:

o Pixel 4: 5.7-inches

o Pixel 4 XL: 6.3-inches

o 90Hz refresh rate

The Google Pixel 4 has a 5.7-inch screen and the Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch display for 2019. Both displays offer 90Hz refresh rates, like the OnePlus 7 Pro, offering a smooth and slick experience. Both offer an OLED display.

The Pixel 4 and 4 XL also come with a range of sensors in a bezel at the top of the display, allowing for motion gestures and face unlock. This means no notch for either Pixel device this year, with both opting for bezels at the top and bottom of the display.

The Pixel 4 has a Full HD+ resolution for a pixel density of 444ppi, while the Pixel 4 XL has a Quad HD+ resolution for a pixel density of 537ppi. Both have a 19:9 aspect ratio and both support HDR.

· Google Pixel 4 Motion Sense and gesture :

Another new feature on the Google Pixel 4 is Motion Sense. This enables you to use gesture controls to perform simple tasks when touching the screen of your smartphone isn't convenient (such as when you're driving, cooking or working out).

We've already seen gesture control built into smartphones, with the LG G8 one of the more recent devices to offer it, but instead of using a camera for this, the Pixel 4 comes with a radar chip embedded into the bezel above the screen.

The radar chip provides a wider, 180-degree field of view that allows the Pixel 4 to detect your hand from further away. Google says it's been working on the tech for five years – however, its first public outing is extremely limited.

The Infrared and tiny radar to let you unlock the Pixel 4 with your face. The Pixel 4 and 4L are the first Android phones with face unlock that's secure enough to be used for payments with Google Pay as well as with password apps.

Motion Sense can detect three things: presence, reach and gestures. With presence, the phone detects whether you're near the device. If you are, it'll power-on the always-on display, and when you move away it'll turn the display off to preserve power.

Reach will wake the phone to display the lock screen (and show any notifications you may have) when you move your hand towards it to pick it up.

The most interesting of the trio is gesture detection, which lets you wave a hand over the handset to perform certain functions. For now, it only allows for basic control such as skipping between music tracks (you can't use gestures to play/pause or adjust volume), silencing alarms/timers and hanging up calls.

Gestures are also only supported by a handful of applications at launch, including YouTube Music, YouTube, Spotify, the phone app and the clock app. Apps that are compatible will display a white glow animation at the top of the screen, giving you a visual cue that the feature is available.

In the gesture control demo we were shown, the Pixel 4 effectively picked up the hand-waving around it, but we'll have to spend more time with the phone to see how this feature performs in day-to-day use.

· Pixel 4 features and hardware

o Qualcomm SD855

o 6GB RAM

o 2800mAh/3700mAh batteries

o Android 10

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 is the chipset of choice for the Pixel 4 devices, with 6GB of RAM support. Neither offers microSD for storage expansion but both run on pure Android 10. The two models are available in 64GB and 128GB storage capacities.

In terms of battery capacities, the Pixel 4 has 2800mAh, while the Pixel 4 XL is 3700mAh. Both offer 18W fast charging support and they are also wireless charging compatible too.

The Pixel 4 and 4 XL also both have Google's Soli radar chip that allows for the face unlock technology and Motion Sense.

· Pixel 4 specs breakdown:

In terms of specifications, this is what the Pixel 4 and 4 XL offers.

o 5.7-inch/6.3-inch displays

o 90Hz refresh rate

o Qualcomm SD855

o 6GB RAM

o 2800mAh/3700mAh batteries

o No microSD

o No 3.5mm headphone jack

o Android 10

o 64GB and 128GB storage models

o Just Black, Clearly White and Oh So Orange colors

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billyagogo · 5 years

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Samsung Galaxy Fold review

New Post has been published on https://newsprofixpro.com/moxie/2019/10/03/samsung-galaxy-fold-review/

Samsung Galaxy Fold review

Our Verdict The Galaxy Fold delivers a ‘wow’ factor that no other phone offers today, and yet we’d only recommend it to early adopters with a penchant for impressing their peers, and who have money to burn. It’s a technical marvel, with technical limitations, and it makes us hopeful for a more fully rounded sequel.

For

Supremely cool form factor

Gaming taken to the next level

Samsung’s biggest battery

Against

Outrageously expensive

Vulnerable plastic screen

Two-minute reviewThe Samsung Galaxy Fold is the most forward-thinking smartphone of 2019, finally delivering on the promise of a foldable phone, and instantly proving a real head-turner out on the streets. And yet, it’s still not something we can recommend to most people.Wherever we went with the Fold, people wanted to know what this thing was and how it worked. We demonstrated how it folds down to a 4.6-inch outer screen, and folds out out to become a 7.3-inch mini-tablet display – and it always amazed. But then the second wow-factor kicks: it’s twice the price of today’s best smartphones, and on top of that it has a troubled track record with regard to durability, which could prove a deal-breaker for many potential buyers.Samsung has refined the Galaxy Fold over the course of a five-month delay to its launch, reinforcing the points where it broke in the hands of early reviewers. But we’re still in constant fear of pixel tearing, or damaging the vulnerable plastic screen.Good news: right now the bendable screen of our Galaxy Fold review unit is as pristine as the day we unboxed it a week ago. It comes with a crease down the middle, but this is only visible when it catches glare. A bigger deal is the uneven refresh rate across the larger display: as you scroll pages, one side lags ever so slightly behind the other – it’s barely perceptible, but you can’t unsee it once you realize it’s there.The Galaxy Fold is the best example of why foldable is the future of smartphones. Its 7.3-inch screen is built for productivity. We multi-tasked with three apps open on a phone, as if this were a tablet. Editing photos is easier, gaming takes a gigantic leap, and showing someone a complicated spreadsheet is doable.Its folded size is satisfying for one reason: we loved carrying a small phone again. It’ll go unappreciated in photos, and the extensive bezel around the 4.6-inch screen makes it feel cramped; but hold this tall, chunky, yet narrow phone in your hand and you’ll swear glass phones aren’t slippery after all. We felt confident one-handing it on busy streets.The Galaxy Fold inherits the power and cameras of the Galaxy S10 Plus, which is nice, but we missed some photo and video modes offered by the Note 10 Plus – that five-month delay means Samsung’s latest and most cutting-edge phone isn’t actually its most capable camera-wise. You also won’t find an S Pen stylus tucked inside (which it wouldn’t be wise to use on a plastic screen anyway, but still). Battery life was the toughest to judge. At 4,380mAh, the battery here is Samsung’s biggest, and lasted us a day-and-a-half. But battery life varied wildly based on how long we had that big screen open – we killed it in less than a day when we tried.The Samsung Galaxy Fold feels like the biggest sensation since the original iPhone – and, really, that’s the only reason to take a $2,000 risk on it. This phone is strictly for early adopters with money to burn and a penchant for impressing, and it’ll end up in a drawer with Google Glass and other gadgets ahead of their time. Everyone else should wait for something cheaper, better, and more durable in a few months.(Image credit: Future)Samsung Galaxy Fold release date and priceDouble the price of flagship phones: $1,980 / £1,800 (€2,000)Launched in September in the US, UK and South KoreaIt was originally set to debut on April 26, 2019Two colors: Cosmos Black or Space Silver (Martian Green and Astro Blue have been axed)The Samsung Galaxy Fold release date was staggered throughout September, and getting your hands on it wasn’t easy. It first came out in South Korea September 6, and made its UK debut September 18, when it sold out immediately. There’s no work yet on pricing or availability for Australia, but you can register for updates at Samsung’s website.The Galaxy Fold US release date was Friday, September 27, five months and one day after its original April 26 launch date. During this hiatus, Samsung tweaked the hardware, but the price remained the same: very high.The Fold costs $1,980 / £1,800 (€2,000), twice the price of an iPhone 11 Pro. You can buy it through Samsung, local stores like Best Buy, or exclusive carrier partners: EE in the UK and AT&T in the US (it’s $66 a month for 30 months). Note: the UK has the 5G version, while the US is limited to 4G LTE. Samsung packs in its Samsung Galaxy Buds, giving you a bit more for your money, and offers a Galaxy Premier Service 24/7 dedicated support service by phone, video chat, or in-person visit for the lifetime of the device. Then there’s a one-year limited warranty, and a one-time $150 screen replacement fee if a wrecked display is your fault.The price is our biggest hangup. It’s hard to justify such an exorbitant price for a device that, while supremely cool, clearly isn’t time-tested and feels awfully vulnerable. We’re also kind of disappointed that Cosmos Black and Space Silver are the only two colors – gone are Martian Green and Astro Blue, the two other options from the initial launch lineup.(Image credit: Future)Foldable design and durabilityGalaxy Fold specsWeight: 276gFolded: 62.8 x 160.9 x 17.1mmUnfolded: 117.9 x 160.9 x 7.6mmOS: Android 9Main screen size: 7.3-inchResolution: QXGA+ (2152 x 1536)Cover screen size: 4.6-inchResolution: HD+ (1680 x 720)CPU: Octa-coreRAM: 12GBStorage: 512GBBattery (4G): 4,380mAhBattery (5G): 4,235mAhCover camera: 10MPFront camera: 10MP + 8MPRear camera: 16MP + 12MP + 12MPThe arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Fold gives you the opportunity to own the future of smartphones and tablets, with a 2-in-1 design that just makes sense – if the bendable screen technology holds up.It marries a tall, narrow 4.6-inch ‘cover’ display behind glass on the outside with the foldable, mini-tablet-like 7.3-inch ‘main’ display behind plastic on the inside. Samsung calls this the Infinity Flex Display, and its design really does dazzle.The key to the Galaxy Fold’s book-like foldable design is a 20-part, dual-axis locking hinge that prevents the display from overextending past 180 degrees. Whereas the screen is delicate, the hinge feels like it’s been meticulously engineered to withstand abuse.Opening and closing the Fold feels buttery smooth, and closing it ends with a satisfying magnetic click, like you’ve just closed up a book. Remember what it was like to hang up on people with a flip phone or even an old telephone? That feeling is back – only now, you’ll probably swallow them up in a video call.Also coming back is smartphone heft. In its folded state, the Galaxy Fold is 17.1mm thick and weighs 276g; for comparison, the big-and-heavy Note 10 Plus is just 7.9mm and 196g. However, it’s narrower than you might think, and despite its thickness it isn’t hard to slip into a jeans pocket – it’ll even fit into tight-yet-deep jacket pockets that other phones can’t fit into, although there’s no escaping the fact that it’ll look like you’re packing two phones back-to-back.(Image credit: Future)Unfolded, it’s a reasonable 7.6mm thick. You’ll find a fingerprint sensor, power/Bixby key, and volume rocker on the right (all accessible when the Fold is open or closed), and two speakers at the top and bottom. It’s easy to cover up these powerful Dolby Atmos stereo speakers when you’re playing games or watching videos in landscape orientation. Pro tip: instead of uncomfortably choking up your grip, try rotating the Fold 180 degrees – most apps will rotate just fine.When it’s closed, an all-glass design envelopes the phone’s outside. The glass is slippery, but we found its folded size so easy to grasp that we didn’t feel the need to use the two-piece Aramid Fiber case that came in the box. This ease of handling is one of the things that struck us the most in our testing – while everything else about the Fold has a futuristic vibe, its narrow size took us back to a time when phones were easy to hold in one hand.If you love big screens, but are tired of juggling big phones, this is the biggest phone we’ve tested… and smallest (recent phone) at the same time. It’s an idea that’s been more than 10 years in the making and, as Samsung likes to say, went through 1,000 different prototypes. It’s not a bad start, but there’s surely more innovation to come.Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Future)Screen7.3-inch main display inside and 4.6-inch cover display outsideReading, browsing and gaming look great in 4.2:3 aspect ratioMost movies have letterboxing in 16:9 aspect ratioGreat: HDR10+ and brightness; not great: middle crease and uneven refresh rate Beyond the mesmerizing foldable design, the main display is impressive with only a few technical caveats, illustrating the cutting-edge and its obvious downfalls. The 7.3-inch display makes web browsing 1.4 times bigger than the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, and videos and games can appear 2.2 times bigger if they take up the full screen. It’s the reason to own a foldable phone. Alas, most video in the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio will only be 1.3 times bigger, with big black letterboxing at the top and bottom.We found the big screen better for reading, web browsing, and gaming thanks to its 4.2:3 aspect ratio. This mirrors the traditional 4:3 TVs we did away with 15 years ago, but going back makes sense: it offers a broader view and makes way for Muti-Active Window mode. We had three apps open at once, and it was fairly usable. Samsung has outfitted the Galaxy Fold with HDR10+, which bumps up the contrast ratio considerably on supported video content, and made it bright enough to be solidly visibly outdoors. You will find glare literally shines a light on the middle crease, indoors or outdoors, and you can feel the groove. The good news: like a notch, your brain will ignore it in time.Harder to ignore is the uneven refresh rate. Scroll through a text-filled webpage and you’ll notice the words shift unevenly across the 7.3-inch display. Samsung makes the best phone displays, so this is a compromise we didn’t expect. Its bezel-heavy 4.6-inch Cover Display also shouts “first-gen product”. Yes, the foldable future is great, but it has some obvious pain points you should know about.(Image credit: Future)InterfaceApp Continuity allows you to easily transition between screensMulti-Active Window allows you to have 3 apps open at once Samsung’s fold hardware is only half of the story. Its software was made reactive to the transition from the small phone screen to the larger tablet screen, and it does that fairly well with a feature called App Continuity.Apps Continuity allowed us to browse Chrome, Yelp reviews, and Google Maps while walking with the phone folded, and then seamlessly open up to those same apps on the larger screen when we came to a standstill (usually lost in the wilds of Central Park and needing finer directions in Google Maps). The reverse – keeping apps open when you fold the phone – is also possible, but we had to tick off each app in a display settings submenu. Apps we enabled to go from big screen to small screen included Messages, Slack, Chrome and Google Maps – things we’d want to keep using upon exiting a subway in folded mode. Otherwise, Cover Display ends things and shows the always-on screen (time, date, battery life).Samsung’s says “the possibilities are endless with Multi-Active Window”. That’s true if “endless” is defined by up to three active apps open at once. It’s cramped for sure, but we had a Google Sheet open in the biggest window, a Hangouts call going in a smaller box, and Slack in the tiniest windows to at least see the latest message from our TechRadar team. Sadly, not all apps, including Hangouts Meet, work in Multi-Active Window mode, and creating App Pairs is strangely not a thing on the Samsung Galaxy Fold – yet.(Image credit: Future)PerformanceAs fast as the Galaxy Note 10, but the iPhone 11 series is still faster12GB of RAM does even out having three apps open at once512GB of internal storage, but no microSD slot for any more spaceSamsung Galaxy Fold isn’t going to outpace the performance of current phones, as if this were a specced-out gaming desktop at an absurd price. You’re paying for the screen innovation, not the latest chipset. That said, it matches the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 performance numbers thanks to its use of the Snapdragon 855 chipset.Yes, Samsung could have opted to include the higher-end Snapdragon 855 Plus, but it stuck with the configuration announced in April. More importantly, it has 12GB of RAM that gives it a high yield when multiple apps are open.It earned a multi-core score of 2,598, according to our Geekbench 5 benchmarking tests, with only the iPhone 11 Pro earning noticeably better marks (3,420). Without any noticeable lag, your foldable phone should be good to last – internally at least. The Fold can act as an makeshift tripod when half bent(Image credit: Future)Cameras1 Cover Display camera, 2 inner front cameras, 3 rear camerasOverall quality is very similar to the Galaxy S10 PlusGreat photos with fun filters, although not ‘the best cameras’There are six Samsung Galaxy Fold cameras, and they’re all technically the same as the five S10 Plus and four Note 10 cameras. Let us explain and show you the mix.The Cover Display has a single 10MP selfie camera with a f2.2 aperture, a pixel size of 1.22 microns, and a field of view of 80 degrees. It’s the same configuration as the Note 10 front camera, only it can’t shoot Live Focus video, the Live Focus photos are just okay, and we’ve mostly used it for unlocking the phone when device is closed.When unfolded, the dual front cameras on the inside consist of the same 10MP selfie camera and an 8MP RGB camera (f1.9, 1.12 microns, and 85 degree FoV). The latter is meant for depth-sensing and comes from the S10 Plus dual camera hole-punch (the S10 Plus version is only a hair wider with a 90 degree FoV). We used this for Live Focus selfies with fun filters like the selective black-and-white Color Point mode.Image 1 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold telephoto camera lensImage 2 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lensImage 3 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold ultra-wide camera lensImage 4 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold telephoto camera lens at night (without night mode)Image 5 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lens at night (without night mode)Image 6 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lens at night (WITH night mode)Image 7 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lens Live Filter Color Point modeImage 8 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold selfie camera (tighter Field of View)Image 9 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold selfie camera (wider Field of View)Image 10 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold telephoto camera lensImage 11 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lensImage 12 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold ultra-wide camera lensImage 13 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold telephoto camera lensImage 14 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lensImage 15 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold ultra-wide camera lensImage 16 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lensImage 17 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lens at nightImage 18 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lensImage 19 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold regular camera lens in low-lightImage 20 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold Live Focus mode with Color Point filterImage 21 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold Live Focus mode with Blur filterImage 22 of 22(Image credit: Future)Galaxy Fold Live Focus mode with Color Point filterOn the back of the Fold, the three rear cameras come straight from the S10 Plus: a 12MP regular camera (f/1.5 + f/2.4, 1.4 microns, 77 degree FoV), a 12MP telephoto camera (f2.4, 1 micron, 45 degree FoV), and the ultra-wide camera (f/2.2, 1 micron, 123 degree FoV).Samsung has the best ultra-wide camera, even with the iPhone 11 series getting a very similar 120-degree camera. Sadly, the Fold misses the upgrades that came in the Note 10 and Note 10 Plus: a slightly better f/2.2 telephoto lens, Live Focus video (it’s okay, that mode wasn’t great), and new Live Focus photo filter Big Circles.You’re going to be impressed no matter what with these cameras. The app is robust, yet easy-to-use, and launching it is still a cinch – just double press the power button. Side-by-side photo comparisons show some odd coloring and Night Mode isn’t as bright as in the iPhone 11 Pro, but no one is doing ultra-wides as well nor have filters as good as Color Point, and that makes Samsung’s cameras the most fun to use.(Image credit: Future)BatteryTwo batteries combining for a super-sized 4,380mah capacityWe averaged a day-and-a-half on average, but varied wildlyNot Super Fast Charging compatible like the Note 10 seriesRule of thumb: the bigger the smartphone, the larger the battery capacity. That rule also comes with a caveat: the bigger the screen, the more battery life the phone requires.Samsung’s 4,380mah battery capacity is its largest and so is the 7.3-inch display. The combination of big battery and big screen averaged out to a day-and-a-half of battery life with steady use in our tests. We had the main display open two-thirds of the time, and the Cover Display active one third of the time when we actively used the phone.Subsequent testing proved that we could deplete the battery in a single day by gaming a bunch, binge-watching videos, and running multiple apps at once – basically running screen-on time to the max, the way a power user would on a long-haul flight. Fold battery life varies wildly based on which of the two screens you use and for how long. You might come away with more battery life from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, which consistently lasted us a slightly more than a day-and-half in our tests.Samsung’s Super Fast Charging is the one thing we’re missing, and that’s important for a phone with such a big battery. It comes with a Galaxy S10-era 15W charger, but the 25W charger included with the Note 10 series and the optional 45W charger aren’t just absent – they aren’t even compatible, and won’t benefit this massive phone.(Image credit: Future)Buy it if…You want to impress the world with your phoneYou can be a show off, too! We love talking technology and there was no better conversation starter than the Fold. The bendable screen provides a ‘wow’ factor like no other phone.You want to game on a great big screenWe’re more convinced than ever that mobile games will be the killer app for foldables. Going back to an iPhone afterward felt like we were playing games on a candybar-style feature phone.Don’t buy it if…You can wait for the next foldable phoneWe’re not even going to tell you ‘don’t buy this because it’s expensive’. That’s obvious. Even if you have the money, waiting until 2020 for an inevitable sequel is like a more logical choice.You just know you’ll break this thingOur Fold has survived, but anything could’ve taken it down – more than the usual suspects like keys, water, and sand, too. We’re talking about credit cards or coins lodged in the middle of the folded screen or even excessive pressure.

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