Many people in the tech world consider Apple’s App Store to have been the driving force behind the iPhone’s success. Without it, the iPhone was just another dumb phone trying to be smart. But access to apps via the company’s App Store opened up a whole world of opportunity.
Until now, Apple’s proprietary store was the only way, other than illegal sideloading, for users to download apps onto their iPhones and iPads. But that’s all about to change in Europe, where iOS users will be able to download third-party app stores, starting with the iOS 17.4 update, which was announced on Thursday and is rolling out in March.
This change marks one of the biggest updates to the App Store since Apple first launched it back in 2008. Once users have iOS 17.4 installed on their phones, they’ll be able to download an alternative app store, which has been approved and signed off on by Apple, and they’ll then be able to use it to download other apps onto their device. Apple will even let people set a third-party marketplace as their default app store in the settings of their phone.
These new default app controls extend further than the app store too. For example, when users download iOS 17.4, they’ll be prompted to choose a default browser, which could be an alternative to Safari (Apple already allows people to pick their own default browser, but the prompt is new). Likewise, they’ll be able to choose their own default payment service, as Apple expands developer access to the NFC capabilities on its devices.
The reason this is happening in Europe and not anywhere else is due to a piece of EU legislation called the Digital Markets Act, or DMA, which was adopted back in 2022. The aim of the DMA is to guarantee people in Europe choice when it comes to the digital services they want to use. For tech companies such as Apple, this means creating more of a level playing field, which will allow its rivals to compete with Apple for users’ business and loyalty.
As things currently stand, Apple hasn’t expressed any intention to allow users in the US to download alternative app stores. Right now it’s priority is meeting the EU’s March deadline for compliance with the DMA.
One change that’ll apply worldwide will specifically benefit gamers. For the first time, Apple is opening its App Store to allow game streaming services, provided by the likes of Xbox and GeForce, to offer full-featured apps.
Knowing the risks
Apple’s number one reason for keeping such a tight lock on the app ecosystem has always been security. By manually assessing each and every app allowed on its App Store, it argues that it minimizes the risk that users may accidentally download malware or end up with something nefarious on their iPhones. And, to give the company credit, in all the years of the iPhone’s existence, there has never been a widespread malware attack on iOS.
Apple is clear that while it’s committed to complying with the DMA and has done everything in its power to minimize the risk to users, opening up iOS to third-party app stores is not without risk. For example, once you download an app that had permission to install other apps on your phone that creates a security risk. But Apple has tried to minimize the risk by ensuring that users have as much control as possible over their settings and permissions.
“The changes we’re announcing today comply with the Digital Markets Act’s requirements in the European Union, while helping to protect EU users from the unavoidable increased privacy and security threats this regulation brings,” said Apple Fellow Phil Schiller in a statement. “Our priority remains creating the best, most secure possible experience for our users in the EU and around the world.”
Apple clearly isn’t leaving everything up to chance — it has done all it can to put rigorous safeguards in place — but by loosening its grip on its ecosystem, it does ultimately have less ability to keep you safe from harm.For European iOS users, the higher level of risk is something worth considering if you decide to download a third-party marketplace.
Samsung unveiled the brand new Galaxy S24 Ultra at its Unpacked event. If you’re a Galaxy owner thinking of upgrading, you may wonder how this new flagship phone compares to last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra (especially since you can find the S23 Ultra for less now that the S24 Ultra is available). Or, if you’re trying to decide between Samsung and Apple, you may be curious how the top-of-the-line S24 Ultra compares to the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max. Let’s break down the specs so you can get a better idea of which phone is right for you.
Last year’s S23 Ultra had a starting price of $1,200 after its release in the US and now starts at $875, while the new S24 Ultra starts at $1,300. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, starts at $1,200. So the base S24 Ultra is $100 more than the base 15 Pro Max, and $100 more than its predecessor was upon its release. (See the chart below for UK and Australian pricing.)
Readmore: Best Galaxy S24 Preorder Deals: Take $1,000 Off Samsung’s New Flagship With Early Savings
The S24 Ultra has Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which is designed to support on-device AI processing. More specifically, the S24 Ultra has a suite of generative artificial intelligence features, which the company calls “Galaxy AI.” You can, for example, live-translate calls, turn videos shot at normal speed into slow-motion videos or remove unwanted shadows from your photos. CNET’s experts will evaluate all of these AI features in our testing.
We also saw AI photo editing tools in Google’s Pixel 8 series. There’s a Best Take feature, for example, that allows you to swap your favorite facial expression from a sequence of pictures into another photo from the same sequence where you perhaps don’t like your expression as much.
Read more: Google Pixel 8’s ‘Best Take’ Levels Up AI-Enhanced Photos
The S23 Ultra uses last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It doesn’t have Galaxy AI yet, but is expected to get it eventually. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has Apple’s latest A17 Pro chip but doesn’t currently have any generative AI photo editing tools like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Google Pixel 8 line. I’m interested to see if the iPhone will ever get features like these, especially because AI is such a buzzword right now.
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The S23 Ultra runs on Android 13 which will get four years of software and security updates. The S24 Ultra runs on Android 14 which will support 7 years of these updates. The 15 Pro Max runs on iOS 17, and while Apple doesn’t disclose how long it will support its phones with software updates, iOS 17 currently works on models dating back to the 2018 iPhone XS and XR.
Read more: Best Phone to Buy for 2024
The base S23 Ultra comes with 256GB of storage and either 8 or 12GB of RAM. You can also upgrade to 512GB or 1TB storage options, both with 12GB of RAM. The S24 Ultra comes with the same storage options, but all of them have 12GB of RAM. So Samsung has eliminated the 8GB RAM option on its base S24 Ultra model. While Apple doesn’t disclose the RAM on its iPhones, the 15 Pro Max comes with the same storage options as the S23 and S24 Ultra: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
All three of these phones have a USB-C port, which is a big deal because all iPhones before the iPhone 15 series either had Lightning ports or 30-pin connectors. The S23 and S24 Ultra support 45-watt fast charging, while the 15 Pro Max supports 27W fast charging. All three phones offer wireless charging, but the Ultras also support reverse wireless charging so you can juice up other devices from the back of these phones. All three phones come with charging cables, but none of them include a charger brick in the box.
The S23 and S24 Ultra have a 5,000-mAh battery. In her S23 Ultra review, CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco found that after 12 hours of use (using the phone to take photos and videos, check her email and socials and stream music), her battery was at 66%. The new model is supposed to have a stronger battery because of its new chip, so we look forward to putting the S24 Ultra’s battery to the test. Apple doesn’t disclose battery capacity, but says the 15 Pro Max has an “all-day battery life” with “up to 29 hours of video playback.” In his 15 Pro Max review, CNET’s Patrick Holland found that after 15 hours of use, the phone usually had 20% to 25% battery left.
The S23 and S24 Ultra both come with the S Pen stylus that you can store inside the phone. I’d love to see something like this for the iPhone, but it doesn’t exist at the moment. Maybe one day. (Tim Cook, I hope you’re reading this.)
The S23 and S24 Ultra both have a 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a 1 to 120Hz variable refresh rate that changes based on how you’re using your phone. So if you’re doing something with lots of screen movement, like playing a video game, the refresh rate will increase. But if you switch to an activity that doesn’t take a lot of movement, like reading an article, the refresh rate will go down. The 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED display and also has a variable refresh rate of 1 to 120Hz.
The S23 and S24 Ultra phones don’t have a notch. They just have a hole-punch camera at the top of the screen. The 15 Pro Max does have a notch in the form of the Dynamic Island, a shape-shifting cutout that allows you to view updates from apps like Maps without needing to have them open.
As for how these phones will feel in-hand, the S23 Ultra is 8.9 millimeters thick, the S24 Ultra is 8.6 millimeters thick and the 15 Pro Max is 8.25-millimeters thick. The S23 Ultra has an aluminum frame and weighs 234 grams. The S24 Ultra and 15 Pro Max have titanium frames and weigh 233 grams and 221 grams, respectively. So the 23 Ultra is slightly thicker and heavier than the S24 Ultra and 15 Pro Max, and it has an aluminum frame (rather than titanium).
The S23 and S24 Ultra cameras are similar. Both phones have a four-camera system with identical selfie, ultrawide, wide and 3x telephoto cameras. Each phone also has another telephoto camera for extreme distance shots. The one on the S23 Ultra is 10 megapixels with a 10x optical zoom, while the one on the S24 Ultra is 50 megapixels with a 5x optical zoom. So the S23 and S24 Ultra cameras are basically the same except for that new 50-megapixel, 5x telephoto camera, which is supposed to take sharper zoom photos.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, has a three camera system. There’s a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. And for your selfies, there’s a 12-megapixel front camera. So both the S24 Ultra and the 15 Pro Max have a 5x optical zoom, but the sensor on the S24 Ultra has a higher resolution. Stay tuned for our camera tests to see how the S24 Ultra camera performs in real life, especially against the 15 Pro Max.
For more on how the Galaxy S23 and S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max compare, check out our specs chart below.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 29 hours of video playback (25 hours streamed)
Fingerprint sensor
Under display
Under display
None (Face ID)
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
None
None
None
Special features
Titanium frame, 2,600-nit screen; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7
5G (Sub6, mmWave); IP68 water resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; 100x Space Zoom; 10x optical zoom; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging
The OnePlus 12 impressed us already with its powerful performance and epic battery life, but if its $800 starting price is too steep, you might want to look toward the $500 or 649 (roughly AU$1,250) OnePlus 12R. This cheaper alternative to the flagship shares some of its pricier sibling’s visual cues, along with a capacious battery. Yet it makes some key tradeoffs to achieve its more affordable starting price.
It runs on a slightly older Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor — rather than the brand new 8 Gen 3 chip found in the flagship — so you can expect different performance here. It also has a pared-back camera setup, featuring a 50-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel camera with a macro lens. I’ve used similar low-resolution macro lenses on previous OnePlus phones (including the 10T) and often find them essentially redundant.
Read more: Best Android Phone of 2024
Both these tradeoffs are absolutely to be expected for a more budget-focused phone, but what I find less excusable is the shorter support period. OnePlus offers only three years of software updates and four years of security updates on the OnePlus 12R — a year less of each than the company offers on the standard OnePlus 12. Longer support means your phone will remain usable for longer, which is better for you and better for the planet.
Intentionally offering shorter support periods on its cheaper model is a disappointing stance for OnePlus to take here, as it suggests that sustainability is a premium offering only available to those willing to spend more on the top model. I already argued that OnePlus needs to offer longer support on the OnePlus 12, as both Samsung and Google offer at least seven years of support on their higher-end phones. And even Samsung’s more midrange $599 Galaxy S23 FE is getting four years of software updates and five years of security updates. At the very least I’d want to see OnePlus offer the same support periods on both phones, but ideally take that even further to remain competitive with its rivals.
On the upside, the phone packs a whopping 5,500-mAh battery, which is even bigger than the one found in the OnePlus 12. The 12 put in some of the best results I’ve ever seen on our battery drain tests, so it’ll be interesting to see how the 12R fares here. While it’s easy to think that a bigger battery will last longer, it’s important to keep in mind that the OnePlus 12’s cutting-edge 8 Gen 3 chip will offer different power efficiency over the older 8 Gen 2 in the 12R.
The 12R sports a frosted glass back, which I find offers a sturdy, premium feel when you hold it. The 6.78-inch display looks very bright and vibrant in my testing so far, and it offers the same wet-touch tech seen on the 12 that allows the screen to still be responsive even when wet.
Other key features include IP64 water resistance, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, 80-watt fast charging (in the US, 100W in the UK), and a vapor-chamber cooling system to help keep the processor running at full whack during demanding tasks like gaming. Unlike the OnePlus 12, the 12R doesn’t come with wireless charging.
I’m still testing the OnePlus 12R so I’ll reserve my judgment on it for the full review. But so far it seems like a capable phone with a reasonable price. While it’s no flagship killer, it’s got a solid lineup of specs for those of you looking for a good all-around Android phone that doesn’t require emptying your bank.
OnePlus 12 and 12R Have an Elegant but Familiar Design
4,500-nit peak brightness; 4 years of software and 5 years of security updates; 80W wired charging (100W wired charging outside US); 50W wireless charging with fan dock; IP65 water and dust resistance; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; Gorilla Glass 5 back glass
100W wired charging outside US; IP64 water and dust resistance; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.Reviews ethics statement
Lisa EadiciccoSenior Editor
Lisa Eadicicco is a senior editor for CNET covering mobile devices. She has been writing about technology for almost a decade. Prior to joining CNET, Lisa served as a senior tech correspondent at Insider covering Apple and the broader consumer tech industry. She was also previously a tech columnist for Time Magazine and got her start as a staff writer for Laptop Mag and Tom’s Guide.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.Read how we test products and services.
Some Galaxy AI features aren’t exclusive to S24 series
No specific S24 Ultra Galaxy AI features
With the press of a button, all the text messages sent between myself and my husband over the past couple of days were translated into French. I didn’t have to highlight specific words or message bubbles, nor did I have to copy and paste text between apps. Once I hit the “Chat translation” button on the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s screen, the words were translated instantly as I scrolled through our message history.
It’s one of several new features on the Galaxy S24 lineup that are part of Galaxy AI, a collection of productivity, communication and content creation tools powered by generative artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence has been the buzzword du jour in the tech world ever since ChatGPT became an overnight hit in late 2022, and it’s tempting to write off Galaxy AI as another attempt to cash in on the hype. And that may be true to some degree.
But using the Galaxy S24 Ultra for the past couple of days convinced me there’s some promise behind the excitement. While the vast majority of Galaxy AI features feel familiar rather than groundbreaking, Samsung’s real-time translation technology and Circle to Search — a feature it created in partnership with Google — feel genuinely useful.
The problem for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which launches on Jan. 31 starting at $1,300 ( 1,249, AU$2,199), is that you don’t need Samsung’s high-end phone to use these features. They’re available across all Galaxy S24 devices and will come to the previous-generation Galaxy S23 lineup, too. Circle to Search is also coming to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, both of which are notably cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Read more: Best Phone to Buy for 2024
When I reviewed the Galaxy S23 Ultra last year, I called it “the king of extra.” That still applies to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It’s the Ultra’s giant screen, embedded S Pen and ridiculously long digital camera zoom that truly separate it from the regular Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, not Samsung’s new AI features. Samsung gave the Galaxy S24 Ultra a fresh coat of paint with its new titanium design and flatter screen, along with a sharper 50-megapixel zoom camera that can take crisper photos at 5x magnification. Perhaps most importantly, the entire Galaxy S24 lineup will get seven generations of Android version upgrades like the Pixel 8 lineup, marking a big step up from Samsung’s previous four-year pledge.
Aside from its new AI tricks, the Galaxy S24 Ultra ultimately feels like a slightly upgraded version of last year’s phone. Samsung also missed an opportunity to make its top-of-the-line phone stand out from the rest of the S24 lineup with Galaxy AI features that are tailored specifically to the Ultra.
Galaxy AI: Language translation and Circle to Search shine
Galaxy AI spans everything from text messaging to Samsung’s apps for note-taking, voice recording, web browsing and the camera. Many of these features feel like tools we’ve seen from Google and Microsoft throughout 2023, but optimized for Samsung smartphones. Galaxy AI can, for example, organize notes in the Notes app into neat bullet points. Its web browser can summarize news articles, while the Voice Recorder app offers transcription summaries broken down by speaker. You can also translate any of these types of content into different languages.
These features should sound familiar to anyone who has been following Google’s AI developments over the past year. That’s intentional: Samsung worked closely with Google on certain Galaxy AI features and is even using the company’s underlying technology to power some tools like the ability to summarize transcriptions, notes and webpages, rewrite text messages in a different tone and remove or rearrange objects in photos.
Read more: Your Future Phone Will Likely Be Smarter, Faster and More Bendy
But the execution isn’t typically the same. Take Samsung’s Generative Edit and Google’s Magic Edit as an example. Both tools let you select an object in a photo and either erase or move that object to your liking, but they can produce different results.
Sometimes one version will patch up the background after removing an object, while the other will substitute the unwanted object with another similar-looking structure that fits into the background. Google’s tool provides a few options to choose from when providing the result, while Samsung only provides one, but watermarks the new photo to clarify that it was altered using Generative Edit.
Of all the Galaxy AI features, there are two that impressed me the most: language translation and Circle to Search. While apps like Google Translate have existed for years, having translation built into the keyboard and phone app makes the whole process feel more natural.
In addition to the French example I mentioned earlier, I used Samsung’s translation features to text with a coworker who speaks Korean. As soon as she sent me a text in Korean, a prompt to translate the message to English appeared in the Messages app. I typed my response in English in a separate text box below the messaging field, and within seconds my words, translated into Korean, appeared in the message box.
Features like these could be extremely useful for anyone who travels a lot, has family members who speak a different language or that frequently work with colleagues or clients in different parts of the world.
Circle to Search is another practical tool that has the potential to make certain tasks more convenient by preventing the need to switch between apps as often. It’s self explanatory; just circle an object on screen that you’d like to learn more about, and the Galaxy S24 will launch a Google search for that item or location.
I have to admit, it’s hard to fight the instinct to open Chrome or the Google app and just type in my search query the traditional way. But Circle to Search works impressively well so far. I circled images of pesto pasta in my Instagram feed to find recipes and nearby restaurants. Circling a photo of a dress that I liked in my Instagram feed also pulled up similar pieces. Dragging my finger around characters from an animated TV series I recently finished watching resulted in news stories and YouTube videos about those characters, although Google warns that search results for actual people may be limited.
Shopping is the most obvious use case, but there are other ways it could be useful. Circling my character in Diablo Immortals pulled up a search result about my character’s class, for example, which could be helpful for new players. But this experience wasn’t consistent. When I tried to reproduce that result on a separate occasion, I got links to websites and videos about other games like Final Fantasy and Genshin Impact. Depending on how Circle to Search evolves, I feel like there are opportunities for it to be much more helpful.
Another favorite feature of mine is Instant Slow-mo, which lets me preview any video in my gallery in slow motion just by pressing and holding the clip. It’s not a game-changer, but it’s fun to play around with nonetheless. My only complaint is that it’s not always easy to see how to save the clip in slow motion. You can do so by tapping the pencil icon below the video clip, but I wish there was a way to just save it directly from the preview mode.
However, not all Galaxy AI features feel as valuable, and the writing style tool in the Messages app falls into that bucket. It essentially feels like a Samsung-customized version of Google’s Magic Compose, and it’s based on Google’s technology. The tool can rewrite text messages in a different tone, with options including professional, casual, social, polite and emojify.
When I chose the casual option, which sounds the most like my usual tone, my husband thought the message sounded strange and unlike me. I could possibly see the polite or professional option being helpful if you’re sending a message to a work colleague, but other options like emojify and social just pepper your words with hashtags and emojis.
The summarize option in Samsung’s Notes app has a cap at 8,000 characters, meaning it couldn’t sum up the entire 1,475-word script (which was around 8,400 characters) I had written for my Galaxy S24 Ultra video review. While I understand that most people aren’t jotting down lengthy notes on their phones, long documents like these are the ones that need summarizing the most.
Overall, Galaxy AI seems to be off to a promising start, although its long-term usefulness will depend on where Samsung and Google take it, and whether the existing features actually resonate with people. The fine print on Samsung’s product page for the Galaxy S24 Ultra hints that it could eventually charge for such features after 2025, although the company hasn’t said how much. While I’m glad Samsung isn’t making you pay for the most expensive model to get Galaxy AI, I wish it offered a few extra Galaxy AI features specifically for the Ultra. Doing so could have made the Ultra’s high price a little easier to swallow, especially given Samsung’s emphasis on productivity and creative tools with Galaxy AI.
The Galaxy S24’s camera has a crisper 5x zoom
Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra phones are known for their zoom prowess, with the Ultra capable of zooming up to 100x digitally. But this time around, Samsung realized that quality matters over quantity. It replaced the 10-megapixel sensor that zooms at 10x on the S23 Ultra with a sharper 50-megapixel camera that specializes in 5x zoom, with the goal being to provide crisper results even at a shorter magnification.
Samsung succeeds in that regard, although you’ll have to look closely to spot the differences between photos from the Galaxy S24 Ultra and last year’s S23 Ultra. Take these photos of houseplants below as an example, both of which were taken at 5x zoom. They look the same at first glance, but when you examine them more closely, you can tell that the Galaxy S24 Ultra preserved more detail. I zoomed in more and cropped a section of it so that you could see the difference.
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S24 Ultra also captured more detail at 5x zoom than the iPhone 15 Pro, although Apple’s photo is brighter. An image taken on Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, however, was crisper at 5x zoom than both Samsung and Apple’s.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Pixel 8 Pro
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera specifications are otherwise largely the same as the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s, though Samsung increased the size of the pixels, which should mean the S24 Ultra’s sensor can absorb more light.
As a result, I found that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is good at handling mixed and dim lighting environments, such as a cocktail bar or a friend’s living room. Even if the S24 Ultra’s photo wasn’t always the brightest of the bunch when compared to the S23 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro and Google Pixel 8 Pro, it preserved a good amount of detail in these dark settings. When it comes to general image quality, the Galaxy S24 Ultra did a better job of making skin tones and colors look more natural compared to the S23 Ultra.
It’s hard to say whether the S24 Ultra is the best camera phone overall, since image quality can be subject to interpretation and depends on your preference. In my experience, each phone succeeded in their own way.
Check out the gallery below for more photos taken on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Camera
Galaxy S24 Ultra design, performance and battery life
The Galaxy S24 Ultra looks a lot like the S23 Ultra, but with some subtle yet important differences. There’s titanium in the design, and the screen now has flatter edges that make it easier to grip. Samsung also boosted the screen brightness to 2,600 nits, which is brighter than the S23 Ultra’s 1,750-nit screen on paper, but not as luminous as the OnePlus 12’s 4,500-nit peak brightness.
However, in everyday use, I couldn’t see much of a difference between the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s screen at maximum brightness and the S23 Ultra’s. Maybe the change will be more noticeable in bright sunlight; it’s been overcast and somewhat gloomy in New York and San Jose, California, the two cities I’ve spent time in while reviewing the S24 Ultra.
The Galaxy S24 lineup runs on a version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor optimized for Samsung’s devices, and it felt as snappy and smooth as you’d expect of a phone at this price. Language translations, which are processed on-device rather than in the cloud, happen quickly; games like Diablo Immortal and Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat run smoothly; and scrolling around the interface feels responsive and speedy.
Samsung is also making a big deal about the Galaxy S24’s ray-tracing capabilities, which should make shadows and reflections in games look more lifelike. Samsung cited Diablo Immortal, Racing Master, Arena Breakout and Night Crows as early examples of ray-tracing-optimized games. I didn’t see much of a difference when playing Arena Breakout on the Galaxy S24 Ultra alongside the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which does not support ray tracing. I’m not sure if Diablo Immortal has been updated to take advantage of the S24 Ultra’s ray tracing yet, but I noticed a difference regardless. Shadowy areas had more definition and contrast on the S24 Ultra compared to the Pixel 8 Pro, which made the game look a bit hazy by comparison.
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra beat last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra and Pixel 8 Pro, the latter of which runs on Google Tensor G3 processor, in benchmarks I ran that measure general computing and graphics performance. But the OnePlus 12 surpassed the S24 Ultra on 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, the graphics-oriented benchmark, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max beat Samsung’s new phone in general computing benchmarks (but not 3DMark).
Battery life is solid so far, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra easily able to make it through more than a day on a single charge. But it’ll depend on how you’re using the phone. On a day that mostly involved browsing Instagram and Google, sending text messages, taking photos and streaming Spotify for about 30 minutes with the screen brightness set low, I still had 69% of my battery left after about 15 and a half hours of use.
After a busy workday, during which I streamed music for part of my commute (about 15 minutes), streamed video for about 25 minutes, frequently checked email and social media, and used my phone as it searched for cell service underground on the subway, I had 55% of my battery left after about 13 and a half hours of use. Playing games, processing some Generative Edit photos and turning up the brightness also drained the battery faster in my experience. We’ll update this review with CNET’s battery tests soon.
Overall thoughts
At $1,300, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is hard to recommend unless you really want a giant screen, a camera with a wide range of zoom options and the S Pen. These are the features that truly distinguish Samsung’s high-end phone from the less expensive Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus. Galaxy AI is also coming to the Galaxy S23 series, and Google’s Pixel 8 family will get Circle to Search, which means there’s nothing about Galaxy AI that stands out on the Galaxy S24 Ultra specifically.
A device like the Galaxy S24 Ultra that’s already geared towards productivity thanks to its large screen and S Pen seems like a prime candidate for extra Galaxy AI features, so hopefully we’ll see more in a future update. Circle to Search and Generative Edit are easier to use with the S Pen, but that alone isn’t enough to justify the higher price.
Otherwise, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s sharper 50-megapixel telephoto camera, speedy new processor and seven years of software updates make it a solid upgrade for those coming from an older Samsung phone — if you can stomach the high price.
How we test phones
Every phone tested by CNET’s reviews team is actually used in the real world. We test a phone’s features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it’s bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water-resistance. We push the processor’s performance to the extremes, using standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark as well as our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates.
All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using the phone daily as well as running a series of battery drain tests.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 23 hours of video playback (20 hours streamed)
Fingerprint sensor
Under display
Under display
Under display
None (Face ID)
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
None
None
None
None
Special features
Titanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cover glass
4 years of OS updates, 5G (Sub6, mmWave); IP68 water resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; 100x Space Zoom; 10x optical zoom; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging
5G (Sub 6, mmWave); VPN by Google One; 7 years of OS, security and Feature Drop updates; front-facing camera has autofocus; 13W Qi wireless charging; 30W wired charging; USB-3.2 speeds via USB-C; IP68 dust and water resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back
Whenever we think of smartwatches the Apple Watch tends to be one of the first to come to mind. The 1st-gen Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 7 might not be the latest and greatest models, but they’re still a great way to put an Apple Watch on your wrist without spending a lot of money. And right now you can save big when buying a cellular model from Woot.
This deal is offering cellular Apple Watch SE models from just $180 and the Apple Watch Series 7, again with cellular connectivity, from just $320. None of these deals require that you enter any codes or clip any coupons, but you do need to consider placing an order soon — Woot says that its new Apple Watch sale will end at midnight CT on Jan. 30, or when supplies run dry.
Both of these Apple Watches are available in multiple size configurations and colors. We’d suggest making sure to check the options before you place an order to make sure you get the one to suit your needs and preferences.
With both models featuring cellular connectivity, you can take your Apple Watch and leave your iPhone at home while still making calls, answering messages, and using your apps. Just note that you’ll need an active cellular plan for the device to make the most of this iPhone-free usage.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is the better option if you want to be able to see the time without raising your wrist thanks to support for an always-on display, but the Apple Watch SE is a great starter smartwatch especially if you’re buying for a child. Both models are swimproof and great for tracking activities, sleep, and more.
As great as these two models are, there are newer models on the market. Make sure to check out our list of the best Apple Watch deals if you’re in the market for one of those instead.
Google laid out updates coming to a range of Pixel phones on Thursday, including bringing the AI-powered Circle to Search feature to the Pixel 8 series and adding the ability to take a person’s body temperature with the Pixel 8 Pro’s Thermometer app.
As part of its latest Pixel software drop, Google said Photomoji — a feature that lets people turn a photo into a sticker for reactions in messaging threads — is coming to the Pixel 3A and newer models.
Circle to Search, an AI tool revealed at last week’s Samsung Unpacked event on Galaxy S24 series phones, should now be available on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. It was developed in partnership with Samsung and allows you to search for almost anything on your phone’s screen just by circling it.
Read more: Best Android Phone of 2024
The Pixel 8 Pro, Google’s only phone with a built in temperature sensor, can now take your temperature — or someone else’s. You simply open the app and scan a person’s forehead. The results can even be saved to your Fitbit profile. When the Pixel 8 Pro launched in October, it noticeably lacked the ability to record a person’s body temperature and could take the temperature of only food and objects.
Lastly, another generative AI feature, Magic Compose, is coming to certain Pixel phones. It can help you rewrite a message draft in different styles and tones to make it read more professional, concise or even Shakespearean. The feature comes to Pixel 8 Pro in US English as well as the Pixel 6 and newer phones in Spanish, French, German, Korean and Italian.
Speaking of Pixel phones, Google will now offer the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro in a new mint color that is available only at the Google Store and Google Fi Wireless.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Camera
OnePlus has consistently impressed us with its high-performance flagships that come in at a lower price point than much of the competition. The company’s latest flagship, the OnePlus 12, just launched Jan. 23, and if you’re an Android fan hoping to preorder the new device, we’ve got you covered. OnePlus isn’t as widely available as other brands, but there are some preorder deals that can help you save on an upgrade — especially for those of you with an older device to trade in.
The OnePlus 12 offers several upgrades over its predecessor, the OnePlus 11, and the most significant ones are internal changes. For example, this device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a top-tier processor that will improve overall performance. The baseline RAM has also been upped to 12GB from last year’s 8GB, and the minimum storage has doubled to 256GB from the OnePlus 11’s 128GB. And the OnePlus 12 has a 5,400-mAh battery, an improvement over the 5,000-mAh battery of its predecessor.
How much does the OnePlus 12 cost?
OnePlus is infamous for offering some of the most affordable flagship devices on the market. The OnePlus 12 follows in this tradition with prices coming in under a grand.
The base model offers 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for $800, or you can grab the more robust model, which sports 512GB of storage and 16GB for RAM for just $100 more.
What colors does the OnePlus 12 come in?
OnePlus doesn’t usually offer a lot of choice when it comes to color variations. The OnePlus 12 is available in two shades, silky black and flowy emerald.
Defending champ Aryna Sabalenka takes on world number four Coco Gauff in what looks set to be a thrilling Australian Open semifinal match up.
Sabalenka will be looking to gain revenge for her defeat to Gauff last year in New York in the US Open final and comes into this match off the back of five successive straight set victories.
Gauff’s path to the final four has been less smooth, with the American star having to battle her way past Marta Kostyuk in a scrappy three-set affair to set up this much anticipated rematch.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch this match live wherever you are in the world.
Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka: When and where?
The 2024 Australian Open Women’s semifinal match between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka takes place on Thursday, Jan. 24 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park at 7:30 p.m. AEDT local time. That makes it a 3:30 a.m. ET, 12:30 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada, and an 8:30 a.m. start in the UK.
How to watch the Australian Open 2024 online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the tournament locally, you may need a different way to watch games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. If your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Livestream Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka in the US
Tennis fans in the US can watch every remaining singles match of the Australian Open on ESPN. If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch the match with a live TV streaming service. All five of the major services offer ESPN.
All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
Coverage is also available via the network’s streaming service ESPN Plus.
Livestream Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka in the UK
Rights to show this year’s tournament in the UK are with pay TV network Sky Sports. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream games via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the tournament.
Livestream Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka in Australia for free
Tennis fans Down Under can watch live coverage of this match on free-to-air Channel 9. That also means you’ll be able to watch the action online via the network’s streaming service 9Now.
Stream Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka in Canada
Live coverage of the Australian Open will be available in Canada via TSN. Cord cutters can watch via the network’s streaming service TSN Plus.
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Lori GruninSenior Editor / Advice
I’ve been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I’m currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I’ve also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
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Excellent high 1080p/mid 1440p-quality performance as long as you don’t care about ray tracing
DisplayPort 2.1 support
Cons
Card may be too long or too tall to fit comfortably into smaller systems
Cards using AMD’s XT graphics chips are analogous to Nvidia’s Ti versions: Generally the same, but designed to draw more power in order to eke more performance out of it where possible. AMD’s Radeon RX 7600 XT fills the slot just above the RX 7600, starting at roughly $50 more ($330), though more powerful cards like the XFX Speedster Qick309 RX 7600 XT I’ve tested can come at a slightly higher premium. In the Qick’s case, that means $350.
The Qick309 has a smaller, cheaper sibling, the $330 Swft210 It’s got two fans instead of three and tops out at lower clock speeds. That also means it doesn’t draw as much power and gets by with a single 8-pin power connection instead of two, like the Qick. (AMD doesn’t make its own card for this GPU.)
There’s a decent performance gap, at least with the between the Qick309 and the RX 7600 I reviewed last year, though not across the board. The extra 8GB that the XT offers over the other chip partially allows for higher quality settings in both 1080p and 1440p, and the extra power can make some games tip over to playable in 4K, as long as you’re willing to use AMD’s upscaling and optimization software.
XFX Speedster Qick309 Radeon RX 7600 XT specs
Memory
16GB GDDR6
Memory bandwidth (GBps)
288 (effective 476.9)
Memory clock (GHz)
2.25
GPU clock (GHz, game/boost)
2.539/2.810
Memory data rate/Interface
18Gbps/128 bits
Compute units and Ray accelerators
32
Streaming multiprocessors
2,048
AI accelerators
64
Process
6nm
Total board power (watts)
190 (165w TGP)
Max thermal (degrees)
212F/100C
Connectors
3 x DP 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Bus
PCIe 4.0×8
Size
2.5 slots; 11.9 x 4.5 in (302 x 114mm)
Launch price
$350
Ship date
January 24, 2024
The smaller size and lesser power draw of the Swft model make it more suitable for upgrading compact systems over the three-fan model. But given the minimal $20 price difference, it seems like that may be its only advantage; with 16GB VRAM, at the very least the 7600 XT is likely to last you longer.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to that extra cost, it’s a more complicated decision, because the alternative is a card using the cheaper (about $300) and less powerful GeForce RTX 4060 — unless you see ray tracing or other games that use DirectX 12 Ultimate for its higher-quality effects.
Unsurprisingly, the Qick309 7600XT and the Qick319 7700 XT I reviewed in September 2023 have extremely similar designs. The model number indicates the number and size of fans, so the 7600 XT has three 90mm fans, where the RX 7700 XT had two 100mm fans and one 90mm. The 7600 XT really doesn’t need those two, which are positioned to more strongly move warm air away from the center of the card; even three fans seems overkill, since it didn’t get very hot (though it might if you overclock it).
The 7600 XT otherwise has the same solid backplate that acts as a heat spreader, miles of those sharp metal fins for a heat sink and lots of open space for airflow. Though it’s still a lot smaller than than the 7700 XT, it’s still a bit big and may not work as an upgrade in a small- to mid-size system. When installing, I found the two power connectors really tight and a little too close to each other to easily maneuver and ended up having to reopen my system and more aggressively reseat the plugs. That’s less of a gripe than a troubleshooting tip, unless you’re constantly swapping cards like me.
Like all models in the RX 7000 series, the card has support for DisplayPort 2.1, which has the necessary bandwidth to support 165Hz at 8K and 12 bits per color (up from 10 bits) for HDR, and to enable full gamut coverage of Rec.2020 or up to 480Hz in 4K. That’s a link bandwidth of up to 54Gbps, up from 20Gbps in DP 1.4a, which Nvidia’s cards still use. I can’t imagine trying to play in 8K with one of the RX 7600 series, but more bandwidth for HDR is always welcome.
The RX 7600 XT’s performance is pretty much exactly where you’d expect it to be relative to its siblings and its competition. Gaming at 1080p and 1440p at typical “high” quality settings, which don’t burden on VRAM, runs about the same as the 8GB RX 7600. At 4K or more “ultra” quality levels, including raytracing, the gap between the cards widens — but I wouldn’t buy the RX 7600 XT expecting to play at 4K without a lot of compromise, like sub-60fps frame rates and/or obviously lesser quality.
There are fewer than a handful of games that already support AMD’s latest FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 (with Fluid Motion Frames), so you’ll likely end up using the less optimal driver-based version if you want upscaling and performance optimizing, or use earlier versions of FSR that are built-into some games. The software version definitely delivers a lift, but it’s not necessarily enough to knock the frame rates up a class. It does occasionally tip it over, though, like pushing it to 75fps from 53fps in Guardians of the Galaxy.
I do find that much of an upscale — from 1440p to 4K — ends up looking oversharpened, with concomitant aliasing (rolling edges) on thin lines that I can never unsee. But I’m a lot more picky about sharpening then a lot of people, and it’s one of those things that people tend to like more when it’s “wrong” than when it’s right. And you can reduce it.
The 7600 XT’s 16GB of VRAM does give it an edge over the 7600 with some types of nongame graphics at 4K resolution, but it’s still fundamentally choked by having the same memory bandwidth and using only four PCI lanes rather than the eight used by cards one class up.
In one of the fewer-than-a-handful of games where FSR 3 has been incorporated, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, it still typically ran at less than 60fps upscaling to 4K in Quality mode and ended up backing down a quality level. Even at the FSR Quality setting, I saw some annoying (but not critical) artifacts, though it’s possible that’s the game too.
On the upside, if you’ve got an RX 6000 series card you’re just tolerating, give FSR3 in AMD’s Adrenalin software a try. Maybe you can live with it for another year. I haven’t tested it with one of those RDNA cards, though, so I don’t know what performance is really like.
AMD’s RNDA 3 (used by the RX 7000 series) still lags Nvidia at games that use DX12 Ultimate because it’s still not up to performance par on some of the algorithms used by that programming interface not just ray tracing but optimization tools like mesh shaders. If you’re more interested in higher resolution and/or faster frame rates than the better lighting and reflections ray tracing enables, then don’t worry about it.
This is a solid price/performance option if you want to upgrade to 1440p, but you’ll have to replace it once you start to yearn for 4K.
RX 7600 XT1,913RX 76001,955RTX 30602,157A750 LE2,366RTX 4060 Ti (8GB)3,181RTX 40704,479
Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
Test system configuration
Custom PC
Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (22H2/23H2); 3.2GHz Intel Core i9-12900K; 32GB DDR5-4800; 2x Corsair MP600 Pro SSD; Corsair HX1200 80 Plus Platinum PSU, MSI MPG Z690 Force Wi-Fi motherboard, Corsair 4000D Airflow midtower case
Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska will be hoping her fairy-tale run at the Australian Open can extend to the final as she takes on Qinwen Zheng in this last-four clash at the Rod Laver Arena.
Yastremska — a former world No. 21 — entered this year’s tournament as a qualifier but has glided her way to the semi-finals after impressive wins over seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova and two-time Aussie Open champ Victoria Azarenka.
She now faces Chinese star Zheng, whose exploits in Melbourne are set to earn her a place in the world’s top 10 for the first time. The 21-year-old fought back from a set down to beat Anna Kalinskaya in her quarterfinal to set up today’s intriguingmatch-up.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch this match live wherever you are in the world.
Dayana Yastremska vs. Qinwen Zheng: When and where?
The 2024 Australian Open Women’s semifinal match between Dayana Yastremska and Qinwen Zheng takes place on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park at an expected time of 8:45 p.m. AEDT local time. That makes it a 4:45 a.m. ET, 1:45 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada, and a 9:45 a.m. start in the UK.
How to watch the Australian Open 2024 online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the tournament locally, you may need a different way to watch games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. If your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Livestream Dayana Yastremska vs. Qinwen Zheng in the US
Tennis fans in US can watch every remaining singles match of the Australian Open on ESPN. If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can watch the match with a live TV streaming service. All five of the major services offer ESPN.
All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
Coverage is also available via the network’s streaming service ESPN Plus.
Livestream Dayana Yastremska vs. Qinwen Zheng in the UK
Rights to show this year’s tournament in the UK are with pay TV network Sky Sports. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream games via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the tournament.
Livestream Dayana Yastremska vs. Qinwen Zheng in Australia for free
Tennis fans Down Under can watch live coverage of this match on free-to-air Channel 9. That also means you’ll be able to watch the action online via the network’s streaming service 9Now.
Stream Dayana Yastremska vs. Qinwen Zheng in Canada
Live coverage of the Australian Open will be available in Canada via TSN. Cord cutters can watch via the network’s streaming service TSN Plus.
