Google searches on certain premium Android phones are going to get substantially more powerful, thanks to the new Circle to Search feature, the company said in a press release Wednesday. The feature lets you pull up Google while using any app; circle or highlight any text or object; and, with the power of AI, instantly get search results about that text or object. This enhanced version of visual search will launch on the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 line of phones on Jan. 31.
Circle to Search, as the name suggests, lets you circle any object to search for it. For example, if you see a TikTok featuring funky-looking corn dogs, you can swipe up to bring up the Google app and circle the food item with your finger. Using AI, Google will give you the brief on Korean corn dogs. The AI can also explain the cultural relevance of Korean food in the current gastronomical zeitgeist.
The power here isn’t only being able to search any object or text you see on your screen but doing so without having to fumble between multiple apps.
This announcement coincides with Samsung’s announcement today of the same feature coming to the new Galaxy S24 line of phones. At the moment, other phones with this more powerful in-app version of Google Search haven’t been announced.
Google’s continued love affair with AI comes after ChatGPT upended its Search mojo in late 2022. When ChatGPT launched, the AI chatbot could seemingly answer any question with unique answers. Compared with a standard Google search, which brings up lists of websites requiring you to filter and find relevant information, ChatGPT did that for you. Both Google and Microsoft were quick to introduce AI chatbots of their own to stay competitive.
Since then, Microsoft’s AI investments has catapulted the company into becoming the most valuable in the world, overtaking Apple earlier this month. Google is also integrating AI into more of its products, from Search itself with Search Generative Experience to the camera app on its Pixel devices. Considering that generative AI is estimated to bring in up to $4.4 trillion annually, according to McKinsey, companies are rushing to be at the cutting edge to maintain market dominance.
Along with Circle to Search, Google said that multisearch in Lens is also getting an AI-powered upgrade. In the past, if you saw a dress you liked, Google Lens would be able to identify that dress and you could then ask Google to search for variations in green. Now those visual matches will give AI-powered insights, allowing you to ask more nuanced questions. The example Google posits is seeing a board game at a yard sale without the box. Google Lens can soon identify the game and you can ask what that game is called and how it can be played.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
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Moe LongSenior Editor
Moe enjoys making technical content digestible and fun. As a writer and editor for over a decade, he has bylines at MakeUseOf, WhistleOut, TechBeacon, DZone, Tech Up Your Life, and Electromaker. When he’s not hammering away at the keyboard, Moe enjoys spending time with his partner and dog, listening to vinyl, and watching film.
Attila is a Staff Writer for CNET, covering software, apps and services with a focus on virtual private networks. He is an advocate for digital privacy and has been quoted in online publications like Computer Weekly, The Guardian, BBC News, HuffPost, Wired and TechRepublic. When not tapping away on his laptop, Attila enjoys spending time with his family, reading and collecting guitars.
ExpertiseAttila has nearly a decade’s worth of experience with VPNs and has been covering them for CNET since 2021. As CNET’s VPN expert, Attila rigorously tests VPNs and offers readers advice on how they can use the technology to protect their privacy online and
We intensively test each VPN, making sure it meets our standards for privacy, speed and usability.How we test VPNs
About VPNs for Chrome
A virtual private network (VPN) provides an additional layer of privacy by masking your IP address and encrypting your network traffic. A VPN for Google Chrome lets you hide your web browsing from snooping internet service providers (ISPs), unblock geographically protected content like foreign Netflix libraries and circumvent censorship. You can use a VPN with your Chrome web browser via a plugin or native app for your device.
Here at CNET, we’ve spent years rigorously testing dozens of VPNs by running internet speed tests, checking for DNS leaks, analyzing apps, poring over terms of service (ToS) and streaming videos. We picked the top Chrome VPNs predominantly based on plugin availability and app support features like split tunneling but we also considered internet speed, server network size and price. Here are the best VPNs for Chrome to keep you browsing with privacy.
What’s the best VPN for Chrome?
The best VPN for Chrome is ExpressVPN, which provides blazing-fast internet speeds, excellent region-restricted content unblocking and strong privacy features. Surfshark is the best value VPN for Chrome with its feature-rich apps, great performance and solid streaming support, although Private Internet Access (PIA) is a terrific budget pick. NordVPN’s outstanding privacy and unmatched internet speeds make it a fantastic, reliable VPN. Proton is an outstanding free VPN and the only no-cost option we recommend.
Other VPNs we tested
IPVanish
IPVanish doesn’t offer a Chrome extension, or any browser extension, for that matter. If you’re a Windows or Android user, you can use IPVanish’s split-tunneling feature to cover only your Chrome browser traffic, if that’s what you’re after. It’s not as convenient as using an actual VPN browser extension, but it’s an option if you’re set on using IPVanish. IPVanish is otherwise a capable VPN provider that offers decent speeds, an easy-to-use app and unlimited simultaneous connections for $13 per month, $54 for the first year (then $90 annually) or $80 for the first two years combined (then $90 annually).
Read our IPVanish review.
How we test VPNs for Chrome
When evaluating the best VPNs for Chrome, we thoroughly tested each VPN provider’s Chrome extension. We evaluated things like available features, speeds, streaming capabilities, ease of use, privacy/security and overall value. Each VPN listed above offers an excellent Chrome extension, but you may find one particular option better suited to your needs than another, whether you’re looking to stream content through Chrome, or simply want general privacy while browsing the internet.
VPN Chrome extension vs. VPN app: Should you use your VPN’s browser plugin or the app for your device’s OS?
The main difference between a VPN browser extension and a VPN app is that the VPN’s Chrome extension will only protect your traffic through the Chrome browser, whereas a VPN app works on the operating system level and will protect all online traffic running through all applications on your device. Be aware that a VPN’s browser extension works essentially like a proxy and doesn’t actually encrypt your traffic through a VPN tunnel. Rather, it creates a secure, encrypted browser connection and changes your IP address to that of the proxy server you’re connecting through.
Basically, a VPN browser extension is a stripped-down version of a full VPN app that doesn’t offer the same level of privacy protection and typically doesn’t offer the full suite of features that a VPN app does. A browser extension is a good option if you simply want basic privacy protections and to hide your true IP address while browsing the internet or streaming content through your browser (it’s also usually faster for streaming due to its lightweight nature). A VPN browser plugin is also a good option if you just want to run a quick private browsing session on a library computer where you can’t download a full VPN app.
If you want the full level of privacy protection offered by your VPN, you should use the VPN provider’s app. You can even use your VPN’s app in conjunction with its browser extension to leverage the app’s privacy protections with the browser extension’s browser-specific protections. Additionally, if offered by your VPN provider, you can use the app’s split-tunneling feature to protect only your Chrome browser traffic through the full VPN tunnel.
Your VPN provider probably has a plugin for other Chromium-based browsers
The open-source engine Chromium powers Google Chrome, along with several other browsers, including Brave, Vivaldi, Opera and Edge. Luckily, your VPN provider probably offers a browser extension for other Chromium-based web browsers. For example, ExpressVPN features plugins for Google Chrome, Brave and Edge. You can typically find a plugin in the Chrome app store that works on your preferred Chromium browser. I easily added the ExpressVPN plugin to Brave and Edge, for instance. Even if your VPN provider doesn’t advertise a plugin on its website, we recommend checking the Chrome store in your Chromium-powered browser of choice.
Factors to consider in a VPN for Chrome
Based on our years of testing and using VPNs across operating systems and browsers, these are the top factors you should consider when choosing a VPN for Chrome:
Platform compatibility
If you’re looking for a VPN for Chrome, your primary consideration will be whether the VPN offers a Chrome extension. Most of the top VPN providers offer plugins for Chrome and other browsers, but some do not. Check that the VPN you’re considering offers a Chrome extension before purchasing. Alternatively, you can use your VPN provider’s native device app for platforms like Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS/iPadOS and Linux, which works with an installed Chrome browser.
Privacy
A VPN’s Chrome extension doesn’t deliver the same level of privacy that a full VPN app does, but you’ll still get basic privacy protections through the plugin because it provides browser encryption and hides your IP address from the websites you visit. An important privacy feature to look out for in your VPN’s browser extension is WebRTC blocking, which can help prevent your IP address (and location) from leaking to the websites you’re visiting.
Speed
Because they’re lightweight versions of their respective VPN apps, VPN browser extensions can offer faster speeds than the full VPN app. If you’re streaming, video conferencing or gaming, and only need basic browser privacy, then using the browser extension can be a great way to get faster speeds.
Server network
A large network of servers can be beneficial, especially if you’re looking to unblock streaming content from around the world. Check the VPN provider’s list of servers to ensure that it offers servers in locations from which you want to stream content.
Cost
If you’re on a budget, then the price of your VPN will be an important consideration. Most VPNs cost around $10 to $14 per month, but you can enjoy greater savings and an overall better value if you opt for a yearly subscription plan. You can get a budget-friendly VPN for about $40 to $60 per year, but more expensive options can run up to $100 per year.
Customer support
Most of the best VPNs have helpful customer support options that are available around the clock. If you prefer getting answers from a real human, look for a provider that offers live chat or email support. If you prefer to find help on your own, look for a provider that has an extensive help section/knowledge base on its website that includes FAQs, troubleshooting guides and setup instructions.
The Rabbit R1 can fit in the palm of your hand and will be able to answer questions, launch a Spotify playlist or call a taxi with the push of a button. Sounds familiar, right? The Rabbit R1 isn’t a smartphone in the traditional sense. Instead, it promises to be a dedicated personal assistant powered by AI, and it ships in late March for $199.
Our phones are great at many things, like snapping vacation photos, entertaining us with an endless stream of bite-sized videos and acting as our personal planners. That’s exactly the problem, according to Jesse Lyu, founder and CEO of AI tech startup Rabbit. He thinks the myriad apps and functions available on our phones have stripped away their simplicity, and he’s trying to change that with the R1, which debuted at CES 2024.
You don’t interact with the R1 by opening apps; instead, you press a physical push-to-talk button to ask a question or play a song on Spotify as if you were speaking into a walkie-talkie. The phone’s software is powered by a large action model or an algorithm that can learn from how humans use apps and interfaces so that it can replicate and automate those processes. Lyu likens it to handing your phone to a friend to order takeout rather than doing so yourself.
Read more: Your Next Phone Will Likely Be Smarter, Faster and More Bendy
The Rabbit R1 AI Assistant Looks Downright Retro in Orange
There’s no shortage of virtual assistants capable of doing almost exactly what Rabbit’s R1 claims to do. Google and Amazon are also injecting their own virtual helpers with generative AI smarts to make them even better at handling complex requests more easily. Lyu sees the need for a purpose-built device for getting things done that’s separate from your phone and therefore less distracting. He argues that just because your phone can do the same thing doesn’t mean it’s the superior experience.
That argument will take a lot of convincing, especially considering how glued to our phones we’ve become. A survey from Reviews.org found that 89% of Americans check their phone within the first 10 minutes of waking up, and 60% sleep with their phone at night. Still, the Rabbit R1, along with startup Humane’s recently announced AI pin, is another sign that tech companies are increasingly looking to build new gadgets around AI. Many have already found Rabbit’s promise to be enticing enough to order an R1. The company announced on Jan. 10 that it sold 10,000 units on its first day of preorders.
The R1 has a simple look
The R1’s bright orange hue, relatively small screen and scroll wheel give it a nostalgic and almost retro look. It’s incredibly lightweight and is literally half the size of your average smartphone, as you can see in the photo of the R1 sitting on top of my iPhone 15 below. In fact, its size and shape feel similar to using a flip phone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or 2023 Motorola Razr when closed, although it’s significantly lighter.
The R1 physically shares some similarities with smartphones, such as a touchscreen display and a camera, but those parts are put to use in different ways.
The R1 doesn’t have a traditional phone operating system, for example, but instead uses that 2.88-inch screen to display cards in response to your requests. The camera isn’t really meant for documenting your days on Instagram but rather is intended to assist with visual queries like snapping photos of what’s in your fridge to generate recipe ideas.
Read more: Best of Show: Our Tech Winners of CES 2024
Although it’s not being positioned as a phone, you can certainly make phone calls with it since it has a SIM card slot along with Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. It runs on a 2.3Ghz MediaTek Helios P35 processor and has 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.
It doesn’t run apps, but it can connect to your apps
The R1 doesn’t have apps in the traditional sense, but it connects to services to carry out requests. Playing a playlist on Spotify or calling an Uber requires you to link those apps to your Rabbit account through an online portal. That could end up being a cumbersome process, considering you’d have to manually connect any service you’d want Rabbit to factor into your usage. Rabbit says it doesn’t store any login data and that authentication methods happen on the app’s system.
The device uses Rabbit’s proprietary large action model to execute tasks, along with OpenAI’s GPT-4 model to understand your spoken requests. During my brief time trying it, I asked the Rabbit R1 to play music and answer basic knowledge-based questions. The ears on the animated rabbit icon shown on the screen adorably perked up when I held the side button to recite my command. I’ll need to spend more time with it before knowing how well it works as a personal assistant for getting things done more quickly and efficiently than my phone.
AI at CES 2024: Take a Look at the Coolest Tech From the Show
With the R1, Rabbit is taking on an ambitious goal by trying to carve out a place for a new gadget in our lives in a world that’s already overrun with screens and sensors. It’s interesting nonetheless to see new hardware developed in response to the increased interest in AI we’ve seen over the past year. Still, Rabbit’s software experience has to be compelling enough to convince you to buy a new device rather than continue to use ChatGPT, Google Bard and other AI helpers on the devices you already own.
For more, check out what’s next beyond the smartphone and the most exciting mobile tech we saw at CES.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
Two sides sitting uncomfortably close to the relegation zone go to battle in west London on Saturday, as Brentford host Nottingham Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The hosts are currently two places and just three points clear of the drop in the English Premier League, with Forest a point and a place above them but having played a game more.
The two sides experienced contrasting fortunes in their FA Cup third-round replays in midweek, with Brentford losing out 3-2 to Wolves, and Forest going through by the same scoreline after being taken to extra time by League One side Blackpool.
The Bees will receive a much-needed boost for this match with the return of star striker Ivan Toney after completing his eight-month ban for breaching the Football Association’s rules on gambling.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch all of the action live wherever you are in the world.
Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest: When and where?
Brentford host Nottingham Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, Jan 20. Kickoff is set for 5.30 p.m. GMT local time. That’s 12.30 p.m. ET or 9.30 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 4.30 a.m. AEDT early on Sunday morning in Australia.
How to watch the Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch — 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. So 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 the Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest game in the US
Sunday’s Brentford-Nottingham Forest match is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.
Livestream the Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest game in the UK
Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport). Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game 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 game.
Livestream the Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest game in Canada
If you want to stream this match live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.
Livestream the Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest game in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
The weekend’s English Premier League action kicks off on Saturday with an intriguing London derby at the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal host Crystal Palace.
Back-to-back defeats to local rivals West Ham and Fulham have seen Arsenal slip five points behind league leaders Liverpool, making another derby defeat unthinkable for boss Mikel Arteta.
Crystal Palace also suffered a tough Christmas period, but managed to end an eight-game winless run in the EPL with a 3-1 victory over Brentford at Selhurst Park last time out — a victory that came at a cost, with star midfielder Michael Olise picking up a hamstring injury that rules him out of this clash.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch all of the action live wherever you are in the world.
Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace: When and where?
Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Jan 20. Kickoff is set for 12.30 p.m. GMT local time. That’s 7.30 a.m. ET or 4.30 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 11.30 p.m. AEDTin Australia.
How to watch the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch — 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. So 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, nonblackout 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 the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace game in the US
Sunday’s Arsenal-Crystal Palace match is streaming on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at the NBC Sports website with a valid login, and can be streamed via Sling TV and other more expensive streaming TV services.
Livestream the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace game in the UK
Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport). The Arsenal-Crystal Palace game is exclusive to TNT Sports — showing on its TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 1 HD and TNT Sport Ultimate channels.
Livestream the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace game in Canada
If you want to stream this match live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.
Livestream the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace game in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Apple’s Vision Pro mixed-reality headset is getting all the attention after its preorder launch on Friday, but with a price tag of $3,500 (or more with accessories), the device will likely be limited to the hardcore first adopters (or those who can afford that much money on an impulse buy).
Luckily for the rest of us, the Vision Pro release has led to a host of discounts on existing VR headsets that you can start using right now. VR games offer an immersive experience that traditional gaming just can’t match, and beyond gaming, you can use VR headsets to stream content, browse the web, chat with friends and more.
So, if dropping used-car levels of money isn’t on your to-do list today, peep the VR deals below for some discounts on headsets from Meta, Xreal and more.
Read more: Xreal Air vs. Viture XR: Which Pair of Display Glasses Is Right for You?
If you’re looking for a low-cost, full sized laptop that can handle all of the basics, Best Buy has you covered with this excellent Chromebook deal. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 usually lists for about $400, but right now you can get your hands on one for just $279. That’s a $120 discount. Just note that this offer is only available today, Jan. 19, and expires at 11:59 p.m. CT, so you’ll need to make your purchase soon if you want to grab one at this price.
Chromebooks and laptops differ in a few ways, including that Chromebooks use the Chrome operating system and aren’t natively compatible with Windows or Mac software. However, there are ways to access Office apps and other software on a Chromebook, so if you can live with that, today’s deal may be a solid option for the average user.
This Chromebook sports a large 15.6-inch full high-definition display with anti-glare coating that should make it easy to work even when you’re in bright spaces. It also comes equipped with a 12th-gen Intel Core i3 processor and 128GB of flash onboard storage, as well as the ability to access your Google Docs, Sheets and Slides even when you’re offline. It also has DTS audio, AI-powered video call tools and HDMI, USB-A and USB-C ports so you have plenty of versatility for whatever you need. And with up to 10 hours of battery life, you’ll be able to get things done even when you’re on the go.
If this Chromebook isn’t quite the right fit for you, be sure to check out our roundup of all the best laptop deals happening now.
Samsung unveiled its newest Galaxy S24 phones at its Unpacked event. The most premium of the lot is the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which has several new features over last year’s model. What’s changed from the S23 Ultra, and should you upgrade? Probably not, but let me explain.
First, here’s what’s changed. The S24 Ultra has a nominal amount of upgrades on its predecessor (mainly under the hood), but is pricier, starting at $1,300, while the S23 Ultra had a $1,200 price tag at launch (and can probably be found for cheaper now).
Read more: Best Android Phone of 2024
The S24 Ultra visually looks identical to its predecessor, with broadly the same design and rear camera layout. There are subtle differences. For instance, Samsung’s new high-end phone has a titanium frame, which should be tougher than the aluminum frame on the S23 Ultra.
For the S24 Ultra, Samsung dispensed with the curved edges of the display found on the S23 Ultra, leaving a flat front (Samsung claims it has 47% less bezel on the sides). That new screen is also brighter with a maximum of 2,600 nits (the S23 Ultra maxed out at 1,750 nits) and thus easier to see in bright daylight. The S24 Ultra’s screen is also made of Corning’s newest and toughest material, Gorilla Glass Armor, while the S23 has Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
In short: it looks the same but should be tougher and have a potentially brighter screen. The S24 Ultra also has an improved cooling system with a vapor chamber that’s twice as large and two added layers of thermal insulation, so we’d expect it to maintain better framerates and temperatures when running performance-intensive operations, like gaming.
As for cameras, the S24 Ultra inherits most of its predecessor’s lenses and sensors but does use a 50-megapixel 5x optical telephoto camera in place of the 10-megapixel 10x optical camera in the S23 Ultra. While the new camera has a shorter optical length, its higher megapixel count should mean photos taken with it are sharper than those shot with the S23’s 10x optical camera. (We’ll know for sure when we can compare both phones’ photo capabilities side by side.) To get to 10x optical length, the S24 Ultra shoots with its 5x optical camera and crop zooms in.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S24 Phones Have a New Zoom Trick to Get That Close-Up Photo
The S24 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra. Configurations have also been simplified in the new premium phone: you can only get 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage (no 8GB RAM option, as there was in the S23 Ultra). The rest of the hardware remains relatively unchanged, although the S24 Ultra should get a minor battery efficiency boost thanks to its newer chipset.
The big difference between the new phones, at least at the launch of the S24 Ultra, is the new phone’s generative AI capabilities, called Galaxy AI. The most noteworthy is Circle to Search, which lets you trace an area on your screen with your stylus or finger to have your phone look up what you’ve circled without ever having to leave the app you’re in. It’s conceivably great for looking things up, like identifying landmarks in the travel photos your friend sends over or trying to track down fashion items in someone’s outfit.
The S24 Ultra (and the rest of the S24 lineup, to be clear) has other generative AI capabilities, like summarizing notes and live translations during phone calls. It can also suggest different tones for text messages depending on who you’re talking to, recommending more formal tones for bosses or casual tones for friends. Generative AI photo tricks let users do things like move or delete some elements, expand photos beyond their original boundaries or correct the tilt of an image, then use AI to fill in the backgrounds and empty areas.
Some of these generative AI features can be processed locally, like live translation, while others require sending requests to the cloud. The S24 Ultra does have a toggle in its settings to require generative AI requests to be performed on the device, which helps keep what you’re asking (and what your phone is addressing) private.
The kicker? Galaxy AI is coming to some older Samsung phones, including the S23 series, at some point in the future. While Samsung hasn’t said when to expect them, these features should come to the S23 Ultra in time.
There are other non-generative AI upgrades the S24 Ultra has over its predecessor, like making photos more stable during movement and improving low-light photography. The S Pen accessory is more or less unchanged from last year.
There is one more upgrade that’s worth mentioning: Samsung expanded how long it’s pledging to support its newest phones. The S24 Ultra comes with Android 14 and will get seven years of Android software and security patches, up from four years in the S23 Ultra (which comes with Android 13). That’s big. For sustainability, the S24 Ultra has more recycled parts, including cobalt in its battery and rare earth elements in its speakers.
Should S23 Ultra owners upgrade to the new S24 Ultra?
You can count the hardware improvements on one hand and they don’t meaningfully change how owners use their new S24 Ultra compared to last year’s S23 Ultra. Ultimately, if you own Samsung’s premium phone from 2023, the only reason you to consider upgrading to the new one is to access generative AI today — or if you wanted a phone that could conceivably last you seven years.
As previously mentioned, all the Galaxy AI features are expected to come to the S23 Ultra at some point in the future. It’s unclear when that will happen, and though Samsung said all of the S24 Ultra’s generative AI features will come to its predecessor, we’re concerned whether last year’s premium phone can pull that off.
Last October, Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 as the first phone-powering chipset to include generative AI on its silicon. That’s the chip powering the S24 Ultra, and presumably, the new phone needs that silicon to process some of its generative AI features. Either the S23 Ultra will require more of those Galaxy AI features to run through the cloud, or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powering the S23 Ultra is actually capable of running on-device generative AI, but those features weren’t ready when that chipset launched in late 2022.
Whatever the case, whether you want generative AI weighs more heavily than any other factor on whether it’s worth upgrading from the S23 Ultra to the new S24 Ultra. It’s worth noting that we haven’t gotten to thoroughly experience Galaxy AI ourselves, and can’t make a summary judgment of its usefulness until we do. Once our full review comes out, we’ll be better informed to say whether the S24 Ultra provides a superior experience to its predecessor. For now, we recommend waiting — unless you want to be on the absolute cutting edge of mobile technology.
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
Titanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 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; 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
US price starts at
$1,300 (256GB)
$1,200 (256GB)
UK price starts at
1,249 (256GB)
1,249 (256GB)
Australia price starts at
AU$2,199 (256GB)
AU$1,949 (256GB)
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
At its Unpacked event earlier this week, Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S24 series of smartphones with several upgrades on its predecessors — including Galaxy AI, the company’s set of free generative AI features. But starting in 2026, S24 phone owners may have to start paying for their exciting new AI features.
Buried in the fine print of the Galaxy S24 listing on Samsung’s website are these sentences: “Galaxy AI features will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.”
Samsung responded to a request for comment with a slightly longer version of that fine print, noting “We are committed to making Galaxy AI features accessible to our users and will provide them for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.” Samsung repeated that AI features provided by third parties may have different terms.
Read more: Galaxy S24 Ultra: One Day With Samsung’s New Phone
Based on that wording, it does seem like Samsung could charge for its Galaxy AI features after that period of free service ends. It’s also possible that Samsung could keep extending its offer of ‘free’ features, much like Apple has extended its Emergency SOS service to iPhone 14 owners beyond the originally promised two free years.
The difference is that Apple was up front about how long it would offer Emergency SOS to users for free, while Samsung relegated its free service pledge to the fine print of a product page. Heck, it wasn’t even clear that the generative AI features on Samsung’s new phones would be considered a service separate from the phone’s other perks.
But there’s a crucial difference between the sort of generative AI features we’ve heard about and Samsung’s Galaxy AI. Late last year, chipmakers Qualcomm and MediaTek showcased the AI features that manufacturers could include in their phones which would only process data and generate content on the device. But Galaxy AI has several features that can only be done via the cloud, which seemingly includes the Google-partnered Circle To Search perk.
Presumably, this is the justification for treating Galaxy AI like a service rather than a static feature like many AI photo-editing tricks that have come on phones for years. For instance, Google hasn’t mentioned any time restriction on the AI editing offered on its newest Pixel 8 phones.
It’s also unclear if the time limit for free service applies only to cloud-based AI features or the entire Galaxy AI suite.
It’s entirely possible that Samsung guaranteed Galaxy AI for free through 2025 to leave the door open for its future plans, or to allow for shifting technologies and service offerings. Indeed, generative AI wasn’t a household concept until ChatGPT arrived in late 2022, so it’s possible that AI features will look very different in 2026. But until we know more, prospective Galaxy S24 owners should be aware that the fanciest features announced for the newest Samsung phones may not be free in the coming years.
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
Whatever upgrades you have in mind for your home, Best Buy’s sale is offering plenty of discounts to help you score it at a great price. We’ve gone through and gathered some of the best discounts on TVs, laptops, appliances, soundbars and other great options to save you some time and have highlighted the best offers below. The sale ends on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 9:59 p.m. PT, so if you see something you like, be sure to snag it before the deal expires.
If you want a low-cost way to add some smart automation to your home, you can pick up this three-pack of TP-Link Tapo smart plug minis for $27, which saves you $23 on its regular price. Or take advantage of a timely deal on this Greenworks bundle that includes an 80-volt, 20-inch snowblower and 730 CFM handheld blower, along with two 4 Ah batteries and a rapid charger all for just $450. That’s a $750 discount on its list price.
Other big bargains this weekend include a massive markdown on the 48-inchLG A2 Series TV with an OLED screen, which drops the price from $1,300 to just $600, as well as this 55-inch The Frame TV from Samsung, which is down to $1,200 right now. That’s a $300 savings, and your purchase comes with an extra $100 Best Buy gift card.
You’ll also find deep discounts on new kitchen appliances, in case you’re ready to upgrade. Major appliances are up to 30% off right now. And if you invest in select Samsung appliance packages, you can earn up to $700 in Best Buy credit.
Here are some more of our top picks from Best Buy’s three-day sale:
