Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev renew their fiery rivalry with their first clash in a grand slam, as the two players face off in this much-anticipated Australian Open semifinal on Friday.
World No. 6 Zverev made his way to the semis after blowing away Carlos Alcaraz in four sets on Tuesday in a match that saw the German utilize his powerful serve to stunning effect.
Medvedev, meanwhile, had a more testing challenge in getting past Hubert Hurkacz to reach the last four, with the Russian world No. 3 taken to five grueling sets against the Pole.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch this match live wherever you are in the world.
Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev: When and where?
The 2024 Australian Open men’s semifinal match between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev takes place on Friday, Jan. 26 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park at 7:30 p.m. AEDT local time. That makes it a a 8:30 a.m. start in the UK and a 3:30 a.m. ET, 12:30 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada.
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 Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev 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 Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev in the UK
Tennis fans in the UK will need to subscribe to Eurosport or the streaming service Discovery Plus to watch the Australian Open live.
Livestream Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev 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 Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev 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.
As we get ever closer to Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, now is a great time to start making game-day plans. You’ll need to make sure you get the right snacks and some drinks to go with them, but most of all you need the right home entertainment setup. If you pledged that 2023 would be the last time you watched a Super Bowl game on old and busted TV, Woot has the deals for you.
Right now Woot will sell you a range of TVs and soundbars from some of the biggest names in the game. Samsung, LG and Hisense make some of the best TVs and audio gear around, and now you can get devices at prices starting from just $175.
That $175 gets you a Hisense Dolby Atmos Soundsystem including a soundbar and subwoofer — a full 50% off the normal asking price. Need a new TV as well? There are plenty of options available including some huge OLED displays. The LG OLED C3 TV is included, with prices starting at just $1,597 with a free Visa gift card worth up to $300 thrown in for good measure. Prefer to go the Samsung route? The Samsung S95C series of TVs starts from just $2,270.
As great as these prices are, there’s still a catch to consider. Woot says that these deals will all come to an end on Jan. 29 at 11:59 p.m. CT, so make sure to get your order in before that time. Not sure these TVs hit the spot? Check out our list of the best 4K TV deals to make sure you’re all kitted out for the game.
Novak Djokovic will be hoping to extend his 33-match unbeaten run at the Australian Open as he takes on Italy’s Jannik Sinner in Friday’s men’s semifinal at the Rod Laver Arena.
The world No. 1 Serbian, who hasn’t been beaten at Melbourne Park since 2018, appears to have gotten over an illness that disrupted his preparations at the start of the tournament, with the 36-year-old coming through a testing four-set quarter-final against Taylor Fritz to set up this tie.
World No. 4 Sinner should prove an even sterner challenge for Djokovic in his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title. The Italian is appearing in only his second slam semi, but showed plenty of resolve to battle back from 5-1 down in the second-set tiebreak with Andrey Rublev on Tuesday to eventually prevail in straight sets.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch this match live wherever you are in the world.
Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner: When and where?
The 2024 Australian Open Men’s semifinal match between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner takes place on Friday, Jan. 26 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park at 2:30 p.m. AEDT local time. That makes it a 3:30 a.m. start in the UK and a 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada on Thursday, Jan. 25.
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 Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner 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 Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner in the UK
Tennis fans in the UK will need to subscribe to Eurosport or the streaming service Discovery Plus to watch the Australian Open live.
Livestream Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner 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 Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner 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.
Google has teased an AI-based video generation tool, but it’s not clear when — or if — anyone outside the search giant will be able to kick the tires. It’s certainly fun to look at, though.
On Wednesday, Google’s Research arm released a video highlighting this new text-to-video model, which is called Lumiere.
In a LinkedIn post, team leader Inbar Mosseri said the tool “generates coherent, high-quality videos using simple text prompts” that New Atlas says run up to five seconds. Sample inputs include, “A fluffy baby sloth with an orange knitted hat trying to figure out a laptop” and “An escaped panda eating popcorn in the park.”
In the year or so that generative AI has been the hottest technology going, much of the attention has been focused on tools like ChatGPT that produce text answers to prompts, or those like Dall-E that create still images. Video creation from text prompts is arguably the next frontier, so if Lumiere really can “demonstrate state-of-the-art text-to-video generation results” as Google says, we may already be evolving beyond the “grotesque abominations” of the AI-generated images of 2023.
As the video illustrates, Lumiere’s capabilities include text-to-video and image-to-video generation, as well as stylized generation — that is, using an image to create videos in a similar style. Other tricks include the ability to fill in any missing visuals within a video clip.
That includes the ability to animate famous paintings, like Van Gogh’s Starry Night (“A timelapse oil painting of a starry night with clouds moving”) or Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (“A woman looking tired and yawning”). While the Starry Night example works almost flawlessly, Mona Lisa looks far more like she’s laughing than yawning.
And while many of the animals — such as “a muskox grazing on beautiful wildflowers” and “a happy elephant wearing a birthday hat walking under the sea” — look realistic, there’s something off about some of the dogs. Both a toy poodle riding a skateboard and a golden retriever puppy running in the park are close to passing as real, but their faces — and perhaps their eyes specifically—betray the fact that they’re CGI.
Nevertheless, the video editing tools hold a lot of promise. Using a source video and prompts like “made of colorful toy bricks” or “made of flowers,” users can purportedly change the style of the subject completely. And with inputs like “wearing a bathrobe,” “wearing a party hat” and “wearing rain boots” to add said items to an image of, say, a baby chick, Lumiere may very well make fiddling with videos more accessible to those of us who didn’t major in graphic design.
Though the assets shared so far certainly make Lumiere seem like it’s user-friendly, the description of how it works isn’t. (Google didn’t respond to a request for additional comment.)
A project page describes Lumiere as “a space-time diffusion model,” which sounds like something Doc Brown was working on in Back to the Future. Google Research said this means the text-to-image model learns to generate a video by processing it in multiple space-time scales, which helps create videos that “portray realistic, diverse and coherent motion.”
According to Google, this is superior to existing models, which “synthesize distant keyframes followed by temporal super-resolution.”
Jason Alan Snyder, global chief technology officer at ad agency Momentum Worldwide, explained it this way: “It’s like the difference between watching a puppet show and experiencing a ballet at Lincoln Center.”
That’s because Lumiere “doesn’t just focus on snapshots, it crafts smooth, flowing motion for every frame,” he added.
In other words, if you think about the traditional method of making a movie, you’d have to build key scenes and fill in the gaps later.
“Lumiere is different. It sees the whole movie in its mind, understanding how characters move, objects interact and everything changes over time,” Snyder said. “It’s like drawing the entire flip book simultaneously, ensuring every page flows perfectly.”
So this “space-time thinking” helps Lumiere create videos that feel real, which, he added, means no more jumpy transitions or robotic movements. (Except maybe for puppy eyes.)
Time will tell.
In the meantime, as fans of Beauty and Beast will know, Lumiere is French for “light.”
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
Looking for another big-screen option for the big game next month? Hisense has released a new 100-inch TV, the U76N, bringing the massive display to market soon after it was announced at CES 2024. The Hisense U76N is available now for $3,000 and offers a less expensive alternative to extra-large TVs from brands like Samsung.
It’s not the least expensive TV in this size range, however. TCL’s 98-inch S4, for example, retails for $2,000. Both have the Google TV smart system, but the Hisense U76N offers QLED technology and full-array local dimming, which the TCL model lacks. We haven’t reviewed either model but based on those specifications, we expect the Hisense U76N to have better image quality than the TCL S4.
We have reviewed Hisense’s more expensive U8K series, however, which also comes in a 100-inch size. The U8K uses mini-LEDs, which the new U76N lacks. Our review lauded the U8K’s excellent image quality for the money, thanks in part to the superior brightness of mini-LED. While the 100-inch U8K has been unavailable for some time now, a Hisense spokesperson said they should be restocked at Best Buy in February. When it was in stock, the U8K sold for $4,000.
Based on its specifications, the new Hisense U76N seems to strike a middle ground in price and performance between the U8K and the TCL S4.
4K, 8K, 1080p, HD and UHD. If you’re shopping for a new TV, you’ve likely noticed these letter-number combos listed beside the word “resolution.” But what’s the difference between these resolution types? Is it worth paying more for an 8K TV versus a 4K TV? Does resolution even matter that much? Resolution may not be the most important factor when buying a new TV, but it’s still something you should consider. Although it can get confusing, knowing what all the numbers really mean can help you feel more confident in your choice of TV.
Here’s what you need to know about resolution when it comes to TVs. The short version:
4K almost always means the TV has 3,840×2,160 pixels.
UHD stands for “Ultra High Definition,” also known as UltraHD, but basically means 4K.
Are most TVs 4K these days? At 50 inches and above, yes.
Does 4K mean the picture will be better than my old TV? Not necessarily.
If 4K is four times greater than 1080p, does that mean 4K is 4320p? No.
Is 8K worth worrying about? No.
Still have questions? Let’s start with the basics.
What is TV resolution?
Resolution, in terms of TV hardware, refers to the number of pixels that compose the picture on the TV. A single pixel, or discrete picture element, consists of a tiny dot on the screen.
There are numerous resolutions found on flat-panel TVs. Older TVs, and many 32-inch models sold today, have a million or so pixels (720p). More recent and slightly larger TVs (typically 49 inches and smaller) have a little over 2 million pixels (1080p). Even newer and bigger TVs (typically 50 inches and above, although numerous smaller sizes too) have 8 million (for 4K Ultra HD). And the newest, largest and most ridiculously expensive TVs have over 33 million pixels (8K). You’ll have to look very closely, or whip out a magnifying glass, to discern each one.
Read more: Your TV Buying Guide: Winter 2024 Edition
Resolution is one of the most common specifications used to sell TVs, partly because “4K” and “8K” sound really high-tech and impressive. However, resolution is not the most important ingredient in picture quality. Just because a TV has higher resolution than another, doesn’t always mean it looks better. It might, but not always, and for reasons that have little to do with resolution. A TV with better high dynamic range (HDR) performance, a better overall contrast ratio or better color will look better than one that just has more pixels.
That said, it’s still worth understanding the various resolutions used by TV makers and others. Here’s a bit more, ahem, detail.
Select large-screen resolutions
Resolution name
Horizontal x vertical pixels
Other names
Devices
10K
10,240×5,760 or 4,320
None
No consumer products
8K
7,680×4,320
8K UHD
TVs, some projectors
“Cinema” 4K
4,096x[unspecified]
4K
Some projectors
UHD
3,840×2,160
4K, Ultra HD, Ultra-High Definition
TVs, monitors, projectors
2K
2,048x[unspecified]
None
Some cinema projectors
WUXGA
1,920×1,200
Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array
Monitors, projectors
1080p
1,920×1,080
Full HD, FHD, HD, High Definition
TVs, monitors, projectors
720p
1,280×720
HD, High Definition
TVs
8K and 4K (Ultra HD)
When it comes to TVs, 4K and Ultra HD (or UHD) are referring to the same resolution. Those TVs, along with Ultra HD Blu-ray, and nearly all UHD streaming content from Netflix,Amazonand others, is 3,840×2,160 resolution.
One potential source of confusion is that 4K means something different whether you’re talking about a TV in your home, or a projector in a theater. Technically, “4K” means a horizontal resolution of 4,096 pixels. This is the resolution set forth by the Digital Cinema Initiatives. Because movies vary in aspect ratio, which refers to the exact shape of the rectangle of screen, no vertical resolution is specified.
Read more:8K TV Explained, and Why You Definitely Don’t Need to Buy One
So Ultra HD TVs aren’t technically “4K” by the specifications of DCI, but common parlance has usurped the term so “4K” TVs are 4K TVs even though their resolution is 3,840×2,160. Most companies just say both: Ultra HD 4K.
8K follows the same logic. If you’re talking about TVs, it’s twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of 4K TVs: 7,680×4,320. This isn’t a cinema resolution yet, at least not outside of the experimental stage. There are a handful of 8K TVs on the market, but it’s going to be many years before this resolution is common.
To get the most out of your 4K TV, you need 4K content. Fortunately, there’s 4K content everywhere. Most of the major streaming services, like Netflix, Amazon, iTunes and Vudu all have 4K available. There are also Ultra HD Blu-ray players andgaming consoles
, like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. If you have a PC, many video cards from the last few years can render games at 4K, with varying degrees of success.
We’re starting to see the rollout of ATSC 3.0, now known as NextGen TV. With a NextGen TV tuner, or a TV with one built in, you’ll theoretically be able to watch free 4K TV over the air. Just like the initial roll-out of HDTV at the turn of the century, it’s going to be a while before 4K programming is common over the air.
2K
Before “4K” became common, you’d almost never see “2K.” It was pretty much just a cinema resolution, which is why you’ll sometimes see 2K used to refer to a “master format.” Most digital cinema projectors used in theaters are 2K resolution (some are less). It’s 2,048 pixels wide, and again, no vertical resolution is specified by the DCI.
1080p or Full HD
Remember how we talked about digital cinema resolutions only specifying the horizontal resolution? Well TVs, on the other hand, have historically used the vertical to describe resolution (going back to the glass tube days). So 1080p is the vertical resolution. Nearly all HDTVs have an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 (16:9, aka widescreen), so that means a horizontal resolution of 1,920 pixels (1,920×1,080).
This is another source of confusion, since decades of TV discussions have talked about vertical resolutions, and then all of a sudden we’re talking about “4K TVs,” which refers to the horizontal resolution. Don’t blame me, it wasn’t my idea.
Which is why 1080p is not “1K.” If anything, as mentioned above, it’s “2K” by the same logic that UHD TVs are 4K. That said, most people don’t call 1080p 2K; they call it 1080p or Full HD.
By the way, 1080i is the same resolution as 1080p, but no modern TV is 1080i. However, most HDTV broadcasts, including those from CBS and NBC, are still 1080i.
Roughly half the number of pixels of 1080p. It’s rare to find a new TV that’s 720p anymore. However, all ABC, Fox, ESPN, and their affiliated/sister channels broadcast at 720p. This goes back to the initial HD transition at the turn of the century. (And if you’re wondering why your TV doesn’t say “720p” on those channels, check this out.) It’s also why this resolution is referred to as HD, while 1080p is Full HD or FHD for short.
In the computer world they use an incomprehensible and shockingly un-user-friendly jumble of letters to describe resolution. Well, not “shockingly” since these are computers.
Look, I’m a computer guy, building my own PCs since the early ’90s, and even I can’t tell you what half these letters mean. I can understand that initially they were implemented to make things easier, but we’ve got so many resolutions and combinations that now they’re just annoying.
Basically, for simple office monitors you’ll mainly see FHD (1,920×1,080) and WUXGA (1,920×1,200), but you might also see a resolution of FHD Plus, which is typically 2,220×1,080 pixels. But as you go up in price and size, you’ll find more variations in resolution. It’s best not to get too hung up in the marketing terms and just focus on the numbers and if the resolution is high enough to meet your needs. For more details, you can dive into and print yourself a cheat sheet from this.
Bottom line
When you boil it all down, here’s the takeaway: Older and smaller TVs are HD, 1080p. Nearly all new TVs are 4K Ultra HD, which have four times as many pixels as 1080p. Someday you might have an 8K or even 10K TV, but that’s a l-o-o-o-o-ng way away.
Here’s where I remind you that more pixels doesn’t necessarily mean a better picture. There are other aspects of picture quality, such as contrast and color, that are far more important than resolution.
In the future, resolution might become irrelevant. Technologies like MicroLED separate size and resolution, so your future 50-inch bedroom TV will have a radically different resolution than the 100-inch living room TV, as opposed to now where they’d both be 4K with different size pixels. Thanks to advancements in video processing, though, this won’t matter. They’ll all look sharp and detailed.
First published in 2016. Regularly updated with new info.
As well as covering TVs and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards, and more.
Jetsetters know airfare can get really expensive, especially if you’re booking international or long-distance flights. While there are a lot of resources online where you can search for deals to lower the cost, it can often be time-consuming to bargain hunt by yourself, and it can be challenging to figure out which offers are actually solid deals. Signing up for a Dollar Flight Club subscription can help. DFC saves you the trouble of finding the best deals and will send you alerts when great fares hit, netting you a cheap flight.
Right now you can grab a lifetime Premium Plus subscription from StackSocial for just $60, which is a massive 96% discount on the usual price. But this offer expires Jan. 29, so be sure to sign up soon if you’re interested.
The Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus plan gives you access to savings on flights in business, premium economy and economy seating, and includes both domestic and international deals. Once you sign up and add your home airports (choose up to four departing airports) you’ll get instant alerts via email and can book whenever and wherever using the web or the app, which is available for iOS and Android devices.
Plus, you can get perks and discounts of up to 50% off from various partners, including Babbel, Acanela Expeditions and Huckberry, as well as access to a variety of travel tips from DFC experts to help you plan your next adventure. If high flight prices have been stopping you from booking the vacation of your dreams, now’s the time to invest in a service that can help you find the best discounts, curated and delivered directly to you.
StackSocial is also offering a lifetime Dollar Flight Club Premium subscription for just $40, which is a pared-down version that has access to around 70% of the deals and you can set a start and departure point.
Are you a movie lover? Just in need of something to binge? A new batch of Oscar nominees is here, so you could spend the next month and a half catching up on all the potential winners. If you went to back-to-back screenings of Barbie and Oppenheimer, that’s already two best picture contenders you can tick off.
Below, we’ve listed many of the films up for awards and where you can find them. (We’ll update this article with more soon). Don’t wait too long to start your movie marathon — The 96th Academy Awards will air on ABC on March 10.
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
