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Samsung’s Galaxy S24, the next generation of its flagship smartphone, ships on Jan. 31 and is available in up to seven colors (you can preorder it now). Alas, the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra have slightly different dimensions than last year’s Galaxy S23 models, which means it’s likely you’ll have to get a new case for whichever S24 model you buy.
Though we’ve received a few cases for the Galaxy S24 already, most of these case picks are based on our experience using very similar cases with the Galaxy S23. We’ll be adding more picks as we test more cases, but for now here are some early favorites to check out. Just make sure you’re buying the case that matches your Galaxy S24, whether that’s the Ultra, Plus or base model.
Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones for Samsung Phones
Best Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra cases
Speck has three new cases for the Galaxy S24: the Presidio Perfect-Clear, the Presidio2 Grip (shown in black) and the Presidio Lux Glitter.
All the new models have 13-foot drop protection as well as Speck’s Microban antimicrobial coating. The cases start at around $40 in various colors, and Speck frequently offers discounts to first-time buyers on its site.
Value Galaxy S24 kickstand case with magnetic ring
ESR Boost Flickstand case
ESR makes a few affordable cases for the Galaxy S24 that have an integrated kickstand, a useful feature for those of us who like to watch video on our smartphones (or just video chat). The standard ESR kickstand case is about as affordable as you get at around $20, but for a little more you can nab this Boost Flickstand case, which also has a magnetic ring that lets you attach various magnetic accessories, including batteries and wallets. The case comes in clear, black and frosted black.
Top budget Galaxy S24 cases
Spigen cases
If you’re looking for an inexpensive case for your new Galaxy S24, Spigen’s got several models that sell for less than $25 and some that sell for less than $20. Some of its models, including the Ultra Hybrid Metal Ring MagFit (pictured), feature an integrated metal ring so you can attach magnetic chargers to your phone just like you can with Apple’s MagSafe system.
No drop rating is listed for these Samsung phone cases, but most Spigen cases, except for the slimmest models, offer reasonable protection. If you want a tough case with decent protection, get one of its Armor models — some have integrated kickstands.
Note that a lot of these cheaper clear cases have a habit of turning yellow and degrading over time, which makes them less translucent. But they’re cheap enough that you probably won’t mind shelling out for a replacement if that happens.
Rugged Galaxy S24 case with integrated kickstand
Urban Armor Gear Plasma XTE series
Urban Armor Gear offers several case options for the Galaxy S24, in a variety of colors. I like the Plasma and Pathfinder series, but I’m highlighting the new Plasma XTE, which features a built-in kickstand.
UAG’s cases all offer good corner protection and meet military drop-test standards, with the Plasma XTE rated for 20-foot drop protection. This case costs $60 but other UAG cases cost less. Note that only cases for the standard Galaxy S24 are currently available from UAG. We expect to see UAG cases for the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra soon.
Always a safe bet to protect your phone
Otterbox cases for Galaxy S24
Otterbox is back with its usual assortment of cases for the Galaxy S24, including the superprotective Defender series. Though I’m a fan of the company’s Symmetry series cases — they’re slim with beveled edges — I’ve come to like the slightly more protective Commuter series better, thanks to the grips it has on the back and sides, as well as the raised edges on the front, which should help protect your screen. The raised bezel acts as a screen protector to keep your screen scratch-free, and the camera module gets the same treatment.
Best Samsung-branded case for the Galaxy S24
Samsung Standing Grip case
Samsung’s Standing Grip case has an integrated strap grip that converts into a kickstand. The case comes in three colors and has a soft-to-the-touch silicone finish.
Stylish protective S24 case
Zagg Gear4 Denali case with kickstand
British case-maker Gear4, now owned by Zagg, makes cases that are right there with those from Otterbox and Speck. I liked the Denali with Kickstand for the Galaxy S23 and also like it for the Galaxy S24 (I do like the kickstand feature). Its Everest and Santa Cruz cases also come in versions with kickstands.
Zagg says the Denali is strengthened with graphene and is made out of 96% recycled material. It also has antimicrobial protection.
Simple and stylish Galaxy S24 case
Cyrill cases
Cyrill is a sub-brand of Spigen, and like Spigen, its cases generally sell for less than $25. Cyrill doesn’t have quite the same selection for the Galaxy S24 as it does for the iPhone 15, but it does offer its UltraColor case, which has a soft-to-the-touch finish. I also like that it has a raised frame on the back that provides some extra protection for the camera lenses. The corners of the case have a raised lip as well.
The case comes in the camouflage colors shown here, as well as some solid colors.
MagSafe-compatible Galaxy S24 case with own accessory system
Peak Design Everyday case
Peak Design’s Everyday case is available for all the S24 models. It’s actually compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories and other magnetic MagSafe-compatible accessories, including wireless charging batteries, wallets and more. But the case has Peak Design’s own built-in magnetic locking system — the company calls it SlimLink — that connects to a wide assortment of Peak Design’s mobile mounts and accessories. That includes bike mounts, charging stands, tripods, car mounts and more. The only Peak Design accessory I don’t recommend is the wallet, which doesn’t lock onto the case and doesn’t stick to it that securely.
When you combine Peak Design’s accessories with all the MagSafe accessories out there, you certainly get a lot of accessory options to choose from. The case is relatively slim, with a 6-foot drop protection rating, though note there are more protective cases on this list, with a little better corner protection. The case comes in black or dark blue and is compatible with the S Pen.
Slim folio wallet case for Galaxy S24
Samsung S-View Wallet case
If you’re looking for a case that covers the Galaxy S24’s screen, Samsung’s S-View Wallet case is a decent option. The small screen view (the little window) allows you to see notifications, answer calls and quickly see what time it is. A hidden slot inside the case stores only a single credit and a couple of bills of cash, but that’s all the storage some people need. The S-View Wallet case is available in multiple colors for every Galaxy S24 model.
Slim faux leather case for Galaxy S24
Samsung vegan leather case
Samsung used to sell leather cases for its Galaxy phones, but it’s moved on to faux or vegan leather, which is probably a good thing. Available in black, taupe and dark violet, Samsung’s vegan leather case offers a smooth yet grippy feel with decent edge protection in a slim package. Alas, there’s no kickstand, but if you’re looking for a clean, elegantly designed case, this Samsung-branded vegan leather case is worth considering.
Glitzy Galaxy S24 cases
Incipio cases
Incipio usually has a wide variety of cases for Galaxy phones, but at launch, it’s released just a handful of models for the Galaxy S24 line, including old favorites like the sturdy Duo (12-foot drop protection), the flashy Forme (pictured), which has 10-foot drop protection, and the Cru, which comes in a canvas and leather finish (no drop protection rating is provided for the Cru). At $35, the Duo is the most affordable of the bunch, with the Forme carrying a list price of $45 and the Cru at $50.
Superprotective mountable Galaxy S24 case
Rokform Galaxy S24 Magnetic Rugged case
Rokform has been making tough smartphone cases for years, and aside from their durability, their key feature is the ability to use them with various mounts — including bike, car and motorcycle mounts — that are sold separately.
Rokform’s cases have removable magnets and they’re compatible with wireless charging if you remove the included center magnet. “With the lower magnet still intact, you can still wireless-charge while utilizing magnetic mounting and all of our mounts,” Rokform says. The case is expensive at $70, but Rokform does offer a 20% discount to first-time buyers.
More phone advice
iOS 17.3 Is Almost Here, but Don’t Miss These iOS 17.2 Features
While Apple could release iOS 17.3 any minute now, the tech giant’s release of iOS 17.2 was packed with new features you may have missed. The update was released in December and came with security fixes and patches, plus over a dozen new and useful features, like the long-awaited Journal app and Contact Key Verification. It also has fun features like the ability to react to messages with Live Stickers.
To download the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update, tap Install Now and follow the onscreen prompts.
Here’s what you may have missed in iOS 17.2.
The Journal app
Apple finally released the Journal app with iOS 17.2. The tech giant announced the app at the company’s WWDC event in June alongside iOS 17, but it was absent from the update’s launch on Sept. 18.
Apple said at WWDC that the app uses on-device machine learning to create personalized writing suggestions. Some of these suggestions are created using information on your iPhone, like photos you’ve taken and music and podcasts you’ve listened to throughout the day. If you forget what podcast you listened to earlier in the day — like I regularly do — the app shows you that information when you go to make an entry.
The app also shows you a handful of topics to write about, called Reflections. Some of mine included, “Write about a time you gave someone an unexpected gift,” and “Who cheers you up when you’re feeling down?”
If you don’t want to write about whatever you listened to or use a Reflection, you can just write by tapping the New Entry button. In New Entry, you can write whatever you want, create a voice note, take a photo or create a video to add to your journal entry.
You can also lock the app after it’s closed for a set amount of time for some privacy. If you close the app and don’t reopen it for a certain amount of time (like five minutes) it will ask for your Face ID or passcode to open it again.
Contact Key Verification in Messages
Apple announced Contact Key Verification in December 2022, and the security feature finally appeared in iOS 17.2.
“With iMessage Contact Key Verification, users who face extraordinary digital threats — such as journalists, human rights activists and members of government — can choose to further verify that they are messaging only with the people they intend,” Apple said in a news release last year.
Apple wrote that many people won’t be the target of a cyberattack, but Contact Key Verification gives people who might be a target an additional security layer.
To enable Contact Key Verification go to Settings > Apple ID > Contact Key Verification, tap the slider next to Verification in iMessage and follow the on-screen prompts.
React with Live Stickers
Live Stickers is a new feature Apple introduced in iOS 17 at launch. The feature lets you create your own stickers from pictures you’ve taken. In iOS 17.2, you can react to texts in Messages with your Live Stickers. To react with a Live Sticker, long-press on a text like you would to add a reaction, then tap Add Sticker in the dropdown menu to pull up your stickers.
New Apple Music settings
If you subscribe to Apple Music (which costs $11 a month) iOS 17.2 lets you automatically add songs you’ve favorited to your library. If you don’t like this, you can turn the setting off by going to Settings > Music and tapping the toggle next to Add Favorite Songs.
More Memoji customization
In iOS 17.2, there’s a new menu in the Memoji editor called Body that lets you edit the appearance of your Memoji’s body. You can adjust your Memoji’s waist, bust, shoulders and arms in this menu. Only three options are available in each of these sections at this time, so Memoji isn’t a full-on character creator menu as you’d see in a video game.
Change your default notification sounds and haptics
In iOS 17.2, Apple allows you to change the default notification sound. This is the first time Apple has allowed iPhone users to change the default notification sound. To change this sound, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Default Alerts, and you’ll be able to select new and classic tones.
In the Default Alerts menu, you can also change your haptics by tapping Haptics near the top of the page. Here you can choose between a handful of haptic patterns, and you can create a custom haptic by tapping Create New Vibration.
Photos and Apple Music working together
If you go into the Photos app after updating to iOS 17.2, Photos will ask permission to access your Apple Music library. The screen says it will use songs from your library to curate songs for your Memories.
AppleCare and Warranty menu
In iOS 17.2, if you go to Settings > General you’ll see a new option called AppleCare and Warranty. If you tap into this option, you’ll see all of your devices that are or aren’t covered under AppleCare or a warranty. In previous betas, this option was called Coverage.
Catch-up arrow in Messages
A new feature in iOS 17.2 can help you understand what’s happening in a texting group or if someone sends you a lot of messages. The beta brings the catch-up arrow back to Messages, so if you wake from a nap with a lot of messages, you can jump to the beginning of the new messages and follow the drama for context.
The catch-up arrow was in some early iOS 17 betas, but it has been absent since.
New options for sharing Contact Posters
In iOS 17.2, you can now share your Contact Poster through Phone and FaceTime. If you go to Settings and either Phone or FaceTime, you will see an option called Share Name and Photo. Tap this and you can select whether to automatically share your Contact Poster with your contacts or whether to require your phone to always ask before sharing. This feature was only in Message before.
iPhone 15 Pro action button updated
With iOS 17.2, the iPhone 15 Pro’s action button now has a translate function. The new function allows you to quickly translate phrases or have a conversation with someone in another language.
Sharing content between your iPhone and Apple Vision Pro
Apple announced its Vision Pro headset at WWDC in June. While you can’t buy the Vision Pro yet — Apple plans for the headset to be available in the US in early 2024 — iOS 17.2 introduces a setting to allow your iPhone to work as an additional screen for it.
The setting is called AirPlay Receiver and can be found under AirPlay & Handoff in Settings. Apple writes that AirPlay Receiver allows you to stream or share content from your Vision Pro headset to your iPhone.
Spatial Video recording for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
A new feature in iOS 17.2 allows iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users to record Spatial Video. This feature will allow the video to be viewed in 3D on the upcoming Vision Pro headset. Spatial Videos can also be viewed in the Photos app as normal videos.
Disable inline predictions on your keyboard
Have you ever been typing a text in Messages and suddenly a gray word appears in front of your cursor? This is called inline text predictions, and if you’ve ever been confused or annoyed by this feature, iOS 17.2 introduces the ability to turn it off.
More Sensitive Content Warnings
Sensitive Content Warnings were introduced in iOS 17 and blur out images and videos that show up in certain Apple services and that might contain nudity. With iOS 17.2, these warnings have been expanded to include live stickers and contact posters that might include nudity.
More Siri requests
In iOS 17.2, you can ask Siri a few new questions, like what your altitude is and what’s your estimated arrival time if you’re using the voice assistant for directions.
Updated Weather widget and app
In previous iOS versions, you’d have three options for a Weather widget: a small tile, a medium tile bar and a large tile that took up half your screen. All showed the current weather conditions in more detail as they went up in size.
With iOS 17.2, you have six widgets to choose from. The first three are the original small, medium and large tiles. The three new widgets are all the same size as the small tile, but show more details for the day.
One tile shows the current condition, precipitation, UV index, wind levels and air quality index. Another tile shows the current conditions plus the expected conditions for the next four days. The final new tile shows when you can expect the sunrise and sunset.
The app also has a few new features, like an interactive moon calendar, the amount of rain for your area over time, and wind speed and direction. The updated Weather app is like having your own meteorologist in your pocket.
New digital clock widget
In iOS 17.2, the clock widget gets an update as well. The widget now gives you the option for a digital clock to easily read the time.
News app supports Live Activities
The News app also gets an update in iOS 17.2. Now, you can enable Live Activities for the app, so you can follow news events, like elections, as they happen on Live Activity-enabled iPhones.
Apple TV app updated
The Apple TV app also gets an update with iOS 17.2. If you open the app and tap Store in the bottom menu, you’ll see the Movies and TV Shows sectionsacross the top of your screenare gone.
Local Awareness option in Emergency Alerts
With iOS 17.1, there’s a new option in the Emergency Alerts menu called Local Awareness. Apple writes that if you enable this option, it uses your approximate location to improve the accuracy, timeliness and reliability of emergency alerts you receive.
More Contact Poster customization options
Contact Posters is another new feature Apple introduced with iOS 17. With iOS 17.2, you can customize your Contact Posters even more by giving you the option to give a contact poster rainbow-colored text.
Here are the full release notes for iOS 17.2:
About This Update
Journal
Journal is a new app that lets you write about the small moments and big events in your life so you can practice gratitude and improve your wellbeing.
Journaling suggestions make it easy to remember your experiences by intelligently grouping your outings, photos, workouts, and more into moments you can add to your journal.
Filters let you quickly find bookmarked entries or show entries with attachments so you can revisit and reflect on key moments in your life.
Scheduled notifications help you keep a consistent journaling practice by reminding you to write on the days and time you choose.
Option to lock your journal using Touch ID or Face ID.
iCloud sync keeps your journal entries safe and encrypted on iCloud.
Action Button
Translate option for the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to quickly translate phrases or have a conversation with someone in another language.
Camera
Spatial video lets you capture video on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max so you can relive your memories in three dimensions on Apple Vision Pro.
Improved Telephoto camera focusing speed when capturing small faraway objects on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Messages
Catch-up arrow lets you easily jump to your first unread message in a conversation by tapping the arrow visible in the top-right corner.
Add sticker option in the context menu lets you add a sticker directly to a bubble.
Memoji updates include the ability to adjust the body shape of any Memoji.
Contact Key Verification provides automatic alerts and Contact Verification Codes to help verify people facing extraordinary digital threats are messaging only with the people they intend.
Weather
Precipitation amounts help you stay on top of rain and snow conditions for a given day over the next 10 days.
New widgets let you choose from next-hour precipitation, daily forecast, sunrise and sunset times, and current conditions such as Air Quality, Feels Like and wind speed.
Wind map snapshot helps you quickly assess wind patterns and access the animated wind map overlay to prepare for forecasted wind conditions for the next 24 hours.
Interactive moon calendar lets you easily visualize the phase of the moon on any day for the next month.
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
Siri support for privately accessing and logging Health app data using your voice.
AirDrop improvements including expanded contact sharing options and the ability to share boarding passes, movie tickets, and other eligible passes by bringing two iPhones together.
Favorite Songs Playlist in Apple Music lets you quickly get back to the songs you mark as favorites.
Use Listening History in Apple Music can be disabled in a Focus so music you listen to does not appear in Recently Played or influence your recommendations.
A new Digital Clock Widget lets you quickly catch a glimpse of the time on your Home Screen and while in StandBy.
Enhanced AutoFill identifies fields in PDFs and other forms enabling you to populate them with information such as names and addresses from your contacts.
New keyboard layouts provide support for 8 Sámi languages.
Sensitive Content Warning for stickers in Messages prevents you from being unexpectedly shown a sticker containing nudity.
Qi2 charger support for all iPhone 13 models and iPhone 14 models.
Fixes an issue that may prevent wireless charging in certain vehicles.
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
For more Apple news, here’s what could be included in iOS 17.3, what was included in iOS 17.1 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet.
How to Stream Every Christopher Nolan Movie
Need something to tide you over while you wait for Oppenheimer on Peacock? What about one of Christopher Nolan’s 11 other movies?
If you want to binge Nolan’s catalog, Peacock is getting more than just the atomic bomb thriller next month. Dunkirk, Inception and The Dark Knight Trilogy will join the already-streaming Memento on the service on Feb. 1, and Oppenheimer will follow suit on Feb. 16. Right now the trio of Batman films are available on Max, and flicks like Interstellar are also streaming on popular services.
Here’s a guide to where to watch every Christopher Nolan film. Some may be on streamers you already subscribe to, and others you can rent for just a couple of bucks.
How to stream Christopher Nolan’s movies
How to watch more Nolan movies
- Dunkirk (2017): Rent for $4 at services like Amazon and Vudu. Or it’s streaming on Peacock on Feb. 1.
- Insomnia (2002): It’s currently streaming on Paramount Plus.
- Memento (2000): It’s currently streaming on Peacock and free services such as Tubi.
- The Prestige (2006): Rent for $4 at services like Amazon and Vudu.
- Tenet (2020): Rent for $4 at services like Amazon and Vudu.
How to watch with a VPN
Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream a Christopher Nolan movie on a service like Netflix or Max while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the movie from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.
A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. Using a VPN is 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. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.
You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list such as Surfshark or NordVPN.
Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation, and choose a country where your Nolan movie of choice will be streaming on a service like Max or Netflix. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream your Nolan movie on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open the service to stream.
If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.
Chiefs vs. Bills Livestream: How to Watch NFL Divisional Round Game Online Today
For the third time in the last four years, the Bills and Chiefs will meet in the playoffs. The Chiefs won the first two contests, both of which were played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. This time around, the game will be played in Buffalo. After winning in frigid conditions at home last week, however, the Chiefs aren’t likely to be shocked by the conditions on Sunday evening in Buffalo.
It has the makings of an NFL classic, with two of the best quarterbacks in the league — Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs and Josh Allen of the Bills — going against each other. Plus, there’s the prospect of the world’s most famous Chiefs fan, Taylor Swift, attending the game to support her boyfriend and Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs and Bills kick off on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on CBS and Paramount Plus. Here is how you can watch, stream and follow along.
Chiefs vs. Billsgame today: When and where?
This Divisional Round matchup sees the Bills host the Chiefs at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on Sunday. The game will take place at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, home of the Bills.
How to watch Chiefs vs. Billsin the US
Sunday’s Chiefs-Bills game is on CBS nationally. The good news for football fans is that CBS is available on most of the major live TV streaming services. The least expensive option is Paramount Plus.
Numerous other live TV streaming services carry local CBS stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. They all cost far more than Paramount Plus, but they also carry many live channels, including football broadcasting channels like Fox and ESPN. Check out our live TV streaming services guide for details.
All 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.
An over-the-air antenna connected to your TV provides another option for CBS. The best part about antennas is that there are no streaming or monthly fees required, though you will need to make sure you have good reception.
How Samsung’s Galaxy AI Features Stack Up Against Google and Apple
Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 series of phones brims with new AI features. Some, like Circle to Search, look delightfully useful, while others, like Generative Edit, can seemingly bend reality. These tools are part of Galaxy AI, a suite of features and utilities that can execute wide-ranging tasks to simplify day-to-day activities, help with productivity and create content.
Galaxy AI is Samsung’s attempt to bolster its S24 series with software features that are powered by generative AI, which catapulted into the mainstream last year when OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot went viral. Samsung and its rivals are betting AI can breathe new life into the stagnant smartphone industry, which has seen sales slowing over the last several years.
Read more: Galaxy S24 Ultra: One Day With Samsung’s New Phone
The Galaxy 24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra each have Galaxy AI, which Samsung bills as a “comprehensive mobile AI experience.” These AI-based features (a lot of which are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip) are detailed below. But Samsung isn’t alone in its AI ambitions. Here’s how some of Galaxy AI’s biggest features stack up against those from Google and Apple, two of Samsung’s biggest rivals.
Samsung Galaxy S24 AI features
Live Translation: Samsung’s new live translation tool is perhaps the company’s most compelling AI feature. As the name suggests, the tool can translate a live phone call in real-time voice and text between two different languages. Live translation supports 13 languages and 17 dialects, allowing two people to have a basic conversation even if they don’t speak the same language. (Voice recorder has Transcribe Assist that also translates.)
Interpreter: This is similar to Live Translation, but it’s focused on translating a conversation into just text that’s shown on a split-screen. The view is arranged so that the people talking can stand face-to-face and read the text transcription of what the other person said. It also works without cellular data or Wi-Fi.
Read more: Samsung’s Fine Print: Galaxy S24’s New ‘Killer’ Feature May Not Be Free After All
Circle to Search: You can launch a Google search for anything shown on screen just by circling that thing with either your finger or Samsung’s S Pen stylus. You long-press the home button and then circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap any part of an image or video, or any bit of text, and you’ll instantly launch the search. For instance, if your friend sends a travel photo, you can use Circle to Search to learn more about the landmark they’re standing in front of. Or circle their shoes to find out the brand name and even call up links for buying them.
Chat Assist: This feature helps with writing and is integrated into the keyboard. It’s available when you’re composing messages, emails, social media posts and more. When you type your message, Chat Assist analyzes it and can alter the text to make its tone sound as you intended. Say you needed to send a polite message to a co-worker — you could choose a professional version of the message you typed. Or let’s say you were typing and wanted your text to be a short, catchy phrase for a social media caption — you could select #social and your phone would generate a version of your text in that style.
Generative Edit: This generative AI feature lets you make reality-bending edits to your photos, like you can with the Google Pixel 8’s Magic Editor. You can remove objects and Generative Edit will fill in the background where the object once was. All images that have major AI alterations will get watermarked in the metadata to indicate this. But small edits, like removing reflections, won’t get the watermark.
Note Assist: This feature creates AI-generated summaries of notes and also translates and formats files in Samsung’s Notes app. Plus, it generates digital covers for notes to make them easy to spot with a brief preview.
Google Pixel 8 AI Features
When it launched last year, Google’s Pixel 8 actually kicked off the arms race for gen AI in phones. Prior to Samsung’s S24 launch, Google marketed AI as one of the selling points of the Pixel 8. Though generative AI features are a newer addition to mobile phones, AI has long been an integral part of tasks such as voice recognition and image processing.
Choosing the Galaxy S24’s suite of features or the Pixel 8’s tools likely comes down to personal preference. In fact, some of the Galaxy S24’s AI-powered features, like Circle to Search, were the result of a partnership between Google and Samsung and will eventually come to the Pixel 8 series.
Magic Editor: The Magic Editor uses generative AI along with AI processing techniques to help people make complex photo edits easily, without the need of professional skills or expensive third-party apps. It goes beyond lightening and brightening photos, although that’s part of it. You can reposition people, enlarge buildings, remove strangers from the background and even generate completely new backgrounds from scratch.
Best Take: This is one of the most significant AI tools in the Pixel 8 lineup. It lets you swap a person’s face from another image in a series of photos. You can produce a single image where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling, and doesn’t have their eyes closed, if that’s what you want.
Read more: The Pixel 8’s AI Blurs the Line Between Reality and Fantasy
Call Screen: Google Assistant answers calls on your behalf to avoid unwanted robocalls or scammers. In the Pixel 8 iteration, the Assistant’s voice sounds more natural, and it can understand more context from the call.
Audio Magic Eraser: This tool uses AI to quiet or remove unwanted sounds in videos you record. Whether it’s background music or just wind noise, Audio Magic Eraser can target the specific sounds you identify.
Where’s Apple’s iPhone Generative AI?
Though iPhones have relied on AI for years to improve camera processing and yield better-looking photos and videos, Apple’s handsets don’t natively have generative AI features in the same vein as Google’s or Samsung’s tools. But it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple went in the same direction.
In fact, it’s widely expected that the next iPhone will follow in Google’s and Samsung’s AI footsteps. Rumors suggest Apple will bring generative AI into its iPhone 16 series in a big way, particularly when it comes to making Siri smarter and more capable.
According to Boomberg’s Power On newsletter, iOS 18 will feature gen AI technology that “should improve how both Siri and the Messages app can field questions and auto-complete sentences.”
A September report by The Information details how Apple plans to use large language models, a crucial part of generative AI, to make Siri smarter. The report said the LLM feature is expected to be released with an iPhone software update next year. This timeline would coincide with the September release of iOS 18, Apple’s next mobile operating system, which is expected to ship on the iPhone 16.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.
Premier League Soccer Livestream: How to Watch Bournemouth vs. Liverpool From Anywhere
Liverpool will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League as they travel to midtable Bournemouth on Sunday.
With second-placed Man City not in action this weekend, the pressure is on Jürgen Klopp’s Reds to bolster their two-point advantage, but they come up against an in-form Cherries side that have won four of their last five EPL encounters.
Tyler Adams, Ryan Fredericks, Adam Smith and Milos Kerkez are all still out for the hosts, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai are all missing for Liverpool.
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.
Bournemouth vs. Liverpool: When and where?
Bournemouth host Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, Jan 21. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. GMT local time. That’s 11:30 a.m. ET or 8:30 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 3:30 a.m. AEDT in Australia on Monday, Jan. 22.
How to watch the Bournemouth vs. Liverpool 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 Bournemouth vs. Liverpool game in the US
Sunday’s Bournemouth-Liverpool 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 Bournemouth vs. Liverpool 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). Bournemouth vs. Liverpool 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 Bournemouth vs. Liverpool 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 Bournemouth vs. Liverpool 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.
Premier League Soccer Livestream: How to Watch Sheffield United vs. West Ham From Anywhere
Top-five chasing West Ham travel to relegation-threatened Sheffield United in Sunday’s first English Premier League fixture of the day at Bramall Lane.
The Hammers come into this clash very much the favorites, but will have to shake off a demoralising shock midweek exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Championship side Bristol City. David Moyes will also have to contend with a depleted forward line lacking the injured Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus, who is away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana. However, top goal scorer Jarrod Bowen is due to return from an ankle injury.
Currently rock bottom of the EPL, the Blades are eight points adrift of safety, but will be boosted by the return from injury of Auston Trusty, Anel Ahmedhodžić and George Baldock.
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.
Sheffield United vs. West Ham United: When and where?
Sheffield United host West Ham at Bramall Lane on Sunday, Jan 21. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. GMT local time. That’s 9 a.m. ET or 6 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 1 a.m. AEDT in Australia on Monday, Jan. 22.
How to watch the Sheffield United vs. West Ham 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 Sheffield United vs. West Ham game in the US
Sunday’s Sheffield United-West Ham 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 Sheffield United vs. West Ham 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 Sheffield United vs. West Ham 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 Sheffield United vs. West Ham United 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.
Gain Access to over 240 Mac Apps for Just $85
Buying apps for the Mac can be an expensive endeavor, especially if you just bought yourself something like the MacBook Airand need to load it up. Luckily, Setapp can help save you a lot of trouble in that regard since it gives you access to over 240 apps for the Mac at just one subscription cost. While it usually goes for quite $120 for the one-year subscription, this deal will let you grab it for a lot less.
Today, Stack Social is offering a full year of Setapp’s Personal Mac Plan for just $85, a discount of 29%. It also happens to be a deal that you don’t have to jump through any hoops for, with no on-screen coupons or discount codes involved. However, you do need to be a new customer to Setapp, so keep that in mind if you’re a returning customer.
Once you’re all signed up you can download any of those 240-plus apps without any additional payments. And because these are the full apps, you won’t have to deal with any ads or in-app purchases, either. There are apps across tons of different categories, including such well-regarded utilities as CleanMyMac X, CleanShot X, Numi, Session, Boom 3D and dozens more. You’re sure to find something useful and productive, whether you’re on the hunt for a new developer tool, task manager or something to get the creative juices flowing.
Not sure that Setapp is for you? There is a free seven-day trial available if you go direct to the Setapp website, but make sure to buy your year’s subscription via Stack Social to get the best price when you’re ready.
Packers vs. 49ers Livestream: How to Watch NFL Divisional Round Game Online Today
After a thorough dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday in the Wild Card round, Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers advanced to the NFL’s next stage of the postseason: The Divisional Round and a meeting with the NFC’s top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara.
The 49ers had a bye in the opening round and enter this weekend’s game a heavy favorite in this contest and as Las Vegas’ favorite to win the Super Bowl.
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is called for 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) on Fox. Here is how you can watch, stream and follow along.
Packers vs. 49ers game today: When and where?
This Divisional Round matchup sees the 49ers host the Packers at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) on Saturday. The game will take place at Levi’s Stadium in in Santa Clara, California, home of the 49ers.
How to watch Packers vs. 49ers in the US
Saturday’s Packers vs. 49ers game is on Fox nationally. The good news for football fans is that Fox is available on most of the major live TV streaming services. The least expensive such service is Sling TV Blue.
Numerous other live TV streaming services carry local Fox stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. They all cost far more than Sling, but they also carry a full complement of live channels, including football broadcasting channels like CBS and ESPN. Check out our live TV streaming services guide for details.
All 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.
An over-the-air antenna connected to your TV provides another option for Fox. The best part about antennas is that there are no streaming or monthly fees required, although you will need to make sure you have good reception.
Texans vs. Ravens Livestream: How to Watch NFL Divisional Round Game Online Today
The Houston Texans’ remarkable season gets its toughest test yet. After finishing with just three wins last year and taking quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, Houston has not only won the AFC South but also took down the Browns last week in the NFL’s Wild Card round. On Saturday they head to Baltimore to take on the AFC’s top-seeded Ravens.
After finishing the regular season at 13-4, Baltimore had last week off for a “bye” week. The Ravens enter the contest not only as the AFC’s top team but also with Las Vegas’ second-best odds to win the Super Bowl.
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is called for 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) on ESPN, ABC and streaming on ESPN Plus. Here is how you can watch, stream and follow along.
Texans vs. Ravens: When and where?
This Divisional Round clash sees the Ravens host the Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT). The game will take place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, home of the Ravens.
Livestream the Texans vs. Ravens game in the US
The Texans-Ravens game is on ABC nationwide, so your local ABC affiliate will carry the game. In addition to cable, satellite and an over-the-air antenna — which lets you watch ABC for free — you can also watch the game live using a streaming service. The least expensive such service is ESPN Plus, which carries the game live. Most live TV streaming services including YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV also carry your local ABC station (see below), but they’re a lot more expensive.
You can also subscribe to NFL Plus, the NFL’s own streaming service at $7 per month, but streams are limited to just watching on a phone or tablet (not a TV).
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.