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  • Vizio Quantum Pro TV Review: Solid Picture Quality But Only Available in Two (Big) Sizes

    Vizio Quantum Pro TV Review: Solid Picture Quality But Only Available in Two (Big) Sizes

    Our Experts

    Written by

    Bella Czajkowski,
    David Katzmaier
    Bella Czajkowski Associate Writer
    Bella covers TVs and home entertainment technology for CNET. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University, where she was editor-in-chief of the independent student newspaper, The Lantern. She recently earned a master’s degree in investigative reporting from Columbia Journalism School. When she’s not writing, Bella can be found at the dog park with her rescue pup, Wilson.
    Expertise TVs and Home Entertainment Technologies
    David Katzmaier Editorial Director — Personal Tech
    David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
    Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials

    • Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
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    7.9/ 10
    SCORE

    Vizio Quantum Pro

    $698 at Amazon

    Pros

    • Bright, high-contrast image for the price
    • Preserves picture well from off-angle

    Cons

    • Slightly less accurate color
    • Available in only two sizes

    In our tests over the years, Vizio TVs have produced very good picture quality without breaking the bank. The Vizio Quantum Pro continues this trend and holds up as a solid midpriced TV option, with a few notable drawbacks.

    In side-by-side comparison tests in our lab, the Quantum Pro performed well for the money, with better contrast than the similarly priced Roku Plus Series, for example. On the other hand, as expected, slightly more expensive models like the TCL QM8 and Hisense U8K were better, with brighter images and higher contrast.

    One major drawback is the Quantum Pro’s lack of size offerings; it comes only in 65- or 75-inch sizes. We reviewed the 65-inch model, but the review also applies to the 75-inch version since the specs and picture quality should be similar regardless of size.

    If you’re looking for a smaller TV in this price range, you might instead turn to the Roku Plus Series, which offers a 55-inch model and a superior smart TV system. Vizio will also continue to offer this TV’s predecessor, the M-Series Quantum X, in the 50-inch size.

    Simple, sleek remote and an adjustable stand

    vizio-vqp65c-84-07

    The Quantum Pro is more adaptable than most TVs from a setup standpoint. There are two height options, the higher of which is meant to leave room for a soundbar underneath the set. Although not as slim as an OLED, the Quantum Pro is relatively thin and light, so it would also look fairly flush mounted on the wall. The TV’s remote is simple and not overcrowded and includes shortcuts to directly select streaming services.

    vizio-vqp65c-84-08

    Vizio does not use a mainstream smart TV system like Roku or Google TV but instead employs its own system called SmartCast. It’s pretty user friendly and similar to the other smart TV systems, but it differs enough that Roku or Google TV lifers might need a bit of time to adjust.

    Vizio’s SmartCast isn’t quite as good as Roku, our favorite smart TV system overall, in part because Vizio more prominently features ads on the home screen. Roku has a smaller, less obtrusive ad widget on the bottom left of the screen. Roku also offers more apps and better search results for streaming services.

    vizio-vqp65c-84-03

    Features: Local dimming and 120Hz, but no mini-LED

    Display technology LED LCD
    LED backlight Full array with local dimming
    Resolution 4K
    HDR compatible HDR10 and Dolby Vision
    Smart TV SmartCast
    Remote Standard with voice

    The Quantum Pro differs from Vizio’s less expensive TVs by offering full-array local dimming, our favorite feature to improve LCD picture quality. It has somewhat more local dimming zones than the Vizio MQX we reviewed previously, but that won’t necessarily make a big difference in image quality.

    You’ll pay less for the Quantum Pro than the TCL QM8 or Hisense U8K, other TVs that rank among our favorites for the money, partly due to one not-so-miniature difference: the Quantum Pro lacks mini-LED technology.

    Other features of the Quantum Pro:

    • 120Hz refresh rate
    • Four HDMI inputs
    • Vizio voice remote
    • USB port

    The Quantum Pro can handle 4K 120Hz sources, which allows for smoother images while gaming, but it’s via only one of its four HDMI inputs. That’s enough for most people, but if you have both an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, you’ll have to connect one to a less capable input and lose the benefits of that smoothness.

    Picture quality comparisons

    We lined up the Vizio, TCL QM8, Hisense U8K and Roku Plus Series TVs next to one another in the lab. With TV shows and movies, the Vizio Quantum Pro produces a bright, relatively accurate picture, with better contrast overall than the Roku Plus series, but there are a few ways it fell short.

    For one, the picture appeared overly bright in the middle ranges of brightness, which made it look less accurate in comparison to the other TVs. We noticed this while watching Netflix’s cooking show Fresh, Fried & Crispy, which has bright scenes thanks to the staging shots of the food. Some shots of Spam fries, for example, looked overly bright on the Vizio compared to the Hisense U8K.

    The Quantum Pro’s color also appeared slightly worse than the TCL and Hisense, with skin tones appearing undersaturated and less vibrant at times. For example, in season one of Stranger Things, Eleven and her surroundings in a scene where she’s eating — namely a red and yellow ketchup and mustard bottle — appear significantly undersaturated on the Quantum Pro compared to the Hisense U8K. Eleven’s skin tone, too, was a bit cooler on the Vizio.

    vizio-vqp65c-84-09

    For gaming, while the Calibrated Dark mode was the most accurate for TV and movies in a dark room, the Calibrated mode combined with its Gaming/PC mode worked best for gaming. The combo both optimized picture quality and reduced input lag.

    Some parts of the picture appeared oversaturated and captured less depth when compared to the TCL and Roku. For example, when we tested out Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the Vizio lost some depth in the game’s coliseum during a sunny day. The TCL and Roku better preserved this depth despite the bright scene.

    But overall, barring that (albeit pretty picky) picture quality issue with brightness, the Quantum Pro would be perfectly functional for gamers.

    The Quantum Pro is also a bright TV for the money, with a brighter image than the Roku Plus Series, for example. The Quantum Pro’s brightest mode was Vivid, and its most accurate mode was Calibrated Dark.

    Light output in nits

    TV Brightest mode (HDR) Accurate mode (HDR) Brightest mode (SDR) Accurate mode (SDR)
    Hisense 65U8K 1,966 1,966 1,720 1,240
    Vizio Quantum Pro (2024) 1,269 1,063 1,382 221
    Vizio M65QXM-K03 (2022) 939 742 958 608
    LG OLED65C3 861 817 501 464
    Roku TV Plus 514 455 579 404


    As for viewing angles and uniformity, the Quantum Pro was the best in our lineup at keeping color saturated from extreme off-angles. So, if you have a large or funky-shaped room and want a TV that looks better from seats other than a sweet spot in the middle, this TV might be a wise pick.

    The Quantum Pro performed well from a uniformity perspective, too, maintaining its image across all parts of the screen — pretty on par with its competitors.

    Picture settings and measurement notes

    We measured every picture mode of the Quantum Pro, and the Calibrated Dark and Calibrated modes were the most accurate, as usual, for Vizio. However, both modes showed an inaccurate EOTF in the middle range of the brightness scale, which contributed to many of the “poor” scores in the chart below and most likely to the overly bright middle range we saw in our comparisons. Both modes also showed a slight blue cast to the grayscale.

    Geek Box

    Test Result Score
    Black luminance (0%) 0.080 Poor
    Peak white luminance (SDR) 1382 Good
    Avg. gamma (10-100%) 1.44 Poor
    Avg. grayscale error (10-100%) 8.42 Poor
    Dark gray error (30%) 12.70 Poor
    Bright gray error (80%) 6.47 Poor
    Avg. color checker error 6.61 Poor
    Avg. saturation sweeps error 6.91 Poor
    Avg. color error 6.65 Poor
    1080p/24 Cadence (IAL) Pass Good
    Input lag (Game mode) 14.40 Good
    HDR10
    Black luminance (0%) 0.015 Good
    Peak white luminance (10% win) 1269 Good
    Gamut % UHDA/P3 (CIE 1976) 97.15 Good
    ColorMatch HDR error 10.59 Poor
    Avg. color checker error 11.73 Poor
    Input lag (Game mode, 4K HDR) 14.33 Good

    All in all, if you’re looking for a quality TV without breaking the bank and one of the two size offerings work for you, the Vizio Quantum Pro is a solid choice.

    Portrait Displays Calman calibration software was used in this review.

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max, 7 Months Later: Still Going Strong Despite Drops and Scratches

    iPhone 15 Pro Max, 7 Months Later: Still Going Strong Despite Drops and Scratches

    Seven months into using the iPhone 15 Pro Max, one of the biggest surprises — which, unfortunately, I can confirm through personal experience — is that it can survive drops. Many, many drops.

    It’s fallen off the arm of my couch onto my living room hardwood floor multiple times. It dropped from my pocket onto the sidewalk twice as I fumbled to pull it out. And then there were numerous instances where the 15 Pro Max hit the floor of CNET’s San Francisco studio during video shoots. I frequently use the iPhone as a teleprompter with an accessory that clips onto a Panasonic S1H camera and lens. Sometimes my camera operator or I will accidentally knock “the rig” while adjusting the Panasonic, which causes the phone to dislodge and smack the ground. Luckily, my 15 Pro Max’s screen and back haven’t cracked.

    Read more: Best iPhone for 2024

    And, it’s worth noting: I don’t use a case. I know, I’m a horrible, soulless monster, but I’m just not a case guy. But, maybe I should be.

    Over my seven months with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, I’ve traveled across the country with it, watched TV and movies on it, played games and even taken it to a surf rock show. It’s become my rectangular, half-pound friend that does everything I need it to.

    I’ve become dependent on features like StandBy Mode at home and at the office, Check In during long bike rides, and that incredible 5x zoom on the camera. There have been lows, like the overheating software bug that arrived on iPhones running iOS 17 last fall, but luckily, my phone wasn’t affected, and Apple has since resolved the issue.

    Here’s why, more than half a year later, I’m still glued to my iPhone 15 Pro Max.

    Wear and tear

    Let’s start with how my iPhone 15 Pro Max looks, especially after all those falls. The titanium sides are in good shape, but there is a small knick on the side of the top-left corner — no comment! The back glass looks good. My phone is the natural titanium color, or what a friend jokingly calls “not quite beige.” But that drab color, along with the matte finish, hides fingerprints and dust quite well. Upon closer inspection, I don’t see any marks or scuffs on the back.

    The iPhone 15 Pro Max

    The Ceramic Shield display hasn’t fared as well. There are some tiny scratches on it, especially in the lower-left corner, and the oleophobic coating seems to be wearing down in a couple of spots. I am definitely not complaining, especially since I don’t baby the phone. But it’s nice to see the 15 Pro Max mostly holds up to the everyday Patrick Holland experience.

    Battery life and display

    Cameras and lenses on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung S24 Ultra

    My 15 Pro Max’s battery health is normal, though the max capacity has dropped from 100% to 99%. The battery cycle count sits at 111 and my 10-day average for screen-on time is eight hours and 41 minutes. In terms of battery life, not much has changed. It still lasts a full day on a single charge and can get through a day and a half when I’m not using the phone heavily.

    There are times, like during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Samsung Unpacked in January, when I pushed the phone by taking hundreds of photos and videos and calling in for CNET’s live video stream over 5G. On days like that, using low-power mode has helped to offset battery drain, but I’m still impressed with how the phone holds up, even in those scenarios. Because the 15 Pro Max has a larger battery than the 15 Pro, it can last noticeably longer.

    The iPhone’s display looks so good. Whether I’m watching The Bear, reading an article, laughing at New Yorker cartoons or taking a photo, images and graphics are rich and detailed and text is easy to read, even when the brightness is dim.

    If you read my iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra camera test story, you might know where I’m going next. The 15 Pro Max’s screen falls short for me in one way: reflections. After using the Galaxy S24 Ultra and its low-reflection display, I can’t unsee the reflective mess that is the iPhone’s display — and the majority of smartphone screens out there. I hope Apple adds the coating, or whatever Samsung is doing, to the rumored iPhone 16’s display.

    The iPhone 15 Pro Max and iOS 17

    An iPhone with its Standby screen active

    Perhaps the biggest change to the phone, besides the camera, is iOS 17. We are 19 months from when the Dynamic Island debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, and it still feels underutilized by third-party apps. Yes, it’s great for Uber, music controls and system alerts for Apple’s apps, but it feels like there’s more that can be done with it. I’m not sure this is on Apple, since the company can’t force developers to use the Dynamic Island. But it still feels like it’s early days for the Dynamic Island, even though it’s not.

    We also now have Stolen Device Protection, which protects your accounts and personal information in case your iPhone gets stolen. If you haven’t, turn it on. In iOS 17.3 or later, go into Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode and you can enable it there.

    In my earlier iPhone 15 Pro check-in, I noted several iOS 17 software bugs I experienced, like having Safari freeze and become unresponsive. I am happy to say I haven’t had that issue in months.

    And the last thing I’ll say about iOS 17 is there are a ton of small improvements which have been lovely, like the Catch Up arrow in Messages. But the feature that I see more people embracing is StandBy mode, which turns the iPhone into a mini-hub when it’s charging. StandBy Mode shows widgets, the time or photos and isn’t limited to the iPhone 15 series. It’s fun being over at a friend’s house and seeing them have a stand for their iPhone in the kitchen or home office for StandBy. And I’m curious if and how Apple might expand StandBy Mode in iOS 18.

    Cameras and video

    iPhone 15 Pro Max

    Cameras are always a huge deal on the iPhone, and the 15 Pro Max is no different. Essentially, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max both have the same cameras, but the 15 Pro has a 3x telephoto lens and the 15 Pro Max a 5x telephoto lens. It makes me wonder what an iPhone 15 Pro Ultra would have been like with both the 3x and the 5x — think Galaxy S24 Ultra.

    Photos from the 15 Pro Max are great and on par with those from the S24 Ultra and Pixel 8 Pro, especially with that 5x lens! Take a look at the gallery below featuring snaps I took with the phone.

    I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

    See all photos

    But I want to give the iPhone’s video capabilities a moment to shine. The 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max have the ability to record ProRes video and even save files as SDR, HDR and Log. The Log files might look odd: the color is desaturated and the exposure looks dark. The files are designed to capture more image information than a non-ProRes video and be color graded and balanced for exposure later to get the look you want – or match video footage recorded with another camera.

    A side-by-side comparison of Apple ProRes Log

    In fact, the video that accompanies this article was filmed by CNET’s John Kim on an iPhone 15 Pro Max. The main shot of me in the video talking to the camera directly was captured using the 15 Pro Max’s 5x camera and recorded in ProRes Log. Here is a before and after composite of the same frame from the video: one unedited the way it looks in Log and the other after it was graded and balanced.

    One of my other favorite parts of iPhone 15 Pro Max video capture is being able to record video straight to an external hard drive, thanks to the USB-C port which supports USB 3 speeds. With this method I can quickly transfer videos I shot from the iPhone to my computer for edits by simply unplugging the drive from my iPhone and plugging it into my laptop. I don’t have to wait for the videos to upload and download or for them to AirDrop. To make the recording process even better, I use several accessories.

    My go-to iPhone 15 Pro Max accessories

    The iPhone 15 Pro Max and accessories

    I use two main accessories to record footage for CNET videos: the Blackmagic Cam app and a Samsung T9 SSD. Keep in mind for casual videos and social posts, I mostly hold my iPhone and use the default Apple Camera app.

    The Blackmagic Cam app is basically the pro camera mode I’ve wanted from Apple for years. It’s just for video, but gives waveforms for balancing exposure, zebras to show where the image’s bright parts are clipping to white, controls for shutter speed, ISO and more. I can select different video codecs, audio formats and, heck, there’s even a mini-slate! Perhaps my favorite thing about the Blackmagic Cam app is it’s free.

    The Samsung T9 SDD is both tiny and large. It’s about the size of a tin of Altoids, and yet comes with storage configurations up to 4TB. I’ve used Samsung T drives for years just because of their value and portability. But unlike the previous ones I had, this T9 drive is rugged. Samsung claims it can handle a drop from 9.8 feet. After reading about my propensity for dropping my iPhone, it might come as a surprise to know that I have not tested this claim. The Samsung T9 SSD is $175 for 1TB but at the time I’m writing this, Best Buy sells it for $130 ($45 off).

    I also want to highlight Peak Design’s mobile tripod. It’s made of aluminum and has MagSafe-compatible magnets to attach to the back of the iPhone. The tripod’s tiny legs fold flat to make it portable. There’s even a tiny allen wrench key that magnetically stores in the body to tighten the ball-joint! I keep the mobile tripod in my backpack with me, and it comes in handy all the time not just for recording video, but also for watching them. The Peak Design mobile tripod costs $80, which is a lot, but it’s worth every penny.

    Final thoughts

    The iPhone 15 Pro Max on a mobile tripod

    The iPhone 15 Pro Max has been my everyday carry for the past 7 months, and that’s the best approval I can give a phone. If you’re thinking about getting one, I definitely recommend it, and as we get closer to summer, keep an eye out for trade-in deals and sales. Also, I’m going to start shopping around for an iPhone 15 Pro Max phone case.

  • Grab Last Minute Deals During Best Buy’s Massive 3-Day Sale

    Grab Last Minute Deals During Best Buy’s Massive 3-Day Sale

    All good things must come to an end and that includes Best Buy’s huge three-day sale. Today, Saturday 13, marks the second day of the sale — which means you only have one day left to secure some sweet savings. If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your home appliances, overhaul your entertainment setup or you just want to treat yourself to some new tech, this is the perfect time to do it. Best Buy is slashing prices on everything you need to start fresh for spring. Spruce up your space with the latest devices at a great price on everything from smart home devices to TVs, laptops, smartwatches and plenty of other top tech at Best Buy right now.

    We’ve gone through the sale and have highlighted some of the best offers below to help you snag some good deals. You can also check the full sale by clicking the link below. Just be aware that the weekend sale ends on April 14 at 9:59 p.m. PT, so be sure to make your selection before then.

    More great deals at Best Buy:

    Some of the items listed may have additional discounts available for My Best Buy Plus or Total members, so if you’ve been considering signing up, now might be a great time to do so. While those subscriptions are paid accounts, the money you make back in exclusive savings during this event or throughout the year can be worth it, especially if you shop at Best Buy regularly. There are some other perks too, such as free two-day shipping with no minimum amount and extended return windows.

    For more device savings, we’ve rounded up the best phone deals, laptop deals and TV deals to help you keep more money in your pocket.

  • Play and Earn: Adventures in the World of Verum Runner

    Play and Earn: Adventures in the World of Verum Runner

    In the modern world, cryptocurrencies are becoming an integral part of our everyday lives, offering new opportunities for entertainment, communication, and earning. In this context, crypto games are becoming particularly popular, combining captivating gameplay mechanics with the ability to earn digital assets. One of the bright representatives of this trend is the crypto game Verum Runner.

    Journey into a New World:
    Verum Runner is an exciting crypto game that takes players on an adventure through the streets of a futuristic city. Become a runner of our time and overcome various obstacles, collecting coins along the way. But what makes Verum Runner unique? The answer is simple: the game’s cryptocurrency economy, which allows players to earn real money while playing.

    Earning in the Rhythm of Running:
    In the world of Verum Runner, every step, every obstacle overcome is an opportunity to earn digital assets. Players can collect coins during their runs and exchange them for real money. Thus, the game not only brings enjoyment and excitement but also motivates players to develop and earn.

    Verum Runner is not just a game; it’s a new world where everyone can become the hero of their own adventure. Immerse yourself in the exciting world of the crypto game and discover endless opportunities for entertainment and earning.

    Become part of Verum Runner today and embark on a journey to new adventures!

  • 5 of the Best Comedy TV Shows on Netflix

    5 of the Best Comedy TV Shows on Netflix

    Sometimes you just need a laugh. That’s where Netflix can come in.

    The streaming service has a surprisingly large collection of sitcoms and comedy TV shows, made up of originals and licensed titles. Whether you need a distraction from a bad day or background white noise while you’re working, these shows are sure to lift your spirits. Plus, only one of these shows has a laugh track. The rest don’t, so you can listen to the sound of your own cackles.

    Here are five of the best sitcoms you can stream now on Netflix.

    Read more: Best VPNs for Netflix

    For more, check out 18 all-time best TV shows on Netflix and the best live TV streaming services for cord cutters.

  • Is Your PC Low on Storage Space? This Windows 11 Feature Can Automatically Clean Up Your Drive

    Is Your PC Low on Storage Space? This Windows 11 Feature Can Automatically Clean Up Your Drive

    If you’re using an older Windows computer, you’ve probably found yourself running low on disk space. You’ll know the signs: A hard drive that’s at or near capacity will slow down, and your apps will freeze and crash more frequently. It’s a frustrating scenario that makes even the simplest tasks on your PC feel impossible to complete.

    The fix is obvious — you need to clean up your drive — but you may have a difficult time deciding exactly which files to get rid of. Fortunately, Windows 11 makes it easy to delete the files that you don’t need and free up some space on your computer.

    Instead of downloading third-party software to free up disk space, Windows 11 has a few settings you can configure to quickly delete temporary, system files and old downloads you might not need.

    And if you’re worried about getting rid of important files, don’t fret — Windows 11 will help you decide what to get rid of to improve your PC’s performance.

    If you want to learn more, check out more features we love on Windows 11. You should also read about the best desktop computers this year.

    How to automatically free up storage space on Windows 11

    On your Windows 11 computer, go to Settings > System > Storage. If this is your first time visiting this setting, wait a few seconds for your computer to analyze your data storage. Once Windows has collected what it needs to know, you’ll be able to see your total free memory at the top of the page. Underneath that you’ll see a breakdown of your storage, divided into apps and features, temporary files and other. You can also click Show more categories to view a further breakdown.

    The setting we’re interested in, however, is Storage Sense, which automatically frees up space on your computer whenever your disk space is low. It does this by deleting temporary files, emptying your Recycle Bin and getting rid of old downloads, in the background, without you having to manually do it.

    Storage management page with Storage Sense toggled on

    To turn on Storage Sense, simply toggle it on here. If you click the setting, you can configure several features:

    • Run Storage Sense: Run Storage Sense during low disk space (default) or every day, week or month.
    • Delete files in my recycle bin if they have been there for over: Choose 1 day, 14 days, 30 days (default) or 60 days.
    • Delete files in my Downloads folder if they haven’t been opened for more than: Choose never (default), 1 day, 14 days, 30 days or 60 days.

    These Storage Sense settings can help you limit which files are removed, and when they’re removed, so that you don’t have to worry about any important files getting wiped from your computer.

    Configure cleanup schedule settings

    At the bottom of the page, you can click Run Storage Sense now to use the feature then and there.

    And if you want to get rid of more files to clear up space, use the Cleanup recommendations feature underneath Storage Sense. If you click on it, it will scan your system and recommend files for you to manually delete, such as temporary files, large or unused files, files synced with your cloud and unused apps.

    Want to learn more about Windows 11? Check out the biggest differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Also, these are the best features on Windows 11 you need to know about. And if you haven’t downloaded Windows 11 yet, here’s how what you need to do.

  • Some Older Phones Now Support Circle to Search. See if Yours Is One of Them

    Some Older Phones Now Support Circle to Search. See if Yours Is One of Them

    If you’re rocking an Android phone that’s a couple of years old, you might not have expected your device to support Circle to Search. The new AI-powered tool, announced at Samsung’s Unpacked event in January, was initially limited to the newest Samsung and Google phones. However, the feature has recently rolled out to some older devices, as well as a few tablets.

    The concept is simple. Press and hold the home button on the screen to enable Circle to Search, and then do just that: Use your finger to draw around text or scribble on an object on screen to search for it on Google. It’s a visual look-up tool that allows you to quickly get more information about a pair of boots you see on Instagram or an unknown landmark in a YouTube video.

    Read more: Best Android Phone of 2024

    And you never have to leave whatever app you’re on to do it. Long gone are the days of taking a screenshot and using a reverse image search tool to find out more.

    Now you can just tap or draw, and get dozens of results for whatever is on your screen.

    If you’re curious about the new AI-driven discovery tool on Samsung’s latest flagship phone, here’s everything you need to know about Google’s Circle to Search. For more, check out the best new AI features on the Galaxy S24 and Patrick Holland’s review of the Galaxy S24.

    Which Android devices currently support Circle to Search?

    Circle to Search debuted in January on the Galaxy S24 series, followed shortly by the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

    As of April, the AI-powered discovery tool has been added to other Samsung and Google phones, including some that launched several years ago. Circle to Search is also available on some Android tablets.

    Here’s the full list:

    • Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra
    • Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra and S23 FE
    • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5
    • Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, and S9 Ultra
    • Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
    • Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
    • Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
    • Google Pixel 6A and 7A
    • Google Pixel Fold
    • Google Pixel Tablet (coming soon)
    Pixel 8 Pro mint

    How to use Circle to Search

    Now, if you’ve got the right phone or tablet, it’s time to use Circle to Search.

    From anywhere on your Galaxy or Pixel device, press and hold on the home button in the navigation bar and choose the new Circle to Search option that appears the very first time you bring it up. After you use the tool once, it’ll become the default search tool, triggered anytime you press and hold the home button, instead of Google Assistant.

    Using the Circle to Search feature

    Once it’s enabled, use your finger to circle, scribble or tap anywhere on your screen to search on Google. If you’re unsure about what you can Circle to Search, it’s pretty much anything on your screen: a celebrity on Instagram, a lamp in the background of a TikTok or a vintage t-shirt on eBay. The options are truly limitless.

    Circle to Search will then bring up a panel at the bottom of the screen that you can swipe up to view more information about the object you circled, like you would in Google Search.

    In the example below, I tapped LeBron James’ pants on an Instagram post I saw. Google then identified the pants — Louis Vuitton Tailored Cotton Damier Cigarette pants, worth $1,890. In the Circle to Search panel, the first option is a direct link to the Louis Vuitton website to purchase them, while the rest of the options show other options to purchase the trousers or similar looking pants at various price points.

    Using Circle to Search on the Galaxy S24

    Circle to Search allows you to enter a prompt to get more tailored results, or an AI summary, for whatever object you’re searching. If you circle a plate of bolognese, for example, you can ask Circle to Search to give you a vegan-alternative recipe.

    Because I want to see if the pants are available elsewhere for less money, I typed “Find on Grailed,” which is an online marketplace for used luxury clothing that usually has more affordable options. The results changed to only Grailed listings for the Louis Vuitton pants.

    No screenshots are saved of what you search for using Circle to Search, but if you tap the three-dot icon on the top-right of Circle to Search, you can view your history in your Google settings.

    When you’re finished using Circle to Search, simply hit the back button to leave the search results.

    While you’re here, check out Lisa Eadicicco’s review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

  • Taylor Swift and TikTok Are Going Steady Again: Singer’s Music Is Back on Service

    Taylor Swift and TikTok Are Going Steady Again: Singer’s Music Is Back on Service

    Taylor Swift and TikTok have rekindled their love story. The singer, who owns the rights to many of her recordings, has agreed to allow some of her songs back on the app. The return comes after a dispute between TikTok and Universal Music Group led to a massive music removal in early February. UMG distributes Swift’s work, as well as that of major acts such as The Beatles, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish.

    It’s more than a smart marketing move for Swift, who’s preparing to release her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, in multiple formats on April 19. Taking her tracks back to TikTok shows she can go toe-to-toe with the biggest music distributor on the planet. The change doesn’t affect other UMG artists, who don’t have the same rights to their music as Swift does, and whose songs are are still not back on TikTok.

    Read more: The Great TikTok-UMG Music Purge: Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Others Are Gone From Site

    Bad blood with UMG

    According to The New York Times, UMG started to pull songs from TikTok on Feb. 1, one day after its licensing contract with the app expired. Users who’d included any of the company’s songs in their videos suddenly encountered silence and the option to replace the now-missing soundtrack with a song or sound not owned by UMG.

    On Jan. 30, the company posted an open letter to explain why UMG needed to “call time out on TikTok.” The letter highlighted three issues: “appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.”

    “Ultimately,” the letter said, “TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music.”

    TikTok pushed back that same week, with a company rep writing in an emailed press statement that TikTok had “been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher. Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans.”

    UMG disagreed.

    “TikTok still argues that artists should be grateful for the ‘free promotion’ and that music companies are ‘greedy’ for expecting them to simply compensate artists and songwriters appropriately, and on similar levels as other social media platforms currently do,” a representative for UMG said in an emailed statement sent back in February. “TikTok didn’t even attempt to address the other issues we raised regarding harmful AI and platform safety.”

    The time out is still in effect, though there may yet be some other UMG-related artists who, like Swift, have the ownership to work directly with TikTok and work out an arrangement.

    Read more: Taylor Swift’s New Album: Nabbing All the Bonus Tracks Will Cost You

    Which Swift tracks are back?

    Variety spotted several popular Swift songs back on TikTok as of April 12, including Cruel Summer, You Belong With Me, Lover, and the Taylor’s Version variations of Fearless, Style, and Is It Over Now? TikTok users may use these tracks in their videos.

    There are no songs from her upcoming album on TikTok as of this writing, but that may change on April 19, when The Tortured Poets Department is released.

    Read more: I’m a Swiftie, but I’m Not Streaming Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Movie. Here’s Why

    Still on tour

    Swift will spend the rest of 2024 taking her in-demand Eras Tour around the world. After taking a break from the road to release The Tortured Poets Department, she’ll resume the Eras Tour on May 9 in Paris and travel across Europe and Canada. The last scheduled date as of this writing is on Dec. 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

  • Watching the Masters? AI Will Tee Up All the Golf Data You Crave

    Watching the Masters? AI Will Tee Up All the Golf Data You Crave

    Golf fans — technically called “patrons” — in Augusta, Georgia, this week for the 88th Masters Tournament can indulge in pimento cheese sandwiches (and peach ice cream sandwiches) in plain view of the azaleas and dogwoods at Amen Corner, which includes holes 11, 12 and 13. But they won’t have any mobile devices on hand. Electronics are strictly prohibited.

    That’s where the millions of golf fans who’ll tune in to the tournament on TV (12 million last year) have an advantage thanks to increasingly elaborate tournament-tracking options beyond simply viewing the Masters on TV. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Here’s how to watch the Masters.)

    And now, of course, it includes AI — generative AI, to be precise.

    While AI has been part of the Masters experience for several years, gen AI first came on the scene in 2023 via an English language narration feature for app and site content. That, of course, was also the year gen AI went mainstream following the launches of ChatGPT, Gemini (known originally as Bard), Claude and Copilot. As consumers have experimented with the technology to write poetry, generate fanciful images, compose symphonies and perhaps even get tips on how to improve their golf swings, gen AI has been infiltrating our lives further and further.

    So it’s perhaps no surprise the 2024 Masters is availing itself of the technology to provide course insights through its app, to improve highlight reels and to enable segments of its first experience on the Apple Vision Pro device.

    The technology changes, but the goal remains the same: enhancing the mobile and site experience for fans who can’t be in Augusta.

    The Masters is a legendary four-day golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in the first week of April. After the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday, the top 50 players move on to the final rounds. It culminates on Sunday when the winner is awarded the tournament’s iconic green jacket (and about $3 million).

    Rain delayed the start on Thursday, but American golfer Bryson DeChambeau ended Round 1 with another American, Scottie Scheffler — currently ranked the top golfer in the world — right behind him. Tiger Woods, who is after his sixth Masters win to tie Jack Nicklaus for the most victories overall, was tied for 37th place going into the second round on Friday.

    (By the way, if you’re looking for a deeper dive into AI, check out CNET’s new AI Atlas guide, which includes reviews of gen AI tools, along with AI news, tips and explainers.)

    Three examples of what iPhone users will find in the 2024 Masters app.

    A trove of golf data from Hole Insights

    Here’s how the gen AI features work. Let’s say I’m hoping Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy will finally get the winner’s green jacket on Sunday. If I select him as one of my favorite players, the Masters app will tell me his tee time each day — and compile highlight videos and send alerts with McIlroy updates if I choose.

    A new Hole Insights feature can also help me stay on top of his play.

    According to IBM, the feature processes data about all the shots on the course by all competitors over all four rounds in the last eight years — that’s 170,000 total shots, to be precise — to calculate the overall probabilities of what’s going to happen next “based on the resting positions of the ball relative to the next shot,” as Noah Syken, vice president of sports and entertainment at IBM, put it.

    As soon as the ball stops, IBM captures the x, y and z coordinates to compare them to historical data.

    So if I pull up the Track Players feature within the app, pick which hole I want to see from Round 1 on Thursday —like Hole 12, where McIlroy birdied —watch video clips of each shot (along with a yellow arc highlighting the ball’s flight path) and then click on an icon of circles within a circle to get Hole Insights.

    After McIlroy’s first shot at Hole 12, which went 148 yards, Hole Insights says players have a 43.48% chance of par from that spot historically.

    Golf fans can play around in the app to find breakdowns of current and historical play, as well as projections for the 2024 tournament, which include recaps of how each hole has played daily and throughout the tournament as a whole; projections of how each hole might play based on performance data; and historical data about how each hole has played — at least in the last eight years.

    This marks the first Masters tournament in which offsite fans will have access to this data and the shot probabilities. And, per Syken, it’s also yielding more accurate intel about the course itself.

    So while caddies might have estimated, say, that golfers hit the 12th green 70 to 80% of the time, Hole Insights will tell you it’s actually 51%.

    “That data just has never been available at this course before,” he added.

    This expands upon an existing Track Shots feature. “In the past, [Track Shots] would show you Player A hit his tee shot 227 yards and he has 150 yards to the hole and that would be the totality of the information,” Syken said.

    Now Hole Insights can tell you he hit the ball 217 yards into the fairway and the probability of him making a par or a birdie from that position.

    “In the past, we really just captured distances of the ball going, but that didn’t have any correlation to actual performance,” Syken added.

    Narrating the Masters in Spanish, a la AI

    Joining the AI-enabled English language narration feature, which debuted in 2023, the Masters app will offer AI-enabled Spanish language narration in 2024 as the tournament attempts to reach a more global audience.

    Last year, IBM and the Masters used foundation models to train the English language AI in “the unique language of golf at the Masters” to automate the addition of spoken commentary to video clips of player and tournament highlights. IBM says gen AI helps to produce varied sentence structure and vocabulary, which prevents redundant commentary.

    Spanish language narration is possible this year thanks to a large language model that was trained in Spanish, so audio and closed captioning should sound more realistic to Spanish-speaking fans.

    IBM says the AI narration offers audio and closed caption commentary for on-demand highlight videos of every shot, which works out to about 20,000 throughout the four-day tournament each year.

    Viewing the Masters via Apple Vision Pro

    Also new this year is a Masters app for the Apple Vision Pro device, which debuted in February.

    In addition to preexisting app features like livestreams, Track Shots and My Group, which lets fans watch every shot from their favorite golfers, the Vision Pro app includes 3D renderings of the course, enabling fans to view the course from multiple perspectives.

    Putting together a Masters highlight reel

    IBM has been one of the few tournament sponsors for at least 25 years. That includes the launch of Masters.com in 1996, along with the usual technological subjects thereafter leading up to AI and gen AI in 2023.

    Returning in 2024 is the My Group feature, which uses AI models to identify highlights of your favorite players, which are automatically added to a personalized feed.

    IBM pulls this together in part by analyzing excitement on the course.

    That includes factoring in elements like the difficulty of a given shot, as well as crowd noise and player gesture recognition — say, a fist raised in triumph — to come up with an excitement score for each shot.

    And so IBM will generate a personalized highlight reel based on excitement scores for McIlroy and whoever else I pick as my favorites, along with human curation.

    The goal is to create a better, more personalized experience for the 12 million or so golf fans who won’t be in Augusta.

    “The Masters wants to present the best event in all the world of sports to their patrons and their fans, and so on-site those experiences are intended to be the best, like free parking, right?” Syken said. “You don’t go to many sporting events that offer free parking.”

  • iPhone AI Evolution: What the Rumors Say About iOS 18

    iPhone AI Evolution: What the Rumors Say About iOS 18

    Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is scheduled to take place on June 10, when the the company is expected to release the next version of iPhone software: iOS 18.

    Apple’s iOS 18 could bring the “biggest” software update in the iPhone’s history, according to the January edition of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter. In the November edition, Gurman wrote that iOS 18 could bring “relatively groundbreaking” updates to the iPhone complete with “major new features and designs.”

    Read more: Best iPhone of 2024

    The news comes amid the generative AI hype cycle. Last fall, Google debuted its flagship Pixel 8 lineup with souped-up AI tricks and in January, Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 series with Galaxy AI. In light of this, it’s likely Apple will go in the same direction with the rumored iPhone 16 and iOS 18.

    To be clear, Apple already has AI features on its iPhones like its photo duplication detection feature, but we’ve yet to see how generative AI will factor into the iPhone and iOS. With iOS 17, Apple included a slew of AI-powered features like the ability to clone your own voice on the iPhone and an updated keyboard with better autocorrect. But the company stopped short of unveiling generative AI products along the lines of Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s Chat GPT. Still, the rumor mill points to meaningful changes in iOS 18. Here are the most credible ones.

    Read more: Hidden AI Features Available on Your iPhone Right Now

    Smarter Siri

    Siri on iOS 17

    Siri has been around since iOS 5 in 2011, but with iOS 18 Apple’s voice-activated assistant could get a lot smarter.Generative AI technology “should improve how both Siri and the Messages app can field questions and auto-complete sentences,” according to Gurman.

    Before his newsletter, a September report from the Information, said Apple plans to use large language models, a crucial part of generative AI, to make Siri smarter. An example detailed in that article explained how Siri can respond to simple voice commands for more complex tasks, such as turning a set of photos into a GIF and then sending them to one of your contacts. If that example is accurate, this represents a significant step forward in the capabilities of Siri.

    Read More: Apple Just Teased Its AI Plans. You Really Should Take Notice.

    Improved texting with Android

    An illustration portraying the mix of blue and green bubbles on iPhone's iMessage service, with a sick-face emoji.

    Apple has said it will bring RCS support, the cross-platform messaging standard, to the iPhone. According to a November report by 9to5Mac, an Apple spokesperson said it’ll be coming to the iPhone “later next year” and will work alongside iMessage.

    RCS support should improve the current messaging experience between iPhone and Android users by bringing iMessage-like features. Those upgrades include sending high-quality photos and videos to contacts, read receipt, typing indicators and, most importantly, end-to-end encryption, something SMS messaging lacks. In other words, if you have an Android phone and are texting someone with an iPhone, you’ll be able to text each other over RCS instead of SMS. However, it’s important to remember that iMessage will remain exclusive to the iPhone and other Apple devices. RCS will not bring iMessage to Android phones.

    Read More: Apple’s iMessage Will Probably Never Come to Android. And That’s OK.

    As mentioned earlier, details are currently sparse on Apple’s plans and we don’t yet know which iPhones will be compatible with iOS 18. We’ll be updating this article as and when we get more details, so make sure to check back. Until then, you can get up to speed with iOS 17.

    Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.