Apple is launching a new standalone app for classical music, dubbed Apple Music Classical, later this month. The app will feature over 5 million classical tracks, everything from “new releases to celebrated masterpieces,” Apple said. People will also be able to search works by composer, conductor and catalog number to help them find specific recordings.
In addition to a library of classical music, Apple Music Classical will feature curated playlists, exclusive albums, composer biographies and “deep-dive guides” for key works, the company said in a release. People will also be able to listen to many classical works in spatial audio.
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The app has been in the works since 2021 when Apple acquired Primephonic, a classical music streaming service. Apple shut down Primephonic but promised a new “dedicated experience” for classical music fans.
The Apple Music Classical app is up for preorder now and will launch on March 28. It’ll be available to Apple Music subscribers on an individual, student, family or Apple One plan at no additional cost, but isn’t included with the $5 a month Voice plan.
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
Android’s biggest advantage over iOS and the iPhone is its sprawling selection of devices to choose from. From the supersize Galaxy S23 Ultra to the more modest and affordable Pixel 6A, Android phones are available in a variety of sizes and prices. But having that many options to choose from can also make for a difficult buying decision. If you aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place: We’ve tested and researched all the best Android phones you can buy in 2023.
A great phone should have high-quality cameras, long battery life, compelling software features and 5G support. We considered these factors when putting together our list of the best Android phones in 2023, which you can check out below. CNET’s team updates this list periodically as we review new products.
The Galaxy S23 is a lot, but in a good way. It’s more than most people need in a phone, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Samsung made improvements to the camera’s resolution (200 megapixels compared with 108 megapixels), color tones and dynamic range, while retaining the same edgy design and massive 6.8-inch screen as its predecessor. There’s also a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that’s been optimized specifically for Samsung’s phones, which brings faster performance compared with the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
It may be an understatement to call this phone expensive: It starts at $1,200. But people willing to pay more for a giant screen and a high-quality, versatile camera won’t be disappointed. Read our full review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
• Refreshed design looks great
• Superb cameras
• Clean and enjoyable interface
Don’t like:
• Battery life could be better
Google’s latest flagship phone, the Pixel 7 Pro, isn’t a huge overhaul from the already excellent Pixel 6 Pro Google launched last year. But it’s taken that winning formula and made some key tweaks to almost every element, resulting in a superb phone that’s bliss to use. The refreshed camera can take stunning images too, earning its spot among the best flagship phones around. It typically sells for $899, but Google currently has it on sale for $150 off.
• Sleek design
• Great value
• Main camera is Google’s best
Don’t like:
• Battery life is good but not great
• Not as much Android version support as Samsung
At around $600, the Google Pixel 7 offers a great way to put some of Google’s best tech in your pocket without emptying your bank balance in the process. It undercuts the fully-specced 7 Pro model by some way, but still packs the same Tensor G2 processor, a glorious screen and a great main camera.
Like the 7 Pro, it’s had a refreshed design which looks classy and stylish, while its Android 13 software is clutter-free and easy to use. The battery life could be better, but with careful use you’ll get through a day on a charge. It lacks the telephoto zoom and a couple of the other bells and whistles of the 7 Pro, but if you’re after a solid everyday phone at a decent price, then the base Pixel 7 is a great option.
Android fans looking for a petite phone don’t have much to choose from. But the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23 provides a compelling option for those who want a phone that feels compact but still provides enough screen space. The Galaxy S23 comes with routine upgrades like a fresh processor (a version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that’s been optimized for Samsung’s phones), a slightly new design and a higher-resolution selfie camera. But it’s the Galaxy S23’s larger battery that makes it worth recommending. Read our full review of the Galaxy S23.
The next-gen Pixel 6a is available now, and if you want 5G on the cheap the smartphone is a solid choice. This Pixel phone has a high-end chipset, great rear cameras, a good display, and average battery life. It is one of the cheapest good 5G smartphones you can buy right now.
The $700 OnePlus 11 is a powerful phone that’s well equipped to handle gaming, video streaming and other common tasks. In typical OnePlus fashion, this phone is also cheaper than the $800 Galaxy S23 and $900 Pixel 7 Pro. The cameras aren’t the best, but they’re fine for casual photographers who just want to capture their next vacation or a night out. What sets the OnePlus 11 apart from many of its rivals is its blazing 100-watt fast charging, which can replenish the battery in just 25 minutes. (The US version only supports 80-watt charging, but that’s still an improvement over the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 45-watt charging). Overall, the OnePlus 11 is ideal for people who want a powerful phone that charges quickly and won’t break the bank. Read our full review of the OnePlus 11.
Like:
• 120Hz cover screen
• Water resistance
• Enhanced tablet experience
• Software improvements for multitasking and Flex Mode
Don’t like:
• $1,800 is still expensive
Foldable phones haven’t really hit the mainstream, remaining instead only in the reach of those willing to spend top dollar on the latest in mobile innovation. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the best folding phone around, offering top-notch performance, a great camera setup and a variety of tweaks to its folding technology that make this Android smartphone more desirable than its predecessor.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is an iterative update but it packs a punch for the $1,000 price tag. With a better battery life thanks to a more power efficient processor and a bigger battery, the Flip is finally worth investing in as a flagship device.
At a whopping $1,800 list price, the Sony Xperia Pro isn’t for everyone. But if you’re a photographer or videographer looking for professional-level camera phone features, you can’t go wrong. The Xperia Pro is essentially four products in one: a phone, a camera monitor, a speedy photo file transfer device and a 5G machine suitable for broadcasting and livestreaming.
• Cameras are only OK
• Not yet available in the US
The Nothing Phone 1’s affordable price, solid performance and good-enough camera setup already make it a solid option to consider if you’re looking for an Android phone on a budget. But this phone takes the pizzazz up a notch with its suite of flashing LED lights on the rear, which certainly make it stand out against its competitors.
It’s a great phone, which we enjoyed reviewing, but there is a downside: As of right now, there aren’t any plans to launch the phone in the United States. The phone was previously available as part of a beta program in the US, but orders have closed. UK shoppers can pick it up right now, but those of you in the states will simply have to keep your fingers crossed. Luckily, the company’s next phone, the Nothing Phone 2, will be coming to the US later this year.
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How we test phones
Every phone that appears on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s expert reviews team. That means actually using the phone, testing the features, playing games on it, and taking photos with it. No marketing promises are taken at face value, and if we find something we don’t like, be it battery life or build quality, we’ll tell you all about it.
Testing a phone means testing every element of the device. Is the display bright, sharp, vibrant? Does the design feel good to hold? Is it heavy? Does it feel well made? Is it water resistant? We test the processor performance using standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations while navigating the interface or playing demanding games.
All the cameras (both front and back) are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight through to dark scenes (for any available night modes), and we compare our findings against similarly priced models. We conduct battery tests, running them down from full to see how long they’re likely to keep going out there in the real world.
We take into account additional features like 5G, fingerprint or face scanners, styluses, fast charging, flexible displays, or other extras that can be useful. And we of course balance all this against the price, to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value.
Score this steep saving on Microsoft’s flagship Xbox Series X console while you can. With 10% off, free shipping and good availability, this deal is a super rare find.
Deals on the Xbox Series X are super rare. In fact, until recently just getting ahold of one at full price has been a struggle. However, for a limited time you can save 10% on one at Verizon, dropping its price down to $450. It’s shipped free and you don’t have to be an existing Verizon customer to get in on the deal.
The Xbox Series X is the most powerful console in Microsoft’s lineup. Though similar in both name and specs to the cheaper Xbox Series S, the flagship Series X offers 4K gaming, faster performance and more built-in storage. It’s also got a disc drive which means it’s useful for those that want to play both physical and digital versions of games or use the device to play Blu-rays.
Verizon’s sale makes for one of the best Xbox deals we’ve seen since this current crop of consoles launched, though there’s no clear-cut expiry on it. Be sure to get your order in as soon as possible if you want to grab one at this price.
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Music streaming services offer users a world of convenience and discovery, allowing people to listen to their favorite artists easily and quickly. In the past, some audiophiles may have scoffed at the quality of streamed music, but a growing number of providers include lossless and spatial Dolby Atmos audio at no extra charge. Besides that, there are numerous extra features, such as karaoke, classical music, podcasts and audiobooks, vying for your attention.
If you’re shopping around, the main two things you need to consider are monthly cost and connectivity. Most of the services have music catalogs with around 100 million tracks, plus they enable you to stream from multiple devices. Until recently, prices had been stable at around $10 a month, but both Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited have increased their prices by a dollar.
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I’ve checked out the biggest names, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music
and YouTube Music, as well as smaller contenders such as Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer and Pandora Premium, to see how each platform stacks up for your subscription buck. It’s worth noting that, in this roundup, I’ve purposefully left out services that can only play music in a radio format (such as basic Pandora and UnRadio) and that don’t allow you to select your own songs.
So which music streaming services offer the best combination of price, sound quality and library size? Read on to find an in-depth look at each of the services and a feature comparison, along with a full price breakdown in the chart at the bottom of the page. We’ll update this list periodically.
And if you want the TL;DR, these are the top three.
Spotify is a pioneer in music streaming and is arguably the best-known service. It offers a number of curated music discovery services, including its Discover Weekly playlist, and is constantly implementing new ones, such as Stations and an AI DJ. The service has also ramped up its nonmusic content with a push toward podcasts, which indirectly led to folk-rock icon Neil Young removing his music from the service.
When it comes to choosing a service, it’s a close race between Spotify Premium and Apple Music, but Spotify still wins as the best music streaming service overall. This is thanks to a fun, easy-to-use interface, an extensive catalog and the best device compatibility. Spotify also offers the best free tier: Without paying a dime or providing a credit card number, you can listen to millions of tunes and even stream Spotify Connect to numerous Wi-Fi devices.
Unlike Spotify, competitors like Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal are now offering lossless or even Dolby Atmos music at no extra charge. Meanwhile, Spotify’s planned HiFi (lossless) tier is still MIA and the company can’t say when it will be coming. In addition, the company hiked prices on a number of plans in 2021, even though the base price remains $10 a month in the US.
We like
Free version is impressively robust
Spotify Connect simplifies connecting to wireless speakers and AV receivers
Easy to build your own playlists and sync them for offline listening
Allows you to follow artists and be alerted when they release new music or announce an upcoming show
Now includes podcasts
We don’t like
Advertisements in the free service can be intrusive
You can’t listen to specific songs in the free tier, just a mix based on the requested music
No lossless option
Podcasts have begun to overshadow music in importance
Best for: People who want a solid all-around service, and especially for people who love to make, browse and share playlists for any scenario.
Despite a small price increase in 2022, Apple Music is still able to offer a lot for the money, including 100 million tracks and boasting both iOS and Androidcompatibility. The service runs second to Spotify in terms of subscribers, but surpasses its rival in one key respect. Yes, it has hi-res lossless, spatial audio albums, plus a new classical music app at no extra charge.
While it makes the most sense if you’re an Apple user, Music is an option if you’ve invested heavily in smart speakers, including those from Google. If you own an Apple HomePod, Mini or Nest device you can summon Apple Music tracks with your voice. There are also a ton of curated playlists, many handcrafted by musicians and tastemakers, though it lacks the robust sharing options (or some of the cool add-ons) available to Spotify.
Until recently, PC users have been in the dark as far as Apple Music is concerned as they lacked a dedicated app. However, this has changed with the release of a “preview” Music app for Windows 11, giving PC fans a peek at what has been up to now a Mac-only experience.
If you like to buy your own digital music, Apple Music is the only one of our top three with a digital locker to store your own library of songs — YouTube Music, below, is the other music locker option.
We like
Spatial and hi-res music included for your $11 a month
Combines your iTunes library with music you don’t own, with a choice of music lockers
Human music experts and algorithms help find music you’ll want to hear based on what you play
You can control what you hear or search for new music using Siri on Apple HomePod or other Apple devices
We don’t like
The experience isn’t quite as fun for Android or PC users
Best for: Those who are wrapped up in the Apple world, or who simply want excellent value for money.
Qobuz offers hi-res audio streams too, and unlike Tidal you don’t need a hardware MQA decoder to listen to them. They can sound great on an Android phone or a high-end music system, so it’s flexible. Qobuz may not offer Dolby Atmos music, but the selection of ‘immersive’ songs on other services isn’t that impressive anyway.
The service offers two plans — the hi-res Studio Premier ($13 monthly or $130 yearly) and the $180 annual Sublime Plus. Uniquely, the service offers its own hi-res download store, and if you sign up for Sublime you get a discount on purchases.
At 70 million tracks, Qobuz’s streaming catalog rivals Tidal’s and Spotify’s in number, though it may not have the most obscure artists. Qobuz generally steers towards hi-res recordings so it is especially suited to jazz and classical fans, though its rock selection is fairly robust. The fact that it’s cheaper than Tidal, and doesn’t require specialized equipment to listen in 24-bit/192Hz, makes Qobuz our favorite service for serious music lovers.
We like
The app is really clean and fun to use
Ability to listen to 24-bit music without needing a specialized decoder
One of the more affordable hi-res services
Offers a download store as well
We don’t like
May be some gaps in the catalog
No spatial audio
Best for: Audiophiles who want hi-res music for a decent price plus the ability to buy and download albums.
Now partly owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block, Tidal has introduced some important changes recently: namely that it now has a free tier called, naturally, Tidal Free. The company also offers the $10 Tidal HiFi plan, which includes lossless playback, and the premium $20 Tidal HiFi Plus tier.
Tidal HiFi Plus may be the most expensive of all the services, and while it offers hi-res and Dolby Atmos mixes, it recently had another good reason for this. Tidal’s main hook has always been that its higher subscription price translates to better payouts to artists — especially musicians who aren’t at the top of the pop charts. Yet sadly, the service will discontinue its Direct Artist Payouts (DAP) program — a scheme which paid your top streamed artist each month a 10% cut of your subscription fee — on April 1.
While Tidal used to be the best option for audiophiles, Qobuz has caught up by promising arguably better sound quality (no MQA decoder required), a cheaper price and some recent improvements in its catalog. Based on my own experience, Tidal still trumps it for breadth — and it now exceeds 80 million tracks, including longtime holdouts Metallica. If you’re an audiophile, a fan of urban music or a mix of both, then Tidal should appeal to you.
Amazon Prime Music comes “free” as part of a Prime membership, but users can choose to upgrade to Music Unlimited. In addition to an expanded catalog, the step-up now includes theoriginal HD service at $9 for Prime members, or $11 if you don’t have Prime. Music Unlimited now gives you access to millions of lossless tracks as well as over 1,000 “spatial” remixes, which can be played on Dolby Atmos soundbars, Android or iOS devices and the Amazon Echo Studio. In terms of usability, the Music Unlimited interface is also more powerful than before with playlists, genres and podcasts all accessible from the main page.
We like
Cheaper than the top three if you’re an Amazon Prime member
Lyrics automatically pop up on the “now playing” screen
Hi-res and spatial audio from Sony 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos at no extra charge
Offers free music stations for Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Amazon Tap (includes ads)
We don’t like
Artist profiles don’t have biographies
The service no longer includes a music locker
Best for: Amazon Prime members who want to save a few bucks on a decent music catalog and higher-quality streams.
YouTube Music: YouTube Music is the successor to Google Play Music
, and if you sign up for the ad-free YouTube Premium
at $12 per month, you get YouTube Music for free. The good news is that YouTube Music is a mostly impressive service (the lower bit-rate of 256kbps is mildly annoying), but Google has retained the predecessor’s music locker system enabling users to upload new tracks. In even better news, YouTube Music offers a cleaner interface than Google Play Music plus over 60 million tracks to choose from. Instead of playlists, YouTube Music offers well-curated radio stations that play endlessly and are updated often. The added ability to make playlists out of YouTube music clips also makes it a worthy option. See it at YouTube Music.
Deezer: French stalwart Deezer has been operating in the States since 2016, and it has a lot to offer, including a free tier (mobile only) and 90 million tracks. It has more subscribers than some others on this list, thanks in part to its previous affiliation with Cricket Wireless. The main Premium plan is $10 a month, but users are also able to upgrade to a lossless version (CD quality) for $15 a month. Deezer also offers a couple of unique features including being the first service enabling users to upload their catalogs from competitors at no extra charge. See it at Deezer.
Pandora Premium: Still one of the most popular streaming radio services in the US, Pandora also offers the a la carte Premium ($10 a month)and no-ads Plus ($5 a month). The result is more flexibility than most competitors, and Premium has gained plenty more subscribers in recent years, even if the service is not keeping up in terms of overall catalog size. Sadly, its audio quality is among the lowest available, even on the Premium subscription (192Kbps), and it doesn’t really offer enough of an incentive for an upgrade from its highly popular free tier. See it at Pandora.
Music streaming FAQs
How do you transfer your library between services?
Without contracts it’s pretty easy to cancel one service and start with another. That said, swapping between music services isn’t as straightforward as swapping between movie locker services using Movies Anywhere for example. If you don’t want to have to rebuild your playlists and library from scratch when you switch, you have two main options — a music locker service such as YouTube Music (but this implies you have a library of ripped or bought MP3s), or an library import tool such as Soundiiz. The latter is a service that lets you import the songs from each of your music services and transfer them, and while there’s a $4.50 monthly charge, you can always cancel once you’ve converted your library. Recently, Deezer has offered the ability for new users to convert their libraries from other services for free (via another service called Tune My Music).
Do I need spatial or Atmos audio?
The short answer is “no” and the long answer is “sort of, maybe.” Stereo music has been around since the ’50s and the catalog dwarfs the handful of Atmos audio tracks by comparison. Apple may rave about how “magical” spatial music is, but unless you have an expensive Dolby Atmos system, you may not be able to hear the differences anyway.
In our own tests, we’ve found that a well-mixed Atmos track on a dedicated setup can be fun — it’s like a rollercoaster because it’s great but you wouldn’t want to use it as your sole form of transport. By comparison, using a pair of compatible AirPods we found the tracking to be laggy when attempting to move our heads around. On the other hand, spatial audio does make sense if you’re watching a movie as you’re not moving your head that much. The music industry tries unsuccessfully to push surround music every 20 years or so — Quadraphonic in the 1970s, DVD-Audio in the 2000s — but good old stereo will never go out of favor.
Which music streaming service has the biggest catalog?
At the time of writing, Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited have the largest catalogs with 100 million tracks each, followed by Spotify with 82 million. But that’s not the end of the story: The number of songs offered by a music service used to be the main differentiator, but as always, it’s quality over quantity that counts — and particularly if you’re looking for more obscure tracks. Depending on your favorite genre, some of the services may offer a better catalog for under-the-radar (Spotify), indie (Apple) or hip-hop artists (Tidal). Users who are less ambitious about expanding their musical taste should be satisfied with the catalogs that all the services offer.
Which services include music lockers?
Amazon was one of the first services to offer uploading your MP3 collection into the cloud, but this was officially discontinued in 2018. Meanwhile, both the Apple and YouTube services allow you to combine your personal music collection with the streaming catalog, though tagging and organization can be a time-consuming challenge (your myriad live Phish tracks won’t organize themselves). Still, if you’ve invested money in digital music over the years, those two services offer a patch to continue enjoying that music online.
My initial reaction to the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra’s video was “Wow! Finally a webcam as good as a compact vlogging camera.” My reaction after trying to adjust the settings, especially when using it with a third-party application, was “I’m going to reach through my screen and punch you now.” Seriously: Razer’s Synapse software is the only thing preventing this $300 ( 300, AU$500) 4K webcam for streamers and power videoconferencers from getting an Editors’ Choice award.
It noticeably raises the quality above Razer’s Kiyo Pro — enough that the Kiyo Pro’s price has dropped significantly, and at $100 the Pro’s a great alternative if you just want a step up to solid 4K.
Synapse is the only way to control most of the settings, so it can make or break your experience. If you don’t need to change settings besides zoom, focus or white balance that often (they’re available via the Windows driver), then you’ll probably be OK. And even Synapse 3 doesn’t work on the Mac, so the webcam’s not well suited for that platform.
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Like
Excellent quality and performance
Nice built-in lens cover design
Has a relatively large number of adjustable settings which compensate for issues other cameras have
Don’t Like
Synapse control of camera is glitchy and the camera occasionally hangs when changing settings
You can only change settings when Synapse has exclusive control of the camera
The Kiyo Pro Ultra’s closest non-Razer competitor would have been the Elgato Facecam Pro, which no longer seems to be available anywhere despite shipping in November 2022. (It used a previous generation of the Sony Starvis sensor, and it’s always possible that it’s being reworked with the newer sensor.)
That camera supported 4K at 60fps compared to the Razer’s 30fps (at 1080p and lower it can do 60fps), but otherwise the Razer has a lot of the same strengths, including manual exposure controls, user presets and other settings which can help you tweak the quality of your output, such as MJPEG quality (for streaming at 1440p or 4K) and the ability to meter off your face in autoexposure mode (important if you’re off center) and lens distortion compensation.
While it looks similar to the rest of its Kiyo siblings, the Pro and the X (on our list of the best webcams we’ve tested), it has something I’ve wanted for a while: a built-in lens cover. Razer cleverly incorporated it as an iris that closes when you rotate the outer ring.
Top marks for quality and performance
When it’s good, the Kiyo Pro Ultra is great. It incorporates a 1/1.2-inch Sony Starvis 2 sensor, which is a just bit smaller than the 1-inch sensor in compact vlogging cameras like the Sony ZV-1 but loads bigger than the sensors in other webcams, with a good size f1.7 aperture.
The larger sensor and aperture means it shows perceptible depth-of-field blur. It doesn’t have as wide a field of view as many webcams, only up to 82 degrees (72 degrees with distortion correction on) rather than 90 or more, which could affect its suitability for your needs.
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The Ultra displays excellent tonal range for what it is, though it falls short in handling bright areas. It needs some software tweaking for that, I think. It has the typical HDR option, but in a backlit shot with a properly exposed foreground (as well as without), it didn’t help clip the overbrightness in the back. There are toggles for both dark and light rooms, but neither seemed to make a perceptible difference. I’ve had other cameras handle it better.
It meters properly, for the most part. Center metering works best if you’re in the center — face metering overexposes oddly without tweaking the exposure compensation, otherwise. But if you lean to the side, face metering keeps it from spiking when it sees your black chair instead of your face. White balance is very good as long as you’re not in too dark an environment. Even then it’s not bad. Nor does it lose a lot of color saturation.
You can toggle a couple of noise reduction settings and they do make a significant difference in low light. The distortion compensation makes a visible difference as well.
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Standard autofocus is meh, just like all the other webcams. But there are several settings to mitigate the frequent hunting, which other webcams don’t have. Face autofocus does a good job of keeping it from hunting when you move your head, and there’s a “stylized lighting” setting which helps the AF system lock when the lighting might otherwise confuse it.
The camera handles some of the image processing that might otherwise be sent to the PC, notably the MJPEG compression of the stream you’re sending, and you can set how aggressively it compresses either automatically or on a performance-to-quality continuum.
Still needs some baking
Unfortunately, it’s still just a little too glitchy and the software limits it unintentionally. You can’t access any of the settings in Synapse — most notably resolution/frame rate and manual exposure (ISO and shutter speed) — unless camera preview is enabled. And Windows only allows one application to access a camera at a time.
So, for example, if you’ve accidentally left the resolution at 4K but you need it to be 1080p in OBS, to change it you have to first deactivate the camera in OBS — thankfully, OBS has that option, but Nvidia Broadcast doesn’t. Then jump over to Synapse, turn on preview, change the resolution, turn off preview, jump back to OBS and reactivate the camera. And resolution, among other settings, doesn’t seem to be saved as part of the profiles you can create.
Doing it once isn’t that much of a problem. After the 10th time in an hour it gets old.
It’s also complicated by the occasional failure of settings to kick in, which sometimes forces you to loop back through that activate-deactivate cycle: Why does my adjusted exposure not look adjusted? Do I have to kick it to get autofocus to kick in? The preview in Synapse isn’t always accurate, though that’s not unique to Synapse, but it means you can’t assume your adjustments there will be correct. Synapse also froze several times while I was trying to swap between profiles.
Almost every other reasonable webcam utility allows you to change settings while viewing within the application you need them for. Yes, sometimes a few are disabled (because Windows), but at least they’re not all unavailable. It’s possible that all these issues can be ameliorated with firmware and software patches, but I have learned never to assume that just because they can be that they will be.
The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is a capable webcam that just needs some software and firmware polish before I’m comfortable considering it a reliable, consistent performer.
This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products.
Samsung’s previous generation of sleek, foldable phones impressed us here at CNET, and with the latest generation, things have only improved. The Z Fold 4 is the larger of the two new models — it’s bigger than the Z Flip 4 — and you’ll find you can purchase it easily at most major carriers and retailers. This hybrid device combines the portability of a phone with the display and power of a tablet, and thanks to a variety of currently available deals and discounts, you won’t have any trouble getting your hands on this ingenious foldable for less.
The Z Fold 4 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and backed by 12GB of RAM. Plus, the book-style foldable has been redesigned with a slimmer, more durable hinge and lighter overall weight. There’s a 6.2-inch outer AMOLED display and a 7.6-inch inner AMOLED display, both of which offer a 120Hz refresh rate. One huge upgrade comes in the camera department, with an array that now includes a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 4 earned a spot on our list of the best Android phones for 2023 as the best foldable option on the market, but this sort of innovation doesn’t come cheap. Thankfully, there are already a ton of Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals to take advantage of right now, so you can get this powerful new Samsung phone in your hand for less. And if you prefer the smaller Z Flip 4, you can check out our roundup of all the best deals on that model as well.
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What colors does the Galaxy Z Fold 4 come in?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is available in gray-green, phantom black and beige. There’s also a burgundy model that’s exclusive to Samsung’s online store.
How much does the Galaxy Z Fold 4 cost?
At its full retail price, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,800. That gets you the base spec 256GB variant. US pricing for each model is as follows:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (256GB): $1,800
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (512GB): $1,920
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (1TB): $2,160
Be sure to check out all the Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals below for some ways to save on these retail prices.
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Best Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals
Now the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has been available to buy for a few weeks, there are plenty of Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals to take advantage of. We’ve rounded up the best Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals from carriers and retailers below so you know where the best place to buy yours is.
We will continue to update this page as new offers become available, so keep checking back if your carrier or preferred retailer is not listed below.
Samsung is offering up to $600 off your Galaxy Z Fold 4 when you trade-in an eligible device, which drops the price of the 256GB model down to $1,200. Samsung is even offering up to $375 in credit for old or damaged devices.
For those wanting to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 4 outright, Amazon is offering some of the best no-strings-attached discounts available right now. You can save $350 on certain color variants of the 256GB model, dropping the price down to $1,450. But you may want to opt for the 512GB model, which is down to just $1,570 for certain color variants, also saving you $350 compared to the usual price.
Trade in your old phone to AT&T and get up to $800 off your Galaxy Z Fold 4. Devices that are eligible for the full discount include older models like the Galaxy S9 or iPhone 8 so be sure to check your trade-in value even if you think your existing phone might not be worth that much. The credit takes place over a 36-month period, and if you cancel service before the 36 months is over you’ll have to pay the remaining balance. Also be aware that credits begin within three bills and require that you pay all taxes and associated fees on the retail price up front. AT&T is also offering 50% off any Samsung accessory, like a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds, when you add them to your cart with this purchase.
New customers can get as much as $1,000 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 with trade-in on select Unlimited plans (or $800 for existing customers). Old and damaged phones are accepted, too. New customers will also get a free $200 Verizon gift card when switching their existing number over from another carrier. Plus, Verizon is offering some other bonuses, including a free Galaxy Watch 5 and $490 off a Galaxy Tab S7 FE with the purchase. Though you’ll need a service plan for your new device as well to get these deals.
T-Mobile is offering new subscribers the chance to snag the Galaxy Z Fold 4 from as little as $1,000 with up to $800 in bill credits on a qualifying Magenta Max plan. The credits will be applied over 24 or 36 months. If you don’t want or need a Magenta Max plan. T-Mobile is still offering up to $400 off with a new line of service on. other eligible plans.
Best Buy is currently offering up to $350 on unlocked models of the Z Fold 4 and up to $100 on the Z Flip 4. However, there are some discounts available on carrier models, too. Verizon customers can save up to $1,000 with an eligible trade-in and activation on a new line of service. And both new and existing T-Mobile customers can save up to $800 with a qualifying trade-in. There aren’t any offers available for AT&T customers, and Best Buy doesn’t appear to be carrying any models for that carrier. It’s also worth noting that these same deals are also available for the Z Flip 4.
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Developer Rocksteady Studios has reportedly decided to spend more time polishing the game. The title was initially planned for a 2022 release but was pushed back to May 2023. It’s still expected to come out this year, though exact timing isn’t clear.
The delay will reportedly allow Rocksteady to fix bugs and improve other aspects of the game that weren’t ready for a May release. Publisher Warner Bros. Games didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Suicide Squad is a four-player co-op game planned for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with players stepping into the role of anti-heroes Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, King Shark and Harley Quinn. The four have been sent to Metropolis to face off against the brainwashed members of the Justice League, including the Flash, Batman, Superman and Green Lantern.
Apple released iOS 16.4 beta 3 to public beta testers Wednesday, about a week after the company released the second iOS 16.4 public beta. This third beta means the wide unveiling of iOS 16.4 is probably close at hand. Beta testers can now try out new iOS features, like new emoji and updates to Apple Books.
These features are available only to people who are a part of Apple’s Beta Software Program. New iOS features can be fun, but we recommend downloading a beta only onto something other than your primary phone, just in case the new software causes issues. Apple provides beta testers with an app called Feedback. The app lets testers notify Apple of any issues in the new software so the problem can be addressed before general release.
Here are some of the new features testers can find in the iOS 16.4 betas.
Apple ID and beta software updates
The latest beta lets you sign into another Apple ID to access other beta software.
Zach McAuliffe/CNET
With the third iOS 16.4 beta, developers and beta testers can check whether their Apple ID is associated with the developer beta, public beta or both. If you have a different Apple ID, like one for your job, that has access to beta updates, iOS 16.4 beta 3 also lets you switch to that account from your device.
Apple Books updates
The iOS 16.4 beta 2 update brings the page-turn curl animation back to Apple Books, after it was removed in a previous iOS update. Before, when you turned a page in an e-book on your iPhone, the page would slide to one side of your screen or it would vanish and be replaced by the next page. Beta testers can still choose these other page-turn animations in addition to the curl animation.
With iOS 16.4 beta 3, a new popup appears when you open Apple Books for the first time after downloading the update. It lets you know you can change your page-turn animation, theme and more.
31 new emoji
The first iOS 16.4 beta software brought 31 new emoji to your iOS device. The new emoji include a new smiley; new animals, like a moose and a goose; and new heart colors, like pink and light blue.
Some of the new emoji released in the first iOS 16.4 beta.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The new emoji all come from Unicode’s September 2022 recommendation list, Emoji 15.0.
Apple Podcasts updates
The first beta brought a few changes to how you navigate Apple Podcasts. Now you can access podcast channels you subscribe to in your Library. You can also use Up Next to resume podcast episodes you’ve started, start episodes you’ve saved and remove episodes you want to skip.
Preview Mastodon links in Messages
Apple’s first iOS 16.4 beta enabled rich previews of Mastodon links in Messages. That’s good because Mastodon saw a 400% increase in the rate of new accounts in December, so you might be receiving Mastodon links in Messages.
Music app changes
A small banner appears at the bottom of the screen when you choose to play a song next in Apple Music in the frst iOS 16.4 beta.
Zach McAuliffe/CNET
The Music interface has been slightly modified in the first iOS 16.4 beta. When you add a song to your queue, a small banner appears near the bottom of your screen instead of a full-screen pop-up.
See who and what is covered under AppleCare
Starting with iOS 16.4 beta 1, you could go to Settings to check who and what devices are covered on your AppleCare plan. With iOS 16.4 beta 2, this menu will show you a small icon next to each device that’s covered under AppleCare.
Focus Mode, Shortcuts and always-on display
If you have an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, iOS 16.4 beta 1 lets you enable or disable the always-on display option with certain Focus Modes. A new option in Shortcuts called Set Always on Display was also added, in addition to new Lock Screen and Set VPN actions.
New Apple Wallet widgets
You can add three new order-tracking widgets for Apple Wallet to your home screen with the first iOS 16.4 beta. Each widget displays your tracking information on active orders, but the widgets are different sizes: small, medium and large.
The medium-size Apple Wallet order tracking widget takes up three tile spaces on your iPhone’s screen.
Zach McAuliffe/CNET
More accessibility options
The first beta update added a new accessibility option, too. The new option is called Dim Flashing Lights, and it can be found in the Motion menu in Settings. The option’s description says video content that depicts repeated flashing or strobing lights will automatically be dimmed. Video timelines will also show when flashing lights will occur.
New keyboards, Siri voices and language updates
The first iOS 16.4 beta added keyboards for the Choctaw and Chickasaw languages, and there are new Siri voices for Arabic and Hebrew. Language updates have also come to Korean, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu.
There’s no word on when iOS 16.4 will be released to the general public. There’s no guarantee these beta features will be released with iOS 16.4, or that these will be the only features released with the update.
iPhone 13 deals are much easier to find now that the iPhone 14 has taken its spot as the top-tier model, and if you don’t need Apple’s latest flagship phone you could save a chunk by going for the previous-gen model.
For starters, with a new iPhone on the scene, the iPhone 13 saw a significant price drop, with the base model down to $699 (from $799) and the iPhone 13 Mini also going for $100 less. And with trade-in offers and carrier deals, you can get your hands on an iPhone 13 for much less than that.
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Despite no longer being the latest model, the iPhone 13 still packs a punch and would be a solid upgrade for a lot of folks — and it’s still our pick for the best iPhone when it comes to value. It has essentially the same design, screen and A15 Bionic processor as the iPhone 14, as well as 5G support, MagSafe charging and cameras that are on par with those seen on the previous iPhone 12 Pro Max.
If that sounds like the iPhone for you, read on for our top recommendations when it comes to iPhone 13 deals.
What colors does the iPhone 13 come in?
Apple
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini come in six different colors: green, pink, blue, midnight, starlight white and Product Red. Cases come in a much wider range of hues and patterns.
How much does the iPhone 13 cost?
The two available models of the iPhone 13 have different prices that change depending on the amount of storage. Pricing for each model starts at:
iPhone 13 Mini: $599
iPhone 13: $699
Best iPhone 13 deals
Most retailers and carriers, including Apple itself, are offering great deals on the iPhone 13. If you’ve got an older iPhone that you’re looking to trade in, you can save hundreds on a new model or save with special offers from carriers. We’ve rounded up some of the best deals out there right now.
We’ll keep updating this page as new offers become available, so check back if your carrier or preferred retailer isn’t listed below.
Use Apple’s trade-in service and save hundreds off your iPhone 13 purchase. While its site quotes up to $600 off right now, the higher prices are for handing over an iPhone 13 model, which you’re unlikely to be doing when buying one. The highest price paid for an older model is $420 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max or $300 for the standard iPhone 12. If you’re financing the purchase, Apple will apply the trade-in amount as credit after it has inspected the device you send in, or it will refund the trade-in amount to your original purchasing method if you paid in full upfront.
Grab an iPhone 13 from $10 per month via AT&T without having to trade in an old device. The deal requires that you activate or maintain eligible unlimited wireless service with the $370 discount being applied via bill credits over 36 months. Similar promotions are available for the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, though the discount figure isn’t as high at $280 and $200, respectively.
Verizon is offering up to $600 off the iPhone 13 Mini (making it effectively free) or $520 off the iPhone 13 (making it $5 per month). You can get in on the savings, which will be applied as bill credits over 36 months, by taking out the device on a new line on an unlimited plan or by upgrading an existing line and trading in your old phone. New customers can also benefit from an extra $200 Verizon credit for switching. Apple Watch and iPad promos are available too, but note that these require their own service plans.
Sprint is offering $730 off the iPhone 13 lineup in bill credits with an eligible trade-in and a new line. That means you could get the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Mini for free there, effectively, or pay as little as $7 monthly for a Pro model.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a similar deal at T-Mobile, with up to $730 off with an eligible trade in and a new line. Existing customers can trade in their old device and get up to $400 off. Other promotions include a buy-one-get-$700-off-another sale and a free Apple Watch SE with iPhone purchase (though you’ll need a new line of service for that device, too).
Having suffered a 7-0 mauling at the hands of archrivals Liverpool at the weekend, Man United boss Eric ten Hag will be looking for a response from his players as they take on Real Betis in this Europa League this evening in the first leg of this round of 16 clash.
Sunday’s humiliating Premier League loss was the joint-heaviest defeat in the club’s history, abruptly ending a run of 11 games unbeaten for United, while also extinguishing talk of the Red Devils having an outside chance of winning the title.
Ten Hag will now be hoping his players haven’t been left too traumatized by the weekend’s events as they look to focus on a tournament they’re currently still favorites to win.
Having seen off Spanish giants Barcelona in the last round, United face another La Liga outfit as they take on Seville’s Real Betis, currently in fifth spot in their domestic league and coming off the back of a 0-0 draw with Real Madrid.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.
Talented winger Jadon Sancho looks set to start for Man United in this crucial Europa League clash.
Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
Man United vs. Real Betis: When and where?
Man United host Real Betis at Old Trafford on Thursday, March 9. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US, and at 7 a.m. AEST on Friday, March 10, in Australia).
How to watch the Man United vs. Real Betis 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 the game — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream the Man United vs. Real Betis game in the US
Thursday’s big match at Old Trafford will be available to stream on Paramount Plus, which has live broadcast rights in the US for every UEFA Europa League and Champions League fixture for the 2022-23 season.
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $5 per month ($50 per year if paid annually) and Premium for $10 per month ($100 per year).Both offer coverage of all Europa League and Champions League fixtures this season.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Livestream the Man United vs. Real Betis game in the UK
Europa League rights in the UK are with BT Sport, with this game set to be broadcast on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate 4K channels. If you already have BT Sport as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via the BT Sport app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a BT Sport Monthly Pass account to stream the game.
If you’re already a BT TV customer you can currently access BT Sport channels for 10 per month. BT Broadband customers can watch the channels via the BT Sport app for 16.
If you don’t want to be locked down to a lengthy contract, there’s also the option of BT Sport Monthly Pass, which costs 30 per month and lets you stream all four BT Sport channels across iOS and Android devices, plus a wide range of set-top boxes and smart TVs. It’s a rolling one-month contract that you can cancel anytime.
Livestream the Man United vs. Real Betis game in Canada
If you want to stream this game live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to every Europa League match this season.
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$25 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to the Champions League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream the Man United vs. Real Betis game in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch this UEFA Europa League fixture on streaming service Stan Sport, which is showing every single Europa League game live in Australia this season.
Stan Sport will set you back AU$10 per month (on top of a AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to the UEFA Champions League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming the Europa League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Europa League 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.
