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We now have a clearer idea of when the Disney Plus password-sharing crackdown will begin. Speaking with CNBC, CEO Bob Iger said Disney will be “launching our first real foray into password sharing” in June, first bringing the clampdown to “just a few countries and a few markets, but then it will grow significantly with a full rollout in September.”

During Disney’s first-quarter earnings call in February, the company announced plans to enforce new account-sharing policies by implementing a fee for Disney Plus streaming customers later this year. The move continues a trend kicked off by Netflix and came after the media giant updated its subscriber agreements for Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus.

“Beginning this summer, Disney Plus accounts suspected of improper sharing will be presented with new capabilities to allow their borrowers to start their own subscriptions,” CFO Hugh Johnston said during the earnings call. “Later this calendar year, account holders who want to allow access to individuals from outside their household will be able to add them to their accounts for an additional fee.”

Subscribers received emails that detailed changes to user agreements for each platform. Subscribers may not share their accounts with anyone outside their primary household residence, unless it’s permitted for their tier, according to Disney’s terms. The agreement says the company may check for compliance by reviewing your usage habits and choosing to “limit or terminate access.” The policy went into effect on Jan. 25 for new users and March 14 for existing customers.

Read more: Sorry, April Streaming Is Kinda Heavy. You Should Keep All These Services

Iger first shared plans to address account sharing in August, saying it would be a priority in 2024 for its global subscriber base. He added that the move would support the company’s efforts to increase monetization in the new year. Disney began its crackdown in Canada first and unveiled new rules in November.

By comparison, Netflix charges $8 for each “extra member” subaccount, with limits on how many people can be added to a Premium or Standard subscription. Though the streamer experienced early backlash about the change, it helped drive its subscriber numbers up. Some former password borrowers signed up for their own accounts — such as its $7 ad-based plan.

Disney is evolving its streaming business in other ways. The company fully launched its Hulu on Disney Plus single-app option last week and in February announced a joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox to create a new sports streaming service.

Yesterday’s Wordle was a pretty common word, and today’s is similar. It’s a word you’ll certainly know, even if it takes you a few guesses to put all the letters in the right spots.

If you do as I do and use a starter word that contains some of the most commonly used letters in the alphabet, you’ll probably be in good shape after one or two guesses.

Every day, we’ll post hints and then the answer for the current day’s Wordle, just in case you need it.

Today’s Wordle hints

Warning: If you keep reading, you’ll see the Wordle answer for Friday, April 5, puzzle #1021 (preceded by hints that might give it away). That could be a devastating spoiler for some players. But if you just need the answer — maybe you’re on your last guess and simply don’t want to see an 800-game streak go poof — keep reading.

Wordle hint #1: Starts with two consonants

Just like the last two words, today’s answer begins with two consonants.

Wordle hint #2: One vowel

But there’s only one vowel, so if you’ve nailed which one it is, you just need to work on the placement.

Wordle hint #3: Starting letter

The answer begins with W.

Wordle hint #4: Definition

The answer is a body part.

Wordle hint #5: Joint effort

The answer is the joint where your hand joins your arm.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Here comes the spoiler: Today’s Wordle answer is: WRIST. As in, “My wrist gets tired typing in all these Wordle guesses.”

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s answer was CLIMB, as in, “I hope I can climb the ranks of Wordle solvers.” I found that puzzle kind of easy, since it involved frequently used letters. Your climbing mileage may vary.

Past Wordle answers

• April 1, #1017, FROND.

• April 2, #1018, SERUM.

• April 3, #1019, PLAIT.

• April 4, #1020, CLIMB.

Everyday Wordle tips

I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. So if you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.

Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.

What is Wordle?

If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”

A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”

There are other fun games in the Times Games stable. My latest addiction is Connections, which I think is trickier than Wordle. This is the game where you look at a grid of 16 words and try to put them into four groups of related words. Sometimes the relationships between the words are pretty out there — like the time when it was four words that all began with rock bands, such as “Rushmore” and “journeyman.” (Connections got a little sassy on April Fools’ Day with an all-emoji puzzle. Some gamers did NOT find that funny.)

Spelling Bee is a popular Times game too. And there’s a new game that’s still in beta, Strands, which I’m trying to master.

The next-generation iPhones, likely to be called the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, are expected to launch in less than six months, and rumors about design changes are already swirling. The base-model iPhone 16 is expected to have redesigned cameras and the well-received action button from the iPhone 15 Pro. Now a new report suggests some iPhone 16 models will use a new screen technology that allows for thinner bezel borders, which might give users of the Pro model phones a slightly larger screen area.

The report, which comes from Korean publication The Elec and was translated by MacRumors, says display manufacturers have developed a new type of border reduction structure technology. This new manufacturing technique reportedly allows companies to create screens with more compact control circuitry, effectively allowing for a slimmer bezel. The bezel is the border that separates the phone’s screen from the actual edge of the device.

Read more: Best iPhone to buy in 2024

It’s unclear whether the new display technology would be added to the entry-level iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus or the more expensive iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, as MacRumors notes. Typically, however, Apple tends to introduce display improvements in its pro line of products, such as with the pro-motion display in 2021’s iPhone 13 Pro, before sometimes offering them in lower-cost models later on. Earlier leaks have also suggested the Pro model screens will grow somewhat, perhaps because of the now-rumored smaller bezels.

Apple representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The new screen details help to round out the hardware features the iPhone 16 lineup will likely offer when it launches this fall. Though Apple doesn’t publicly acknowledge new iPhones until they’re released around September, the rumor mill tends to uncover their headline features beforehand. Last year, Apple’s headline features for the $999 iPhone 15 Pro were a new titanium frame, the action button and USB-C charging, each of which were rumored ahead of time.

Read more: iPhone 16: All the Major Rumors on Apple’s Next iPhone

Apple’s steady drumbeat of annual upgrades have become a hallmark of the iPhone, which is still the company’s best-selling product line. CNET’s Patrick Holland wrote that the iPhones “are defined by their refinements” in part because the improvements to cameras, screens and battery life add up for people who buy a new device every few years.

Aside from hardware improvements, Apple is also expected to announce upgrades to its iOS software powering the iPhones during its Worldwide Developers Conference starting June 10. Though Apple’s been tight-lipped about its iOS plans, rumors suggest the company will announce new AI features in response to the current craze powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

Apple is reportedly moving on from cars to… robots? After nixing its electric vehicle project in February, the iPhone maker is now eyeing personal robots that could follow you around your home, according to a report from Bloomberg.

The project is reportedly in its early stages, and it’s not clear if the products will ever become a reality. But now that Apple has called off its decade-long effort to build an electric car, home robots could be the company’s “next big thing,” people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

See also: The iPhone May Get a Big Dose of AI This Year. Here’s What to Expect

Apple didn’t respond to CNET’s request for comment.

In recent years, the tech giant has been exploring new ways to bring in revenue, especially as people hold onto their phones longer. It’s branched out into subscription-based services like Apple TV Plus and Apple Music, and released entirely new products like the Apple Vision Pro — which, with a $3,500 price tag and not much to offer out of the gate, will likely take years to achieve widescale adoption.

But home robotics could offer the company a new way to leverage artificial intelligence and have a foothold in people’s homes, Bloomberg notes. Along with a mobile robot, Apple has reportedly developed “an advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around,” the publication notes. That smart display is reportedly further along than the mobile robot, and “has been added and removed from the company’s product road map over the years,” according to the report, as executives have disagreed on whether to even pursue that product.

While Apple has been taking things slow when it comes deploying AI in its products and services, it could leverage any advancements in that area to boost its rumored robotics offerings. If the company did ultimately launch a home bot, it would join the ranks of Amazon’s $1,600 Astro robot, which can deliver snacks, patrol your home and follow you around while you’re on a video call.

Apple has similarly envisioned having its robot work as a videoconferencing tool that can navigate on its own, according to Bloomberg, and has even pitched the idea of having it do chores like washing dishes. Whether or not these more ambitious functions — or even the robots themselves — see the light of day is unclear. But if they do, it’ll likely be several years before you have an Apple robot roaming your home.

Apple released the first iOS 17.5 beta to public beta testers on Thursday, two days after the company released the beta to developers and about a month after the release of iOS 17.4. The latest beta brings a handful of new features, like more ways for people in the European Union to download apps, to the iPhones of some developers and beta testers.

We recommend downloading a beta only on something other than your primary device. Because this isn’t the final version of iOS 17.5, these features might be buggy and battery life may be short, and it’s best to keep those troubles on a secondary device.

If you’re a developer or public beta tester, here are some of the new features you might find in iOS 17.5 beta 1. Note that the beta is not the final version of iOS 17.5, so there could be more features to land on your iPhone when iOS 17.5 is released. There’s no word on when Apple will release iOS 17.5 to the public yet.

Read more: You Should Really Download iOS 17.4.1 Right Now

Download apps from sites… but only for people in the EU

According to MacRumors, iOS 17.5 beta 1 introduces the ability to download apps right from a developer’s website instead of through an app store. However, this feature will only work for people in the EU. Apple announced this capability on March 12, alongside other EU-specific developer features, like the ability to choose the design of in-app promotions.

This is the latest EU-specific feature to come to iPhone users. When Apple released iOS 17.4 in March, a big part of that update was allowing people in the EU to download alternate app stores in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act.

Podcast widget changes color

With iOS 17.5 beta 1, your Podcast widget will change color depending on the artwork of whatever podcast you’re listening to at the moment. So if the podcast you’re listening to has red artwork, the widget will turn red.

This aesthetic feature was in some early iOS 17.4 betas, but Apple removed it from that update’s public release. In iOS 17.4, Apple also brought transcripts to podcasts which makes the audio media more accessible for more people.

Books app counter tool

It appears iOS 17.5 beta 1 also wants to help people achieve their reading goals. With the update, the Books app gets a counter in the top right corner of the app’s homepage. If you tap this counter, the app takes you to your Reading Goals menu. This menu shows you how much time you’ve spent reading today. There’s also a button here that reads Explore the Book Store which opens the Book Store.

At first, Books sets your daily reading goal for five minutes a day, but you can change this goal to anywhere between 1 minute or the absurd 1,440 minutes (24 hours) a day — I like to read, but that feels a little aggressive.

Those are a few of the new features some developers and beta testers will see in the first iOS 17.5 beta. That doesn’t mean these are the only features coming to the next iOS update, or that these changes will stick when iOS 17.5 is released to the public. As of now, there’s no word on when Apple will release iOS 17.5.

For more on iOS 17, here’s what to know about iOS 17.4.1. You can also check out what was included in iOS 17.4 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

Looking to snag a sleek, new foldable phone? Now’s the perfect time. Not only has Samsung’s Galaxy AI update rolled out for last year’s Galaxy phones, but with rumors that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is on the horizon, you can also score a great deal on the current Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable phone if you act fast. The 512GB model regularly lists for $1,120, but you can score one now for just $900 at Amazon, essentially giving you a free storage upgrade for the same price that the 256GB model is going for right now. We’re not sure how long this sale will last, so it’s best to act fast if you want to snatch it at this price.

The AI upgrade means this phone will be able to use features like Circle to Search, Chat Assist and more. The phone also sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a big cover screen and an upgraded hinge that eliminates the gap when closed, along with a solid battery life that should generally get you through the day and some improvements to the camera over its predecessor. If you’ve been holding out on this compact phone due to the price, this deal can shave off a big chunk of change and is packed with plenty of storage for your photos and videos.

You can check out other Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals before you buy, or if this model doesn’t suit you, be sure to check out our roundup of all the best phone deals happening now.

Picking a new smartphone can be daunting, especially when you see the prices of some of the best phones on the market. But most people don’t have to spend thousands to get a great device, and the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a prime example of that. Even at its usual $450 asking price, it’s a bit of a bargain. But if you order today Amazon will sell you the black version for just $350. We would suggest that you order yours soon though, this deal is a limited-time offer, which means that it isn’t going to stick around forever.

When we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G last year, we found it to have a big, vibrant display and enjoyed the option to expand its storage using a microSD card. The price is a key factor here as well, although those who want to get the fastest phone with the best camera might want to look elsewhere. That being said, at this price, it’s hard to go wrong.

Buyers will get a 6.4-inch display with 128GB of storage and an under-display fingerprint scanner. The phone has a 5,000 mAh battery and a sleek design that feels great. And all in a rather lovely black finish that might even be a dark blue in the right light.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a bit of a steal, but we know it won’t be to everyone’s liking. If you fall into that category, we’re sure that our list of the best phone deals will have the perfect option for you.

Things don’t get easier for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Sheffield United are tasked with a tough trip to Anfield on Thursday to take on title contenders Liverpool.

The Blades claimed a rare point away at Fulham at the weekend, but remain rooted to the foot of the table and come into this clash 10 points adrift of safety.

With the championship now very much a three-horse race against Arsenal and Man City, Liverpool will be relishing what looks on paper to be a kind fixture. The Reds have beaten their opponents in each of their last six meetings, conceding just once in those encounters.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live, wherever you are in the world.

Liverpool vs. Sheffield United: When and where?

Liverpool host Sheffield Unitedat Anfield on Thursday, April 4. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. BST local time, which is 2:30 p.m. ET or 11:30 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 5:30 a.m. AEDT in Australia on Friday morning.

How to watch the Liverpool vs. Sheffield Unitedgame 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, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream Liverpool vs. Sheffield Unitedin the US

Thursday’s Liverpool vs. Sheffield Unitedmatch is streaming on Peacock. You’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live.

Livestream the Liverpool vs. Sheffield Unitedgame in the UK

Premier League rights in the UK are split between Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports. The Manchester City vs. Aston Villa game is exclusive to TNT Sports — showing on its TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 2 HD channels.

Livestream the Liverpool vs. Sheffield Unitedgame in Canada

If you want to stream Liverpool vs. Sheffield Unitedlive in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo. The service has exclusive rights for this Premier League season.

Livestream the Liverpool vs. Sheffield Unitedgame in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch this EPL fixture on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League game live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

Apple Arcade, a CNET Editor’s Choice Award pick, added three new games to its growing library in April, including a service exclusive title. The service has familiar and classic games, as well as exclusive titles you can play for $7 a month ( 7, AU$10). You can find many of these games in the App Store, but they have paywalls and ads that might hinder your gaming experience. You can play each game without paywalls and ads by using an Apple Arcade subscription.

You can play these games, in addition to others like Crayola Adventures and Bloons TD Battles 2 Plus, on Apple Arcade now.

Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop

Developer: Sega

The latest installment in this unique tile-matching puzzle series is exclusive to Apple Arcade. This installment features an original story with more than 24 playable characters from across the series, in addition to the gameplay fans have grown to enjoy. You can challenge up to four players worldwide in matches, or you can play Endless Mode to climb to the top of the leaderboards.

If you’re new to this series, you have to line up four tiles, called Puyos, to make them disappear. This is a head-to-head battle game, so when you match four Puyos, you can send blank Puyos to block up your opponent’s board.

Mizuki Hosoyamada, the Puyo Puyo series producer, said in an email to CNET that the series’ head-to-head battle gameplay was a sensation in Japan when the original title was released in 1991. It was so popular that there are now professional Puyo Puyo players.

“I feel that all these factors come together to make Puyo Puyo the unique and popular series it is,” Hosoyamada said.

Super Monsters Ate My Condo Plus

Developer: PikPok

In this wacky, BAFTA-nominated puzzle game, your goal is to feed condo units to four different kaiju — named Lady Ferocious, Reginald Starfire, Mr. Shigoto and Boat Head who, you might have guessed, has a boat on his head. The Kaiju and condos are color-coordinated, and you’ve got to feed the right condos to the corresponding monster. If you feed too many condos to the wrong kaiju, it’s game over, and we can’t allow these tacky condos to stand. Did you see the weird gray vinyl floors in that one? Hideous.

Sago Mini Trips Plus

Developer: Sago Mini

According to a study published in the National Institute of Health, gaming in small intervals could benefit a child’s developing brain. And this collection of interactive games could spark creativity and build early literacy skills in young gamers. You can travel and explore far-off lands, like desert islands and the big city, and go on fun adventures. This title includes Sago Mini Road Trip, Boats, Planes and Trains.

You can access these titles and others now on Apple Arcade for $7 a month or $50 annually. You can also try Apple Arcade for free for one month with your first sign-up, or you can get a three-month free trial when you buy a new Apple device. To access Apple Arcade, open the App Store on your iOS or iPadOS device and tap the joystick in the menu bar.

It’s been a busy few months for the smartphone industry. The year kicked off with a slew of new phones such as Samsung’s Galaxy S24 lineup, the OnePlus 12 and 12R, Oppo’s Find X7 Ultra, and the global launch of the Xiaomi 14 series. But there are still plenty of new phones to expect in 2024, provided Apple, Samsung and Google follow their usual patterns.

Samsung, for example, usually introduces new foldable phones around August, while Apple typically holds its annual iPhone launch event every September. Google follows in October with new Pixels.

Read more: Best Phones of 2024

As for what to expect, artificial intelligence will likely be a big theme in this year’s phones. We’ve already seen that with the Galaxy S24 family, which is the first to include Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features, as well as last year’s Pixel 8 series.

Generative AI, or AI that can generate content when prompted based on training data, had a breakout moment in 2023 thanks to the success of ChatGPT. But 2024 will test how truly useful these AI-powered features are, particularly when it comes to smartphones.

Aside from new AI-powered features, we’re expecting companies like Apple, Samsung and Google to continue improving the cameras and processors inside their upcoming phones.

Here’s a look at the most anticipated phones from the industry’s biggest players in 2024. The list below includes phones that seem likely to debut this year based on previous launch patterns, and we’ll continue to update this list as new rumors and reports emerge.

Read more: Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra Could Be Doing So Much More With AI

Apple

iPhone 16 lineup

What to expect: Apple launches new iPhones every September, and we have no reason to believe this year will be any different. All iPhone 16 models are expected to get upgraded microphones to improve Siri performance, according to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The change would come as Apple is said to be ramping up the iPhone’s AI features, Bloomberg reports.

Otherwise, the iPhone 16 family is rumored to get a new A18 chip from Apple, with the Pro models getting a version called the A18 Pro Bionic, analyst Jeff Pu reports, according to MacRumors. Apple may also bring the Action button to all iPhone 16 models, not just the Pro, according to Bloomberg. The camera on the regular iPhone 16 Pro is also expected to get a tetraprism telephoto lens like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Kuo also reports, meaning it would likely have a 5x telephoto zoom instead of 3x. And there may even be a new dedicated button for capturing video, as Bloomberg also reports. Read our full iPhone 16 rumor roundup.

Why we’re excited about it: The iPhone 16 sounds like it will be a modest upgrade over the iPhone 15 family, but I’m interested in seeing Apple’s take on how AI can improve the smartphone experience. Siri is expected to be a big part of that, and I’m looking forward to Siri evolving into more than just a quick way to set timers or check tomorrow’s weather forecast.

iPhone SE 4

What to expect: Apple’s next budget-friendly iPhone could get an overhaul, if reports from MacRumors and TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo turn out to be true. Apple may use a modified version of the iPhone 14’s chassis for the next iPhone SE, meaning it would have a 6.1-inch screen compared with the current version’s 4.7-inch display, according to MacRumors.The site also reports that modern features like Face ID, the Action button and USB-C charging are also coming to the next iPhone SE.

As for timing, the iPhone SE’s launch pattern is a bit more difficult to predict than its standard iPhones. Apple launched the first iPhone SE in 2016 but didn’t release a second model until 2020. The third-generation iPhone SE came in 2022, leading to some speculation that its successor could arrive in 2024. But MacRumors’ intel suggests it could be on track for a 2025 launch.

Why we’re excited about it: Apple’s tiny iPhone is in need of an upgrade. While it runs on the same A15 Bionic processor as the iPhone 14, its iPhone 8-like design is starting to feel dated. A modern version of Apple’s more affordable iPhone with a larger screen — and hopefully a secondary camera — would be much appreciated.

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

What to expect: If Samsung keeps with its regular routine, we can expect to see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 around August. However, gadget blog SmartPrix reports that it may occur in July this year, as was the case in 2023. It’ll probably include Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and Galaxy AI just like the Galaxy S24 lineup.

The company also usually makes minor design improvements with each Z Fold generation. This year, Samsung could give the Galaxy Z Fold 6 a boxier shape with flat edges, reports SmartPrix, which collaborated with well-known gadget leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (known as @OnLeaks on X) to publish what it claims are renders showing what the phone could look like.

A Samsung patent has generated speculation that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could get an S Pen slot for the first time, which would make it much easier to stow and quickly access the stylus. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 doesn’t come with an S Pen in the box, so hopefully the inclusion of a dedicated slot on the Z Fold 6 would mean that would change.

However, since this is just a patent, it’s unclear if this reflects Samsung’s actual plans for future Galaxy Z Fold devices. What’s perhaps more exciting is the idea that Samsung could be launching multiple versions of the Galaxy Z Fold. The company is reportedly coming out with a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, according to Korean news site The Elec, while Galaxy Club reports that an even more premium Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra could be in the works.

Why we’re excited about it: The original Galaxy Z Fold was among the first foldable phones you could buy when it launched back in 2019, and Samsung has refined its design and functionality over the last couple of years. Samsung’s Won-Joon Choi also teased that the company is tailoring Galaxy AI features for specific types of devices, like foldables and tablets, rather than just copy-and-pasting what’s already available on the Galaxy S24 lineup. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to seeing whether Samsung has anything exclusive and new to bring to the next Galaxy Z Fold in terms of software.

And if the rumors and speculation about a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and an S Pen slot turn out to be true, Samsung may be addressing some of our biggest criticisms about the Z Fold with its next model.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

What to expect: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 represented a big leap over the Z Flip 4 thanks to its larger cover screen, which makes it possible to use the device without having to open it. As such, there’s a chance we won’t see dramatic design changes in the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which will likely debut around August if Samsung maintains its usual schedule.

But we are expecting to see it inherit some of the Galaxy S24’s characteristics, such as a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and Galaxy AI features. However, as is likely to be the case with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, there’s a chance Samsung will customize Galaxy AI features specifically for the Z Flip 6.

Why we’re excited about it: With its larger cover screen and sleeker design, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is already one of our favorite foldable phones. With the Galaxy Z Flop 6, I’m hoping to see more use cases for the cover screen and a lower price.

Google

Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro

What to expect: Based on what we’ve seen with the Pixel 8 family and Galaxy S24 lineup, it’s probably safe to assume we’ll be seeing even more new AI-powered features on the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. Late last year, Google introduced its AI model Gemini, which runs on the Pixel 8 Pro to power features like conversation summaries in the Recorder app. The model also powers some of the new Galaxy AI features on the Galaxy S24 lineup, including those found in the Samsung Notes and Voice Recorder apps. More recently, Google said it’s bringing Gemini Nano to the regular Pixel 8 as a developer option, too. It seems plausible that Google would build on that by adding more AI-fueled capabilities to its next Pixels.

Otherwise, we can likely expect routine upgrades like a new Tensor processor and camera improvements. Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, also says the new phones will have larger screens than the Pixel 8 generation, according to a post on X, although a more recent report from Hemmerstoffer and MySmartPrice suggests the Pro model will have a smaller 6.5-inch display. The Pixel 9 Pro may also get a refreshed design with flat edges that resembles the iPhone, according to that same report.

Why we’re excited about it: Google’s Pixel phones are usually among CNET’s favorite phones of the year. The Pixel 8 generation felt like an early look at Google’s new AI-focused direction for smartphones, and I imagine Google will apply learnings and feedback from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 9. Plus, given that the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera didn’t impress CNET reviewer Andrew Lanxon the way he had hoped, I’d like to see Google make up for that with the Pixel 9 Pro.

Google Pixel 8A

What to expect: Google’s cheaper Pixel phone will likely have a lot in common with the Pixel 8, if Google maintains the same approach it’s taken with the Pixel 7A and Pixel 6A. That means it could have the same Tensor G3 processor as the Pixel 8, along with a very similar design to match. Renders that claim to show what the Pixel 8A will look like, which come from well-known leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer and were published by the site SmartPrix, indeed suggest the phone will look nearly identical to the Pixel 8.

Google’s A-series phones typically differ from its standard Pixel phones in their cameras and screen sizes, so there’s a chance that will once again be the case in 2024. Google has announced its A-series phones at its Google I/O conference in May in the last two years.

Why we’re excited about it: Google’s Pixel A phones, especially the Pixel 6A and Pixel 7A, raised the bar for phones that are priced under $500. Both of those devices offer an experience that closely matches that of their flagship siblings, making it hard to justify purchasing Google’s pricier phone. I hope the Pixel 8A lives up to its predecessor with an eye-catching design, a great camera and smooth performance.

Based on the rumors, reports and announcements so far, this year’s phones should bring a balance of new AI features and updates to existing staples like performance and design upgrades. Although AI still has to prove its purpose in phones, the idea of software features that truly bring something new and useful to phones is refreshing.