Apple has released iOS 16.3, which includes a huge security feature that’s set to change how we store our whole lives online.

iCloud is home to some of our most trusted memories, secrets, and more, and the thought of a hacker getting hold of our cloud storage data puts fear into most users with an Apple ID.

To help protect this, iOS 16.3, and the correlating iPadOS 16.3 and macOS 13.2 updates, have brought along support for security keys to further enhance Apple ID protection. 

iOS 16.3 Security Keys

“Security Keys for Apple ID allows users to strengthen the security of their account by requiring a physical security key to sign in," an extract from Apple's release notes reads.

Apple has long offered two-factor authentication (2FA) on its accounts, however this type of protection is still easy for scammers to get around with phishing emails and other types of hacks.

Users looking to take their account protection one step further can now choose to use a physical security key, which only they have access to, in order to prevent prying eyes for gaining unwanted access.

While this may be welcome news to many, it does come with caution for the less tech-savvy customers. That’s because you are now the holder of your encryption key, so if you were to lose it, you’d be locked out for good - Apple won’t hold a backup. 

The latest round of updates has also seen Advanced Data Protection expanded. It’s now able to end-to-end encrypt 23 iCloud categories, including Photos, which Apple says will “[protect] your information even in the case of a data breach in the cloud” for users worldwide after an initial US-only rollout.”

Other updates include bug fixes, an Emergency SOS improvement that should see fewer accidental phone calls, and support for the second-generation HomePod.

• Check out the best ID theft protection

One thing a lot of the best phones are surprisingly good at is taking photos of the moon, and there’s a high chance the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will be even better than the current crop, going by a new official teaser video.

Samsung has posted a short video to its YouTube channel (via GSMArena) showing a moon coming out of shadow to be lit up clearly, then overlaid with the word “Mooon” with three camera lenses used in place of each 'o'.

This obviously suggests that one or more phones in the Samsung Galaxy S23 series will be capable of taking bright, detailed shots of the moon.

The use of three camera lenses in the image of the word ‘moon’ would seem to suggest the teaser is talking about the standard S23 or the Galaxy S23 Plus rather than the Ultra, as that model will almost certainly have four lenses. But it’s also likely to be the best of the bunch for photography, and particularly moon photography, since it’s sure to be able to zoom much further; so perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into the number of lenses depicted.

The video then states that “epic nights are coming”, suggesting that beyond moon shots, night photography in general will be a strong suit of these phones. The fact that the moon comes out of shadow in the video could also be a suggestion that night shots taken with S23 series phones will be impressively bright.

Analysis: not the first hint of impressive night photography

We’ve been hearing for a while that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, in particular, will be capable of taking exceptional night shots, so this teaser doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

One leaker even claimed that the phone essentially has night vision, while recent leaked camera samples showed very bright night-time scenes.

This is likely powered, at least in part, by the new 200MP primary sensor that’s been widely rumored for the phone, replacing the 108MP sensor found on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and its siblings are set to be unveiled on February 1 at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023, so we’ll see just how good they really are soon.

The new Motorola Razr (2023) and the premium Motorola Razr Plus (2023) have been announced and are going on sale soon. The Razr Plus will hit stores first, with the less expensive Moto Razr following up later in the year, though hopefully it won’t wait long.

Motorola has taken aim directly at the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 with its new Razr lineup, and the phones leave behind the chin and distinct Razr look we saw on previous models. Of course, we haven’t seen all the previous models, as Motorola didn’t bother to sell its last Motorola Razr 2022 here in the US, but our UK editors liked that phone nonetheless. 

The premium new Motorola Razr Plus is all about the big cover screen, the biggest you’ll find on a flip phone today, as well as a new thinner design that loses the gap and reduces the crease just a bit.

The less expensive Motorola Razr is about style and design, with vegan leather on the front and back and cool new color options chosen in tandem with Pantone’s massive color library. 

We had a chance to spend time with the new phones for a hands-on look, and we’ll have an in-depth review of the Motorola Razr Plus soon. Once we learn more about the base model Moto Razr, including pricing, we’ll keep you posted on availability and get our review ready for the best buying advice.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Motorola's new foldable flip phone
• When is it out? Pre-orders start June 16, on shelves June 23
• How much will cost? $999.99 / £1,049.99 (approximately AU$2,010)

Motorola Razr 2023: release date and price

The new Motorola Razr (2023) has been officially announced, but we don't have pricing or a specific sale date for that phone. The premium Motorola Razr Plus (2023) will go on sale first for $999.99 / £1,049.99 (approximately AU$2,010). You can start placing orders on June 16, and the phone should be on store shelves by June 23. 

Unlike the last Motorola Razr (2022), this year's model will not only be available to buy in the US, it will even be sold by some of the mobile carriers. That means you might be able to find a good deal if you're willing to sign a contract agreement. We know that AT&T and T-Mobile will sell the phone in the States, among numerous smaller MVNOs and carriers.

In fact, T-Mobile will be the only carrier to sell the new Viva Magenta color in stores, to match the carrier's signature color, of course. That may be the most desirable model, since it uses vegan leather instead of glass to create a unique feel and finish. Otherwise, the new phone will be available in Infinite Black and Glacier Blue, both Pantone-branded color names. 

The less expensive Motorola Razr will come in Summer Lilac (purple), Vanilla Cream, and Sage Green, also Pantone colors, when it eventually launches later this year. 

There won't be multiple configurations of memory and storage, just a single option with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for the Motorola Razr Plus or 8GB of Ram with 128GB of storage for the Motorola Razr.

Motorola Razr 2023: design

The biggest changes between last year's Motorola Razr (2022) and this year's new models is the new design. Both the less expensive Razr and the premium Razr Plus are based on the same chassis and use the same display. 

The hinge and crease are identical in both, so both phones close shut with no visible screen gap. Both phones are equally the thinnest flip phone you can buy when closed.

The biggest design improvement is the huge new cover display on the Motorola Razr Plus, a 3.6-inch square that dominates the face and wraps around the camera lenses. It's not just a simple notification space, this is practically half a smartphone that you can use for apps, maps, games, and plenty of other widget options.

The more affordable Motorola Razr still uses a smaller external bar window, but makes up for this in a few ways. First, it uses the vegan leather finish that feels great and is otherwise only available on the Viva Magenta version of the premium Razr Plus. Every cool color option on the Motorola Razr is finished in the fake leather, and it feels great. 

Second, skipping that big display gives Motorola more room for a larger battery inside, which we'll discuss below. Needless to say, the Moto Razr is certainly a downgrade, but those changes may be worthwhile if the price is low.

Motorola Razr 2023: displays

Both the Motorola Razr (2023) and the Motorola Razr Plus (2023) use the same display, but because the Razr Plus uses a more powerful chipset inside, it's screen is a bit more capable. 

The internal display is a huge, 6.9-inch screen that is bigger than any current flip phone rivals. It has a 22:9 aspect ratio and 2640 x 1080 pixels. On the Razr Plus, the display can refresh up to 165Hz, while the base model Razr display can refresh up to 144Hz.

The new screen also uses LTPO technology so it can step down that refresh rate to save power as needed. It can handle HDR10+ content for inky black contrast and reaches a peak brightness of 1400 nits.

The screen is bright and clear and the crease is minimal, though it's still present. You can feel it easier than you can see it. Both new phones get the same teardrop hinge that manages to fold the screen almost flat with no gap in between the halves if you look at the phone sideways. 

The Motorola Razr Plus gets a big new cover display, the biggest design improvement across the family. The new screen is a 3.6-inch OLED panel with 1-66 x 1056 pixels, a massive upgrade over last year's model and most rival flip phones. That screen can also refresh up to 144Hz, and it even supports HDR10+, so it's no slouch.

The smaller Motorola Razr cover display is a 1.5-inch OLED panel with 194 x 368 pixels. It can refresh up to 60Hz. Both the larger and smaller OLED screens can emit 1000 nits at peak brightness.

Motorola Razr 2023: camera

The premium Motorola Razr Plus gets a better camera setup than the less expensive Motorola Razr, though it may not be easy to understand on paper. That's because the cheaper phones uses more megapixels on the sensor, but megapixels don't tell us the whole story. 

The Motorola Razr Plus is the first flip phone with a camera that uses a wide f/1.5 aperture lens. Motorola says this lets in up to 44% more light than the narrower f/1.8  aperture lens on competing phones like the Galaxy Z Flip 4. This could make a huge difference in low light photography as well as capturing a nice depth of field in photos.

In addition, the 12MP sensor on the Razr Plus (2023) uses much larger sensor pixels than the 64MP camera on the Motorola Razr (2023): four times larger, in fact. That means each pixel has a better chance of catching photons in a dark environment, which should equate to better low light photos. 

Both the Razr Plus and the Razr use a second, 13MP camera for ultrawide photos and what Motorola calls 'macro' photography, though we'll have to judge for ourselves after we've reviewed these phones whether the macro mode is really viable.

The front-facing camera on both phones uses a 32MP sensor that combines pixels for an overall 8MP image, a technique called pixel binning. You won't need to use this camera for selfies, though, at least on the Moto Razr Plus, since the cover display can act as a viewfinder for the higher-quality main camera array. 

Motorola has taken great advantage of the folding design when it comes to using the camera. There are tons of shooting modes that let you use the folded state as a tripod or a photo booth, complete with a countdown timer and consecutive shots. You can also hold the phone sideways and use half the screen for video controls while the other half is a viewfinder, old school camcorder style.

Motorola Razr 2023: battery

The Motorola Razr Plus gets a minor battery upgrade over last year's model, but the base model Motorola Razr gets even more. By removing the larger cover display, the Razr has more room for a larger battery cell, and this equates to longer battery life. 

The Motorola Razr Plus uses a 3,800 mAh battery, just a bit larger than the 3,700 mAh cell on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. The basic Razr uses a larger 4,200 mAh battery, which comes close to the best flat smartphones. 

Motorola says the Razr should get all-day battery. You may need to be a bit more conservative with the Razr Plus, especially when it comes to using that external display every time you close the phone. 

Charging speed hasn't been improved, and the new phones charge at 30W, the same as last year's model. That's a bit faster than Samsung's flip phone can charge, but it can't match much charging from OnePlus and other rivals. 

This year's Moto Razr gets wireless charging, though it's quite slow. At only 5W, the Razr will barely keep its head above water compared to the faster 15W charging we'd expect on a modern smartphone.

Motorola Razr 2023: specs and features

While the exterior has been completely redesigned, the internal components of the new Motorola Razr Plus and Motorola Razr will be familiar to anyone following the smartphone world this past year. That's because both phones use mobile platforms launched by Qualcomm in 2022. 

The Razr Plus features a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, just like the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The newest flagship smartphones use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform, but presumably using last year's best platform helps Motorola cut costs.

The base model Motorola Razr uses the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, a platform found on mid-range phones like the Samsung Galaxy A74 or the OnePlus Nord lineup. 

Performance should be adequate, though the platform isn't fast enough to run the display at the same refresh rate as the Snap 8 Gen 2 platform. The Razr can only refresh at 144Hz while the Razr Plus can manage display rates up to 165Hz. 

We don't have pricing for the base model Razr, but using a mid-range chipset should equate to a significant price reduction compared to the expensive Razr Plus model. 

While both phones offer 8GB of RAM for memory, the premium Moto Razr Plus uses LPDDR5 memory, while the Razr uses LPDDR4X. For storage, the Razr Plus offer 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, while the Razr only gives you 128GB of storage on a UFS 2.2 standard.

The Motorola Razr Plus features the most modern Wi-Fi stack we've seen on a smartphone, and it's capable of communicating across bands and standards including 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/k/v/r/ax as well as Wi-Fi 6e. The Razr has fewer specialized Wi-Fi modes and supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax and Wi-Fi 6e. Both phones use a USB Type-C port running at USB 2.0 speeds. 

For connectivity, you can use an eSIM or a physical SIM card, depending on your carrier.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was always likely to rank among the best camera phones, and now we’re even more sure of that, as leaked camera samples, reportedly shot on the phone, show impressive photography skills.

Twitter user Edwards Urbina posted a series of shots showing off night and zoom photography (via NotebookCheck), so let’s take a look.

First up, night photography. For this, Urbina posted two photos taken in presumably the normal mode, alongside ones in night mode (or perhaps astrophotography mode).

The normal shots are incredibly dark, giving an indication of how little light there was in the scene, while the night mode shots are impressively bright, and packed with detail.

They’re far from perfect – there’s a bit of noise, some mushy details, unnatural color on the foliage, and they aren’t perfectly focused. But given how little light there seemed to be to work with the results are still strong.

Now we come to the zoom shots, with photos apparently taken at 1x, 3x, 10x, and 30x zoom.

The Ultra line always excels at zoom shots, so it’s no surprise that these look good – particularly the first three, as the phone can probably optically zoom to those distances. However, the 30x zoom also looks fairly detailed – if not quite as sharp as the others, and given that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s optical zoom probably tops out at 10x, that’s impressive.

Indeed, leaker @UniverseIce claims that this shot looks as good as a 20x zoom shot on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, so even though the optical range might not be any better this year, the overall quality of zoom shots – and particularly digital zoom – could be improved.

Of course, these are just a few photos, we can’t be certain that they’re genuine, and we don’t have side by side comparisons with the Galaxy S22 Ultra or other phones. So don’t read too much into them, but they look promising regardless.

With the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra expected on February 1, we'll know exactly how good its cameras are soon.

Opinion: zoom looks great, but next year it needs to be much better

From everything we’ve seen and heard so far, it seems likely that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will take the crown as the best camera phone, replacing the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which currently sits in the top spot.

With a new 200MP primary sensor and improvements to both night and zoom photography, there should be a reasonable number of photographic upgrades here – but next year the company should focus even more on zoom improvements.

Samsung is arguably in the lead for zoom photography right now, as rival handsets don’t offer 10x optical zoom, but they might soon catch up. Google is gradually closing in, with 5x optical zoom offered on the Pixel 7 Pro, and Apple will reportedly put a periscope camera on the iPhone 15 Ultra.

Meanwhile, Samsung has done little to push zoom photography forward in the last few years. The software has improved but hardware improvements have been minimal, and there’s been no change to the maximum optical zoom distance on the Ultra phones.

So, if the company wants to maintain its lead then we might need more than 10x optical zoom on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – or some other tricks, like the continuous optical zoom offered by the Sony Xperia 1 IV.

Spare a thought for the team tasked with trying to keep the Samsung Galaxy S23 leaks down to a minimum, because something new is emerging almost every day now, and the latest sneak preview we have to share with you is a hands-on video.

Reposted to Twitter by @sondesix from an Instagram source (via Notebookcheck), it looks as though the video has been shot by a retail store in Nicaragua. We get a good look at the Ultra model in a green color, and a clip of the phone's camera in action.

The hands-on video doesn't really tell us too much we didn't already know about the successor to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it's interesting to see the handset in the real world – and it matches up with leaked renders we've already seen.

Choose your color

We also get to see photos of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in black, green, cream and lavender, the same colors that have previously been posted to the web by unofficial sources. In this case the advance information seems to have been largely correct.

The same source has also posted photos of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in cream, which seem to have been obtained from Facebook Marketplace. The phone is clearly making its way to retail stores around the world, hence the latest batch of leaks.

There's been a flood of Galaxy S23 leaks in recent weeks, and Samsung doesn't really have all that much left to reveal. We'll get our first official look at the new handsets, including the Ultra model, at the next Samsung Unpacked event on Wednesday, February 1.

Analysis: a well-leaked smartphone

We're used to reporting on leaks around upcoming handsets, from the Google Pixel 8 to the Apple iPhone 15 – but even by the standards of the phone industry, there has been an awful lot of Galaxy S23 information revealed in advance of the launch.

That may rankle with the executives at Samsung: they no doubt want to keep as much as possible under wraps until the phone gets its official unveiling. All these leaks can dilute the excitement around the big Samsung Galaxy S23 launch in February.

On the other hand, they're certainly a sign of interest in the flagship. Having so many leaks around the phone is probably slightly preferable to having no one talk about it at all – which is the case with plenty of other handsets on the market.

The trouble is that once a device is in production, rather than being developed inside a company, there are a host of third parties involved. That makes keeping a lid on everything very difficult, as Samsung is discovering ahead of the February 1 event.

• Samsung Galaxy S23 colors: every rumored shade, including the S23 Plus and Ultra

More details have emerged around what we can expect from the iPhone 15 coming later this year: thinner bezels on the two Pro models, and curved edges on all four handsets, for an Apple Watch-like aesthetic.

This comes from experienced Apple tipster ShrimpApplePro (via MacRumors), who says that  the display sizes on the four phones will remain the same as last year. What's more, the Dynamic Island will be making its way to every model too.

The tipster emphasizes that the screens will remain flat – it's only the bezels that will curve into the rest of the phone casing. However, there's apparently not going to be much change in the design of the selfie camera phone unit.

The return of the curves

Take a look at the iPhone 14 and you'll see that the bezels are already impressively thin, so it's going to be interesting to see exactly how much they're going to be reduced when it comes to the two more expensive handsets in the range.

We're also keen to see these curved bezels too. It's possible that Apple may go back to a more curved design overall, something like we saw with the iPhone 11. It wouldn't be the first time that an iPhone screen tapered away at the edges.

The source here calls the most expensive model the "iPhone 15 Pro Max (aka Ultra)", acknowledging that we're still not sure what Apple is going to call this phone: we've heard several iPhone 15 Ultra rumors in recent weeks.

Analysis: the most beautiful iPhone yet?

The same leaker that has provided this new information also says that the iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra) is apparently "very beautiful" – and from the description we can see how these phones would have a lot of visual appeal.

With the bezels thinner on the Pro models, almost all of the screen will be taken up by actual pixels. Add in the curved effect right at the edges, and we get the impression that the iPhone 15 lineup might be very easy on the eye indeed.

While these thinner bezels aren't coming to the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus, according to the rumor, those handsets are also going to curve slightly at the edges. The angular look is out, and the more rounded look is back in, it would seem.

Given the experience and expertise of Apple's design team, we're now very much looking forward to seeing what the iPhone 15 series has to offer in terms of what they actually look like – and it's been a few years since we've been able to say that.

• Apple needs to fold the iPhone and forget about Glasses

You might have thought just about every aspect of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 phones had leaked at this point, but not so – the rumor mill keeps coming up with more information about these flagship devices ahead of their February 1 launch.

Today we've got another tidbit of information from well-known provider of leaks Ice Universe (via GSMArena), who has taken to Chinese social media platform Weibo to give us some details of the portrait video mode on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The source says that the mode will be capable of shooting in a 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, with the phone offering relatively good thermal control so that the processing power required to capture clips in this mode doesn't overheat the phone.

Resolution bump

We weren't hugely impressed with the portrait video mode on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, especially compared with cinematic mode on the iPhone. In both cases, the subject of a video is kept in focus while the background gets blurred.

The current Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra can capture normal video at an 8K resolution at 24 frames per second, or at a 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. In portrait mode, that goes down to a 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second.

What's not clear is whether or not the other two Galaxy S23 models are going to get portrait mode this time around. All will be revealed when Samsung's next Unpacked launch event rolls around, and it's only a couple of weeks away.

Analysis: a tale of two sensors

Based on the rumors we've heard so far, we're expecting the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to come fitted with the new 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor that Samsung has revealed. The standard and Plus models, meanwhile, are rumored to be sticking to a 50MP main sensor.

That should mean that the Ultra model is the one to look at for the most substantial camera upgrades over last year's models. So far we've heard that the night vision capabilities will be better, and we've seen sample shots for comparison purposes.

There has also been talk that Samsung is adding more modes on the software side, to go with improvements in the hardware. From a photo and video standpoint, you should be able to do more than ever with the upcoming Galaxy S23 handsets.

In fact there's been so much buzz around this that we think the Galaxy S23 Ultra could be one of the best photo-taking phones of the year – and it might even have more to offer than whatever Apple is plotting with the cameras on the iPhone 15.

• The Samsung Galaxy S23 series may be more affordable than we thought

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the potential be one of the best phones of 2023, and there’s not long to wait for it, as Samsung is set to unveil the S23 series at Galaxy Unpacked 2023 on February 1.

We’re expecting to see the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus as well, but the Ultra will be the top model, and the one with the very best specs and features.

And while it’s coming soon, you don’t even need to wait until the unveiling to learn a lot about it, because the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has been extensively leaked. Below you’ll find all the credible leaks and rumors that have emerged so far.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Samsung's next top flagship phone
• When is it out? February 1
• How much will it cost? Expect an extremely high price

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: release date and price

• Announcement expected on February 1
• The price might be slightly higher than last year

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to land at Galaxy Unpacked 2023 on February 1. This kicks off on Wednesday, February 1, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT, on 5am AEDT on February 2 for those in Australia.

It will be streamed online, so check out how to watch the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch online live. Of course, you can also just head to TechRadar, because we’ll be covering the announcement in full, as it happens.

There’s no confirmation of when the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will actually ship, but one leak points to February 17. We’d expect you’ll be able to place your order shortly after the announcement though, and in fact you can already reserve one if you’re in the US.

Hopefully, you’ve been saving though, because the consensus from leaks seems to be that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost more than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which for reference starts at $1,199.99 / £1,149 / AU$1,849.

As for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, one price leak suggests it'll start at $1,249, which would be for a model with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. It would apparently rise to $1,349 for 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, and $1,499 for 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM.

We’ve also heard the possible Australian price, with the phone said to start at AU$1,950 in the region.

So far there isn’t any UK pricing, but based on these leaks it seems likely that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost somewhere between £50-£100 more than the S22 Ultra, meaning a starting price of between £1,200 and £1,250.

However, it’s worth noting that leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will start with 256GB of storage as its baseline, compared to 128GB for the S22 Ultra. In which case, if you compare the rumored S23 Ultra starting prices with the 256GB model of the S22 Ultra (which costs $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$1,999), the pricing doesn’t look too bad.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: design

• A very similar design to the S22 Ultra
• Likely to be available in at least four shades

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could be a lot like the S22 Ultra – at least on the outside. That means an angular, all-screen design, a rear that’s almost rippling with cameras, and a slot for the S Pen stylus that’s sure to be included.

We’ve seen numerous images that show this appearance, including renders, marketing images, dummy units, and cases.

You can see a selection of these shots below (many of which are from an extensive gallery on WinFuture) and they all show basically the same thing – namely a phone that looks a whole lot like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

The weight and dimensions could be very similar too, with one leak pointing to the S23 Ultra being 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm and 233g, versus 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm and 228g on the current model. We’re also expecting an IP68 certification for water resistance, just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

The main visual difference could simply be the colors the new phone comes in, as numerous reports suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra colors include Cotton Flower (cream), Misty Lilac (pink), Botanic Green and Phantom Black. Those are apparently their official names, but lots of other leaks mention shades that sound like they match up with that.

We’ve heard the apparently-official names a number of times too though, and seen images of how they might look, some of which you can see above and below.

One source suggests that there might be other colors too, but these would reportedly be exclusive to Samsung stores.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: display

• Leaks point to a 6.8-inch QHD+ 120Hz screen
• Brighter and tougher than before

As with the overall design of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, we’re not expecting much new from its screen, with spec leaks pointing to a 6.8-inch 1440 x 3088 AMOLED screen with 500 pixels per inch, HDR10+ support, and a 120Hz variable refresh rate (that can drop as low as 1Hz).

That same source suggests the screen will be protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is an upgrade and should be tougher than the protection on the S22 Ultra’s display.

We’ve heard a less detailed version of these screen specs elsewhere as well, so there’s a good chance this is accurate.

One other upgrade the screen might have though is to its brightness, with a leak suggesting it could be able to reach 2150 nits or more, compared to 1750 nits on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Two things we’re not expecting are an under-display camera and improvements to the in-screen fingerprint sensor, with leaks suggesting they’re not on the cards.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: camera and battery

• New 200MP camera likely
• The other lenses could stay the same

The single biggest upgrade on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could be its camera, as the main sensor is widely rumored to be a new 200MP one.

Samsung has actually announced multiple 200MP smartphone cameras, with the recent ISOCELL HP2 being the frontrunner for inclusion.

Leak suggest this will enable fantastic night shots and the ability to take hyperlapse videos of the sky.

However, the other cameras might not be getting upgraded, with reports pointing to the same 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and 10MP periscope with 10x optical zoom.

There might be some new and improved software though, such as the ability to save RAW photos at 50MP quality, and a Pro mode for the selfie camera. We’ve also heard that the focusing and anti-shake might be better than before on this phone.

Speaking of the selfie camera, that might get a 12MP sensor, according to one report, though as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a 40MP selfie camera, that seems odd.

As for the battery, we’re not expecting changes there, with leaks suggesting the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is sticking with a 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, and either 15W or 10W wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: specs and features

• Expect a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
• Leaks point to 8GB or 12GB of RAM

The thing we’re most sure of, with regards to expectations for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, is that it will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, as not only has that been extensively rumored but it’s the obvious choice – at least in some parts of the world.

However, while previous models have also used Exynos chipsets in some regions, reports suggest the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset everywhere.

Better yet, this could be an enhanced version of the chipset, making it better here than in non-Samsung phones – and this is already the top Android chipset available.

Reportedly, this chipset will allow for a 36% increase in processor speed, a 48% increase in graphics performance, and a 60% increase in neural processing compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

As for RAM, leaks point to a choice of 8GB or 12GB, while for storage we’re expecting 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options. Though the 1TB model might be exclusive to Samsung stores.

Beyond that, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will, of course, support 5G and it might also offer emergency satellite communications. We’ve also heard talk of improvements to the speakers and microphone, so audio could be impressive here.

Finally, for software the phone is sure to run Android 13, likely overlaid with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 interface.

The OnePlus 11 is already available in China, so while it’s not getting a global launch until February 7, we already know most things about it – including its impressive 100W charging speeds. However, that might not be the case in the US.

According to both SnoopyTech and Max Jambor – a pair of leakers with good track records (via 91Mobiles) – the US version of the OnePlus 11 will be limited to 80W charging.

The first of those leakers even backed up their claim with what appears to be official marketing copy for the US model, which also mentions 16GB of RAM. There’s a 16GB version for China too, but sometimes different regions get different configurations, so it’s nice to know the US will probably get this high spec version.

The charging though is disappointing, but not overly surprising since the same thing happened with the OnePlus 10 Pro – most versions of that phone could charge at up to 80W, but the US model topped out at 65W.

So at least 80W here would be an upgrade on the OnePlus 10 Pro’s charging speeds for US buyers, but it’s a shame it won’t match the 100W global version, which OnePlus quotes delivers a full charge in just 25 minutes. Of course, we take this claim with a pinch of salt until we can test it out ourselves, but it does seem likely.

Analysis: why are US buyers getting a version with slower charging?

The decision to offer slower charging with US versions of the OnePlus 11 won’t be being made arbitrarily. Rather, if this is the case it’s almost certainly a technological issue.

The reason the OnePlus 10 Pro charges slower in the US is that the 80W SUPERVOOC charging technology used by the phone is designed to support 220V-240V power outlets, as that’s the standard range used in Europe, China, and India.

However, in the US most outlets are 110V or 120V, and the technology doesn’t fully support working with this lower voltage, thus limiting the charging speed.

Presumably, we’re seeing the same issue here – OnePlus is using upgraded 100W SuperVOOC charging technology in the OnePlus 11, which likely still doesn’t fully support 110V or 120V, so the charging speed is higher than with 80W SUPERVOOC, but not as high as in other regions.

This is presumably a problem that could have been fixed, but possibly not by OnePlus itself, since the SuperVOOC technology is created by its corporate sibling, Oppo and their parent company BBK Electronics. Given Oppo’s limited presence in the US, this likely wasn’t a high priority for the company.

Still, it’s a shame, as it makes what’s likely to be one of the best Android phones a little worse in that particular region.

To celebrate February's Black History Month, Apple is rolling out this year’s Black Unity Collection featuring a special edition Sport Loop for select Apple Watch models plus new curated collections and content for multiple iOS platforms.

2023’s Black Unity Sport Loop is made from intricately woven yarn spelling out the word “Unity” using the same red, green, and black colors to reflect the Pan-African flag; similar to last year's offering. The strap comes in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, which can fit the “Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, and [the] Apple Watch Ultra (45mm band only).” Apple Watch and iPhone owners can also download a matching Pan-African watch face and phone wallpaper sometime next week. However, both designs require their respective devices to run watchOS 9.3 and iOS 16.3; both of which haven’t been officially released yet at the time of this writing. They’re currently both in beta.

Considering the software requirement, Apple is possibly hinting that both iOS 16.3 and watchOS 9.3 are launching sooner than expected. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the update is supposed to release between February and March. We asked Apple if both watchOS 9.3 and iOS 16.3 are launching next week to coincide with the Black Unity Collection. This story will be updated if we hear back.

The Sport Loop, on the other hand, is currently available on Apple’s online store for $49. Or if you prefer an in-person purchase, you can buy the strap at “select Apple Store locations beginning January 2 

New content

Regarding the new content, Apple teamed up with the Smithsonian to create a series of Guides for Apple Maps highlighting key moments in the civil rights movement from the past century or so. Each Guide covers a specific time period and the events that occurred. For example, the 1960-1978 portion talks about Martin Luther King Jr., whereas the 1980-2020 guide touches more contemporary history like Black Lives Matter.

Apple Fitness Plus subscribers will get new episodes of Time to Walk and Time to Run on January 30. For the former, the episode will feature famed R&B singer Patti LaBelle who will offer some insight into her life and family. Time to Run’s content is a run-through of the music and artists from South Los Angeles that “helped put West Coast hip-hop on the map.” 

Most of the curated collections are just that; a collection of content centered on Black artists. Apple Books, for example, will further push its Read More Black Authors collection with the aim to connect readers (and audiobook listeners) to books “across different genres.” Apple Music has updated its For Us, By Us playlist to house more songs based on “resilience and resistance.” 

Apple Podcasts will highlight shows that talk about how Black media in general has greatly influenced the world; however, you'll have to wait a bit before you can listen. This collection launches on February 1.

Going back to iOS 16.3, which we mentioned earlier, there is an important fix arriving in that update. It addresses random green and yellow lines flashing across an iPhone’s screen when booting up. Apparently, it’s caused by the Home app. Be sure to check out TechRadar’s coverage of that rather annoying problem. 

Samsung has done well with foldable phones, but with the upcoming Google Pixel Fold it could have some serious competition, and a new video highlights the advantages Google’s debut foldable might offer.

YouTuber Dave2D has got hold of a blank reference model of the phone, which is supposedly dimensionally accurate. It’s the sort of thing case manufacturers might get access to so they can design accessories for a device, before it’s launched.

If this is accurate, it reveals a lot about the functionality and hardware layout of the Pixel Fold. For one thing, this Google Pixel Fold looks to have a shorter, wider screen than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, which could make the 5.79-inch cover display easier to use with one hand. It also means that you get more a widescreen, landscape-style 7.67-inch foldable display.

This model is also very slim, coming in at just 5.7mm at the thinnest point, when open and 8.7mm including the camera block – which juts out a lot like on the Pixel 7 series.

The hinge sounds promising too, folding in such a way that there’s no real gap between the two screen sections, which is likely to also mean the crease in the screen is less visible than on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – though it’s impossible to say for sure with a blank dummy unit.

Other notable details include the positioning of the dual speakers, with one on the top left and one on the bottom right (when held open in portrait), which means that whatever orientation you hold the Pixel Fold, you’ll get stereo sound.

As for the cameras, there’s apparently space for three lenses on the rear camera bar. There’s likely to be a punch-hole camera on the cover screen, and there’s a lens in the bezel at the top right above the foldable display.

Speaking of the bezel, that’s the one main weakness of the Pixel Fold as shown here, as there’s quite a large bezel both above and below the foldable display, which could leave the Pixel Fold looking less premium than most rival foldables.

Analysis: the big bezels could be a secret strength

We said above that the big bezels here could be seen as a weakness, but they could also end up being a strength because, as Dave2D points out, Google likely decided on this design in order to cut costs.

Foldable phones – particularly of this form factor – are notoriously expensive, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example, starting at $1,799 / £1,649 / AU$2,499, and the price goes up if you want more storage.

So, if Google can knock some money off the price – with Dave2D predicting we could be talking a $200 to $300 difference – by including relatively large bezels, then that might well be worthwhile; as it could make this phone a lot more affordable – and therefore a lot more mainstream.

Couple that with the other advantages the Pixel Fold might have over Samsung’s top foldable – like an easier to use form factor and a less visible crease – and Google could have one of the best foldable phones on its hands.

The official launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S23 smartphones is less than two weeks away, but the cat may already be out of the bag when it comes to the line’s pricing. 

According to leaked Verizon documents posted to Reddit (H/T 9to5Google), the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will retail for $799.99, $999.99 and $1,199.99 in the US, respectively. For context, those figures are identical to the launch prices of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series. 

We’ll be able to verify the accuracy of those numbers when the Galaxy S23 lineup is properly unveiled during Samsung Unpacked 2023 (which kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT on February 1, or 5am AEDT on February 2 in Australia), but we’re quietly confident that the new smartphones won’t cost more than their predecessors – in the US, at least.

The Verizon leak will come as welcome news to prospective Galaxy S23 customers worried by previous rumors hinting at price increases for Samsung’s flagship line. In recent weeks, documents pointing towards lofty Galaxy S23 prices in both South Korea and Australia have circulated across the web, leading many (including us) to suggest that similar prices would surface in the US and UK. 

Those suggestions were, however, made using less-than-reliable exchange rate calculations – and official carrier documents are usually a more reliable source of information than Twitter leaks and commentator speculation. In any case, we’ll know for sure on February 1.

More than just price confirmation

In addition to revealing the US pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, these leaked Verizon documents also appear to all-but-confirm previous feature and release date rumors.

According to the document, all three variants of the Galaxy S23 will start at 8GB of RAM, with the vanilla model packing 128GB of storage and both the S23 Plus and S23 Ultra models packing 256GB. The standard S23 will be available in a 256GB model, too, while its pricier siblings can be bumped up to 512GB (the larger variant of the Ultra will also sport 12GB of RAM). 

What’s more, the launch date for all three models appears to have been confirmed by Verizon as February 17. Samsung’s reservation page is still open for pre-orders, and it’s worth flagging that you’ll get a nice little $50 store credit should you commit to purchasing one of the company’s shiny new models.

Google is strongly rumored to be launching its own Bluetooth location tracker to rival Apple's AirTag and Tile this year – and it could take the little object-finding tools to the next level, for good and bad.

The reliable leaker Kuba Wojciechowski has unearthed a lot of evidence for the Google tracker, codenamed Grogu, suggesting that it's both real and could arrive at Google I/O 2023. Like AirTags, they apparently have an onboard speaker for emitting sounds from lost devices and pack both UWB (Ultra-wideband) and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity.

But the feature that could make Google's device an Android-sized moment for trackers is its upcoming version of Apple's 'Find My' network. Google's tracker is expected to support Fast Pair, an existing Android feature that helps you find nearby Bluetooth devices. And with Google apparently bringing support for trackers and locator tags to Fast Pair, another giant object-tracking ecosystem could be imminent.

Google's 'Finder Network' (as separate rumors have branded it) could really take Bluetooth trackers mainstream. If your Apple AirTag is out of Bluetooth range, you can still get location info thanks to the 'Find My' network, which anonymously uses the Bluetooth connections of fellow Apple users to look for other trackers. But AirTags are naturally tied into Apple devices, whereas Google's system could be open to both global Android users and third-party manufacturers.

The leaker Kuba Wojciechowski claims that Google is working with several chipset makers "to bring support for the new Fast Pair-based technology to their products". Combine multiple manufacturers making an Android version of AirTags, plus the several billion Android devices out there, and you have a potentially huge Bluetooth tracking network.

Android devices do currently have a 'Find My Device' function, but this is restricted to remotely encrypting lost devices or finding their last known location based on your own connection. A crowd-sourced 'Finder Network' would take that to another level entirely, potentially making it much easier to find devices – but also opening up the same possibilities for misuse that have dogged Apple's AirTags.

Another potential boost for Google's system is that your phone or tablet apparently won't need to have UWB connectivity to work with the so-called 'Finder Network'. According to Kuba Wojciechowski, Bluetooth Low Energy will be enough – and that would help open it up to current devices, rather than just new ones.

Analysis: The end of losing things?

Google is clearly working on more than just a rival to AirTags or Tile – it appears to building its own vast 'Find My' network, with Android as the foundation. And that could be big deal if you're prone to losing expensive tech or prized possessions.

At last year's Google I/O 2022 conference, the company revealed that there were over three billion active Android devices in the world. With that level of reach, the 'Finder Network' (or whatever it's ultimately called) could make Bluetooth trackers an almost essential purchase for the absent-minded.

But it could also raise lots of new privacy concerns, too. Apple has done a lot to address issues with so-called 'AirTag stalking', where the trackers have been used to follow people without their knowledge. You'll now get an alert if an AirTag has been following you for a while or if you're near an unknown AirTag.

This system doesn't work brilliantly for everyone, though, with the equivalent app for Android requiring you to check manually for AirTags rather than scanning away in the background. These are the kinds of issues that Google's trackers and network will need to iron out, particularly if they're anonymously linked to a good proportion of those three billion global Android devices.

With third-party manufacturers also apparently invited to Google's tracker party, though, the potential is huge – and the next year could see the AirTag and Tile concept taken to vast new scale.

Some phones leak more than others, and at this point it feels like the Samsung Galaxy S23 series has leaked more than almost any other, as now on top of all the other leaks to date, we’ve got a complete specs list for all three phones.

Starting with the standard Samsung Galaxy S23 – in a list shared by WinFuture – this phone apparently has a 6.1-inch 1080 x 2340 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate (that can drop as low as 48Hz when a high refresh isn’t needed). The screen also apparently has 425 pixels per inch (suggesting the panel might be closer to 6.06-inches), support for HDR10+, and is said to be protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Other listed specs include a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of storage, and a 3,900mAh battery with 25W wired charging and 10W wireless charging.

The camera is apparently once again a triple-lens system with a 50MP f/1.8 main sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto, with 3x optical zoom. There’s apparently also a 12MP selfie camera, and the phone is said to run Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1.

Finally, it apparently comes in at 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6mm and 167g, has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and comes in a choice of black, Cotton, green and violet shades.

• Reserve your Galaxy S23 now at Samsung to get $50

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is listed as having the same cameras, software, water resistance, chipset and RAM amount, and looks set to come in the same shades, but other specs vary. For example, it apparently has a 6.6-inch screen with 393 pixels per inch – though otherwise identical screen specs.

It’s also listed as coming with a choice of 256GB or 512GB of storage, and having a 4,700mAh battery, with faster 45W wired charging, along with 10W wireless charging. Of course, having a bigger screen means it’s also a bigger phone, with dimensions reportedly of 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6mm, and a weight of 195g.

Finally there’s the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and the specs leak for this came from @BillbilKun (via NotebookCheck), who shared what appears to be official imagery showing the specs.

This lists a 6.8-inch 1440 x 3088 AMOLED screen with a variable refresh rate of between 1Hz and 120Hz. The display apparently has 500 pixels per inch, HDR10+ support, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

There’s also mention of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM, along with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 10W wireless.

The camera apparently includes a 200MP f/1.7 main snapper, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, a 10MP f/2.3 telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP f/4.9 periscope with 10x optical zoom. There’s also mention of a 12MP camera on the front, Android 13, and One UI 5.1.

The dimensions are listed as 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm, the weight as 233g, there’s mention of an IP68 certification, and the colors are listed a green, black, cream and lavender – which probably means the same shades as the other two models.

As if this wasn’t enough, Samsung Galaxy S23 information for one day though, there’s additionally a pricing leak, with 9to5Google claiming to have seen Australian pricing information for the phones.

This information states that the Samsung Galaxy S23 will start at AU$1,350, the Galaxy S23 Plus at AU$1,650, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra at AU$1,950.

That’s AU$100 more in every case than the Galaxy S22 series costs, so we could see similar price rises in other regions. Direct conversions are unlikely to be accurate, but if these prices are right then we’d think a starting price rise of between roughly $50/£50 and $100/£100 seems likely.

That said, if the specs leaks above are right, then in the case of the Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, you’ll also be getting more storage for that starting price, so it might only be the standard Samsung Galaxy S23 that ends up feeling excessively expensive.

Analysis: small differences that we’ve heard before

While this is the most complete specs picture we’ve yet had for these phones, most of these details have been leaked before in bits and pieces, and this latest leak lines up with the earlier ones, so there’s a high chance these specs are accurate.

If so, then the main differences between the S23 series and the Galaxy S22 series includes the chipset, and in the case of the Galaxy S23 Ultra the main camera.

The standard and Plus models also seemingly have slightly bigger batteries and better selfie cameras than their predecessors, and the Gorilla Glass might be upgraded on all three phones.

A lot of the key specs look identical to the Galaxy S22 series though, including the screens, most of the cameras, and the S23 Ultra’s battery. So if you already have one of the best Samsung phones out there, you might not feel the need to upgrade on 2023.

Apple’s iPhone 15 range isn’t likely to see the light of day until September 2023, but that hasn’t stopped tipsters from speculating about what to expect from the company’s iPhone 16 lineup, which will almost certainly follow in 2024. 

According to a new report from Korean outlet The Elec (H/T Wccftech), Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro models will arrive sporting a periscope zoom lens – a feature widely expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Ultra when the next iPhones arrive in 2023. 

In other words, customers holding out until 2024 for their next iPhone upgrade may not need to spend big on Apple’s top-of-the-range handset to benefit from periscope zoom technology. Instead, the iPhone 16 Pro could be the first ‘mid-level’ iPhone to offer the sought-after photography feature. 

Periscope cameras – which get their name from their similarity to the instrument used on submarines and other naval vessels – essentially allow the viewer to zoom to extreme lengths while maintaining image quality. In the limited space of a phone's camera module, a periscope camera uses mirrors to allow for more lens elements, and therefore a longer zoom length.

Naturally, smartphone-sized iterations of the technology are expensive to produce, and periscope cameras have so far been reserved for high-end models like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Huawei P50 Pro, Honor Magic 4 Pro and Xiaomi 12S Ultra.

Of course, the iPhone 16 Pro (and its inevitable Pro Max sibling) will almost certainly still sit at the high-end of Apple's smartphone range – the iPhone 14 Pro, for instance, retails for the not-so-small price of $999 / £1,099 / AU$1,749 – but the rumored existence of an iPhone 15 Ultra suggests Apple will also be releasing an iPhone 16 Ultra, which would relegate the iPhone 16 Pro to mid-tier status (as Apple devices go, at least).

Analysis: sharing is caring?

News of the iPhone 16 Pro’s periscope lens comes just days after other rumors hinted that Apple’s Dynamic Island – the virtual notch replacement that debuted as a Pro-exclusive feature on last year’s iPhone 14 lineup – will find its way onto every iPhone 15 model in 2023. 

It’s clear, then, that Apple is keen to make its newer, high-end features available to as many users as possible – but only after those features have enjoyed a year of top-level iPhone exclusivity. 

Other features touted as being exclusive to the rumored iPhone 15 Ultra include Apple’s next chip upgrade – likely to be the A17 Bionic – and a titanium frame. If we were a betting publication, we’d wager that both features will be appearing on the iPhone 16 Pro, too.