On the eve of Samsung’s Unpacked 2023 event, multiple leaked images of the upcoming Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra smartphones have surfaced on the internet. We're covering all of the Galaxy S23 news as it breaks on our Samsung Galaxy S23 event live blog.

The photographs come from Twitter user Dylan Xitton who discovered the devices in a Chilean electronics store. It looks like certain retailers are showing off the phones a day ahead of the official reveal on February 1.

Reportedly, the user posted a video of himself handling the S23 Ultra model, but it has since been taken down by Twitter after Samsung issued a copyright claim on the footage. So all we're left with are images of the line from different angles.

Galaxy S23 Ultra

These images give us a sneak peek at some of the S23 Ultra’s hardware. The marketing table reveals the phone will come with a 6.8-inch qHD resolution (2560x1440 pixels) screen and at least four cameras. We can spy packaging for at least two of the rumored colors: Phantom Black and Botanic Green.

On the surface, the phone looks very similar to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but according to Dylan Xitton, there is a slight difference. He claims the screen on the S23 Ultra isn’t as curved compared to the S22 Ultra with the new device having more pronounced edges. The user goes on to say writing notes feels more comfortable on the S23 Ultra 

Adding veracity

For the other two models, there is no new information to be had. Much of what Dylan Xitton showed in his pictures was nothing new as a recent leaked specs sheet of the Galaxy S23 line already revealed the information it contained. If anything, the Twitter thread basically corroborates specs sheet. 

What is a little disappointing is we didn’t get a peak at any of the new features Samsung is putting into the Galaxy S23 line. The company did recently tease improved night photography on S23 Ultra and a new Pro mode for selfies. Nothing on any new gaming features or some special collaboration with Google. We know so much about the Galaxy S23’s hardware but very little about the software. 

All will be revealed soon. If you’re curious to know what Samsung’s new flagship phone is bringing at launch, be sure to check out TechRadar’s coverage for the Galaxy S23. 

We're fast approaching Samsung's first Galaxy Unpacked Event of 2023 - and that means we're mere hours away from the probable unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series.

Yes, after months of rumors and speculation, we'll finally be getting eyes on the company's trio of new flagship phones, alongside a bevvy of new laptops (if the leaks hold true).

The Samsung Unpacked event starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT today (February 1), and we'll be with you every step of the way. Samsung will be streaming the whole thing online, and we've embedded the placeholder for that below. We also have a guide explaining How to watch the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch online live. 

But you don't even need to do that, because we'll be at the event ourselves and will be reporting back as Samsung lifts the lid on its latest flagships. So scroll down for more details about what to expect, then keep this page bookmarked for all the last-minute rumors before the event, then all the news once it starts.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 - what to expect

Samsung Galaxy S23: The S23 looks like a relatively minor upgrade on the Samsung Galaxy S22, with the same 6.1-inch FHD+ screen, the same 120Hz refresh rate, and the same rear camera setup. But a new chipset - most likely the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 - looks a cert, and the design should be brought more in line with the S23 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: As with the S23, the Galaxy S23 Plus is likely to be an evolution rather than revolution. Expect a bigger 6.6-inch FHD+ screen and a larger battery than on the vanilla model, but not many other differences.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The standout reveal at Galaxy Unpacked should be the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. As well as getting a powerful new chipset it's tipped to get a whopping 200MP sensor on the rear camera. Elsewhere, a 6.8-inch QHD+ screen, up to 12GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery should give it the specs to compete with the best phones.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 family: Rumors suggest that there will be several Galaxy Book 3 models debuting at Unpacked, including the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro, the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, and the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra.

One UI 5.1: The only software reveal at the event is likely to be the latest version of Samsung's One UI. This is unlikely to be a huge release, with bigger changes likely held back for the arrival of Android 14 later this year.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 - livestream

Good afternoon and welcome to our Samsung Galaxy S23 event live blog. 

We're just under 24 hours out from Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, which is set to start at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT on February 1 (or 5am AEDT on February 2). 

We'll be keeping a close eye on any breaking news ahead of the event, as well as giving you our verdict on the rumors so far. Then, once the event begins, we'll be sharing all the big news as it happens.

So, on with the show… 

As Samsung fans will already be well aware, we're expecting three members of the Galaxy S23 series to arrive on February 1: the Galaxy S23, the Galaxy S23 Plus and the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The leaked image of dummy units you see above (credit: Sonny Dickson) echoes  other leaks and rumors around the design direction Samsung is taking with this generation. Each device looks strikingly similar in form to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. 

The standard and Plus models of the S23 this year appear to shrug off the Contour Cut camera module of the previous two generations of Galaxy S phone, in favor of something a little more sleek and sharp.

TechRadar's Editor in Chief, Marc McLaren has done a deep-dive on the difference between the three expected models in our Samsung Galaxy S23 vs S23 Plus vs S23 Ultra comparison feature.

An interesting tidbit that's arisen from the rumors is that every Galaxy S23 buyer will have equal color opportunities, no matter which Galaxy S model you pick. Whether you go for the entry level device or spring for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, you'll be able to show off Samsung's unique colors. 

We're expecting some interesting shades, accompanied by Samsung's interesting color branding. A Misty Lilac or a Botanic Green could be your preferred hue this season, whether you go for the enigmatic mid-level Galaxy S23 Plus or any other of the new phones. 

We're also expecting accessories to match the new colors, though we haven't heard of new devices like earbuds in this year's shades. 

James Rogerson has even offered up an in-depth round-up of all the expected Galaxy S23 colors, which includes speculative renders of what each color might look like on different models.

Which one's your favorite? I have a love-hate relationship with the Cotton Flower color, personally. 

If one thing has become abundantly clear over the past few weeks of leaks, it's that the cameras on the S23 generation aren't messing around. This official video posted by Samsung less than ten days ago highlights the low-light capture capabilities of the new phones.

"Epic nights are coming" may seem a little ambiguous as a tagline but we already have an idea of why that might be the focus of the Galaxy S23's camera experience.

As the Samsung fans over at SamMobile unearthed earlier this month, the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus will sport new primary cameras at the same 50MP resolution as last year's model. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will drop the 108MP sensor of its predecessor in favor of a new primary camera, rocking an impressive-sounding 200MP.

Not only that, but the new devices will capture photos in RAW format at up to 50MP, up from the previous 12MP limit. We're also hearing about a feature that helps the camera take hyperlapse videos of the sky.

Cameras Editor, Tim Coleman seems to think we should be looking past that 200MP number when it comes to the S23 Ultra's camera, saying "it's more than just a gimmick" in his deep-dive of the sensor the phone's likely to use.

The S23 Ultra, in particular, looks as though it's getting more than just a higher resolution camera than its predecessor, with an additional trio of key upgrades over the S22 Ultra expected in a feature by writer, James Rogerson.

For one, how about a powerful new chipset?

Good morning from the UK, where I'm picking up this live blog from my colleague Philip Berne while he gets some much-needed sleep ahead of Unpacked later today.

Let's start the day with the latest in a seemingly never-ending line of leaks around the Galaxy S23 series. In this case, multiple images of the devices have surfaced after a Twitter user seemingly spotted the phones on display in Chile.

The source, Dylan Xitton, initially posted a video of the phones, but that's now been removed. However photos purportedly of the handsets can still be seen below.

Regardless of how many leaks there have been around the Galaxy S23 - and seriously, this thing has leaked like a sieve - we don't know everything about it yet.

For one, we don't know how much it will cost. The smart money (pun intended) says that in the US at least, all three models will keep the prices from the S22. If true, that would mean prices of $799.99, $999.99 and $1,199.99 respectively, for the base variants.

However, earlier this week we heard rumors that Galaxy S23 prices could go up in some countries - and considerably so. Fingers crossed that isn't the case.

If Samsung Galaxy S23 prices do rise, then you'll want to save every cent you can on the new phones. That's particularly true if you have your eye on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, because that phone is unlikely to be cheap wherever you are.

The good news is that you can save money on the devices if you act quickly. Galaxy S23 preorder are still live, and the official Samsung site is running a unique pre-registration promo which could save you $50 on one of the phones.

Simply head on over to this page and fill out the 'register your interest' form to reserve a device. Not only will you secure a firm place in line in doing this, but you'll also receive $50 of store credit should you commit to a preorder once they go live later today.

But act quickly: the pre-orders will close an hour before the event starts, so as of writing you have around 8hrs to register.

Good morning from a sunny UK, where I'm taking the live blog baton from my colleague Marc McLaren. Samsung's first Unpacked event is now just under eight hours away, so let's take a look at the latest leaks.

This Unpacked event has been leakier than a colander, but new ones keep coming – this morning Evan Blass flung some new marketing videos onto the pile. They don't tell us very much we don't already know and unfortunately the videos are protected, so you may not be able to see them.

Still, they do appear to confirm the expected designs of all three phones, which are all very similar aside from the S23 Ultra's curved front glass. 

And most interestingly, the thread teases the camera features we'll be hearing more about later – steadier video shooting (perhaps an answer to the iPhone's Action mode), that 200MP sensor for the S23 Ultra, and an improved night mode across all models (including selfies).

But please, Samsung, just stop calling it 'nightography'.

It's here, the biggest S23 news so far – Samsung has officially revealed the new 'Over the Horizon' ringtone for the series. The trademark tune has been around since 2011's Galaxy S II and is reimagined each year, this time taking on a lo-fi retro sound.

This year's theme comes courtesy of Yaeji, a Korean-American DJ and producer who straddles the worlds of pop, house music and hip hop. It's certainly a gear shift from last year's piano jazz ringtone and I like its Nintendo-style charm, but as expected it's divided opinion in the YouTube comments.

Expect to hear this song on a train near you very soon – or perhaps on the music festival circuit, as Yaeji's booked to play the likes of Coachella later in 2023.

As TechRadar's former Cameras editor, I'm most interested in the photography upgrades we're going to hear about later – particularly on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

A lot of Samsung's pre-launch hype (like its 'Epic nights are coming' promo) has been around the phone's potential for Moon photography. But as impressive (and sometimes controversial) as that AI-powered mode is, the bigger quality-of-life upgrade for most people will likely be the S23 Ultra's improved zoom at more modest focal lengths.

According to a recent Tweet from the leaker Ice Universe (above), the quality of the S23 Ultra's 30x zoom will be on a similar level to the S22 Ultra's 20x zoom. In good light, at least.

That's a big deal, as is the prospect of an improved zoom in the 10x-15x zoom range. In theory, the latter could get close to the quality offered by the folded optics of the S23 Ultra's 10x zoom lens. 

This is the space where Samsung is really opening up a lead on the iPhone. And the prospect of having a slim smartphone with that kind of zoom quality is still an amazing one to me – it wasn't long ago that Samsung could only get to 10x zoom on a phone by slapping a compact camera on the back of the Galaxy Camera.

Talking of cameras – despite being one of (if not the most) popular smartphone lenses, front-facing cameras are often overlooked. But according to the latest leaks, this also promises to be much-improved area on the S23 series.

All three phones will apparently have a 12MP selfie camera. For the S23 Ultra, this might sounds like a step down from its predecessor's 40MP front-facing camera, but it should help its performance in low light. 

The S22 Ultra's selfie shots were a little soft when shooting in gloomy conditions, but the leak from Evan Blass below suggests a Night Mode for selfies could see Samsung's new phones take a step up from that.

For me, these improved selfie cameras will be a much more popular feature among owners than the promised 13 hours of 8K video shooting, which is apparently be possible on the S23 Ultra. 

Hopefully, some of these low-light improvements might filter across to the S23's video mode too, which was another weak area for the S22 Ultra. But the proof will be in the testing of that new 200MP HP2 sensor.

Hey, I'm Hamish and I'm taking over the live blog from Mark for a while.

I'm definitely excited about the potential camera upgrades we'll see, but I'm much more interested in finding out what chipset Samsung's S23 smartphones will use. Our mobile's chip is the brains behind everything the device can do, so an upgrade in this department will bring improvements to pretty much every aspect of the handset.

While we don't yet know for certain what chipset the Galaxy S23 (and its Plus and Ultra models) will use, we're expecting they'll deploy the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Qualcomm's latest flagship was unveiled back in November and boasts several upgrades compared to its predecessor.

For those of you that love mobile gaming, the biggest improvement will come via ray tracing – which means you expect better-looking shadows and reflections in supported titles. Thanks to its Adreno GPU the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 promises to deliver a gaming performance that's 25% faster while also being 45% more power efficient, meaning you should be able to enjoy your games for longer on a single charge.

You may also see the Galaxy S23 model's data and Wi-Fi speeds get a slight bump if they adopt this chipset. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a speedy 10Gbps down and 3.5Gbps up connection over 5G, and while WiFi 6E still feels like it's just out of the packaging this chipset can actually support WiFi 7 bandwidth and speeds. No matter what your data plan is – nor what your home's Wi-Fi is like – a phone with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 should be able to get the best out of it.

Following the launch of last year’s Nothing Phone (1) in the UK, it appears that the brand has plans to launch a follow-up in 2023 based on comments from CEO and co-founder Carl Pei.

The Nothing Phone (1) isn’t the best phone on the market right now, but its bold aesthetics and budget-friendly price – with a performance that’s definitely value for money – have made it a pretty popular handset in the regions where it’s available. So it’s no surprise that the brand would want to launch a follow-up.

In an interview with Inverse, Nothing CEO Carl Pei admitted that his company has big plans for its next “more premium” smartphone: the Phone (2). While Pei is reportedly hesitant to give too many details away he did reveal the two key areas that Nothings want to focus on with its next smartphone.

The first is software. We don't know exactly what form the upgrades will take, but we hope the user interface will see some refinements. In our review, we found the Android-based Nothing OS to be clean, but it’s not the most stable build of Android out there and it lacks user-friendly features like one-handed mode.

Another big difference is that the Phone (2) is designed with a US audience in mind. The Nothing phone (1) originally snubbed the US at launch and has only recently arrived there via an odd beta program. It appears that this program is being used to help Nothing work out what US consumers want from a smartphone, but also to work with carriers to determine the certifications and features its devices need in order to function properly on US networks.

That said we don’t expect everything will be different from the Phone (1). It seems likely that the Phone (2) will continue to use the original’s iconic Glyph interface, and offering a competitive price that offers users solid value for money is very probable too. Though to know exactly how much the Phone (2) costs, and the specs it packs, we’ll likely have to wait for a proper announcement later in the year.

Until then we’ll have to make do with a few other tech reveals, including the announcements made at Samsung Unpacked 2023 on February 1 (that’s tomorrow at the time of writing). It seems very likely that Unpacked 2023 will be the launch event for the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone (and its upgraded Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra models). If you want to check out the announcements for yourself, then follow our guide on how to watch the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch event to see our coverage of all the devices announced.

Just when we thought we knew everything about Samsung’s Galaxy S23 phones ahead of their official announcement on February 1, a last-minute processor revelation has got us even more excited about their arrival.

Previous rumors had hinted that the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra would launch with a standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. But the latest intelligence suggests that Qualcomm has overclocked this already impressive processor with even more power to provide a custom-made brain for Samsung’s latest devices.

According to reliable leaker Roland Quandt, models in the Samsung Galaxy S23 range will arrive sporting a bespoke ‘For Galaxy’ Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which seems set to edge Samsung’s flagship handsets even closer to Apple’s top-of-the-range iPhones when it comes to benchmark scores. 

If you’re into your number-crunching, this specially-designed Snapdragon processor will allegedly be capable of reaching a maximum clock speed of 3.36GHz, where the standard chipset is limited to 3.2GHz (which is still impressively high).

This is big news for prospective Galaxy S23 customers and the Android mobile space at large. As TechRadar's US Mobile Editor, Philip Berne, explained recently, last year's Galaxy phones received "a mixed bag of Snapdragon and sub-par Samsung Exynos chips," which meant that "some owners felt like they got an inferior model." 

That looks set to change this year. If the rumors are true, Qualcomm has seemingly agreed to overclock the Gen 2 chips for Samsung's new flagship. In theory, this means that Samsung's Android rivals may not be able match the S23's benchmark performance. And as our US Mobile Editor argued previously, this "could also put Samsung within striking distance of Apple on benchmark scores for the first time."

Analysis: Getting ahead of the game

We’ve previously heard rumblings about the Galaxy S23’s supposedly market-leading mobile gaming credentials, and Qualcomm itself has talked up the power of its standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor on several occasions. It figures, then, that a custom-made version of this chipset could be the key to making Samsung’s latest handsets some of – if not the – best gaming phones money can buy.

Inevitably, that power will come at a cost, and the latest rumors suggest that Samsung Galaxy S23 prices will vary widely between countries. In the US, for instance, we expect the company’s latest devices to cost the same as their Samsung Galaxy S22 counterparts (in other words, $799.99, $999.99 and $1,199.99). But customers in India, Turkey and most of Europe are looking at much higher prices, owing to the strength of the US dollar against more unstable international currencies. 

In any case, we’ll learn more about the processors inside the Galaxy S23 range – and the prices they’ll demand – when Samsung’s new phones are officially 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.

TechRadar will be tuning in to bring you all the latest announcements as they happen, and we’ll also be running comprehensive reviews and comparison pieces after the event to help you decide which Galaxy S23 model is best for you. 

The official launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S23 smartphones is just around the corner, and while the devices’ respective specs have been all-but confirmed by leaks, the lineup’s pricing structure remains the subject of much speculation. 

We recently reported on leaked Verizon documents suggesting that the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost the same as their Samsung Galaxy S22 counterparts in the US (i.e. $799.99, $999.99 and $1,199.99). The bad news is that it appears Samsung won't be applying the same philosophy across the globe. 

Documents hinting at lofty Galaxy S23 prices in both South Korea and Australia circulated across the web some weeks ago, but a new report from reliable tipster Roland Quandt indicates that customers in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium will be also faced with eye-watering Galaxy S23 prices.

According to Quandt, Galaxy S23 prices will be increasing by as much as €300 (equivalent to around $325 / £260) over their predecessors in these European regions, which would mark the biggest generational price jump in Samsung Galaxy history.

It goes without saying that these proposed European Galaxy S23 prices are monumentally high compared to their US equivalents, but mobile prices have been steadily rising in non-US regions for several years now, owing to the strength of the US dollar against more unstable international currencies. 

In Turkey and India, for instance, Galaxy S23 prices look set to be even higher than those in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. According to Quandt, the starting price for the least expensive Galaxy S23 model will be 50,000 Turkish lira – equivalent to around $2,660 / £2,145 / AU$3,740, which is a small fortune.

It’s almost certain, then, that the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra will indeed be much cheaper in the US than other parts of the world. We haven’t yet heard many details surrounding the lineup’s UK pricing, but we’d wager that Samsung will launch its new phones in Britain for prices somewhere in-between those US and European figures. 

In any case, we’ll be able to verify the accuracy of these numbers when the Galaxy S23 lineup is officially 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). 

Analysis: Still plenty to get excited about

The good news for prospective Galaxy S23 customers in every region is that Quandt’s report corroborates almost all of the exciting feature leaks we’ve reported on in recent weeks.   

For instance, all three Galaxy S23 models look set to boast 120Hz screens, with the Galaxy S23 offering a 6.1-inch display, the Galaxy S23 Plus upping that to a 6.6-inch display, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra sporting an even larger 6.8-inch display (and a stylus).

Under the hood, each variant of the Galaxy S23 will reportedly 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). 

When it comes to cameras, the Ultra is in line for a triple-lens 200MP + 12MP + 10MP rear setup, while the S23 and S23 Plus will be swapping that 200MP main sensor for a 50MP equivalent. All three models will seemingly also sport a 12MP selfie camera.

We’re quietly confident that Samsung’s Galaxy S23 range will launch on February 17, though we’ll know for certain following the company’s imminent Unpacked event. Incidentally, Samsung’s S23 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 its shiny new devices. 

When the iPhone 15 handsets make an appearance, we're once again expecting there to be several differences between the standard two phones and the two more expensive Pro models – and one of those differences could be in Wi-Fi support.

A leaked document posted by tipster Unknownz21 on Twitter (via MacRumors) makes reference to the antenna architecture for the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

According to the document, the standard iPhone 15 and the Plus model will stick with the same Wi-Fi 6 spec as the current iPhone 14 series. The Pro and the Pro Max, however, will be upgraded to the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard.

A numbers game

We had heard rumblings earlier in the week that Wi-Fi 6E would be coming to the iPhone 15 series in 2023, but at that stage we were thinking the upgrade was intended for all the models. Now that doesn't appear to be the case.

The difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E isn't huge though: it supports an extra 6 GHz frequency band alongside 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so while the speeds are similar, there's more capacity for more devices. You're also going to need a Wi-Fi 6E router to take advantage of the improved technology.

While it isn't mentioned in this document leak, we're assuming that if the iPhone 15 Ultra is real then it too will have the Wi-Fi 6E upgrade as well. It's not clear yet if the phone will be a separate model or take the place of the Pro Max version of the iPhone.

Analysis: more reasons to upgrade

In recent years Apple has clearly been trying to make the Pro model upgrades as worthwhile for people as possible, most recently with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. The standard models almost seem neglected by comparison.

Last year, for example, we saw a speed difference between the two pairs of models for the first time: the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus got the A15 Bionic chipset, while the more expensive pair of phones got the latest A16 Bionic upgrade.

A slight upgrade in Wi-Fi standards might not be the most important spec when it comes to choosing a phone, but it's yet another reason to pick one of the Pro models when they go on sale (which will be in September, if Apple sticks to its usual schedule).

The danger is that the cheaper iPhones get ignored by buyers (and the Plus version is rumored to be not selling well at all) – but with the Pro models retailing for more money, it seems like a trade-off that Apple is happy to make.

• How to choose the perfect iPhone for you

We've already seen several price leaks for the Samsung Galaxy S23, but they're not stopping ahead of the expected launch of the phones on February 1. We now have information on pricing in Turkey, Germany and India.

Even if you don't live in those countries, these are important markers of how the handsets are going to be priced globally. In Turkey for example (from Roland Quandt via Notebookcheck), the Galaxy S23 phones are set to cost substantially more than their Galaxy S22 predecessors.

The starting price for the least expensive Galaxy S23 model is apparently going to be 50,000 Turkish lira – that works out as about $2,660 / £2,145 / AU$3,740, which is a small fortune. The main reason is high taxes on imported electronic goods.

Germany and India

Elsewhere in the world, rumored German pricing for the Galaxy S23 phones has appeared on WinFuture (via GSMArena). At starting prices of €949 (S23), €1,199 (S23 Plus) and €1,399 (S23 Ultra), a jump of around €100 in each case over the 2022 predecessors.

Finally there's pricing for India, which according to MySmartPrice (via Notebookcheck) is also going to be higher than the pricing we saw for the Galaxy S22. Here the S23 series is reportedly going to start at 79,999 Indian Rupees.

All of these leaks suggest that you'll be paying more for a Galaxy S23 phone than you would have done for a Galaxy S22 phone, although they're yet to be confirmed – though Samsung is already offering a number of Galaxy S23 deals.

Analysis: price matters

Galaxy S23 pricing rumors haven't been particularly consistent so far, although it does seem that Samsung might be able to match the Galaxy S22 pricing in the US at least. Elsewhere, as you can see above, it's looking like a different story.

Price leaks for both Australia and South Korea suggest that the 2023 phones are going to cost slightly more than their 2022 equivalents. That matches up with the leaks from Germany and India, while Turkey is a bit of an outlier.

All kinds of factors affect pricing of course, including taxes and manufacturing costs, and they're not all within Samsung's control. However, the company knows that it needs to put out an appealingly priced phone in order to attract buyers.

When you consider that the Google Pixel 7, for example, is available for a starting price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 (matching the Pixel 6), Samsung is going to have to bring out a really special smartphone to justify the extra money it's going to cost.

• This official Samsung Galaxy S23 pre-order deal makes the phones more affordable

This time next week, the Samsung Galaxy S23 phones will have been officially unveiled, which means we won't have any more leaks around the handsets to report on – such as the full specs sheet that just appeared on the web, for example.

Posted by reliable tipster Roland Quandt, the specs sheet covers all three phones – the standard S23, the S23 Plus, and the S23 Ultra – and gives us a rundown of everything from the battery capacities to the camera modules.

In other words, don't read any further if you're avoiding spoilers for next week's Samsung Unpacked launch event on February 1. We'll be covering the event live of course, and anyone who wants to will also be able to watch everything live online.

Specs appeal

We're looking at the 120Hz screens for the phones this year, with the Galaxy S23 offering a 6.1-inch display, the Galaxy S23 Plus upping that to a 6.6-inch display, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra bringing with it a 6.8-inch display (and a stylus).

Under the hood we've got 8GB of RAM on the S23 and the S23 Plus, and 8GB or 12GB of RAM on the Ultra. The storage options are 128GB / 256GB / 512GB for the base model, 256GB / 512GB for the Plus, and 256GB/512GB/1TB for the Ultra. It's not listed on this sheet, but the internal processor will be the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

The Ultra gets a triple-lens 200MP+12MP+10MP rear camera, but the selfie camera is just 12MP (it was 40MP on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra), as it is on the S23 and S23 Plus, which both swap the 200MP main camera for a 50MP model on the back.

Analysis: some well-chosen upgrades

We're now well used to incremental year-on-year upgrades for smartphones, and that's again promised by the Galaxy S23. The screen sizes all match last year's models, although the standard S23 gets a boost to 1,750 nits of peak brightness (up from 1,300 nits) to match the screens on the other two handsets.

When it comes to the cameras, the only difference in terms of megapixels is that the main camera on the back of the Ultra model goes up from 108MP to 200MP – however, it remains to be seen what sort of other upgrades and optimizations Samsung has managed to build into the 2023 tech.

Battery capacities get a slight bump on the S23 and S23 Plus models – from 3,700mAh to 3,900mAh and from 4,500mAh to 4,700mAh respectively. The Galaxy S23 Ultra model, meanwhile, sticks with the same 5,000mAh capacity, though bear in mind that battery capacity is just one of several factors affecting battery life.

Performance should certainly be the best you can get in an Android smartphone in 2023, what with that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from Qualcomm running everything. We've only got to wait until Wednesday for all of these specs to be made official, but we're excited about what's coming down the line.

• The Samsung Galaxy S23 could be the toughest mainstream phone yet

High-end smartphones are both expensive and – typically – fragile, which isn’t a great combination. But the Samsung Galaxy S23 series looks set to take steps to solve that, as these phones will be the first to use Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

This is Corning’s latest super-strong cover glass, and while the tech itself was revealed late last year, the company has now confirmed that “Samsung’s next Galaxy flagship smartphones” will be the first to use it. While the Samsung Galaxy S23 series isn’t mentioned by name, the phones are set to land on February 1 – so Corning can’t really be talking about anything else.

The wording also suggests – but doesn’t outright confirm – that all three upcoming models will use Gorilla Glass Victus 2, so you can likely expect it on the S23, the Galaxy S23 Plus, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. A leak also pointed to Gorilla Glass Victus 2 being used by all three phones, so that’s looking very likely.

This new generation of Gorilla Glass is designed to offer improved drop protection on rough surfaces like concrete while having just as much scratch resistance as the original Gorilla Glass Victus.

Interestingly, there’s no comparison given here to Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, which is used in the Samsung Galaxy S22 series, but presumably Victus 2 is also an upgrade on that.

Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is also designed with sustainability in mind, as it contains an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled content, which is nice to know. But the most reassuring thing about Victus 2 is simply that it’s more likely to survive a drop onto concrete – which according to Corning is the world’s most abundant engineered material.

Analysis: the first of many Victus 2 phones

You won’t have to wait long to get a phone with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, since the Samsung Galaxy S23 series is being announced on February 1 and reportedly shipping on February 17. But these will probably just be the first of many phones to use Victus 2.

Other than iPhones, which use Ceramic Shield technology (also made by Corning), almost every high-end phone includes Gorilla Glass of some kind.

So with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 now being available we’d expect that it'll be the cover glass of choice for most high-end handsets this year. Going by past form, that’s likely to include the Sony Xperia 1 V, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and others.

The OnePlus 11 and Xiaomi 13 presumably don’t use it since they’re already out in China, so Samsung wouldn’t be the first if they did, but their successors and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra might well.

If you're looking to swap your old iPhone for a spanking new model like the iPhone 14, Apple's official Trade In program is one of the simplest ways to do it. But thanks to some recent downgrades to its trade-in values, it's also now one of the worst value trade-in services out there.

As spotted by MacRumors, some models of iPhone are now worth significantly less on trade-ins than they were last week. The worst hit, the iPhone 13 Pro series, saw its trade-in price drop by $80 in the US and Apple is offering similar prices in the UK. The iPhone 13's trade-in value also went down by $50.

While Apple hasn't cut its valuations for every iPhone, its full list of trade-in prices underlines that there is a cost to the convenience of offloading your old phone directly through the manufacturer. Apple's trade-ins aren't necessarily recycled – it says that if your phone is "in good shape", it'll "help it go to a new owner". And the price of doing that is factored into the prices it offers for old iPhones.

So what exactly are your alternatives? While the best choice depends on which iPhone you're looking to get, the table below shows there are some financial benefits in shopping around for trade-in offers.

The good news is that, compared to Android phones, iPhones generally hold their value better – a US trade-in comparison site said that a used iPhone lost 68.8% of its value last year, compared to 84.2% for Samsung and 89.5% for Google.

If you have a particularly old iPhone that's no longer working properly, you may still prefer to trade it in through Apple safe in the knowledge that it'll go to one of the manufacturer's approved recycling partners. But if you're looking to get a solid discount off your next phone, or perhaps even a free Apple Watch, these are the places to consider.

1. Check your phone carrier

If you bought your current iPhone through a network operator and are looking to stay with them, there are some impressive trade-in offers available that may well trump going through a reseller or selling privately.

These typically give you account credit or a promotion card to put towards a new one, or offer free recycling. Here are some links to the major ones in the US and UK.

US network trade-in schemes

• Verizon
• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Sprint

UK network phone trade-in schemes

• EE
• Vodafone
• O2
• Three

Not everyone will be on a pricey unlimited plan and be looking to buy a brand-new iPhone 14, but if you are there are some impressive trade-in deals like the one below.

Impressively, Verizon is offering a free Apple Watch 7 and an extra $200 off an iPad when you trade an iPhone in, on top of the usual rebate. For more deals like that one, check out our guide to the best iPhone deals.

2. Use trade-in comparison sites

If you don't have time to trawl through every mobile reseller, trade-in comparison sites can give you a quick temperature check on what your iPhone could fetch at the many reselling rivals to Apple's program.

In the US, Flipsy is a handy place to see how much your phone is worth and offers free shipping, while in the UK some of the best options are Sell My Mobile and Compare and Recycle.

You might be able to find a better price for your iPhone by going directly to the resellers rather than via a comparison site, but they're a good way to quickly check how much more your iPhone might be able to fetch elsewhere. 

3. Go direct to trade-in and recycling services

Another bonus of being an iPhone owner who's for a trade-in deal is that most of the major third party sites have a strong focus on Apple, alongside Samsung. So where should you get your online quotes?

In the US, ItsWorthMore is a reliable and long-standing place to sell your iPhone (along with tablets and laptops). EcoATM (formerly known as Gazelle) is also a simple option, while USell will happily quote you for a broken or damaged iPhone that may not qualify for other trade-in programs.

If you're in the UK, Carphone Warehouse offers competitive trade-in prices (as you can see in the table above), while CeX will give you valuations for credit in its physical stores. 

For recycling options, check out EcoATM and Best Buy (in the US) or Fonebank (in the UK). Some networks in the UK have also set up schemes for you to donate your old iPhone to someone in need – see Three's Reconnected and Vodafone's Great British Tech Appeal for good examples of those.

4. Sell privately

Naturally, selling an old iPhone yourself brings a higher potential price ceiling, but also the most hassle. Avoiding the latter is a big part of the appeal of trade-in services like the ones above.

Still, if you're happy to field dozens of potential questions from interested buyers in order to squeeze the most value from that phone, selling privately remains a profitable alternative to Apple's Trade In program.

The two big guns remain eBay and FaceBook Marketplace, due to their vast audiences and secure payment setups. When should you sell? While it can leave you with a tricky period between having your old phone and getting a new one, the best times to flog an old iPhone are typically August (which is at least a month before Apple usually announces new models), with the worst being late September.

Whichever way you decide to go, make sure you read our excellent tips on how to sell or trade in your old smartphone, which we gathered after an insightful chat with the experts at Backmarket. 

The iPhone 14 Pro Max isn’t much better than the iPhone 14 Pro, with the main differences just being the size of the screen and capacity of the battery, but Apple could be looking to differentiate the top two entries in the expected iPhone 15 line later this year, based on new revelations from iOS 17.

That’s according to information from LeaksApplePro, posting on HowToiSolve. They claim to have seen iOS 17 code, and it reveals that the iPhone 15 Ultra – which is likely to be what Apple launches instead of an iPhone 15 Pro Max – will apparently have more advanced image processing software than the iPhone 15 Pro, as well as the rest of the iPhone 15 series.

So even if the camera hardware is the same across the 15 Ultra and Pro, the iPhone 15 Ultra sounds as though it'll have an edge in the photography department.

It might be able to get more out of its chipset too, with the source adding that the Ultra's performance won’t be as limited by software as on the Pro model. Those performance limits are in place to stop the phones overheating, so if this is true then the iPhone 15 Ultra will presumably must have a better cooling system too.

There are also details that we’ve heard before, including that the entire iPhone 15 line will apparently have a Dynamic Island rather than a notch, and that while they’ll all apparently use USB-C, the top two models will offer higher data transfer speeds (similar to USB 3.2 technology).

As for iOS 17 itself, there’s not actually much about that here, despite this information apparently coming from iOS 17 code, but the gist is that there will apparently be few visual changes, with the focus instead being on stability and efficiency.

A number of apps will apparently be getting small tweaks though, and the Home app is supposedly in for major changes.

In other iPhone 15 news, some or all models will apparently support Wi-Fi 6E, according to a research note from Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O'Malley, seen by MacRumors. This would add support for 6GHz Wi-Fi, which is faster – but only when connected to a router that also supports it.

Analysis: the Ultra sounds like the phone to go for

With the iPhone 14 line, it was the Pro and the Pro Max that stood out as the phones to buy – if you could afford them.

The iPhone 14 itself was barely an upgrade on the iPhone 13, and while the iPhone 14 Plus offered a screen size upgrade without shelling out for a pricey Pro Max, it was otherwise a slightly dated-feeling handset, with a notch and a year-old chipset.

That division looks set to somewhat continue with 2023's lineup, but with the iPhone 15 Ultra standing out above even the iPhone 15 Pro.

At least this time the cheapest two models might get a Dynamic Island and USB-C, which is nice, although leaks suggest they’ll still be stuck with a dated chipset.

The Ultra meanwhile might have things like a titanium frame and a dual-lens selfie camera, on top of the developments from this latest leak; none of which might be offered by the iPhone 15 Pro. So while this is sure to be a very expensive phone, it will also probably be one of the very best phones – and undoubtedly the best iPhone.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 and its siblings are sure to be expensive phones – especially in the UK, where leaks suggest there might be a price hike. But if you pre-order, then you can take a bit of the sting out of the price.

That’s because Samsung has officially confirmed that you can get a free storage upgrade with your purchase. So if you pre-order a 256GB Samsung Galaxy S23 then you’ll only pay the price of a 128GB model. Similarly if you pre-order a 512GB Galaxy S23 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra then you’ll pay for the 256GB capacity.

Interestingly there’s no mention of this scheme working for a 1TB version of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, even though that’s rumored to exist.

This deal was oddly – and likely accidentally – confirmed in the small print of the Samsung Galaxy A23’s page on the Samsung Business UK website (via Phone Arena). At the time of writing the text is still visible too.

There’s a bit to unpack here – first, while this was a business website, the wording specifically refers to orders from Samsung.com (not the business site), so you presumably don’t have to be a business customer to get this incentive. However, there’s no guarantee it will be available from third-party stores or in other countries.

The US is running its own scheme though, allowing you to reserve a Samsung Galaxy S23 and get $50 off when it comes time to purchase, so even if this storage upgrade isn’t offered there, you can still save some money.

The text on Samsung’s UK site confirms a few other things too though, such as the fact that there is indeed a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus and Ultra alongside the standard model, not that this comes as much of a surprise.

More interestingly, this incentive runs until February 16, suggesting that the phones ship on February 17, as had previously been rumored. As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy S23 series is being announced on February 1, so there’s not long to wait for an official look at them.

Analysis: how much money will this scheme save you?

UK pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series remains unclear so we can’t say exactly how much money you could save with these storage upgrades, but for what it’s worth, it cost £50 to move up a storage size with the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus, while with the Ultra you were looking at £80 to go from 256GB to 512GB. So we might see similar differences this year, even if the pricing does differ.

If this same deal is offered in the US, then the saving could come in at around $50 for the Galaxy S23 or S23 Plus, and $100 for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. While in Australia we might be looking at a saving of AU$100 to move up a storage size on the Samsung Galaxy S23 or Galaxy S23 Plus, and a discount of $150 on the S23 Ultra.

All in all, it might not be a massive saving, but it makes what’s sure to be some of the best Samsung phones a little more affordable.

If you own an iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, you're probably no longer in the habit of giving it software updates – but a new security update from Apple is an essential install if you want to keep your device secure.

A newly discovered vulnerability, which also affects some iPads (the iPad Air, iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3), was recently picked up by Google's Threat Analysis Group, potentially allowing attackers to trick affected users into visiting "maliciously crafted web content". 

As a result, Apple has released an iOS 12.5.7 firmware update for those six affected devices, which owners should install now. If you don't have automatic updates enabled, just go to the Settings app then General > Software Update.

Apple says that it's "aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.1", so it's definitely a good idea to install the update.  

Given that the iPhone 5S is now nine years old, it's impressive to see Apple stretching its security updates back that far. Neither the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 nor iPhone 6 Plus can run iOS 13, which is why those phones in particular have been given updates.

Feeling secure

Apple has led the way when it comes to providing firmware or security updates to older phones – last year, the seven-year-old iPhone 6S got iOS 15, and the five-year-old iPhone 8 is supported by the latest iOS 16.

But despite having a comparatively poor reputation for firmware support, Android manufacturers have also been boosting their credentials here. Last year, OnePlus said that "select models" of its phones would get four major Android updates and five years of security patches – the same as Samsung's support for the Galaxy S22 and other handsets.

And Google is slowly improving in this regard, with its most recent Pixel phones (including the Pixel 7 series) getting a promised five years of security updates, if only three years of OS updates. Android 14 is also expected to block the installation of apps that target outdated versions of the operating system.

While that news has caused something of an outcry from hardcore Android fans who see it as impinging on Android's open nature, these moves (and in particular, long-term security updates) will definitely be appreciated by most smartphone owners, who'd rather simply stay clear of malware or security threats.

• via Apple Insider

If you’re looking forward to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, then you’re probably at least in part excited by the potential of its cameras, as this is one of the main ways in which it’s likely to rise above the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series. Well, we now have more of an idea of what the cameras might be capable of, thanks to some new leaked photos, supposedly taken using them.

These come from Twitter user Edwards Urbina (via Phone Arena) and they aren’t the first Galaxy S23 Ultra camera samples this person has shared. But this time, we see a wider selection of scenes.

Among the most impressive shots are some atmospheric street scenes, shot at night – though it’s unclear how much light was available, so we can’t be certain exactly what the phone had to work with.

Still, the resulting shots are quite detailed and pleasing to the eye – and that’s despite the compression they’ll have gone through by being posted on Twitter.

That compression means you shouldn’t read too much into any of these images, as they’ll look better elsewhere.

But not all of the shots impress quite as much. Urbina also shared an image of the moon, which is... fine, but doesn’t really appear any better than similar moon shots that other high-end phones can take.

That’s a slight disappointment given that Samsung recently hyped moon shots specifically in a teaser.

There are also some shots at 10x and 30x zoom, with the 10x ones looking good, as you’d expect, given that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra probably has a 10x optical zoom lens. The 30x shots will be using a digital zoom, and they’re more of a mixed bag.

There’s one of a tree that looks fairly good, considering it’s digital – it’s not pin-sharp but there’s a reasonable amount of detail there. Then there’s one of a monkey that looks rather worse, with the camera clearly struggling to focus.

There are other camera samples too – you can check their Twitter feed for more, we’ve just picked out some of the most interesting ones.

Analysis: mixed results

Ultimately, the results are a bit hit and miss but seem broadly promising, and when you factor in Twitter’s compression, potential user error, and the possibility of tweaks to the camera performance by the time the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra launches, there’s every chance it will be one of the very best camera phones.

Currently, we rank the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra as the best, and with a new 200MP sensor almost certainly being included here, we’d expect some improvements. Though, of course, more megapixels doesn’t always mean better performance, so you’ll have to wait for our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review to know for sure.

The best way to school people on desperately dull topics is through humor, at least that's the assumption made by Apple in its new four-part Data Privacy video series featuring Ted Lasso's Nick Mohammed.

The video, which was released today as part of a multi-pronged effort to highlight Data Privacy Day (January 28), the week that leads up to it, and all the data privacy tools iPhone users may or may not be using, spotlights four core iPhone data privacy features.

In the video, "A Day in the Life of an Average Person’s Data," Mohammed plays a heightened version of himself, someone overly concerned with his fame and notoriety but also being humbled at every turn. It takes a mostly light touch on explaining tools like Mail Privacy Protections, Intelligent Tracking Prevention, Apple Tracking Transparency, and Wallet & Apple Pay.

The more serious guidance will come courtesy of a new in-person Today at Apple session.

Starting on January 28, Apple will launch its first Today at Apple session solely devoted to data privacy: "Taking Charge of Your Privacy on iPhone." You can register for the free sessions, which will be conducted at Apple retail locations around the world, starting today (January 24) through Apple.com/privacy or the Today at Apple page on Apple.com.

For both the video and live sessions there are no new Apple Data Privacy features to tout. All of them are available in iOS 16 right now. Subjects the sessions will cover include:

• Passwords and pass keys
• App tracking transparency
• Safety check
• Location services
• Mail privacy protection
• App privacy report

In other words, you'll learn more about how to keep your mobile information private via Today at Apple than you will from Nick Mohammed.

That four-part (not counting the introduction and ending) video will be featured prominently on Apple.com, social media, and YouTube. While you may already use features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, you could probably still get a chuckle out of watching Mohammed repeatedly embarrass himself. It's a far cry from where his character Nathan Shelley is heading in the upcoming Ted Lasso season 3 (which lives on Apple TV Plus, naturally) where he's now squaring off with Lasso as the new manager of a rival team.

While Apple's appropriation of Data Privacy Day (launched in Europe in 2007 and Adopted by the US in 2009) might seem self-serving, Apple's data protection tools have had a significant impact on the way many mobile, tech, and social media businesses operate.

Multiple companies, including Facebook (Meta) and Twitter, have noted the deleterious impact Apple Tracking Transparency has had on their businesses, including possibly costing them billions of dollars in advertising revenues.

Because Apple doesn't sell ads on its consumer devices or share any of the data it houses (and encrypts) for its consumers, Apple can do what, for instance, Google cannot. The latter's business is built almost entirely on user data and advertising.

It makes sense for Apple to lean into and celebrate this week while other tech companies might take a more muted, or even silent, approach.

The real question, though, is how well do you know the privacy tools on any of Apple's best iPhones or even the best smartphones? If you're not happy with how your data is managed, it might be time to trade up.