Samsung’s Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 to get waterproofing and better hinges

We should be seeing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 around the middle part of the year, and new leaks give us some idea of the sort of design improvements we can expect compared to the 2022 versions of these foldables.

Prolific tipster Ice Universe has taken to Chinese social network Weibo (via Android Police) and Twitter (via Notebookcheck) to confirm that both phones will adopt waterdrop-style hinges – essentially, both sides will be flat against each other when folded (the closed hinge looks like a drop of water from the side).

In the case of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, that has apparently shaved a few millimeters off the thickness of the device compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – specifically, we're talking about a maximum thickness of around 13 mm compared to 16 mm. As yet we don't have the dimensions of the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

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Waterproofing too

As well as looking a bit nicer, the switch to the waterdrop hinge should make the foldables more reliable and durable. The technology is already in use in certain phones from Chinese manufacturers, so it's been tested out in the wild.

This type of hinge usually comes at the cost of waterproofing, but according to this source, that won't be the case here – apparently the Z Fold 5 and the Z Flip 5 will be able to survive a dunking up to a certain depth for a certain amount of time.

It's worth bearing in mind that these rumors have been reported before, so this isn't completely new information. However, getting it repeated by a tipster who's right more often than not means we're now more likely to take it seriously.


Analysis: we've come a long way

It's credit to Samsung that we're now at a stage where the durability of foldable phones isn't really an issue. Through successive years, its foldables have become more reliable, and it looks like that trend is going to continue with this year's pair of handsets.

Okay, these foldable phones are still very much on the expensive side – but you would expect that considering the intricate technology involved. These prices are hopefully going to come down over time as manufacturing processes improve.

That will of course also bring in more competitors. Rumors keep on swirling about the existence of a foldable iPhone, while the Google Pixel Fold could be out even sooner, and may even be out at some point this year.

These new entrants will have Samsung to compete with, and Samsung has got a five-year headstart when it comes to foldables. With the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, we'll see just how far ahead they can get before Apple and Google catch up.

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Nokia’s new G22 smartphone might be the most easily repairable device of its kind

Nokia owner HMD Global has lifted the lid on not one, not two, but three new smartphones ahead of MWC Barcelona 2023 – and one of them is so easy to repair that you may never have to step foot inside an electronics store again. 

Manufactured in collaboration with global repair community iFixit, the Nokia G22 is designed to be easily repairable by anyone, anywhere, with just a handful of cheap tools. 

The phone’s battery, screen, charging port and back cover can all be popped off and replaced in a matter of minutes, which HMD Global says should allow owners to keep using the G22 for years after its three-year warranty has expired.

We tried our own at-home repairs on a Nokia G22 sample sent to us in advance of the phone’s announcement, and it really is a pretty simple process. All you’ll need is a G22 Fit Kit – which HMD Global says will be available to purchase from iFixit.com for as little as £5 (around $6 / AU$9) – as well as whatever replacement parts your phone requires (which will also be stocked by iFixit.com). 

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The Nokia G22 rear, as seen in hand

The Nokia G22 has a 50MP main rear camera with AI imaging algorithms (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
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The Nokia G22 screen, as seen in hand

The Nokia G22 has a 6.5-inch, 90Hz HD+ display (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)

The G22 itself will retail for £149.99 (around $180 / AU$260) – which could make it one of the best cheap phones to launch in 2023 – and begin shipping in the UK from March 8. In addition to its repairability credentials, the phone will arrive packing a 6.5-inch, 90Hz HD+ display, a Unisoc T606a processor, a 50 MP main rear camera, a 5,050mAh battery and IP52 water and dust resistance. 

It’ll be available in two storage configurations – 64GB and 128GB, both with 4GB RAM – and the G22 will also run Android 12 to begin with, HMD Global says. 

Clearly, those specs suggest the Nokia G22 isn’t going to challenge the best iPhones and best Samsung phones to the title of best smartphone in 2023, but HMD Global is here targeting consumers who aren’t interested in spending four figures on their mobile devices (hence the company’s focus on repairability and longevity).

“People value long-lasting, quality devices and they shouldn’t have to compromise on price to get it. The new Nokia G22 is purposefully built with a repairable design so you can keep it even longer,” HMD Global’s Head of Product Marketing, Adam Ferguson, said in a presentation given to TechRadar.


Good things come in threes

The Nokia C22 lineup

(Image credit: HMD Global)

Nokia has also unveiled two new entries in its popular C-Series line, the Nokia C22 and Nokia C32, ahead of MWC 2023. 

Boasting all the durability bells and whistles of the brand’s existing C-Series smartphones, the C22 will be available in two storage configurations – 64GB with either 2GB RAM or 3GB RAM – and offer a whopping three-day battery life. 

The phone will retail for £109.99 (around $130 / AU$195) and begin shipping in Spring (which is between March and June, for our Australian readers).  

The C32, on the other hand, will arrive sporting Android 13 and a 50MP main rear camera (where the C22 has to make do with a 13MP main lens), and retail for the slightly more expensive price of £129.99 (around $155 / $230). Both phones will share the 6.5-inch, HD+ display of the aforementioned Nokia G22. 

We’ll be sharing our thoughts on all three phones once we’ve spent some more time with each of them in the near future. In the meantime, stay tuned to TechRadar for all the latest news and announcements to emerge from this year's MWC trade show.

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Unofficial iPhone 15 Plus renders reveal the phone’s revamped design

You don't have to wait long for an iPhone 15 leak or rumor at the moment – they're spilling out pretty much every day – and we've now got some unofficial renders showing off the revamped design of the iPhone 15 Plus model.

These renders are based on schematic information given to third-party supply chain partners and obtained by 9to5Mac, which we'd say is one of the more trustworthy sources out there when it comes to Apple information.

In terms of the changes coming to the phone's design, we've got the more rounded edges to the screen and chassis that have been mentioned in earlier rumors. There's also a USB-C port rather than Lightning, another switch that's expected this year.

Unofficial renders showing the front and back of the iPhone 15 Plus

How the iPhone 15 Plus might look (Image credit: 9to5Mac)

To the millimeter

There's a thicker camera bump this time around, and it appears that the Dynamic Island is coming to the iPhone 15 Plus (and the iPhone 15) – so it's no longer going to be exclusive to the Pro models. We've heard this before, too.

Compared to the dimensions of 160.84 mm x 78.07 mm x 7.79 mm for the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 15 Plus measures 160.87 mm x 77.76 mm x 7.81 mm according to this source. There's really not that much in it, just fractions of millimeters.

Demand has reportedly been weak for the iPhone 14 Plus – and it was of course brought in to replace the mini model that also sold rather poorly – so Apple will be hoping that the 2023 version attracts a few more buyers.


Analysis: some subtle changes

As we've seen from previously leaked unofficial renders of the iPhone 15 Pro from the same source, Apple isn't completely throwing out the iPhone design and starting again from scratch this time around. The design changes will be small and subtle.

When you've got a design that's as iconic and as well-established as the iPhone one, it's going to be difficult to come up with genuinely new innovations and changes – although the introduction of the notch with the iPhone X in 2017 was rather inspired.

Most of the best work we're seeing in phone design at the moment is coming from foldable phones, and Apple's entry into the market is still thought to be some way off. In fact the device we end up getting might be more of a folding iPad than a folding iPhone.

As for the iPhone 15 series, the most significant switch this year could well be the adoption of that USB-C port, as dictated by EU regulators. However, there has been talk that there might be restrictions on what you can actually hook up to it.

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Motorola is bringing iPhone-beating satellite messaging to your Android phone

The iPhone 14 may have pioneered the idea of the satellite-connected smartphone, but now the first Android phone has launched with the feature – and it's already more powerful than Apple's Emergency SOS. Just to rub it in, Motorola has also launched a Bluetooth add-on that brings satellite messaging to both Android and iOS devices. 

The Motorola Defy 2 (or CAT S75 if you live in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) is a beefy-looking, fully waterproof Android phone that delivers two-way satellite communication that isn't just limited to contacting emergency services. Qualcomm and Samsung are also bringing satellite messaging capabilities to the next Galaxy phones – but unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup likely don't have all the necessary components, so you’ll have to wait for the Galaxy S24.

In a similar way to the iPhone’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, you’ll be able to text via the Bullitt Satellite Messenger when you don’t have any cell service and aren’t connected to Wi-Fi. These messages can be sent to an SOS service, or to one of your contacts.

The advantage of being to message anyone is that it gives you the ability to check in with friends and family while you’re exploring the wilderness and let them know you’re safe. That way if they don’t hear from you they know they may need to contact emergency services – as you could be injured or incapacitated and unable to message for help yourself.

We were really impressed when we tried out the iPhone’s satellite phone capabilities, even though we hope it’s a feature we never have to use. Emergency SOS via Satellite allows iPhone 14 owners to communicate with emergency services even when their phone isn’t connected to Wi-Fi or a cell tower. 

While standing outside and aiming your phone at a satellite (a task the phone helps you with) you're able to send and receive texts from emergency services, letting them know what has happened and where you are so they can be rescued.

Sure, the messages were slow to send and receive, but that’s the nature of satellite phone communications, and otherwise, the tool was pretty simple to use. Its inclusion in the iPhone 14 will almost certainly save people’s lives, and so we’d been hoping Android devices would get the feature soon, too.

The Motorola Defy Satellite Link on a tarp underneath a smartphone

The Motorola Defy Satellite Link (Image credit: Motorola)

That's now the case, starting with the Motorola Defy 2. But if you like the phone you already have then don’t worry – Motorola and Bullitt have also unveiled the Defy Satellite Link. That Bluetooth device that can turn any Android or iOS phone into a satellite phone that can communicate via the Bullitt Satellite Messenger. The rugged device has an IP68 waterproof rating and Motorola claims its 600mAh battery is enough to last for multiple days of use.

The Defy Satellite Link is launching later this year for $99 / £99, while the Motorola Defy 2/CAT S75 will sell for $599 / £549. Though you’ll need to pay extra to actually use the Bullitt service.

In the US, the Defy 2 comes with a 12-month subscription to the Essential plan, while in the UK you’ll get three months for free. After that, you’ll need to pay $4.99/€4.99 for the Essential plan which gives you the ability to send 30 two-way messages per month and access to SOS assist for 12 months. There are more expensive plans that give you access to higher message counts if you feel 30 messages isn’t enough.

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Signal could quit the UK amid Online Safety Bill row

Signal, one of the best encrypted messaging apps around, would leave the UK if a proposed new security Bill becomes law. 

In its current form, the UK government's Online Safety Bill would undermine encryption by allowing authorities to check private messages in an effort to halt terrorists and pedophiles online. 

Signal said it would rather shut its UK operations than undermine or weaken its privacy policies. 

The fight against encryption

"We would absolutely 100% walk rather than ever undermine the trust that people place in us to provide a truly private means of communication," Signal president Meredith Whittaker told the BBC.

"We have never weakened our privacy promises, and we never would."

Launched in 2014, Signal now counts over 40 million monthly active users and more than 120 downloads. The app is very popular for its extra security features, like its disappearing messages mode, especially among those more in need of strong privacy such as journalists, activists and politicians.     

Passing now in Parliament, the Online Safety Bill has long been criticized for its plans to undermine encryption. Under the current form, the Bill will give to its body regulator Ofcom the duty to scan encrypted messages for child sexual abuse or terrorism content.  

The UK government said the Bill isn't about ban end-to-end encryption, but rather a way to halt criminals lurking online. "It is not a choice between privacy or child safety - we can and we must have both," wrote the Home Office in a statement. 

Whittaker doesn't fall for it, though, describing it as "magical thinking" to believe that the Bill could guarantee the privacy of those not breaking the law. 

She also pointed out how this could allow both malignant state actors and criminals to exploit this "back door" for their gain.   

She said to the BBC: "Encryption is either protecting everyone or it is broken for everyone."  

Signal isn't the only app offering encrypted communications out there. WhatsApp, Apple's iMessage, Facebook and Telegram all use E2E to secure users' communications. Security software like VPN and secure email services might be tangled up under the UK law, too.

Even worse, also outside the UK governments are battling against encryption in the name of a safer online world. The EU Chat control, for example, is regulating something very similar to the Online Safety Bill.

Privacy advocates at The Electronic Frontier Foundation also warned about the risks of such law, describing "the censorious, anti-encryption Online Safety Bill" as a possible blueprint for repression around the world. 

They wrote in August last year: "The next UK Prime Minister should abandon the bill in its entirety. If they won’t, Parliament should vote to reject it."  

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The iPhone 15 Pro could tempt you with a stunning new special edition color

The iPhone 15 Pro rumors are already in full swing more than six months before its expected release – and while it's a little early for reliable color leaks, a source has apparently revealed that a new 'dark red' special edition model is en route.

The new rumors from 9to5Mac, which include some slightly less confident predictions about iPhone 15's new color options, suggest that Apple's next premium model will be available in a crimson-like shade that the site has mocked up (below) based on its apparent color hex value of '#410D0D'. 

In an attempt to attract buyers towards its Pro models, Apple does usually release special edition colors for the range, which have in the past leant towards more subdued hues than its standard iPhones. 

The iPhone 12 Pro received a Pacific Blue shade, the iPhone 13 Pro arrived in Sierra Blue, while the iPhone 14 Pro went a bit further with Deep Purple and Space Black, which is actually more of a dark grey.

A rumored new color for the iPhone 15 Pro

(Image credit: 9to5Mac)

This rumored new dark red color for the iPhone 15 Pro would fit into that overall subdued theme for the Pro series, but it's also far from a dead cert. Firstly, iPhone color leaks are notoriously hit-and-miss – the iPhone 13 Pro, for example, was tipped to arrive in a bronze-like shade, but that never materialized.

It's also very early for these color rumors to appear, as aspects of the iPhone 15 Pro's design, including its color and finish, are unlikely to have been finalized more than six months from its expected launch. As an example, a gold version of the iPhone X was created (according to FCC filings), but never actually launched.

Still, that doesn't mean we aren't intrigued by this potential new special edition edition color for the iPhone 15 Pro – particularly as there's a chance it could slot into Apple's Product Red lineup.


Analysis: a Pro version of Product Red?

A range of Apple Product Red products on a red background

(Image credit: Apple)

These iPhone 15 Pro rumors should be treated with great caution, as color speculation doesn't traditionally start until a few months before Apple's traditional September launch event. 

But this 'dark red' speculation has got us wondering about how it might fit into Apple's longstanding Product Red range – and if it could be the first iPhone Pro model to be part of the series. 

A portion of every Product Red model that Apple sells goes to the Global Fund to fight AIDS and Covid-19. The first device in the series was the iPod nano, back in 2006, and the iPhone jumped on board with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. 

Apple has traditionally reserved red hues for these charity editions. But the iPhone Pro line has so far never had a Product Red version, presumably because its colors don't tend to match the deep red that's the signature of the series.

While most Product Red devices have tended to have a largely similar red hue, there is precedence for a slight variation – the iPhone 12 and 12 mini's Product Red versions had a more orange or coral tint. So it's not impossible that the rumored dark red iPhone 15 Pro could see it become part of Apple's charity series.

Right now, though, this is pure speculation, and we're more inclined to trust the other iPhone 15 Pro leaks that have surfaced so far – namely, those suggesting the inclusion of a USB-C port, a new titanium body and some thinner bezels.   

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Your Galaxy S23 might be powerful enough to quickly generate AI images

Fast AI image generation is now possible on an Android phone. In a recent demo video, Qualcomm was able to generate a 512 x 512-pixel image of a cat wearing armor using AI-image-generator Stable Diffusion version 1.5 on an Android phone. And the kicker is it finished in less than 14.42 seconds, making it pretty close to what PCs can do with the tech. 

To achieve this, company engineers used a process called “quantization”. Without getting too deep in the weeds here, they basically took the desktop version of Stable Diffusion, shrunk it down, and optimized it for mobile devices. According to Qualcomm, the process “increases performance [while] also [saving] power by allowing the model” to run more efficiently thereby “[consuming] less memory bandwidth.” 

It’s unknown exactly what mobile device was used in the demonstration. However, we do know it was powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, the exact same chipset found on the Samsung Galaxy S23. It is worth noting that other developers have managed to put Stable Diffusion on the Sony Xperia 5 II, but generating images on that phone took around an hour because of the weaker hardware. The main takeaway from Qualcomm’s achievement is its speed and what it could mean for users down the line.

Stable Diffusion images created on Qualcomm hardware

Stable Diffusion images generated with the prompt: "Super cute fluffy cat warrior in armor, photorealistic, 4K, ultra detailed, vray rendering, unreal engine." (Image credit: Qualcomm)

Future of generative AI

The thing about generative AI models is they require a fair amount of computing power to work. Stable Diffusion’s developers, for example, recommend using a computer equipped with NVIDIA hardware and, at least, 6.9 GB of VRAM specifically (video RAM) to create images. Smartphones don’t come with VRAM as manufacturers opt for regular RAM to run on-device software. But now this power discrepancy is beginning to fade, so we could see this technology crop up on more mobile devices.

Jilei Hou, vice president of engineering at Qualcomm, told VentureBeat that the lessons learned in optimizing Stable Diffusion for smartphones could be utilized for other devices running on company hardware. Hou specifically points to laptops and XR headsets as potential future houses for generative AI. As for what they’ll be able to do, there are a number of applications like “image editing [plus] in-painting”, a process where an AI fills the missing parts in a generated artwork. The company also hopes all this can be done without needing an internet connection to the Stable Diffusion cloud. As cool as this may be, it’s unknown if or when this tech will see a widespread launch on phones running Qualcomm hardware.

Besides generating images, developers have created writing AI to help with writing content. Be sure to check out our recent list of the best AI writers for 2023 – Jasper ranks among our favorites.

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Magic Eraser, the Google Pixel’s best trick, is coming to your iPhone and Galaxy

Some of the hottest selling points for Google Pixel phones are the exclusive Google software features, especially the photo editing tools. If you want to use Google’s amazing Photo Unblur, for instance, you must have a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro. Now Magic Eraser, one of Google’s premier Pixel features, is coming to myriad other devices, including iPhones and competitor Android smartphones. 

Magic Eraser launched with the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones. When the Pixel 6a was announced, it did not have Magic Eraser on board, but the feature was added in a later update.

Google Pixel 6 Pro review

The Pixel 6 Pro launched with Magic Eraser (Image credit: TechRadar)

Google says that all Google One subscribers, including iOS users, will be able to use Magic Eraser in Google Photos. All Google Pixel owners should have access to the feature as well.

Google One is a cloud storage and VPN service plan that gives you more space for your free Google account. If you synchronize photos and videos to Google Photos, it can be especially useful, especially with today’s higher-resolution cameras and videos.

Magic Eraser is a smart erasing tool that can sense unwanted elements in the background and suggest removing them. These bits are replaced with natural-looking, photorealistic enhancements. You can select the background element you want to destroy, or let Magic Eraser do it for you.

In practice, Magic Eraser works remarkably well. Google was wise in making sure this feature was part of Google Photos, and not baked into the Pixel phone cameras. That means you can edit any photo stored in Google’s cloud, not just photos taken recently.

This makes Magic Eraser a natural fit for sharing across platforms since it already relies on Google’s cloud and machine learning. In fact, it makes us wonder about another amazing Google photo feature, and whether its days of exclusivity are numbered.

Google Pixel 7 Pro phone

Photo Unblur is still exclusive to the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7 (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

Google has long maintained to us that Photo Unblur will remain exclusive to Pixel phones, and it currently only works with phones that carry the Tensor G2 chipset: the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Still, just like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur is found in the Google Photos app. Also like Eraser, Photo Unblur lets you work magic on any photo, not just photos taken with Pixel phones.

Photo Unblur is fantastic, but Magic Eraser was always the real magic trick. Now that it’s coming to all Google One subscribers, we’d be surprised if Photo Unblur stays exclusive much longer.

Google may have a new phone on the way in the next few months if there is a mid-year Pixel 7a launch, similar to past years. That would be a decisive time to determine if Photo Unblur will be shared, or if it will remain a key selling point to buy Google’s own hardware.

This wasn’t going to be exclusive for long

Truthfully, the likely reason that Google is sharing Magic Eraser across platforms is that major competitors will have similar offerings on the market soon enough if they don’t already. Adobe offers context-aware editing, and Apple has "lift subject from background" on the iPhone. 

Still, it was a great selling point for Google phones, and it helped Google get away with a bit. The cameras didn’t have to be so great if the photo editing tools could fix any photo. Actually, it turns out Google Pixel phones have great cameras, especially if you spring for the Pro models. So maybe this wasn’t such an advantage after all. 

Google won't sit on its laurels while it gives away the best Pixel features. The next Pixel phone will likely bring some new exclusive feature. Hopefully, it's something that wows us as much as Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. Perhaps a deep-fake detection tool to bring those magically-erased folks back. 

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A whole host of top Android apps really aren’t as private as they say

The most popular Android apps aren't as private as they want users to believe, new research carried out by Mozilla has found.

The company, which is behind one of the most secure browsers around, found about 80% of Google Play Store apps' privacy labels to be misleading or false. 

Twitter and TikTok, for example, are infamous for sharing a vast array of users' data with third parties, despite Google labels claiming the opposite.  

"Google must do better"

Mozilla compared privacy policies and Google's labels of the 40 most popular apps in Google Play, 20 of the best free Android apps and 20 premium services. For each app, it was assigned a score of "Poor," "Need improvements" and "OK" based on the discrepancies between their policies and the information reported on the nutrition tags.

What they found was pretty concerning. Only 6 out of 40 apps reviewed obtained a positive rating. The majority of those (16 applications including Facebook, Minecraft and Twitter) got deemed as "Poor." While, among those sat in the middle grade there are YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp and Instagram. Three apps didn't even have any record of privacy labels.

Experts attribute such results as the outcome of some serious loopholes into the Google's Data Safety Form, making it easy for developers to provide misleading or false information. 

Being aware of online services' data retention and sharing practices is vital for users to have control over their privacy. That's why, following Apple's footsteps, Google Play introduced such labels in April 2022 to help them easily understand exactly how much data their Android apps are collecting.

Researchers said that Google privacy labels repeatedly fail to help consumers make more informed decisions before downloading one of its 2.7 million active apps. 

"Consumers care about privacy and want to make smart decisions when they download apps. Google’s Data Safety labels are supposed to help them do that. Unfortunately, they don’t. Instead, I’m worried they do more harm than good," said Jen Caltrider, Project Lead at Mozilla. 

While app makers need to self-declare the data they collect and share, Google seems to absolve itself of the responsibility to verify whether or not the information compiled is true.

Furthermore, the company even exempts developers from disclosing details around any data sharing with “service providers.”      

"Consumers deserve better. Google must do better," said Caltrider.

Google rejected such allegations. The Big Tech giant argues that Mozilla's arbitrary scores are not helpful to correctly evaluate neither the apps' safety nor the labels' accuracy "given the flawed methodology and lack of substantiating information" - TechCrunch reported

However, Mozilla's report isn't the first of this kind. Apple's privacy tags have previously been accused to give out false details about how its apps collect and share users' data. 

For this, Mozilla believes that both Google and Apple should adopt a universal standardized data privacy system form on their platforms. The provider also recommends the Big Tech firms to take transparent actions against those apps that self-declare misleading information about their privacy policies to ensure users are presented with accurate information at all times.     

"Google Play Store's misleading Data Safety labels give users a false sense of security. Honest nutrition labels help us eat better. It's time we have honest data safety labels to help us better protect our privacy."

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Leaked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 storage specs are not surprising

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 lineup launched less than a month ago, but we’re already looking forward to the arrival of the next flagship entries in the Galaxy range.

Specifically, we’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 – successors to two of the best foldable phones currently available – to hit shelves later this year, and more details are beginning to emerge about what to expect from both handsets.

For instance, it looks like Samsung will be sticking with what it knows when it comes to the devices’ storage options. According to SamMobile, the Fold 5 will be offered in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants, while you’ll have to choose between 128GB, 256GB and 512GB variants for the Flip 5.

For context, those are the same storage options Samsung opted for on the Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4, as well as on the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra – which isn’t revelatory news, given that we expect both new foldables to come packing the same bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset as featured in Samsung’s latest phones. 

The only real surprise is that the 128GB variant of the Flip 5 looks set to be the only model that won’t benefit from UFS 4.0 speeds. Instead, being the cheapest option of the two foldables, the baseline Flip 5 will stick with its predecessor’s UFS 3.1 specification – but again, this makes sense when you consider that the 128GB of the vanilla Galaxy S23 also uses UFS 3.1. 


What else do we know?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 could come with a new hinge design (Image credit: Future)

As for what else we’ve heard about the two new foldables, a recent report from Vietnamese tech outlet The Pixel suggests the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could swap out the 50MP rear camera utilized by its predecessor for a much more powerful 108MP rear sensor.

The same report also hints that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could feature a 64MP telephoto camera (with 2x optical zoom) and a 12MP ultrawide snapper. That setup would trump the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 10MP telephoto sensor, but lose out on the latter’s 3x optical zoom capabilities.

We’ve also heard rumblings that Samsung is going to use a water drop-shaped hinge in the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which means the device would be able to fold completely flat, with no gaps visible between the two halves of the display.

Several handsets from Chinese manufacturers already use this design approach for their foldables, but at the cost of full water resistance. However, Samsung is apparently going to add the new hinge shape while maintaining an IPX8 rating for the phone.

Likewise, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to come with a new hinge design, as well as a much bigger cover screen than the Z Flip 4 – beyond that, though, the rumor airways have been quiet.

We’re keeping tabs on both upcoming foldables in our dedicated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 hubs, so stay tuned to TechRadar for the latest news, leaks and rumors surrounding both devices.

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The Moto Razr and Galaxy Z Flip 5 could finally get big cover displays this year

If there is one sticking point about the benefits of clamshell foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the Motorola Razr 2022, it’s whether the cover display is big enough to be functional while the phone is closed. While the Oppo Find N2 Flip increased the outer display size significantly, recent rumors around the next Samsung and Motorola clamshell foldables suggest we could see a dramatic increase in the next generation. 

On Twitter, a flurry of leaks from various reliable phone sources has painted a picture of what to expect from next-generation foldable devices this year. Starting with Evan Blass, aka @evleaks, we get a look at what could be a dramatically updated Motorola Razr 2023 with a cover display that wraps around the camera lenses and fills almost half of the phone’s length. 

Blass has a locked Twitter account, so instead of embedding his tweets, I’ve included screenshots here. 

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Leaked images of Motorola Razr 2023 cover display

(Image credit: Twitter / @evleaks)
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Leaked images of Motorola Razr 2023 cover display

(Image credit: Twitter / @evleaks)

While the current Motorola Razr already boosted the size of the cover display, the rumored update nearly fills the face of the phone, and it’s clear that this is where clamshell devices are headed.

In apparent response, Twitter leaker Ice Universe claimed that the next Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will feature a remarkably similar design, and posted an unpolished render to support the claim. He also claims that Samsung’s next phone will be a larger device than the Oppo Find N2 Flip clamshell. 

See more

The design shows a phone with a screen that wraps around the camera lenses, and this makes sense for a cover display. Unlike the external screen on a Galaxy Z Fold 4, which, on its own, is almost as usable as a normal smartphone, a clamshell cover display has to work hard to squeeze any worthwhile functionality out of the minimal allotted real estate. 

So far, phone makers have used the cover display as a selfie mirror for the main camera. This is a great feature, as it aims the phone’s best lens and sensor at your favorite subject. Unfortunately, the cover display has been too small to make sure that your photo is in focus, let alone help with advanced photo features. 

A larger display could make selfies a killer feature for clamshell phones. Foldable phones have struggled to find a foothold in the market, even though phone makers push out updates every year. 

Finally, The Verge points us to analyst Ross Young, who says that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will also have a different hinge design. The improved hinge on the Oppo Find N2 Flip is what allowed the phone to lose the infamous crease found on Samsung foldables. We’ll have to see if Samsung can improve its own creased design. 

Probably not soon, definitely not soon enough

It seems a bit early to expect these foldable phones to hit the market, as both the Galaxy foldables and Motorola’s Razr were refreshed in August 2022. Mobile World Congress is just around the corner, but even if we do get a preview of these new phones, we wouldn’t expect them to go on sale until later in the year. 

While I’m a big fan of the clamshell design for the experience of snapping the phone shut and thereby ‘hanging up’ on distractions, I have a hard time convincing folks that a clamshell foldable experience is just as worthwhile as the tablet-style foldable found with the Galaxy Z Fold.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 hands on Bora Purple w Z Fold 4

Samsung's latest foldables launched in August, 2022 (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)

The latter gives you two large screens, including a tablet you can carry in your pocket. The former just gives you a smaller version of the phone you already carry.

Cover displays on current clamshell phones are so limited that they barely meet your minimum expectations. I need to see a massive leap in the size and capabilities of these cover displays before I can righteously defend this form factor.

A cover display needs to do more than simple alarm clocks, music controls, and notifications. It needs to be a selfie mirror that makes me smile.

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Major Bixby update will let you answer calls with an AI version of your voice

Samsung’s in-house voice assistant, Bixby, may not have the user base to rival fellow voice assistants Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, but the AI-powered helper is getting a suite of much-needed upgrades to further level up the best Samsung phones

Specifically, Samsung’s Bixby update – which will be rolling out to Samsung Galaxy users throughout February – brings significant improvements to the software’s ability to recognize language. 

For instance, English speakers can now answer calls by simply typing a message, which Bixby then converts into audio to be communicated to the caller on their behalf. The feature, called Bixby Text Call, can also be customized to feature AI-generated versions of users' actual voices, Samsung says. 

Bixby Custom Voice Creator allows users to record different sentences that the AI will analyze and turn into custom replies. Samsung’s press release notes that the feature is “currently available in Korean” and will soon be rolled out to “other Samsung apps beyond phone calls,” which is slightly confusing wording, so we’ve reached out to the company for clarification on whether it’ll be available in English at launch. 

Gif showing Bixby Text Call in action

Bixby Text Call in action on a Samsung phone (Image credit: Samsung)

Bixby’s latest update also adds the ability to create a personalized wake-up phrase, though, again, this seems limited to the Korean language for now. 

It’s also worth noting that Bixby Text Call – which Samsungs says is available on selected models including the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 – requires One UI 5.1 or above for phones operating in English. By the looks of things, Bixby Custom Voice Creator is limited to the Galaxy S23, S23 and S23 Ultra for now.

A much brainier Bixby

In addition to these call-related features, Samsung’s Bixby update also makes the assistant more effective at dealing with follow-up requests. 

As the company notes, “Bixby can better understand intent and process follow-up requests by understanding context and associating words previously used in interactions. For example, Bixby users can first launch a workout on Samsung Health and then ask Bixby to play music that best suits that exercise by saying ‘Play music for this workout.’” Neat.

Again, however, it looks like this feature is currently limited to the Korean language, though Samsung notes that “more languages [will] be supported” in the future.

And finally, Bixby’s offline capabilities have been improved. Users can now ask the voice assistant to carry out basic functions – like setting timers, taking screenshots or turning on the flashlight – even when their phone isn’t connected to the web. Apple introduced similar functionality to Siri with iOS 15, so we’re glad to see Samsung bringing its voice assistant in line with the competition here.

For more AI-related news, check out our report on the AI-generated image that recently won a photography contest, or read our Computing Editor's thoughts on why AI is going to ruin humanity – just not in the way we might expect

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Samsung Galaxy phones having a bad week as display and battery issues arise

Samsung Galaxy S23 and S22 owners have been hit with a one-two punch as users have recently been experiencing defective hardware and software.

Across social media platforms, and even on the company’s own Community forums, are posts showing some kind of bubble defect appearing on the bottom corners of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The location differs for each device: some have on the left while others have it on the right

The good news is this is purely a cosmetic thing as so far, no one has reported experiencing any kind of performance issues (unlike the recent camera stabilization flaw). However considering that the S23 Ultra costs over $1,200, you can’t blame people for being a little miffed. The company is well aware of this as the official Samsung UK Twitter told an affected user the bubble is more of a feature, not a bug. 

Apparently, if you shine a strong enough light at the S23 Ultra’s display, “some parts appear to be squashed”. The squashed look is reportedly a consequence of Samsung’s pressing process during production when the company adds “waterproofing and dustproofing” to a phone screen. Other than the bubble, everything’s seems fine. 

Affected owners are still annoyed at this defect. It does appear the Samsung UK Twitter is reaching out and trying to help people with the bubble screen. So at least, the company is aware of the defect.

Battery drainage

The same can't be said about the One UI 5.1 update that recently rolled out to older Galaxy phones like the S22 and S21. 

The patch was only supposed to introduce new features and boost device performance. However, some people are reporting battery usage on their phones skyrocketing after the patch. A user on the European Samsung Community forums posted an image of the sudden power drain. They claimed the battery on their S22 Ultra drained completely after about seven hours under moderate use. Another claims that they're forced to recharge their device by the middle of the day due to the issue.

There’s some debate, however, on what exactly is causing the battery drain. According to a report by GSMArena, the drain could be a result of either the One UI 5.1 update forcing Galaxy phones to go into Maximum Performance Mode or some kind of compatibility problem with Samsung Keyboard. If it’s the latter, official support pages suggest clearing out the Keyboard’s data cache and restarting the phone.

We reached out to Samsung to see if it was aware of the battery drain and if it’s working on a fix. So far, the company hasn’t made any official statements regarding the One UI 5.1 patch. Additionally, we asked what it will do for users suffering from the bubble defect like replacing the screen. This story will be updated if we hear back.

While we have you, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list on the best Galaxy phones for 2023 – so far. 

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Nothing Phone 1 long-awaited upgrade to Android 13 halves app load times

Nothing has been beta testing an updated version of its proprietary OS since December last year, and the vastly improved interface is now finally rolling out to Nothing Phone 1 users across the globe. 

Nothing OS 1.5 – which is powered by Android 13 – adds significant upgrades to the phone’s security, app library, visual appearance and, crucially, its overall performance, to bring the Nothing Phone 1 one step closer to the best phones around. To get it, head to Settings on your device, then click System Update. 

From a speed point of view, Nothing says its new OS will reduce app load times by up to 50%, and grant the Nothing Phone 1 the ability to “self-repair” by automatically clearing unused cache memory and expired system dumps. 

The camera app interface has been refined, too, and Nothing has added a new QR code scanner, a Personal Safety app and more Glyph ringtones and notification sounds. You can now create lock screen shortcuts for camera, torch, device controls and wallet, and you’ll also be able to close active background apps directly from the notification center to save battery.

Check out Nothing OS 1.5 in action via the company’s announcement tweet: 

See more

Visually, Nothing OS 1.5 brings a new look for Media Control (album artwork is displayed with a wider set of music controls), and you’ll be able to adjust volume sliders without unlocking the phone’s screen. A live caption feature has been added, too, and Nothing says you’ll experience smoother animations when transitioning the display between on and off.

You can check out the full list of updates on Nothing’s website, but in a nutshell, Nothing OS 1.5 is big news for new and prospective Nothing Phone 1 owners. In our Nothing Phone 1 review, we said there were “signs of work still needing to be done with regards to [the phone’s] stability,” but this OS update seems to address at least some of those concerns. 

Once we’ve spent more time playing around with Nothing OS 1.5 for ourselves, we’ll be able to give a proper verdict on its significance – but this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for a brand with an exciting future. 

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Google Pixel Fold will have a bigger battery than the Galaxy Z Fold 4

Rumors surrounding Google's first foldable smartphone – the Google Pixel Fold – have been swirling around for years now, but we’re finally beginning to see more concrete details emerge about this hotly anticipated device. 

According to 9to5Google, the Google Pixel Fold – which is expected to debut at or around Google's next I/O developer conference – will be heavier than its main competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. In fact, a source has told the publication that Google's foldable “can be thought of as a small tablet, in weight,” which has us slightly worried for its portability as an everyday device.

That said, the size of the phone’s battery sounds like it’ll be a silver lining to all that excess weight. The Google Pixel Fold will pack a larger battery than its Samsung rival, 9to5Google reports; meaning we can expect a power source of at least 4,500mAh. 

No exact details about the Google Pixel Fold’s battery capacity have been shared thus far, but we’re hearing that the figure will “still [be] well below” 5,000mAh. 

Even the very best foldable phones have prioritized thin designs over impressive battery life, so Google’s alleged preference for a large battery capacity at the expense of keeping the Google Pixel Fold lightweight could help it stand out from the crowd, at least. 


What else do we know about the phone?

As for what else we’ve heard about the Google Pixel Fold, a supposedly dimensionally-accurate blank reference model of the phone recently emerged, giving us an idea about its functionality and hardware layout. 

For one thing, this Google Pixel Fold model looks to have a shorter, wider screen than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, offering a 5.79-inch cover display – which could be easier to use with one hand – and a widescreen, landscape-style 7.67-inch main foldable display.

A Pixel Fold blank model

A blank reference model of the Google Pixel Fold (Image credit: Dave2D)

At just 5.7mm at the thinnest point, the phone in question also looks super slim – which somewhat contradicts what we’re hearing about the Google Pixel Fold’s supposedly significant weight. 

Perhaps, though, these extra grams will come from the device's rear camera array. On the model, spaces have been reserved for three main lenses, while a punch-hole camera is expected to be included on the phone’s cover screen. 

We’re keeping tabs on all the latest leaks surrounding the Google Pixel Fold – which may end up being called the Pixel Notepad – in a dedicated hub, so check back regularly to stay in the loop about what could turn out to be one of the best foldables of 2023.  

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