Google is expanding its Flood Hub to over 60 new countries

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Google is expanding its Flood Hub to over 60 new countries
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In this day and age, where extreme climate events, including floods and wildfires, have become a common phenomenon, timely alerts can be the difference between life and death. Therefore, to help solve this issue, Google introduced Flood Hub last year, a tool designed to provide advance warnings to individuals in vulnerable areas. Now, Google has taken another step towards helping people in times of crisis by announcing the expansion of Flood Hub to over 60 new countries.

Why is predicting floods important?

While cities in first-world countries may already have measures in place for predicting floods, a UN report states that nearly half of our planet lacks adequate early warning systems for disasters like floods. Therefore, with the rise of climate change and the increasing prevalence of threats like floods, it is now more important than ever to predict these events accurately. And this is where Google came into the picture. With its vast amount of data and resources, the company was able to predict floods up to a week in advance, thus offering significantly more time for people to prepare when compared to previous methods.

The functioning of Flood Hub revolves around the utilization of publicly available data sources, such as weather forecasts and satellite imagery. While Google previously used water level gauges to predict floods, the required data was often unavailable in underdeveloped countries.

Therefore, Google switched techniques and combined two essential models: the Hydrologic Model, which forecasts the volume of water flowing in rivers, and the Inundation Model, which predicts the areas that will be affected and estimates the water depth.

Google Incorporating Flood Hub in Search

In an effort to make it easier for people to access vital information, the company is also working on making Flood Hub information available on Search and Maps. However, it’s important to note that Google’s Flood Hub currently focuses on tracking riverine floods and does not include flash floods or coastal events.

The recent expansion of Flood Hub to over 60 additional countries across Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and South and Central America represents a significant stride in leveraging AI to tackle climate-related challenges. In addition to floods, Google is also using its vast resources to track wildfires in countries like Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Australia.


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Netflix makes it easier to find movies & shows saved in My List

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Netflix makes it easier to find movies & shows saved in My List
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Shortly after bumping up the resolution cap for the ad-supported plan, Netflix is further improving the user experience with new filters for the My List feature. These filters let you quickly find your saved movies and shows on the app. The update is already rolling out to Android users, with the iOS app following in the coming weeks.

My List on Netflix is a dedicated section for bookmarked shows and movies. You can add any title that you’re interested in watching or are already watching to your list for easier access later. However, if you have added too many titles, it may defeat the whole purpose of the feature as you’d need to spend more time looking through the list to find the one you are looking for.

Netflix is fixing this problem with filters. The My List section now has various chips at the top that let you quickly filter or sort the saved titles in one of many ways. You can filter titles by movies, TV shows, “Haven’t Started” watching, “Started” watching, and more. You can also sort titles in alphabetical order, by release date, or when they were added to the list. The larger your “My List” collection is, the more useful these filters are.

This isn’t the only notable change coming to Netflix’s My List feature, though. The streaming giant now also lets you remove titles from the list much quicker. You can swipe directly on the title cards to remove them (via). Earlier, you needed to tap on the title card to go to its details page and unselect the My List checkmark icon to remove it from the list. This change further improves the user experience.

Netflix My List filters

Netflix is adding a “Coming Soon” row to its TV app

The aforementioned changes to My List are currently only planned for Netflix’s mobile apps. Meanwhile, the TV version of the streaming platform is adding a “Coming Soon” row to the homescreen. As you’d expect, this row will let you see which films and shows are arriving on Netflix in the coming months. You can sign up to get a reminder when a movie or show is available. Note that the “New & Popular” tab already lets you discover upcoming titles on Netflix.

The “Coming Soon” row on the homescreen of Netflix’s TV app will be available to users globally over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the updated My List section is now rolling out to Android users. You can click the button below to download the latest version of the Netflix app from the Google Play Store.

DOWNLOAD NETFLIX


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iPhone 16 rear cameras will revert back to iPhone 12 layout

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iPhone 16 rear cameras will revert back to iPhone 12 layout
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Apple is seemingly planning to change things up with the iPhone 16 rear cameras. According to a new report, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will revert back to iPhone 12 rear camera layout.

The iPhone 16 rear cameras will utilize the iPhone 12 layout

What does that mean? Well, ever since iPhone 13, the vanilla iPhones had rear cameras that were mounted diagonally. So, both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 vanilla models utilized the same design for their two rear cameras.

Well, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will revert back to a vertical design. That is, at least, based on the information shared by @URedditor, a tipster. You can check out the image below to see what we mean, that’s an image of the iPhone 12, by the way.

iPhone 12 image 1003

Apple needs to rearrange some components on the inside, but there’s another reason for this

Why is Apple doing this? Well, it’ll do it because it needs to rearrange some components inside the phone. So it needs to move around the cameras inside the phone, and thus a new layout. On top of that, it’ll be easy to set apart from the iPhone 13 and 14. Or as the tipster said, it will make “the device instantly recognizable as the latest model”.

Just to be perfectly clear, we are talking about the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus here, not the iPhone 15 series. These two devices will launch next year, alongside the iPhone 16 Pro models.

As far as the iPhone 15 series is concerned, all models will utilize a Type-C port at the bottom. That goes for both non-Pro and Pro models. That’s also the very first time that iPhones utilize a Type-C port. The EU forced Apple’s hand on this.

All models will also feature a Dynamic Island on the front. That will be a first for vanilla iPhone models. Up until now, that feature was reserved for the ‘Pro’ variants only. It was around since last year, actually.

The upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will also feature thinner bezels than their predecessors. They’re actually expected to offer the thinnest bezels in the business.


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New Xiaomi 13 Ultra update improves gaming & fixes bugs

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New Xiaomi 13 Ultra update improves gaming & fixes bugs
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A new update has started rolling out to Xiaomi’s latest flagship. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is getting the MIUI 14.0.13.0.TMACNXM update, which not only improves the gaming experience, but also squashes some bugs.

New Xiaomi 13 Ultra update improves gaming and more

This update is coming to the Chinese variant of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, as the global model didn’t launch yet. Installing Google Play Services on the phone is not a problem, though, and the device keeps functioning great after that. That’s why some people decided to import it. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra has proven to be a great camera smartphone.

In any case, this update fixes the frame rate issue in games. Thus providing you with an even smoother gaming experience overall. The company also fixed a faulty high-temperature warning when the phone isn’t warm, and the abnormal CPU power consumption in some cases.

On top of all that, the phone is getting the latest security update, an Android security update for May 2023. This is not exactly a huge update, but these are some useful fixes that Xiaomi rolled out.

We did not notice many issues while using the device, but it’s nice to see Xiaomi is trying to polish out the experience. There’s always something that can be improved.

It is one of two flagship smartphones Xiaomi announced this year

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is one of two flagships Xiaomi announced this year. The other phone is the Xiaomi 13 Pro, which did launch globally already. Both are fantastic camera smartphones and devices overall, but the ‘Ultra’ has the upper hand.

It comes with an even more powerful camera setup, and that is noticeable in the final results. The difference is not huge, though, we’ve actually enjoyed using both phones, and were more than happy with the results from both.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 fuels this phone, while Xiaomi included plenty of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. A large 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is also included. The same goes for 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, and so on.


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Max will offer 8x larger library of 4K UHD content at launch

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Max will offer 8x larger library of 4K UHD content at launch
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HBO Max officially converts to Max today. Warner Bros. Discovery has long said that it has built the new streaming service from the ground up to offer a better experience to users. It brings new features, enhanced functionality, and a bigger collection of movies, TV shows, and other content. Reports are that Max will feature more than double the hours of programming offered by HBO Max. And a lot of that will be available in 4K UHD. According to the company, its new streaming platform will offer eight times more films and episodes in 4K UHD than HBO Max.

Warner Bros. Discovery is offering three subscription tiers for Max. The entry-level Ad-Lite costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year and gives you two concurrent streams, 1080p maximum resolution, and 5.1 surround sound quality. It lacks download support for offline viewing. The $15.99/month or $149.99/year Ad-Free tier adds support for 30 offline downloads. Finally, we have the Ultimate Ad-Free tier ($19.99/month or $199.99/year) that offers four concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, 100 offline downloads, Dolby Atmos sound quality, Dolby Vision, and HDR10.

If you pick up the Ultimate Ad-Free tier of Max, you get access to a wide range of 4K UHD content. As said earlier, it will offer eight times more content in ultra-high resolution than the platform it’s replacing. The list includes some popular titles such as Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Dark Knight trilogy, and The Matrix. “Max will offer more than 1,000 films and episodes in 4K at launch, and we’ll be adding more every month as we move forward,” said Sudheer Sirivara of Warner Bros. Discovery. You can find the full list of 4K content available on Max here.

Existing HBO Max subscribers will get access to Max for at least six months

With Max adding more content and new features, many existing HBO Max subscribers are wondering what will happen to their subscriptions. Warner Bros. Discovery assures that they will have access to their current plan features for at least six months starting today. Everything from their profiles and settings to watch history, “Continue Watching”, and “My List” items will carry over to Max. Their apps may also be automatically updated, though there’s always the option of manual update.

At launch, Max will only be available in the US. But Warner Bros. Discovery plans to expand the availability to all markets where HBO MAx is already available over time. It will begin with Latin America later in 2023. Select countries in Europe and Asia will get HBO Max in 2024. Head over to our Max explainer for more details about the newest entrant to the streaming scene.


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Reducing fraud and friction in consumer experience

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Reducing fraud and friction in consumer experience
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Identity and credit checks during onboarding processes are causing customers to abandon their shopping carts. As regulatory oversight aimed at stopping financial fraud increases, the controls put in place for customer protection can cause friction in the onboarding process, preventing the simple, fast and convenient experience customers want.

To overcome this challenge, B2C companies and online retailers must rethink their customer journeys. The cyber security protections put in place must yield fast, accurate, low-friction and invisible identity and credit checks.  

Reducing fraud and friction in consumer experiences explores the challenges, solutions and next steps retailers can take to provide frictionless, invisible fraud detection.

Download this whitepaper to learn:

  • The most common forms of consumer fraud and how to prevent them
  • How to protect customers without impacting the customer onboarding experience
  • The industry best practices for consumer payment safety 

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OnePlus trademarks 3 interesting names for its products

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OnePlus trademarks 3 interesting names for its products
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OnePlus has trademarked 3 interesting names for its upcoming products. As per usual, this doesn’t mean OnePlus will necessarily use all of them, or any of them, but there’s a possibility for it.

OnePlus has secured 3 new and interesting names for its products

What are those names? Well, OnePlus trademarked the OnePlus Edge, OnePlus Wing, and OnePlus Prime names. These could be used for various different products, so your guess is as good as ours.

OnePlus three new names trademark

LG used the ‘Wing’ name for its odd, swiveling smartphone, for example. OnePlus’ device will likely be considerably different. We’re finally starting to see exciting smartphones again, as foldables are slowly, but surely raising in numbers, and rollables are right around the corner.

OnePlus is actually expected to announce its first foldable smartphone in Q3 this year. Basically everyone has been referring to it as either the OnePlus Fold or OnePlus V Fold (that’s another name OnePlus trademarked). But… who knows, OnePlus could use one of these three names instead.

OnePlus’ first foldable is coming in Q3 this year

The company is expected to announce a book-style foldable as its first foldable smartphone. It remains to be seen if a clamshell foldable is also coming. Not much is known about the device, but it could resemble the OPPO Find N3.

Several sources claimed that the design will be basically the same. The OPPO Find N and N2 were quite compact when folded, and then unfolded into a horizontal orientation on the main display. It is a unique approach, one that Google got inspired with for the Pixel Fold.

The Find N3 will, allegedly, be considerably larger, so it remains to be seen what’s coming. Chances are that OnePlus’ foldable will resemble the Find N3 quite a bit. The device is rumored to have an 8-inch display when unfolded, not a 7.1-inch one like the Find N and N2. So, that’s quite a difference.


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How many billions can Meta’s Facebook pay the EU? And does it even matter?

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How many billions can Meta’s Facebook pay the EU? And does it even matter?
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You know what’s a big number? A billion dollars! I don’t know about you, but I can’t even imagine such a huge sum. If I had it, I’d definitely use it to get myself one of the best phones on the planet — like the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

But you know what’s even bigger? Facebook’s net worth. According to EarthWeb, the Meta-owned social platform is worth quite a pretty penny. And a huge one at that, over $911 billion. That’s like over a billion Galaxy S23 Ultras!

But the EU has fined Meta again! Naturally, this is for wrongful handling of user data, because at this point, it’s almost always that. And this time around, the fine is bigger than ever before! And it totals up at… 1,3 billion.

Do you see what I mean?

So, why does Meta have to pay this astounding insignificant amount of billions to the EU? To cut things short: the EU requires all handling of EU resident data to be handled within the EU. man, those are many EUs So after an investigation, Facebook was found to be exporting user data outside of the region. Hence: violation = fine.

The investigation will go on, and the EU’s suits will work together with Facebook’s in order to find out if any user data has actually been leaked or endangered. Which, in turn, might lead to another fine.

Did Facebook do this intentionally? Of course not. Even though it is a financially stable company, it wouldn’t want to go around throwing cash at random institutions. The reason behind this mishap is that laws in the US aren’t as strict regarding handling of user data, so it seems like this kind of, sort of just happened.

But given that this is just the latest in a series of fines for Facebook, by the EU and regarding user data, does it even matter? And given the company’s net worth, is it just a formality at this point? Food for thought.


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FBI Misuse of Surveillance Tool on Jan. 6 Protesters

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FBI Misuse of Surveillance Tool on Jan. 6 Protesters
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Declassified documents reveal that the FBI improperly utilized a contentious surveillance method, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), to probe into Jan. 6 protesters and Black Lives Matter advocates.

This tool, which is Section 702 of FISA, authorizes the FBI to gather foreign intelligence data from non-U.S. citizens without the requirement of a warrant. However, the Bureau is prohibited from utilizing this tool for investigating U.S. residents or permanent citizens.

The released documents disclose the FBI misuse of surveillance tool executed over 278,000 unwarranted examinations of Section 702 data between 2020 and early 2021. Shockingly, over 300,000 of these searches were found to be inappropriate.

The unsuitable searches involved scrutinizing personal communications of American citizens who participated in the Capitol attack on Jan. 6 and the 2020 protests against police brutality.

Despite confirming that the issues resulting in the misuse of Section 702 data have been resolved, the FBI’s use of surveillance powers has raised eyebrows.

In response, some legislators have advocated for the FBI to be more open about its usage of Section 702 data, while others demand legal reforms to tighten the regulations and prevent misuse of the tool by the Bureau.

The exploitation of Section 702 data is a grave issue that brings into question the FBI’s capability to safeguard the privacy of American citizens while simultaneously investigating potential national security threats.

The FBI has an obligation to responsibly employ its surveillance powers. The misuse of Section 702 data serves as a reminder that the Bureau must be held accountable for its deeds.

Introduced in 1978, Section 702 of FISA empowers the FBI to collect foreign intelligence information from non-U.S. citizens without a warrant, which includes communications like emails, phone calls, and text messages.

The FBI is mandated to acquire a warrant before utilizing Section 702 data to probe into a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. However, if the Bureau has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is an agent of a foreign power, it can use Section 702 data for investigation.

The declassified documents indicate that the FBI exploited Section 702 data in various ways. For instance, the Bureau utilized Section 702 data to probe into Americans not suspected of any criminal activities, collect data about Americans’ political engagements, and gather information regarding Americans’ communications with foreign nationals.

This improper use of Section 702 data by the FBI constitutes a severe infringement of Americans’ privacy rights and is a clear violation of the law. The Bureau must be held responsible for its deeds.

Several measures can be taken to safeguard privacy against FBI’s actions. These encompass:

  • Employing robust passwords and security protocols to shield your online accounts.
  • Being cautious about the information you divulge online.
  • Understanding the FBI’s surveillance powers and how they could potentially be used against you.

The FBI’s exploitation of Section 702 data is a stark reminder that the government’s watchful eyes are omnipresent, highlighting the importance of taking steps to safeguard your privacy.


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release date, specs, price & more – updated May 22, 2023

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release date, specs, price & more – updated May 22, 2023
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 has been quite a successful phone for the company. Well, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is coming this year, and it will seemingly offer quite a few improvements, mainly in the design department. Samsung has been trailing behind some other companies in that area, mainly when it comes to the folding flat and the hinge parts. The company is looking to improve all that with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Needless to say, the phone will also be immensely powerful. If Samsung manages to nail the price tag, this could be yet another successful foldable product for the company. Samsung will have to do better and better moving forward, though, as more and more companies are bringing their foldable offerings to global markets.

This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on May 22, 2023.

When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 be released?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will launch in either July or August. Its predecessor arrived in August, but Samsung is allegedly thinking of launching the device early. Based on the latest leaked info, the launch event will take place on July 26, in Seoul. That will be a global press event. Samsung didn’t make it official yet however. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5, of course.

What models are coming?

Samsung is planning to announce a single Galaxy Z Fold 5 model. Well, unless you consider different RAM and storage combos as different models, in that case, we’ll certainly get more than one. The company is not expected to release different models in any way, shape or form. All Galaxy Z Fold 5 models will have the same design, and be fueled by the same processor. Samsung is not expected to use its Exynos chip, only Qualcomm’s offering. More on that later on. The only differences will be visible in the RAM and storage counts, that’s it. 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants (UFS 4.0) are rumored, all of them sporting 12GB of RAM (LPDDR5X RAM).

How much will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cost?

There are no specific rumors regarding the Galaxy Z Fold 5 price at this point. The phone will likely have a similar price to its predecessor, though. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 launched with a price tag of $1,799 (starting price) in the US, and the Fold 5 will likely have a similar price. Samsung may even go a bit below that level, but we’re not expecting price hikes this time around. It remains to be seen, though, some info will hopefully surface in the near future.

What will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 look like?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will have a similar footprint as its predecessor, but some major changes will be included this time around. We’re mainly talking about a different hinge. That hinge will not only allow the phone to fold flat, but it’ll also enable it to have a less pronounced crease. Not a single Galaxy Z Fold device thus far was able to fold flat, unlike many of its competitors. Its crease was also a major issue, as it was one of the most pronounced in the market.

Samsung will hopefully change that this time around, based on rumors, while retaining some form of water resistance. We’re not sure what level of water resistance will be on offer, though. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 offers an IPX8 rating, and it would be nice to see it in the Fold 5 as well. That may not be possible, though. Some rumors indicated that an IP68 rating will be on offer, but those are most certainly wrong. Chances are it will be an IPX8 rating, as the Huawei Mate X3 offers the same level of water resistance.

It’s expected to be thinner & lighter than the Fold 4

On top of all that, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to be both thinner and lighter than its predecessor. A rumor said that it will be 0.2mm thinner when unfolded, and noticeably thinner when folded. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 measures 14.2-15.8mm when folded, and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to fly at 13.xmm. We still don’t have a specific number. Its weight will also drop from 263 grams to 254 grams, if a recent rumor is accurate. In fact, it could do way down to 250 grams, if Samsung’s plans come to fruition.

The phone will retain a display camera on its outer display, it would seem. We’re not sure about the internal display, but Samsung may push forward its under-display camera once again. The display sizes will be very similar, if not identical. Samsung is expected to utilize glass + metal build once again.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be available in Beige, Black, and Light Blue colors. Samsung will, of course, have special names for those color variants. We still don’t have info on those. The phone’s CAD-based renders did surfaced, in case you’d like to take a closer look. Check out the gallery below.

What specs will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 have?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. That is the most powerful processor Qualcomm has to offer at the moment. The phone will use that processor on a global scale. The display sizes will likely be identical to the ones its predecessor offered. In other words, we’re expecting a 7.6-inch main display, and a 6.2-inch cover panel. The display aspect ratios may be different, but we’re not sure just yet. Both displays are set to offer a 120Hz refresh rate, though the main one will be sharper. The cover display is expected to offer a fullHD+ resolution.

The phone will likely offer 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and come in several storage options. At the moment, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage variants are rumored. We’re looking at UFS 4.0 flash storage, here, by the way. Storage expansion will not be offered, and the phone will not come with an S Pen silo. It will, however, support an S Pen, of course. The battery is still a mystery, but it’ll most likely be in the 4,400mAh-4,600mAh range. That battery will also be easier to replace than before, thanks to pull tabs. 25W wired charging will be supported, along with 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Do note that a charger will not be included, however.

It probably won’t offer major camera improvements

What about its cameras? Well, Samsung may not upgrade the Galaxy Z Fold 5 camera setup. The device is tipped to retain a 50-megapixel main camera, instead of moving to a 108-megapixel or a 200-megapixel camera. It’s also tipped to include a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto unit. Still, we may see some changes (including new camera sensors), and besides, the Galaxy S23 and S23+ offer excellent performance with their 50-megapixel units. Samsung is rumored to deliver a thinner and lighter foldable this time around. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumored to measure 6.1mm when unfolded, and 13.4mm when folded. It’s also tipped to weigh 254 grams. When unfolded, the phone will measure 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1mm, and when folded, it will measure 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4mm.

Should you wait to buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5?

So, should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 5, or opt for its predecessor? Or, perhaps, for some other foldable? Well, there are so many options out there that we cannot really answer that question for you. If you are, however, trying to make up your mind between the Fold 4 and the Fold 5, well, waiting may be a better option. From the design standpoint alone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will bring a couple of major benefits. The fact it will be able to fold flat, and offer a less pronounced crease, are two very notable factors. If Samsung manages to retain the same or similar price tag, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will definitely be a notably more tempting option. Still, if the price is the issue, and you can get the Fold 4 for really cheap at the moment, well, it may be worth considering, it’s a great device.


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