Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra

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The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is one of the best camera smartphones in the market at the moment. Xiaomi did a fantastic job with this phone. If you’re wondering how it compares to its predecessor, well, that’s exactly what we’re here to talk about. In this article, we’ll compare the Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is still a very compelling phone, so let’s see what’s what.

These two phones do look somewhat similar, but they have a very different in-hand feel. Xiaomi did change up the design a bit, though if you’ve used the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, you’ll be right at home with the new model. We’ll first list their specifications, and will then move to compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. Before we start, do note that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is limited to the Chinese market, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is not. Having said that, let’s get into it.

Specs

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra, respectively

– Screen size:
6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display (curved, adaptive 120Hz, 3,000 nits max brightness)
6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display (curved, adaptive 120Hz, 2,600 nits max brightness)
– Display resolution:
3200 x 1440
3200 x 1440
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
– RAM:
16GB (LPDDR5X)
12GB/16GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
1TB (UFS 4.0)
256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (wide, f/1.6-f/4.0 variable aperture, OIS, multi-directional PDAF, 1.6um pixel size), 50MP (ultrawide, f/1.8 aperture, 122-degree FoV, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF), 50MP (telephoto, f/1.8 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom), 50MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.5 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom)
50MP (wide, f/1.9 or f/4.0 variable aperture, 1.6um pixel size, multi-directional PDAF, OIS), 50MP (ultrawide, f/1.8 aperture, 122-degree FoV, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF ), 50MP (telephoto, f/1.8 aperture, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom, OIS, dual pixel PDAF), 50MP (periscope telephoto, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
32MP (wide, f/2.0 aperture, 0.7um pixel size)
32MP (wide, f/2.0 aperture, 0.7um pixel size)
– Battery:
5,000mAh
5,000mAh
– Charging:
90W wired, 80W wireless,, 10W reverse wireless (charger included)
90W wired, 50W wireless, 10 reverse wireless (charger included)
– Dimensions:
161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2mm
163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1mm
– Weight:
219.8 grams
227 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.4/5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
In-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 14 with HyperOS
Android 13 with MIUI (upgradable)
– Price:
€1,499
China only
– Buy:
Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Amazon)
Xiaomi 13 Ultra (China only)

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Design

Design-wise, they do look very similar, but they feel different in the hand. Both phones have curved displays with a centered display camera hole. They both also offer thin bezels, and their buttons are pretty much in the same spot. You’ll find them on the right-hand side. Both phones are made out of metal (aluminum) and vegan leather, though there is also a Xiaomi 14 Ultra titanium model in China, and a glass back variant too. Globally you’ll find only the metal + vegan leather variant of the phone.

Looking at the back sides of these two phones, they do look almost identical at first. There is one glaring difference, though. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s backplate is flat, and it curves a bit towards the sides. The one on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra raises in thickness gradually towards the camera island. The weight distribution is different, and so is the in-hand feel. We definitely prefer the feel of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Xiaomi’s new flagship is slightly shorter, slightly wider, and they’re about the same thickness. Comparing the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s vegan leather model, the only one available globally, that phone is a bit lighter than the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Both smartphones do come with an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. They’re both quite robust and feel like premium devices.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Display

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a 6.73-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. That panel is slightly curved, and it has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This panel also supports Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ content too. Its brightness goes up to 3,000 nits at its peak. The display aspect ratio is 20:9, and the display is protected by the Xiaomi Shield Glass. THe screen-to-body ratio is around 89%.

AH Xiaomi 13 Ultra image 131
Xiaomi 13 Ultra

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 6.73-inch display too. It’s actually very similar to the one on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra spec-wise, but it offers higher brightness. It is a QHD+ (3200 x 1440) display, and it’s curved. It supports HDR10+ content and has Dolby Vision support. The display brightness goes up to 2,600 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is around 89%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The Gorilla Glass Victus protects this panel.

Both of these displays are outstanding. They’re not only very vivid and bright, but they have great viewing angles. The touch response is also spot on, and they both offer good protection. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s panel does technically get brighter, but that’s not something you’ll notice. Both get immensely bright and will get bright enough in pretty much any situation you find yourself in.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 fuels the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. That is Qualcomm’s most powerful chip at the moment. You’re also getting 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, in the global model, and the same goes for UFS 4.0 flash storage. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 fuels the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. That is still an immensely powerful processor. That phone also comes with LPDDR5X RAM, up to 16GB of it, and UFS 4.0 flash storage.

In all honesty, we did not notice much difference in the general performance between the two phones. They’re about as equally fast in day-to-day usage. They both do a great job of launching apps, multitasking, consuming multimedia, browsing, and anything else you can think of. The same is true for gaming if we’re being honest. They both handled games with ease, even the most demanding ones.

Genshin Impact was not a problem for either device. Both of them ran it perfectly fine, and after about an hour of gameplay, neither phone experienced slowdowns or anything like that. They did get really warm, but that is to be expected when it comes to such a demanding game. Either way, both phones passed the performance test with flying colors. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra does a fantastic job keeping up.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Battery

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery, in a global variant. The Chinese model comes with a 5,300mAh battery pack. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra, on the other hand, includes a 5,000mAh battery on the inside. So, the two phones have the same battery capacity, is the battery life comparable? Well, yes, actually. Both smartphones do offer great battery life, in case you were wondering.

Getting over 7 hours of screen-on-time was doable on both smartphones and if we were at all careful, we were even able to reach the 8-hour screen-on-time mark. Do note that we did have a great signal and were connected to WiFi on such days, plus games were not included in the equation. The point is, they do offer great battery life, even though your mileage may vary. That’s always the case when battery life is concerned, however.

When it comes to charging, both of them support 90W wired charging. You can get them fully charged in a little bit over half an hour, presuming you’re using the included charger. 80W wireless charging is supported on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra supports 50W wireless charging. Both smartphones also offer support for 10W reverse wireless charging. They also both ship with 90W charging bricks.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Cameras

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a 50-megapixel main camera with variable aperture, a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit (122-degree FoV), a 50-megapixel telephoto camera (3.2x optical zoom), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Xiaomi 13 Ultra includes a 50-megapixel main camera with variable aperture, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (122-degree FoV), a 50-megapixel telephoto camera (3.2x optical zoom), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (5x optical zoom).

Xiaomi 14 Ultra AM AH 08
Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Now, these camera setups may look very similar, but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a better main camera, and the same goes for the periscope telephoto unit. The main camera on the phone supports a multi-stop variable aperture, while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has a two-stop variable aperture. The one on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra also has a wider reach. That does make a difference when it comes to photography, as does the new Sony LYT-900 camera sensor that Xiaomi used here.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra did a great job from the photography standpoint, it really did, but it cannot measure up to its younger brother. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is easily one of the best camera smartphones out there, if not the best. It does a better job of balancing images in general, and it’s more reliable. It also shoots better photos in low light, especially when there are plenty of light sources included. HDR performance is outstanding, and the amount of detail it can portray is also on an extremely high level. Its secondary cameras do a great job of keeping the color science of the main shooter, the same goes for the Xiaomi 13 Ultra shooters, actually. Both are very good, but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is in a league of its own.

Audio

You will find a set of stereo speakers on both smartphones. The output you’ll get is very similar, even though the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s output is a bit louder. That’s not something many of you will notice, however. The speakers are good, the output is well-balanced, and you will even notice some bass here.

Neither phone has an audio jack, but you can utilize their Type-C ports to connect your headphones via a wire. If not, Bluetooth 5.4 is available on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, while Bluetooth 5.3 is included on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.


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TSMC will raise chip prices that are made outside of Taiwan

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A recent report from the Financial Times claims that the World’s largest chip maker, TSMC, may raise the prices of its products that are manufactured outside Taiwan, its home country. For those unfamiliar, over 90 percent of the world’s most advanced chips are fabricated in the country.

TSMC CEO CC Wei said on an earnings call (transcript) that if a customer is required to be in a certain geographical area, the customer will need to share the incremental cost. “In today’s fragmented globalization environment, cost will be higher for everyone, including TSMC, our customers, and our competitors,” he added.

TSMC CEO informs an upcoming rise in chip prices

Notably, most of the semiconductor manufacturers like Apple, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and AMD fabricate their chips from TSMC. The Chinese giant Huawei also used to fabricate their chips from TSMC before the export restrictions from the US came into place. Only a few companies, like Samsung and Intel, produce their chips in-house. It includes Samsung, Intel, and only a few others. A rise in prices from TSMC is likely to reflect on a range of products. Specifically, if device manufacturers decide to maintain their profit margin.

Now if TSMC manufactures most of the chips in their home country, then why is it even a problem in the first place? Well, under the current geopolitical situation, governments and companies are pushing the chipmaker to build their plants and start fabricating chips outside Taiwan.

The US government offered TSMC $6.6 billion in funding last week under the CHIPS ACT to work on their factories in Arizona. In response, TSMC committed to increasing its US investment by an additional $25 billion, bringing the total to $65 billion. However, the new production facilities might not function as efficiently as their existing plants. TSMC is also investing quite a lot to build plants outside Taiwan.

It’s important to mention, that TSMC has plants in Japan. They are also building a number of plants in Arizona, one of them has already started operating this month. This plant may start full production by the end of this year. So in the near future, TSMC may start mass-producing chips outside Taiwan. Which it says, will raise the prices of the products.

TSMC’s chipmaking cost in Taiwan may also increase

If all of these weren’t enough, TSMC’s chip manufacturing costs in Taiwan may also increase. Thanks to the recent electricity price hikes in Taiwan and the disruptions due to the recent earthquake. According to a recent report, TSMC estimates losses of $92.4 million due to the biggest earthquake in at least 25 years.


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Meta launches new version of Meta AI assistant across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger

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Meta has unveiled the latest version of its AI assistant, powered by the called Llama 3 model. This comes as Meta ramps up competition with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, another large language model chatbot, thus positioning Meta as a major player in the race to develop advanced AI assistants for consumers.

The company is also integrating its AI assistant into its core social media platforms likw Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This is something you may have already noticed in one of these apps’ search fields, with the sudden appearance of the Meta AI icon. Additionally, a standalone website (meta.ai) has been launched to allow users to interact with the AI assistant directly.

According to Meta, Llama 3 is said to outperform competing models on various benchmarks. Considering this, this update represents a significant step forward for Meta’s AI capabilities. The company has been steadily making progress in the field of artificial intelligence, and the release of Llama 3 and the integrated AI assistant mark a notable milestone.

Meta’s AI assistant is designed to answer users’ questions in a comprehensive and informative way, similar to ChatGPT. It can also be instructed to complete different creative tasks, like writing different kinds of creative content.


Beyond the social media integration, Meta’s AI assistant is now available through a dedicated website, allowing users to interact with it directly without needing to log in to any of their social media accounts. This broader accessibility could potentially introduce Meta’s AI technology to a wider audience. The release of Llama 3 also reflects advancements in Meta’s open-source AI models. Llama 3 is the latest version of the company’s foundational open-source model, which means that the underlying code is available for public scrutiny and development. This mode of operation fosters collaboration within the AI research community and can lead to faster innovation.

One thing is that’s for sure is that competition in the AI assistant market is heating up. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has garnered significant attention for its capabilities, and other tech giants like Google are also pouring resources into developing their own AI assistants. The latter even going as far as restructuring key parts of the company’s operations in order to focus more on AI. It will be very interesting to see how Meta’s entry into the field with Llama 3 and the integrated AI assistant will affect other companies’ next steps.


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What is the Find My Device network?

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It’s always an extremely scary moment when you can’t find your phone or other device. You never know if it’s simply lost or if it’s been stolen. Well, if you’re an Android User, you can rest assured. Google unveiled its Find My Device network, and this is a useful tool to help you locate your device should you lose it. But, what is the Find My Device network?

That’s what this piece is going to explain. We’re going to go over what this network is, how to use it, and other things you should know about it. Also, the Android Find My Device network is something that will be updated and improved over time. As such, this article will be updated accordingly. So, if you have any new questions about new features coming to this network, feel free to check back and see what new information has been added.

What is the Find My Device network?

The Find My Device network is a fully integrated web comprising millions of Bluetooth-enabled Android devices all communicating with one another seamlessly. Supportive devices will communicate with other devices nearby via Bluetooth. This is the premise that will power the entire network. So, using this network, you’ll be able to pinpoint your device’s location should you need to know where it is.

How does it work?

The Find My Device network works by using the devices around your device to pinpoint its location. Say, for example, you leave your phone on the table at a coffee shop. Well, unbeknownst to you and other people, your phone is actually communicating with surrounding Android devices via Bluetooth. So, if the other people sitting at the table have Android devices, your phone is basically talking back and forth with those devices.

Since these devices are communicating with your phone, they have an idea of your phone’s location. Now, if you open the Find My Device app, and try to locate your phone, Google will use the location data provided by the surrounding devices in order to pinpoint your device’s exact location.

Doesn’t Find My Device network already exist?

Well, yes and no. Yes, the platform existed before. This is a platform that you can use to pinpoint the location of your Android devices. You’ve been able to use the Android app or the website to locate your device.

However, this wasn’t truly a network. Google could only get the location of your device if it was connected to the internet. If your device wasn’t connected to the internet, then Google would have to use the last location recorded before it went offline.

The Find My Device network is different in that you will still be able to locate your device even if it’s not connected to the internet. If your phone is not connected to the internet, it will still be able to communicate with surrounding devices using Bluetooth. So, this is great news for people whose phones were not connected to the internet when they were lost. This eliminates the guessing game.

Also, since this uses Bluetooth technology, you will also be able to find the location of different types of devices. This includes smartwatches and headphones. At the time of writing this article, several companies are working on bringing their own tracker tags as well. These are AirTag-like devices that will also show up on the Find My Device network. You’ll be able to put these tags inside purses or items that you want to be able to keep track of.

So, the Find My Device network is an all-encompassing web of interconnected devices.

What devices are not included in the network?

At the time of writing this article, the Find My Device network is available in a limited number of markets. It’s currently available in the US and Canadian markets. Obviously, the company is going to spread this to more regions as time goes on. However, if you are not within the aforementioned regions, then you are playing the waiting game.

Also, we’re certain that Google is going to involve a wide range of Android devices. However, if you’re rocking a very old smartphone, then you shouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t work for you. So, if you’re using a device that is currently unsupported, then you may have to upgrade to a newer device if you want to be able to use the network.

Another thing to take into account is wearable devices. As stated before, it is possible to use headphones and smartwatches with the Find My Device network. However, your results may vary. It’s up to the manufacturer of the device to make it compatible with the Find My Device network. So, there’s no guarantee that the model you own will be compatible.

How do I know if I’m in the network?

Being on the Find My Device network doesn’t involve a huge software update or anything like that. In order to use this, you’ll have to be on the latest version of the Find My Device app. Since this is still rolling out, there’s a chance that you will not be in the network just yet. If you have the app, make sure you update it.

To update the app, you can go to the Play Store and find the Find My Device app. Also, you can hold your finger down on the app icon and tap on the app info button that appears in the resulting menu. From that point, scroll down to the bottom and tap on the app details button. This process May differ depending on the Android skin you’re using.

While you’re on the Play Store page, look for the Update button at the top of the screen. If you don’t see it, then you’ll have to wait for the update to reach your phone. For reference, we have yet to receive the update for the app, and we are on version 3.1.000-4. This version came out on March 31st, 2024. So, if you’re running that version or older, you will not be part of the network.

Does it cost money?

No. Being on the network is completely free, and Google has not indicated that it will charge for the service going forward.

Can I use the network when my phone is turned off?

At this point in time, that is a complicated question. Currently, there are only two devices that can be located on the network while powered off. These two devices are the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This is because of the special hardware that Google put inside of these phones.

From the looks of it, it appears that these devices are using a very low-energy solution to send Bluetooth signals when the phone is not powered on. So, this functionality is limited to these two handsets.

However, Google is planning on working with other manufacturers and chipmakers to bring this sort of technology to more devices. At the time of writing this article, we don’t know if there are any devices currently planned to get this capability. However, this article will be updated with new information when that happens.

Does this pose a security risk?

At the time of writing this article, there doesn’t seem to be any blatant security risk using the Find My Device network. Nothing has come to the surface that people should be worried about. However, that’s not to say that there won’t be any bad actors who will use this as an exploit.

Will this use more battery power?

Ostensibly, this should use more battery power than before. However, we are certain that the battery drain is negligible, and you should not see a difference in your day-to-day life.

Is there a limit to the number of devices I can use on the Find My Device network?

As far as we know, there is no limit to how many devices you can use. All of your supported devices will appear on the list. So, you won’t have to worry about Google kicking your devices out of the network.

How do I remove devices from the network?

At this time, removing devices from the network will involve you removing your Google account from set devices. So, if you want to remove your device from the network while maintaining your Google account, you will not be able to.

How can I protect my data from potential thieves?

If you found out that you left your phone at the coffee shop, but didn’t find out until you’ve already gotten home, then the best option will be to secure your device. Securing your device will lock the device using the device’s PIN, pattern, or password. So, this will make sure that no strangers will be able to pick up your device and log into it. If your phone does not have a PIN, you will be able to set one using the app.

Also, securing your device will sign you out of your Google account. This means that, if a potential Thief is able to get past the PIN, they will not be able to access any information on your Google account. This means that they will not be able to log into any of your services using your Google account or have access to your passwords or other information. Once you get your phone back, you will simply be able to log back in and pick up where you left off.

What happens if my device gets stolen?

If your device is stolen, and there’s no chance of getting it back, then you’ll have to make the hard decision to factory reset it. Factory resetting your device normally requires you to physically have it in your hand. However, there is an option in the Find My Device network app that will allow you to factory reset it remotely.

In the app, look for the device that has been stolen and tap on it. You will see the map screen appear with the bottom panel under it. At the right corner of the bottom panel, you will see a little gear icon. This will take you to a new page. At the very bottom, you’ll see a button with red text that will give you the option to factory reset the device.

Once you factory reset your device, all of the data will be permanently erased. This includes your app data, call logs, text messages, apps, Etc. Once you do that, you will no longer be able to locate that device using the Find My Device network.

If your device is currently offline when you are trying to reset it, the reset will begin the moment it reconnects to the internet.


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You shouldn’t pay Meta to ensure your privacy, the EU says

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Meta is once again in the spotlight for issues related to privacy. More specifically, the European Union does not like the business model that the company is applying. This is because sharing your data depends on whether you pay or not, without more alternatives.

Currently, Meta and other platforms use a business model where the alternative to not giving your data is to pay a fee. Have you ever heard the phrase “If the service is free, you’re the product”? Well, that’s what it refers to. These companies use the data collected for commercial purposes. This usually translates into ads tailored to your tastes, which are determined by your use of free services.

In the case of Meta, users in EU countries can pay 10 euros per month to ensure their privacy. If you do not pay it, Meta interprets it as an authorization to collect your usage data on its services, such as Facebook and Instagram. However, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) spoke against this. According to the statement, the fact that the only alternative to not sharing usage data is to pay a fee is not the best way to do it.

The EU against Meta’s business model that charges you for privacy

The business model used by Meta is known as “consent or pay.” According to the EDPB, this model usually doesn’t “comply with the requirements for valid consent.” After all, at the end, the user only has the option to pay. Basically, the EU believes that there should be alternatives to using these services without sharing data and without being forced to pay.

Anu Talus, EDPB Chair, said that “controllers should take care at all times to avoid transforming the fundamental right to data protection into a feature that individuals have to pay to enjoy.” The statement also adds that the current model encourages users to consent to the collection of their data to access the service for free. This results in a decision where people do not really consider all the implications behind it.

At the moment, the EU is investigating “consent or pay” business models. New developments in this regard and possible new legislation will probably arise in the future. Meanwhile, the EU’s pronouncement is more of a “recommendation” to companies to make adjustments.


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Release date, specs, price, & more

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Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy Ring at some point this year and when it launches it’ll push Samsung into a segment of wearables that still feels fairly brand-new. When you think of wearables, you most likely think about fitness trackers and smartwatches. Maybe the occasional pair of true wireless earbuds or the offbeat health tracking devices you clip to things or wear around your neck. Smart rings aren’t unheard of but they are uncommon. Having become a little more familiar to people thanks to brands like Oura.

That being said, there are a few more companies that have been working to roll out their own smart rings for tracking health and fitness. And Samsung entering into this market is sure to popularize it even more. Samsung initially announced the Galaxy Ring back during CES 2024. At that time the ring was just a teaser and there was only a brief glimpse of the product on the big screen.

Fast forward to Mobile World Congress 2024 a month later, and Samsung officially revealed the Galaxy Ring to the world. Simultaneously, attendees at the convention were able to get hands-on time with it. Samsung revealed more details about it too. In this post, we’ll go over everything we know so far about Samsung’s upcoming smart ring. We’ll also be updating this post with new information as it comes out. So you can stay up to date on Samsung’s latest wearable.

This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Samsung Galaxy Ring (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 wearable.

When will the Samsung Galaxy Ring be released?

Samsung hasn’t given a definitive date for the time of release quite yet, but it has officially announced the ring. So there is some speculation that can be drawn from that. Without a firm date, it’s tough to say when exactly you can buy the Galaxy Ring. However, it’s expected to be released sometime in the second half of 2024. If this timing is accurate, then it’s very possible that we could see Samsung show it off again at its Unpacked event that happens in the second half of the year. Followed by a launch containing pre-orders and shipments heading out to buyers a couple of weeks later.

Last year Samsung held a big Unpacked event on July 26. Unpacked won’t necessarily be held at the same time this year. However, it probably won’t be far off. In 2022, Samsung held the late Summer Unpacked on August 10, which was just a couple of weeks away from last year’s event. In short, expect the event to be somewhat close to last year’s timing. This doesn’t mean we’ll get the Galaxy Ring around that time. But if Samsung is looking to launch the ring this year, the upcoming Unpacked is probably when it would do so.

What models will be available?

At the moment, we can assume Samsung is only going to be making one model of the Galaxy Ring. At this time it hasn’t given out a ton of details about the device. And what it showed off at MWC 2024 was just one model. However, it did come in multiple colors and sizes. This doesn’t mean Samsung won’t make additional models down the line. Or that it doesn’t already plan to release more than one model of the ring at some point. Being that the company has shared so little about it, there’s always the chance that it has something hiding up its sleeve.

For now though, bank on one model of the Galaxy Ring with varying sizes and colors. Don’t expect there to be different models that offer different features, though. It’s also worth noting that Samsung’s initial run of the Galaxy Ring is slated to be small. The company said back in March that it will do a smaller production run to kick things off, and plans to only make around 400,000 for the launch period. That probably means you’re going to want to place an order for one as soon as possible once these become available.

If you’re not one to be an early adopter, then you should have no trouble waiting until Samsung manufactures more, assuming it does so if the ring sells well.

How much will the Samsung Galaxy Ring cost?

At this time it’s unclear how much the Galaxy Ring will officially cost. There have been no hints from Samsung and so far there haven’t been any leaks regarding the price anywhere around the world. With that said, there are smart rings from other companies available. So we can use those as a baseline to guess what Samsung might charge. Samsung is usually pretty competitive with its pricing in the wearables market.

With that said, let’s look at some smart ring alternatives to the Galaxy Ring that you can currently buy. There’s the Oura Ring which is sort of the benchmark. It was the first smart ring on the market and it’s thought of as the premiere option. The Oura Ring starts at a base price of $299. Now Oura also offers two models – the Horizon and Heritage. They vary in style and price just a little but all the features appear to be the same. But, the baseline price is $299.

There’s also the Ultrahuman Air that’s $349, and the Motiv Ring which is $199 although the Motiv Ring is now currently out of stock. Looking at these prices, Samsung may look to place the Galax Ring somewhere in between the Motiv Ring and the Oura Ring costs. It’s a Galaxy device so it can easily pull in some more money based on the brand alone. But we would expect it to be competitive with the other options to grab the attention of the consumer.

Will it work with Android and iOS?

It will most certainly work with Android. It’s unclear if it will work with iOS though. A report from March suggests that iOS compatibility may not be in the cards for Samsung’s upcoming smart ring. The Galaxy Watch series smartwatches aren’t compatible with iOS, so this is a good indicator that the ring might not be either. For iOS users, the Oura Ring is likely a better bet. Because it will offer similar features and it does have iOS compatibility.

Android users will have no issue being able to use the ring. And if you use it in conjunction with a Galaxy Watch Samsung suggests you should have even more accurate health data insights with the two devices working together.

What will the Galaxy Ring look like?

Well, like a ring. Like any standard basic ring with a smooth surface and no extra designs or detail work. It seems boring, but the ring actually looks quite nice and very sleek. It’ll be available in three different colors and all are available in a glossy finish. Unlike the Oura Heritage ring, the Galaxy Ring will be completely round without a flat-ish top. Which you’ll see on some rings. However, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring does have a sort of concave surface all the way around which puts a nice spin on the design to differentiate it from other smart rings on the market.

What colors does the ring come in?

As noted above, Samsung will offer three colors of the Galaxy Ring. At least, there are three that are official so far. Samsung hasn’t announced any more color options beyond these three. But that doesn’t mean it won’t ever make any more colors. When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Ring prototypes at MWC 2024, it showed off the ring in black, silver, and gold. It wouldn’t be surprising if Samsung ended up making one in rose gold as it’s done with some of its past watches.

That said, there’s nothing to suggest right now that Samsung will offer the Galaxy Ring in any colors outside of the three mentioned here, which have already been confirmed.

How many sizes will Samsung offer?

Samsung will no doubt want to capture as much of the market as possible. And to do that it’ll need to offer a wide variety of size options. There are lots of different finger sizes out there. So to make sure the most amount of people possible can wear its ring, Samsung is covering a pretty wide range of sizes. The Galaxy Ring will come in sizes as small as 5 and go all the way up to 13. If you aren’t sure what your ring size is, you’ll want to measure your ring finger prior to buying one of these.

Luckily the ring isn’t expected to launch for at least a few more months. So you have some time to figure out what size you’ll need for your Galaxy Ring. Should you choose to pick one up, of course.

What features will the Galaxy Ring have?

The obvious features include things like sleep tracking. This is especially exciting since this will be more comfortable to wear to sleep than a watch or wrist-worn tracker. It’ll also be able to track steps, other exercise activities, stress, and at least a few other things.

For those wondering whether or not it’ll track blood oxygen and heart rate, yes, it will be able to do those things too. It’ll also feature sleep apnea detection using the blood oxygen sensors and you can get a ‘Vitality Score’ that’s based on data of your resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and overall sleep. The ring doesn’t feature GPS so it won’t do some things that you’d get from a smartwatch. And you may still want a smartwatch for those GPS-based features.

But for the more basic health and wellness stuff, heart rate, sleep, and step tracking chief among them, the Galaxy Ring should be capable of delivering on those. Samsung has also confirmed that the ring will integrate compatibility with Samsung Food. Using the health data collected, the ring may be able to suggest the best food to order on a menu when eating out.

What are the specs?

There’s unfortunately not a whole lot to tell here. Samsung has kept most if not all of the specs close to the chest and unsurprisingly so. The rings that were shown off at MWC 2024 were prototypes, so not finished products that would be sold to consumers. And as such, may end up having some changes by the time they reach the shelves for people to buy.

The main spec that people are probably worried about is battery life. The company hasn’t shared what the exact battery life would be, however, it did eventually give a range. It did initially tease that it would be “remarkable” and stated that larger sizes would have long battery life. Again, unsurprisingly as there will be more space in there. The company later confirmed that battery life would be somewhere between five and nine days. But it hasn’t given a definitive answer just yet. Still, five days of battery life as a baseline is pretty good since it’s more than what the Oura Ring offers. And that’s already a good sign.

Should you wait to buy the Galaxy Ring or go for something else?

Samsung’s Galaxy Ring isn’t yet available and there’s no official release date. So it might not even launch this year. If you want something now, then you do have options. That being said, the Galaxy Ring will most certainly be more dialed in when it comes to Samsung’s own health products, like the Samsung Health app. And if you’re already using that, the Galaxy Ring will surely play nicer with it than non-Samsung products.

There’s also the question of cost. Without knowing how much the ring will cost, or what its full feature set is, it’s hard to nail down if it’ll be a better fit for you than something you can buy right now. As with our Galaxy Watch 7 preview, it might be best to simply wait to buy any sort of smart ring until you can find out more about Samsung’s upcoming offering. That is if you’re interested in it.


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Slack reveals subscription price for its AI service everyone can pay

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Slack has confirmed the price of its Slack AI service. The add-on subscription is now available to everyone willing to pay for a premium tier.

Slack offers AI service to everyone for a monthly price of $10

Slack first introduced its AI service back in 2023. With Slack AI, users can get a complete summary of the conversation. In its initial days, the AI essentially summarized who said what and the topic being discussed.

Using Slack AI, users can catch up on the discussions happening in channels in a short time. In other words, the AI service allows users to completely avoid combing through pages of conversations. It bypasses all the back-and-forth discussions and offers a summary or conclusion.

Recently, Slack started offering its AI service to Enterprise users. Moving forward, the Slack AI service will be available to everyone.

Simply put, Slack AI service is available to everyone, who’s willing to pay $10 per month. Currently, the AI service supports English, Spanish, and Japanese. Slack has promised additional language support is coming soon.

Slack has separated the AI service from the basic subscription. However, this does not mean that Slack AI subscription service is available to everyone, including the free users.

Is AI worth the extra price?

The AI subscription can be unlocked by paying an additional $10, on top of Slack Pro and Business+ subscriptions. The Slack Pro subscription is available at a monthly price of $8.75 (billed monthly). The Slack Business+ subscription costs $15 per active user per month (billed monthly).

Slack has positioned its AI service as a bundle of time-saving and efficiency-boosting tools. Instead of keyword searches, users can now ask questions in a causal conversational approach. The Slack AI service promises to offer succinct answers based on relevant Slack messages. It is useful for catching up on finding specific information.

Apart from AI-generated summaries, the most anticipated feature would be Channel Recap. It claims to offer highlights of the conversation during which users were absent (away). Slack claims its AI generating these recaps is intelligent enough to distinguish between different topics discussed.

Slack AI service users will have to add a channel to their recap. Thereafter, they will receive a daily digest with anything they may have missed. Moreover, Slack AI also offers personalized channel recommendations based on users’ past Slack activity.

A similar tool, called “conversation summaries”, is available for threads, which are one-on-one or group conversations on Slack. Users can ask Slack AI to help them catch up on anything they may have missed, and generate daily summaries. The AI will also offer sources of specific entries or notes.

Besides Recap and Summaries, Slack AI should gradually get better, the workplace management platform indicated. The company stated it was working on expanding its AI’s scope to include files, Slack apps, canvases, and clips. This would allow the Slack AI service to have a much deeper as well as broader context.


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The Google Phone app may lose the bottom bar

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Google is always adding changes to its apps, and this is why it has some of the most robust first-party apps. Right now, it appears that the company is experimenting with the UIs of its apps regarding tabs and bottom bars. A new report states that Google may get rid of the bottom bar in the Google Phone app.

The Google Phone app is the main dialer app on Pixel devices, and it comes pre-installed on many Android devices across the board. It’s a simple and straightforward app, but it also comes with useful features that make using it a great experience.

The Google Phone app could lose the bottom bar

Right now, we are dealing with early information. So, you’ll want to take it cautiously. It appears that Google is only testing this. PiunikaWeb, in collaboration with AssembleDebug, was able to discover a change within the Google Phone beta version 128.0.625763929.

In it, we see that Google got rid of the bottom bar. Currently, in the Google Phone app, there’s a bar with the Favorites, Recent, and Contacts tabs at the bottom. It’s the main mode of navigating the app right now.

However, in the beta version, we see that the bottom of the screen is empty, but there’s a new hamburger-style menu at the top left of the search bar. When you tap on it, you will see a panel roll out from the left.

However, the amount of options seems a bit strange. In the screenshot, we only see the Voicemail and Contact options. The rest of the panel remains completely empty. Google is still testing this, so we’re certain the company will have more buttons before the potential final release. So, there may be more buttons in the future.

This might be a weird change

However, it seems odd that Google is doing this in the first place. We’ve seen companies move options down to the bottom of the screen in order to accommodate larger displays. Right now, phones are starting to approach the tablet screen size territory, so people want their buttons and UI elements lower on the screen.

However, this hamburger-style menu sits at the top of the screen. So, people with larger phones may not welcome this change. In any case, the company is only testing this at the moment, so there’s no guarantee that this change will come.


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Galaxy A35 5G launched in the US; here’s everything to know

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Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A35 5G and Galaxy A55 5G as cheap Galaxy S24 alternatives in Europe. Now, the South Korean tech giant has launched the Galaxy A35 5G in the US. The phone has arrived as a mid-range offering with a premium design and the latest Android software experience.

Galaxy A35 5G launched in the US with a premium design similar to Galaxy S24 series

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G features a premium design with a glass back panel, just like the Galaxy S24 series. It has the brand’s new “Key Island” design, which features a slightly elevated frame around the power button and volume rocker. The phone is IP67 certified, which makes it impervious to dust and water. The handset can survive for up to 30 minutes under one meter of water.

Galaxy A35 5G gets an AMOLED display, octa-core SoC, and triple rear cameras

Coming to the specs, the A35 5G sports a 6.6-inch AMOLED display with full-HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The handset also gets a layer of Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus+ screen protection. Under the hood, the phone sports an unspecified octa-core processor that offers a maximum clock speed of 2.4GHz. The handset offers up to 6GB of RAM and up to 256GB of native storage.

For imaging, the Galaxy A35 5G offers a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilization. The main sensor is paired with an 8MP ultrawide-angle shooter and a 5MP macro lens. On the front, there’s a 13MP camera for selfies and video calling purposes. A 5,000mAh battery with up to 25W fast charging support keeps the whole package alive.

The new Galaxy A series phone will get four years of Android updates

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G mid-ranger boots Android 14 out-of-the-box with the OneUI 6.1 on top. The phone will get four guaranteed major Android OS updates. In addition, the company will offer five years of security upgrades. Notably, the Galaxy A35 5G is one of the first Galaxy A series devices to offer Samsung Knox Vault capabilities. It is the company’s multi-layered security platform. It protects hardware and software from vulnerabilities.

Galaxy A35 5G price and promotional offers

Coming to the pricing, the Galaxy A35 5G will be available at a starting price tag of $399.99. The phone comes in Awesome Navy, Awesome Lilac, Awesome Lemon, and Awesome Ice Blue color variants. The smartphone is available on the brand’s website, Experience Stores, and via major carriers & retailers. As part of the launch offer, the brand is offering the Galaxy Buds FE with a discount of 30 percent. There’s also an old smartphone exchange offer of up to $150.


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Meta AI is now available in more places

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Right now, there are a ton of different AI platforms on the internet. However, the primary platforms are Google’s Gemini, Andthropic’s Claude, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Well, there’s another major company not wanting to sit on the sideline. Meta AI just launched everywhere across the company’s platforms, and it has its own standalone website.

Once generative AI took off, we all expected major companies to quickly adopt the technology. Well, that’s what happened, but Meta was a bit late to the game. At that point, the company was figuring out how to top adding legs to characters in Meta Horizons.

In any case, Meta is now one of the major AI companies on the web, and its AI platform has several homes.

Meta AI is now available everywhere

Today, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced some interesting news. For starters, Meta AI is now much more present across different Meta-owned services. You should expect to see the chatbot when you are using Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Facebook Messenger. You will be able to access it right from the search bars in those apps. This means that you will never be more than a few Taps away from AI technology.

Another bit of news is that Meta AI now has its own standalone website. When you visit the website, you will see your typical web-based chatbot interface. At the bottom of the screen, you will see the text box for you to input your prompts.

On the left side of the screen, you will be able to see your conversations. Also, on the left panel, you will see the option to create a new conversation and the Imagine button. This button will let you generate images.

Meta also has a new AI model

Along with this announcement, Meta also announced that it’s coming out with a new model. Dubbed the Llama 3 Model, it will push Meta AI to new heights. This model has improvements over the Llama 2 model.

Meta seems to be going the Google route and utilizing three different sizes of its models. Two of the models have been released today, and they are smaller in size. These are the models that are powering Meta AI and being distributed to developers.

However, a larger multimodal model is to come out within the next couple of months. We’re not sure what that model will be used for. In any case, we are certain that this will be the competitor to Claude 3, Gemini Ultra, and GPT-4.


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