Samsung just launched the new Galaxy S24 series of flagship smartphones, and here is our comparison of all three models, and their key specifications!
Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : 3 Different Models!
Samsung just launched the new Galaxy S24 series, and there are three models with different specifications:
Galaxy S24 Ultra, with a large 6.8-inch display, and five cameras,
Galaxy S24 Plus (S24+), which is almost as large at 6.7-inch, but with only four cameras, and
Galaxy S24, which has a 6.2-inch display, and four cameras too.
Here is a quick summary of their key features, and how they stack up against each other.
Flagship-Class Performance
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is exclusively powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in all regions of the world. It comes with a slightly overclocked prime core, but with other cores slightly underclocked.
However, that cannot be said for the two smaller Galaxy S24 models. Depending on region, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus (S24+) are either powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, or Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 mobile SoC.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is an 8-core mobile SoC, while the Exynos 2400 has 10 CPU cores. Here’s a quick comparison:
Specifications
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
for Galaxy
Exynos 2400
CPU Clusters
4
4
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X4 (3.39 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A720 (up to 3.1 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A720 (up to 2.9 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A520 (up to 2.2 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X4 (3.2 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A720 (up to 2.9 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A720 (up to 2.6 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A520 (up to 1.95 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 750
Samsung Xclipse 940
Improved Cooling
To ensure that the processor remains cool, the Galaxy S24 smartphones sport larger vapour chambers:
Galaxy S24 Ultra : 90% larger than Galaxy S23 Ultra
Galaxy S24+ : 60% larger than Galaxy S23+
Galaxy S24 : 50% larger than Galaxy S23
As a result, the Galaxy S24 series smartphones sold have better sustained performance during intense gaming sessions or AI photo or video editing,
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sports the same 200 MP Adaptive Pixel camera from last year, but introduces a new 50 MP telephoto camera, with 5X optical zoom. This camera allows for better night photography through the use of 60% larger pixels (when combined), and the wider f/3.4 aperture.
The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ models though retained the same rear cameras from last year. All three models also retain the same 12 MP front camera as well.
However, Samsung said that its deep-learning AI algorithms now allow for much better quality digital zoom. The faster processor also allows for better quality video zooming through Video Super Resolution.
Titanium Frame
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the first Samsung smartphone to feature a titanium frame, which is not only tougher, but also allows for a thinner chassis. It is also protected in the front by Corning Gorilla Armour glass, which is not only tougher against scratches, it also reduces reflection by up to 75%.
The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+, on the other hand, retains the Armour Aluminium frame, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : Specifications Comparison
Here is our comparison of the key specifications of the three Samsung Galaxy S24 models:
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
In our in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, we will share with you everything you need to know about this affordable Fan Edition tablet.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Smaller Fan Edition Tablet
Samsung is offering two Tab S9 Fan Edition models – the Tab S9 FE with a 10.9-inch display, and the Tab S9 FE+ with a 12.4-inch display.
They both run on the same Samsung Exynos 1380 mobile platform, featuring four high-speed Cortex-A78 cores, and four low-power Cortex-A55 cores, and a Mali-G68 MP5 GPU.
Surprisingly, they both come with an S Pen stylus, like their pricier brethren. Their displays also support a dynamic refresh rate of up to 90 Hz.
The unit we are looking at today is the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, which is currently the smallest and most affordable Fan Edition variant of the Galaxy Tab S9 family of Android tablets.
45 watt super fast charging
15 watt reverse fast charging
Dimensions
254.3 mm wide
165.8 mm tall
6.5 mm thick
Weight
523 grams
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Unboxing
Because this is an entry-level tablet, it comes with the bare minimum. Inside the box, you will find these items:
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE smartphone
Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
EP-DN980 (3A PD) USB Type C to Type C cable
SIM card extractor pin
Even though the Galaxy Tab S9 FE supports 45 W super-fast charging, it does not come with any charger. Neither does it come with a case, like the more premium Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.
In case you are thinking of buying a 45 watt super fast charger, please note that the bundled EP-DN980 cable can only support 3A PD charging, which is good enough for 25 watt, but not for 45 watt.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is an entry-level model which will not appeal to some. However, it has some surprises, so let’s take a closer look at its key features.
10.9-inch Display
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a smaller sized, entry-level model, and comes with a 10.9-inch TFT display. It has a WQXGA resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, with a wider DCI-P3 colour gamut.
It supports a dynamic refresh rate of up to 90 Hz, which is limited to switching between three refresh rates – 30 Hz, 60 Hz, and 90 Hz.
Mid-Range Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE runs on the Exynos 1380 mobile platform, which comes with an Arm Mali-G68 MP5 GPU, as well as eight processor cores in a dual-cluster architecture :
four Arm Cortex-A78 high-performance cores, and
four Arm Cortex-A55 low-power cores
The Samsung Exynos 1380 also has an neural processing unit (NPU) with a processing capacity of 4.9 TOPS, as well as an integrated 5G modem that supports download speeds up to 3.79 Gbps, and upload speeds of up to 1.28 Gbps.
RAM + Storage Options
Samsung is offering this tablet with two RAM and storage options :
6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
You don’t have to worry too much about running out of storage, as it comes with a microSD card slot, allowing you to add up to 1 TB of additional storage.
Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes with a 12 MP front camera, and an 8 MP rear camera. Both cameras can record videos at up to 4K resolution (30 fps).
Pretty Tough
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is protected by a tough aluminium frame all around its edges, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on its display.
IP68 Water Resistance
Even though this is an entry-level tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is IP68 rated for dust- and water-resistance!
While Samsung does not recommend it for beach or pool use, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is rated to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
S Pen Stylus
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE also comes with a stylus, which is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.
Large Battery
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes with a large 8,000 mAh battery, which supports 45 watt super fast charging. It even supports 15 watt reverse fast charging.
However, it does not come with any bundled charger, and the bundled USB cable can only support 25 watt fast charging.
AKG Tuned Speakers
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE does not come with quad speakers like its more expensive brethren. However, its dual AKG-tuned speakers do a pretty good job.
No Support For Samsung DeX
This may be a deal breaker for power users or travellers – the Galaxy Tab S9 FE does not support Samsung DeX.
For one thing – it only has a USB 2.0 port, so it cannot output video through a USB to HDMI dongle. On top of that, it doesn’t support wireless DeX either.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Battery Life Comparison!
This Fan Edition tablet comes with a large 8,000 mAh battery. To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.
Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.
It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.
We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the standard, and the adaptive refresh rates :
Not bad! The Galaxy Tab S9 FE lasted almost 10 hours on the Standard refresh rate, and just over 9 hours on the Adaptive refresh rate.
With such results, it makes sense to just leave the Tab S9 FE on its default setting of Adaptive refresh. After all, it only saps its battery life by 8% (46 minutes).
This Fan Edition tablet delivered the best battery life with the Standard refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Thanks to its power-efficient Exynos 1380 processor and smaller display, it sips power compared to the other two larger and more powerful tablets.
Work 3.0
Tab S9 FE
(60 Hz)
Tab S7 Plus
(60 Hz)
Tab S8 Ultra
(60 Hz)
Display Size
10.9-inch
12.4-inch
14.6-inch
Battery Capacity
8,000 mAh
10,090 mAh
11,200 mAh
Battery Life
9 hrs
49 mins
7 hrs 55 mins
8 hrs 3 mins
Utilisation
per min.
10.87 mAh
16.99 mAh
18.55 mAh
Adaptive Refresh Rate (90 Hz / 120 Hz)
Switching on the Adaptive refresh rate allowed the display to switch between 30 Hz, 60 Hz and 90 Hz, and only cut down its battery life by 46 minutes (8%).
But as my evaluation shows – the Galaxy Tab S9 FE uses considerably less power than the two larger and more powerful tablets. In fact, it uses just over half as much as the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra!
Work 3.0
Tab S9 FE
(90 Hz)
Tab S7 Plus (120 Hz)
Tab S8 Ultra
(120 Hz)
Display Size
10.9-inch
12.4-inch
14.6-inch
Battery Capacity
8,000 mAh
10,090 mAh
11,200 mAh
Battery Life
9 hrs
3 mins
6 hrs
11 mins
6 hrs
38 mins
Utilisation
per min.
11.79 mAh
21.76 mAh
22.51 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Battery Recharging Speed!
This tablet surprisingly supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box. On top of that, its bundled cable only supports 25 watt fast charging.
So we tested it on the standard 15 watt Samsung fast charger, and the optional 25 watt Samsung super fast charger.
Recharging Speed
Tab S8 Ultra
Tab S7 Plus
Tab S9 FE
(25W)
Tab S9 FE
(15W)
Display Size
14.6-inch
12.4-inch
10.9-inch
10.9-inch
Battery Capacity
11,200 mAh
10,090 mAh
8,000 mAh
8,000 mAh
Charger Output
15 watts
15 watts
25 watts
15 watts
Battery Life
86.5 mins
86 mins
90.5 mins
145.5 mins
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
103.6 mAh
93.9 mAh
70.7 mAh
44.0 mAh
Well, isn’t that interesting? Even with a more powerful 25W super fast charger, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE recharges slower than the Tab S7 Plus or the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra using the standard 15W charger!!
The 15W charger took almost 2.5 hours to fully recharge its 8,000 mAh battery from 20% to 100%. Upgrading to the 25W charger cut that down to just 1.5 hours, shaving off almost a full hour.
The good news is that the Galaxy Tab S9 FE sips power, so you won’t need to recharge it quite so often.
We first tested the devices using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Work 3.0
Galaxy Tab
S8 Ultra
Galaxy
Tab S7+
Galaxy Tab
S9 FE
Galaxy Tab
S7 FE
Mobile Platform
SD
8 Gen 1
SD
865+
Exynos
1380
SD
778G
Performance Score
12351
12348
11650
9747
Web Browsing
9696
11864
9028
7355
Video Editing
6194
7664
6193
6028
Writing
14411
12659
15302
10512
Photo Editing
31774
26230
27122
22188
Data Manipulation
10449
9511
9248
8505
The Samsung Exynos 1380 did well in this test, delivering performance close – within 6% – to that of older flagship-class processors like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the Snapdragon 865+. Interestingly, the Exynos 1380 did better in the Galaxy A54, delivering a score of over 13.5K.
In any case, the Exynos 1380 is fast enough, even if we did not run this test – Galaxy Tab S9 FE did not feel slow at any app we tried.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Gaming Performance
For gaming, we tested the devices using 3DMark, with these results :
3DMark
Galaxy
Tab
S8 Ultra
Galaxy
Tab S7+
Galaxy
Tab S7 FE
Galaxy Tab
S9 FE
Mobile Platform
SD 8 Gen 1
SD 865+
SD 778G
Exynos 1380
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
2221
–
–
826
Wild Life Unlimited
9838
–
–
2997
Sling Shot Unlimited
10728
8793
6688
6223
Where the Samsung Exynos 1380 really falls is in gaming performance. Even in the easy Sling Shot Unlimited benchmark, it was 7% slower than the mid-range Snapdragon 778G, which is 2.5 years old.
That doesn’t mean the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is useless at games. It runs 2D games and simple 3D games like Roblox perfectly fine. It’s the more strenuous 3D games that it will struggle in.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Overall Performance
We then tested the Galaxy Tab S9 FE using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
AnTuTu
Galaxy Tab
S8 Ultra
GGalaxy Tab
S9 FE
Galaxy
Tab S7+
Galaxy
Tab S7 FE
Mobile Platform
SD 8 Gen 1
Exynos 1380
SD 865+
SD 778G
AnTuTu Score
950630
591126
577726
508008
CPU
213689
193122
161243
157465
GPU
417669
136759
230859
155115
Memory
161903
118456
98269
79972
UX
157369
142789
87355
115456
The AnTuTu benchmark showed that this Fan Edition tablet performs at around the same level as the Snapdragon 865+, which is a flagship-class mobile SoC, albeit from 2020.
As you can see, its CPU is particularly fast, while its GPU is slow. In other words, this entry-level tablet will do great in work applications and simple games, but don’t rely on it for high-end 3D games!
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is Samsung’s entry-level Android tablet, built around a mid-range mobile platform, and a 10.9-inch display with a refresh rate that goes up to 90 Hz.
Even though it’s “just” an entry-level tablet, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it is IP68-rated against dust and water. It also comes with an IP68-rated S Pen stylus!
It has decent performance, with a strong focus on work performance. And it offers a long battery life, thanks to its 8,000 mAh battery, and more power-efficient display and processor.
In other words – this Fan Edition tablet is not sexy, but it gets the job done.
If there is a major turn-off for some potential buyers, it will be the lack of Samsung DeX. There is no support for wireless DeX, or video output via its USB port. But of course – this limitation only concerns those who want to use Samsung DeX.
Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a decent package of features and capabilities in a tough, and water-resistant tablet.
If you are looking for an affordable Android tablet for work or study, you really can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Price + Availability
This Fan Edition tablet comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver. It comes with two RAM and storage options:
45 watt super fast charging
15 watt reverse fast charging
Dimensions
254.3 mm wide
165.8 mm tall
6.5 mm thick
Weight
523 grams
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
In this review, we are going to take a close look at the Synology DiskStation DS223j – its latest 2-bay NAS system, and find out how well it performs!
Synology J Series NAS Systems
The Synology J Series are its entry-level NAS systems – offering an affordable way to get networked storage for backup, or personal storage. They also have a more consumer look, with a white chassis.
The Synology J series comes in below the Value series, and lacks hot-swappable drives, and front USB ports. However, it has most of its key features, including support for the Btrfs file system.
Synology currently has two J series models – the 2-bay DS223j, and the single-bay DS120j.
Synology DiskStation DS223j Price
As its entry-level 2-bay NAS system, the Synology DiskStation DS223J comes at an affordable price point.
It has a suggested retail price of US$189.99 (diskless), but you can get some pretty good deals online, with or without bundled drives:
100 V to 240 V DC power input
50/60 Hz, single phase
Operating Temperature
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
Storage Temperature
-20°C to 60°C (-5°F to 140°F)
Size
165 mm high
100 mm wide
225.5 mm deep
Weight
0.88 grams
Warranty
2 Year Hardware Warranty
Synology DiskStation DS223j Box Contents
The Synology DiskStation DS223j comes in a large cardboard box, with a label to let you know exactly what’s inside the box. On opening the box, you will find the following items:
However, when it comes to writing files to the NAS, the number of bays, and the drive speeds are what counts.
The 4-bay MyCloud EX4100 is far ahead, because it’s able to write to two drives at the same time (in RAID 1).
The faster 4TB Synology Plus drives used in the DS223j allowed it to pull ahead of the DS214+ by 16%.
Small Files Read Speed
This is quite a surprising result. For some reason, the Synology DS214+ did very well in this test, beating even the 4-bay MyCloud EX4100 by almost 30%!
And the Synology DS223j, which is much faster in every way, delivered a much lower speed of just under 48 MB/s.
Small Files Write Speed
That’s completely flipped when it came to write speed – copying small files to the NAS systems.
Again, the 4-bay MyCloud EX4100 has the advantage here, because it can write to two drives at the same time.
But the Synology DS223j did very well here, coming within 23% of the MyCloud EX4100. This is likely due to its faster 4TB Synology Plus drives.
The Synology DiskStation DS223j is a cheap but solid 2-bay NAS system. Its plastic chassis feels cheap, but it packs all of the key features most home users would need.
You get an affordable RAID 1 backup solution, with fast Gigabit LAN connectivity, and two USB 3.0 (rebranded as USB 3.2 Gen 1) ports at the back for when you need to copy files to or from a USB flash drive or portable HDD.
It also gives you access to the excellent Synology DiskStation Manager operating system, as well as hundreds of add-on packages which you can use to add capabilities to your NAS.
Synology updates its DiskStation Manager regularly, which is great, because it fixes bugs that may cause considerable grief. For example, when I started testing the DS223j, I encountered a problem accessing it on macOS with a VPN enabled.
No matter what I did, the Mac computer simply could not “see” or “locate” the DiskStation on the network. The only way was to disable the VPN. Fortunately, the problem “magically” went away a few updates later. *
Mac users will also be happy to know that it supports Time Machine backup. While it requires some simple setting up, it works perfectly… which is not something I can say about the MyCloud EX4100!
Prosumers might want to spend a bit extra to upgrade to the non-J version – the DiskStation DS223 from the Value series. Not only does it come with a front USB port (for more convenient use), it allows you to hot swap drives.
If any drive fails on the DS223j, you will need to power it down and open it up to swap out the drive. On the non-J version, you can simply slide out the old drive and replace it with a new one without even powering down the DS223 NAS. But of course – this is a nice feature that most home users probably won’t need.
Performance-wise – the DS223j runs on the same Realtek RTD1619B process as the non-J model. Its four Arm Cortex-A55 cores is more than fast enough for transferring files. Its CPU usage is usually less than 50%. Even when I ran data scrubbing, its CPU usage was around 15% on average.
And if you are wondering about whether you can live with just 1 GB of RAM on the DS223j, yes, you can. The RAM usage is usually less than 20% on our DS223j.
Generally, if you want something cheap and good from Synology, you can’t go wrong with the DiskStation DS223j. For these reasons, we think it deserves our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
* It would have lost the award if Synology did not manage to fix the accessibility problem for macOS.
Synology DiskStation DS223j : Where To Buy?
As its entry-level 2-bay NAS system, the Synology DiskStation DS223J comes at an affordable price point.
It has a suggested retail price of US$189.99 (diskless), but you can get some pretty good deals online, with or without bundled drives:
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Here is my comprehensive review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone!
Find out why this Fan Edition smartphone hits the sweet spot for many people!
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Colour Options + Price
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:
6 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB
These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :
In our unboxing video, you can see that the Galaxy S23 FE package is sparse, and only consists of:
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone
Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
USB Type C to Type C cable
SIM card extractor pin
As the unboxing video shows, the Galaxy S23 FE does not come with any charger, or earphones. Not even a TPU case to hold you over until you get a better case.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.
Interestingly, this display is slightly larger than the 6.1-inch display on the Galaxy S23, but you won’t be able to tell the difference. In fact, its display looks pretty much like the Galaxy S23 – large, and beautiful, with excellent resolution, colour gamut, and brightness.
The display ostensibly changes its refresh rate according to your needs automatically, but I found that the Galaxy S23 FE’s display only switches between the 60 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rates. While that may not be quite so optimal for extended battery life, but you will glad to know that its battery life is actually really good with the adaptive refresh rate mode enabled!
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S23 runs on Samsung’s best in-house mobile chip – the Exynos 2200, which is fabricated on the 4 nm process technology.
Launched in January 2022, this is a flagship-class mobile SoC (System-on-a-Chip) designed to compete with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It has eight processor cores with a tri-cluster architecture:
a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 2.8 GHz,
three Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
four Cortex-A510 cores running at up to 1.8 GHz.
This mobile SoC also comes with the Samsung Xclipse 920 GPU, a dual-core NPU, and DSPs to support 8K video decoding at up to 60 fps, and camera resolutions up to 200 MP.
The Samsung Exynos 2200 also has a built-in 5G modem that supports Sub-6Ghz and mmWave connectivity, as well as LTE Cat.24 download and LTE Cat.22 upload speeds.
RAM + Storage
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and supports extended memory (RAM Plus) which uses 2 GB / 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB of your storage as virtual memory.
But frankly speaking – there is no need to even enable RAM Plus. 8GB of memory is more than enough to run multiple apps, and even the most memory-intensive games!
Samsung offers storage options of either 128 GB or 256 GB. It is important that you select the storage option that best fits your requirements, as the Galaxy S23 FE does not support storage expansion through a microSD card.
Dual SIM Support
The Galaxy S23 FE has a SIM card tray that supports two nano SIM cards. It also supports an eSIM, so technically, you can use up to three SIMs, but only two can be used at the same time.
Buttons
The only buttons you will find are on the upper right side of the Galaxy S23 FE – the Volume control buttons and the Power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor.
Pressing the Power button twice activates the Quick Shot mode, which lets you take selfies using the rear cameras with the Flex Window for preview and control.
Only One Port
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 connectivity. It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.
Protection
The Galaxy S23 FE is IP68 dust and water-resistant. That means it will withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
In addition, it has a thick aluminium frame all around, and is protected on both the front and rear aspects by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, instead of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in the Galaxy S23.
Battery + Charging
Powering all that is a 4,500 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which is actually 600 mAh (15%) larger than the Galaxy S23‘s 3,900 mAh battery.
The Galaxy S23 recharges at up to 45 watts, while the Fan Edition only supports 25 watt fast charging, but that is fast enough for most users.
It also supports 15 watt wireless charging, and can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts. However, it does not come with an in-box charger. So you will have to use your old charger, or buy a new one.
In the front, the Galaxy S23 FE has a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture. It’s decent, but nothing to shout about.
The pricier Galaxy S23 comes with a 12 MP camera in the front, with a slightly wider f/2.2 aperture, so you can expect it to perform slightly better in low-light conditions.
But I’m glad to report that this camera can also record video at up to 4K resolution at 60 fps, just like the Galaxy S23‘s front camera.
Triple Camera System At The Back
At the back, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a triple camera system, which consists of:
a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, with f/1.8 aperture,
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture, and
an 8 MP telephoto camera, with 3X optical zoom, and f/2.4 aperture
The main camera is built around the Samsung ISOCELL GN3 (S5KGN3) sensor, which has a small 1.0 µm pixel size. Hence, it defaults to 12.5 MP photos, which allows it to combine four pixels into a large 1.0 µm “virtual pixel”. Combined with a wide f/1.8 aperture, this allows for excellent low-light photographic capabilities.
I cannot find out what sensor the ultra-wide angle camera uses, but it has a 12 MP sensor, and a wide aperture of f/2.2.
Its telephoto camera though is built around the SK hynix Hi-847 image sensor. This is rather old sensor from February 2019, with a small 1.0 µm pixel size.
The main camera is excellent, and the ultra-wide angle camera is good. But I can’t help feeling a bit shortchanged with the telephoto camera. It could be better.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Photo Samples
The Samsung Galaxy S23’s telephoto camera may be dated, but you will likely use its much newer 50 MP Dual Pixel main camera, and 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera.
Just make sure you enable (High Efficiency Image Format) so that the photos don’t take up so much space – the resulting HEIC photos are much smaller at between 2-3 MB in size.
Here are ten unedited photo samples for you to check out.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a decent 4,500 mAh battery, which is actually 15% larger than the Galaxy S23‘s 3,900 battery.
To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, fix the brightness level, and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.
We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.
We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :
Not bad! The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE lasted almost 10.5 hours with the Adaptive refresh mode enabled, and almost lasted 11 hours with the Standard refresh mode!
In other words – it does not make (battery) sense to switch to the Standard refresh mode. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in battery life.
Let’s compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra smartphones.
Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE naturally has the best battery life with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz (Standard) – lasting just under 11 hours.
As this comparison shows, the Galaxy S23 FE isn’t quite as efficient as Samsung’s flagship devices like the Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra. But it’s close enough.
Work 3.0
S23 Ultra
S22 Ultra
Z Flip 5
S23 FE
Battery Capacity
5,000 mAh
5,000 mAh
3,700 mAh
4,500 mAh
Battery Life
15 hrs 18 mins
14 hrs 15 mins
11 hrs 4 mins
10 hrs 57 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.36 mAh
4.68 mAh
4.46 mAh
5.48 mAh
Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)
But its Adaptive refresh rate is surprisingly so efficient, it actually uses (slightly) less power than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip5 smartphones. With a slightly larger battery, it actually lasted more than an hour longer than the Galaxy Z Flip5!
In fact, it’s so efficient that it almost matches the battery life of the S22 Ultra, which has a 28% larger battery!
Needless to say – we are highly recommending you stick with the Adaptive refresh mode for the Galaxy S23 FE!
Work 3.0
S23 Ultra
S22 Ultra
S23 FE
Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity
5,000 mAh
5,000 mAh
4,500 mAh
3,700 mAh
Battery Life
13 hrs
0 mins
10 hrs
38 mins
10 hrs 20 mins
9 hrs
9 mins
Utilisation
per min.
5.13 mAh
6.27 mAh
5.81 mAh
5.39 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Recharging Speed!
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.
So we tested it using the standard 15 watt and 25 watt Samsung fast chargers that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.
Work 3.0
S22 Ultra
S23 FE
S23 Ultra
S23 FE
Z Flip 5
Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity
3,300 mAh
4,500 mAh
5,000 mAh
4,500 mAh
3,700 mAh
3,700 mAh
Charger Output
15 watts
25 watts
15 watts
15 watts
25 watts
15 watts
Battery Life
64.5 min
73 min
88.8 min
96 min
105 min
129.5 min
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh
49.3 mAh
45.0 mAh
37.5 mAh
28.2 mAh
22.9 mAh
Not bad! The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE chargers really fast with a 15 watt charger, and even faster with a 25 watt charger. It basically needs just over 1.5 hours to fully recharge with a 15 watt charger, and just under one hour and 15 minutes with a 25 watt charger.
This gives us a battery life to recharging time ratio of about 6.5:1, which is pretty good. You get about an hour’s worth of battery life for every 9.25 minutes you recharge.
If you prefer to get faster charging, you should purchase the optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger. It will cut your charging time by 23 minutes, and give you an hour of battery life for every 8.5 minutes you recharge:
We first tested the Galaxy S23 FE using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Work 3.0
S23 Ultra
Z Flip 5
Z Flip 4
S23 FE
S22 Ultra
Mobile Platform
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
Performance Score
16408
14655
14429
13971
12860
Web Browsing
15680
11404
12097
11664
10442
Video Editing
7879
7943
7387
7369
7444
Writing
22257
19525
17593
18138
15471
Photo Editing
35533
324420
31762
27060
30177
Data Manipulation
12171
11788
12523
12616
9691
Not bad! The Exynos 2200 is certainly no match for the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it actually beat the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 by 9%, and came within 3.3% of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1!
I should point out that these are peak performance results. The truth is – you won’t be able to actually tell the difference between the three mobile processors in normal usage.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Storage Performance
PCMark also has an Android Storage 2.0 benchmark that measures the smartphone’s storage I/O performance.
Storage 2.0
Z Flip 5
S23 Ultra
S23 FE
S22 Ultra
Z Flip 4
Mobile Platform
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
Storage Score
48435
41647
31839
27808
27271
Sequential Read (MB/s)
2676.53
2592.42
1584.66
1457.68
1350.51
Random Read (MB/s)
49.95
38.25
31.25
37.73
33.94
Sequential Write (MB/s)
2631.38
603.29
510.16
856.21
256.81
Random Write (MB/s)
76.66
81.44
81.13
47.20
50.29
Samsung appeared to have used slower flash storage to reduce the cost of the Galaxy S23 FE. Its storage performance is much closer to last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Interestingly, its random write performance was exceptional, matching the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and almost double that of the Galaxy S22 Ultra,
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Gaming Performance
For gaming, we tested the Galaxy S23 FE using 3DMark, with these results :
3DMark
Z Flip 5
S23 Ultra
Z Flip 4
S22 Ultra
S23 FE
Mobile Platform
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD 8
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
Solar Bay Unlimited
5481
NA
NA
NA
4570
Wild Life Extreme
Unlimited
3705
3814
2636
2220
2233
Wild Life Unlimited
14823
14554
11144
9106
8671
Sling Shot Unlimited
16661
16344
10690
11094
11348
The Samsung Exynos 2200 powering the Galaxy S23 FE is almost identical in performance to the Galaxy S22 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 – the difference between their performance is less than 0.7%!
Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 FE will have no problem handling most games. Only when it comes to more strenuous games (as tested by the Wild Life benchmark) does it lag significantly behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
But the good news is that the new Solar Bay ray-tracing benchmark shows that the Exynos 2200 is able to hold its own – it is just 17% slower than the Galaxy Z Flip5, which is powered by the Snapdragon Gen 2 for Galaxy processor.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Overall Performance
We then tested the Galaxy S23 FE using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
AnTuTu
S23 Ultra
Z Flip 5
S23 FE
S22 Ultra
Z Flip 4
Device
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
AnTuTu Score
1212174
1187296
1166868
889167
856357
CPU
261886
393404
329078
203090
205939
GPU
538823
282780
425455
402617
362669
Memory
236163
291048
193981
146002
135707
UX
175302
220064
218354
137458
152042
The AnTuTu benchmark tells a slightly different story. According to its tests, the Galaxy S23 FE is about 31% faster than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and 36% faster than the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Not bad!
The Galaxy S23 actually came within 2% of the Galaxy Z Flip 5‘s performance, at least in the AnTuTu Benchmark. In fact, it was only 3.7% slower than the Galaxy S23 Ultra!
But note that its temperature jumped by almost 12°C! At peak performance, the Galaxy S23 FE can get quite toasty!
Let’s do a quick wrap of what I really like, and don’t like, about the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.
Hits Most Of The Sweet Spots
Think of the Fan Edition of any Samsung smartphone as its “Value For Money” variant. That is what the Galaxy S23 FE really is – a Galaxy S23 variant that offers much better value for your money.
It isn’t powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but its Exynos 2200 is no slouch either. It’s fast in work applications, and handles itself well in games. And of course – it also has a fast 5G modem built-in.
Like the Galaxy S23, the Fan Edition also comes with 8 GB of LPDDR5 memory and up to 256 GB of flash storage. But it actually ups the ante with a larger 4,500 mAh battery.
Even in the camera department, it comes with a 50 MP Dual Pixel main camera, and likely the same 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera. Only its telephoto camera uses an older and lower-resolution sensor.
It may not be protected by Armor Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, but its thick aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass 5 protection is, frankly, “good enough” for most users.
Samsung gave it only 25 watt fast charging, instead of 45 watt fast charging, but unless you are forking out extra money for the super fast charger (sold separately), this is a moot point.
If there is something I don’t quite like, it’s that the Galaxy S23 FE is quite chunky. It has a slightly larger display, but its thicker bezel makes it quite a bit much larger.
On top of that, it is noticeably thicker and heavier. You may like the “solid” feel, or you may dislike the weight. Older smartphone gimbals, for example, may not support its weight.
Lower Power Efficiency
This is, frankly, only of interest to techies like me, and probably pointless to most users – compared to the more premium Galaxy S23 models, the Galaxy S23 FE has lower power efficiency.
That’s probably why Samsung gave it a larger (and heavier) 4,500 mAh battery, which allows the Galaxy S23 FE to almost get 11 hours of battery life. So it’s ultimately a trade-off – you pay less for cheaper electronics and a larger battery.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : My Verdict + Award
At first glance, the Galaxy S23 FE may not look as polished as the Galaxy S23. The Fan Edition model has a shiny glass back which attracts fingerprint smears, instead of the stylish matte finish of the regular Galaxy S23. It also looks and feels chunkier and heavier when you compare them both.
However, if you can get past those superficialities and really look at what they both offer, you will realise what I realised – the Galaxy S23 FE offers much better value for money.
As my review has already shown, the Galaxy S23 FE hits most of the sweet spots for most users. In fact, it’s practically a no-brainer for most people considering the Galaxy S23 – the Galaxy S23 FE is a better deal.
This is why we believe it deserves nothing less than our Editor’s Choice Award! Great job, Samsung!
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Where To Buy
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:
6 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB
These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung just sent me their new Galaxy S23 FE – Fan Edition smartphone, and here is my unboxing video, as well as my first impressions!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Unboxing : What’s In The Box?
I managed to get my hands on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) smartphone BEFORE it actually ships! Take a look at my unboxing video, and share it out!
In our unboxing video, you can see that the Galaxy S23 FE package is sparse, and only consists of:
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone
Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
USB Type C to Type C cable
SIM card extractor pin
As the unboxing video shows, the Galaxy S23 FE does not come with any charger, or earphones. Not even a TPU case to hold you over until you get a better case.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : My First Impressions!
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) is meant to be a more affordable version of the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone, released early this year.
It uses the same design as the Samsung Galaxy S23, with a shiny glass back and a matte aluminium frame, instead of a matte glass back, and a shiny aluminium frame.
But the most apparent thing would be its size – the Galaxy S23 FE is a decidedly larger and bulkier phone than the Galaxy S23. The Fan Edition is also heavier at 209 grams.
The Galaxy S23 FE is larger and heavier because it comes with a slightly larger 6.3-inch display, and a larger 4,500 mAh battery. But that does not mean that it is superior to the original Galaxy S23 smartphone.
For one thing – the Galaxy S23 is powered by the faster (and pricier) Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, while the Fan Edition runs on the Samsung Exynos 2200. They both have a 50 MP main camera, but the Fan Edition has a lower-resolution zoom camera, and a lower resolution front camera.
The larger Fan Edition may have a larger 4,500 mAh battery, but it is limited to 25 watt charging, while the original Galaxy S23 supports up to 45 watt fast charging.
The SIM card tray, which supports two nano SIM cards is located at the top, together with a microphone port. It also supports an eSIM. However, you are limited to a maximum of two SIM numbers.
At the bottom, you will find the USB Type C port, as well as the speaker and microphone ports. The Power button and the Volume control buttons are located on the right side.
In the front, the Galaxy S23 FE has a 10 MP camera in a punch hole. At the back, it has a 50 MP main camera (with a Samsung S5KGN3 sensor), a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, and an 8 MP telephoto camera, with 3X optical zoom.
Like the Galaxy S23, the Fan Edition has an under-display fingerprint sensor. It appears to use the EGISTEC EL721 fingerprint sensor.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is protected on the front and back by Gorilla Glass 5 (instead of Gorilla Glass Victus 2), with an aluminium frame.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Specifications
Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone :
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:
6 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB
These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
We got our hands on the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, so here are our hands-on preview, and our first impressions!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra : Hands-On Preview!
Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and here is our hands-on preview and first impressions of this flagship smartphone with a 200 MP camera!
Boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Performance!
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
The new processor feels very snappy, and appears to be more power efficient – the Galaxy S23 Ultra last longer than our Galaxy S22 Ultra on typical use. We will have battery benchmarks up shortly!
The biggest upgrade in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new Adaptive Pixel main camera, which is built around the 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S5KHP2) sensor, and features a slightly wider f/1.7 aperture.
This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S23 Ultra camera will be able to combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel for much better low-light performance.
Video capabilities also got an upgrade, thanks to this new sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can now record 8K videos at 30 frames per second, instead of just 24 fps previously.
It also boasts better Adaptive VDIS capability, and improved optical image stabilisation (OIS), delivering silky smooth videos by doubling the angle to ±3°, from the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera‘s ±1.5°.
Similar Telephoto + Wide-Angle Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra reuses the same 3X and 10X zoom cameras from the Galaxy S22 Ultra, right down to their Sony IMX754 sensors.
The ultra-wide angle camera gets a newer sensor – the Sony IMX564, which appears to be an incremental upgrade of the S22 Ultra’s IMX563.
12 MP Selfie Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra also features another camera upgrade in the front. Instead of a 40 MP sensor in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, it now features a new 12 MP camera, with the same f/2.2 aperture.
While this may seem to be a downgrade, it is actually an upgrade as the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 40 MP sensor defaults to 10 MP. On top of that, it features a Dual Pixel sensor for faster and more accurate auto-focus!
We tried using the front camera, and found that it was superior to the front camera of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. More of this later in our review.
Buttons
The only buttons on Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are all located on the right side – volume control buttons and a Power switch.
S Pen
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with the same S Pen as the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It too boasts a very quick 2.8 ms latency.
We tried swapping them and both S Pens appear to fit both devices. From what we can tell – they are physically and functionally similar, if not exactly the same.
USB Type C Port
At the bottom of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, you will find a SIM card tray, next to the USB port, as well as the S Pen in its slot.
The USB port is, of course, the new bidirectional Type C port, which is now the EU standard.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra supports two physical SIM cards, as well as a single eSIM. The SIM tray is located at the bottom, next to the USB port.
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is protected in the front and in the back by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is not just tougher, it is also made from 22% pre-consumer recycled content!
Armoured Aluminium
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is also protected on all four sides by an Armoured Aluminium frame.
5,000 mAh Fast-Charging Battery
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 45 watt fast wired charging, and 15 watt fast wireless charging.
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 Ultra, with a 200 MP camera, and here is everything you need to know about its latest flagship smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra : Everything You Need To Know!
Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 Ultra, with a 200 MP camera, and here is everything you need to know about its latest flagship smartphone!
Boosted Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
Here is a quick comparison between the boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC used in the Galaxy S22 Ultra:
Specifications
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Galaxy S22 Ultra
Mobile SoC
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU Clusters
4
3
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X3 (3.36 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 740
Qualcomm Adreno 730
200 MP Main Camera
Arguably the biggest upgrade in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new main camera, which is built around the 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S5KHP2) sensor, and features a slightly wider f/1.7 aperture.
This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S23 Ultra camera will be able to combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel – a pixel binning technique called Tetra2pixel.
The number of pixels binned will vary according to the photography conditions. In low-light conditions, up to 16 pixels can be combined to create a large 2.4 μm pixel, for a 12.5 MP photo. Samsung is calling this sensor an Adaptive Pixel sensor.
This new Adaptive Pixel sensor also offers better auto-focus performance in low-light conditions through Super QPD autofocus. By using all 200 million pixels, which are physically grouped as four pixels under a single microns, the sensor can detect patterns in both vertical and horizontal directions for faster low-light focusing.
I had the opportunity to test its 200 MP camera’s Nightography capabilities before the launch, and came away very impressed. Forget about the 200 MP number. Its night photography capabilities is where it really shines!
Video capabilities also got an upgrade, thanks to this new sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can now record 8K videos at 30 frames per second, instead of just 24 fps previously.
It also boasts better Adaptive VDIS capability, and improved optical image stabilisation (OIS), delivering silky smooth videos by doubling the angle to ±3°, from the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera‘s ±1.5°.
Similar Telephoto + Wide-Angle Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra reuses the same 3X and 10X zoom cameras from the Galaxy S22 Ultra, right down to their Sony IMX754 sensors.
The ultra-wide angle camera gets a newer sensor – the Sony IMX564, which appears to be an incremental upgrade of the S22 Ultra’s IMX563.
12 MP Selfie Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra also features another camera upgrade in the front. Instead of a 40 MP sensor in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, it now features a new 12 MP camera, with the same f/2.2 aperture.
While this may seem to be a downgrade, it is actually an upgrade as the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 40 MP sensor defaults to 10 MP. On top of that, it features a Dual Pixel sensor for faster and more accurate auto-focus!
I recently tested the front camera in an exclusive media preview session in Singapore, and found it to be significantly better than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s front camera!
Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphones will come in four colour options:
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is protected in the front and in the back by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is not just tougher, it is also made from 22% pre-consumer recycled content!
5,000 mAh Fast-Charging Battery
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 45 watt fast wired charging, and 15 watt fast wireless charging.
While the increased price may be disappointing, Samsung is offering some great pre-order offers:
you get a free upgrade to the next storage option!
if you buy from the Samsung Online Store, you get an RM400 e-Voucher
you get 30% off Samsung accessories, Samsung Care+, Galaxy tablets, Watch, and Buds earphones!
you get to save up to RM600 more when you trade in!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 Plus, and here is everything you need to know about its latest flagship smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus : Everything You Need To Know!
Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 Plus, and here is everything you need to know about its latest flagship smartphone!
Boosted Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus will use a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
Here is a quick comparison between the boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC used in the Galaxy S22 Plus:
Specifications
Galaxy S23+
Galaxy S22+
Mobile SoC
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU Clusters
4
3
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X3 (3.36 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 740
Qualcomm Adreno 730
Same Rear Cameras From Galaxy S22 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus uses the same rear cameras as last year’s Galaxy S22 Plus.
a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture
12 MP Selfie Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, however, gets an upgrade in the front, with a new 12 MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture.
This should be the same 12 MP front camera used in the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which I managed to test in an exclusive media preview session in Singapore, and found to be significantly better than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s front camera!
Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus smartphones will come in four colour options:
While the increased price may be disappointing, Samsung is offering some great pre-order offers:
you get a free upgrade to the next storage option!
if you buy from the Samsung Online Store, you get an RM400 e-Voucher
you get 30% off Samsung accessories, Samsung Care+, Galaxy tablets, Watch, and Buds earphones!
you get to save up to RM600 more when you trade in!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23, and here is everything you need to know about its latest compact flagship smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy S23 : Everything You Need To Know!
Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 smartphone, and here is everything you need to know about its latest flagship smartphone!
Boosted Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 will use a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
Here is a quick comparison between the boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC used in the Galaxy S22:
Specifications
Galaxy S23
Galaxy S22
Mobile SoC
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU Clusters
4
3
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X3 (3.36 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 740
Qualcomm Adreno 730
Same Rear Cameras From Galaxy S22
The Samsung Galaxy S23 uses the same rear cameras as last year’s Galaxy S22.
a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture,
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture, and
a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture
12 MP Selfie Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S23, however, gets an upgrade in the front, with a new 12 MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture.
This should be the same 12 MP front camera used in the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which I managed to test in an exclusive media preview session in Singapore, and found to be significantly better than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s front camera!
Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus smartphones will come in four colour options:
While the increased price may be disappointing, Samsung is offering some great pre-order offers:
you get a free upgrade to the next storage option!
if you buy from the Samsung Online Store, you get an RM400 e-Voucher
you get 30% off Samsung accessories, Samsung Care+, Galaxy tablets, Watch, and Buds earphones!
you get to save up to RM600 more when you trade in!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Take a look at the key details and specifications that has leaked ahead of the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series : All The Leaks So Far!
Ahead of the official launch of the Galaxy S23 series, key details and specifications of Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphones have leaked!
Boosted Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones will use a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
Here is a quick comparison between the boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC used in the Galaxy S22 series:
Specifications
Galaxy S23 Series
Galaxy S22 Series
Mobile SoC
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU Clusters
4
3
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X3 (3.36 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 740
Qualcomm Adreno 730
200 MP Main Camera
Arguably the biggest upgrade in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new main camera, which is built around the 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S5KHP2) sensor, and features a slightly wider f/1.7 aperture.
This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S23 Ultra camera will be able to combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel – a pixel binning technique called Tetra2pixel.
The number of pixels binned will vary according to the photography conditions. In low-light conditions, up to 16 pixels can be combined to create a large 2.4 μm pixel, for a 12.5 MP photo.
On top of that, the new Samsung ISOCELL HP2 sensor also offers better auto-focus performance in low-light conditions through Super QPD autofocus. By using all 200 million pixels, which are physically grouped as four pixels under a single microns, the sensor can detect patterns in both vertical and horizontal directions for faster low-light focusing.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Series : Prices + Offers Leaked So Far!
Higher Prices
This is the only dampener amongst the leaks – be prepared to pay more for the Galaxy S23 smartphones! Here are the leaked prices for Europe:
Models
Variant
Launch
Prices
Premium Over
S22 Models
Galaxy S23
8 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB
€949/959
€1019
+ €99/109
+ €119
Galaxy S23+
8 GB + 256 GB
8 GB + 512 GB
€1209
€1329
+ €159
+ €229
Galaxy S23 Ultra
8 GB + 256 GB
12 GB + 512 GB
€1399/1409
€1589
NA
+ €139
Pre-Order Offer
While the increased price may be disappointing, Samsung will potentially boost pre-order sales by offering a free upgrade to the next storage variant.
For example, if you pre-order the Galaxy S23 with 128 GB storage, you will get the 256 GB variant instead. This is based on a leak on the Samsung UK Business portal that states:
Pre-order from Samsung.com by 16.02.23. Operates as a price discount:
Pre-order the larger storage variant (S23 256GB, 523+ 512GB, 523 Ultra 512GB) by 16.02.23 and pay the future price of the smaller storage variant (523 128GB, S23+ 256GB, S23 Ultra 256GB).
This free upgrade will only be offered for the pre-order period, and is essentially a 10% discount on the price of the higher-capacity model.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Take a look at the key details and specifications that has leaked ahead of the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra : Everything Leaked So Far!
Ahead of the official launch of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, key details and specifications of Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphone have leaked!
Boosted Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will use a specially-boosted variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC, which features a quad-cluster architecture:
1 x Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz, instead of 3.2 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A715 cores (2.8 GHz)
2 x Arm Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Arm Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
Here is a quick comparison between the boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC used in the Galaxy S22 Ultra:
Specifications
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Galaxy S22 Ultra
Mobile SoC
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU Clusters
4
3
CPU Cores
1 x Cortex-X3 (3.36 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 (2.0 GHz)
1 x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 740
Qualcomm Adreno 730
200 MP Main Camera
Arguably the biggest upgrade in the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its new main camera, which is built around the 200 MP Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S5KHP2) sensor, and features a slightly wider f/1.7 aperture.
This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S23 Ultra camera will be able to combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel – a pixel binning technique called Tetra2pixel.
The number of pixels binned will vary according to the photography conditions. In low-light conditions, up to 16 pixels can be combined to create a large 2.4 μm pixel, for a 12.5 MP photo.
On top of that, the new Samsung ISOCELL HP2 sensor also offers better auto-focus performance in low-light conditions through Super QPD autofocus. By using all 200 million pixels, which are physically grouped as four pixels under a single microns, the sensor can detect patterns in both vertical and horizontal directions for faster low-light focusing.
Similar Telephoto + Wide-Angle Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will reuse the same 3X and 10X zoom cameras from the Galaxy S22 Ultra, right down to their Sony IMX754 sensors.
The ultra-wide angle camera gets a newer sensor – the Sony IMX564, which appears to be an incremental upgrade of the S22 Ultra’s IMX563.
Colour Options
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphones will come in four colour options:
The specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (SM-918B) smartphone have leaked, and in this table, we compare it to last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra!
Sadly, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will be significantly more expensive than last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra!. Here are the leaked prices for Europe:
Models
Variant
Launch
Prices
Premium Over
S22 Models
Galaxy S23 Ultra
8 GB + 256 GB
12 GB + 512 GB
€1399/1409
€1589
NA
+ €139
While the increased price may be disappointing, Samsung will potentially boost pre-order sales by offering a free upgrade to the next storage variant.
For example, if you pre-order the Galaxy S23 Ultra with 256 GB storage, you will get the 512 GB variant instead. This is based on a leak on the Samsung UK Business portal that states:
Pre-order from Samsung.com by 16.02.23. Operates as a price discount:
Pre-order the larger storage variant (S23 256GB, 523+ 512GB, 523 Ultra 512GB) by 16.02.23 and pay the future price of the smaller storage variant (523 128GB, S23+ 256GB, S23 Ultra 256GB).
This free upgrade will only be offered for the pre-order period, and is essentially a 10% discount on the price of the higher-capacity model.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
If you are using the Galaxy Z Flip3, you may be wondering – how different is the new Galaxy Z Flip4 smartphone?
In this article, I will share with you the key differences… and similarities between the two foldable smartphones!
Galaxy Z Flip4 vs Z Flip3 : How Different Are They?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 builds upon the excellent Galaxy Z Flip3 from last year, offering an improved version of the compact foldable smartphone.
If you are comparing both devices side-by-side, it’s really hard to tell them apart… because Samsung essentially retained the same design.
When folded, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is slightly (1.5 mm) shorter, and imperceptibly (0.3 mm) narrower than the Galaxy Z Flip3.
When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is even more alike the Flip3 – just 0.8 mm shorter and 0.3 mm narrower. If you don’t compare them closely, you might not be able to tell them apart!
They both have very similar weights too – the Galaxy Z Flip4 coming in 4 grams heavier at 187 grams, instead of 183 grams for the Galaxy Z Flip3. Again, you can’t really tell them apart.
Most of the upgrades in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 are internal… and out-of-the-box.
4nm Processor
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 naturally has a newer and more powerful processor than the Galaxy Z Flip3.
Manufactured on the more efficient 4nm process technology, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is the fastest processor money can buy in 2022.
But the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 used in the Galaxy Z Flip3 is no slouch, and you would be hard-pressed to tell their performance apart, outside of benchmark scores.
Main Camera Changes
Samsung retained the same 10 MP front camera, and the same dual camera setup at the back from the Galaxy Z Flip3 :
a 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, with f/1.8 aperture, and
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
Larger Capacity
Samsung is also offering a larger 512 GB internal storage capacity option for the Galaxy Z Flip4. This will be useful for those who need additional storage for photos, videos or documents.
Bespoke Edition
Samsung will also offer a special Bespoke Edition for those who want to customise their Galaxy Z Flip4 smartphone.
The Bespoke Edition is only available with 256 GB of internal storage on the Samsung website, and requires 3-4 weeks to deliver, as each unit is custom-made.
Samsung Care+
The biggest upgrade, I would argue, is the new Samsung Care+ warranty, which you can purchase or obtain for free as part of the pre-order offer.
With Samsung Care+, you get 2 years of device warranty including THREE (3) protective film replacements for the Main Display.
The device warranty itself covers repairs for accidental damage (including liquid damage), as well as device replacement if it cannot be repaired. Talk about peace of mind!
Galaxy Z Flip4 vs Z Flip3 : Specification Comparison
Here is a table I created to make it easier for you to compare the two models:
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Most of the upgrades in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 are internal… and out-of-the-box.
4nm Processor
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 naturally has a newer and more powerful processor than the Galaxy Z Fold3.
Manufactured on the more efficient 4nm process technology, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is the fastest processor money can buy in 2022.
But the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 used in the Galaxy Z Fold3 is no slouch, and you would be hard-pressed to tell their performance apart, outside of benchmark scores.
Main Camera Changes
Samsung retained the same triple camera setup from the Galaxy Z Fold3 with the same design and lenses, but changed two of their sensors.
Samsung upgraded the 12 MP main camera with a 50 MP sensor, while reducing the 12 MP telephoto camera to just a 10 MP sensor.
Larger Capacity
Samsung is also offering a larger 1TB internal storage capacity option for the Galaxy Z Fold4, albeit only on their website.
This will be useful for those who need additional storage for photos, videos or documents.
Samsung Care+
The biggest upgrade, I would argue, is the new Samsung Care+ warranty, which you can purchase or obtain for free as part of the pre-order offer.
With Samsung Care+, you get 2 years of device warranty including THREE (3) protective film replacements for the Main Display.
The device warranty itself covers repairs for accidental damage (including liquid damage), as well as device replacement if it cannot be repaired. Talk about peace of mind!
Galaxy Z Fold4 vs Z Fold3 : Specification Comparison
Here is a table I created to make it easier for you to compare the two models:
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Flip 4, and here is everything you need to know about its latest foldable smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Evolution Of A Matured Design
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 builds upon the excellent Galaxy Z Flip 3 from last year, offering an improved version of the popular foldable clamshell form factor.
Most of the changes are internal – a more powerful processor and a larger battery. Externally, it looks very similar to the Galaxy Z Flip3, albeit with a slimmer hinge and straightened edges, as well as contrasting hazed back glass and a glossy metal frame.
Hence, Samsung is focused on highlighting what you can do with its foldable design and its large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display.
6.7-inch Foldable Display
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 retains the Z Flip3‘s excellent 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.
This display has an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz, offering a balance between silky-smooth graphics and longer battery life.
1.9-inch Cover Display
In the front, it has the same 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.
This Cover Display allows you to view notifications and messages without opening the Galaxy Z Flip 4. You will be able to check your schedule, the weather, and your daily step count with the Cover Screen widgets.
Performance + Storage
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 5G mobile platform, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world.
It comes with 8 GB of memory, and internal storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. It only supports a single SIM card and an eSIM, with no microSD card tray, so there is no option to increase storage.
Cameras
Samsung retained the same cameras from the Z Flip 3 :
In the front, it has a 10 MP camera, with an f/2.4 aperture
In the back, it has a 12 MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, and a 12 MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 : Specifications
Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphone :
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Apple just launched the M2 – their second-generation M-series system-on-a-chip (SoC) for Mac computers!
Let’s compare the new M2 against the last-generation M1 series SoCs!
Apple Silicon M1 vs. M2 Comparison
On 6 June 2022, Apple unveiled their second-generation M-series system-on-a-chip (SoC) for Mac computers – the Apple Silicon M2!
Built on an improved 5 nm process technology, the Apple M2 has 20 billion transistors – 25% more transistors than the M1.
All those transistors allow the Apple M2 to deliver better performance than the last-generation M1 :
Faster Performance cores with a larger cache
18% faster CPU performance
35% more powerful GPU at max. power
40% faster Neural Engine
50% more memory bandwidth
up to 24 GB of unified memory
a new image signal processor (ISP) for better image noise reduction
The new M2 no doubt offers a significant boost in performance and capabilities over the M1.
On top of that, it partially addressed the limited Unified Memory capacity offered by the M1, by offering a 24 MB option.
The new M2 will debut in the 2022 MacBook Air, and the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro 2022 laptops.
To give you a better idea of how they compare, here is our direct comparison b between the Apple M1 and the Apple M2 :
Specifications
M1
M2
Difference
Fab Tech
5nm (N5)
5 nm (N5P)
–
Transistor
Count
16 billion
20 billion
+25%
Die Size
120 mm²
NA
–
CPU Cores
(Performance)
4 x Firestorm
@ 3.2 GHz
4 x Avalanche cores
@ NA GHz
–
CPU Cores
(Efficiency)
4 x Icestorm cores
@ 2.06 GHz
4 Blizzard cores
@ NA GHz
–
L2 Cache
P-core : 12 MB
E-core : 4 MB
P-core : 16 MB
E-core : 4 MB
P-core : +33%
SLC
16 MB
32 MB
+100%
GPU Cores
7 / 8 cores
1278 MHz
8 / 10 cores
NA MHz
+1 / +2 cores
Neural Engine
16 cores
(11 TOPS)
16 cores
(15.8 TOPS)
+44%
Memory Options
8 GB / 16 GB
8 GB / 16 GB / 24 GB
–
Memory Type
LPDDR4X
LPDDR5
–
Memory Speed
2133 MHz
3200 MHz
+50%
Memory Bus
128-bit
128-bit
–
Memory
Bandwidth
68.2 GB/s
102.4 GB/s
50%
Apple Silicon M1 Series vs. M2 Comparison
While the M2 may offer significant improvements over the M1, Apple has been careful in not letting it cannibalise sales of the higher-performing M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips.
Even without testing the new M2, its specifications show that it slots in between the M1 and the M1 Pro.
M2 has 8 cores like M1, with 2-4 fewer Performance cores than the M1 Pro.
Its Performance cores have L2 cache size of 16 MB, right between M1 (8 MB) and M1 Pro (24 MB).
Its 8-10 GPU core count is right between M1 (7-8 cores) and M1 Pro (14-16 cores).
Its maximum Unified Memory option is 24 GB, right between M1 (16 GB) and M1 Pro (32 GB).
It retains the M1’s narrower 128-bit memory bus, but uses the M1 Pro’s faster LPDDR5 memory.
To show you what I mean, here is a table I created comparing the key specifications of the M1 series against the new M2 :
Specifications
M1
M1 Pro
M1 Max
M1 Ultra
M2
Fab Tech
5nm (N5)
5 nm (N5P)
Transistor Count
16 billion
33.7 billion
57 billion
114 billion
20 billion
Die Size
120 mm²
245 mm²
432 mm²
864 mm²
NA
CPU Cores
(Performance)
4 cores
(Firestorm)
3.2 GHz
6 / 8 cores
(Firestorm)
3.23 GHz
8 cores
(Firestorm)
3.23 GHz
16 cores
(Firestorm)
3.23 GHz
4 cores
(Avalanche)
NA GHz
CPU Cores
(Efficiency)
4 cores
(Icestorm)
2.06 GHz
2 cores
(Icestorm)
2.06 GHz
2 cores
(Icestorm)
2.06 GHz
4 cores
(Icestorm)
2.06 GHz
4 cores
(Blizzard)
NA GHz
L2 Cache
P-core : 12 MB
E-core : 4 MB
P-core : 24 MB
E-core : 4 MB
P-core : 48 MB
E-core : 8 MB
P-core : 16 MB
E-core : 4 MB
SLC
16 MB
32 MB
64 MB
128 MB
32 MB
GPU Cores
7 / 8 cores
1278 MHz
14 / 16 cores
1296 MHz
24 / 32 cores
1296 MHz
48 / 64 cores
1296 MHz
8 / 10 cores
NA MHz
Neural Engine
16 cores
32 cores
16 cores
Memory Options
8 / 16 GB
16 / 32 GB
32 / 64 GB
64 / 128 GB
8 / 16 / 24 GB
Memory Type
LPDDR4X
LPDDR5
Memory Speed
2133 MHz
3200 MHz
Memory Bus
128-bit
256-bit
512-bit
1024-bit
128-bit
Memory
Bandwidth
68.2 GB/s
204.8 GB/s
409.6 GB/s
819.2 GB/s
102.4 GB/s
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The HUAWEI P50 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia, and the P50 Pro is now cheaper!
Take a look at the HUAWEI P50 and P50 Pro deals for Malaysia!
HUAWEI P50 + P50 Pro : Ultimate Photography Smartphones
The P50 and P50 Pro are HUAWEI’s latest photography-oriented P-series flagship smartphones. Let’s take a quick look at their key features!
True-Chroma Displays
The HUAWEI P50 Pro comes with a large 6.6-inch True-Chroma display, with a resolution of 1228 x 2700 pixels. The P50 has a slightly smaller 6.5-inch True-Chroma display, with the same resolution.
They both use an OLED panel with a wide P3 colour gamut, with a higher maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz (P50 Pro) or 90 Hz (P50), and a maximum touch sampling rate of 300 MHz.
These True-Chroma displays also boast a 1440 Hz PWM dimming control, to reduce eyestrain, and allow for comfortable viewing experience in low-light conditions.
Protected From Water!
Both HUAWEI P50 and P50 Pro smartphones are IP68 water-resistant, so they are safe from water splashes and immersion in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes.
Flagship Performance!
Both HUAWEI P50 and P50 Pro smartphones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G mobile SoC, which is kept cool by a 3D Graphene Liquid Cooling System.
Cameras Delight!
Both HUAWEI P50 and P50 Pro smartphones come with a 13 MP punch hole camera in the front. It has a decent f/2.4 aperture.
The HUAWEI P50 Pro’s key selling point is its massive quad camera setup that consists of :
a 50 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture,
a 40 MP monochrome camera, with f/1.6 aperture,
a 64 MP 3.5X periscope telephoto camera, with f/3.5 aperture, and
a 13 MP wide-angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture.
The 40 MP monochrome camera complements the 50 MP camera by adding detail to the images it captures – what HUAWEI calls XD Optics with enhanced XD Fusion Pro technology.
The HUAWEI P50 has a triple camera setup that consists of :
a 50 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture,
a 12 MP 3.5X periscope telephoto camera, with f/3.4 aperture, and
a 13 MP wide-angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture.
66W HUAWEI SuperCharge Capable Battery!
Both smartphones support 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology for really fast charging, while the Pro version also supports 50 watt wireless charging, as well as Wireless PowerShare.
Stereo Speakers With Histen Technology
Both smartphones come with stereo speakers, with HUAWEI Histen technology which allows you to customise sound effects for different scenarios.
The HUAWEI P50 is available in the Golden Black and Cocoa Gold colours, while the Pro version is available in Silver Blue, Golden Black and Cocoa Gold colours.
Prior to launch, HUAWEI only provided us access to the Golden Black and Cocoa Gold colour options. Take a look at this colour comparison, and tell us which colour you prefer!
HUAWEI P50 + P50 Pro : Price + Deals
The HUAWEI P50 is priced at RM 2,999 (about US$682 / £546 / A$962 / S$935), with pre-order freebies of worth RM1,000 :
HUAWEI FreeBuds Lipstick
HUAWEI Mobile Services (HMS) Rewards
The HUAWEI P50 Pro was originally priced at RM 4,199, but was just reduced to RM 3,699 (about US$842 / £674 / A$1,186 / S$1,153). Every purchase will come with a free HUAWEI Band 6 worth RM219!
Here are some online purchase options for your convenience :
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Samsung 980 Pro is still the epitome of a fast gaming SSD that will let you boot up instantly, and load massive games quickly.
Find out why it is still the favourite SSD for discerning gamers all over the world!
Samsung 980 Pro : Super Fast Gaming SSD!
When it was launched back in September 2020, the Samsung 980 Pro was amongst the best and fastest gaming SSD money could buy.
It boasted a brand new 8nm Samsung Elpis controller with a native PCIe 4.0 interface, as well as improved TurboWrite caching.
To keep it running at peak performance, the Elpis controller is nickel coated to improve heat dissipation. It also uses a heat spreader label to keep the NAND chips cool.
The 980 Pro SSD also uses Samsung’s latest V-NAND TLC flash memory, with storage capacities of up to 2 TB in an M.2 2280 form factor.
Each SSD comes with 512 GB to 2 GB of LPDDR4 cache, and uses some of its storage as a fast SLC cache of between 49 GB and 216 GB in size.
Thanks to this combination of both DRAM and SLC caching, the Samsung 980 Pro boasts sequential read speeds of 6.4 GB/s to 7.0 GB/s, and sequential write speeds of 2.7 GB/s to 5.1 GB/s.
Of course, once the write caches ran out, sustained write speed fell to 400 MB/s for the 250 GB model, 900 MB/s for the 500 GB model, and 1.7 GB/s for the 1 TB and 2 TB models. But this was generally not an issue for gaming PCs, where read speed is paramount.
Capacity
Fixed
Intelligent
Total
TurboWrite
Speed
After
TurboWrite
250 GB
4 GB
45 GB
49 GB
2.7 GB/s
0.4 GB/s
500 GB
4 GB
90 GB
94 GB
5.0 GB/s
0.9 GB/s
1 TB
6 GB
108 GB
114 GB
5.0 GB/s
1.7 GB/s
2 TB
6 GB
210 GB
216 GB
5.1 GB/s
1.7 GB/s
But note that TurboWrite requires you keeping approximately 20% of the drive’s storage capacity free or empty. If you fill up the drive beyond that, the Intelligent portion of TurboWrite will be reduced.
Also, to fully utilise the Samsung 980 Pro, your gaming PC should PCIe 4.0. It is backward compatible and will have no issues working with PCIe 3.0, but your drive will be limited to 3.5GB/s for sequential reads.
Samsung 980 Pro : Now A Fast SSD That Won’t Break The Bank!
When it was first released, the Samsung 980 Pro was not only expensive, it was much sought after and were consequently hard to come by.
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t do us any favour, with computer part prices skyrocketing from a combination of increased demand and reduced production.
18 months later – the Samsung 980 Pro remains one of the better gaming SSDs money can buy, only it’s more affordable these days!
Of particular interest are the smaller 250GB and 500GB models. While they don’t offer that much storage space, they are much cheaper on a per GB basis.
Here is a look at the latest deals on the Samsung 980 Pro SSD globally :
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
We recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy A33 that was just launched, and here is our hands-on preview!
Samsung Galaxy A33 with 48 MP Quad Camera System!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A33 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 48 MP quad-camera system!
We had the exclusive opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy A33 smartphone recently, and here is our hands-on video experience!
6.4-inch Super AMOLED Display
The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with a large 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display.
It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 90 Hz!
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A33 runs on the new Samsung Exynos 1280 mobile platform, which has a dual-tier CPU architecture :
four sustained-performance ARM Cortex-A78 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz, and
four energy-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.0 GHz
It also comes with a ARM Mali-G68 GPU running at 1.0 GHz.
Memory + Storage Options
The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of internal flash storage.
The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).
Cameras Galore!
The Samsung Galaxy A33 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.
In the front, it has a 13 MP camera, with an f/2.2 aperture, and in the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :
a 48 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
an 8 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 2 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture
IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!
You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A33 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A33 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.
The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.
Samsung Galaxy A33 Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A33
Display
6.4-inch Super AMOLED
– 90 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Samsung Exynos 1280
CPU
2 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
We recently had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy A73 that was just launched, and here is our hands-on preview!
Samsung Galaxy A73 with 108 MP Quad Camera System!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A73 mid-range smartphone, which boasts a 108 MP quad-camera system!
We had the exclusive opportunity to get some hands-on time with the Galaxy A73 smartphone recently, and here is our hands-on video experience!
6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ Display
The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display.
It has a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz!
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A73 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, which has a triple-tier CPU architecture :
a Kryo 670 Prime core running at up to 2.4 GHz,
three sustained-performance Kryo 670 Gold cores running at up to 2.2 GHz, and
four energy-efficient Kryo 670 Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz
It also comes with a Qualcomm Adreno 642L GPU running at 490 MHz.
Memory + Storage Options
The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal flash storage.
The memory capacity can be expanded through the RAM Plus feature, while storage can be expanded through a microSD card (up to 1 TB).
Cameras Galore!
The Samsung Galaxy A73 is targeted at those who love to take photos and videos.
In the front, it has a 32 MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.
In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :
a 108 MP Dual Pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture
a 5 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 5 MP depth camera with f/2.4 aperture
IP67 Dust + Water-Resistance!
You will also love the fact that the Galaxy A73 is IP67-rated for dust and water-resistance! That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes!
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy A73 comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, that supports up to 25 watts of fast charging.
The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 25 watt charger in-the-box.
Samsung Galaxy A73 Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A73
Display
6.7-inch Super AMOLED+
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
CPU
1 x Kryo 670 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
3 x Kryo 670 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 670 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Check out the three colour options available for the new Samsung Galaxy A73 smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy A73 : Available In 3 Colour Options!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A73 mid-range smartphone, and it is available in three pastel colours!
We had the exclusive opportunity to check out all three colour options for the Galaxy A73 smartphone recently.
In this video, you will be able to check out all three colour options for yourself. From left to right, they are :
Awesome White
Awesome Mint
Awesome Gray
Awesome Mint is, incidentally, an exclusive colour option for the Galaxy A73 smartphone. It is not available for the Galaxy A53 or the Galaxy A33 smartphones.
For your convenience, here is a comparison of its key specifications :
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A73
Display
6.7-inch Super AMOLE+
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
CPU
1 x Kryo 670 Prime core (2.4 GHz)
3 x Kryo 670 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 670 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Check out the four colour options available for the new Samsung Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy A53 | A33 : Available In 4 Colour Options!
Samsung just launched their Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 mid-range smartphones, and they are available in four pastel colours!
We had the exclusive opportunity to check out all four colour options for the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 smartphones recently.
In this video, you will be able to check out all four colour options for yourself. From left to right, they are :
Awesome Peach
Awesome Blue
Awesome White
Awesome Black
Awesome Peach is, incidentally, an exclusive colour option for the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 smartphones. It is not available for the Galaxy A73 smartphone.
For your convenience, here is a comparison of their key specifications :
Specifications
Galaxy A53
Galaxy A33
Display Size
6.5-inch
6.4-inch
Display Type
Super AMOLED
Dynamic
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
90 Hz
Protection
IP67
OS
One UI 4.1 (Android 12)
Platform
Samsung Exynos 1280
CPU
2 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung combined their Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series into the Galaxy S22 Ultra – their latest flagship smartphone.
Not only does it adopt the blockier industrial design language of the Galaxy Note series, it also comes with the S Pen built-in!
Here is our hands-on experience of the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone!
6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a massive 6.8-inch display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.
Its wide colour gamut of 100% DCI-P3, a peak brightness of 1750 nits, and a contrast ratio of 3 million:1 will guarantee the best possible image quality, whether indoors or outdoors.
Gamers will love its high dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, with a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz.
4nm Flagship Mobile Platform
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile SoC, which is fabricated on the latest 4nm Samsung process technology.
Together with a powerful Adreno 730 GPU, it has eight processor cores in a triple-tier architecture :
a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores running at 1.8 GHz.
Memory + Storage Options
Samsung will be offering four memory and storage options, but not all of them are available globally :
8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage
12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage
12 GB RAM + 1 TB storage
Cameras Galore!
As the premiere Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a smorgasbord of cameras!
In the front, it has a 40 MP camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture, and the ability to combine pixels for better low-light performance.
In the back, it has a quad-camera system that consists of :
a 108 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture
a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture, and
a 10 MP periscope camera with 10X optical zoom, f/4.9
Ultra-Low Latency S Pen
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only model in the Galaxy S22 family to come with the S Pen.
Just like the Galaxy Note series, it has a dedicated S Pen slot, so you will never have to worry about dropping the S Pen.
This is an improved S Pen, with ultra-low latency of just 2.8 ms – down from 9 ms in the previous generation. This gives it an instantaneous feel, just like writing an actual pen on paper.
Built To Last
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is protected in the back and front by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.
On top of that, it is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. That means it can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
Battery + Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, which offers a very long battery life.
On top of that, it can support wired charging at up to 45 watts, with wireless charging supported at up to 15 watts.
It also supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to recharge other smartphones and wearables like the Galaxy Buds2.
The only downside – Samsung is not providing the 45 watt charger in-the-box.
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The new vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold smartphone is here, offering a new elegant colour option for selfie-lovers!
Find out if the vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold is what you have been waiting for!
vivo V23e Mirage Gold : For Photography Enthusiasts!
The new vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold smartphone is designed for photography enthusiasts, offering really great front and rear cameras at an affordable price point.
Those are some of the most important characteristics many consumers are looking for in their smartphones during the pandemic.
6.44-inch Display
The vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold comes with a massive 6.44-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
It uses an AMOLED panel, which delivers much better colour gamut and brightness than regular LCD displays.
High-Performance Mobile SoC
The MediaTek Dimensity 810 is a new and faster mid-range mobile SoC, with an integrated 5G modem, and :
two high-performance Arm Cortex-A76 cores running at up to 2.4 GHz,
six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores, and
an Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU to accelerate 2D and 3G graphics
It also features a Multi-Turbo software that intelligently optimises network speed, heat dissipation, AI and gaming performance.
RAM + Storage
The vivo V23e Mirage Gold comes with 8 GB of LPDDR4x memory, with an additional 4 GB of extended RAM, giving up to 12 GB of RAM – more than enough to handle multiple memory-hungry games and apps at the same time!
There’s also no need to worry about storage – its 128 GB internal storage is plenty enough for a multitude of games and apps. And if you run out, you can top up storage through a microSD card!
44 MP Selfie Camera
When it comes to photography, the vivo V23e Mirage Gold offers both great selfie shots from its 44 MP front camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture for great selfies even in low light conditions.
The front camera automatically focuses on your eye area, to ensure that you are always in focus; with software enhancements to deliver a natural portrait look.
You can also opt for Multi-Style Portrait to create portraits in a variety of distinct styles!
You can also take photos in really dark conditions using its Front Camera AI Extreme Night feature, which uses multi-frame noise reduction to combine multiple shots into one bright and clear shot!
It also supports Steadiface Selfie Video, which ensures that your face remains stable and clear, no matter how you move.
50 MP Triple-Camera System
In the back, it has a 50 MP main camera with a wide f/1.8 aperture, together with an 8 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera for really close-up shots (as close as 4 cm).
The main camera supports Double Exposure, allowing you to take two different photos and combine them for a unique double-exposed shot!
5G Connectivity
While 5G connectivity is still not available in Malaysia, and sparse around the world, the integrated 5G modem means you’re future-proofed.
More importantly though are its other connectivity options. It comes with support for dual-band WiFi-AC, Bluetooth 5.1 and a reversible USB Type C port.
Sleek + Light
The vivo V23e Mirage Gold features a premium glass-covered chassis, with a smooth anti-fingerprint finish.
It has a sleek profile that is just under 7.5 mm thick, and weighs just 172 grams.
Large Fast Charging Battery
To power all that, the V23e Mirage Gold comes with a large 4,050 mAh battery, which gives you a full day of usage and then some!
On top of that, it supports 44 watt flash charging – a quick 30 minute flash charge will restore its battery life to 69%! Best of all – vivo included the charger in the box!
vivo V23e Mirage Gold : Specifications
Specifications
vivo V23e Mirage Gold
Display
6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display
– 1080 x 2400 pixels
OS
Funtouch OS 12 (Android 11)
Platform
MediaTek Dimensity 810 (MT6873)
CPU
2 x Arm Cortex-A76 cores (2.4 GHz )
6 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores
The vivo V23e 5G was originally available in two colour options – Sunshine Coast on the left, and Cosmic Aurora on the right.
Take a look at how they compare against the new Mirage Gold colour (centre). Do let us know which you prefer!
vivo V23e 5G Mirage Gold : Price, Availability + Deals!
The vivo V23e 5G has a launch price of RM1,599 – approximately US$378 / £286 / A$532 / S$517.
For a limited time, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM528 from now until 20 February 2022!
Limited Edition vivo x L’Oréal Paris Valentine’s Gift Box
1 Year Extended Warranty
1 Year Screen Crack Protection
From 21 until 28 February, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM399 :
1 Year Extended Warranty
1 Year Screen Crack Protection
If you like the vivo V23e Mirage Gold, make sure you get it now!
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
vivo just launched their V23 5G smartphone, offering dual front cameras with dual LED spotlights for selfie-lovers!
Take a look at the new vivo V23 5G, and find out if this is the selfie pal you have been waiting for!
vivo V23 5G : For Selfie + Photography Enthusiasts!
The new vivo V23 5G smartphone is designed for selfie and photography enthusiasts, offering really great front and rear cameras at an affordable price point.
Let’s take a look at its key features, so you can figure out if this is the smartphone you have been waiting for!
6.44-inch Display
The vivo V23 5G smartphone comes with a massive 6.44-inch display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate.
It uses an AMOLED panel, which delivers much better colour gamut and brightness than regular LCD displays.
Flagship-Class Mobile SoC
The MediaTek Dimensity 920 is a new and faster flagship-class mobile SoC, with an integrated 5G modem, and :
two high-performance Arm Cortex-A78 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz,
six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz, and
an Arm Mali-G68 MC4 GPU to accelerate 2D and 3G graphics
RAM + Storage
The vivo V23 5G comes with two RAM and storage options :
8 GB of RAM + 128 GB of internal storage
12 GB of RAM + 256 GB of internal storages
Dual Selfie Cameras!
When it comes to photography, the vivo V23 5G offers expanded creativity with dual selfie cameras, supported by dual-tone LED spotlights!
For high-resolution portraits, you have an incredibly high-resolution 50 MP front camera, with a large f/2.0 aperture for great low-light performance.
But if you need to fit many people in, you can opt for the 105° super wide-angle 8 MP camera, with an f/2.28 aperture!
The dual-tone LED spotlights help to ensure even and adequate lighting, even in ultra low-light conditions!
64 MP Triple-Camera System
In the back, it has a 64 MP main camera with a wide f/1.89 aperture, together with an 8 MP wide-angle camera, and a 2 MP macro camera for really close-up shots (as close as 4 cm).
The main camera features the Samsung ISOCELL GW1 image sensor, which lets you take really great photos in low-light conditions by combining four pixels into one, through its Tetrapixel technology!
5G Connectivity
While 5G connectivity is still not available in Malaysia, and sparse around the world, the integrated 5G modem means you’re future-proofed.
More importantly though are its other connectivity options. It comes with support for dual-band WiFi-AC, Bluetooth 5.2 and a reversible USB Type C port.
Premium Colour Changing Glass Body!
The vivo V23 5G features a Fluorite AG glass-covered aviation aluminium chassis, with a layer of crystals that changes colour with the light!
The glass-aluminium body not only imparts a premium feel, it offers a sleek profile that is just under 7.6 mm thick, and weighs about 180 grams.
Large Fast Charging Battery
The V23 comes with a large 4,200 mAh battery to give you a full day of usage and then some!
On top of that, it supports 44 watt flash charging, and best of all – vivo included the charger in the box!
The vivo V23 5G is available in two colour options – Sunshine Gold on the left, and Stardust Black on the right.
vivo V23 5G : Launch Deals!
The vivo V23 5G has a launch price of RM2,099 – approximately US$502 / £367 / A$694 / S$675.
From 14-16 January 2022, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM688:
vivo TWS 2e wireless earphones
1 Year Extended Warranty
1 Year Screen Crack Protection
From 14-16 January 2022, every purchase will come with free gifts worth RM558:
Wireless vacuum cleaner
1 Year Extended Warranty
1 Year Screen Crack Protection
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung just unveiled another Fan Edition smartphone – the Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990)!
Take a look at the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, and find out why it’s such a great bargain!
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE : What You Need To Know!
Samsung just unveiled another Fan Edition smartphone – the Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990), which promises to offer a great bargain for their fans!
It basically offers the best features of the Galaxy S21 series, with the same premium design, at a very attractive price point.
Let’s take a look!
120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display!
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE does not skimp on its display, which is an awesome Dynamic AMOLED 2X display!
It has a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 240 Hz touch sampling rate in its Game Mode.
Protected From Drops + Water!
Its Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus – the toughest glass ever used on a Galaxy smartphone!
On top of that, the Galaxy S21 FE is IP68 water-resistant, so it is safe from water splashes and immersion in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes.
Flagship Performance!
Samsung didn’t skimp on performance either – the Galaxy S21 FE is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile SoC!
It comes with 8 GB of RAM, and either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. Make sure you choose the storage option you need, because it does not support additional storage through microSD card.
Cameras Delight!
In the front, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a high-resolution 32 MP selfie camera, with a wide f/2.2 aperture.
In the back, it has a triple camera setup that consists of :
a 12 MP main camera, with a Dual Pixel sensor, and f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP wide-angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture, and
an 8 MP 3X telephoto camera, with f/2.4 aperture
Long Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery, which supports 25 watt wired fast charging, and 15 watt wireless charging.
It also supports Wireless PowerShare, which allows it to recharge your wearables and other smartphones wirelessly.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is available in four colour options, from left to right – Graphite, White, Olive and Lavender.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Acer just launched the Aspire Vero – a new green laptop for environmentally-conscious consumers and companies!
Take a look at the 2021 Acer Aspire Vero, and find out how it differs from other laptops!
2021 Acer Aspire Vero : Green Laptop With 30% PCR Chassis
The 2021 Acer Aspire Vero is a new laptop, designed to meet the discerning requirements of environmentally-conscious consumers and companies.
Its chassis is made from 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, while its keycaps contain 50% PCR plastic. This allows the Aspire Vero to save about 21% in CO2 emissions.
The Acer Aspire Vero is also designed to eliminate electronic waste by making it easy to disassemble, repair or upgrade – a far cry from some other brands.
The 2021 Acer Aspire Vero also ships in a box made from 80-85% recycled paper pulp, and it swaps plastic bags for paper sleeves instead.
The single piece of plastic in the box – a thin protective sheet between the keyboard and screen – is made from 100% industrial recycled plastic.
All graphics on the box are also printed with soy ink, and Acer did away with any printing on the laptop chassis. On top of that, users can convert the 100% recyclable packaging into a DIY laptop stand!
The laptop comes with a 99% recyclable 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, and is powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 or Core i5 processor with Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
For greater energy efficiency and longer battery life, you can switch on the Eco+ mode in the Acer VeroSense software.
It features the latest connectivity capabilities – Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.1, and even an RJ-45 ethernet port, as well as two USB Type A ports, a USB Type C port, a HDMI port and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
The 2021 Acer Aspire Vero runs on Windows 11, and comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021
2021 Acer Aspire Vero : Specifications
Acer is offering two variants of the Aspire Vero laptop in 2021. For your convenience, I prepared this table comparing their key specifications :
Specifications
Acer Aspire Vero
(Core i5)
Acer Aspire Vero
(Core i7)
Model
AV15-51-522W
AV15-51-75SA
Display
15.6-inch IPS display
Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080)
OS
Microsoft Windows 11 Home
Processor
Intel Core i5-1155G7
Intel Core i7-1195G7
Memory
8 GB LPDDR4X
16 GB LPDDR4X
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Storage
512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Networking
Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201
Bluetooth 5.1 RJ-45 Ethernet Port
Connectivity
1 x HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A (with power-off USB charging)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1
Type C
1 x 3.5 mm audio jack
Webcam
Acer HD webcam (1280 x 720)
Battery Life
Up to 7 hours
Dimensions
363.4 mm wide
238.5 mm deep
17.9 mm thick
Weight
1.8 kg
Price
RM3,399
RM4,299
2021 Acer Aspire Vero : Price + Availability
The 2021 Acer Aspire Vero is available for purchase with immediate effect, with these official launch prices :
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
72.2 mm wide
86.4 mm tall
15.9 mm to 17.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
72.2 mm wide
166.0 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight
183 grams
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Unboxing + Contents!
The new Galaxy Z Flip 3 is Samsung’s third-generation Flip device, featuring not only a large foldable 6.7-inch display, but also IPX8 water resistance!
As a Samsung ultra-premium smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes in a premium two-tone black-grey box, with these items inside :
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 smartphone
Quick Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C data and power cable
SIM tray ejection pin
Unfortunately, it does not come with a fast charger in-the-box, or an USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor. Not does it come with any USB-C earphones…
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 boasts a large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.
In case you are wondering – the crease is visible if you view it from an angle, and you can feel it if you run your finger over it. But after using it some time – you will forget it’s even there.
The display is large and really beautiful – with excellent resolution, colour gamut and brightness. And it folds into a really compact device about the size of a pager – if you are old enough to remember what that is!
Its foldable display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that are 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display. It is now certified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!
If you are new to foldable phones, you will be really tentative about folding it. But over time, it will become really natural – you won’t even think twice about folding it before shoving it down your pocket.
But while the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) can withstand a lot more folding, you must still take care not to SCRATCH it. Avoid putting it together in your pocket or handbag with hard objects like coins, another phone, etc.
You also need to remember to fold it once you don’t need to use the main display. Don’t worry – even if you fold it a 100X a day, it should last 5.5 years!
1.9-inch Cover Display
In the front, it has a small 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.
This redesigned Cover Screen is 4X larger, making it easier to view notifications and messages without opening the Z Flip 3.
You will be able to check your schedule, the weather, and your daily step count with the new Cover Screen widgets. You can even coordinate its wallpaper with the new Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic!
The Cover Display also serves as a camera preview display, letting you use both rear cameras for superior selfies! This is one of the Z Flip 3’s relatively unknown but truly useful feature.
Performance + Storage
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones in the world.
Our review sample came with 8 GB of memory, and 128 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. It is also available with 256 GB of storage.
It only supports a single SIM card, with no microSD card tray. There is no option to increase storage, but generally 128 GB of storage is more than enough for most people.
Protection
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.
To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.
In addition, its chassis is made with Armor Aluminium, and the Cover Display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Its Dual Pixel main camera is also protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.
Buttons
The only buttons you will find are on the upper right side of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 – the Volume control buttons and the Power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor.
Pressing the Power button twice activates the Quick Shot mode, which lets you take selfies using the rear cameras with the Cover Display for preview and control.
Only One Port
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 connectivity.
It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.
Battery + Charging
Powering all that is a 3,300 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 15 watt fast charging, and 10 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.
This is a pretty small battery, and rather slow charging speeds. On top of that, it does not come with an in-box charger. So you will have to use your old charger, or buy a new one.
Samsung flagship smartphones are notable for featuring cutting-edge cameras, but the Galaxy Z Flip 3 stayed with the last generation cameras.
In front, it uses a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture. To be clear, this is an excellent camera. It’s just not new.
But don’t worry – you will end up using this selfie camera only for video calls, and use the better cameras at the back for your “selfies”!
Dual Cameras At The Back
In the back, it has a dual-camera system, which consists of :
a 12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
These cameras are offer great image quality, even in low-light conditions – thanks to their large apertures.
As I pointed out earlier, the Cover Display lets you use these cameras for really excellent selfies. Just double-press the Power button with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 folded to activate these cameras.
This is why Samsung did not “upgrade” the front camera. These rear cameras are really the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s true selfie cameras.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Photo Samples
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3’s rear cameras may “only” have 12 MP sensors, but they are truly excellent cameras.
The cameras both offer good low-light performance, thanks to the wide f/1.8 and f/2.2 apertures. But the wide aperture also creates creates a narrow depth-of-field, so there is the risk of ending up with an out-of-focus photo.
Here are ten unedited photo samples for you to check out.
When used in the selfie mode, the rear cameras deliver Instagram-friendly square 9MP photos with a resolution of 2992 x 2992 pixels, and a file size of about 1.3 MB (HEIC format).
When used unfolded, the rear cameras deliver can be used to take 12MP photos with a resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels, and a file size of about 3 MB (HEIC format).
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes with a small 3,300 mAh battery.
To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.
Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.
It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.
We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with 60 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rates :
Work 3.0
Galaxy A52
(60 Hz)
Galaxy A52
(90 Hz)
S21 Ultra
(60 Hz)
S21 Ultra
(120 Hz)
Note20
Ultra
Z Flip 3
(60 Hz)
Z Flip 3
(120 Hz)
Battery Capacity
4,500 mAh
4,500 mAh
5,000 mAh
5,000 mAh
4,500 mAh
3,300 mAh
3,300 mAh
Battery Life
15 hrs 33 mins
12 hrs 30 mins
11 hrs 22 mins
10 hrs
26 mins
10 hrs
9 mins
8 hrs
11 mins
6 hrs
44 mins
Utilisation
per min.
3.86 mAh
4.80 mAh
5.87 mAh
6.39 mAh
5.91 mAh
5.38 mAh
6.53 mAh
This is the biggest problem with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 – a relatively short battery life, because it pairs a powerful processor and a very large display with a small 3,300 mAh battery.
Even with the display set to 60 Hz, it only lasts just over 8 hours. If you set the display to dynamically adjust its refresh rate up to 120 Hz, that drops to just over 6.5 hours.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Recharging Speed
S21
Ultra
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy A52
Z Flip 3
Redmi 9T
Battery Capacity
5,000 mAh
4,500 mAh
4,500 mAh
3,300 mAh
6,000 mAh
Charger Output
25 watts
25 watts
15 watts
15 watts
18 watts
Recharging Time
64 mins
66.5 mins
84.5 mins
88.5 mins
184 mins
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.5 mAh
54.1 mAh
42.4 mAh
29.8 mAh
26.1 mAh
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 recharges very slowly, even using the same 15 watt Samsung fast charger as the Galaxy A52.
It actually took longer to recharge its smaller 3,300 mAh battery than the Galaxy A52 which has a much larger 4,500 mAh battery!
Its only saving grace – it was able to recharge slightly faster than the Xiaomi Redmi 9T.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Work Performance
We first tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Work 3.0
Galaxy
Z Flip 3
Galaxy
S21 Ultra
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Redmi
9T
Mobile Platform
SD 888
Exynos
2100
Exynos
990
SD 750G
SD 662
Performance Score
13317
12535
10523
7874
5986
Web Browsing
11637
10185
8865
7021
5844
Video Editing
7762
6336
6232
5693
3423
Writing
15316
15247
11112
7454
6657
Photo Editing
25357
37847
30789
15812
12031
Data Manipulation
11938
8310
6825
6424
4799
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 lets the Galaxy Z Flip 3 easily handle anything you throw at it, whether it’s just posting your latest Instagram pictures or editing a 4K video.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Gaming Performance
For gaming, we tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using 3DMark, with these results :
3DMark
Galaxy
Z Flip 3
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
Note10+
Device
SD 888
Exynos
990
Exynos
9825
Sling Shot Unlimited
9248
8026
3327
Wild Life Unlimited
3952
4504
3288
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
1174
1387
528
Look at that – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 packs a serious punch when it comes to gaming.
It may seem unbelievable because the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is so slim and stylish, but it will easily handle any game you throw at it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!
The only problem is that because it’s so thin – it can get real toasty when you game on it. The back of the chassis can get as warm as 42°C.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Overall Performance
We then tested the Galaxy Z Flip 3 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
AnTuTu
Galaxy
Z
Flip 3
Galaxy
S21 Ultra
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Redmi 9T
Device
SD 888
Exynos
2100
Exynos
990
SD 750G
SD
662
AnTuTu Score
696767
624411
522735
341908
173559
CPU
206228
166290
146783
105098
64505
GPU
242573
258995
215205
88068
31734
Memory
133586
120805
89376
60642
40377
UX
114380
78321
71371
88100
36943
The AnTuTu benchmark confirms that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a beast of a performer, beating even the very fast Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Let’s do a quick wrap of what I really like, and don’t like, about it.
Better Displays
I love the large 6.7-inch foldable display that is now tougher and more durable, and supports the 120 Hz refresh rate.
Even the larger 1.9-inch cover display deserves special mention, because it is a lot more functional!
Great Performance
Even though it looks real sleek, it is powered by the incredibly powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile SoC.
It will easily handle EVERYTHING you throw at it – even graphics-intensive games. It gets toasty when you game, but hey, at least it doesn’t feel like a brick!
Good Cameras
The front camera is nothing to write about, but the rear cameras are good, even though they are still stuck at 12 MP.
I like how the larger Cover Display lets you easily use the rear cameras for really good selfies.
Short Battery Life + Slow Charging
The problem with the sleek, light design – its small 3,300 mAh battery which barely does 6.5 hours with the 120 Hz refresh rate.
It doesn’t help that it recharges really slowly, even with a standard 15 watt charger… and don’t get me started on the lack of an in-box charger!
Zilch In-Box Freebies
For a premium product, it comes with zilch freebies in-the-box. As mentioned before, there is no fast charger.
There is also no USB-C to 3.5 mm audio jack, not even a pair of USB-C earphones. Neither did Samsung provide even a cheap TPU case.
Incredible New Price Point
On the other hand, Samsung really surprised me with the new price points :
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
vivo just introduced the X70 Pro and X70 smartphones featuring ZEISS optics and a unique gimbal camera!
Find out if the new vivo X70 gimbal smartphones are what you have been waiting for!
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : What You Need To Know!
vivo just launched their X70 series of professional photography flagship smartphones, with two models – the X70 and the X70 Pro.
Both models come with ZEISS optics for their cameras, and a unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, to allow users to capture the best possible photos and videos, even in the most challenging conditions.
Here is what you need to know about the new vivo X70 series smartphones…
Large AMOLED Display
Both the vivo X70 and X70 Pro come with a large 6.56-inch AMOLED display, with a resolution of 1080 x 2376 pixels.
They both support a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 240 Hz response rate, as well as HDR10+ support and Hi-Rest certification.
There is a subtle difference between the two models though – the vivo X70 display has a 2.5D edge, while the Pro version has a 3D curved edge.
Performance
Both models are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 – a 5G mobile SoC built on the 6 nm process, with eight processor cores that consists of :
a high-performance A78 core running at 3 GHz,
three sustained-performance cores running at 2.6 GHz, and
four high-efficiency A55 cores running at 2 GHz.
In addition to its 8 processor cores, it has a 9-core Arm Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, and a 6-core MediaTek APU 3.0 AI processor.
RAM + Storage
The vivo V70 comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, while the Pro version comes with a whopping 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
Even though they both come with a lot of memory, they support Extended RAM 2.0 – giving them additional 4 GB of memory on call!
There is no option to upgrade storage through a microSD card, but they both come with more than enough storage for most users, and most importantly – it’s super fast UFS 3.1 flash storage!
Cameras Co-Engineered With ZEISS
Both models have a high-resolution 32 MP front camera, with a triple camera system for the X70 and a quad camera system for the X70 Pro.
Both camera systems were co-engineered with ZEISS and feature lenses with ZEISS T* coating to reduce unwanted light flares, ghosting, stray light and other image artifacts.
The pièce de résistance of both models is the unique Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera, which is coupled with the Gimbal Stabilisation 3.0 technology, to let you capture steady images and video even in the most challenging conditions.
They also support VIS 5-Axis Ultra Stable Video technology, which integrates enhanced optical image stabilisation (OIS) with electronic image stabilisation (EIS) to aggressively stabilise the X/Y-axis as well as Z-axis rotation for silky-smooth video.
Rounding that up is a slew of AI-enhanced photography and videography technologies, like Real-Time Extreme Night Vision, Super Night Video, Pure Night View, Pro Cinematic Mode and more.
Battery + Charging
The vivo X70 Pro and X70 come with large batteries – 4,450 mAh and 4,400 mAh capacities respectively, for a long battery life.
On top of that, they both come with a USB charger in-the-box, which supports 44W FlashCharge for extremely fast charging.
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Specifications
To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :
vivo X70 Gimbal Smartphones : Price + Pre-Order Deals
The vivo X70 is priced at RM2,499 – approximately US$598 / £437 / A$822 / S$806.
Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :
Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth speaker + car charger + 1-month Viu subscription
The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM3,299 – approximately US$789 / £577 / A$1,085 / S$1,064.
Here are the freebies you will get if you pre-order one from now until 1 October 2021 :
Protection Plus : 1 year extended warranty + 1 year screen crack protection
Premium Gift Box : Bluetooth sound bar + 1-month Viu subscription
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Size + Colour Options In Malaysia
Samsung will offer the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic in two size options each, with different colour options :
40 mm Watch 4 : Black, Pink Gold, Silver
44 mm Watch 4 : Black, Green, Silver
42 mm Watch 4 Classic : Black, Silver
46 mm Watch 4 Classic : Black, Silver
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Everything You Need To Know!
On 11 August 2021, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, and here is everything you need to know!
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are the first smartwatches to feature the new Samsung Wear OS, built jointly with Google and featuring One UI Watch – Samsung’s most intuitive user interface.
Both smartwatches are built around the Exynos W920 – a 5 nm dual-core mobile SoC with 20% faster CPU performance and a GPU 10X faster than the last generation.
Samsung also increased the resolution of the display, up to 450 x 450 pixels, and double their memory to 1.5 GB of RAM.
It has 16 GB of built-in storage, which allows you to store your favourite apps, music and photos – all secured by the Samsung Knox security platform.
But arguably the most important thing is its new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, which monitors your heart rate, heart electrical impulses and bioelectrical impedance.
It also comes with an all-new Body Composition measurement tool, to give you a deeper understanding of your general health and fitness, with key measurements like skeletal muscle, basal metabolic rate, body water and body fat percentage.
Both smartwatches offer up to 40 hours of battery life, with fast charging capability – 30 minutes of charging gives you up to 10 hours of battery life!
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 : Specifications In Malaysia
Specifications
Galaxy Watch 4
Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
Model
NA
NA
Chassis
Aluminium
Stainless Steel
Display Size
44 mm : 1.4-inch, 450 x 450 pixels
40 mm : 1.2-inch, 396 x 396 pixels
46 mm : 1.4-inch, 450 x 450 pixels
42 mm : 1.2-inch, 396 x 396 pixels
Display
Full Color Always On Display
Super AMOLED panel
Gorilla Glass with DX+
OS
Wear OS with One UI Watch 3
Processor
Samsung Exynos W920
– two processor cores @ 1.18 GHz
Android 6.0 or higher, with more than 1.5 GB of RAM
Dimensions
44 mm : 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm
40 mm : 40.4 x 39.3 x 9.8 mm
46 mm : 45.5 x 45.5 x 11.0 mm
42 mm : 41.5 x 41.5 x 11.2 mm
Weight
44 mm : 30.3 g
40 mm : 25.9 g
46 mm : 52 g
42 mm : 46.5 g
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Hands-On + Key Features!
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 boasts a large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.
In the front, it has a small 1.9-inch Cover Display with a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 260 x 512 pixels.
Its foldable display has a new protective film made from stretchable PET, and newly-optimised display panel layers that is 80% more durable than the Z Fold2 display. The foldable display is now verified to withstand folding at least 200,000 times!
Its chassis is made with Armor Aluminium, and the Cover Display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Its Dual Pixel main camera is also protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.
To protect against dust and other particles, its Hideaway Hinge has enhanced Sweeper technology, with shorter bristles.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is built around the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, with 8 GB of memory, and either 128 GB or 256 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage.
Its redesigned Cover Screen is now 4X larger, making it easier to view notifications and messages without opening the Z Flip 3.
You will be able to check your schedule, the weather, and your daily step count with the new Cover Screen widgets. You can even coordinate its wallpaper with the new Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic!
In the front, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture, in the front.
And at the back, it has a dual-camera system :
12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
12 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
Powering all that is a 3,300 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 15 watt fast charging, and 10 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 : Specifications In Malaysia
72.2 mm wide
86.4 mm tall
15.9 mm to 17.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
72.2 mm wide
166.0 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight
183 grams
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.