There are whispers on the street and rumors in the air; the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S23 series is around the corner. And as we eagerly await the official reveal, tech sleuths have been busy connecting the dots and painting a pretty good picture of Samsung’s next-gen flagship smartphones.

With anticipation high and rumor mills rustling louder, we’ve combed through the most reliable sources in the tech world to bring you a roundup of everything you can expect with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 series before the official announcement.

 

Release Date

The question on every tech enthusiast’s mind: When will the Samsung Galaxy S23 be launched? Ice Universe speculated a February 1^st launch for the Galaxy S23 a while ago. And emerging details suggest the serial leaker was onto something—with Samsung recently scheduling a Galaxy Unpacked event for Feb.1.

And while the company did not explicitly reveal the devices they’ll be revealing, all signs point to the release of the Samsung Galaxy S23. Case in point, the fan-favorite Galaxy S22 series was announced to the world on February 9^th, 2022.

 

Models and Design

To say the Galaxy S22 lineup was a hit would be an understatement. The smartphones were deservedly one of the best Android devices in 2022—and their sleek design had a big role to play in the warm market reception. As such, it would be hard to imagine Samsung reinventing the design language—and emerging renders by Onleaks and Smartprix suggest the same.

Samsung Galaxy S23 rumors point to three models in the series:

• Samsung Galaxy S23: According to rumors reported by GSM Arena, the base model will measure 5.76 x 2.78 x 0.30 inches.
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: The larger ‘Plus’ model will measure 6.21 x 2.99 x 0.30 inches—a barely noticeable bump from the 6.20 x 2.98 x 0.30-inch dimensions of the S22+.
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Ice universe and SamMobile report that the Galaxy S23 Ultra (aka., the crème de la crème of the lineup) will measure 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches.

 

Display

While Samsung can tinker with the contrast ratios and brightness of the upcoming flagships, most rumors suggest the core display specs will remain largely unchanged from last year’s S22 lineup.

The base Galaxy S23 is likely to feature a 6.1-inch (2,340×1,080 pixels) OLED panel. Its immediate upgrade, the Galaxy S23+ may come with a 6.6-inch (2,340×1,080 pixels) OLED display. As per TENAA’s certification documents (via SamMobile), the Galaxy S23 Ultra (SM-G9180) has a QHD+ resolution (3,088×1,440 pixels) display. All phones are believed to have a hole-punch notch and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate.

 

Cameras

This is where the specs get juicy! If exciting reports by SamMobile and ETNews come to pass, expect a whopping 200MP primary camera on the Samsung S23 Ultra. This is part of a quad camera setup—including a 12MP (or 10MP) ultrawide, a 10MP (or 12MP) 3x telephoto, and a 10-megapixel telephoto with 10x optical zoom.

Ice universe also cautiously speculates that the 200-megapixel primary camera may get an f/1.7 aperture and 0.6μm-sized pixels. You may also have the ability to record 8K videos at 30fps—up from the 24fps capture in the S22.

The base model Galaxy S23 and the S23+ are likely to have the same rear camera specs as their 2022 predecessors.

 

Performance and Battery

Now, what’s under the hood? How functional is the upcoming Galaxy S23 lineup compared to its competitors?

All devices in the series will run on Qualcomm’s latest processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (AC version)—which has a higher clock speed than the vanilla Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (AB version). The most powerful of the lot (the S23 Ultra) is expected to boast an octa-core processor with three CPU clusters running at 3.36GHz, 2.8GHz, and 2GHz, respectively.

When it comes to memory and storage, the S23 and S23 have 8GB RAM—with storage options of between 128GB and 512GB. The Ultra comes with 8GB/12GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage. One interesting rumor claims that the Galaxy S23 lineup will come equipped with faster (130%) and more efficient (20% less power consumption) LPDDR5X RAM. This may give the company an edge in its fierce competition with Apple.

Powering the devices is a 3,900 mAh (base model), 4,700 mAh (S23+), and 5,000 mAh (S23 Ultra) battery. The Plus and Ultra are expected to support 45W wired fast charging and 10W wireless charging—while the based S23 makes due with 25W wired fast charging.

 

Satellite Support?

Apple made the headlines with its SOS feature that gave iPhone 14 users access to satellite communication during emergencies. And according to rumors covered by Tom’s Guide, Samsung may be borrowing from Apple’s playbook by working with Iridium Communication to bring satellite support to the Galaxy S23 series.

 

Price

With all its nifty features, what are the prices of the Samsung S23 lineup?

Initial rumors pointed to a likely increase in S23 prices—and with inflation running rampant—it made sense. But a screenshot of Verizon’s internal system (as posted on Reddit) suggests that Samsung may maintain the S22 prices despite the tough economy. Here are the purported Samsung Galaxy S23 prices:

• Base Galaxy S23: Prices start at $799.99
• Galaxy S23 Plus: Prices start at $999.99
• Galaxy S23 Ultra: Prices start at $1,199.99

 

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Review of the iPhone 14 Lineup

In an ever-expanding sea of smartphones—some illogically cheap and others boasting of mind-boggling tech—Apple still manages to claim a seat at the pinnacle of the industry. Why?

IPhones have a rapport for their premium hardware designed to last, cutting-edge features that just work, and an unparalleled customer-oriented approach. All these values that make people fall in love with Apple are reflected in their latest iteration of iPhones; iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 series borrows everything that was great about last year’s iPhone 13 lineup and takes it up a notch (pun intended).

If top-of-the-line cameras and unyielding performance wrapped up in a gorgeous body are your ideas for a great phone, the iPhone 14 lineup is a no-brainer. The question is: Which of the iPhone 14’s is your perfect companion?

Read on for our review of Apple’s latest flagship smartphones (Hint: There’s more to the devices than what’s on paper).

 

Specs – iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Plus/iPhone 14 Pro/iPhone 14 Pro Max

First things first, what’s on paper? Here are the official specs of the 2022 iPhone 14 series:

	iPhone 14	iPhone 14 Plus	iPhone 14 Pro	iPhone 14 Pro Max
Body	Gorilla Glass (front and back) + Aluminum frame	Gorilla Glass (front and back) + Aluminum frame	Gorilla Glass (front and back) + Stainless steel frame	Gorilla Glass (front and back) + Stainless steel frame
Display size (Type)	6.1-inch (Super Retina XDR OLED)	6.7-inch (Super Retina XDR OLED)	6.1-inch (LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED)	6.7-inch (LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED)
Refresh rate	60Hz	60Hz	120Hz	120Hz
Resolution (Pixel Density)	2532 x 1170 pixels (460 ppi)	2778 x 1284 pixels (458 ppi)	2556 x 1179 pixels (460 ppi)	2796 x 1290 pixels (460 ppi)
Dimensions (Inches/mm)	5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm)	6.33 x 3.07 x 0.31 inches (160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8 mm)	5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches (147.5 x 71.5 x 7.9 mm)	6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 inches (160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm)
Weight	6.07 oz. (172 g)	7.16 oz. (203 g)	7.27 oz. (206 g)	8.47 oz. (240 g)
Mobile software	iOS 16	iOS 16	iOS 16	iOS 16
Rear cameras	12MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide)	12MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide)	48MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (telephoto)	48MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (telephoto)
Front-facing camera	12MP	12MP	12MP	12MP
Video	HDR recording up to 4K at 60 fps	HDR recording up to 4K at 60 fps	HDR recording up to 4K at 60 fps	HDR recording up to 4K at 60 fps
Processor	Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)	Apple A15 Bionic (5nm)	Apple A16 Bionic (4nm)	Apple A16 Bionic (4nm)
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Expandable storage	No	No	No	No
Battery	Li-Ion 3279 mAh, non-removable (12.68 Wh)	Li-Ion 4323 mAh, non-removable (16.68 Wh)	Li-Ion 3200 mAh, non-removable (12.38 Wh)	Li-Ion 4323 mAh, non-removable (16.68 Wh)
Connector	Lightning	Lightning	Lightning	Lightning
Headphone jack	No	No	No	No
Special features	Emergency SOS via satellite, 5G, MagSafe, wireless charging; dual-SIM (e-SIM)	Emergency SOS via satellite, 5G enabled; MagSafe, wireless charging; dual-SIM (e-SIM)	Emergency SOS via satellite, Dynamic Island; Always-On display; 5G enabled; MagSafe, wireless charging; dual-SIM (e-SIM)	Emergency SOS via satellite, Dynamic Island; Always-On display; 5G enabled; MagSafe, wireless charging; dual-SIM (e-SIM)
Colors	Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red	Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red	Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple	Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
Price off-contract (USD)	$799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB)	$899 (128GB), $999 (256GB), $1,199 (512GB)	$999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB)	$1,099 (128GB), $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB)

 

The published spec sheet aside, how do all the nifty perks translate to the consumer? Are the new camera features worthwhile? How practical is the ‘ground-breaking’ dynamic island? Here’s a breakdown of what the iPhone 14 packs outside and under the hood based on an in-depth analysis of hands-on reviews:

 

Design – Out with Notch, In With the Island

If you’ve had the opportunity to grab hold of the iPhone 13, expect the same feel with 2022’s iPhone 14—at least body-wise. The dimensions and even the screen are identical—with most of the tuning happening on the inside.

While the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus (expected to be released on October 07) have relatively uninspiring designs, the Pro models are the exact opposite. For the first time since the 2017 iPhone X, the team at Cupertino has finally made the bold of reinventing the trademark notch.

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max displays feature a pill-shaped cutout dubbed the “Dynamic Island.” While the name attracted its fair share of memes, the Dynamic Island may prove to be a gem. It’s a creative way to refresh the iconic notch by turning it into a more practical tool that improves the user experience.

The Dynamic Island functions like an adaptive blob that stretches, contracts, and even changes shape as needed. Its elegant feel and functionality make it one of Apple’s most significant design upgrades in recent years. The island takes multitasking up a notch by allowing you to dock an app and revisit it with a quick tap.

And as you’d expect from Apple, the animations are silky smooth and subtle. But some users have identified some rough spots such as uncharacteristic cropping of things like timers. It’s one of those features that gradually grow on you until you can’t imagine a life without them

While Dynamic Island is attracting most of the plaudits, Apple managed to sneak in a useful feature that may end up saving you a couple of bucks. You can now replace the back glass without going through the expensive hassle of disassembling the phone. Even better, you don’t need to remove the True Depth Camera module to replace the display. Talking of display…

 

Display – Smoother, Brighter, and Always-On

To the disappointment of fans, Apple maintained a 60Hz display for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models—a refresh rate that is relatively outdated among high-end smartphones. Besides that, the entire lineup delivers crisp OLED screens with Dolby Vision and HDR10 technology.

Following the same trend with the design, Apple reserved the best display features for the Pro models. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max boast LTPO OLED screens with a 120Hz refresh rate. Coupled with the Dynamic Island and a bumped-up camera (more on this in the next section), emerging reports by market analysts suggest the Pro models are racking up higher demand to the point that Apple may be doubling down on their production.

The Pro models also ship with an Always-On display turned on. If you’ve used an Apple watch, you might be familiar with how this feature works. Always-On dims the screen to about 10% and chops the refresh rate up to 1Hz. This gives you a constant sneak peek of time and notifications without significantly hogging your battery. It’s a feature that may take some getting used—with online search results showing a spike in people looking to toggle the feature on-off.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Pro models pack an impressive 2000nits of peak brightness—compared to the 1200nits in the 14 and 14 Plus. The extra nits may not matter much in normal usage, but they might come in handy when you need a clear view of your phone in bright light.

 

Camera – Bumped Up, But Bumpy

Apple rarely disappoints when it comes to cameras—this reputation holds true with the iPhone 14 lineup. Refined features like Cinematic Mode, Night Mode, Depth Control, and the all-new “Photonic Engine” give the iPhone 14s the software juice to deliver brighter, lifelike images.

You’ll also find Action Mode, which stabilizes images when you move the camera around a lot. Though you have to sacrifice resolution from 4k to 2.8k – a small price to pay for quality videos.

In terms of the selfie cameras, they all get an upgrade with autofocus (finally) and a wider aperture of f/1.9. Video calls and portrait shots are about to be better than they’ve ever been.

While all devices in the 2022 lineup offer impressive camera output that’s on par with the best smartphones out there, the Pro models take the limelight.

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus comes with the familiar dual rear camera setup with a 12MP main camera. This is the same resolution as their predecessors, the iPhone 13—but with an upgrade in aperture from f/1.6 to f/1.5.

And if you thought iPhone cameras were good at 12MP, wait until you catch a whiff of the 48MP sensor on the Pro models? On top of the larger sensor (around 65% larger than the iPhone 13 Pro), the Pro models also feature a 12MP telephoto sensor that allows 3X optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor with a wider aperture, and ProRES for 48MP raw shots.

This is all great news for the photographers and filmmakers in us. Most camera test show improved color rendition, more light gathering, and faster focusing. But all this goodness comes with a caveat: a bigger camera bump.

If the wonky feel of the iPhone 13 Pro was a concern for you, wait until you place the iPhone 14 Pros on a table. Sure, it’s highly unlikely that the wobble will be a deal breaker—but it’s hard to ignore the risk of accidental falls on slanted surfaces. When this is the case (*another pun), we got your back with our top-of-the-line iPhone 14 screen protectors to safeguard your precious device.

 

Processor – A Partial Upgrade

To widen the gap between the Base and Pro models, Apple decided to reuse last year’s A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus—only reserving the cutting-edge A16 Bionic for the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.

The A15 Bionic is already some steps ahead of most competitors, so it should still suffice. But if you want the best in processing power—especially for long-term use—the A16 Bionic packed in the Pro models is a great choice.

 

What Does the eSIM Spell for You?

Another major change to the iPhone lineup is the contentious idea to ditch the physical SIM card tray in favor of an eSim—at least in the U.S., This move is so far divisive among consumers.

Some users argue that the idea to ‘force’ the eSIM-only iPhone 14s is an anti-consumer approach that is uncharacteristic of Apple. There’s also the frustration of hiccups when transferring your phone number from an old device to the iPhone 14. Not to mention the privacy risk from waiving the option to remove the physical SIM card.

But for most people, setting up your new iPhone and switching between carriers should be a breeze. It might even be smoother and more seamless than the conventional way with physical SIMs.

 

Safety and Security

Safety first! SOS over satellite and crash detection are two features that are not necessarily in the spotlight as far as early iPhone 14 impressions are concerned. But they could mean the world to some users when their lives are at stake.

The crash detection feature basically works by using advanced sensors to identify a car crash before dialing emergency services and notifying them of your location for help. If sending an emergency message is not possible due to signal issues, the iPhone 14 will use satellite.

 

Battery Life and Charging

Interestingly, the base iPhone 14 packs a larger battery than the iPhone 14 Pro. But this does not translate to better battery life. With a more efficient A16 Bionic chipset and the adaptive ProMotion display, the Pro model may slightly edge past the iPhone 14. But all this depends on your real-world usage.

Either way, Apple claims you can recharge your device to 50% in 30 minutes using their fast charging adapter or 15W MagSafe charging. Time will tell how this holds up.

 

Color

Specs and neat features aside, sometimes the buying decision comes down to the phone’s aesthetic. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are available in Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and (PRODUCT) Red. The Pro models ship with fewer color options—but eye-catching ones nonetheless. They include Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple.

We feel Deep Purple will be a fan favorite and a top candidate for users who prefer transparent cases. The Space Black is a nice shade for those of you who prefer something dialed down. It’s slightly darker than last year’s Graphite shade.

 

Verdict?

With the 120Hz display, the Dynamic Island, a 48MP camera, and the A16 Bionic chip, all signs point to the iPhone 14 Pro models. They are a few drawbacks like the wobbly camera bump and lack of a USB-C connector, but they are mostly negligible. But regardless of your pick, this year’s iPhone lineup offers great value for money.

And when you upgrade to the latest iPhone, ensure you enjoy your device for as long as possible by installing a glass screen protector from Tech Amor. We have reliable and easy-to-install iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max screen protectors. Plus, a handful of accessories such as cleaning kits, car mounts, and premium cables.

The second half of 2022 is upon us. And with the recently concluded WWDC, it’s right around the time tech rumor mills start picking up momentum in anticipation for iPhone announcements come fall—and we’re here for it.

The tech streets are already awash with iPhone 14 leaks as the supply chain gradually paints a clearer picture of what to expect. And if the existing leaks are a semblance of the final product, you have reason to be excited. From a sharper main camera to an enthusing shakeup of the display to the resurfacing of Touch ID, the Apple team could be concurring some of the biggest iPhone changes in years.

Here’s our roundup of all the buzz and gossip on Apple’s much-anticipated 2022 iPhone lineup.

 

iPhone 14 Release Date Rumors – When are the Devices Dropping?

We’ll see a new iPhone this fall: That’s more or less set in stone leaning on historical evidence. But with purported disruptions in the supply chain and whatever marketing ploys are brewing at Curpetino, pinpointing the exact launch date is an arduous task.

According to a hypothesis by Tom’s Guide, emerging reports and developments in the industry suggest that the official iPhone 14 reveal is likely slated for September 13, with the pre-orders going live on September 16. By comparison, Apple’s iPhone 13 flagships were introduced on September 14, 2021—before going on sale 10 days later on September 24.

 

iPhone 14 Lineup Rumors – How Many and How Big?

Increasingly reliable intel hints at a “bigger is better” approach for the iPhone 14 lineup. While Apple is expected to maintain the number of phones at 4, they might ditch the poorly-received Mini for bigger screens.

According to a 2021 prediction by Nikkei Asia, “It is pretty much decided that there won’t be a Mini next year, and there will be a relatively cost-effective version of the largest iPhone Pro Max instead.” While the iPhone 13 Mini survived its forecasted demise, the iPhone 14 Mini likely won’t be as lucky.

The Mini is expected to make way for a larger 6.7-inch model. Here are the rumored iPhone 14 models and their respective screen sizes:

iPhone Lineup	Rumored Screen Size
iPhone 14	6.1-inch
iPhone 14 Pro	6.1-inch
iPhone 14 Max	6.7-inch
iPhone 14 Pro Max	6.7-inch

 

The “Pro” monicker depicts higher specs, while “Max” is designated for larger screens. This means that we might be seeing two ‘lower-end’ models and two ‘higher-end ones’ with different screen sizes in each category.

Another exciting leak, as seen from CAD renders shared by Twitter user ShrimpApplePro 🍤, suggests that Apple may be dialing down the bezels for the Pro Max. So same screen size, but smaller overall dimensions.

 

iPhone 14 Design – Going Notchless and Other Cosmetic Changes

Now to the juicy news…the infamous but iconic notch! Since the launch of the iPhone X in 2017, the notch has grown from an intrusive eyesore to an insignia that weaves into the branding fabric of the phone manufacturer. But that may be about to change.

Emerging reports suggest that Apple is looking to ax the divisive screen design in favor of a pill-shaped (Face ID sensors) and punch-hole design (selfie camera). In a January 2022 tweet, supply chain expert Ross Young claimed, “The two-hole concept will be unique to Apple, like the notch.”

Schematics shared by the relatively reliable leaker, Max Weinbach, show the cut-out designs on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. A purported supply chain photo further gives credence to the notchless rumor, showing the dual cut-outs on iPhone 14 Pro models.

 

Notch aside, we don’t expect any significant cosmetic changes to the form factor of this year’s iPhone lineup. The dual-triple camera housing, straight metal edges, and glossy-glass back we saw in the iPhone 13 lineup should carry to its successors—albeit a few nicks and tugs such as the potential use of a Titanium Allow frame in place of the Stainless Steel frame.

There are mixed reports of a protruding camera bump and a thicker design to house the camera and battery upgrades. Videos posted by iupdate and Mac Otakata give us a closer look at the rumored iPhone 14 designs.

 

iPhone 14 Display Rumors

A leak by analyst Jeff Pu (as seen on MacRumors) claims all 2022 iPhone models could feature 120Hz ProMotion display technology seen on the high-end iPhone 13 Pro models. However, other sources suggest that the cheaper ‘non-Pro’ models may have to contend with 60Hz refresh rates seen on LTPS OLED displays. Time will tell the path Apple decides to take.

In the other thrilling news,  Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has recently hinted at the debut of the long-overdue always-on display (AOD), claiming it will leverage a low refresh rate (up to 1Hz) to display “weather, calendars, stocks, activities, and other data while the screen remains at a low brightness and frame rate.”

Gurman’s claims are in line with multiple AOD references uncovered by 9to5Mac within the iOS 16 code. But you may have to upgrade to the Pro models to enjoy this feature. Users of the standard iPhone 14 model may have to settle for the lift-to-wake option.

 

iPhone 14 Camera – Main and Front-Facing Upgrades?

iPhones have a track record of exceptional camera quality, strategically bumping up their specs yearly to stay ahead of the curve in a viciously competitive market.

The defining camera upgrade for the 2022 lineup is rumored to be the adoption of a 48MP main camera sensor and 8K video support for the Pro models. There’s also a rumored periscope camera in the works, but it might be at least a year before we see it implemented in the consumer market. These whispers are supported by reports by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Jeff Pu, and research company TrendForce.

Over to the front-facing camera, Kuo predicts 6-part lenses, a wider f/1.9 aperture, and built-in autofocus for brighter images, fewer distortions, and improved focus in all models.

Design-wise, the iPhone 14 camera setup is expected to borrow heavily from its predecessor. We’re talking about the now-familiar dual and triple camera setup.

 

Could We See the Return of Touch ID?

It’s been a long time coming, but could 2022 be the year we finally see a comeback of Touch ID? The 2020 iPhone 12  was expected to usher in the return of the nifty feature. And when that didn’t pan out, the rumor mill turned its focus to the 2021 iPhone 13 lineup. But just as with its predecessors, Touch ID was a no-show.

While we’d like to believe iPhone 14 will be it, the whispers on the ground are not as positive. Reliable analyst Ming Chi-Kuo predicts we might have to wait a little longer for Touch ID, perhaps 2023. He writes, “We have revised our forecast to delay the launch of the iPhone with under-display fingerprint to 2H23 due to lower than expected development progress.”

Any little glimmers of hope are further snuffed by Mark Gurman, who reckoned that although Apple had tested the Touch ID, the company was focusing its resources on Face ID instead. As it stands, it appears the future of Touch ID is bleak.

 

iPhone 14 Chip Rumors – What’s Under the Hood?

A new chipset is almost a given with every annual reiteration of the iPhone. Last year we saw the introduction of the 5nm A15 Bionic. But this year, the information that’s coming in appears to be muddled.

Some sources suggest the iPhone 14 chipset could be a more optimized A16 Bionic on a 4nm or even 3nm process. Others claim the new A16 Bionic will be reserved for the pricier Pro models—with iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max featuring last year’s A15 Bionic chip. While feasible, the idea of using different processors in a lineup would be a first.

Alleged benchmark scores give a glimpse into what the A16 Bionic could be packing under the hood. This is a curious category that may still hatch a flurry of rumors in the coming weeks.

 

iPhone 14 Prices – Bringing Budgets into Perspective

For some not-so-welcomed news: A price hike seems increasingly likely amid an already shaky economy. The iPhone 14 lineup is rumored to cost around:

• iPhone 14 – $799
• iPhone 14 Max – $899
• iPhone 14 Pro – $1,099
• iPhone 14 Pro Max – $1,199

Here are the prices of the last years iPhone 13 lineup at launch for reference:

	128GB	256GB	512GB	1TB
iPhone 13 Mini	$699	$799	$999	NA
iPhone 13	$799	$899	$1,099	NA
iPhone 13 Pro	$999	$1,099	$1,299	$1,499
iPhone 13 Pro Max	$1,099	$1,199	$1,399	$1,599

 

Other Rumored iPhone 14 Specs

• Lighting Port: Could we be saying buh-bye to the proprietary Lighting port? Well, not yet (most likely). Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the 2022 iPhones will continue to draw their power from the Lightning—with a transition to the industry-standard USB-C expected in 2023.
• No SIM Card? There’s talk of Apple scrapping the physical SIM card entirely and adopting a non-removable eSIM. But there are doubts whether the company will take the eSIM route only or offer it as an alternative, as seen in the iPhone 13 range.
• Battery: There are claims the iPhone 14s may be getting thicker to house larger batteries with improved performance.
• RAM: All 4 iPhone 14 models are rumored to have 6GB of RAM. This is an upgrade for the ‘lower-end’ models, with the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini running on 4GB RAM.
• Cooling: With an uptick in computing power comes a need to keep devices cooler. For this reason, a vapor chamber thermal system may be coming to iPhone—or not.
• 5G Connectivity: With Apple investing heavily in acquiring intel’s modem business, it’s only expected that Apple-made 5G modems should debut soon. Either way, the company is tipped to go all in on 5G.
• Software: We already have a preview of iOS 16, which is almost guaranteed to feature in the upcoming iPhone lineup.

 

TechArmor – Because Your Favorite Devices Deserve the Best

The iPhone 14 lineup is still a good way off into the future. But so far, there’s a lot to look forward to.  So stay tuned for more iPhone 14 rumors, gossip, and news as we tread deeper into the second half of the year.

And while you’re at it, protect your devices. A little proactive action today could save you hundreds of dollars in the future. Don’t take chances; protect your valuables—and we can show you how!

It is clear to say that from the very first device in the series (now in its third iteration), Apple designed the iPhone SE to include some of its most advanced features and technologies. It was important for Apple to provide more options for their existing users who want a smaller iPhone and a great value. The kind set aside from their flagships to deliver the iPhone experience at an incredible price.

As such, the SE lineup has become a trendy model with new iPhone users, helping Apple continue to woo people into the now infamous ecosystem as they continue to add new users to the iPhone at a faster pace. Apple added more new users to the iPhone 13 lineup than in each of the previous five launches. They definitely see the iPhone SE as a means to build on this momentum.

The 2022 iPhone SE is one of those books that should never be judged by its cover. The device is not much of a looker by today’s standards, but neither was the previous iPhone SE. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a visual difference between the two devices. They quite literally share the same body. This is very unlike Apple.

Every year, Tim Cook and Co. get on those meticulously prepared sets and announce devices with just enough difference from the previous generation for the common user to be able to differentiate them. New iPhones always have a unique identifying feature. Be it a color, the camera system design, or a marginal difference in the size of the notch. There is nothing visually special about this Special Edition phone year-on-year. That notwithstanding, Apple rarely makes mistakes, and the 2022 iPhone SE is definitely not one.

As regards to the specs, the internals are all that matters. There are, however, some points to note about the exterior, but before that:

Pros of iPhone SE3

• good
• Powered by A15 Bionic- Apple’s most powerful mobile chip
• Improved battery life
• Light and Thin

Cons of iPhone SE 3

• Pricier than its predecessor
• Lack of night mode
• Small and outdated display

And now, The exterior

With a width of 2.65 inches, a height of 5.45 inches, and a thickness of 7.3mm, the SE 3 is generally one of the most compact phones available in the smartphone market. It is splash, water, and dust resistant and is rated IP67 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529. It comes in at a weight of 144 grams.

The SE3 features a glass and aluminum design in Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red. Thanks to the toughest glass found on both the front and back, the display is more protected than its predecessor. This is the same glass as the back of iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.

One thing that the SE has that not even the Pro Max iPhones get is the Home Button with Touch ID for a secure, private, and easy way to unlock your iPhone, fill in passcodes, and make purchases with Apple Pay.

The 2022 SE sports a 4.7-inch LCD display with IPS technology. It has a 1334 x 750-pixel resolution, which brings its pixel density to 326 per inch and a 1400:1 contrast ratio, far from the near-infinite contrast ratios of good OLED displays. The maximum brightness is at 625 nits.

Other display features include True Tone, P3 wide color gamut, Haptic Touch, and a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.

Speaking of the internals

One of the biggest upgrades to the SE this year is in the processor. At the heart of the iPhone SE is A15 Bionic, the same chip as in iPhone 13. It is mind-blowing that Apple can bring such a powerful chip and a level of performance to their most affordable phone. This is something only Apple can do. Oh, wait, and Xiaomi, of course. The Poco F1 was and still is a legendary device.

On testing, A15 Bionic makes nearly every experience better, from simple things like launching apps and scrolling through photos to intense workloads like processing depth information on the fly. A15 Bionic packs a powerful 6-core CPU to handle demanding tasks smoothly and efficiently. It’s up to 1.8 times faster than iPhone 8 (whose body the iPhone SE lineup assimilated) and even faster than older models. This CPU is faster than all the competition at any price.

The 4-core GPU is excellent for graphics-intensive use cases and delivers a monumental improvement for people upgrading from a phone with any other processor. That means that games are reproduced smoothly and with realism, with the only bottleneck in the gaming experience possible being the display size.

Apps can take advantage of the 16-core Neural Engine, which is perfect for machine learning tasks and, according to Apple, is capable of 15.8 trillion operations per second, which is 26 times faster than iPhone 8. Anyone upgrading from a phone without a Neural Engine will definitely notice all the simple ways it makes using the iPhone easier.

The battery

Battery life is important, especially now when Apple’s iPhone SE brings 5G to Apple’s most affordable iPhone, so iPhone SE can take advantage of the latest generation of technology. With 5G, you get super-fast downloads and uploads, lower latency, and better experiences in more places.

iPhone SE 3 has better battery life thanks to the efficiency of A15 Bionic, the controlled integration with iOS, and Apple’s internal design updates. The iPhone 13 lineup is said to have the best battery life on any smartphone, so there was always going to be an improvement of the weaknesses of the SE lineup.

Cameras

The SE 3 has a 12MP Wide ƒ/1.8 aperture camera with Digital zoom up to 5x, portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, portrait lighting, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) which many expensive phones do not have. The camera has a six-element lens, with LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync.

iPhone SE also has some of Apple’s latest camera innovations. The 12-megapixel camera and A15 Bionic create a new camera system that enables powerful computational photography. Deep Fusion optimizes for texture and detail in every part of the photo. Smart HDR 4 applies individual color, contrast, and noise adjustments to subjects and the background. Photographic Styles brings your preferred style automatically to the image pipeline during capture while preserving skin tones. The ISP in A15 Bionic improves video quality for truer skin tones and reduced noise, especially in lower light.

The iPhone SE can do 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, and 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps. It has an Extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps, Optical image stabilization for video, Digital zoom up to 3x, Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps, Time-lapse video with stabilization, Night mode Time-lapse, Cinematic video stabilization (4K, 1080p, and 720p), and Stereo recording

The SE’s 7MP front camera has a ƒ/2.2 aperture with a portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, portrait lighting,  Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4 for photos, Time-lapse video with stabilization, Night mode Time-lapse, Retina Flash, and cinematic video.

Performance, storage, and price

The iPhone SE 3 comes with a base storage capacity of 64GB, which is not enough by today’s standard. Fortunately, there are also 128GB and 256GB storage options.

iPhone SE comes with all the incredible benefits of iOS 15, including new features like Focus to help reduce distraction to be in the moment and an all-new Maps experience. And you’ll get intelligent capabilities that protect your privacy like on-device Siri and on-device dictation that just weren’t possible with older phones.

iPhone SE will get the latest iOS updates for years to come. iPhone SE continues Apple’s commitment to minimize the impact on the environment.

Like they did with iPhone 13, they eliminated the outer plastic wrap from Apple’s packaging. And they use recycled materials in the design of the iPhone SE, like in the Taptic Engine, where they use 100% recycled rare earth elements and 100% recycled tungsten. iPhone SE is a fantastic new iPhone that brings the performance of A15 Bionic, the speed of 5G, better durability, better battery life, and advanced new camera capabilities. The 2022 SE starts at $429.

The 2020 SE was this $399 entry-level iPhone built to be a powerful net to reel in the more budget-conscious consumers into Apple’s ecosystem. They swapped out the chipset from Apple’s A13 to apple’s A15. This time around they’ve basically taken that same phone bumped the price up to $429 and refreshed it.

The changes made to the SE lineup require a very attentive mind during the event. Apple has made a significant improvement to this phone right. Still, they’ve done it in such a way that unless you specifically watch this, the fact that Apple made no recognizable changes theory is interesting. This drives the theory that Apple would rather have you buy their very expensive iPhone 13s.

Who is the iPhone SE3 perfect for?

• If you love small phones that you can basically carry around easily, this phone is for you. The iPhone SE 3 is the thinnest phone, and its weight measures up to that of the iPhone 12 mini.
• The fact that this phone is 5G is another aspect that could interest you— saying no to a faster and reliable internet is hard.
• Apple held on to their old design. With most things unchanged, you still get a better Touch ID, which is still an old version. So, if you like those vintages yet classic designs, this is the phone for you.

Who is it not suitable for?

• If you are a blogger or a photographer, this phone may not fit your needs. Its camera is quite good, but the features are limited.
• The screen on this phone is a bit small. And when exposed to direct sunlight, the screen isn’t visibly or well seen. So, for big-phone-fanatics, this may not be for you.
• The unlocking system is constricted to just the button, unlike in other phones where you can unlock with your face and fingerprint.

Same design better and new features

The iPhone SE 3 is a pocket-friendly purchase. It has 5G bands meaning its fast enough and will definitely get you through a couple more years without needing to do a phone change. But despite being pocket friendly and small, it still offers you a tremendous undistracted day while using it, let alone the powerful processor that comes with it.

And since the phone is small, there chances that it may keep falling are high. To avoid the small screen from getting damaged or scratched, you can get a screen protector from Tech Armor and prevent all that. Besides, a small phone with a broken screen is a huge no.

 

Samsung fanatics rejoiced as the behemoth unveiled their new smartphone lineup: the Samsung Galaxy S 22 series. The unpacked event took place on February 9^th. The S 22 lineup, just like every Galaxy S phone released in the last 12 years, was rumored to have better and more advanced features than its predecessor. But, now that the phones are out, how true are the rumors?

The S22 series, termed to be the best-of-the-best from Samsung, consists of three models: the Galaxy S 22, S 22 plus, and S 22 Ultra—each offering a new experience, and of course, at an extra dime each. The three models are already available for preorder as the shipping started later the same month after the event.

 

The S 22 plus offers an “expansive, colorful, and responsive” screen and an additional “impressive” photo capability, while the unique thing about the S 22 Ultra is its camera zooming quality. The S 22 so far has received a not-so-good review since its adjustments are minor compared to S 21. In fact, the S 22 and S 22 plus have a weak point— their battery life. But, the good thing is that the duo is fast and reliable.

The prevalent thing about the lineup is that they are powered by a 4nm processor that can detect and monitor app performance directing more or less power depending on the need. This type of processor is the first in Samsung’s Galaxy phone. Additionally, the company added that the Nightography and auto framing features would be available on all three phones. These features are set to ease your vlogging in the dark thirst and concurrently track and recognize up to 10 people when using the video mood.

It’s safe to say that the three phones are an iterative upgrade to the s21. Because, as seen in the Galaxy S 22, not much has changed either— even the price range isn’t as huge. The only thing differentiating the two is that the S22 has a slightly smaller battery and screen.

For the s22 Ultra, almost everything is advanced, but we’re concentrating on the s22 and s22 plus here.

And now that you’re aware of the basics and somewhat the things you could expect below is all the nitty-gritty work to help you understand the two phones better as you quench your geek lust.

Specifications

Samsung Galaxy s22

This entry-level phone in the flagship lineup lacks the other two’s premium features. But focusing on what it lacks does no good. So, let’s see the value it delivers:

• Starting price: $799
• Screen size: 6.1-inch AMOLED (2340 x 1080)
• Refresh rate: 48Hz – 120Hz (adaptive)
• CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (US); Exynos 2200 (UK)
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB
• Rear cameras: 50MP wide (f/1.8); 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2); 10MP telephoto (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom
• Front camera: 10MP (f/2.2)
• Battery size: 3.700 mAh
• Battery life (Hrs: Mins): 7:52
• Size: 5.7 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches
• Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, Pink Gold

1. Samsung Galaxy s22 review- Software and performance

Two top-end processors power the flashy s22: the Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chipset in the U.S and Asia and Exynos 2200 chipset in Europe other parts of the world. This is fantastic news because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is responsible for some of the best Android performance. However, even though it’s the most powerful chip of the two, not many can notice the difference. And either way, you’ll easily enjoy your gaming and other tasks.

The two chips are paired with 8GB RAM, and depending on the version you choose 128GB or 256GB storage. The snapdragon 8 gen 1 supports a faster processing speed and a higher and superior camera quality compared to the other 5G platforms. And with this model still supporting both sub-6Ghz networks and mmWave, it’s clear that Samsung is fully committed to 5G.

The Snapdragon X65 modem is used in the Galaxy S 22 as Qualcomm’s top-notch model until the end of the year when the X70 will start shipping.

 

2. Display

If you’re familiar with Samsung phones, you’ll know that they have decent displays. The S 22’s screen is no different. It has brilliant and vibrant colors, dark blacks, and high maximum brightness.

The Galaxy S22 features a 6.1-inch display, which is 0.1 inches smaller than the Galaxy S21. The change is so subtle that you wouldn’t notice it unless you compared the two handsets side by side. The panel uses AMOLED technology and boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution, and 240Hz touch input rate.

This model got lower peak brightness compared to the others. The 1,300-nit peak brightness, however, is nothing to worry about. The clarity doesn’t change a lot under sunlight, but you’ll still have to fully crank up the brightness. And when you do, the color contrast will not be affected. Samsung included the Vision Booster technology to help maintain the colors even if the screen is at its brightest.

3. Design

The materials on the Galaxy S22 have been upgraded, with an aluminum ring around the midsection and a Gorilla Glass Victus + glass back. And even though there’s some change in the material, the design remains the same. The only distinction is that the camera array’s color was different from the rest of the device’s back on the Galaxy s21, whereas the color matches on the Galaxy S22.

Samsung ensured that the material change would help with durability. But since the glass would still break if dropped on a hard surface, ensure you invest in getting one of the most refined Galaxy S22 cases and screen protectors.

If you decide to order from the company itself, you’ll get cream, graphite, violet, and sky-blue colors. Otherwise, the phone comes in Phantom White, Phantom Black, Green, and Pink Gold.

4. Camera

Dual View and Single Take modes in the Samsung phones have, over the years, been helpful for photo-holics. However, the same modes have been used in the S 22, meaning no new experience will be offered.

The camera in this model feels a bit different. Its telephoto and main snappers are different, while the 12MP ultra-wide camera and 10 MP front-facing camera are still the same as its predecessor. The most significant change in the camera is the upgrade in the primary camera from 12MP to a 50 MP sensor. This change promises bolder and brighter colors.

While compared to the S 21, the S 22 has a 3x better optical zoom. However, the telephoto is 10Mp, a fall from 64MP.

5. Battery

The battery life is one aspect most people don’t like about the phone. The battery capacity is small (3700mAh) as compared to its predecessor. And in some way, we can say it’s still a good thing since it should charge faster when you’re in a rush. The charging speed remains to be the same (4.5w and 15W), with it supporting both wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy s22 plus

The mid-tier models from Samsung have always had a plus added at the end. And in the Galaxy S 2022 flagship, the tradition still goes on. The Samsung Galaxy S 22 Plus is the best “consumer” device among the three. Here’s why:

1. DESIGN

To increase robustness to the S22 plus, a gloss metal frame made with Samsung’s proprietary Armor Aluminum was used. This material helps the phone not disintegrate or scratch easily after a single drop. But you can still get a screen protector and a cover to avoid regrets.

And for comfort and beauty, because Samsung knows clearly that most of their clients love phone looks, a Gorilla Glass Victus plus front and back was also used.

The Contour Cut design- as Samsung calls it- is a thoughtful evolution of its predecessor. This helps in enclosing the camera sensors in separate sections. Although the design is similar to the s21, the camera module in S 22 is the same color as its body— the same effects found on the Galaxy S21FE.

Samsung opted for a frosted rear coating to help disguise the users’ fingerprints.

As you hold the phone, you’ll notice it’s not as curved as the iPhone 13 pro, but neither is it flat. Its shape is made specifically to ensure your fingers and palm will be safe as you hold or use the phone.

The Galaxy S22 Plus is palm-stretching, but you can easily use the volume rocker and power button (found on the right edge) with one hand.

The phone is available in Pink Gold, Green, Phantom Black, and Phantom White. The cream, pale blue, cream, and gray are only available on the Samsung website.

2. Display

Is the S 22 plus super pricey or super cheap? The phone is definitely a good buy, but considering it’s a Samsung phone—they always go out of their way on their display— this device display isn’t as good. This phone has a resolution of 1080 x 2340 (or FHD+), just like most Android phones.

The good news is its maximum brightness (1,750 nits), and the contrast are excellent- thank you to the 6.5-inch AMOLED screen. The two collaborate with Samsung’s new Vision Booster system to tweak both brightness and contrast, enabling clear visibility in different light environments. The action when playing games or scrolling around is also smooth because of the 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. FHD+ is sufficient for most tasks, as only a few streaming services and games provide content of a higher quality.

3. Performance and Software

Powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 from Qualcomm, the phone has a standard 8Gb RAM and storage tiers of 128GB AND 256GB. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only flagship phone that has an extra option when it comes to RAM. And however, the phone doesn’t have a high RAM tally; its performance is still surprisingly great.

The Galaxy S22 has Samsung’s own One UI 4.1 and comes with the Android 12. And as far as androids are concerned, Samsung, in the unveiling event, pledged to have the S series get four years of software updates. They’ll set a record in android phones currently battling a reputation of always being behind on OS updates.

4. Cameras

The Galaxy S22 Plus is a significant improvement over its predecessor regarding the camera. In contrast to the Galaxy S21 Plus’s 3x hybrid zoom, the phone offers a rear 3x optical zoom.

The sensor on the phone is bigger and able to allow more light. In principle, this should result in better evening photography. In actuality, though, Samsung continues to struggle with low-light photographs that are excessively yellow and have significant white balance issues.

A 10MP selfie camera is located on the front of the phone. The 50MP main rear sensor is joined by a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto sensor.

5. Battery

First things first, there isn’t the inclusion of a charger. But when it comes to wired charging, the phone supports a 45W and 15W wireless charging- 20mins until halfway charged. Second, the phone uses a 4,500 mAh power pack, a 300mAh loss compared to its predecessor.

Phones that will see you through many years

The S22 and S22 plus are an excellent buy. With great day-to-day performance, versatile camera system able to take great videos and pictures, and not forgetting the pretty decent design the phones have, either of the phone will see you through many years, of course if taken care of. You can boost the robust material used with a screen protector from Tech Armor.  The colors the two phones come in is also a plus for the behemoth.

And a quick tip: Don’t leave the house without the charger.

It is that time of the year again. It is the season of giving and receiving – it’s the Christmas holiday! A time when the smiles of your loved ones are inversely proportional to the health of your wallet and/or bank account.

Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? No? No worries, we’ve got you. In this article, we unwrap our gift to you.

With all budget categories taken into consideration, here are the best gadgets to gift your loved ones this holiday season!

 

Gifts Under $100

1. Anker Nano Pro Charger | $19.99

Anyone who has recently bought a top-tier smartphone has faced a sad, but eco-friendly new reality. Getting a charger in the packaging is no longer guaranteed.

With how fast phones can charge these days, it is almost comical that the chargers supporting these speeds are a separate purchase. Regardless, Anker’s Nano Pro Charger is a great and affordable option, especially for the 2021 range of iPhones.

2. Isotoner Women’s Touchscreen Cold Weather Gloves | $30

How good would it be not to have to remove your gloves in the freezing cold just to use your phone? Suppose you need an affordable and thoughtful gift for the special ladies in your life. Isotoner’s range of women’s touchscreen gloves is what you are looking for.

3. Tile Mate Essentials 4-Pack | $79.99

With all the traveling during the holidays, keeping track of your stuff is more important than ever. With the essentials pack from Tile, you get 3 mate trackers, a slim one, and a sticker. Anyone who tends to lose their keys and wallet would be done a world of good if they received this pack as a holiday gift. There’s a free companion app on Android and iOS, with Smart Home integration and a Tile Network to help find lost items.

4. LARQ Self-Sanitizing Water Bottle | $98

How about a whole water purification system inside a bottle? UV-C LED light eliminates 99% of any bio-contaminants found in the water within either a minute or 3-minutes for thorough purification. It is an excellent gift for someone who travels or goes for hikes often where they may be unsure of the water sources in the new locations. It has a great design as well—with a variety of finishes to add some personality.

5. Apple AirTags 4-Pack | $99

For anyone already in the Apple Ecosystem, picking this AirTags 4-pack over the Tile Essentials may be the way to go. However, there is no slim form factor with AirTags to help keep track of the wallet. Either way, the 4-pack is a great deal and an excellent gift for some of your more forgetful family members and loved ones.

6. Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer for Smartphones | $99

Having a gallery full of memories is fun and all, but there’s just something about a printed photo that’s special. With the IVY Mini printer from Canon, those special holiday moments can be made tangible. Photos are printed via Bluetooth with the help of the Canon print app and are 2″ x3″ with peel and stick capabilities. A great gift for that sentimental person in your life.

7. Apple HomePod Mini | $99

Bring a lot of rich sounds and bold color into the holiday season and beyond with one or more HomePod Minis. It delivers excellent, 360-degree sound for a smart speaker of its size and is easily integrated into the smart home ecosystem. The bold color choices make it an excellent gift for the person who has personality and meshes well with any and all décor. With a bunch of HomePod minis, you can gift someone a smart sound system for the whole home, with Siri as the ever-present DJ!

8. DJI Tello Mini Drone | $99

This budget-friendly drone is the perfect introductory gift for someone who’s always wanted one. It offers great value for the price, being capable of shooting HD video for 13 minutes at a time. With two antennas and a relatively powerful battery, the flight experience is extremely enjoyable.

 

Gifts Under $500

9. Apple TV 4K | $179

The 2^nd gen. Apple TV 4K 2nd generation is a nice gift for any entertainment lover. It combines great TV with access to your favorite Apple services, making it great for anyone already using Apple products.

It supports 4K, High Frame Rate HDR with Dolby Atmos sound, delivering a truly cinematic experience. You also get to enjoy content from Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+, as well as live channels from Hulu, YouTube TV, and Sling TV.

Bundled with it is the 2^nd gen. Siri Remote with its all-new touch-enabled click pad for more precise control. Do you know anyone that might need one?

• Apple AirPods 3^rd | $179

AirPods have become a staple accessory for anyone owning an Apple product (iPhone, iPad, Mac). This makes it one of the safest bets for gift ideas. The third generation of the world’s most popular earbuds comes with spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for an immersive 3D listening experience. Other perks include impressive sound quality, an even more comfortable contoured design, force sensor control, and sweat and water resistance. Daily workouts and gym sessions? Anyone?

The setup process for Apple devices has been made as easy as possible, so even the most non-techie recipient will be able to get set up. The bundled case can be charged wirelessly using a MagSafe charger, Qi-certified charger, or the Lightning connector.

• Theragun Prime | $299

Surely you must know someone who’s always in need of a massage? Theragun Prime from Therabody finds the perfect balance between depth, speed, and force to bring you the best of percussive therapy and true deep muscle treatment. It is a great hand-held massager that helps ease discomfort, soothe tightness and tension, and recover faster in seconds.

• Meta Oculus Quest 2 | $299

This holiday, you can gift someone an escape. You can gift someone an experience that is so unique, so immersive, and as easily achievable as putting on the Oculus Quest 2 headset.

You can get lost in a game and cool down at a concert before running up a scenic mountain from the expansive comfort of your personal space. There are no wires, giving you the freedom to move as you please as you explore worlds unknown. What’s even better is that you can link up with friends for all your escapades!

• Nintendo Switch OLED | $349

The OG switch was the benchmark for portable gaming, and this year’s Switch OLED took that a notch higher. With a bigger, much better screen and double the storage, gaming on the Switch is as enjoyable as it has ever been.

• Apple Watch Series 7 | $399

The design of the Apple Watch has barely changed, and the bump up in features has been negligible from the series 6 to this year’s series 7. However, the Series 7 continues Apple’s reign atop the smartwatch totem pole. If you know anyone with an older series watch, or an Apple fan who’s never had one, the Series 7 is a solid bet.

• DJI Mini 2 | $449

The DJI is a significant step up from the Tello in terms of price and features. The Mini 2 weighs as much as an Apple, making it travel-friendly.

It boasts a 4K camera with Quickshots capability and 4X zoom on a 3-axis gimbal for consistently smooth shots. You can shoot 4K/30fps video from as high as 4,000 meters for as long as half an hour.

• iPad Mini 2021 | $449

The 2021 iPad Mini (iPad Mini 6) is bound to be one of the most gifted devices this holiday season. The iPad Mini got a design refresh with flatter edges and beautiful finishes. It has a stunning 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, the powerful A15 Bionic with 5G, an impressive 12MP Ultrawide front-facing camera, and TouchID in the power button. It also supports the 2^nd gen. Apple Pencil, which sticks to its side using magnets.

Unlike the iPhone series, it has a USB-C charging port and cable and charger bundles in the packaging. There is no going wrong with this one.

 

Gifts Under $1000

• Apple AirPods Max | $549

Upon release, the AirPods Max met mixed sentiments, largely because of the price. There seemed to be much better-value offerings in the market. However, only after experiencing the AirPods Max did that sentiment change, and with good reason.

They sound and feel great; really great. The AirPods have a different design, with the primary aim being comfort for extended periods. Ultimately, they will appeal most to an Apple fan.

• Google Pixel 6/6 Pro | $599/$899

Google has released this year’s best value phone in most people’s opinions. As has become customary with Google products, every single detail about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro was general knowledge way before they were announced. The announcement did not disappoint, with the price of the standard Pixel 6 making it what most people gravitated towards. Looking at it objectively, the difference between the sibling phones is not enough to justify the $300 price difference—except maybe for those who want the best of the best.

It is the phone to get for an Android enthusiast. It has clean software, a great design, and an epic camera to capture precious holiday moments.

• Dyson Air Purifier & Humidifier | $699.99

The Dyson Pure is an excellent gift for any space – home or office. It purifies, humidifies, and cools the space that it is in. It has a fully-sealed filtration system that captures gases and particles, ensuring that the occupants don’t breathe them in. Its HEPA and activated carbon filters capture 99.97% of allergens.

Gift this to someone who has fallen victim to allergies.

• iPhone 13/13 Pro | $799/$999

Not much can be said about the iPhone 13 series that is not already widely known. While not a lot changed from last year, there’s a better camera, a better processor, more color options, 5G, 120Hz ProMotion displays on the Pro models, and the best battery life on any smartphone this year.

• M1 MacBook Air | $999

2021 will probably be the year that laptops return to the top of everyone’s Wishlist, all thanks to Apple. Their M1 series of processors, which debuted on the MacBook Air, was nothing short of revolutionary. It performed better than most other laptops, including the Intel MB Pros, with great battery efficiency and no fans.

For most people, students, and professionals, the M1 MacBook Air is the laptop to get. It comes in just shy of $1000 for the base model.

 

Gifts Over $1000

• Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 | $1,169.99

This is arguably one of the best Windows laptops there is. Simple. It is sleek, beautiful, powerful, eco-friendly, and a joy to use.

• 65” LG OLED C1 | $1,796.99

As described by LG themselves, “LG OLED TV is a joy to behold. Self-lit pixels allow truly spectacular picture quality and a whole host of design possibilities, while the latest cutting-edge technologies help deliver unprecedented levels of wonder. This is everything you love and TV – elevated in every way.”

This is possibly the best TV you can gift someone this holiday season.

• ASUS ROG Zephyrus 15.6″ Gaming Laptop | $1,849.99

An excellent gift for the gaming enthusiast. It houses an AMD Ryzen 9 processor with 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, a 15.6-inch 165hz QHD display, and a 1TD SSD. There is also a bonus. You get 1 month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

• 14″ M1 MacBook Pro | $1,999

This is for the tech enthusiast. The creative. The aspiring filmmaker or Youtuber. This is for anyone with intense workflows that they need to breeze through. This is the best laptop there is for the price.

 

Priceless Protection

This part is the bonus gift you find at the bottom of an unwrapped package. It’s the thing that brings it all together.

For all the gadgets you will gift and receive this holiday season, make sure that they last. Make sure that they are protected.

Tech Armor provides protection for all your tech devices, leaving you fully invested in moments instead of constantly worrying about their safety. Did something spill on your device? We have the best cleaning kit to return it to its former glory.

Find protection for your device here.

Happy Holidays!

iPhone 13 Recap

As was very accurately predicted, the most anticipated event in Apple’s annual calendar happened on the 14^th of September 2021. Apple’s events are always grandiose showcases with impeccable production. In true Apple fashion, they somehow managed to one-up what they did last year, with a lot of drone shots. It was quite cinematic – the amazing transitions, cinematography, lighting – everything was top-notch. It was quite the visual spectacle.

Twitter was part of the celebrations as well. For every tweet that included the trending #AppleEvent hashtag, the like button turned into a glowing Apple logo before quickly turning back into a heart when clicked. iPhone 13 was also trending, of course, and as Tim Cook walked on stage, the world awaited the reveal of the heavily leaked new iPhones. Were there any surprises? Read on to find out.

The iPhone 13 Line-up

A Closer look at iPhone 13 & 13 Mini

Design

The non-pro iPhone 13 has a new look for the advanced dual-camera system with the lenses arranged diagonally instead of vertically as was the case for the iPhone 12. Every year, Apple makes a slight design change to make it easier to distinguish previous versions from the current releases, and re-arranging the camera array was their choice for this year.

Other than the camera module, the chassis (or the beautifully-formed aerospace-grade aluminum frame as it was described during the announcement) remains largely the same. This year’s colors were unveiled to be an all-new Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red.

A much-rumoured detail about the new iPhones was confirmed when the smaller notch was revealed. After years of having the large obtrusive notch at the top of the display, Apple finally did something about it. This is another differentiating factor from the iPhone 12. The reductions were possible because the true-depth camera system has been re-engineered to make it take up less room while taking up less space, thus the increased screen real estate.

Battery

Internally, the iPhone 13 has been completely re-architected to make room for new additions, and more importantly, a bigger battery! While Apple did not confirm the actual sizes of the batteries for this year’s standard iPhones 13, battery improvements are always welcome.

Apple claims that on iPhone 13 Mini most users will experience 1.5 more hours in their day than with iPhone 12 Mini. They also claim that the standard iPhone 13 lasts 2.5 hours longer than iPhone 12. Them branding it as ‘incredible all-day battery life is a bit of a stretch, however.

 

Display

Size aside, the design is the same across the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, as was the case with last year’s iPhone 12 and 12 Mini. Both phones feature an improved, more advanced Super Retina, XDR display. The display is 28% brighter up, going up to 800 nits of peak brightness. This makes it even more suitable for use even when outside. This improved display delivers an immersive viewing experience with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG meaning that the content shot on and for these platforms and technologies will be viewed as intended.

Processor

Things are about to get a little technical now. Ready?

Apple’s lead in the smartphone SoC (System on a Chip) category just got a little wider with the A15 Bionic. Apple’s control over the entire iPhone makeup gives them the capability to incorporate innovations across the entire system. This, in turn, enables the delivery of improved performance and power efficiency. The A15 is built on 5nm architecture which enables the inclusion of nearly 15 billion transistors on the chip. The result? An absolutely smooth, optimized, and efficient experience when handling demanding workloads. The A15 houses a powerful new 6-core CPU with two high-performance and four high-efficiency cores for graphics-intensive tasks like advanced games. The A15 Bionic also features the latest 4-core GPU with the new 16-core Neural Engine to handle all the machine learning requirements. In addition to the performance improvements, iPhone 13 features a new Display Engine, a new video encoder, and decoder, and twice the system cache. All this is to make video playback as smooth as it has ever been

 

Camera

With the A15 Bionic also comes an improved camera system on iPhone 13. There’s an all-new 12mp wide camera with a larger 1.7 micron-pixels sensor that should capture more light with a wide f-1.6 aperture. Amazingly, Apple decided to bring the iPhone 12 Pro Max exclusive Sensor-Shift technology to all iPhones in this year’s line-up. Sensor-Shift introduced advanced Optical Image Stabilization for even better images, especially in low-light. Apple also included a new ultra-wide camera that is set to help “reveal more of the dark areas with less noise”.

A brand-new feature announced for iPhone 13 is Cinematic Mode. According to the details provided during its showcase, once the recording starts, Cinematic Mode will hold focus on the subject even when they’re moving. Additionally, focus transitions are said to happen automatically and in real-time, for example, from one subject to another. Cinematic Mode is said to anticipate when a subject is about to enter the frame and intelligently racks focus to them when they do. When a subject gazes away from the camera, iPhone 13 itself changes focus and then back. This is certainly one of the features that most people will want to test out for themselves when the phones are released. If it does what it says on the box, iPhone will almost be the default phone for millions of content creators, even more than it is already.

Pricing and Availability

It was great to see that even with the improvements it starts with and the fact that the starting capacity is now 128 GB (plus a new 512 GB option), iPhone 13 Mini still starts at just $699 and $799 for the standard iPhone 13. There are also opportunities to get up to $700 off in the US when you trade in a qualifying iPhone.

 

iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max

Design

iPhone 13 Pro comes in four ‘striking’ finishes that are different from the standard iPhone 13. There is Graphite, Gold, Silver, and an all-new Sierra Blue. Just as is the case with the standard iPhone 13, the Pros have a (20%) smaller notch. On the back is a familiar-looking triple camera system, with a stainless-steel trim that surrounds the Sapphire Crystal lenses of each of the cameras. The inside is said to be ‘completely redesigned to support the latest technology inclusions including an all-new camera system, a new display, and a bigger battery.

Better A15 Bionic

The Pros are also powered by the A15 Bionic which features the earlier-mentioned CPU, GPU, a faster Neural Engine, as well as a new ISP (Image Signal Processor) which is said to provide improved noise reduction and tone mapping. As an improvement on the standard iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, the Pro models’ A15 Bionic includes a new 5-core GPU for even better handling of graphic-intensive tasks.

Display

The new Super Retina, XDR display is also present on the Pro models, with an improved peak brightness of 1000 nits, a 25% improvement on last year’s iPhones.

If there is one feature everyone wanted confirmation on, it was the inclusion of a high refresh rate display. The confirmation did come, but it was bittersweet: It is only on the Pro models. The highly anticipated ProMotion display is finally on iPhone, with the capability of refreshing from as low as 10 Hz to as high as 120 Hz. IOS is also completely optimized to take full advantage of this. When swiping between apps, or scrolling, the system adapts the frame rates to precisely match the speed of the user’s finger.

Camera

The iPhone 13 Pro camera system has a new 77 mm telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. There is also a new ultrawide-angle camera with autofocus and a larger f 1.8 aperture, providing up to a 92% improvement in low light. The third camera is a wide camera with a larger f-1.5 aperture and 1.9 micron-pixels for up to 2x improvement in low light. The ultrawide camera also has Macro Photography. Its design and autofocus system enables incredibly sharp focus and can magnify subjects with a minimum distance of 2 cm. Additionally, all the cameras, including the telephoto, have night mode.

Apple also announced a feature that lets you ‘personalize your iPhone camera’ dubbed Photographic Styles. The feature is said to bring your individual preferences right into the advanced image pipeline, applying local edits like a photo editor would, but in real-time as the photo is being rendered.

The iPhone 13 pro camera system also has some advanced video capabilities. The ultrawide camera enables Macro slo-mo videos which should look amazing. The 3x telephoto has improved zooming capabilities and offers a new focal length for video. Coupled with Cinematic mode, it uses machine learning and disparity to create a depth map that’s built into the video so that the depth effect can be changed, including the level of bokeh and where the focus is applied – even after capture.

ProRes is a feature that is set to come further down the line. With it, you can now record up to 4k at 30 fps right in the camera app thanks to the efficiency of the A15 Bionic, IOS 15, and a larger battery.  iPhone 13 Pro is said to last more than 1.5 hours longer in your day than iPhone 12 Pro. iPhone 13 Pro Max will apparently last more than 2.5 hours longer than iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Pricing and Availability

The iPhone 13pro still starts at $999 and the iPhone 13pro max still starts at $1099. The Pro models have a new 1 TB storage option. All four models of the iPhone13 line-up go up for Pre-order on the 17^th of September and will all be available on September 24^th.

 

Final Thoughts

Depending on your expectations, you were either disappointed because some of your expectations weren’t met or underwhelmed because you knew almost everything that was coming. The rumors of this year’s iPhones being referred to as the 12S might have been on to something because there’s no day and night difference between last year’s iPhones and the new ones. The notch is smaller, and ProMotion finally made it to Apple devices after making it to Android years ago, but at least it’s here. It is only for the Pro models though, which is set to anger a lot of people who were looking forward to buying the non-Pro versions.

Another drawback is that 4K recording is not available for the 128 GB storage options, but there may be a logical and technical explanation for that. Features like MagSafe and Ceramic shield are still present, and the iPhone is now capable of recording when your MagSafe wallet is disconnected from the phone, making it easier to track in case it is lost.

The physical changes may be indistinguishable to most users, but the changes under the hood are set to give an improved experience regardless. After all, it is an iPhone and people will buy it. If you will make sure you get the best protection for whichever model you get at Tech Armor.

After a few weeks of everyone working from home we decided to break the monotony and challenge everyone to the Getty Museum Challenge of recreating a famous work of art with only items around your house.  The simple rules are as follows:

 

1. Choose a painting/sculpture/work of art.

2. Use only things around your house (no buying anything) as props.

3. Recreate the art using these props.

 

The rules were strictly (kind of) adhered to and below are a few of the recreations the team came up with.  We were pleasantly surprised and I think there were some awesome submissions.  Take a look for yourself and feel free to reach out to shout out to us on Facebook, IG or Twitter if you also take on the challenge!

 

We hope you’re staying safe and healthy wherever you.

Galaxy Note 8 Reviews: the best device for you?

Was Samsung able to redeem themselves?

After the Galaxy Note 7 was practically synonymous with “explosion”, Samsung released their next-gen Galaxy Note 8. And not far along came the reviews. Are you eyeing on the Note 8 to be your next phone? We’ve got you covered!

What’s to love?

 

Even with a great 6.3-inch “Infinity Display” screen size the phone is easy to hold in one hand. Then you can use your other hand for the S-Pen and tap away on the device. It’s also not as big as the other chunky phones like the iPhone 7 Plus. This is so far the biggest screen ever placed in a Note too.

The Note 8 also has a great AMOLED display even in power saving mode. Plus even with the “always-on” display, there’s not much worry on battery drain as the display only uses power for colors other than black (smart design!).

Going back to the S-Pen, there’s been some great and helpful upgrades on it too! One very usable perk is writing a note even with the screen locked up to 100 pages and more!

Plus Live Message that can be made into a GIF and send in social media which is pretty neat for this reviewer.

Another relatively new trick in the device is hiding the screen navigation bar with a double tap which can be handy for times you want to maximize the screen for an app.

There’s also a headphone jack for those who still need to have it!

Samsung also joined the bandwagon by placing dual cameras on the Note 8. The Korean tech giant did not hold back in making sure image quality is amazing according to this review. You can also shoot bokeh-like images called “Live Focus.”

What’s NOT to love?

If you’re not much of a fan of Bixby and the dedicated Bixby key, sorry to say but it’s here to stay…and probably for keeps. This reviewer still quite hated the fact the fingerprint sensor is at the back near the camera like the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. And the alternatives don’t work as well either.

Repairing / replacing the display can be pretty difficult since you have to take out the glass case with its strong adhesive. So, it’s best to keep that display protected!!

With great perks, come great/expensive price. The starting price is at $930 for the unlocked version and can go for $960 through US carriers.

 

OK, I definitely want to buy the Note 8! But this is some hefty price!?

 

Shelling out almost $1,000 for an awesome device is definitely no laughing matter. That’s why we at Tech Armor want to make sure that you get to maximize your investment with no worries!

Our 3D-Edge Ballistic Glass Case-Friendly Screen Protector will keep your screen scratch and fingerprint-free! And those accidental drops? Our protectors will also take the brunt of the fall for your screen! 😉

Don’t worry about phone accessories for your new Note 8 like Powerbanks, Cables, Car Mounts & Car Chargers. Tech Armor’s got your back—always! 😉

Get the latest on all tech-related updates! Join our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ accounts to stay in the know! Join the TA Nation too!

 

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/2017/09/28/samsung-galaxy-note-8-review-only-for-those-who-really-need-the-stylus/#4f353513351f

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gQ_VSxHydI

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-note-8

https://www.engadget.com/2017/09/05/samsung-galaxy-note-8-review/

https://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-galaxy-note-8/review/2/

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/samsung/1406170/samsung-galaxy-note-8-review-bigger-better-less-flammable

https://9to5google.com/2017/09/20/samsung-galaxy-note-8-review/

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-note-8-review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh2lM7LMKRk

https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-note-8-review-795053/#conclusion

Apple today sent out media invites for an iPhone-centric event that will be held on Wednesday, September 7 at 10:00 am at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California. Media invites (via The Verge) offer up a first look at the theme of the event and feature the simple tagline: “See you on the 7th.”

The fall 2016 event is expected to see the debut of the next-generation iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which are rumored to feature improved cameras, better processors, and improved water resistance, implemented through the removal of the headphone jack and the introduction of a new flush, pressure-sensitive home button. Both devices are said to look similar to the iPhone 6s, with the same general size and shape, but with relocated antenna bands that no longer span the back of the devices.

Faster LTE and Wi-Fi speeds are rumored, as is a jump in storage space with 32GB positioned as the new minimum and a 256GB option rumored at the high end (possibility limited to iPhone 7 Plus). Display improvements first introduced in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, including the True Tone feature able to adjust the display to match ambient lighting could be offered, and the larger iPhone 7 Plus is expected to have exclusive features like 3GB RAM and a dual-lens camera for crisper, brighter images.

Apple may use the event to debut a second-generation Apple Watch, said to include better waterproofing, an improved processor, and a built-in GPS chip. Design changes are not expected for the next-generation Apple Watch, but new materials and new bands are always a possibility. Apple rotates its Apple Watch band offerings on a regular basis and we expect to see new designs this fall.

Most of Apple’s Mac lineup is due for an update, but the most highly anticipated machine, the MacBook Pro, will reportedly not be debuting at the event, coming later in the year instead. It’s not known if other Macs will see a refresh announcement at the event, but it’s unlikely, and we’re also not expecting any iPad announcements at this time.

We will, however, get an update on the prospective launch dates of iOS 10, macOS Sierra, watchOS 3, and tvOS 10. We’re expecting to see iOS 10 and watchOS 3 launch shortly ahead of the release date of the next-generation iPhone (rumored to beSeptember 16 or September 23), while macOS Sierra could come a bit later, perhaps towards the end of the month. tvOS 10, as a new operating system, could launch alongside iOS 10 or alongside macOS Sierra.

In line with past events, the September 7 event will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. As it has done with several past events, Apple is likely to stream the event live on its website and on the Apple TV.

Read More…

via MacRumors

Update: Apple has announced it will indeed be live streaming the event.

Note: We are already in production of Ballistic Glass and a brand new case line for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus! We’re launching in step with Apple so you can protect your new iPhone 7 on Day ONE! Check out our website to stay in the know!!