Social media platforms have various safeguards in place to help battle misinformation and YouTube being the largest video streaming platform globally, is now testing a new feature where it’s inviting users to write notes below ‘inaccurate or unclear’ videos, a feature similar to that of X’s community notes.
YouTube began testing the Notes feature back in June with creators while the first batch of invites were sent out to general users just yesterday. The pilot will be available on mobile in the U.S. and in English to start. If you’re eligible to write notes, you’ll need to sign up on the YouTube mobile App to get started. YouTube iterates that Notes should always be in your own words, not copied text directly from sources, and they should add clarity or useful context to videos.
Aside from the language and region criteria, there are other prerequisites required for users to access Notes in YouTube, such as:
The account created six or more months ago.
The account hasn’t had a Community Guidelines strike in the past 12 months.
Your account Isn’t a supervised account.
The account shouldn’t have multiple owners.
Isn’t owned by an account that can be owned and managed by multiple users, like a Brand Account or school account.
The Notes feature will allow people to add notes to provide relevant, timely, and easy-to-understand context on YouTube videos. “To help others stay informed, you can sign up to submit notes on videos that you find inaccurate or unclear. After submission, your note is reviewed and rated by others. If your note is rated as helpful by many people with a broad set of perspectives, it may be published and appear below the video,” said YouTube in a Google support page.
Notes will appear publicly under a video if they’re found to be broadly helpful. People will be asked whether they think a note is “helpful,” “somewhat helpful,” or “unhelpful” and why – for example, whether it cites high-quality sources or is written clearly and neutrally. From there, YouTube will use a bridging-based algorithm to consider these ratings and determine what notes are published.
A bridging-based algorithm helps identify notes that are helpful to a broad audience across perspectives. If many people who have rated notes differently in the past now rate the same note as helpful, then our system is more likely to show that note under a video. These systems will continuously improve as more notes are written and rated across a broad range of topics, as per YouTube.
Earlier in June this year, Google began rolling out Gemini integration in Gmail but only for Workspace accounts. However, the company is now rolling out the same feature to all Gmail personal accounts as well, thereby enabling free access to Gemini within the Gmail App on Android.
We can confirm that the free Gemini integration was enabled for one of our team member’s personal Gmail account and once it got enabled, the feature began appearing on all Android devices which had the Gmail account.
The new Gemini button (denoted by a star) appears at the top-right, next to the search bar in Email section. Tapping on it brings up a Gemini box, wherein you can ask questions to the chatbot related to your inbox or even search for mails that were sent to you years back.
You can ask Gemini for your latest order updates, show unread emails, and more. In addition, the results show you the sources (basically the Emails) from where Gemini procured the information. If you want, you can also easily clear the Gemini history with the tap of a button (the one next to the cross).
If you open a mail, the Gemini button resides in the action bar at the top, next to the Archive button. If you tap on it while the email is opened, you can ask Gemini to summarise the content of the email, list the next steps, suggest a reply for the mail, or do more.
The free access to Gemini for personal Gmail accounts is a part of a server-side update. It’s unclear as to when the feature would be enabled for all the accounts. Meanwhile, Google has already confirmed before that additional mobile features like Contextual Smart Reply and Gmail Q&A are coming soon to the Email app but again, there’s no word on whether these two will also be made available for everyone or only the Workspace users and paid Google One subscribers.
The Vivo V40 has been launched in India and with a focus on cameras, the handset has Sensors with Zeiss tuning. Talking of specs, the Vivo V40 5G packs a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of an OIS-assisted 50-megapixel f/1.88 primary camera, and a 50-megapixel f/2.0 ultra-wide lens. There’s a 50-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. As a camera-centric smartphone, we rigorously tested the sensors on the Vivo V40 and here’s a detailed review of their performance.
The Vivo V40 packs a good amount of camera features, which those who are into photography would admire a lot. On the hardware level, there’s the aura light on the back that can be used as fill light in portraits. Because it supports dual temperature, you can even change it to a warmer tone or a cooler one. There’s also an option to change its brightness.
On the software level, Vivo offers features like various types of bokeh effects you can use. Next, you can change the focal length to four types in Portrait mode which are attributed to various styles, such as 24mm landscape portrait, 50mm natural portrait, and more. Each one of them has a different colour tone, accounting for a different look in every style. The device can shoot videos in up to 4K resolution at 30 FPS from both front and rear cameras.
Portrait shots from the Vivo V40 turn out to be excellent. These shots pack a punch when it comes to colours and according to the environment and overall mood of the shot, you can change the style. We can assure you that in each style, you’d get a unique shot that’s not only filled with details, but also gets vivid colours. The bokeh effect in each style looks good, and also feels natural with average EDGE detection around a human subject, but accurate edge detection around an object.
Textured modeVivid modeZeiss Natural mode
In regular photos, you can choose from Vivid, textured, and Zeiss-tuned natural mode. Again, the Vivid one has enhanced colours while the textured one boosts them further. The Zeiss-tuned natural mode captures colours as they look in real life. All these have different attributes, and each one of them can be used for various purposes. While we liked the Vivid one best, all three modes capture amazing photos. These shots not only have plenty of details but also show how well the dynamic range is handled by the device. The Vivo V40 left no stone unturned in giving a great shot and it very well succeeded every time. The focusing speed is high and the shutter lag is also well contained.
2x zoom5x zoom20x zoom
As you begin zooming in, starting from 2x crop, the details begin to shatter, unfortunately. While 2x photos are still acceptable, 5x zoomed photos look like they are painted and shots zoomed in at 20x, which is the maximum you can zoom, are worse.
20x zoom (second shot)
The ultra-wide angle shots from the dedicated sensor won’t disappoint you either. These shots maintain the colour profile seen in regular photos, while being sharp and vivid. However, even though I had enabled the ultra-wide angle correction option in the camera settings, there was still a good amount of distortion at the edges in such photos (can be observed in the shot above). I feel this aspect in particular could have been handled better.
With Aura Light enabledWith Aura Light disabled
In low-light conditions, the Vivo V40’s aura light illuminates the subject, enabling the camera to capture even the smallest details. Even the colours are picked up well by the sensor in such conditions. Even without the aura light, there’s not a lot of loss in details, but the colours begin to fade slightly.
For selfies, the sensor picks up accurate skin tones paired with vivid colours and a high amount of detailing. Same as the rear sensor, you can apply different types of bokeh effects in portrait selfies too. However, the edge detection can be messy at times. Despite that, the Vivo V40 will easily take selfies worth sharing on social media.
Shots clicked under artificial lighting also exhibit positive traits. There’s no noise in the shots while colours impressively maintained. The smallest details and elements in the photo are visible when you zoom into the photo after it’s clicked.
The Vivo V40 once again beautifully captures night shots. The device cranks up the exposure to just the right amount so everything’s visible in the shot, even when it’s pitch black. The details are retained without any issues, and there’s no noise in the photos either.
To sum up, it’s difficult to find a flaw with Vivo V40 5G cameras. Except for zoomed-in shots that lack clarity, which is reasonable as the device doesn’t have a dedicated telephoto sensor, the Vivo V40 5G clicks excellent shots in most of the lighting conditions. Even though the Vivo V40 5G is a mid-ranger, its camera sensors perform like that of a flagship. For further information about the Vivo V40, read our detailed review of the device, covering its display, design, performance, and other features related to the handset.
Vivo’s V-series smartphones are aimed at those who want an all-rounded photography experience but don’t want to burn a big hole in their pockets by purchasing a flagship. The Vivo V40 tries to replicate the same formula as the Vivo V30 last year, with largely the same specs, but a new starting price tag of Rs 34,999. Here’s a detailed review of the Vivo V40, where you’ll know whether you should purchase it or consider other options in the segment.
Vivo V40 Review: Design & Display
The Vivo V40 distinguishes itself from its predecessor with a revamped design. The blue model we have gets a wavy pattern underneath the glass, which shines uniquely when light falls on it.
While the frame is plastic, the glass on the back and the front curve on the sides, accounting for a comfortable grip in the hand. It also feels quite premium in the hand, and because it’s lightweight and narrow, one-handed use doesn’t cause hand fatigue.
The camera module on the back also plays a major role in the design because it creates an identity for the device, as it has been given a unique shape. There’s a metallic ring around the module, while the camera island itself has a dual-tone design, including elements such as glass and metal.
The right buttons feel tactile when clicked. The device is also IP69 rated, meaning submersion in water or exposure to dirt shouldn’t adversely affect it.
Overall, I’d say Vivo V40 is definitely one of the most beautifully crafted smartphones in its segment.
Another aspect of design and in-hand feel is haptics, which are subpar on this Vivo device. Like the Honor 200 5G, they are rattly and not tight at all because the motor used in budget smartphones is the same.
As for the speaker setup, there are dual speakers on the Vivo V40 which sound quite decent. While they lack bass, they are loud enough with good instrument separation, making the whole listening experience a pleasant one.
As for the display on the front, it’s a 6.78-inch AMOLED Display with a 1.5K 2800×1260 Pixels resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, punch-hole cutout, 20:9 aspect ratio, 89.9% screen-to-body ratio, 452 ppi, 4500 nits peak brightness and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut.
As the specs show, this panel is impressive, similar to previous Vivo AMOLED panels we tested. It’s bright, vivid, and sharp. The curves on each side look appealing, and the viewing angles are impressive, too. It also supports eye protection mode, where the screen colour automatically adjusts according to your environment for the best viewing experience.
The display is also quite responsive to the touch. However, even with a 120Hz refresh rate, I cannot say it’s the smoothest because the Refresh Rate mostly stays at 90Hz even when it’s set to “Smart Switch.” Even when set to 120Hz at all times, it still switches to 90Hz during some animations, such as opening or closing apps. We haven’t faced this issue before on Vivo and iQOO devices, so we hope Vivo fixes it with an update soon.
The in-display optical fingerprint sensor works without any issues. It’s quick to read the print and is accurate as well.
The Vivo V40 is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Processor paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Vivo sent us the 8GB + 128GB model, and for the price, we feel that 128GB of storage is quite low, while the base storage should have been 256GB.
Nonetheless, the device actually holds up well in most scenarios, except for demanding tasks where the phone slightly struggles. However, for day-to-day use, I didn’t face any major issues at all.
The device reacted smoothly to my commands, such as switching apps, and was efficient in other operations, including RAM management. Apps like Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Chrome, and more worked without any glitches.
The Vivo V40 runs on FunTouch OS 14 and will get 3 years of major OS upgrades with 4 years of security patches. FunTouch OS 14 has been good with features for a while now, and it doesn’t really lack behind except in one area: basic animations.
While the performance is surely decent, the smoothness of the animations isn’t. I noticed some animations, stuttering, and inconsistencies across the whole user interface. For instance, the App opening and closing animations do not always originate from the app icon and fly in or out from/to anywhere on the screen.
Again, as I said, FunTouch OS may lag behind in animations, but it doesn’t in terms of features. You get plenty of dynamic effects to choose various types of elements of System UI such as fingerprint icon, animation speed, etc.
A bunch of Always-on display styles are available, too, alongside app lock functionality, wallpaper-based theming of system and icons, sliding effects in launcher, and much more. A new option, also found in One UI, allows the Always-on display to turn on as soon as new notifications arrive.
For those who want to game on the device (even though it won’t be the best at it), there’s an ultra-game mode with options allowing you to block notifications or mute calls while gaming, a game sidebar, E-sports mode, and more.
Vivo also uses the ring flashlight on the back with a feature called dynamic light. With it turned on, the light on the back can softly flash to notify you of incoming calls and notifications. You can also use it during music playback.
Then there’s a new Voice Isolation feature where, during a call, the ambient noises will be dialled down so your voice is prioritized. Additionally, features like double-tap to wake the screen or turn it off, three-finger screenshots, floating windows for multitasking, and more are also available.
The device is running on the June 2024 security patch out of the box, which we feel should change soon to the August 2024 patch. However, we haven’t received any update as of now.
Connectivity performance of the handset, including that of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G, remained optimum.
Vivo V40 Review: Battery
The Vivo V40 is backed up by a 5500mAh battery with 80W fast charging. Vivo now also offers the ability to view the maximum battery health in terms of percentage, similar to how iPhones do. The V40 can also intelligently pause and resume charging based on your nighttime charging patterns if you enable the “Smart optimisation based on habit” option.
As for the battery backup, the device can easily last two days with moderate usage. My usage included a good amount of calling while browsing social media apps like Instagram, watching videos on YouTube, and chatting on WhatsApp.
The device easily lasted me for about 1.5 days with a screen-on time of slightly over 8 hours which is outstanding. Even with cycles including heavier usage patterns, the device easily lasted a day.
The Vivo V40 charges from 0% to 100% in under an hour, which is remarkable.
Vivo V40 Review: Cameras
The Vivo V40 packs a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of an OIS-assisted 50-megapixel f/1.88 primary camera, and a 50-megapixel f/2.0 ultra-wide lens. There’s a 50-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture.
The Vivo V40 is packed with camera features that photography enthusiasts will appreciate. On the hardware side, it includes an aura light for portraits, with adjustable temperature and brightness. Software features include various bokeh effects and multiple Portrait mode focal lengths, offering different styles and colour tones.
Portrait shots are vibrant and detailed, with natural-looking bokeh and precise EDGE detection. Regular photos come in Vivid, textured, and Zeiss-tuned natural modes, each enhancing colors and details uniquely. The Vivid mode is particularly striking, though all modes capture excellent photos with high dynamic range, fast focusing, and minimal shutter lag.
20x zoom
Zoom quality declines after 2x, with 10x and 20x zoom resulting in poor quality. Ultra-wide shots maintain colour and sharpness but have noticeable edge distortion. In low light, the aura light helps capture details and colours well, though colours fade slightly without it.
Selfies feature accurate skin tones, vivid colours, and great detail, with various bokeh effects available. Shots in artificial lighting are noise-free and detailed. Night shots are well-exposed, detailed, and noise-free, even in very dark conditions. Overall, the Vivo V40 offers a versatile and high-quality camera experience.
Vivo V40 series has been announced in India, consisting of two devices including the Vivo V40 and the Vivo V40 Pro. Both the devices in the Vivo V40 series come with Zeiss optics and are camera-centric devices. While the V40 gets a Snapdragon Processor under the hood, the Pro model has a MediaTek Dimensity chip.
Vivo V40: Price, Availability, Offers
The Vivo V40 is priced at Rs 34,999 for the base 8GB + 128GB model, Rs 36,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model, and Rs 41,999 for the top-end 12GB + 512GB model. It can be availed in Ganges Blue, Lotus Purple, and Titanium Grey colour options. The device can be purchased via the Vivo online store, Flipkart, and other leading retail stores from August 19th. It is currently available for pre-booking. Buyers can also avail various offers, such as flat 10% instant discount on select bank cards, free 6-month accidental & liquid damage protection, 12-month no-cost EMI, and more.
Vivo V40 features a 6.78-inch AMOLED Display with a 1.5K 2800×1260 Pixels resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, punch-hole cutout, 20:9 aspect ratio, 89.9% screen-to-body ratio, 452 ppi, 4500 nits peak brightness and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut. The V40 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip.
The Vivo handset gets up to 12GB LPDDR4x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 2.2 storage. It is equipped with a 5500mAh battery that supports 80W charging. For security, the device features an under-display fingerprint scanner. The device runs on Android 14-based FunTouch OS 14.
The smartphone has a 50-megapixel f/2.0 selfie camera with. The rear camera setup consists of an OIS-assisted 50-megapixel f/1.88 Zeiss primary camera, and a 50-megapixel f/2.0 Zeiss ultra-wide angle lens. The device offers dual SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, and a USB-C port. It gets a stereo speakers and is IP68 rated as well.
Vivo V40 Pro: Price, Availability, Offers
The Vivo V40 Pro is priced at Rs 49,999 for the base 8GB + 256GB model, and Rs 55,999 for the top-end 12GB + 512GB model. It can be availed in Ganges Blue and Titanium Grey colour options. The device can be purchased via the Vivo online store, Flipkart, and other leading retail stores, beginning August 13th. It is currently available for pre-booking. Buyers can also avail various offers, such as flat 10% instant discount on select bank cards, free 6-month accidental & liquid damage protection, 12-month no-cost EMI, and more.
Vivo V40 Pro features a 6.78-inch AMOLED Display with a 1.5K 2800×1260 Pixels resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, punch-hole cutout, 20:9 aspect ratio, 89.9% screen-to-body ratio, 452 ppi, 4500 nits peak brightness and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut. The V40 Pro 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chip.
The Vivo handset gets up to 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. It is equipped with a 5500mAh battery that supports 80W charging. For security, the device features an under-display fingerprint scanner. The device runs on Android 14-based FunTouch OS 14.
At the back, it gets a 50MP Sony IMX921 primary camera sensor with OIS, a 50MP Sony IMX816 f/1.85 Telephoto sensor with 2X Optical and 50X Digital Zoom, and a 50MP Ultra Wide-Angle sensor. On the front also, it gets a 50MP sensor for selfies. The device offers dual SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and a USB-C port. It gets stereo speakers and is IP68 rated as well.
Android 15 launch is right around the corner as per Google’s own release timeline and new leaks have been revealing features coming in the update, ahead of the launch. A new leaks reveals what’s called a Taskbar that could be coming to phones with the Android 15 update, a feature that’s seen on tablets and foldables.
The Taskbar feature was first introduced for large screen devices back in 2022 with Android 12L. It was a permanent feature that was always visible to the user. With Android 13, the taskbar became hide-able and then later with another release of Android 13, the taskbar would hide automatically after appearing for a short period of time.
New Tiny Taskbar (left), Old Taskbar (right); Image Credit: Android Authority
However, these were characteristics of the taskbar found in Android tablets and foldables. With Android 15, the taskbar could make its way to the smartphones as well, but in a “tiny” format, as suggested by Android Authority. This will be a smaller version of the taskbar that will be coming for Android tablets and foldables, but would be optimised for smartphones. Further, this taskbar won’t require the user to tinker around with the display settings to enable it.
As shown by the publication in a video, “the “tiny” taskbar looks and behaves exactly the same as the taskbar for large-screen devices.” It would potentially allow for better and more convenient multi-tasking and quick launching of apps. However, its unclear whether brands like Samsung, Oppo, and OnePlus would integrate this feature, considering they already have what’s called a smart sidebar or ‘edge panel’ in Samsung’s case, which enable a similar functionality as the “tiny taskbar.”
Meanwhile, a recent report suggests that Google’s upcoming Pixel 9 series won’t launch with Android 15 preloaded. Google, in its history of Pixel devices, has never launched the device with an older version of Android and if the leak is true, it would be the first time Google would ever do so. This is surprising, considering the launch of Android 15 is quite close and it was expected that it will be released alongside Pixel 9 series, coming preloaded on the devices.
Lava has announced the launch of a new 4G entry-level handset in India, dubbed Lava Yuva Star. According to Lava, the smartphone “is designed to cater to entry-level customers with enhanced performance and impressive aesthetics, democratising the smartphone experience for the masses.” Here’s what all it has to offer.
Lava Yuva Star: Price, Availability
The Yuva Star can be purchased for Rs 6,499 for the sole 4GB + 64GB model. The product is available pan India across retail outlets in colours including Lavender, Black, and White.
Lava Yuva Star: Specifications
The Yuva Star sports a 6.75-inch LCD panel that offers an HD+ resolution, 60Hz refresh rate and a waterdrop notch housing the front camera. Under the hood, the device features the Unisoc SC9863A chipset and 4GB of RAM with up to 4GB of virtual RAM. There’s 64GB of built-in storage and the phone runs on Android 14 Go OS.
For optics, you get a 13-megapixel main camera, along with an AI sensor. You also get a 5MP selfie shooter. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging via the USB-C port.
Connectivity options include dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS. There’s also a side-facing fingerprint scanner, and a single bottom firing speaker.
At its price point, the Lava Yuva Star competes with the brand’s own Yuva 3 which has better specs and is priced slightly higher at Rs 6,799. However, it runs on an older version of Android. Aside from that, there’s also the Moto G04s that’s priced at Rs 6,999 and also offers a superior set of specs over the Yuva Star. While the Yuva Star has a price advantage over its competitors, we still feel you should spend a little more on the Moto G04s for a better overall offering.
Qualcomm will be introducing the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in the upcoming months and new leaks suggest it could be a huge upgrade over the last year’s 8 Gen 3. In comparison to Apple’s A17 Pro Processor and the 8 Gen 3, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 has scored significantly better on the Geekbench benchmark platform.
The first benchmark test of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) device has surfaced on Geekbench. The device appeared on the Benchmarking platform with the codename ‘Manufacturer Model’ wherein, it was able to score 2,884 points in the single-core score and 8,840 in the multi-core segment. Last year, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 QRD device scored 2325 single-core and 7448 multi-core Geekbench 6 points.
In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max with A17 Pro scored 2,846 in the single-core round and 7,024 points in the multi-core test on Geekbench. In addition, Apple’s upcoming A18 Pro Chipset has purportedly scored 3,500 points in single-core test and 8,200 points in multi-core test on Geekbench, showing better sing-core performance over 8 Gen 4 but worse performance in multi-core round. However, these scores of the A18 Pro are rumoured ones, so take them with a pinch of salt.
Aside from the scores, the Geekbench results show that the chipset is an octa-core processor with 6 cores clocked at 2.78Hz and two cores running at 4.09Ghz speeds. In addition, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is rumoured to be based on TSMC’s latest N3P 3nm process.
The reference device seen on Geekbench was running Android 15 OS with 12GB of RAM. With proper optimization from OEMs and additional RAM, it is possible for the chipset to achieve high performance scores. Finally, the chipset could also pack custom Oryon CPU cores paired with a new Adreno GPU. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will feature substantial GPU improvements. The next-gen chipset’s GPU is expected to be significantly more powerful than the Adreno 750 found in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Qualcomm will be hosting the Snapdragon Summit later this year on October 1, where it will be unveiling the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC.
Apple iPhone 15 series launched last year and as usual, it garnered a lot of attention which translated into a good chunk of potential buyers of the devices. However, as the iPhone 16 series launch nears, we are seeing impressive discounts on last year’s models, one of which is the vanilla iPhone 15 whose price has been dropped to as low as Rs 65,499 on Flipkart, which is a significant discount from the original price of Rs 79,900. While it may be a compelling buy at this price, should you actually buy the iPhone 15 when the iPhone 16 launch is near or should you skip it? This is a question we’d be answering today.
Reasons To Buy iPhone 15
The price of the iPhone 15 has been dropped by Rs 14,401 over its original price tag and that’s an attractive price tag for an iPhone that’s still the latest available in the market. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider purchasing the iPhone 15 instead of waiting for the iPhone 16.
Discounted Price: The iPhone 16 will either launch for the same price as the iPhone 15, which was Rs 79,900, or it would carry a higher price tag. Further, because it would be the latest model, it won’t be available with any heavy discounts anytime soon. For this reason, you should definitely opt for the iPhone 15 if its in your budget with the discounted price, and if you want an iPhone only (and not an Android devices) as your new smartphone. Furthermore, the iPhone 16 launch is still likely a month away (or more), as per leaks. If you are in an urgent need to buy a smartphone, opt for the iPhone 15 as soon as possible before its price increases back up.
A solid performer: Even with the iPhone 16 coming in, the iPhone 15 still stands as a solid performer in its price segment. While it may lack in some specs compared to an Android devices, it’s still the latest iPhone that offers a balanced experience and gets you some features that would remain unchanged even in the next iPhone, such as the dynamic island, a 60Hz display, a USB-C port, and an appealing set of cameras.
Reasons To Skip iPhone 15 And Wait For iPhone 16
While the iPhone 15 is still a great performer for the price, the iPhone 16 is definitely set to bring some notable updgrades. Here are some reasons as to why you should wait for the iPhone 16 instead of buying the iPhone 15.
No budget or time constraints: If you are in no hurry to buy a smartphone and can still wait for a while, we think the iPhone 16 might just be worth it. While it may pack a similar display as the iPhone 15 or even get a similar look, it would still be the latest Apple has to offer.
Upgraded internals: As we said, the iPhone 16 may pack some notable upgrades over the iPhone 15, as per leaks. The device could get higher RAM along with a bigger battery as well. The iPhone 16 would further pack an action button instead of the mute switch, and would get an extra capture button if reports are to be believed. It may pack a similar set of cameras but with software enhancements limited to the iPhone 16. Not only that, but it may pack the watered down version of the same chip as the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models, which would still make it more powerful than the iPhone 15.
Apple Intelligence support: Apple Intelligence is a suite of AI features recently unveiled by Apple that will bring a load of AI-based functions to supported iPhone models. As the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are not supported, you’ll have to wait for the iPhone 16 series if you want access to these Apple Intelligence features, as all the devices in the iPhone 16 lineup are expected to get the AI functions and not just the Pro models.
iPhone 15 or iPhone 16: Which One to Buy?
As you can see for yourself, if you’re eager for the latest features, improved performance, and compatibility with Apple Intelligence, waiting for the iPhone 16 might be a smart choice. However, if you’re content with the current iPhone 15 and its recent price drop, it’s still a great option. Remember, the decision ultimately depends on your priorities and how urgently you need a new iPhone. Weigh the pros and cons, and make an informed choice!
Samsung unveiled Galaxy AI earlier this year in January with the Galaxy S24 series and later expanded it to all its flagships from past few years, such as the Galaxy S23 series, S22 series, Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, and so on. Soon, Galaxy AI could also be making its way to a couple of Galaxy A-series mid-range smartphones from Samsung that have launched this year, including Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G.
The report comes from SamMobile, as per whom “Galaxy AI will eventually expand beyond the high-end segment and reach mid-range Galaxy A phones, starting with a couple of 2024 models.” The publication states that the Galaxy A35 5G (Review), and the Galaxy A55 5G (Review) will be the first devices to receive Galaxy AI before the end of the year.
The report adds that both these Galaxy A-series devices will receive Galaxy AI support with One UI 6.1.1 software update that’s set to arrive for some devices later this month. It’s possible that the Galaxy A55 5G and the A35 5G may receive the updates next month.
Secondly, not all Galaxy AI features will be available for the Galaxy A35 and A55 5G. It’s unclear which AI tools will be included or excluded, but it’s likely that Samsung will omit those requiring significant on-device processing power. Features like Instant slow-mo may not be available, considering it’s not available even on the Galaxy S23 FE, a device significantly more powerful than the Galaxy A55 5G.
Finally, the report says that they can only confirm Galaxy AI support for Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55, but not for older Galaxy A devices, even if there are hardware similarities. For instance, the A35 and the Galaxy A54 5G from 2023 share the same chip but Galaxy AI may not arrive for the latter.
Whatever the case may be, bringing Galaxy AI to mid-range Samsung phones could prove significantly beneficial for the brand. Galaxy AI already has millions of users and within the mid-range, it could be a major pull factor for audiences to buy the Galaxy A-series devices.
