Motorola Razr (2023)

Compared to other foldable flip phones like the Motorola Razr+ and Galaxy Z Flip 5, the Motorola Razr (2023) costs $300 less, and it’s obvious where Motorola made compromises to bring down the price. However, this is the first foldable phone that is a good choice for a wider range of price points if you don’t require a strong processor or a larger cover display.

Specs

Overview

The Motorola Razr (2023) has arrived to cater to those intrigued by foldable phones without wanting to break the bank. In a landscape where a almost US$1000 foldable phone was once considered a relative bargain, the new Razr disrupts the narrative by significantly reducing that price.

To achieve this more affordable cost, Motorola had to make certain compromises. The most notable one involves downsizing the phone’s exterior display from the expansive 3.6-inch panel on the pricier Motorola Razr+ to a more modest 1.5-inch strip. Additionally, this budget-friendly Razr opts for a less powerful chipset, and specifications for storage and display refresh rate are scaled back compared to the Plus model.

The question emerges: Is the decreased price of the Motorola Razr justified in exchange for the compromises on a foldable flip phone? Or does the reduction in features render any potential value obsolete? This Motorola Razr (2023) review seeks to answer precisely that.

Design

Motorola has once again impressed with the design aesthetics of the Razr (2023). The premium build quality and carefully chosen materials give it a sleek and sophisticated appearance. The device feels sturdy in hand, and the attention to detail in design is evident.

The foldable design is where the Razr (2023) truly shines. Motorola has refined the folding mechanism, making it more robust and durable. The device folds seamlessly, and the hinge feels reliable, addressing concerns from the previous model.

Display

The display of the Razr (2023) is impressive, both in terms of size and resolution. The ample screen real estate, coupled with a high-resolution display, enhances the overall viewing experience. Whether you’re watching videos, browsing, or multitasking, the display delivers vibrant and sharp visuals.

Motorola has incorporated advanced display technology in the Razr (2023). The foldable OLED screen provides rich colors and deep contrasts. The display adapts well to different lighting conditions, ensuring a consistent and enjoyable viewing experience.

Performance

Under the hood, the Razr (2023) is powered by a robust processor. The device handles multitasking with ease, and the performance is commendable for daily tasks and even demanding applications. Whether you’re navigating through apps or engaging in gaming sessions, the processor delivers a smooth experience.

With various RAM and storage configurations available, users can choose the one that suits their needs. The ample RAM ensures efficient multitasking, and the storage options cater to users with varying media and app requirements.

Camera

The camera capabilities of the Razr (2023) add to its appeal. The device captures detailed and vibrant shots, showcasing improvements in image processing. The camera system benefits from Motorola’s expertise, offering a versatile shooting experience. The front and rear cameras provide versatility in capturing moments. Whether it’s selfies or landscape shots, the Razr (2023) excels in delivering quality images from both perspectives.

Battery Life

The battery performance of the Razr (2023) is noteworthy. The device efficiently manages power consumption, resulting in extended battery life. Users can go through a full day of usage without constantly worrying about running out of charge.

The charging capabilities align with the modern user’s needs. The fast-charging feature ensures that you spend more time using your device and less time waiting for it to charge.

Verdict

In conclusion, the Motorola Razr (2023) lives up to the hype surrounding foldable smartphones. With a stunning design, impressive display, robust performance, and capable camera system, it’s a device that appeals to those seeking innovation and style. While it comes with an affordable price tag, the overall package makes it a worthwhile investment for tech enthusiasts looking to stay on the cutting edge.

The Motorola Razr (2023) succeeds in blending form and function, offering a glimpse into the future of smartphones. If you’re ready to embrace the foldable revolution, the Razr (2023) is a strong contender in the market.

If you have any comments please leave them here below, and if you have questions leave them below as well and I will get back as soon as I can. Check out more reviews and articles on your favorite gadgets right here on wildbreaktech.com.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone is one of the best to release this year. But with a high price tag and visible crease on the larger display may leave many potential buyers looking elsewhere.  

Specs

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 – Overview

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is a seamless device with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. However, the foldable market might make a significant jump from the little move taken by the Fold range.

The gap-free body of the Galaxy Z Fold5 finally matches the competition and solves one of the lineup’s biggest problems: the ugly and unusable V-shaped gap when folded shut. With its IPX8 certification, it is still only equaled by the Huawei Mate X3, whose Armor metal frame and Victus glass exterior are the most reliable on the market.

For the Galaxy model, the processor has been improved to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with faster CPU and GPU speeds, and storage has been increased to UFS 4.0.

The remainder is copied and pasted from Fold4. The 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOELD 2X screen with 373ppi, 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, and HDR10+ is still a foldable AMOLED panel. It supports S-Pen input and includes a sophisticated 4MP camera hidden behind the display to prevent disruptions. Despite not being a component of the phone itself, the new, smaller S-Pen cover may be one of the most significant enhancements we receive this year.

The same 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ is available externally. While there is no S-Pen support, there is a punch hole here.

Another feature that was directly copied from the Fold4 is the back camera configuration. The new Snapdragon chipset will be hoped to assist the 50MP OIS main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP OIS 3x telephoto combination in enhancing image quality with its processing power.

Battery life is another area that can only be improved by the new chipset as the Fold5 has a 4,440mAh battery with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging capability. 

It was undoubtedly written on the wall in the Fold5 R&D labs, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Although the unsightly gap is gone, the Fold5 still appears to be a makeover rather than a completely new design. Imagine a Galaxy Fold 4s.

Could there possibly be more to this new phone than first appears? Has Samsung concentrated on internal changes that enhance the user experience but don’t appear on the specifications sheet? Let’s investigate by taking a look inside the box.

Design

The design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is clearly the result of iterative development. It shares a lot of similarities with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 at first appearance, but there are also significant and, in my opinion, positive distinctions.

With a weight reduction of about 11 grams over the previous generation, the Z Fold 5 is much lighter. Additionally, it weighs 30 grams less (252 g) than the substantial but superb Google Pixel Fold (402 grams).

More significantly, the glass-covered frame made of polished aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 can now be folded flat. When folded, the smartphone is substantially lighter and slimmer thanks to it and the millimeter of body thickness. It also feels good in your hands.

Samsung redesigned the hinge and the way the flexible display is bent inside it when you close the phone. However, the sweeping technology that was added to the hinge mechanism a few years ago to keep out crumbs and dust is still present.

The flexible display crease seems to have become significantly less obvious thanks to its improved hinge. Although it’s still visible and perceptible, it seems a little less obvious.

Most button and port locations are the same. On the top and bottom edges of the phone, there are speaker grills that are marginally smaller than those on the Z Fold 4. On the bottom, near to a microphone connector, is a USB-C port.

A single air vent and two microphones are located on the top. If the phone is open and the main screen is facing you, the physical SIM slot is on the left edge, while the power/fingerprint reader and volume rocker controls are on the right.

The fingerprint reader is one of two reliable biometric security choices, by the way. You may use the fingerprint reader or register your face to unlock. It’s simple to setup the security features with your face or pin code, and unlocks your phone quite quickly.

The hardware of the cameras, all five of them, has not changed from the Z Fold 4, however the back camera array has undergone a minor aesthetic adjustment. Samsung appears to have removed some metal from the aluminum island that encloses the three back lenses. The LED flash has also been relocated from the island and put close to the lens array.

Otherwise, nothing has changed. In comparison to the Fold 3, I loved the previous design and was pleased to see that Samsung was able to significantly widen the cover screen without expanding the phone chassis.

As soon as I open the Z Fold 5, I can clearly see the edge-to-edge screen, and it appears to be bigger. Samsung’s primary camera is cunningly concealed behind the primary foldable display and only becomes visible as a cutout when in use.

The way the hinge works is strong and slick. Despite hundreds of instances of opening and closing, the phone still felt secure when I first used it and still does. This Android phone is wonderfully made. In reality, I can attest from personal experience that Samsung is thorough and does not tolerate flaws in its Galaxy devices.

Without a doubt, the Z Fold 5 smartphone is beautiful from an aesthetic standpoint, with its polished, color-coordinated frame reminding one of a fancy bag or briefcase’s clasp. My favorite and the Fold 5’s distinctive color is Icy Blue. Other colors are available, such as Phantom Black, Cream (exclusive from Samsung.com), Gray, and Blue.

You can see sandwiched, polished aluminum, colorful glass on the back, and a big cover screen when it is folded shut. Despite having more thickness than a typical candy bar smartphone, it feels sturdy without being heavy and fits well in virtually any pocket.

One of the most robust foldables, it can withstand being submerged in water for 30 minutes thanks to its IPX8 certification. But that only applies to fresh water, not the salt water found at beaches. If you do take it to the beach, try not to drop it in the sand because it isn’t especially dust-resistant and the moving components won’t like it.

I ran my Galaxy Z Fold 5 under the faucet, but I didn’t entirely immerse the phone. It was fully undamaged after I dried it off. The overall design of the Z Fold 5 is not anything new, but it does have better features. 

Display

The 6.2-inch AMOLED (2316 x 904) outside display has a selfie camera with a punch-hole. It is responsive, bright, and angular. This cover screen has a customizable refresh rate of 48-120Hz, much like its predecessor.

The stated screen size can be a little deceiving. Yes, it is wider than the 6.12-inch display on my iPhone 14 Pro, measuring 6.2 inches diagonally, but it is also smaller. My iPhone 14 Pro and the Pixel Fold are both noticeably (almost half an inch) bigger.

Because of the tiny cover screen, this phone is still easy to carry even when it is folded to be twice as thick as the normal iPhone. But when compared to other smartphones, particularly the roomy Google Pixel Fold cover screen, it frequently feels constrained in usage.

Although the Pixel Fold showed me what was possible, I can no longer live with thumb typing on the too-narrow display of the Z Fold 5’s cover screen. And this is significant because, despite the fact that this is a dual-screen gadget with lots of productive potential, I spent a lot of time on the road with it folded shut.

The cover screen should be just as functional as the main screen, as it is on the Pixel Fold, but it isn’t, at least not in comparison.

When you unfold the phone, a stunning 7.6-inch small tablet display is revealed. Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, 2176 x 1812 resolution (374ppi), and 1-120Hz adjustable refresh rate are its perfect specifications and resolution. Having said that, this is an excellent display for browsing websites, checking email, and perusing social media.

While utilizing the display to play games, watch Netflix, shoot photographs (using it as your big-screen viewfinder), and manage numerous applications at once, you won’t notice the flexible screen crease (even if it appears a little less obvious).

Even though it has a slightly lesser resolution and pixel density (the Pixel Fold has a 2208×1840 OLED at 380ppi), this screen is more than comparable to the Pixel Fold’s. I like how the Z Fold 5’s screen extends all the way to the edge and how Samsung chose to conceal the internal front-facing camera behind a sparse patch of pixels that it can switch off when not in use rather than utilizing a larger bezel.

I don’t understand why Samsung chose to stick with the 4MP camera rather than switching to a better resolution sensor (like what you’ll find on the Pixel Fold), but at least the 7.6-inch foldable display is excellent.

The display’s advertised 1,750nit peak brightness (our lab testing hit 1,350nits in HDR mode), which I frequently used outside, was more than adequate of blocking out direct sunlight.

The phone’s displays are both touchscreens, of course, but the folding display has the advantage of accepting pen input via Samsung’s S Pen stylus. Samsung provided the new $99 / £99 Galaxy Z Fold 5 Slim S Pen cover, which is itself a pretty interesting feat of engineering, as the phone doesn’t come with one. Just above the stylus, there is a tiny S Pen release. I just depress the button to release it, and the S Pen emerges from the casing.

If I’m being really honest, I don’t like how thin the newest S Pen is. Having saying that, I liked using it on the primary display. With applications like Sketchbook, it’s fantastic for taking notes quickly and even sketching. There isn’t a better option, in my opinion, if you’re considering purchasing a case for your new Z Fold 5, than one that also contains this pen.

On the huge primary display, everything appears to be in fantastic condition. It’s ideal for my passion with Asphalt 9: Legends and for viewing movies on the train. Its flexibility also makes it versatile.

With a screen the size of a tablet, multitasking is an option. I had no issue dragging and dropping up to three applications into place to launch them. I can press the ellipsis in the middle of my trio of applications to switch between the three places.

You might wish you could open more applications at once, but I believe three is sufficient for readability and functionality. Drag and drop operations between these two displays are similarly simple. In this case, having one app on the left and another on the right makes sense (for example, mail on the left and photos you want to drop in on the right).

Soon after receiving my review sample from Samsung, I made the decision to rely only on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to direct me as I walked from a restaurant back to my hotel in Seoul. I launched Google Maps on the 7.6-inch display after unfolding the phone and started looking for my accommodation.

Maps located it and could pinpoint my location and travel direction with a small blue dot. Because Maps couldn’t produce walking instructions in South Korea, that was useful. I only needed to stroll while keeping an eye on my blue dot on the large screen. I was back in my hotel room in fifteen minutes.

I can sit the phone on the table, fold the screen 90 degrees, and watch movies on one side of the screen while scrolling through my photographs and videos or use Flex Mode to shoot shots by waving at the screen. The Z Fold 5 also functions as a tripod by itself.

I would set it down on a chair, table, or other flat surface, point the back cameras at my subject (people, the sky, the stars), and then use the settings on the screen to snap the picture either right away or, if I didn’t want to take the chance of moving the phone, on a timer. Hyperlapses of stars moving over the night sky and groups of people passing by are both fantastic subjects for this kind of video.

There isn’t a “Tent Mode” on this device as there is on the Pixel Fold, which would allow you to half unfold the phone and play content horizontally on the Cover screen. Given how little that monitor is, this is definitely reasonable.

Camera

I can see the plan with the Z Fold 5 even though it’s rare for a phone maker like Samsung to keep all of its cameras the same from one model to the next. Few individuals own foldable phones or have purchased the Z Fold 4. Do you see many individuals sporting them at the park or on the train as you look around? Exactly.

Samsung has a point when it says that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (or its sexier sibling, the Galaxy Z Flip 5) may be customers’ introduction to foldable phones. With one exception, the Z Fold 4’s camera collection was pretty strong. It’s doubtful that you won’t like what Samsung has to offer in this area.

Given the fact that options for foldable phones are expanding at an exponential rate, there is obviously a concern. Don’t even get me started on the abundance of folding alternatives available to customers in the UK and Europe (entry from Oppo, Honor, and Huawei come to mind); it’s been a while since I evaluated the Z Fold 4. Google introduced the Pixel Fold since I last reviewed the Z Fold 4, and it does, in some respects, surpass the Z Fold 5’s photographic capabilities.

With a 5x optical zoom compared to Samsung’s 3x magnification, Google excels above Samsung in this specific area. Although Samsung may brag about its remarkable 30x spatial zoom capabilities, images shot with that digitally enhanced feature don’t hold up all that well when compared to other cameras. Additionally, part of the graphics combines actual images with what AI knows about your subject. That, in my opinion, is not true photography.

Nevertheless, I had a great time utilizing the Z Fold 5’s cameras. In certain circumstances, the images and portrait mode photographs are amazing. The tendency of Samsung to intensify the colors largely works in its advantage. I do enjoy a sky that is even more spectacularly blue and more purple flowers. Although authenticity may not be Samsung’s strong te, I believe everyone will like your Galaxy Z Fold 5 pictures.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers superior picture processing, which I saw on exhibit in the great low-light night photography, despite the fact that Samsung didn’t alter the sensors. The pictures are pretty good, whether they were taken in a restaurant where a 20-course Korean meal was being served or of the lovely Seoul cityscape.

Even when taking pictures in portrait mode, the camera is quick. I photographed several people who were learning to juggle, and I was astounded by the primary 50MP camera’s ability to not only capture the jugglers in action but also to recognize the balls in flight and bring them into focus alongside my subject.

My argument is that, if you have a decent lens and sensor, sometimes all you need to do to improve speed and image processing is upgrade the silicon. I took the majority of my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 photos with the phone closed, utilizing one of the three rear cameras as my viewfinder and the cover screen as a flash.

The main screen is accessible if I open the phone, but it’s a little cumbersome. I could utilize the greatest cameras on the phone, the 10MP cover display camera (recommended), the 4MP folding display camera (not recommended but fine for video conferencing), or both for a selfie.

I did this by unfolding the phone and choosing the “Cover Preview Screen” icon in the camera app’s upper right-hand corner. Due to the back camera array facing me, I was able to utilize the cover screen as my viewfinder. By moving the lock icon on the cover screen to the left or right, I could even have complete control over all photographic functions.

This is because, whether you’re shooting conventional photos or selfies, you can shoot using the phone’s greatest camera system. Although it’s a good feature, I didn’t like photographing with my phone unfurled in general since I was afraid of dropping it.

I also recorded some video, up to 8K 30fps, and was happy to see that there was no stuttering while recording or playback. However, I do believe that the playback of the 4K 60fps video is a little bit more buttery smooth. In either case, this phone can record some excellent films.

The auteurs among us have the option of shooting in Pro video mode, which offers them full control over the camera’s settings, including focal point, speed, and microphone (omnidirectional rather than simply front or rear, or even an external microphone).

Even while Samsung sometimes tucks away useful features inside the “More” menu, its Camera app is generally richer than Apple’s. You may select “Pro” (under More) for manual control. Additionally, you may capture 12MP stills (by merging four pixels at a time) or 50MP raw pictures with the free Samsung Expert Raw program.

You can adjust every manual option on your camera with it as well. Although it’s still a mystery to me why these phones don’t come with Expert Raw pre-installed, at least it’s available.

Compared to Apple, Samsung often provides you more control over camera functions. Similar to Apple’s Timelapse, Hyperlapse has six settings and explains how to utilize each one (300x is ideal for observing the stars, for instance).

Performance

Samsung may not have made many changes to the cameras or other parts of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but it changed the important parts. There is the still-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ‘for Galaxy’ SoC, which is now also included in the complete Galaxy S23 series. This slightly overclocked version of the CPU.

Twelve gigabytes of (LPDDR5X) RAM support that. Together, they contributed to a simple and enjoyable user experience.

According to the results of our Geekbench 6 testing, Qualcomm’s silicon outperforms the Tensor G2 CPU in the Google Pixel Fold in terms of single-core performance (2050 vs. 1179) and multi-core (5302 for the Z Fold 5 vs. 3759 for the Pixel Fold). The Z Fold 5 fared nearly twice as well as the Pixel Fold in one of our OpenGL tests that measures graphics performance.

The majority of top-tier mobile chipsets, however, are more than quick enough for almost everything you might imagine doing with a smartphone. In other words, while most common and more demanding video and picture editing operations seemed similarly quick on the Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold, it is in prolonged usage that the extra overhead provided by the Samsung device shows out.

I raced around San Francisco in Asphalt 9: Legends while playing Call of Duty Warzone Mobile at the maximum visual quality and framerate possible without any tearing or stuttering. I also used PowerDirector to simultaneously edit multiple 4K video streams (I notice that most mobile video editors are unable to edit the 8K footage). This portable is equipped to handle almost everything.

This is a 5G phone, so it goes without saying that I experienced strong connections and quick downloads in areas with decent coverage. Both an eSIM and a conventional SIM are supported. Excellent performance in the workplace and at home as well as decent future-proofing were made possible with Wi-Fi 6e support.

Battery Life

Samsung didn’t adjust the battery size between the Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 5. The Pixel Fold has a battery capacity of 4,727mAh and weighs 30 grams more than the Z Fold 5; this means that 4,400mAh is less than the Pixel Fold. 

Samsung claims its devices would have all-day battery life, and I regularly experienced this. On most days, it was used for at least 15 hours.

The phone is compatible with Samsung’s version of “Super Fast charging,” which recharges 50% in 30 minutes. In our experiments, a 65W power adaptor allowed us to recharge to 56% capacity in 30 minutes.

However, just the USB-C cable is included in the package, so if you want to charge your device as quickly as possible, you’ll need to purchase one of those appropriate 65W or 45W adapters.

On several Qi wireless chargers, I was also successful in charging my device. When activated in Settings, the phone also enables wireless PowerShare, allowing you to stack Samsung phones on top of one another to transfer battery power between them (or to earphones or a compatible timepiece).

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a significant improvement to the Z Fold 4, giving the foldable smartphone formula a flatter and lighter design. It has sufficient power, adaptability, and premium parts and materials.

However, the identical features to the older model, the Z Fold 4, such as the battery, chipset, the camera system and the little cover screen fall short when compared to the considerably broader competitor, such as the Google Pixel Fold. At least it’s better than the older Z Fold 4. 

Should you buy it? Yes you should, if you can afford it. Although the Z Fold 5 is coming at a high price, it tick all the right boxes. So if you work in corporate, then this your ideal smartphone.

Any comments are welcome here below. If you also have questions then, leave them also below and I’ve get back to you soonest. If you want to find out more about this amazing smartphone, click here. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is an amazing phone for those seeking a compact 6.7-inch smartphone that maximizes space efficiency. It’s also perfect for anyone in search of an entertaining and distinctive device.

SPECS

Overview of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the smallest phone in Samsung’s foldable series, which also includes the larger Galaxy Z Fold 5 . While the Z Fold 5 turns a regular-sized phone into a tablet, the Z Flip 5 focuses on making a big screen smaller, more enjoyable, and easier to fit in your pocket.

The Fold is designed for power users and opens like a book, while the Flip bends at the waist and is designed for casual users who want a sleek, powerful phone that can be flipped closed for maximum mobility.

The Flip 5 is slightly better than the Z Flip 4, with some minor spec improvements and the ability to fold completely flat (just like the $999.99 Motorola Razr+). The new hardware is not only stunning but also durable, with an IPX8 rating and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Samsung claims that the new hinge is even more robust than before.

One notable upgrade is the increased size of the exterior display, which enhances its usefulness. Samsung and Motorola have different approaches to utilizing their front screens, and this is what sets these phones apart the most. Depending on what you’re looking for in a modern flip phone, either the Z Flip 5 or the Razr+ will meet your needs.

So, if you’re after a compact and stylish phone that can easily fit in your pocket, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a great choice. It offers a fantastic folding experience and some impressive features. However, if you prefer a different design and user experience, the Motorola Razr+ is also worth considering. Ultimately, it all comes down to your personal preferences and priorities.

Improvements to the Design

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a stunning and sophisticated device that exudes durability, all while weighing a mere 6.6 ounces. This puts it in the same weight range as the Motorola Razr+, which weighs between 6.5 and 6.7 ounces (depending on the model), and significantly lighter than the 8.9-ounce Galaxy Z Fold 5.

While the Flip 5 boasts a smooth exterior that can sometimes feel slippery, the Razr+ offers a back panel with either a matte surface or vegan leather, both of which enhance grip.

When closed, the Z Flip 5 measures 3.4 by 2.8 by 0.6 inches (HWD), making it taller yet thinner than its predecessor, the Z Flip 4 (which measures 3.3 by 2.8 by 0.7 inches). On the other hand, the Fold 5 is substantially larger, with dimensions of 6.1 by 2.6 by 0.5 inches. The Z Flip 4 features a slightly wedged design due to the space between its halves, measuring 0.63 inches at its narrowest point. In contrast, the Flip 5 collapses flat without a wedge, showcasing its incredibly slim and sleek design.

The two parts of the phone are securely connected by Samsung’s new hinge, which can sometimes require a bit of effort to open due to its tight fit. The Z Flip 5 also has a small depression between its two sections, which can cause fingers to occasionally slip on the exterior metal frame when attempting to separate them.

On the other hand, the Razr+ has more rounded corners that make it easier to open, as they provide a firmer grip on either side.

Unless you possess exceptional dexterity, I would not recommend attempting to open either phone with just one hand. The redesigned hinge not only makes the phone more compact but also enhances its ergonomics, making it more comfortable to.

The hinge on the phone is a crucial component, and it’s important to find the right balance. If the angle is too low or too high, the hinge might automatically open or close the phone. However, we’ve discovered that the phone can still function even when opened less than 75 degrees.

On the flip side, if the angle falls below 45 degrees, the phone will shut on its own. To address this, the hinge has been redesigned and is now rated for 200,000 folds, just like the Z Flip 4.

The Z Fold 5 has also undergone similar changes to its hinge. Now, when the phone is shut, there is no longer a wedge-shaped gap between the two parts. It’s a small but significant improvement. When you open the phone, the two halves of the metal band come together seamlessly, providing a satisfying tactile experience. Samsung states that the standard angle when fully opened is approximately 178.5 to 181.5 degrees.

This means that the Z Flip 5 may or may not be completely flat when opened, but that’s perfectly normal. In everyday use, the Z Flip 5 resembles a traditional candy bar phone from most angles, similar to the Razr+. On the other hand, the Fold 5 has a more square, tablet-like shape.

When folded, the Flip 5 measures 6.5 by 2.3 by 0.3 inches. The inner screen is 6.7 inches and has a resolution of 2,640 by 1,080 pixels, a pixel density of 426ppi, and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Unfortunately, there are no improvements over the Z Flip 4 in terms of screen specifications. If you look closely, you can spot the folding crease, although it’s not very noticeable in most situations.

When you’re checking out photos, videos, and text on this device, you probably won’t even notice the curved section of the screen. It’s just like using a regular flat phone. Oh, and by the way, you can still see a 10MP camera at the top of the screen, but it’s not super obvious or anything.

Both displays on the Z Flip 5 are super bright and offer excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The inner screen has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, while the outer screen goes up to a maximum of 1,600 nits (more on that later). On the other hand, the Fold 5 boasts a large 6.1-inch exterior display and a spacious 7.6-inch inside display.

When it comes to durability, the Z Flip 5 has the same IP rating as its predecessor, the Z Flip 4. That means it’s completely waterproof, but not officially dustproof. The front and rear panels are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which should survive falls of up to 6.5 feet on surfaces like asphalt. However, the Gorilla Glass Victus+ panels used in the previous Flip version are slightly less sturdy.

On the left side of the phone, you’ll find the SIM slot, while the volume rocker and power button/fingerprint sensor are located on the right. The combination button is a bit recessed, which makes it easier to place your finger on the sensor, but it’s not exactly ideal. When you hold the closed Z Flip 5, be careful as accidental touches can easily trigger the sensor.

If you fail to unlock the device five times in a row, the sensor will be disabled for 30 seconds, and you’ll need to enter your PIN or password to regain access. Luckily, there’s a nifty option in the settings that allows you to require a press instead of a touch to activate the fingerprint sensor (go to options > Fingerprint Always On).

This feature helps prevent the problem of unintentional sensor triggers. So, with its sleek design, the Z Flip 5 is a solid choice for those seeking a reliable and stylish smartphone.

The Gorgeous Displays

The Flip 5’s outside display (also known as the cover screen) is 3.4 inches across and has a resolution of 748 by 720 pixels, which is a significant improvement over the Flip 4’s 1.9-inch, 512-by-260-pixel display. It has an acceptable refresh rate of 60Hz, albeit I would have like it to match the inner screen’s 120Hz rate.

When you close the Flip, Samsung believes you’re done with your phone and closes whatever app you’re using. The always-on display is usually visible through the cover; you must unlock the phone to interact with it again.

The cover screen has interactive widgets by default, but no applications. To enable applications on the screen, navigate to Settings > Advanced Features > Labs and turn on “Apps allowed on cover screen.” When the toggle is turned on, you may press the text to choose from a selection of only six applications that will appear in the cover screen apps widget.

The displays in these apps have some (but not much) continuity. For example, if you open a text string on the cover screen and then open the phone, you’ll be immediately placed in the same thread. If you then navigate to another text string on the inner screen and then to the outer screen, the phone quits the program and you must reload it, but you will resume where you left off.

If you’re viewing a YouTube video on the outer screen, it will play on the inner screen as well. If you’re viewing a video from the inner screen and then close the phone, you’ll have to reload YouTube from the cover screen.

However, if you’re only exploring a piece of YouTube on the outer screen, that state appears to vanish when you open the phone—you’ll still receive YouTube, but a new instance of the app will be launched.

Then there’s Samsung’s Good Lock, which allows you to install any program under the Good Lock widget. Based on the number of steps required, this does not appear to be something Samsung wants everyone to complete.

Download Good Lock from the Galaxy App Store, then press the Life Up option at the bottom, install MultiStar, open MultiStar, select I Galaxy Foldable, and then pick Launcher Widget. You may then insert any app into that widget.

Some apps, however, may not operate on the cover screen and may prompt you to open the phone instead. Reading applications like Kindle, Comixology, and Scribd, as well as Chrome, Instagram, and X (aka Twitter), performed admirably on the front screen. MultiStar also contains a game widget, which gives you access to a library of 12 games that work nicely on the small screen.

In this size factor, Motorola’s cover/inner screen software continuity on the Razr+ is the gold standard. The quantity of things you can do on the Razr+’s front screen makes utilizing the inner screen feel like a luxury. It is optional to open the Razr+, not required.

In contrast, the Z Fold 5 has a fully working cover screen. The Fold 5’s exterior display is as powerful as any conventional Android smartphone, despite its large aspect ratio. Furthermore, the Fold 5’s continuity features vastly outperform those of the Flip 5.

Many programs smoothly move from the outside screen to the inside display and back again. Given the Fold 5’s enhanced continuity features, the Flip 5’s restrictions are all the more annoying.

Fast Performance

The Z Flip 5’s standard model comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but you can pay more to double the latter. Both models are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, which debuted in the Galaxy S23 range earlier this year. The Fold 5 features the same chipset but more RAM (12GB) and a 1TB storage capacity.

The Flip 5 comes with Android 13 and is expected to receive four years of OS upgrades and five years of security fixes. It uses Samsung’s One UI 5.1, so it doesn’t deliver the same stock Android experience as Google’s Pixel smartphones, but it comes close.

Apps loaded swiftly in testing, response was snappy, and there was no perceptible lag while running a large number of apps at the same time. The Flip 5 had a single-core Geekbench 6 score of 1,940 and a multi-core score of 4,895. In comparison, the Razr+, which is powered with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU, scored 917 and 2,916 in the single- and multi-core tests, respectively. It should be noted that Geekbench only measures the CPU.

The Flip 5 scored 14,377 on the PCMark Work 3.0 test, which measures general mobile workloads, which is extremely excellent but falls short of the Razr+’s 15,416. Genshin Impact performed admirably on medium settings at 60 frames per second. The Flip 5 handled many characters on the screen at the same time with ease, however we did notice intermittent slowdowns while traveling from one land to another.

When the settings were set to high, a warning message appeared that read, “Current performance load is too high, which can lead to overheating and serious lagging.” The Flip 5 became moderately warm to the touch after a short gaming session, but not uncomfortably so.

The processor-friendly Alto’s Odyssey ran well; there were no frame dips, and the phone remained cool. We anticipate that the Fold 5 will deliver comparable performance, however the additional RAM allocation may make a minor impact in specific use cases, such as multitasking.

Better Battery Life

The Z Flip 5 features a 3,700mAh battery with the same capacity and 25W wired charging speed as its predecessor. In our battery testing, which included streaming HD video at full brightness over Wi-Fi, the Z Flip 5 lasted roughly 10 hours and 5 minutes, falling short of the Razr+’s 14 hours (with a 3,800mAh battery) but improving by about 40 minutes over last year’s model.

The Flip 5 does not come with a charging brick, but with a strong charger, it can charge from 0 to 100% in 1 hour and 45 minutes. In testing, a short 15-minute charge brought the phone up to 19%. The Z Fold 5 has a bigger 4,400mAh battery, but it is powering significantly larger screens, and its battery performance has yet to be properly evaluated.

The Flip 5 supports 15W Qi-based wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging. Because of the minor angle generated by the camera bumps, I discovered that if the Z Flip 5 is closed on a level surface, a smooth item, such as the charging case of the Galaxy Buds Live, can slowly slip off the charging coil and the phone itself. To avoid this, open the Z Flip 5 and set it face down, or locate a case that will balance the phone when closed.

Other Features

The phone has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 radios, both of which are small improvements over the previous generation. It also supports mmWave and sub-6 5G, as well as the desired C-band spectrum, and has one nano SIM and one eSIM. Peak download speeds on the Flip reached 492Mbps while connected to a Wi-Fi 6 access point in testing, with uploads topping out at 16.4Mbps (the sluggish upload speed is due to the ISP rather than the phone).

When tested at the same location, the Razr+ achieved 459Mbps down and 20.4Mbps up. When I moved the Flip 5 as far away from the access point in my flat as feasible, the speeds plummeted to 39.5Mbps down and 8.91Mbps up, while the Razr+ achieved 23.4Mbps down and 13.8Mbps up.

The Flip 5 achieved exceptional speeds of 780Mbps down and 86.4Mbps up on T-Mobile’s network in New York. When tested in the same location, the Razr+ achieved 721Mbps down and 62.2Mbps up. In other words, the Flip 5 is a strong 5G performer, and we anticipate similar outcomes from the Fold 5.

The phone uses a downward-firing speaker and an earpiece speaker to provide stereo audio. When holding the smartphone in landscape mode, it is easy to cover up the down-facing speaker by accident, but it is more difficult to do so with the earpiece unless you want to do so. The speakers don’t go very loud, but the music is clear regardless of level. We discovered a lack of bass when testing the speakers with the music “Silent Shout” by The Knife.

When the speakers were switched to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” they achieved a maximum level of 94.8dB. Even at maximum volume, the highs remain clean and free of distortion. A unique feature of the design is that when you play music on the Z Flip 5, you can feel the vibrations through the cover screen. If you wish to hear the sounds from the Z Flip 5, we recommend utilizing Bluetooth headphones.

In testing, call quality was fairly high, with the earpiece speaker reaching 85.9dB, making it easy to hear the caller even in noisy environments. During conversations, the highest output of the downward-facing speakerphone was 72.8dB, which is still rather loud.

Excellent Camera Quality

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has three cameras in total. The exterior display holds two cameras: a 12MP ultra-wide sensor with a 123-degree field of view and a 12MP wide-angle shooter with optical image stabilization and a smaller field of view. The cameras are the same as those found in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.

The rear cameras can record video in 4K quality at 60 frames per second. The camera on the inner screen includes a 10MP sensor and can record video at up to 4K quality at 30 frames per second. The Fold 5 retains its cameras, however the main shooter has a 50MP sensor and a 10MP telephoto camera is added to the mix.

Outdoor images taken with the rear cameras on a sunny day looked nice, with details like foliage retaining crisp in testing. Colors were, however, oversaturated by default (as is customary for Samsung cameras), resulting in an artificial shine. Color images taken with the Razr+’s 12MP primary camera and 13MP ultrawide camera were more accurate.

The Z Flip 5’s ultrawide camera has a bigger field of vision (123 degrees) than the Razr+’s (108 degrees), so you can see more of the world in your shots. It handled both dark and bright regions effectively, retaining detail in both. Apart from saturation, the cameras on the Moto Razr+ and Z Flip 5 yielded identical results.

The interior camera provided photographs with more realistic color and detail than the rear shooters. When compared to other cameras, images shot in portrait mode produced a more realistic blur around the subject. When utilizing the primary rear camera, portrait mode was a little more harsh with the background blur, but portrait photographs can be changed in the Gallery app after you snap them.

Because Samsung promotes the Z Flip 5 as a phone for creators, we examined its video quality. Recording 4K60 footage while walking at a moderate pace resulted in some visual bounce. Lowering the frame rate to 30 frames per second resulted in better stable video. The bounce was decreased even more at 1080p/60fps.

Color reproduction appeared more lifelike in movies than in stills. The microphones captured audio nicely. Also, because the Z Flip 5 can display the camera’s viewpoint on the cover screen, we discovered that when individuals could see themselves ahead of each shoot, they seemed to smile wider and become more lively.

Low-light photography at 1x worked well in a very gloomy environment. Colors were visible in the picture testing. Images shot at 0.5x in low light, on the other hand, were completely black, with nothing visible. The Z Flip 5 outperforms its major opponent, although any of the normal Galaxy S23 variants or Pixel 7 phones capture superior photos overall.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a wonderful phone for anyone searching for a 6.7-inch smartphone that takes up as little room as possible, as well as anyone looking for something entertaining and unique. The Flip 5’s hardware is elegant and gorgeous, and the two displays are of exceptional quality, yet Motorola’s Razr+ offers significantly more capability on the outer screen.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5, on the other hand, has a more durable design and a quicker CPU, perhaps making it a better pick for someone who wants to keep their phone for at least a couple of years.

Finally, both of these foldables are simple to suggest alongside more traditional favorites such as the $999.99 Galaxy S23+ and the $899 Google Pixel 7 Pro. While we’re still evaluating it, the larger and more costly Z Fold 5 appears to be your best pick if you’re looking for a phone that combines the power of a high-end flagship with the productivity abilities of a tablet.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

The display, battery life, performance, primary camera, and charging of the iPhone 15 Plus are all significantly better than its predecessor. 

Specs

Overview

Since announcing the four models in the iPhone series, beginning with the launch of the 2020 iPhone 12 mini, Apple has struggled to make that fourth model popular with consumers in the same way as its siblings.

The sales of each batch of iPhones over the past three years have consistently been led by the Minis and Pluses. The new iPhone 15 Plus, like last year’s iPhone 14 Plus, offers a well-rounded experience combined with a lengthy battery life. 

The iPhone 15 Plus receives a few tweaks that make it appear more like a member of the club than its predecessor did. It includes enhancements that also make it more alluring to potential purchasers of big-screen smartphones. The iPhone 15 Plus launches with the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

All models in the iPhone 15 series, including the 15 Plus, now feature softer, more rounded edges, although maintaining the flat sides of the previous few iPhone generations.

This may be crucial for the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus as the previous models have been difficult to operate with one hand and this minor design change has a significant effect on the hand-feel, comfort, and usability.

You still get a 6.7-inch 60Hz OLED display with the iPhone 15 Plus, but it now has the Dynamic Island that was only available on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max last year, in place of a notch.

The phone is powered by the more formidable A16 Bionic processor produced by Apple, while the A17 Pro chipset was upgraded for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Also, say goodbye to Lightning; the iPhone now charges using USB-C, much like Galaxys, Pixels, and pretty much all other phones.

Regarding the crucial camera setup, there are still two lenses in a diagonal layout, but the main sensor has increased from 12MP to 48MP.

This change results in better still image quality in a variety of situations, including low light, when zooming in, and when taking portrait shots.

Although the image sensor on the iPhone 15 Plus (and iPhone 15) isn’t exactly the same as the one found in the Pro variants, it does support the majority of the cool new photo features seen on its more costly stablemates.

This features a boost in base output image resolution to 24MP and the capability to turn practically any photo into a Portrait shot.

The iPhone 15 Plus is available in 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB variants due to Apple’s decision to discontinue a 64GB storage option a few generations back. The new color-infused glass backs on all five iPhone 15 hues are available.

This, in my opinion, makes the green Plus (and the black iPhone 15) one of the most attractive iPhone finishes in recent memory.

The iPhone 15 Plus comes pre-installed with iOS 17, giving it all the advantages we’ve been hoping to try out for months (ever since Apple first demoed the feature at WWDC 2023 in June).

Longtime iPhone fans will value the quality-of-life improvements on the iPhone 15 Plus, like Contact Posters, Interactive Widgets, and even StandBy (formerly thought to be a feature reserved to iPhones with always-on displays, which the Plus currently lacks).

Fortunately, despite all the additional features, Apple has kept prices mostly unchanged in the US this year. In contrast, prices have decreased substantially in the UK and increased somewhat in Australia. As of Friday, September 22, the iPhone 15 Plus is accessible.

Design

The iPhone 15 Plus appears to be extremely similar to the iPhone 14 Plus at first glance. A closer look reveals a freshly designed metal frame, however, which softly buffs away the jagged edges and makes it considerably more comfortable to grip than the 14 Plus.

Additionally, it is three grams lighter (201g) than before.

This year’s iPhone 15 Plus (and iPhone 15) color options include five finishes (black, blue, green, yellow, and a truly stunning pink), all of which highlight new color-infused glass, with the camera bump effortlessly rising out of the back panel.

If you prefer pastels, you might appreciate these options. It has a nice appearance and is arguably the most elegant iPhone finish ever.

You should be able to charge with only one cable if you already own a contemporary MacBook and/or iPad, as the latter finally did away with Lightning on its base iPad 10.9 (2022) model last year.

Additionally, that aluminum frame now houses a USB-C port where there was once a Lightning port.

You’ll notice that it lacks the useful new Action button if you choose this non-Pro iPhone 15 variant. No, the ring/silent switch is still present on the 15 Plus and iPhone 15.

I don’t have anything against this aging component, but it’s clearly not as handy as an Action button (you can use accessibility tricks like Back Tap to mimic this behavior, though).

A diagonal dual camera system is still housed on the back of the phone, despite changes to the materials and colors. Where the notch formerly was on the front, you’ll now discover a Dynamic Island that resembles the iPhone 14 Pro, shielded by Apple’s Ceramic Shield.

Apple still provides some of the greatest IP-rated protection available, citing numbers that just barely outperform its IP68 certification for resistance to dust ingress and guaranteed water resistance.

The phone is also made entirely of recycled components, from the battery’s 100% recycled cobalt to the 75% recycled aluminum frame. Although the iPhone 15 Plus is a first step in this direction, Apple has plans to make all of its phones carbon-neutral as well.

Long-time iPhone users will also notice the port is slightly different from how they may be used to it; it is a larger pill-shape with a center strip of contacts. Finally, an iPhone has USB-C instead of a Lightning port.

Although it is commonly known that Apple made this decision before the European Union began to enforce it, that doesn’t make it any less innovative.

It was a minor joy the first time I was able to use the 3.5mm to USB-C converter, which had previously only been used with the Android phones I was testing at the time, to connect the aux cord in my car.

It’s exhilarating to be able to charge your MacBook, iPad, and iPhone with only one connection, especially if you travel frequently.

Display

Even though the bezels are not as narrow as they are on the slimmer 15 Pro and Pro Max, I find the larger 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 15 Plus to be rather appealing and expansive.

But despite boasting a superb Super Retina XDR OLED screen, the iPhone 15 Plus (and iPhone 15) are still constrained to a 60Hz refresh rate, in contrast to the Pro models’ slick 120Hz ProMotion panels.

It’s now a nearly absurd feature of Apple’s most current non-Pro iPhones. Every generation, I think to myself, “surely, this’ll be the year they move past 60Hz,” but the business keeps defying my dreams and expectations.

For instance, Google’s normal Pixels have featured 90Hz displays since 2019; this year’s Pixel 8 joins its Pro sibling, with a 120Hz display. Samsung’s comparably priced non-Ultra flagships made the switch to 120Hz starting with 2020’s Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus.

Even though 60Hz at a phone of this price is far slower than the industry norm, Apple continues to hold non-Pro iPhones to this level.

Maybe existing iPhone owners who upgraded from earlier non-Pro iPhones don’t realize what they’re missing; you don’t question 60Hz unless you see and experience high refresh rates for yourself.

The Always-On Display feature is another Pro-only feature that is present on the majority of competitors; nevertheless, in my opinion, Apple’s execution is the finest (for a more detailed explanation, see my review of the iPhone 15 Pro). The Plus’s absence is at least mitigated by the device’s carefully honed tap-to-wake and raise-to-wake behaviors.

It’s difficult to disagree with the existing hardware, even though I still believe that this expensive handset deserves display improvements like a faster refresh rate and always-on capabilities.

Even if competitors have crisper displays, I haven’t argued about the iPhone’s resolution in years, and the 460 ppi pixel density is the same as it was before. Additionally, with a substantially higher ceiling this year — a 1,200-nit peak has increased to 2,000 nits — the business has now pushed brightness to be among the best on the market.

You will not miss the notch, and the ordinary iPhone 15 models also get the Dynamic Island from the 14 Pro range. Although it technically extends further into the display than the fourth notch, it is a more useful feature, even though I believe Apple could have done more with it in between generations.

The iPhone 15 Plus can now do everything the Dynamic Island could (keep track of directions, music, and your Uber), and iOS 17 should eventually add more features as well.

Camera

The iPhone 15 Plus’ camera configuration has a huge secret, even though it shares the same design as the iPhone 14 and 13 series before it.

The primary camera, which has previously clocked in at 12MP, is upgrading to a 48MP sensor with sensor-shift OIS (optical image stabilization), borrowing a page from the iPhone 14 Pro’s playbook.

The regular iPhone’s photographic recipe now includes pixel binning for the first time, coupled with superior shooting in all lighting conditions, including low light, and better quality 2x zoomed and portrait photos. Not to mention improved video and stills stabilization.

More significantly, the iPhone 15 Plus (and iPhone 15) now automatically record 24MP photographs. The best 12MP of information is combined with the full detail of the new 48MP sensor to achieve this (this tends to result in image file sizes from the main camera being substantially greater than previous-generation.

Additionally, you receive an effective 2x optical zoom, which is not a zoom lens but rather extracts the center portion of the entire 48MP sensor, just like the 14 Pro’s camera did.

Although the front-facing camera is now hidden behind the Dynamic Island, the iPhone 15 Plus’ ultra-wide sensor and front-facing camera both retain their previous megapixel counts of 12MP, so you’re shooting with capable sensors everywhere.

Performance

With the iPhone 14 series, Apple widened the gap between its base models, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, and its higher-end models, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which had exclusive access to the A16 Bionic, which was more potent and power-efficient.

The two-tier CPU tradition will continue in 2023 with the iPhone 15 Plus (and iPhone 15) being able to use the A16 Bionic chip from last year’s 14 Pro models while the 15 Pro models this year use the even more powerful A17 Pro.

There was little evidence to suggest that the iPhone 14 Pro’s incorporation into the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus would do anything to lessen its potency since it was still absolutely flying and outperforming numerous current-generation Android flagships in fake benchmarks.

That is especially true when using a modest 60Hz display to power (as opposed to the adaptive 120Hz panel used in the Pro series), and sure enough, that is the case. During my time with the 15 Plus, the A16 Bionic demonstrated that it could handle just about anything.

There is also plenty of headroom that assures this phone will age gracefully, making it excellent for anyone looking for a long-term smartphone.

In terms of gaming, the large, bright display and the A16’s powerful graphics make for a capable pair that can handle even the most demanding games. Games, like Genshin Impact, runs smoothly at default settings (high) at 60 frames per second with only minor warming on the Plus’ back.

Concerning heat, as of this writing, a number of independent publications have expressed worries about a more serious heat build-up issue that appears to affect the entire iPhone 15 line.

While I didn’t have this problem while testing the Plus, I did when I was testing the iPhone 15 Pro for my review. It doesn’t seem to be related to carrying out high-performance jobs. Fortunately, this problem appears to be temporary because Apple has promised to fix it through software upgrades without affecting speed.

Storage options are the same as they were last year. It starts at 128GB, going up to 256GB, and ends at a high of 512GB. The Pro models start at 128GB, and the Pro Max model starting at 256GB.

The only significant reason for worry, as noted in the camera section, is the increase in picture resolution and the resulting rise in file size. A small modification like this might build up, even though a few more MBs on a single image might not seem like much.

Battery Life

We have a new battery champion, so blow the trumpets and throw some confetti! Last year’s iPhone 14 Plus dazzled with its battery life, but the iPhone 15 Plus takes things to new heights.

With a record (by our own testing) screen-on time of 10.25 hours, it surpasses devices like the Motorola Edge 40 Pro / Edge Plus 2023 (5.25 hours of screen-on time) and even Apple’s own iPhone 15 Pro (5.5 hours of screen-on time).

This translates to up to two days of use per charge, though I’d advise consumers to expect a day’s use with confidence and without checking the battery level.

Despite being the first Plus to include USB-C charging in favor of Lightning, there has disappointingly been no improvement in charging speed compared to the previous model.

Apple continues to claim that a device will reach 50% charge in 30 minutes with the same 15W and 7.5W wireless charging speeds for Qi and MagSafe, respectively.

However, during testing, the Plus charged at a high 20W and reached 53% in 30 minutes before reaching 100% in 1:53 using Apple’s 30W USB-C charger (available separately).

Verdict

Overall, the display, battery life, performance, primary camera, and charging of the iPhone 15 Plus are all significantly better than those of its predecessor. 

This year’s chipset, the optical zoom camera, the autofocus on the ultra-wide camera, the 120Hz high-refresh-rate screen that comes with Always-On Display, or the new programmable Action key are all features that are still absent from the Pro series.

The absence of some of these can be a deal-breaker for you depending on your preferences.

But more crucially, by positioning the 15 Plus in a precarious position where it has the feature set of the entry-level iPhone but is priced dangerously close to the Pro-tier iPhones, Apple may have hurt the 15 Plus’s chances of succeeding in the market, just as it did with the 14 Plus.

The iPhone 15 Plus has no intrinsic flaws; if it were used alone, we’d be pleased to give it our entire endorsement. But regardless of whether you are comparing it to current or previous-gen iPhones or Android devices, market realities indicate that it will be difficult to sell at its present pricing.

This places this particular device in a difficult situation and gives us reason to be pessimistic about the Plus portfolio as a whole.

Apple iPhone 15

The USB-C charger is just one of many advancements over the iPhone 14 that make the iPhone 15 a genuine update even if it isn’t sufficiently distinctive to shock the world.

SPECS

Overview

After using the new Apple iPhone 15 for a while, I can state that Apple should have switched to a USB-C charger years ago.

Not having to continually carry separate chargers for the iPhone and whatever other devices I’m carrying around has been a tremendous improvement, even though it’s not the largest feature on offer here given the incredibly outstanding cameras, great performance, and lovely hues.

Because of this, the iPhone 15 is now among the best smartphones available, especially if you’ve been waiting for Apple to do away with its ten-year-old Lightning cord. The iPhone 15 makes switching to iOS easier than ever before if you’ve been using one of the greatest Android smartphones.

Design

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus initially resemble the iPhone 14 almost exactly, right down to the aesthetic profile of the camera. But if you look a little closer, you can see differences.

The most significant of these is that, in its place of the inferior Dynamic Island that was only available on the iPhone 14 Pro in the previous generation, you now have the far better Dynamic Island.

This is essentially a tiny island in the display that is always completely black, though some notifications and statuses may display a small icon. These gadgets, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, can use a selfie camera underneath the display without interfering with your image.

This island also houses your front-facing cameras. Although it appears that Apple may be moving in this direction as well, the Dynamic Island is a far better option for storing the front-facing cameras while the firm works out how to accomplish it to its own standards.

The iPhone 15 has varied glass all around its back. This time, Apple was able to permanently incorporate the color into the glass. Realistically, most people won’t care much about this, but it should stop any stains from developing over time as dirt and grime become trapped behind the glass.

Naturally, in practice, this means that the new iPhone looks fantastic without a case, but Apple’s cellphones have always been like this.

Of course, the new USB-C port at the phone’s bottom is the greatest difference. The iPhone 15 is limited to USB-C 2.0, which is significantly slower than pretty much every other phone currently on the market, while the iPhone 15 Pro receives USB-C 3.0, a technology that has been available for 15 years.

It makes little sense to equip the iPhone 15 with such an antiquated USB spec in 2023, but I realize that consumers who transfer a lot of data to and from their phones will choose the iPhone 15 Pro anyway.

Even so, all USB-C 3.0 devices are backwards compatible, so using an older standard won’t have any impact other than on speed, but it’s still a mistake I wouldn’t have imagined from Apple.

Regarding the camera upgrade, the iPhone 14 still has a two-lens setup, but both lenses have undergone major improvements. You’ll still have to put up with a camera bump, which seems inevitable these days, but I like that Apple was able to enhance the camera’s capabilities without altering their design.

Other Features

I received a green iPhone 15 Plus and a pink iPhone 15, but there are actually many other color options available, including blue, yellow, and black in addition to pink and green.

Although the colors on both of the phones I tried are exquisite, they are weirdly muted this time around, with the pink hue frequently appearing white. Bright hues must be in opposition to Apple’s sense of style. How silly.

The last safety feature that Apple has included is very handy if you either live in a remote region or frequently go hiking. Nowadays, you can request assistance via satellite, whether you need roadside assistance or something more urgent.

This implies that you can still call for assistance in an emergency even if you don’t have cell service. You don’t need to upgrade if you already own an iPhone 14 because Apple discreetly supports the functionality for you as well.

You can discover the program in your settings by simply selecting Emergency SOS, as Apple explains in a help page. Additionally, a demo is available so you can test it out before a potentially fatal circumstance arises.

Camera

When it comes to the camera, the iPhone 14 was sort of screwed. Even though Apple’s normally superb image-boosting algorithms helped its 12MP primary sensor perform well, it lagged considerably behind the iPhone 14 Pro.

Even though the iPhone 15 Pro still has a great camera, the iPhone 15 is in a much better position this time around. A 48MP main camera and a 12MP telephoto lens are combined in the iPhone 15’s two-camera array on the back of the device to produce very amazing photographs.

The front camera is a 12MP TrueDepth one, which is effectively the same as the selfie camera in the iPhone 14. It’s adequate for taking beautiful selfies, and portrait mode is still the best feature of any iPhone camera, of course.

So it’s wonderful that the iPhone 15 automatically switches to Portrait mode whenever the camera detects a human or animal in the frame. This is made possible by the depth sensors in the camera array, which can determine whether or not you are taking a picture of a person instantly.

The phone does assume that you prefer portrait orientation by default out of the box, but I struggle to think of a reason why you wouldn’t. But what surprises people is how quick it is in actuality. Opening the camera app and getting a shootable image happen simultaneously and without any hiccups.

Performance and Gaming

With it pursuing AAA console games like Resident Evil Village, the iPhone 15 Pro appears to be going all out to be the de-facto gaming phone these days. The new Apple iPhone 15 is still a covert choice for mobile gamers, however.

The A16 Bionic is a capable processor despite not having the A17 Pro’s 6-core GPU. A 6-core CPU with 2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores, and a 5-core GPU is what we’re talking about. It might not officially support the high-end games coming to the Pro, but given how impressive the performance is, I wouldn’t be surprised if support was on the way.

The iPhone 15 can seamlessly switch between them in the mobile games I frequently play, such as Marvel Snap, Diablo Immortal, and Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes. What’s more striking is how little effect gaming appears to have on battery life.

Even though I frequently play games on my phone, I have only needed to charge the iPhone 15 three or four times in the past week or so of use. Almost regardless of what you’re doing, you can typically anticipate that the phone will last all day.

The USB-C 2.0 connection, however, prevents your phone from charging as quickly as some of its Android competitors. To play games, however, you can do a lot with that USB-C connection.

These days, the majority of controllers not only accept USB-C, but there are also a ton of controller adapters for smartphones, like the Razer Kishi. I use that particular gadget to play games on the phone, and since it is a USB-C model, you won’t have to switch to a separate controller attachment if your phone type changes in the future.

Even if it’s a tiny gesture, refusing to spend an additional $100 on something you already own says a lot. However, you might want to get the Plus if you know you’ll be playing a lot of games on your phone.

In comparison to the other two phones, the iPhone 15’s larger 6.7-inch display makes it much simpler to understand what is actually happening. The A16 Bionic chip is the same regardless of the model; nevertheless, the additional half-inch of display space makes a significant difference.

Display

Speaking of displays, Apple has once again outdone themselves. With a resolution of 2,556 x 1,179 for the iPhone 15, it may not appear to be the most stunning on paper, but Apple has once again calibrated the display to be incredibly bright and color correct.

Let’s be clear: There are smartphones with better resolutions and phones with crazily high refresh rates, but Apple has somehow figured out how to make a display look faultless.

Even though I frequently use devices with larger displays, I frequently reach for my phone to watch YouTube videos or read comic books since the iPhone 15’s display is so excellent.

Blacks are incredibly dark thanks to the mind-blowing 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, while brighter parts of any movie literally jump off the screen with to the peak brightness of 2000 nits outside.

Many things have been said about HDR and how it can genuinely change the content you watch, but when you have a screen that displays HDR video as well as the iPhone 15, it actually stands out in a class of its own.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15’s battery capacity is 3349 mAh. That’s a little bit more than the 3279 mAh battery found in the standard iPhone 14 and the 3200 mAh battery found in the iPhone 14 Pro model from the previous year. Since last year, Apple has reportedly added to its optimization efforts for both hardware and software.

The new Apple iPhone 15 performs admirably throughout, with a 21 hour battery life on moderate use. Given that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Pro both feature identical A16 Bionic chipsets and extremely similar batteries, that makes the latter significantly superior than the former.

In the offline video playback test, the new iPhone 15 performed noticeably better. In order to corroborate our conclusions, we had to repeat the test a few times. Maybe Apple’s new display this year is much more effective. This would also account for the extra hour or two that the iPhone 15 was able to use Wi-Fi for web browsing.

The iPhone 15 does not charge exceptionally quick. The stock iPhone 15 can charge using a standard 20W power charger, just like earlier iPhone models. As a result, the phone goes from 0 to 32% in 15 minutes and from there to 58% in 30 minutes. The battery may be charged to 85% capacity in about one hour. That’s really not all that bad.

However, wattage begins to quickly drop down after that in the charging cycle. following a 95% charge. The iPhone 15 uses only about 4W of electricity, which accounts for why it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to fully charge. That’s a little slower than the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13, but it’s still within striking distance.

The iPhone 15 is compatible with both conventional Qi wireless charging and MagSafe wireless charging at up to 15W. Additionally, the new Type-C connection supports reverse-wired charging at a maximum power of 4.5W.

 Verdict

The new Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus resemble the iPhone 14 almost exactly. However, this similarity conceals actual advancements in the phone’s cameras, display, and even back glass.

Additionally, the introduction of USB-C for the iPhone cannot be overstated because it greatly reduces the number of connections you’ll need to bring about every day, especially if you use several different devices.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has most of the best features to be the best smartphone of 2023. 

Specs

Overview

Introducing the all new Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple’s top-tier smartphone of 2023. It has all the top features, the best performance, the best camera, the best display and the best battery life.   

When compared to the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, holding the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a noticeably different feeling because it is lighter and has a slightly warmer titanium finish. However, Apple has also made a modest, yet noticeable alteration to the frame, eliminating just enough metal to provide curved edges all around.

It’s not just the titanium. One of the simplest yet most significant design adjustments I’ve ever noticed a smartphone maker make completely alters how the device feels in the hand.

One of the most gratifying and practical developments is Apple’s decision to remove the silence/ring button from its products. It converts a plain, one-use analog feature into a modern, reversible button that can be practically anything you want it to be.

The adoption of the USB-C port in favor of the Lightning port, however, will be the biggest change for some iPhone enthusiasts. I’m aware that the shift has caused some annoyance (all those now-useless wires in your house, workplace, and car), but it has no effect on how the phone works, and at least Apple provides you with a woven USB-C-to-USB-C connection. The old port will be missed, but I think we’ll all soon forget about it.

With Apple’s brand-new A17 Pro silicon chip, this phone is substantially more powerful than the iPhone 14 Pro Max and, for the first time ever, offers console-quality gaming to the iPhone range. Even Apple’s high-definition Super Retina XDR OLED panel, which has a 6.7-inch display, wasn’t built for console games like Resident Evil: Village, but at least that display now has the tiniest iPhone bezels I’ve ever seen.

The triple-camera system on the iPhone 15 Pro Max appears to be identical to that on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but appearances can be deceiving because the phone has undergone both internal and external improvements that contribute to one of the best photographic experiences you’ll find on any phone.

Apple essentially redesigned its image processing pipeline even though it appears to have used the same 48MP primary camera sensor as in last year’s Pro Max. A new 24MP default image size cleverly combines 12MP of pixel-binned image data with 48MP of full-sensor information to produce pictures that are, for the most part, impressive. 

However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max would let you down if you were looking for a 10x optical zoom on an iPhone. Since the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a fantastic 10x optical zoom in addition to the crazy, AI-assisted 100x Space Zoom, I was disappointed when Apple announced that it had only increased the maximum optical zoom on its largest smartphone to 5x.

Due in large part to the fact that the image quality at that expanded focal length is just fantastic, rivaling and occasionally surpassing Samsung’s greatest camera, Apple does a remarkable job of competing with just half that zoom range.

Although your experience will depend on how you use the iPhone, the combination of its innovative 3nm chipset, a display that can stop down to a power-sipping 1Hz, and clever power management may account for exceptional full-day or longer battery life.

Overall, this is my favorite iPhone of all time. It’s lighter and smaller than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which combined with the new curved edges makes it feel comfortable in my hand. Normally, I don’t like Apple’s largest iPhone, but you can be sure that this phone will be at the top of our list of the best phones when you combine it with its amazing photography, quick performance, and virtually limitless potential.

Premium Well-Designed

If you didn’t know, the brushed titanium frame of Apple’s new iPhone Pro & Pro Max has replaced the device’s former beautiful stainless steel frame. It’s resilient to corrosion. It’s strong and it’s lighter and somewhat smaller so it fits well inside your pocket. 

Beyond updating the exterior metalwork, Apple did make a few additional tweaks that offer the phone a fresh look and feel. The new contoured edges come first. Although this iPhone may initially appear to be nearly identical to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, closer examination reveals that the sides have been rounded.

It gives the device a softer appearance and making it considerably more comfortable to hold, especially given its size. Additionally, a substantially thinner bezel gives the Super Retina XDR display (and the Dynamic Island) the appearance of being larger.

Due to the differences in size and weight, the new iPhone 15 Pro Max feels different. It measures 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.25mm in comparison to the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 77.6 x 160.7 x 7.85mm dimensions. That indicates that it’s slightly smaller than the previous generation.

I even tried taking my older cover from my iPhone 14 Pro Max, to cover the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, only to find out that it was loose inside. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max weighs 19 grams less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max (221g vs. 240g) thanks to the titanium body. 

The new USB-C port is a significant architectural modification that also serves a practical purpose. It’s a little bit bigger than the old Lighting connector, but if you have the correct cable, you can transfer data at up to 10Gbps speeds. Sadly, the cable that comes with the iPhone is not a high-speed cable one.

Apple describes the front and rear panels of the body as being covered in “tough glass-based materials,” and the front of the device also has their Ceramic Shield, which is intended to shield the glass from harm. I don’t regularly drop my phones, so I couldn’t really test its durability.

However, I did submerge the phone in a bowl of water. There were no problems with the phone thanks to its IP68 rating. Although it was only for a brief period, the phone is capable of withstanding 30 minutes of swimming in fresh water up to six feet deep. Just keep in mind that you can’t charge your phone again until it is 100 percent dry after submerging it in water.

The power/sleep/Siri button and the two volume buttons were not altered by Apple, but directly above them is the new Action button, which is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro.

The long-lasting silence/ring switch is replaced by this small little button. The Action button is programmable using one of Apple’s best-designed utility interfaces ever, replacing the single-function switch.

Instead of a switch, the Action button’s default setting of ring/silent control requires a lengthy press in order to toggle between the two states. Many individuals could decide that everything is fine as it is in this case, but they would be losing out on all the hidden benefit.

The Action button can activate a preferred Focus Mode, turn on and off the flashlight, start voice memos, transform your phone into a digital magnifier, run your favorite Shortcut, provide quick access to accessibility features, start the camera, or even disable all Action button features.

If you don’t have the new Control Center, you may still locate the ring/silent control there. I quickly changed the Action button to operate the camera after testing it out in default mode. From there, I could quickly press to take a picture and then long-press to rapidly open the camera.

The one drawback to this new button is that if you frequently take screenshots by hitting the power and volume up keys at the same time, you can unintentionally touch the new Action button instead as it is now the top button on the left side of the phone. “When you press Action instead of Volume Up” will probably become an iPhone 15 Pro Max meme.

Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max design, which has a lighter chassis, smoother lines, a larger screen, and more functional buttons and connectors, in my opinion preserves the best features of the previous model while also bringing the familiar into the future.

Great & Larger Display

If you enjoyed the 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you’ll probably enjoy it even more on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In order to make the Super Retina XDR OLED screen appear larger, Apple removed a few millimeters from the black bezel around it (doing so also makes the Dynamic Island appear smaller). In combination with the newly-curved edges, it appears as though the screen completely encircles the phone.

In order to make the Super Retina XDR OLED screen appear larger, Apple removed a few millimeters from the black bezel around it. In combination with the newly-curved edges, it appears as though the screen completely encircles the phone.

With a maximum brightness of 2000 nits, the screen looks lovely and bright. I had no issues using it outside in direct sunlight. On this display, it’s enjoyable to view anything from images to videos to games, apps, websites, and more.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is capable of managing web page scrolling just as well as videos and games thanks to ProMotion support. Every movement seems fluid. Additionally, the phone can slow down to 1Hz when necessary, consuming less power while still giving you information—perfect for always-on functionality.

I placed the iPhone 15 Pro Max on the Belkin Boost Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless charge stand with MagSafe, which immediately activates the new Standby mode in iOS 17, and then I placed the device on my bedside. The Always-On display was just bright enough during the night so that I could glance at it and see the time.

The display on this phone is still amazing, but I have to question why Apple can’t finally support the Apple Pencil on its biggest and best phone given that Samsung’s flagship has an integrated pen and allows stylus input in addition to touch input.

However, I am aware that not everyone requires or desires pen input, and it’s possible that Apple is aware of this as well. What you have essentially is Apple’s amazing screen technology that has been somewhat enlarged and is now complemented by some fantastic new iOS 17 capability.

Top Performance & Gaming

With system-on-chips (SoCs) in laptops, desktops, and mobile that challenge and frequently beat the competition, and sometimes even take generational leaps, Apple has been pushing the envelope of what is possible, ever since it released Apple silicon.

The A16 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Pro Max was, in my opinion, a reasonable comparison to the A17 Pro. With a CPU that is 10% quicker and a six-core GPU that is not just 20% faster than the A16 Bionic but also supports on-hardware Ray Tracing, the A17 Pro should be more efficient than the A16 Bionic. It is constructed using an even smaller 3nm technology.

From CPU test done, the new A17 Pro chipset, powering the iPhone 15 Pro Max, runs at 3.78GHz clock speeds, which is more than the previous A16 Bionic (3.46GHz) present in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (3.36GHz) chipset, which runs the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This means that the A17 Pro is currently the fastest performing processor to date. 

Naturally, numbers only provide a partial picture of performance. What I can do with the iPhone 15 Pro Max is what matters to me. Playing native console-quality games is one of the promised experiences. Console gaming is different from mobile gaming, and the two will never collide—that is, until the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

I’m a gamer and console gaming is my go-to for gaming. Seeing the gaming demo on Resident Evil from a recent iPhone 15 show, the visuals look spectacular on the 6.7-inch display. The cut scenes look surprisingly good from the small screen but the Dynamic Island on the side does spoil the view. 

Never did the visuals stutter or tear. Early on in the game, I only saw one area with pixelation, when a shadow on the snow wasn’t entirely stable. I wonder whether it’s more about the game’s transition from console to mobile than the A17 Pro since this was a repeating experience.

Other than that, the game was snappy, and the sound was great. I was confronted with a wonderfully engaging and immersive experience when I inserted my AirPods Pro, and it was excellent enough for me to declare that console-quality gaming has finally made it to mobile devices.    

Outside of games, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s responsiveness was exactly what I wanted and anticipated it to be. I used iMovie to edit several 4K 60fps clips, and neither the program nor the output had any problems. The latter’s speed on the A17 Pro wasn’t any faster than it was on the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s A16 Bionic.

Other Features

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max supports 5G. The calls are in great quality. If you have a Wi-Fi 6E router in your house or place of business, the fact that this is Apple’s first Wi-Fi 6E iPhone is good news for you. The iPhone 15 Pro Max routinely outperforms the iPhone 14 Pro (also WiFi 6) and the iPhone 15 that supported WiFi 6.

Additionally, a new Ultra Wide-band chip could aid in precisely locating not just your Apple items but also your pals who are also holding iPhones. Apple is also extending the free (for two years) roadside assistance offered by its integrated satellite services beyond Emergency SOS. The idea is that the system can direct you to connect with an orbiting satellite and then message adjacent road services in places where cell connection is spotty or nonexistent.

Excellent Camera

Let’s check out the camera of the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. It differs from the one that debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro Max or the newest iPhone 15. It is bigger and was produced by Sony. Additionally, Apple is utilizing this sensor in novel ways.

Every image taken with the iPhone 15 Pro Max by default is produced at a resolution of 24MP. Yes, that is a new resolution for iPhones. Apple achieves this resolution by first pixel binning 48 megapixels’ worth of data into the best 12-megapixel image, and then fusing that with all of the 48MP sensor’s detail.

The main drawback is that 24MP photos will be roughly a megabyte bigger than 12MP stills. By automatically storing images in HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) format, Apple helps to reduce the cost of storage a little. You may also take photos in 48MP RAW format for uncompressed, editable images.

The end result is a collection of stunning pictures. The colors are brighter, with striking clarity, and the most realistic I have ever seen on a smartphone. The iPhone 15 Pro Max triumphed even in direct contrast to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The data I obtained with the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max is superior to what I have in my macros. Skin tones are accurate. Whatever the skin tone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max recognized it and accurately duplicated it. 

More professional photographic tools than ever before are available on this iPhone thanks to Apple. You may now select between physical camera-like digital lenses with focal lengths ranging from 13mm to 24mm, 28mm to 35mm, 48mm, and 120mm for the 5x zoom. Holding down on one of the primary magnification settings in the camera app will display these measurements. In the settings, you may also make one of the lenses the default.

I find Apple’s choice to just use a 5x optical zoom to be frustrating, but I can’t really contest the outcome. Beautiful images are captured by the lens, which employs an uncommon tetra prism (four turns of light between the lens and the image sensor). Therefore, even if this is a far cry from 10x optical zoom, I believe Apple aficionados will still be happy with the outcome. Digital zoom allows for far greater magnification, but these images never hold up to close inspection.

The new 3D sensor shift optical image stabilization works in tandem with that zoom and does a considerably better job of maintaining photos steady, especially on digitally zoomed footage. When I was recording a video, I was impressed with the steadiness.

In essence, the entire iPhone 15 line improves portraiture. There is still a certain mode, but you are not need to employ it to achieve the same outcome. You may post-process practically any image, even if it was only taken with the main camera, into a portrait shot as long as the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s cameras can record depth information.

A small “Portrait f” will appear in the top right corner if the camera detects any depth while you are shooting. To check how the image would seem in portrait mode, tap on it and choose Portrait (On or Off). It doesn’t always work because you can’t switch a shot to portrait mode if the camera doesn’t “see” something, such a person or a pet or doesn’t record any useful depth information; in my experience, most photos were convertible, though.

You can adjust the depth of field just as with standard Portrait Mode photos, but now you can also tap on various subjects to switch the focus point. This delivers on its promise and elevates you to the status of a portrait photography deity.

With access to Apple’s Photonic Engine, portrait photography—including that taken with the front-facing True Depth camera—got a significant bump. Now, portrait photography simply looks more authentic and less computational than before.

In terms of low-light and night photography, Apple has made some strides. The image signal processors (ISPs) of the iPhone 15 Pro Max gather more light and utilize it more effectively in all lighting conditions. Although it isn’t noticeably superior to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, I believe Apple has achieved parity. Even better night time photography exists.

Great Video Capture

The iPhone is still a fantastic video capture device because to its many lens choices, ‘Action’ mode for capturing action moments without judder, and ‘Cinematic’ mode for creating videos of auteur-level quality.

The final option, by the way, functions just like portrait mode photography in that you can quickly switch the focus from one subject to another while recording video.

The focus point of the movie may be changed after it has been shot, something you cannot accomplish with conventional film or the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s more than just a cool trick, and it can come in handy if you overlook the proper topic during the initial shoot.

Good Battery life

Since Apple never discloses the battery capacity, we can only presume that the battery in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is slightly bigger than the one in the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But battery size is just one aspect of the story. Milliampere-hours (mAhs), processor effectiveness, and onboard intelligence, all work together to manage battery life.

I’d say the iPhone 15 Pro Max handles all of this admirably with a 28 hour battery life on moderate use. With an optional 20W USB-C adaptor, Apple claims the iPhone 15 Pro Max can recharge to 50% in 30 minutes. When I charged it, I managed to get a little more, with a battery at 53% after 30 mins. But it took 2 hours for the smartphone to fully charge. This is a drawback and its some Apple needs to work on.

You will utilize the new USB-C connector and the supplied USB-C cable to charge the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I was astonished to learn that the cable is now weaved rather than having the traditional protective jacket made of plastic or rubber. Because of that the cable will last longer than the older ones. Additionally, the phone supports MagSafe charging (and accessories) and Qi.

Verdict

The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max sets yet another bar not only for the iPhone family specifically, but for all smartphones as well. Apple’s new large flagship meets your smartphone needs in almost every way, from the newer and lighter materials to some of the greatest smartphone cameras we’ve ever seen.

Due to its high price than the previous generation, the absence of better fast charging, and Apple’s aggravating insistence on portraying 5x optical zoom as the pinnacle of smartphone telephoto technology, it falls just short of being flawless. However, these end up being minor gripes for an all-around fantastic iPhone experience.

Should you buy it? In terms of value its expensive but you get what you paying for. Design wise, the titanium material makes it feel lighter and the rounds feel pleasant to hold. The displays feels bigger and brighter, which overall makes it look better.

The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro smartphone is a major improvement over its predecessor, thanks to even more pro-level camera features, powerful gaming hardware, and the long-overdue removal of the proprietary Lightning cords.

SPECS

Overview of the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro

Hey, guess what? Apple just showed off their brand-new iPhone 15 series smartphones, and it was pretty much what everyone was expecting. But they also surprised us with some cool stuff for all you gamers and photography lovers out there.

They made a big deal about gaming on-the-go and even brought some awesome games like Resident Evil: Village, Resident Evil 4, Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage to use on these fancy smartphones. And get this, these phones are so powerful that the GPU supports Ray-tracing. How cool is that?

But hey, let me tell you something cool about the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro! Usually, the new iPhones don’t look all that different from the previous ones, and upgrading every year doesn’t really make a big difference. It’s like, why bother, right? But this year is totally different! And you know why? It’s because it includes USB-C.

You see, Android phones have been using it’s own inputs since 2015, and now Apple finally decided to join the party. It’s like they finally realized that the iPhone should be able to work with any device or charger you want to use. And let me tell you, that’s a big deal! It’s like they set the iPhone free. It’s one of the coolest decisions Apple has ever made!

Lightweight Design

The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro was not significantly different from the iPhone 14 Pro, which was not significantly different from the iPhone 12 Pro. Similarly, if you didn’t look too closely, the iPhone 15 Pro might be mistaken from any of its recent predecessors.

Taking the new iPhone out in public during our testing period drew no interesting glances, and that lack of glitz will be magnified once you put a case on it and hide up practically every visible difference.

Using a case, which no one in their right mind should do, is a shame because the new titanium chassis on the iPhone 15 Pro is stunning. The iPhone 14 Pro features glossy steel sides that attract fingerprints, but the iPhone 15 Pro’s new titanium sides repel them admirably.

The rear panel has a frosted glass finish that resists fingerprints nicely. It covers any scratches that may occur, and overall feels incredibly pleasant in the hand. It’s smooth without being slippery. Apple also managed to cut the size and weight of the iPhone 15 Pro without decreasing their respective 6.1 and 6.7-inch OLED panels. Both reductions are tiny, but I’ll take it.

They’re made from Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass, which was launched in the iPhone 12. It’s so robust that I haven’t used a screen protector in years and haven’t seen even a scratch. The main drawback is that, as with practically every year, the modifications are significant enough that you’ll need to purchase a new case. Not only is the camera module slightly different, but the physical size reduction will exacerbate the problem.

So let’s recap. The new Apple iPhone 15  Pro comes with a titanium casing that leaves no fingerprints. Its water resistant, and comes with a Ceramic Shield glass to improve its durability.

Excellent Display

Both use Apple’s ProMotion to dynamically adjust up to 120Hz, offering accurate colors, haptic touch, and support both HDR and Apple’s True Tone. All of this is similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, but the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are twice as bright, with up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness.

As someone who has never had a problem seeing the iPhone 14 Pro screen in the sun, it appears to be a solution to a problem that didn’t actually exist, but if it was an issue, it’s even less of one now.

The Dynamic Island, first seen on the iPhone 14 Pro, returns to the iPhone 15 Pro, as does the always-on display, which can be turned off if desired. Apple also provides twice the storage capacity on its phones as it did last year – up to 1 terabyte. As well as a much increased iCloud service that can carry up to 12TB more (for $60/month).

If the outside design of the iPhone 15 Pro could be described as innovative it would be Apple’s choice to remove the switch on the side that has toggled between ring and silent/vibrate-only mode since the very first iPhone and replace it with what Apple calls the Action Button.

While you can make that button do the same thing as the previous switch, it can also be assigned to a variety of other tasks. These include: opening the camera, recording a voice memo, turning on the flashlight, activating the zoom function, or even a Shortcut of your choice. It may appear insignificant, yet it is a significant improvement in quality of life.

Other Features

It’s time to talk about the iPhone’s coolest new feature: it finally uses USB-C. I can’t believe we’ve been trapped with this limited, slow cable since the iPhone 5 debuted 11 years ago. It makes no difference whether Apple wanted to give us USB-C or whether new European Union legislation forced its action; the end result is the same. If you plug in your phone or use accessories, this iPhone is far more useable than any before it.

The impact of this single aspect on quality of life cannot be emphasized. I no longer need two cables on my desk to charge my PlayStation 5 controller and my iPhone. When I travel, I can drastically minimize the amount of wires I bring with me. The exact SSDs and microphones that I use on my full-size cameras are now compatible with the iPhone without the need for adapters.

Heck, I can plug my iPhone into my friend’s Google Pixel Fold and they’ll charge each other. However, it does come with a caveat that you won’t see on many current Android phones that use the same port. While the iPhone 15 Pro include USB-C, they lack what most people call fast charging. Apple claims that the Pro Max can charge up to 50% in 35 minutes with a 20W charger or higher.

With the same adaptor, the Pro can be charged to 50% in 30 minutes. That’s reasonably fast, but not as fast as many would anticipate from an Android device. It’s faster than what Google provides but slower than almost everyone else, including Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola, which all provide between 45W and 150W. Other phones, such as those from Vivo, can reach up to 200W.

Just because it supports USB-C doesn’t imply it’s your only option. Apple reintroduces MagSafe, which debuted in the iPhone 12, enabling wireless charging at 15W (Qi is 7.5W). It also supports a variety of accessories, including a Belkin stand that charges it and transforms it into a bedside or desktop clock when docked. A great merging of hardware and software.

The iPhone 15 Pro also support Wi-Fi 6E and employ a second-generation Ultra Wideband Chip, which Apple claims allows it to connect to other devices with the same chip, such as other iPhone 15 handsets and Airtag trackers, for three times the range.

It also supports what Apple calls Precision Finding, which allows you to discover an iPhone 15-owning friend down to their specific position if they allow it. Importantly, this is simple to disable for privacy reasons. It’s worth noting that Apple intends to be the first smartphone to use Thread radio, allowing it to connect to Thread-enabled devices without the use of a hub.

Finally, the iPhone 15 Pro offers voice-isolation functionality for calls, which makes it easier for the person you’re calling to hear you if you’re in a noisy environment. It works reasonably well and is useful when attempting to hold a conversation while washing dishes or in a crowded market.

Excellent Performance

So much affort and time was spent talking about the gaming capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro that it felt like Apple was now ready to compete with handheld gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck.

Apple promised that not only would its new A17 Pro chip bring AAA games like Resident Evil: Village, but also Assassin’s Creed Mirage as well. The GPU is so advanced that it will have enough power left over to enable Ray-tracing lighting effects.

Apple even went so far as to say in an interview with IGN, “It’s going to be the best game console.” I’m not sure we’re there yet after utilizing it, but that’s not a strange thing to say either. We’ll have to wait and see how developers exploit what Apple claims the A17 Pro can achieve. I hope that becomes the norm, but it will most likely take some time.

While I wasn’t able to push the iPhone 15 Pro to its capabilities during my review time, I was able to play Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact, both of which played really well with visual settings and framerates set to the maximum. Because of the compromises developers have had to make to get console-style games running on pocket-sized technology.

Playing both titles on the iPhone 15 Pro felt just like playing on my PlayStation 5 – especially after I connected a Bluetooth controller. Despite using the highest settings, I did not notice any dropped frames or graphical glitches.

Apple’s OLED display shines as well. It’s not surprising that the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro gets warm because they’re capable gaming devices. They don’t usually overheat, but if you’re playing a hard game, it won’t be long before you can physically feel it getting almost unbearably hot in your hand if you’re not using a case. However, it didn’t become as hot as the iPhone 14 Pro did when I tried to play Star Rail with the same settings.

In other words, the new A17 pro chip included not only helps with daily phone functions but as a gaming device as well. The GPU comes with Ray-tracing, and supports AAA games similar to the PS5.

Good Battery Life

A 3274mAh battery is included with the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro. We’d hardly call it an improvement with a huge 74mAh greater capacity than the iPhone 14 Pro. Perhaps that’s simply what the engineers were able to fit in the available space this time. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the preferable choice for optimal lifespan because it has a substantially bigger 4,441mAh capacity.

However, this does not imply that the iPhone 15 Pro is mediocre in this area. When it comes to voice call time, it sort of is because iPhones often do poorly in the test, and the iPhone 15 Pro’s 18-hour battery life is what we’d anticipate. Onscreen testing, however, show that it performs well, about on line with the model from the previous year.

As has been the case with iPhone 12, the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro retails without a phone charger. The claims for charging speed are listed as “with 20W adapter or higher” on the specifications pages of the phones, suggesting that anything more powerful wouldn’t affect the speed.

Upon testing with a 20W Apple adaptor, a full charge on the iPhone 15 Pro took about 1 hour and 33 minutes. Apparently, that’s much quicker than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and a marginal improvement over the prior version. The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro supports wireless charging with up to 7.5W with Qi-compliant charging pads. There are no listings for numbered iPhone models after the 11.

Overall, the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro has a bigger battery, with more than 90mins until full charge, up to 18 hours of battery life of moderate use, and support fast, wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Great Camera System

The image quality from its 12-megapixel camera is about as expected. Because the design does not allow in as much light as the main camera, I recommend using this lens only in strong light. The telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro is the same as last year, with the exception of new coatings on all three lenses that reduce flare significantly, but most casual users are unlikely to detect the difference.

The main camera shoots 48-megapixel photographs, with 12-megapixel telephotos, and 12-megapixel ultrawide photos. When I take photos, I was impressed with the main camera on the iPhone 14 Pro’s ability to produce photographs that don’t appear like they were taken on a smartphone. The resolution jump to 48 megapixels without sacrificing dynamic range in the iPhone 15 Pro gets my approval.

To be honest, most users will not find themselves using smartphone images in such a way that 48 megapixels will revolutionize their lives, but anyone who intends to edit and otherwise distribute these photos will almost always be satisfied with a greater resolution. At the very least, it allows you to crop in closer without sacrificing quality.

Apple has also made portrait mode the default mode. If the camera detects a person or animal in the picture, it automatically collects a depth map, allowing you to add the depth effect later if desired.

If desired, the depth map also lets you to shift the focus point between two subjects in post-production. I like this adjustment because I don’t always think to utilize portrait mode when taking a photo and then curse myself afterward for not at least attempting it. That is no longer an issue.

Excellent High Quality Video

The iPhone 15 Pro also provide a slew of professional-level video capabilities. Most of them that are noticeable, are all software upgrades allowed by iOS 17. First, the iPhone 15 Pro can now shoot in ProRes Log encoding. This gives video editors more color grading and post-production options. That’s a big benefit for those who want to make the greatest quality video possible on their smartphone.

Second, the iPhone 15 Pro is the world’s first phone-based camera to support the Academy Color Encoding System, or ACES. It’s a global color processing standard, that in summary, makes it easier than ever to match footage from several cameras.

The iPhone 15 Pro can also record in 4K at 60p. This is a function that was implemented primarily because of the speed afforded by the previously mentioned USB-C port. While all other resolutions and framerates can be recorded straight to the iPhone’s internal storage, 4K at 60p necessitates the use of an external SSD.

The good news is that all photos and videos can be easily transferred to and from the external drive at USB-3.0 speeds. This is a significant improvement over previous iPhones, which required either the pitifully slow Lightning connection or the slightly faster AirDrop – provided the recipient is an Apple device.

In short, the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro includes an excellent camera system. With an abundance of software upgrades and improved camera lens, it will makes sure that you take high quality photos and high quality 4K videos every time.

Verdict

Apple’s annual smartphone upgrades have felt notably incremental. The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro looks to have followed suit. Its appealing titanium design, the helpful and customizable Action Button, are relatively inconspicuous to the eye and are the first items to be covered up by a case.

That is, however, misleading. Apple has changed a lot internally to make this year’s phone the most appealing upgrade since the iPhone 11, especially if you’re into photography or video. While the worldwide connectivity and transfer rates of USB-C are the most noticeable upgrades, the enhanced gaming-ready processor, improved camera software, and titanium chassis are all noteworthy. Therefore, I recommend the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro. Its many upgrades may appear marginal but its one of the best smartphones to come out this year.

If you like the review, please give a thumbs up, or leave a comment below. If you have any questions, you also leave them here below and will get back to you as soon as possible. Either than that if you’re interested, click here  to find out more information or to purchase the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro.

Welcome to our latest blog post. We’ll be diving into the world of cutting-edge technology as we review the Apple iPhone 14 – a mobile device that is quickly gaining recognition as the best-performing entry-level smartphone on the market today. Yet with so many other entry-level smartphones out now, is the iPhone 14 really going to emerge on top? In this post, we’ll delve into the pros and cons, its impressive features, and the state-of-the-art specifications that are making waves in the tech industry. So sit back. Relax. Join us as we review the Apple iPhone 14.

Apple iPhone 14

SPECS

Overview

The Apple iPhone 14 is the entry model smartphone in the iPhone 14 series, which consists of 5 other smartphones including the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the top-tier iPhone 14 Pro MAX. The initial specs include a 6.1-inch display with a teardrop camera on top. The back includes a 12MP dual-lens camera which is diagonally placed in the top left corner. All are encased in a glass front, glass back, and aluminum frame.   

Inside the includes Apple’s own A15 Bionic processing chip, with 6GB of RAM. Storage model starts from 128GB up to 512GB. It also includes a 3179mAh battery that supports fast and wireless charging. The choice of colour includes Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red, and Yellow. The iPhone 14 is IP68 rated meaning that it has water and dust resistance. 

Based on the design it looks very similar to the previous iPhone model. The only thing differences are that: it’s lighter to carry; includes the newer iOS 16; has a slightly bigger battery; and has 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB, which is good for overall phone performance, and more app storage on standby.

With this entry-level iPhone, expect limited features here. The price starts at US$670/ €615/£540/12000ZAR, which is the same price as the iPhone 13. In some markets, you may find an even lower price for iPhone 13. What you get in the box is the iPhone 14 smartphone, a USB-C cable, and a sim ejector tray.

So what we know so far is that the iPhone 14 is a compact size smartphone, with good specs. It comes with a slightly large battery, a new operating system, and an increase in overall performance. With what we know now about the iPhone 14, is it better than the iPhone 13 or do we skip this release?      

The Good Features

Good performance

The Apple iPhone 14 is a game-changer when it comes to delivering a power-packed performance. One of the most significant improvements in this latest iteration of the iconic smartphone is its cutting-edge processor – the Apple A15 Bionic.

The device boasts an advanced chipset that ensures seamless multitasking, lightning-fast app loading times, and an overall smoother user experience. This increased processing speed allows you to enjoy high-performance gaming, effortless video editing, and uninterrupted streaming with no lag or slowdown.

Another crucial aspect of the iPhone 14’s impressive performance lies in its enhanced battery life. Apple has made considerable strides in battery technology by introducing more energy-efficient components and optimizing software to improve power management.

This means that you can now indulge in their favourite activities for extended periods without constantly worrying about running out of juice.

The graphical prowess of the iPhone 14 also deserves special mention as it elevates mobile gaming and content consumption to new heights. With stunning visuals backed by powerful hardware under the hood, gamers can delve into immersive worlds with exceptional detail and fluidity on this pocket-sized powerhouse.

Furthermore, the iPhone 14 comes equipped with ample storage options to cater to various user needs – from casual browsing enthusiasts who prefer minimalistic digital lifestyles to content creators who demand vast repositories for their creative projects.

Lastly, Apple’s commitment to providing a secure ecosystem remains unwavering with its introduction of robust privacy features. Users can now safeguard their sensitive information while enjoying all-new functionalities offered by iOS updates that are designed explicitly around enhancing performance and productivity.

In summary, if you’re looking for a smartphone that packs top-of-the-line performance capabilities into an elegant design while offering unparalleled security features – look no further than the Apple iPhone 14.

Embrace this marvel of modern technology as it redefines what smartphones are capable of achieving while setting new benchmarks for competitors around the globe.

Creates stunning photos & videos

One of the standout features of the Apple iPhone 14 is its enhanced camera capabilities. It comes with a dual 12 MP camera that boasts some of the best camera features on this compact model.

As photography enthusiasts and casual users alike continue to prioritize capturing high-quality images and videos with their devices, Apple has gone above and beyond to ensure that its latest offering delivers top-notch results.

The iPhone 14 boasts a new and improved sensor that not only allows for more accurate colour reproduction but also significantly enhances low-light performance. This means that taking stunning shots in dimly lit environments or capturing memories at nighttime events is now easier than ever before.

In addition to this, Apple has incorporated advanced image stabilization technology for both photo and video modes, ensuring your content remains crisp, clear, and free from unwanted shakiness.

Another exciting development is found within the realm of portrait mode photography: with an upgraded depth-sensing system on board, creating beautiful bokeh effects has never been easier or more accurate.

The iPhone 14 also offers a broader range of focal lengths compared to previous models – making it an ideal choice for those who want versatility when composing their shots.

Finally, we cannot overlook how user-friendly these advanced camera features are: with intuitive controls designed with both beginners and seasoned photographers in mind, getting great results feels like second nature.

The Camera app itself has been redesigned as well – providing quick access to essential settings while still allowing users to dive into deeper customization when desired.

In conclusion, the Apple iPhone 14’s enhanced camera capabilities truly set it apart as the best-performance smartphone in today’s market. With a powerful blend of hardware and software working together seamlessly, users can expect consistently impressive results – regardless of their level of experience or preferred shooting conditions.

Solid battery life

The iPhone 14 packs a 3279 mAh battery. Only a tiny bit more powerful than the 3240 mAh found in the iPhone 13. With regards to battery life, on moderate use, you’re looking at 19 hours of daily usage, which is not bad for this compact model. As compact as it is, the iPhone 14 will last you several hours before it needs a battery charge.

One area where this device truly shines is its battery life and charging features. Apple has consistently been working on improving and optimizing their devices’ battery performance, and they have made significant strides with their latest release.

The iPhone 14 boasts an impressive battery life that can easily last through a full day of use, even for those who are constantly on their phones browsing social media, watching videos, or playing games.

This is quite an accomplishment considering the high-resolution display and powerful processor packed into such a slim device; Apple has definitely pulled out all the stops to ensure users get the most out of every charge.

But what good would an outstanding battery life be without efficient charging capabilities? The iPhone 14 does not disappoint in this regard either. With its fast-charging feature, users can quickly power up their devices when needed without having to wait around for hours on end.

In fact, you can expect your phone’s battery level to go from 0% to 50% in just about half an hour using a compatible fast charger – a true lifesaver for those hectic days when time is of utmost importance.

Furthermore, wireless charging support has become increasingly popular among smartphone users as it offers both convenience and ease of use by eliminating tangled cords altogether. The iPhone 14 supports this feature as well; simply place your device onto any Qi-compatible wireless charger and watch as your phone effortlessly regains its power.

It’s also worth noting that Apple has made strides towards reducing e-waste by opting not to include wall chargers with new iPhones anymore. This encourages people who already own chargers from previous models or other devices to reuse them instead of creating more waste.

In summary, one cannot look past the impressive improvements made by Apple when discussing battery life and charging features in the new iPhone 14 model. The combination of longer-lasting battery life, fast charging capabilities, and wireless charging support truly sets this device apart from its competition. 

Good design and bright display with good colour accuracy

The iPhone 14 has the exact same display features as the iPhone 13, which is a 6.1 inch, Super Retina OLED display, with a 60Hz refresh rate, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support, and comes with an 1170 x 2532 pixels screen resolution. 

The Apple iPhone 14 has made some impressive strides in design and display improvements, which have caught the attention of both tech enthusiasts and casual users alike. The sleek, modern aesthetics of the device are visually appealing, but it’s not just about looks – these advancements play a crucial role in enhancing the user experience as well.

One notable improvement is the reduced notch size that houses the front-facing camera and Face ID sensor. This change allows for an even more expansive screen-to-body ratio, providing users with a larger display area to enjoy their favourite apps and media content.

Speaking of displays, Apple has incorporated ProMotion technology into their latest iPhone model. 

In addition to these enhancements, Apple has also decided to adopt durable Ceramic Shield glass for its front panel. This cutting-edge material is touted as being four times more resistant to breakage than previous glass iterations used on iPhones.

As a result, those unfortunate accidents where your phone slips out of your hand will be less likely to result in shattered screens.

The colour options, available for the iPhone 14, have been refined as well. Apple introduced new colour hues such as Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red, and Yellow that add vibrance, depth, and variety to their lineup. These fresh colours allow customers to express their personal style while enjoying all the top-tier performance features this device offers.

But perhaps one of the most significant design changes comes in relation to MagSafe integration within this new generation of iPhones. The easy alignment provided by MagSafe ensures efficient wireless charging while enabling compatibility with various accessories like wallets or phone cases designed specifically for this system.

In conclusion, it’s clear that Apple has gone above and beyond with design choices on their latest flagship smartphone – iPhone 14 offers both beauty and functionality combined seamlessly into one powerful package; proving once again why it stands at the top in the compact smartphone industry. These designs and displays stand to improve the enhanced visual experience that only iPhone delivers. 

The Bad Features

Small upgrade over iPhone 13

Looking at the overall specs and comparing both models, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 there’s a small improvement. The battery capacity improved from 3240 to 3279 mAh. The overall system memory improved from 4GB to 6GB.

There’s a new iOS 16 installed. Everything else is the same. From the screen size, and standard features to the durability features. It’s not anything to be excited about but it’s worth mentioning.    

No 120Hz refresh rate

While most rival smartphones in this price bracket already have high refresh rates, the iPhone 14 is locked at 60Hz. It would have been nice if Apple had started to add certain features, like its 120Hz refresh rate, to the iPhone 14.

Uses older A16 Bionic chip

Though the overall performance of the iPhone 14 is solid, one thing to note is that it uses the same processing chip as the iPhone 13. It’s not a major issue but it would be nice if the latest Apple processing chip was included. 

No zoom camera function

As impressive as the camera in taking detailed pictures and videos, there’s no telephoto camera sensor here. So sadly there’s no optical zoom feature.  

Mediocre fast charging

The charging speed for the iPhone 14 is fast but not competitively impressive. At thirty minutes the battery is charged at 60%, and a full charge takes 90 minutes. There is a significant increase in charging speed from the iPhone 13 (105 minutes to full charge), but it’s not exactly leading in the fastest charging speed race with other brands.

No charger included

It’s becoming a norm these days that iPhone smartphones don’t include chargers in the box. You’ll have to use your existing iPhone charger or purchase one separately. 

The Verdict

The Apple iPhone 14 has once again proven itself as the best-performance smartphone on the market. With its cutting-edge technology, sleek design, and user-friendly interface, it’s no wonder that people are raving about it.

The iPhone 14 flawlessly combines power and efficiency while maintaining all of the features that users have come to know and love from previous models. This makes it a top choice for both long-time Apple enthusiasts and newcomers alike who are looking for a high-quality smartphone experience.

Don’t miss out on your chance to stay ahead of the curve with the latest and greatest in smartphone technology! The Apple iPhone 14 is here, and it’s ready to revolutionize the way you communicate, work, and play.

With its groundbreaking features, sleek design, and unparalleled performance, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your device.

Click HERE now and be among the first to experience all that the iPhone 14 has to offer.

Imagine capturing stunning photos with advanced camera capabilities or navigating through tasks effortlessly with lightning-fast processing speeds. Envision yourself enjoying an immersive audiovisual experience on a crystal-clear display while staying connected throughout the day with impressive battery life.

All this can be yours when you make the switch to Apple’s newest masterpiece.

This is your opportunity to join millions of satisfied customers who trust Apple’s unmatched innovation and quality in their daily lives. Don’t settle for anything less than extraordinary – because when it comes down to it, isn’t that what you deserve?

Act now before supplies run out or prices go up! Secure your spot at the forefront of cutting-edge technology by clicking HERE today – we guarantee that once you have this incredible device in hand, there’ll be no looking back.

Upgrade your life today by choosing an Apple iPhone 14 smartphone – where style meets substance like never before!

The much-awaited new Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has finally arrived! Boasting an updated design, powerful specs, and improved camera performance, this flagship device is sure to be a hit among both existing Apple users and those who are new to the brand.

In this blog post, we will take a deeper look at all the features of the phone; from hardware capabilities to battery life and more. We’ll also reveal any additional elements that have been added in this iteration as well as our own thoughts. Keep reading for an in-depth review of the new Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

SPECS

Overview

The tech industry is abuzz with the new release of Apple’s flagship smartphone, the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This device features some amazing upgrades compared to its predecessors, such as an enhanced camera system and larger display options.

With both a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and a 6.7-inch Liquid Retina HD LCD screen powered by the A16 Bionic chip utilizing 4nm technology for greater speeds than ever before, this phone won’t disappoint when it comes to performance either!

The triple rear cameras – 12MP ultra-wide lens, 12MP wide lens, and 12MP telephoto lens – make sure you capture pictures in any light conditions with improved Night Mode that works without flash or tripod even in pitch darkness.

Deep Fusion utilizes machine learning algorithms to adjust exposure levels and reduce noise for sharper images overall too!

To keep things running smoothly while multitasking or gaming on your device, there’s also a powerful A16 Bionic processor with 4nm technology plus Liquid Retina XDR technology which disperses heat better during extended use periods so no need to worry about overheating here!

As far as battery life goes, Apple claims up to 20 hours of playtime when streaming videos or surfing the web via Wi-Fi; furthermore, wireless charging capabilities are available should you want more juice without having to plug in cables every time!

The Good Features

Camera Quality and Features

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a remarkable collection of imaging capabilities that will surely wow its users.

With two lenses working together to deliver ultra-wide angle and telephoto shots with amazing detail and clarity, the device is sure to capture stunning photos even in dimly lit settings thanks to advanced HDR technology, Night Mode, and Smart HDR 3.

Furthermore, portrait mode with depth control, up to 10x optical zoom along with 100x digital zoom provides crystal clear images regardless of the environment while 4K video recording at 60fps alongside slow motion videos in 1080p at 240fps helps you record special moments or action shots easily.

All these features make the iPhone 14 Pro Max an ideal choice for those looking for a powerful mobile phone for capturing brilliant-quality pictures.

Battery Life and Power Efficiency

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is an excellent choice for those who demand long-lasting battery life from their device. Its A16 Bionic processor and 4nm architecture offer tremendous power efficiency, allowing users to maximize the potential of their phone.

The 4323 mAh battery is one of the largest ever fitted onto an iPhone, meaning users will have hours of use before needing to recharge. Additionally, low-power mode and adaptive brightness settings help keep battery consumption as low as possible while USB-C PD 3.0 technology ensures speedy charging when needed so that you can get back in action fast!

All these features combine to make the iPhone 14 Pro Max one of the best smartphones available for extended use today.

Design, Display, and Performance

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is a stunning device with an exquisite design, vivid display, and top-notch performance. The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen boasts an amazing 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 4K resolution coupled with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and viewing videos in unwavering clarity.

Constructed from aerospace-grade materials, the handset ensures durability without compromising on its lightweight profile.

Under the hood lies the A14 Bionic chipset for unrivaled power when tackling tasks or gaming while sipping on the battery to keep you going no matter where you are at any given time.

It’s also equipped with four speakers located at each corner of the phone to provide immersive sound as well as an IP68 water resistance rating ensuring protection in all kinds of environments.

Photography enthusiasts will be delighted by the triple rear lenses – ultra-wide angle lens; wide-angle lens; and telephoto lens – that deliver plenty of options when taking pictures or recording video clips on their phones along with the Night Mode feature which enables better low light shots sans flash photography ruining your shot!

And finally, there’s Dolby Vision HDR Capture giving extra dynamic range when shooting videos so you can capture mesmerizing visuals every single time!

The Bad Features

Same Design, but Bigger and Heavier

There are no really bad features with the new iPhone Pro Max, except that it’s the biggest and the heaviest smartphone in the iPhone 14 series. In fact, it weighs 240 grams (8.47 oz) and it’s 6.7 inches tall. Now how will this smartphone fit in your pocket?

Another thing to note is that there’s no real change to the design from the older iPhone 13 Pro Max. I figure that Apple decided to stick to what works.

No Charger

It’s become a norm that nowadays the charger is unfortunately not included in the box. You will need to purchase one separately. When you do, make sure it’s a 20W charger as you can get a good boost of charging speed.  

The Verdict

To round out, the new Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is sure to please those searching for a powerhouse phone with all the bells and whistles. Its trim build, modern display, up-to-date processor, and remarkable camera functionality make it an excellent option.

The battery life could be improved but considering its wealth of features and affordable price tag this device is worth looking into if you’re in the market for a new smartphone.

Are you in search of the newest and trendiest mobile technology? No need to go any further, just check out the remarkable Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Boasting unmatched capability, execution, and design, this phone is making waves everywhere.

So what do you think? Is the iPhone 14 Pro Max worth purchasing? If you have thoughts, comments, or questions, you are more than welcome to add them below. 

So why wait any longer? Click here now to get your hands on it and feel all its benefits! The new Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max provides a wonderful mix of power, gracefulness, and convenience that will make sure you stay ahead.

With its exceptional display screen, impressive battery life plus advanced features – this handset really stands apart from the rest. Get yours quickly before they’re all gone!

The new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra promises to be every bit as better than last year’s S22 Ultra. With it having all the best features in the S23 series, not only does it aim to be more than just average, but also to give other top brands a top new benchmark to follow. However, compared to last year’s great Galaxy S22 Ultra, is it really worth the upgrade? Let’s see from this review the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

SPECS

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the top-range smartphone that comes with all the best features in the Galaxy S23 series. Unlike its younger smartphone siblings, the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 Plus, it comes with a bigger 6.8-inch display, a bigger 5000mAh battery with a pretty long battery life, a newer Android 13 OS, better camera features, and faster performance thanks to its high-performance Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. 

If you compare this to the previous model, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, it comes with an improved camera, a new Android operating system, improved durability, and fast performance. The rest, however, is still the same. They both have the same size display and technology, the same design, the same battery capacity, and other similar features. 

The base entry model starts with 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory, with the top range model with 1TB of storage and 12GB of memory. The price for the entry S23 Ultra starts at US$1200/£970/€1100 with the top-range model at a price of US$1620/£1310/€1490. 

What you get in the box is the Galaxy S23 Ultra handset, a USB-C cable, and a sim ejector pin. No charger in the box, which has become a norm for all Samsung smartphones. Overall, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is way better than both the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 Plus, when compared to the S22 Ultra, it’s only better because of the few upgrades.  

The Good Stuff

Excellent camera features

Looking for one of the best camera smartphones? Then look no further because here it is. The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with a rear 4-lens camera system that includes: a 200MP wide primary camera; a dual 10MP telephoto camera (one with 3 times optical zoom and the other with 20 times optical zoom); and a 12MP ultrawide camera.

For those who love taking selfies, the S23 Ultra comes with a front 12MP wide selfie camera. With regards to video recording, the S23 Ultra produces Full HD (1080p), 4K, and 8K videos, with the selfie camera able to record Full HD and 4K videos.

With the 200MP camera, the S23 Ultra is able to produce even more detailed photos even in low-light situations. The dual telephoto cameras have not changed from the S22 Ultra, yet it projects sharp. produce      

Impressive AMOLED display

Simply said, the Galaxy S23 Ultra features one of the greatest phone displays available. It is colorful, and vibrant, and performs very smoothly as you scroll between menus, apps, and internet browsing.

It comes with a 6.8-inch QHD OLED screen with a resolution of 3088 x 1400 pixels and a claimed peak brightness of 1,750 nits, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Moreover, you receive the same 120Hz refresh rate, which may drop down to 1Hz, as previously.

The image quality onscreen is simply impressive overall. When watching HD videos or video streams online there’s a lot of detail and great viewing angles. When viewing pictures or photos they look amazing onscreen and the brightness is good enough.

Upon viewing the display, the S23 Ultra demonstrates good color accuracy and includes the “Vision Booster” function that lets you adapt the image’s color and contrast to the lighting environment. And to make it simpler to view the display, there is an eye comfort feature. 

To summarize, the S23 Ultra display looks impressive. The photos and videos look stunning, with bright and accurate colors, detailed and good brightness. The display even looks smooth as you scroll between menus, and the phone comes with lots of features to help optimize your viewing. However, it’s not anything to wow over because it has similar display tech to the S22 Ultra, which is not a bad thing as both displays are impressive.

Excellent battery life and fast charging speed

The Galaxy S23 Ultra includes the same high-capacity 5,000 mAh battery as the S22 Ultra. However, Samsung has made it more efficient thanks to the Snapdragon processing chip. With that, one of the benefits includes longer battery life than the S22 Ultra. Speaking of which, the battery life overall is up to 13 hours at ‘Standard mode’ (60Hz), and a little over 12 hours at ‘Adaptive mode’ which is up to 120Hz.

For moderate use, it’s best to change the refresh rate to 60Hz, as it will save you battery life. Compared to the S22 Ultra, the previous model lasts only up to 11 hours on moderate use. With battery life, the winner here is the S23 Ultra. 

With regards to charging speed, using a 45W charger, the S23 Ultra reached 68% in 30 minutes, and a full charge in under an hour. If we compare it to the S22 Ultra, in half an hour the phone is charged at 60%, and reached full charge in an hour. With charging speed, the S23 wins this one. 

It just goes to show, although the S22 Ultra and the S23 Ultra have the same battery capacity, the battery life is different. Thanks to the newer processing chip and its efficiency, the S23 has more battery life. 

Fast performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor powers the Galaxy S23 Ultra, just like the rest in the Galaxy S23 series, but with a special Samsung-exclusive edition that has a faster CPU and GPU. It may be called the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 later on during the year. All Galaxy S23 models use the Snapdragon processor, i.e. no more S23 Ultra models with different processors, where certain nations get an Exynos version.

According to research, the 8 Gen 2 chip is 35% faster, and 40% more efficient, with the GPU being 25% better and 45% more efficient, than the one included in the S22 Ultra. That means overall that the S23 Ultra has faster performance, and is more efficient in preserving battery power and better use of memory. If performance is your thing in smartphones, the S23 Ultra is definitely one to look out for.      

Includes accessories

Either than the standard accessories you get in the box, there’s also a stylus included called the S Pen, which is not included with the other phones in the S23 series. You will find it away and can access it from the bottom left panel of the mobile device. It is quite a nice feature to have.

The S pen is exactly the same as the one that was included with the S22 Ultra. You get 2.8ms of delay and 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. It’s also battery-powered and charges while it’s slotted inside the phone. You may also use it as a remote when writing owing to the ‘Air Actions’ feature. It’s black in color with only the top clip part colored to match the frame of the phone. It is really fun to use to write text or create drawings on the phone. I

The Bad Stuff

Very expensive

As I said before, the price for the entry Galaxy S23 Ultra starts at about US$1200/£970/€1100 with the top-range model at a price of US$1620/£1310/€1490. From these prices, it’s clear that this smartphone is going to cost a lot of money to buy. But if we compare the price to the previous smartphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which has almost the same specs, then the safe thing to say is that, if you cannot afford it, get the S22 Ultra. 

Click here to see the review of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to see the price

If the price is still very steep for you, then you say consider other alternatives such as the younger siblings in the Galaxy S23 series or the previous S22 smartphones. Either way, they are less expensive, but not as powerful. So let me finish off by saying this. If the S23 Ultra is too expensive, get the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It’s still a great phone to have, almost similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. 

Similar design to S22 Ultra

If you take both the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra and lay them on a table, you’ll notice that they are exactly the same. Same look and design. Same camera lens positioning. Same everything. So if you’re hoping for a drastic change in design from the predecessor to the current model, then you’ll be very disappointed. Yet it still looks like a premium phone with a great design. I guess Samsung decided to still do what works this time around. 

The Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone does not really bring anything new or exciting to the table. Just minor upgrades here or there to make it stay relevant in the market. But in all honesty, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is still a great phone to get. So if you have it, and looking to switch, then you will come to realize that it’s not going to feel like n upgrade. It’s still a powerful mobile device that you can still use right now and it will last you many years to come.

Should you buy it? If you want to upgrade from the S22 Ultra to the S23 Ultra, I recommend not getting it at this stage. It’s really expensive right now and not really worth it, as the S22 is still a great phone. So what do you say? Do you think the S23 Ultra is the best of 2023? How do you feel about the upgrades? Is it even worth purchasing knowing the older model is still a great phone?  If you have any comments, thoughts, or questions, you can leave them here below. I hope you enjoyed my review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. If you want to know more and purchase it, click here. 

The previous S22 Plus was better than its predecessor as it came with a bigger screen, a bigger battery, and better features. The Samsung Galaxy s23 Plus promises to do just that, as it also comes with more features than the S22. But is it worth the purchase? Let’s find out from the review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

SPECS

Overview

With a high price tag of US$1000, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is one of the latest smartphones to release this year. It offers the same features as the Galaxy S23 but with a larger screen, a bigger battery that provides more battery life, and includes more features the S23 smartphone doesn’t have. 

Compared to the top-range Galaxy S23 Ultra, it comes with similar features but with a smaller display and no S Pen stylus to use. Yet still, the S23 plus comes with a top performance processor, an impressive camera that takes excellent pictures and videos, and a long battery life, making it a better phone to pick rather than the S23. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 (left) and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (right)

Looking at the phone, you get a 6.6-inch display with a triple-lens camera. Under the hood, you get a top Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a large 4700mAh battery. There are two models to choose from, according to storage: the 256 GB and the 512 GB model. Other features include water and dust resistance, UWB Support, and many others. 

In other words, the Galaxy S23 Plus smartphone is bigger, better, and has more features than the Galaxy S23. It’s not better than the S23 Ultra but it’s in a league of its own. If you’re not one who likes complex features but still wants a powerful smartphone, and don’t mind digging deeper into your pockets, then the S23 smartphone is for you.          

The Good Features

Fast Performance

With performance, the S23 Plus is the best performer thanks to the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor which includes an eight-core 4nm fast performance chip. It also includes an Adreno 740 GPU for graphics and gaming support. Compared to the S23, the processors are not different so expect the same performance but better than the older S22+. 

Speaking of gaming, the S23 Plus handles it seamlessly. From light gaming to hardware-demanding games, the frame rate stays constant at 60 fps, with good-looking graphics, visuals, and smooth gameplay.  

With regards to memory, the S23 Plus comes with 8GB of RAM, which helps with the storage of apps on standby without freezing or slowing down the phone. As for storage, there are 256GB and 512GB models to choose from. Just note that there’s microSD to expand storage.

The colors to choose from include Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender.

The One UI 5.1., which is Android 13, includes new widgets, more connectivity options, various improvements to the gallery, and Samsung DeX mode. It still operates and looks similar to other Android smartphones, but the GUI looks and feels smoother as you scroll.    

Overall, the S23 Plus is fast and handles tasks well. Whether you browse online, watch or stream HD videos, play games, or edit photos and videos, the S23 Plus handles them all and with ease.  

Large, vibrant & gorgeous-looking AMOLED display

The S23 Plus comes with a large 6.6-inch dynamic AMOLED display, which includes Full HD+ 1080p resolution, HDR10+ support, and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The display looks absolutely gorgeous.

It’s bright, the colors are vibrant, and the details are amazing. Not much better than the older S22 smartphones but it still looks good.

The screen dimensions and details of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.

Regarding the refresh rate, speed and smooth scrolling are important features, and with the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, the S23 Plus achieves that well. Depending on the inactivity on the screen, the display can run from 24Hz, which is slower but saves battery life, to 120Hz for smoother scrolling, and use of apps and games.

It really feels snappy and fast as you scroll between menus, browse websites, and play games. Overall, the display looks great, one you can really admire and appreciate for a long time.          

Excellent photos & video quality

From the back, the three lenses make the phone look larger without the island humble from the last model. It still comes with a triple-lens sensor, namely a 50MP wide, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto that includes a 3x optical zoom.

So what can you expect here? You can expect good quality, colorful and detailed pictures. The main camera takes great pictures overall, especially in portrait mode. The ultrawide produces similar-quality images, and the optical zoom quality looks good.

The triple-lens sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

If you’re looking for a smartphone that records 8K footage then the S23 Plus is for you. You can record videos up to 8K at 30 fps (frames per second). You can also record 4K videos at 60 fps, or even 1080p videos at 240 fps which has better image stabilization. 

Bottom line. The camera quality is excellent. The S23 produces detailed pictures and even smoother detailed videos. 

Impressive battery life

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus comes with a bigger battery with a capacity of 4700mAh compared to the S22’s 4500mAh. It supports up to 45W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and wireless reverse charging. 

It certainly does provide more battery life to the S23 Plus. You get up to 35 hours making and receiving calls, up to 18 hours of internet browsing, and up to 2o hours of video playback. This is on moderate usage.

The Cream model of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

With regards to battery charging, there is no real difference in speed between a 25W or a 45W charger, they charge the phone at similar speeds. For a 45W charger, in half an hour, the phone will charge up to 60%.

And for a full charge, it takes just over an hour. So you get a smartphone with a bigger battery, that provides up to 30 hours of battery life, and up to an hour of fast charging. Just make sure you get a 45W charger.        

Other impressive features

The S23 Plus includes stereo speakers on the top and bottom sections of the smartphone. The overall quality is great. The loudness is well-managed and balanced thanks to the stereo speakers. The Dolby Atmos feature does do its part to overall optimize the sound quality, however, there is a cost of loudness. But it’s safe to say that the overall sound quality is great. 

The S23 Plus comes with a strong front and back Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which makes it more resistant to cracks and scratches from accidental drops. Then there’s the familiar IP68 protection rating which means the S23 Plus can withstand up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.   

The Bad Features

Pretty high price 

As much as this is the second top-tier smartphone in the Galaxy S23 series, expect to pay a lot of money for the Galaxy S23 Plus. If you check out the Samsung website, the price tag starts at US$1000/£818/€930 for the 256GB model. As for the 512 GB model, expect to pay about US$1200/£980/€1115. Yes, it comes with a high price tag, however, if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.

The alternative choice would be Galaxy S23 which is less expensive but has a smaller display and a smaller battery. In essence, the S23 Plus is an expensive smartphone, but it’s one smartphone you won’t be disappointed with.       

Just the USB-C cable and the ejection pin of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

No expandable storage, no earphones, no charger

It has become a norm that Samsung will not include chargers, and earphones anymore when you purchase their smartphone products. If you’re looking to expand storage using a microSD card sadly, there’s no expandable storage on the S23 Plus. In fact, it’s also a feature that is not available in other Samsung smartphones except for older models. 

Similar design to S23

Regarding the design, the only difference between the S23 and the S23 Plus is the size of the smartphone. Either than that, they are exactly the same. Same design. Same colors. Same protective features. It may be a minor thing but it’s something worth noting.     

The Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus combines the great design, performance, and photographic capabilities of the compact S22 into a bigger, but more costly device. As a result, it could be a tempting option for Galaxy novices looking for a big-screen all-arounder smartphone.

But if you have deep pockets and wish to upgrade to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, I recommend you think about doing so.

If the option doesn’t favor you, then here are other options below to consider:

	Samsung Galaxy S23 The new Samsung Galaxy S23 is a smaller, more compact model with limited features but it’s a more affordable option.
	Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus The previous Samsung Galaxy S22 is an older model with outdated specs, yet it’s still a powerful and much more affordable option.

So that’s my review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus smartphone. So what are your thoughts? Is it a smartphone worth buying? Are you invested or are you thinking of getting an alternative smartphone? If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions to raise please do not hesitate to share them below.

The next thing for you to do now is to click HERE, learn more about this great product, and purchase it if you so desire. All the best to you. See you next time 😀 

The Samsung Galaxy S23, one of the best compact phones in the world, has just got better. It is now quicker, more durable, with better connectivity, and has a larger battery. It’s going to become a fan favorite in 2023 and in the compact sector (since it is still as compact, light, and appealing as ever). Is it really worth the money at the end of the day? Let’s explore and find out from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.

Samsung Galaxy S23

SPECS

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone is small and compact but comes in a great package that explodes greatness. To start off, it comes with a small 6.1-inch display that boasts a Full HD+ AMOLED display, and an adaptive refresh rate that changes as you use it. The phone comes with a triple-lens camera at the back, and a tear-drop lens selfie camera in front.

Under the hood, the S23 comes with a fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a 3900mAh battery pack, and 8GB of RAM. Other features include water and dust resistance, a fingerprint sensor on the screen, and an Android 13 operating system OS. Depending on the choice of model, you can choose either a 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage. No expandable storage here but there are other alternative storage services online to use. 

What’s in the box? The Samsung Galaxy S23, the USB-C cable, and the sim card ejection pin.

If compared to the Samsung Galaxy S22, most of the features are the same, except for (1) it comes with a faster processor, which means better performance, (2) it has a bigger battery, which means more battery life and (3) it has a brighter display. Overall, the S23 smartphone comes with a few new features that are however better, brighter, and faster than its predecessor.

What you get in the box is the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone, a sim card ejection pin, and a USB-C cable. Samsung provides no charger and headphones anymore but at least we can be happy that a USB cable is included. When you buy a charger make sure it’s a 25W. Any higher and the phone won’t charge.          

The Good Features

Attractive & Professional Design

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone is a compact and smaller model than the S232+. You can choose from six attractive colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. The other colors Graphite and Lime are available when you purchase the S23 from the Samsung.com website online.

It comes with a matte finish at the back which makes it easy to grip and doesn’t slip from your hands and includes a triple-lens camera which also looks good without the bump that surrounded the camera module from the last model.

The two standard volume and power buttons are stationed on the right side, with the USB-C port, sim card slot, and one of the speakers positioned at the bottom. The other speaker is positioned on the top of the phone where the glass and metal meet. All this is encased in a glass aluminum frame and good glass protection thanks to Gorilla Glass Victus 2. 

Overall, the S23 phone design looks great. Not much change from the older model, except for the bump at the back, but it looks professional and the colors make it look more attractive.

Small but Powerful Display

The S23 smartphone comes with a small 6.1-inch smartphone which is similar to the S22. But the difference is the brightness. Yep. The S23 comes with a moderately brighter display to help enhance the HDR experience with streaming videos.

Other standard features include the 1080p resolution, the dynamic refresh rate, which goes up to 120Hz, HDR10+ support, and the strong glass protection from Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Overall, the display is small but features more brightness, and more support for HD images and videos, it looks great, and the glass display will not crack so easily. 

Great Triple-Lens Camera

The Galaxy S23 includes a triple-lens camera which has the same camera setup as the new Galaxy S23+. This includes a 50MP wide camera with optical image stabilization, a 10MP telephoto camera with three times zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. It also includes video quality of up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second.  The selfie camera comes with a 12MP wide camera and includes up to 4K video quality recording at 60 frames per second. 

The S23 is more than capable for the majority of individuals. It produces clear, detailed images in almost all lighting situations. It also enhances colors, as is usual for Samsung cameras, producing vivid shots that occasionally appear a touch oversaturated. 

The design difference between the S22 and the S23 smartphone

Nevertheless, the Galaxy S23’s cameras offer a fantastic video recording experience as well. You can choose between 1080p at 960 frames per second, (which is for creating silky smooth, ultra-slow-motion footage), and up to 8K at 30 frames per second which produce extremely high-quality footage. 

Moreover, you have an almost infinite number of options for taking pictures and films, including Director’s View (which employs several lenses simultaneously); Adaptive Pixel (reduces picture size whilst retaining quality); High-Resolution Photo; Multi-Exposure; Nightography; Selfie Night Portrait, and Super HDR (merges multiple shots to create a detailed composite image).

Overall, the S23 comes with a good camera. You get a triple-lens camera system that takes high-quality photos and videos, a selfie camera that also takes high-quality videos and photos, and you get camera modes options to help enhance your camera experience.   

Good Battery Life

The Galaxy S23 is powered by a 3900mAh battery which is bigger than the Galaxy S22 which comes with a 4100mAh battery. From web browsing to making and receiving calls, to video playback the phone lasted an amazing 31-hour battery life before needing more juice.

But that’s on moderate usage. It even takes pole position compared to the Galaxy S21 (28 hrs) and the Xiaomi 12 Lite (25 hrs). The battery also includes support for fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, which is a standard feature for this smartphone.

Fast Performance

The S23 smartphone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processing chip, which includes an eight-core, 4nm fast-performance processor. It also includes an Areno 740 GPU. Compared to the previous S22, the S23 has improved in performance and in processing efficiency, making it more useful for daily processing and gaming. 

Speaking of gaming, starting and playing games is a seamless process. Simple games like Royal Match, Candy Crush, Arlo’s Odyssey, etc., operate without a hitch. And even triple-A games with demanding high graphics, like Genshin Impact, and Knighthood didn’t exhibit any delays or frame rate drops.

All S23 models come with an 8GB of RAM (LPDDR5x) which improves the memory storage of apps and improves overall performance. With regards to storage, it’s better to get either the 256GB or the 512GB storage model as the 128GB models use an older storage drive.   

Regarding the operating system, the Galaxy S23 includes the newer One UI version 5.1. Based on Android 13 OS, it comes with new widgets, more connectivity options, various improvements in the gallery, and DeX mode. Other than that, One UI operates the same and looks similar to other Samsung devices. 

Yet the GUI looks and feels great. As you swipe from left to right, it feels smooth. This is one of the best parts of the One UI, the overall improvement in performance.

To end off, the S23 smartphone is the most performing smartphone in the market right now. It comes with excellent hardware and great specs. Gaming looks and plays better. And the One UI feels fast and looks smoother than ever. 

Other Features

Other features include great quality sound, with a clear-sounding loudspeaker. It’s water and scratch resistant making it durable. The fingerprint scanner on the bottom of the screen is fast and responsive. The connectivity is fantastic. Whether it’s Bluetooth, WiFi, 5G, or 4G (LTE), it connects fast and downloads up to 12 Mb per second. Most of these features are standard from all Samsung Galaxy models, but it’s worth mentioning.  

The Bad Features

Snail Charging

Compare to other great smartphones, the charging speed of the S23 is not much to be excited about. The battery inside the Galaxy S23 supports up to 25W chargers, whereas the Galaxy S23+ and the top Galaxy S23 Ultra support up to 45W chargers. With a 25W charger, after half an hour the Galaxy S23 is charged to 57%, whereas it takes seventy minutes to reach full charge.

The cream back of the Samsung Galaxy S23

Compared to the Galaxy S22, it takes an hour for it to fully charge even with a 25W battery. Sad to say, you may have to wait a little longer for the S23 smartphone to fully charge. Overall, the S23 is not the fastest at charging but where it disappoints, it excels in battery life.      

No-no Features

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone comes with a few no-nos. Firstly, there’s still no charger in the box. You’ll have to buy it separately. Secondly, the Galaxy S23 lacks UWB connectivity, which helps provide accurate GPS information. It’s like using Google Maps to find a location. You punch in the address. You follow but it takes you to a completely different location. That’s what it means. In the end, the Galaxy S23 is not a perfect smartphone. It will come with compromises but with all the other great features it’s one of the best phones you can buy.      

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone is excellent overall. It looks good. Excellent performance. It has a good battery life. It takes beautiful photos and videos and comes with other great features. Although it’s a small phone that doesn’t charge very quickly and does lack UWB support, it’s the best handset for those who want something simple, with less complex features, and has a professional finish. If that’s what you looking for then the Galaxy S23 is the smartphone for you. 

The Phantom Black Samsung Galaxy S23

So did you enjoy my Samsung Galaxy S23 review? Are you swayed to get the Galaxy S23 smartphone? What are your opinions?  If you like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Review, then please add a comment below. If you have any questions then you may also add them as well. I will answer you as soon as I can. So what to do next? Well, if you missed it, click here to find out more or to purchase your S23 smartphone today.