Given the Phone 2a’s $350 starting price, it makes it an ideal competitor to the Google Pixel 7a, another midrange phone that boasts robust imaging capabilities. Both phones have some key differences, but given how good most smartphone cameras are nowadays, we couldn’t help but put these two to the test.

Key Differences

Both phones come with three cameras all over – the Pixel 7a features a 64MP main sensor in addition to a 13MP ultrawide sensor and 13MP front camera, while the Nothing Phone 2a packs 50MP main and ultrawide sensors, in addition to a 32MP front camera.

It’s clear that the 2a has the 7a beat in terms of hardware, particularly when it comes to megapixel count. However, Google’s computational photography does allow the 7a to take amazing-looking photos, thanks to well-optimized image processing software.

That’s not to say that the Phone 2a doesn’t have anything of the sort – according to Nothing, the Phone 2a comes with the company’s own “TrueLens Engine” which uses computational algorithms including Ultra XDR, which interestingly has been co-developed with Google.

The Showdown

With that in mind, we once again join Phandroid’s Nick Gray in checking out how each phone’s cameras perform in similar environments, lighting conditions, and such. Given that smartphone photo quality is often a subjective matter, we’re leaving it up to you guys to comment on which phone you’d rather choose for day-to-day mobile photography. Check out our video below!

The post We Pit the Nothing Phone 2a’s Cameras Against the Pixel 7a appeared first on Phandroid.

To be fair, the camera setups on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra are closer than ever this year, with both devices sporting a 5x periscope camera. That being said, Samsung still has a 200MP primary camera and an extra 3x zoom camera that the iPhone doesn’t have.

• Save $750 on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Get the iPhone 15 Pr Max for FREE!

Take a look at the video and image gallery below for side-by-side comaprisons between the Samsung Galaxy S24 Utlra and iPhone 15 Pro max and let us know which deive you’d use on a day-to-day basis.

Galaxy S24 Ultra versus iPhone 15 Pro Max camera specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

• 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS
• 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
• 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
• Selfie 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
• Video: 8k/30 (main), 4k/60 (all)

iPhone 15 Pro Max

• 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
• 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
• TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
• Selfie 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm
• Video: 4k/60 (all)

Galaxy S24 Ultra versus iPhone 15 Pro Max gallery

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra versus iPhone 15 Pro max camera comparison: unexpected results appeared first on Phandroid.

Design and display

The Galaxy S24+ shares a similar design language to the base Galaxy S24 model. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, looks similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. One advantage the iPhone 15 Pro has over the Galaxy S24+ is that it has a titanium body, while the Galaxy S24+ uses aluminum. Samsung has adopted the use of titanium but it will only be for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

In terms of display, the Galaxy S24+ has the advantage here. It has a larger 6.7-inch display with a pixel density of 513 PPI, while the iPhone 15 Pro has a smaller 6.1-inch display with a pixel density of 461 PPI. This means that even though the Galaxy S24+ is bigger, the higher resolution and pixel density will result in sharper looking images and text.

If size and weight are important considerations to you, the iPhone 15 Pro does weigh slightly less at 187g, versus the 196g of the Galaxy S24+.

Hardware and performance

It’s hard to measure the performance of both phones since both devices are using completely different hardware and run on different platforms. The Galaxy S24+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for North American markets, and the Exynos 2400 for other international markets.

The iPhone 15 Pro uses the new A17 Pro chipset built on the 3nm process, a slightly smaller but more efficient process compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm. But if you just want to compare pure performance, both chipsets seem capable of performing on a similar-ish level.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 does beat out the A17 Pro in AnTuTu 10 benchmarks, but otherwise the differences aren’t that big, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 pulling ahead slightly. The RAM on the Galaxy S24+ starts at 12GB while the iPhone 15 Pro only comes with 8GB of RAM.

Once again, it’s not a particularly fair comparison since like we said, both devices run on different platforms. Since Apple also controls the hardware and software, they can get away with 8GB of RAM due to better optimization.

One advantage that Samsung has over Apple is the use of AI. The company is introducing a bunch of new AI tools and features that will drastically change the way we use our phones. Previously, it would be a debate on iOS versus Android, but with the inclusion of AI, Samsung is offering something that Apple doesn’t even have yet.

This includes features like Circle to Search, Live Translation for calls, the ability to transcribe and translate voice recordings, and more.

Cameras

Next up are the cameras on the phones. Both Apple and Samsung have made a reputation for themselves for creating very reliable and consistent cameras, and the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 lineup is no different.

The Galaxy S24+ will come with a 50MP main shooter with an aperture of f/1.8, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide. The iPhone 15 Pro has a 48MP main camera with a f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP telephoto also with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide.

Apple relies quite heavily on software for image processing and it shows. Samsung does the same too, but this time, the company is leveraging AI to help with photo taking and photo editing. For example, some of the new AI tools they’re introducing can help remove unwanted objects, reposition the subject, and even make smart suggestions to get the best edits.

The Galaxy S24+ also supports 8K video recording at 24/30fps, so if that’s a feature that’s important to you, the Galaxy S24+ could be the better option. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, maxes out at 4K video up to 60 fps.

Pricing

The price of both phones do not come cheap as they are flagship devices. The Galaxy S24+ is priced starting at $999.99. The iPhone 15 Pro is also priced similarly starting at $999.99. The good news is that Samsung is running some pre-order deals right now where you can grab the phone and get Amazon or Samsung credit, enhanced trade-in value, and more.

• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $1,300 with $200 gift card (use code FEA7SP3UFDJN)
• Galaxy S24+ – $1,000 with $150 gift card (use code MJ93PYFCJHOJ)
• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $800 with $50 gift card (use code TTYSDPOR7WPL)

Galaxy S24 Ultra

• Offer: Up to $750 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $100 eCert + 10% Student Discount

Galaxy S24+

• Offer: Up to $650 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $75 eCert +7.5% Student Discount

Galaxy S24

• Offer: Up to $550 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $25 eCert + 5% Student Discount

Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running.

The post Samsung Galaxy S24+ versus iPhone 15 Pro: Middle of the pack appeared first on Phandroid.

Design and display

The design language that Samsung and Apple have chosen are quite different from each other for obvious (legal) reasons. This really boils down to personal preference. One thing we will point out is that both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature the use of titanium, but the base models still use aluminum.

Titanium allows both phones to be lighter, thinner, and more durable, but unless you’re particularly rough and careless with your phone, aluminum is perfectly fine, especially when paired with a good protective case.

Speaking of phones being lighter and thinner, the Galaxy S24, even though it is bigger, does weigh less at around 167g. The iPhone 15, on the other hand, weighs 171g.

The display of both phones are also slightly different. The iPhone 15 has a smaller 6.1-inch display while the Galaxy S24 has a larger 6.2-inch display. Interestingly, the iPhone 15 has a higher resolution of 1179×2556, while the Galaxy S24 has a 1080×240 resolution. Combine this with the smaller display, the iPhone 15 has a slight edge in terms of pixel density and sharpness.

That being said, if you want a phone with a brighter display, the Galaxy S24 beats the iPhone 15 easily. The Galaxy S24’s display peaks at 2,600 nits, while the iPhone 15 only goes up to 2,000 nits.

Hardware and performance

The US-bound Samsung Galaxy S24 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This is the most powerful chipset from Qualcomm to date. The iPhone 15, on the other hand, uses the A16 Bionic. This is actually the chipset from Apple’s 2022 iPhones. Only the iPhone 15 Pro models use the newer A17 Pro chipset.

Based on the benchmarks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has the A16 Bionic beat pretty much in every category. Don’t get us wrong, the A16 Bionic is still a very capable chipset, but Qualcomm clearly has the lead here.

The iPhone 15 also comes with less RAM with 6GB. The Galaxy S24 packs slightly more at 8GB. On paper it is obvious that 8GB would be better, but once again, we should point out that both phones run different platforms and use different chipsets. All of this contributes to the overall efficiency of the phone. Even though the iPhone 15 has less RAM, the way Apple has designed its iOS platform and its apps ensures that 6GB of RAM is more than enough.

Cameras

The Galaxy S24 comes with a triple camera setup. This consists of a 50MP main with f/1.8 aperture and OIS. It is accompanied by a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide. The iPhone 15 only has a dual camera setup with a 48MP main with a slightly wider f/1.6 aperture with OIS, and is accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide.

Both Samsung and Apple are known for packing some pretty great cameras in their phones, so you should be able to expect consistently good quality images and videos. The addition of 3x optical zoom in the base Galaxy S24 could also be more appealing for some photographers.

Videographers will probably appreciate the Galaxy S24 more thanks to its ability to record 8K video at 24/30fps, while the iPhone 15 only tops out at 4K. Honestly, 4K is more than enough for most people, but those that need the extra resolution should go for the Galaxy S24.

Software – all about the AI

Software is where the Galaxy S24 truly shines. This is thanks to Samsung including a bunch of AI features in One UI. Prior to this, we would say that the difference in software boils down to whether you prefer Android or iOS, but now with the addition to AI, it’s hard to recommend iOS.

The AI features on the Galaxy S24 are truly impressive. The use of AI makes things a lot more efficient and puts the “smart” in smartphones. We’re talking about the ability to use AI to transcribe, translate, and summarize voice recordings. This is handy for meetings and lectures or interviews.

There is also a Live Translate feature for calls and text messages, making it easier for you to translate conversations without relying on third-party apps. Samsung is also getting some help from Google with Circle to Search, an upgraded Google Lens experience, Android Auto, and more.

Samsung is also applying its AI features to its cameras. This will give Galaxy S24 users more flexibility when it comes to taking photos and editing them. Users can easily reposition subjects after a photo is taken. Editing is also much easier for beginners as the AI can make editing suggestions to get the best possible image.

AI support is definitely something Apple is lacking at the moment, so when it comes to software, it’s not really a competition.

Pricing

The price of the base Samsung Galaxy S24 and Apple iPhone 15 are identical at $799. This could make your decision harder, but Samsung is offering some pre-order bonuses that could be worth checking out.

We’re talking about gift cards on Amazon where you can get a $50 gift card. If you choose to buy directly from Samsung, the company is offering enhanced trade-in values, extra credit, a free memory upgrade, and even student discounts that will make the phone more affordable.

• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $1,300 with $200 gift card (use code FEA7SP3UFDJN)
• Galaxy S24+ – $1,000 with $150 gift card (use code MJ93PYFCJHOJ)
• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $800 with $50 gift card (use code TTYSDPOR7WPL)

Galaxy S24 Ultra

• Offer: Up to $750 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $100 eCert + 10% Student Discount

Galaxy S24+

• Offer: Up to $650 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $75 eCert +7.5% Student Discount

Galaxy S24

• Offer: Up to $550 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $25 eCert + 5% Student Discount

Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running.

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 versus iPhone 15: Base models face off! appeared first on Phandroid.

READ: Battle of the Brands: Has Samsung Overshadowed Google as the Face of Android?

While Samsung pretty much dominates the Android landscape in North America, it should be said that Google’s efforts in building up its Pixel brand has led to a bit of success, and while it still has a long way to go in catching up with Samsung it’s definitely made people aware of its presence. With that being said, which phone should you go with? Let’s take a look at some key factors.

Performance

In terms of raw power, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is a performance champ, thanks in part to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip inside as well as 12GB of RAM, which should no doubt help with performance. The 8 Gen 3 chip is designed for better battery endurance, ray-tracing support for gaming, as well as an overall boost to performance, making it an ideal choice for folks who above all else, desire power.

Of course one consideration is that S24 Plus models outside the US come with Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 chip, which has led to doubt among fans regarding its performance when compared to the Snapdragon version, although at this point it’s too early to tell.

As for the Pixel 8, Google’s base model flagship features its custom Tensor G3 chipset (in addition to 8GB RAM), which was designed in collaboration with Samsung. The G3 plays a part in the Pixel’s photographic capabilities, AI features like Magic Editor, and speech recognition, to name a few. However, it is underpowered compared to the 8 Gen 3, and isn’t really the best in terms of thermal management and performance.

Sure you’ll be able to play some moderately-heavy games on the Pixel, but it might have trouble keeping up for extended gaming sessions. With that being said however, it is an improvement over the Tensor G2 in terms of battery life, as well as wireless connectivity.

Cameras

These days, a smartphone’s photographic quality is often a subjective matter, although there are times when hardware plays a slight advantage. For example, the S24 Plus features a triple-camera setup with 3x zoom capabilities, consisting of an ultra-wide and telephoto sensor in addition to the main camera. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 settles for a main sensor and a single ultra-wide lens, with somewhat limited zoom capabilities.

Both cameras are very capable, and personal preference will play a big role as to how one might prefer their camera quality when it comes to photos. It’s worth noting however that the S24 Plus has more versatility in terms of video capabilities, allowing users to record up to 8K resolution videos at 24/30 fps, versus the 4K + 24/30/60 fps videos on the Pixel 8.

Software

While both the Pixel 8 and S24 Plus run on Android 14, there are some considerable differences between the two devices with regards to how they handle Android. The S24 Plus adds a heavy layer of customization with its proprietary One UI 6.1 platform, which for all intents and purposes is a double-edged sword.

You see, one of the advantages of Samsung’s One UI is that it comes with a ton of useful features for customization, as well as synchronization with Samsung’s extensive hardware and software ecosystem (watches, laptops, tablets, etc). On the other hand, users are greeted with a ton of additional software (including third-party apps) which take up system storage, as well as Samsung’s own apps in addition to pre-existing ones on the base version of Android; as a result, we end up with two file manager apps, two messaging apps, two different app stores, and so on.

we end up with two file manager apps, two messaging apps, two different app stores, and so on.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 comes with a more “pure” version of Android; it’s not necessarily “stock”, but it features the core essentials such as Google system apps, and all the basics required to make Android run smoothly on your phone. Additionally, no third-party apps are included – no shady storage cleaner apps, no extra app stores, and no unwanted mobile games, for example.

Both phones do offer up to seven years of Android software upgrades, which is ideal for users looking to keep a smartphone for long-term use.

AI Features

Both the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 Plus come with a ton of generative AI features, which come in handy for photo editing, speech-to-text transcription and voice recognition, smart message composing, and more. Again, there are factors to consider.

For one, it’s reported that Samsung is planning to charge S24 owners a fee to use AI features. A footnote on the Galaxy S24’s listing on Samsung’s website reads, “Galaxy AI features will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.”

Now of course, things might still change depending on how the general public reacts to this policy, but at the moment Google does offer the Pixel 8’s AI features all for free. Of course there are some features such as Video Boost which are exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro, but by and large you won’t have to pay extra to use generative AI tools on the Pixel 8 at least in the long run.

Price

Perhaps this is where the Pixel 8 takes the win – at $699, Google’s current flagship is easily the more affordable of the two devices, and there’s also the fact that Pixel phones tend to go on sale faster (and more frequently), especially for buyers in the US.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 Plus starts at $999, the same price as a Pixel 8 Pro. Of course the higher price is understandable due to the advantages in hardware that the S24 Plus comes with, but folks on a strict budget will definitely want to go for a more affordable option.

At the end of the day however, personal preference will be the ultimate factor as to which phone buyers will go for. There’s no doubt that Samsung fans will want to stay with their beloved brand, and those faithful to Google will continue on with their Pixel handsets. Both phones excel in different categories, and it’s up to you and your wallet to pick which works best for you.

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The post Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus vs Google Pixel 8: No Contest! appeared first on Phandroid.

Design

If there’s one thing we can’t really say we like about Google’s Pixel phones, it would be its design. Their Pixel phones tend to sport a design language that kind of lacks a bit of sophistication and maturity, but that’s just our opinion. The Pixel 8 Pro is no exception.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra features the use of titanium which lends an air of luxury, not to mention it makes the phone light and durable. Google’s Pixel 8 Pro still relies on aluminum for the frame, which is perfectly fine, but so do a ton of other Android smartphones.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera module is rather unique in terms of design, but whether or not it’s for you is a matter of personal preference. We think it’s kind of refreshing, at least compared to the sea of Android smartphones out there.

Both phones do come with an IP68 rating so you can rest assured when it comes to water resistance.

Display

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a slightly larger display measuring 6.8-inches, making it 0.1-inches bigger than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 6.7-inch screen. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also has the brightest display of any Samsung phone to date with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The Pixel 8 Pro isn’t too far behind at 2,400 nits. Both handsets also have a refresh rate of 120Hz.

The resolution of both phones are different, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra sporting a 3120×1440 resolution, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 2992×1344 resolution. But in terms of pixel density, they’re not too far off at 505 PPI and 489 PPI respectively. Samsung’s flagship does use the newer Gorilla Glass Armor while the Pixel 8 Pro uses the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Performance

This is where the differences between both phones become more apparent. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a performance beast. Benchmarks on Geekbench 6 show the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 blowing past the Google Tensor G3 in both single and multi-core performance.

To be fair to Google, they never claimed that its Tensor chipsets are designed to outperform Qualcomm’s offerings. It’s more about Google creating and managing its hardware and software on a similar scale as Apple. Perhaps future versions of Tensor will catchup, but for now, the Tensor G3 isn’t on par.

This doesn’t mean that the Pixel 8 Pro will be terrible in terms of gaming or running more demanding apps. It will ultimately depend on what you want to do with your phone and what you want to get out of it. If you want a more “pure” and “optimized” Android experience, the Pixel 8 Pro is definitely the better choice.

Software

While the hardware shows how different the Galaxy S24 Ultra is from the Pixel 8 Pro, the software actually shows how similar both phones are. Samsung is introducing AI features to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and some of those features are actually courtesy of Google.

This includes the new Circle to Search feature that lets users look up anything on their smartphone’s screen. There’s also new Android Auto features that can summarize text messages and offer up suggested replies. Samsung has included its own AI like Live Translate and Voice Recordings.

As for the actual Android experience, Google has long pivoted away from offering the “vanilla” Android experience you might find on older Nexus and Pixel phones. Instead, Google offers a more optimized version of Android, or rather, the version that they think is the best.

It is a more “pure” Google experience, so if that’s something you prefer over Samsung’s own interpretation with One UI, then this is something to consider. At the end of the day, both phones still run on Android and the core Android experience and features are there.

Cameras

Google has never been one to stuff as many megapixels in their cameras as possible. The company famously proved many years ago that its single lens camera was capable of reproducing the quality and effects with dual cameras. Google continues that tradition today of relying heavily on software and its algorithm to help process its images.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra does pack a 200MP sensor for its main shooter and has also included some AI features in its camera software. This allows users to do things like reposition subjects in post, as well as offer users editing suggestions to get the best possible photo.

Our review of the Pixel 8 Pro’s cameras have found Google’s use of hardware and software to be pretty amazing, so for the most part, we expect both phones to be relatively on par with each other. The Galaxy S24 Ultra does have the added advantage of having one more telephoto lens which could benefit some users.

Pricing

Pricing is where Google pretty much has Samsung beat. The Pixel 8 Pro is priced at $999. This makes the phone about $300 cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If price is a concern for you, then the Pixel 8 Pro could be the better choice.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is priced starting at $1,299. If you’re questioning if you should spend that extra $300, luckily for you, Samsung is offering various pre-order deals where you can get $200 Amazon gift cards and up to $750 in trade-in value. So if you’re set on getting the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, then do check out these pre-order deals to save some money.

• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $1,300 with $200 gift card (use code FEA7SP3UFDJN)
• Galaxy S24+ – $1,000 with $150 gift card (use code MJ93PYFCJHOJ)
• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $800 with $50 gift card (use code TTYSDPOR7WPL)

Galaxy S24 Ultra

• Offer: Up to $750 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $100 eCert + 10% Student Discount

Galaxy S24+

• Offer: Up to $650 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $75 eCert +7.5% Student Discount

Galaxy S24

• Offer: Up to $550 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $25 eCert + 5% Student Discount

Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running.

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra versus Google Pixel 8 Pro: Battle of the AI appeared first on Phandroid.

Design

It’s hard to compare designs since each phone maker tries to make their phones as unique as possible. Samsung and Apple do share one thing in common – the use of titanium. The iPhone 15 Pro Max launched in 2023 where one of the selling points of the phone is the use of titanium in its build, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra followed suit.

This allows both phones to utilize the lighter and stronger material. In the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s case, the handset is actually light coming in at 221g. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, weighs slightly more at 232g. To be fair, the Galaxy S24 Ultra does pack a larger display which could contribute to its weight.

Speaking of displays, both phones utilize glass made by Corning. The Galaxy S24 Ultra uses the slightly newer Gorilla Glass Armor which is said to offer more drop protection. Both phones also use a more traditional flat display that we think makes the phones nicer to hold and less prone to accidental touches.

The display on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is also brighter at 2,600 nits of peak brightness. The iPhone 15 Pro Max caps out at 2,000 nits.

Performance

When it comes to performance of both phones, it’s quite literally comparing apples to oranges. The US-based Galaxy S24 Ultra features the use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. The iPhone 15 Pro Max uses Apple’s A17 pro. The A17 Pro is built on the 3nm process while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 uses the 4nm process.

In theory, chipsets built on the 3nm process should offer up better performance and efficiency, but the benchmarks are saying otherwise. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 scores higher than the A17 Pro on AnTuTu by quite a considerable margin. It also outperforms Apple’s chipset on 3DMark.

Performance on Geekbench 6 reveals that the A17 Pro has a slight lead in single-core performance. On multi-core, the differences are marginal. Samsung is also expected to use an exclusive version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with a slightly faster clock rate. This should allow it to perform slightly better compared to other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 smartphones.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra also comes with 12GB of RAM by default, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max only comes with 8GB. On paper 12GB is obviously better, but once again, it’s not the most fair comparison. Apple’s iPhones run iOS and with their walled garden approach, apps for iOS are generally quite well-optimized for its hardware. Android apps usually need to cater to a wide variety of devices, so depending on the device, optimization can be hit or miss.

Cameras

Both Samsung and Apple’s smartphones are known for producing great photos. We wouldn’t necessarily say the best as other handset makers have definitely caught up.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes equipped with quad cameras featuring a 200MP main shooter, a 50MP periscope, a 10MP periscope, and a 12MP ultrawide. Its periscope cameras also offer 3-5x optical zoom.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a triple camera setup. This includes a 48MP main, a 12MP periscope with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has ditched the 10x zoom found in its predecessor which is honestly a shame. The insane zoom capabilities made for some pretty awesome shots, so that’s something to think about if you’re considering the phone.

One thing the Galaxy S24 Ultra has going for it would be its camera software that comes with AI features that makes taking and editing photos a lot easier and smarter. This is something Apple definitely needs to borrow if they want to remain competitive.

Software

Software is where the difference between both phones become glaringly obvious. The debate of iOS versus Android has been going on for a long time, but that conversation has definitely changed with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung and Google are working together to bring AI capabilities to the phone. The inclusion of AI sets the Galaxy S24 Ultra apart from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. For example, there are smart and handy features like Circle to Search. This allows users to search for objects on their device’s display.

There are also message composing features powered by AI. This gives users the ability to change the tone of their message. Google is also improving on Android Auto where it can summarize and even suggest replies to messages, making it safer for you to read and reply to your messages while driving.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra also comes with a Live Translate feature for calls. The Voice Recorder also uses AI to transcribe, summarize, and even translate recordings, all of which are pretty useful. Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, feels quite “dumb” by comparison.

Price

The price of the Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1,299. This is an increase of $100 over the previous model. Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro is going for $1,199. It is slightly cheaper, but then again you would be buying into a completely different ecosystem if you’re coming from Android.

The good news is that Samsung is running some pre-order offers right now. If you buy the phones from Amazon, you can get a $200 gift card.

• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $1,300 with $200 gift card (use code FEA7SP3UFDJN)
• Galaxy S24+ – $1,000 with $150 gift card (use code MJ93PYFCJHOJ)
• Galaxy S24 Ultra – $800 with $50 gift card (use code TTYSDPOR7WPL)

If you’re looking to trade-in an older phone, Samsung’s offering enhanced trade-in deals along with extra credit that will knock up to $800 off the price of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Galaxy S24 Ultra

• Offer: Up to $750 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $100 eCert + 10% Student Discount

Galaxy S24+

• Offer: Up to $650 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $75 eCert +7.5% Student Discount

Galaxy S24

• Offer: Up to $550 Enhanced Trade-In + $50 Howl-Exclusive Samsung Credit + Free Memory Upgrade + $25 eCert + 5% Student Discount

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This means that even if you’re a hardcore Android fan and user, there’s no denying that Apple’s iPads are pretty tempting as far as tablets are concerned. But if you’re still undecided on what to get, maybe the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE could be a great iPad alternative, and here are several reasons why you should consider it.

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S Pen included

There is without a doubt that Apple kind of changed the stylus game when they introduced the Apple Pencil. Samsung is no stranger to styluses especially when they introduced it in their Galaxy Note series years ago, but the Apple Pencil seriously kicked things up a notch with its low-latency and pressure-sensing capabilities.

The only issue is that Apple doesn’t bundle Apple Pencil with its iPads, meaning that if you want it, you’ll have to pay extra for it. That isn’t the case with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and even though it is an “FE” model, Samsung has included the S Pen with the tablet which means that you won’t have to spend more money than you already have and can start drawing and writing right out of the box.

The S Pen itself is a fantastic accessory and apart from using it like a regular stylus, it can be used to interact with the tablet in other ways, making it a bit more functional compared to the Apple Pencil if you’re looking to do more than just draw and write.

Faster display refresh rate

Another reason why you might consider the Galaxy Tab S9 FE over the iPad is its display. Both the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and iPad offer similar display sizes and the iPad actually has a marginally higher resolution, but to the naked eye we doubt most people can’t tell the difference.

The one advantage the Samsung tablet has is that its display has a 90Hz refresh rate, making it smoother compared to the iPad’s 60Hz refresh rate. This means that things like scrolling through websites, drawing, and writing, will feel a lot smoother. Also, if you’re coming from a phone with a high refresh rate, it will feel less jarring when using the Galaxy Tab S9 FE compared to dropping down to 60Hz on the iPad.

Longer lasting battery with faster charging

Apple’s iPads are usually known for having decent battery life, but if you’re looking for something better than decent, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s battery life could give Apple a run for their money.

The tablet is rated for 18 hours of battery life on a single charge, versus the iPad Air which is said to last 10 hours. If you’re the type of person constantly on the move and won’t always have access to charging, then the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is definitely the better choice. Plus, it supports Super Fast Charging that will top it up in about 90 minutes with the 45W charger (sold separately, by the way), so even if you’re in a rush, you should be able to charge it up to usable levels in a relatively short amount of time.

More affordable

Price is also another reason why the Galaxy Tab S9 FE could be a better choice than the iPad. Samsung’s tablet is currently on sale where it’s being sold for $419.99, a drop of about $30 from its usual asking price of $449.99.

Apple’s cheapest iPad in a similar class is the 9th gen iPad which is being sold at $329, but obviously if we’re going to compare apples to apples, the 10th gen iPad is sold for $449, while the iPad Air is priced over $500.

Keep in mind that the iPad does not come with the Apple Pencil so if you want a tablet for drawing or writing purposes, that is going to cost you at least another $79 for the USB-C Apple Pencil, or $129 for the 2nd gen Apple Pencil, so that should be taken into consideration.

Tight integration with Android

Last but not least, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE runs on Android and that could be one of the major factors for consideration. If you’re an iPhone user, it makes more sense to buy the iPad as both devices do play nicely with each other.

If you’re an Android user, the same can be said with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE where you can easily sync up your Google accounts and apps. Also, if you’ve already bought a ton of apps and stuff from the Google Play Store, you won’t have to buy them again compared to if you were using an iPad where you’d have to create a new account with Apple and buy your apps again.

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At the same time, I’ve also been using the Pixel alongside my iPhone 15. While both phones offer new improvements over their predecessors (we’d be upset if they didn’t), Google has packed a healthy dose of features into its Android champion, a lot of which trumps Apple’s latest iOS-powered offering – in fact, it’s this focus on built-in software and AI features that has got my interest piqued.

Assistance is a Must

The question of “which smart assistant is the best” is one that’s been asked for many years now, but between Siri and Google Assistant, there’s little doubt that Google’s on-board helper gets things done more efficiently than its iOS rival.

Compared to Siri, Google Assistant gets its powers from features such as better contextual awareness and access to a vast knowledge base, allowing it to give more accurate responses to questions, and not immediately giving up on more “complicated” user queries. It can even integrate seamlessly with other Google services such as Gmail, Calendar, and Keep for example.

READ: Google Assistant is About to Get a Major AI Helping Hand

Additionally, Google Assistant has the ability to give more personalized recommendations to user queries as it can access your search data and preferences (with your permission of course). This provides users with a more “personal approach” when suggesting media content or restaurants, for example.

Brains over Brawn

This advantage in intelligence isn’t just limited to Google Assistant – Google’s new Tensor G3 chip is designed to give users a ton of useful features not found on rival devices and brands. Thanks to the magic of Artificial Intelligence, the Pixel 8 comes with functions that aren’t available natively on iPhones.

Google’s new Tensor G3 chip is designed to give users a ton of useful features not found on rival devices and brands.

Features such as Google’s brand new Magic Editor and Magic Audio Eraser have proven to be a great addition to the Pixel’s AI functions, giving users more choice when it comes to improving their photos and videos. Additionally, the Pixel’s AI capabilities also extends into voice recognition as seen on features like Voice Transcription on the Google Recorder, and language translation.

It doesn’t stop there – as mentioned, Bard, Google’s very own conversational generative AI is currently on track to merge with Google Assistant, which should prove to be a very powerful combination if done properly.

The Practicality of it All

Aside from using generative AI for photos and videos, Google has also equipped the Pixel 8 with features of a more “practical” nature. This includes pre-existing functions such as Spam Message filters, and even Call Screening which lets the phone talk back to callers and ask for context, allowing you to see what the call is all about before answering.

READ: First Things to Do with Your Pixel 8!

Of course, there’s also support for RCS, aka “Rich Communication Services” – this means better file quality when sending images and videos, cross-platform compatibility, and better end-to-end encryption, to name a few. By comparison, iMessage relies on less secure encryption for its messages, and is only closed-off to other iOS devices, unlike RCS which is available on a ton of different Android brands and manufacturers.

Should You Switch?

If you’re reading this, maybe you’re wondering if you should go ahead and ditch your iPhone for the Pixel 8. Of course, the answer will always be dependent on whether or not your smartphone can keep up with your personal needs. Are the Pixel 8’s software capabilities enough to turn the tide, or are you perfectly happy with what Apple has built into its latest devices?

Let us know in the comments below!

Google Pixel 8

Google's newest Pixel phone comes with a set of AI features, as well as refinements to performance and design.

$674.99

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• Pixel 8 Pro + FREE Pixel Watch 2: $999

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro has quite a few AI tricks to deliver better dynamic range and low light performance, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the clear advantage when it comes to zoom with dedicated 3x and 10x sensor and lens combinations. Samsung has historically performaed better in video capture as well, but as we saw in our Pixel 8 Pro versus iPhone 15 Pro Max camera comparison, the Pexel has improved quite a bit there as well.

Take a look at the photo and video sampels below to see whch device comes out on top.

Pixel 8 Pro & Galaxy S23 Ultra camera specs

Pixel 8 Pro

• 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF, multi-zone Laser AF, OIS
• 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (telephoto), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
• 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
• 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (selfie), 1/3.1″, 1.22µm, PDAF
• Video capture: 4k/60 (all cameras)

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

• 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF
• 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, , 10x optical zoom
• 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, 3x optical zoom
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (selfie), Dual Pixel PDAF
• Video capture: 4k/60 (all cameras)

Pixel 8 Pro versus Galaxy S23 Ultra image samples

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• Pixel 8 Pro + FREE Pixel Watch 2: $999

The new Pixel 8 Pro is sporting new camera sensors for its rear cameras with quite a few AI enhancements as well to make sure it can capture the best shot possible, even in the trichiest lighting conditions. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has a new 5x telephoto camera this year as well, matching the zoom focal length from the Pixel, making this a pretty even matchup when it comes the basic photography and videography capabilities of both devices.

We’ve captured more than 100 side-by-side photo and video samples with the Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in this camera comaprison. Take a look at the images and video below and let us knwo what you think of the results.

Pixel 8 Pro & iPhone 15 Pro Max camera specs

Pixel 8 Pro

• 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF, multi-zone Laser AF, OIS
• 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (telephoto), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
• 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
• 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (selfie), 1/3.1″, 1.22µm, PDAF
• Video capture: 4k/60 (all cameras)

iPhone 15 Pro Max

• 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
• 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
• TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
• 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (selfie)
• Video capture: 4K /60 (all cameras)

Pixel 8 Pro versus iPhone 15 Pro Max image gallery

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This is rather evident with the Pixel 8 Pro, as Google has included several new changes which make for a tempting upgrade over its predecessor. In the case of the more affordable base model Pixel 8 however, a quick glance seems to indicate more similarities with last year’s Pixel 7, although is this really the case?

READ: It’s Finally Here: Meet the Google Pixel 8

Design and Display

While the Pixel 8 retains the general look that Google introduced with the Pixel 7 phones, there are some tiny differences when it comes to design. For one, the Pixel 8 comes with a smaller profile thanks to the 6.2-inch display, in addition to rounded corners. Going over at the back, there’s a larger camera window as well.

While some might call the design repetitive, it’s great to see Google sticking with a more unique design to establish brand identity. While the Pixel 4 and 5 series phones did share a similar style, the “square camera island in the left corner” look was overused at that point, and this new hardware design language certainly sets it apart from the rest of the competition.

As mentioned, the Pixel 8 has a smaller screen than its predecessor, although apart from size, the display on the Pixel 8 comes with some big improvements. It’s brighter thanks to a peak brightness of 2000 nits, which literally outshines the 1400 nits of maximum brightness on the Pixel 7. It also features a much smoother 120Hz refresh rate, versus the lower 90hz display on last year’s model.

While the resolution stays the same, there’s not much to complain about the display on the Pixel 8 – the brighter and smoother display are most welcome improvements, after all. Although we have to say that Google’s continued use of an optical fingerprint sensor in the Pixel 8 is a bit disappointing, given that most other manufacturers use faster and more accurate ultrasonic sensors in their devices.

READ: The Best Pixel 8 Cases You Can Buy

Internal Specs

Things get a bit more exciting on the inside however, as Google has equipped this year’s Pixel series phones with the Tensor G3, its newest chip. Manufactured with a 4nm process, Google says that the Tensor G3 comes with improvements to performance, power efficiency, and even thermal management, the last two of which were considerable issues on the Pixel 7.

Source: Nanoreview

The Tensor G3 also builds on the AI capabilities of Google’s previous chipsets, allowing for more powerful generative AI capabilities, which will be interesting to see in the long run, given Google’s promise of lengthy software support in addition to adding more Pixel-exclusive features over time.

With that in mind however, it’s clear that the Tensor G3 continues the trend of providing a better “smartphone experience” with AI, versus the usual route that most manufactures go with, which is usually just packing in a powerful chip in their phones and moving on.

Aside from the newer chip though, not much has changed with regards to the Pixel 8’s memory and storage configurations. You get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of non-expandable storage as on the standard Pixel 7, with the option of a more spacious 256GB model. On the other hand, battery capacity has increased from 4,355 mAh to 4,575 mAh, with a faster 27W wired charging speed.

Camera Hardware

As for cameras, the Pixel 8 comes with a setup that’s barely changed from the Pixel 7, especially in terms of resolution. Both phones sport a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.31″ sensor, although the Pixel 8’s main camera comes with f/1.7 aperture, versus f/1.9 on the 7. The same can be said for the 12MP ultrawide sensor, which mostly stays similar.

For the front camera, the Pixel 8 does feature a 10.5MP sensor, a difference of .3 megapixels less than its older brother. Video capabilities remain mostly the same at a maximum of 4K resolution at 60fps, although we’ll be sure to update this with comparisons once our camera review hits the airwaves.

That’s not to say that images and video shot on both phones will remain exactly the same – there’s still the computational processing involved, and given the advancements stated by Google with the Tensor G3, it should be interesting how the newer processing within the Pixel 8 will turn out, at least in terms of imaging capabilities.

Pricing

As for retail price, the Pixel 8 is more expensive this time around, priced at $699, versus the more appealing $599 price tag on the Pixel 7, although the latter can be had for much less right now. As such, users looking for a more affordable Google phone might want to go for last year’s model, although they will lose out on some of the improvements that we mentioned above.

Another factor to consider is that the Pixel 8 will come with up to seven years of software support, versus the Pixel 7 which will only get up to five years. Of course this promise from Google still remains to be seen at the moment.

Despite some similarities, it’s clear that this year’s newest Pixel has some advantages to it – so will you be upgrading to the Pixel 8, or will you be keeping your Pixel 7 instead? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Pixel 8

Google's newest Pixel phone comes with a set of AI features, as well as refinements to performance and design.

$674.99

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Of course, there are also times when a user might want to move over to an entirely different mobile platform entirely, such as making the switch from Android to iOS, or vice-versa. Maybe you fall into the latter category, and are on the fence about making the transition from your iPhone to an Android device. With that said, you might want to try out Google’s upcoming flagship phones, the Pixel 8 series – there’s a lot of upgrades that are set to arrive once the new devices make their debut, but what exactly can you expect?

A Smarter Assistant

Yes, Siri is generally useful and all, but it still has some catching up to do when it comes to its overall functionality and refinement, which can still cause some hiccups along the way due to less-than-stellar voice recognition and sometimes questionable query results.

By comparison, Google Assistant (which is baked into Pixel phones) comes with features such as Natural Language Processing, which allows it to better understand user queries and commands based on context, allowing for more relevant responses. It also has access to Google’s massive knowledge base, allowing it to provide answers to a wider range of questions, and can even integrate with a ton of third-party apps and devices.

Top-notch Photography

While iPhones are very capable camera phones, it’s no secret that Google’s efforts in mobile photography have resulted in very impressive results with its Pixel phones. In addition to some impressive hardware onboard, Pixels also make use of Google’s powerful computational photography, relying on software algorithms to control noise, improve dynamic range and colors, for example.

Pixels also make use of Google’s powerful computational photography, relying on software algorithms to control noise, improve dynamic range and colors

In addition to this, the Pixel 8 series will also come with some useful camera features such as Night Sight photography and a dedicated Astro mode for extreme low-light exposure, Real Tone which better captures skin complexions, and even Magic Eraser that can get rid of unwanted objects and people in the background of your photos.

Infused with AI

We’d probably take a lot of your time if we were to try and list every single AI-powered feature on Google’s Pixel phones (including the 8, of course), but it should be said that Google’s implementation of artificial intelligence in its smartphone hardware proves that hardware alone doesn’t make a smart device.

For one, the built-in Google Voice Recorder app is probably one of the best examples of the Pixel’s AI-infused capabilities, allowing users to view a live transcription of a current recording session, and it can even transcribe audio from other sources, and can even identify between speakers in a recording session. There’s even Live Translate, which can translate text and speech in real time – there’s a ton of useful functionality available on the Pixel hardware line thanks to AI.

Special Calling Features

This next one probably ties best into the Pixel 8’s primary role as a phone – Google’s work with AI has also allowed it to add some specialized calling features which reduce the hassle of answering potential spam callers, saving you time and energy when using your phone.

For one, there’s “Call Screen”, which uses AI to answer calls from unknown contacts, and even asks them for their identity and reason for calling. Users can then view a transcript of their response, and decide on how to respond. As mentioned, it also comes with spam call protection, so you won’t get flooded by phone calls from scammers and bots.

Software Updates

The Pixel 8 will also receive several years’ worth of software updates, which include major upgrade Android version upgrades, monthly security patches, as well as occasional features drops, which allows Google to bring newer software features to current and older devices, as well as features that weren’t present on launch day.

How about you – will you be making the switch to a Pixel phone when the Pixel 8 series launches this October? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Here’s why You Should Ditch your iPhone for the Pixel 8 appeared first on Phandroid.

But did you know that when it comes to wireless charging, there are different versions? For the most part, a lot of wireless charging devices and accessories out there rely on the Qi wireless charging standard, but did you also know that there is a Qi2? Also, with Apple’s MagSafe being so similar to Qi2, you might be a little confused as to what’s the difference.

The good news is that if you’re looking to clear up any confusion you might have, you’ve come to the right place as this handy article will help you navigate through all these wireless charging protocols.

Qi versus Qi2

Qi is a wireless charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium more than a decade ago until January 2023 where the organization announced the next-generation standard in the form of Qi2.

You might see some chargers being listed online as supporting Qi2, but you might be wondering what’s the difference between Qi and Qi2? Is it speed? Is it power? That’s where it gets a little complicated.

Qi offers wireless charging speeds of 5W up to 15W, and Qi2 essentially offers the same at 15W, but it could also, technically, be faster. This is because of how wireless charging works.

Wireless charging relies on coils inside of the charger and your phone. The coils need to be perfectly aligned in order for the wireless charging to begin. When the coils are not aligned properly, your phone may still charge but it will be at a slower rate which you may or may not notice.

In turn, this generates more heat which in the long-term could damage your batteries, leading to it losing its lifespan and ultimately holding less charge.

With Qi2, the WPC has introduced the use of magnets. By using magnets, it allows your phone and the charger to align perfectly, thus unlocking the full 15W potential and charging your phone at the max speed possible while keeping the heat down and preserving your phone’s battery life in the process.

Qi2 versus MagSafe

Based on our earlier description of Qi2, it sounds a lot like MagSafe and that’s because it is. Apple is part of the WPC and to help the development of Qi2, Apple actually provided the organization with its MagSafe technology, resulting in Qi2 being very similar to MagSafe in terms of speed, power, and design.

Both Qi2 and MagSafe rely on a ring of magnets to align the phone with the charger, and in turn that allows the charger to output its max charging speeds of 15W. The main difference lies in branding.

MagSafe is supported on the iPhone 12 onwards, which means that technically you could use a Qi2 charger with an iPhone 12 instead of a MagSafe-branded one. The downside is that you won’t get the 15W of charging and will instead be limited to 7.5W. This is expected to change with the iPhone 15 series which does support Qi2 (although it has yet to be Qi2-certified).

This means that Apple could use its MagSafe brand to promote more “premium” chargers and accessories that are optimized for the iPhone, while third-party accessory makers could put out Qi2 chargers that are compatible with the iPhone, but might not hit that coveted 15W of charging speeds.

Fun Qi2 accessories

Apart from charging, Apple’s MagSafe technology unlocked a bunch of fun and interesting accessories for its phones. Users could rely on the magnet to attach things like phone holders, wallets, stands, tripods, and more.

With the introduction of Qi2, similar accessories are expected to make its way to future Android handsets as well. The only problem is that at this point in time, there aren’t any Android phones that have been released that have Qi2 support, although the WPC does note that we should be able to expect these devices in Q4 2023, so presumably we should start seeing more Qi2 compatible accessories around that time as well.

Backwards compatibility

So now that we know the difference between Qi and Qi2, what will happen if you buy an accessory that’s designed for Qi2 but your device only supports Qi? The good news is that it is backwards compatible.

You will be able to use a Qi-compatible smartphone with a Qi2 charger. The main difference is that your phone won’t be able to make full use of Qi2’s magnets to align the charging coils, so you might not be able to use it to its full potential.

In conclusion

Qi2 will be the new standard of wireless charging from the WPC moving forwards. With the benefits we listed above, we doubt that accessory makers will want to push out devices that still rely on the older Qi standard (unless it’s for cost-saving reasons).

Another benefit of Qi2 is that the WPC intends to be a bit more strict in their certification process. One of the requirements is that the magnets need to be strong enough to align the coils properly, otherwise the logo cannot be used.

We imagine that some accessory makers might not care and may simply refer to their accessories as being “Qi2-compatible” as opposed to “Qi2-certified”, which is what we’re seeing today from some third-party MagSafe accessories and chargers.

So, if you’ve already upgraded your phone this year, then your devices most definitely do not support Qi2, but if you plan to upgrade next year, you can probably expect Qi2 support in them.

The post Understanding the difference between Qi, Qi2, and MagSafe appeared first on Phandroid.

If you’re curious to see how the camera systems on the Flip 5 and Fold 5 compare, we’ve put together our usual camera comparison. Take a look at the video and image gallery below to see how these two devices stack up.

Galaxy Z Flip 5 versus Z Fold 5 camera specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

• 12 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
• 10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (selfie), 1.22µm
• Video: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

• 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
• 10 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
• 4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (selfie), 2.0µm, under display
• 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (cover selfie), 1/3″, 1.22µm
• Video: 8K@ 30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+

Galaxy Z Flip 5 versus Z Fold 5 gallery

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