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Apple announces its own “MM1” AI model in a research paper

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Apple’s research team has recently unveiled a groundbreaking development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) with their latest creation, the MM1 model. This new innovation promises to revolutionize the way AI systems understand and process both images and text. In this article let’s dive into discussing the latest Apple MM1 model.

Apple MM1 Model Overview

What is MM1?

Announced in a research paper, the MM1 model, short for “Multi-Modal 1,” represents a significant leap forward in AI technology. It combines advanced capabilities in image recognition and natural language reasoning, making it a versatile tool for a wide range of tasks.  

Apple MM1 model research paper

What are its Capabilities?

Apple’s MM1 model boasts impressive capabilities, thanks to its unique “mixture of experts” architecture and “Top-2 Gating” method. Researchers have found that MM1 excels in tasks such as question answering based on images and text, text-based question answering about images, and scientific question answering. 

Key Features

One of the standout features of MM1 is its scalability. Available in three sizes – 3 billion, 7 billion, and 30 billion parameters – MM1 can be tailored to suit various needs and requirements. Additionally, the model’s ability to follow instructions, reason across images, and perform OCR (optical character recognition) sets it apart from other AI models on the market.

Research Insights

Apple’s research team conducted extensive experiments to understand the factors influencing MM1’s performance. They found that factors such as image resolution, encoder size, and pre-training data significantly impact the model’s effectiveness. By sharing their findings, the researchers aim to enable the broader AI community to build upon their work and drive further advancements in the field. However, the MM1 model doesn’t surpass the popular giants like Gemini or GPT 4.0, but let’s keep in mind that there’s no such thing as a ‘final straw’ in the field of AI and innovations.

Future Prospects

Apple Company

While MM1 represents a significant breakthrough in AI technology, there are still areas for improvement and further exploration. Researchers acknowledge the need for more diverse evaluation benchmarks, careful monitoring of scalability issues, and consideration of potential biases in training data. However, the unveiling of MM1 marks a significant milestone in Apple’s journey towards creating powerful and intelligent AI systems.

Apple MM1 Model: Conclusion

In conclusion, Apple’s MM1 model represents a major advancement in the field of AI. With its impressive capabilities and potential for further development, MM1 is poised to shape the future of AI technology. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with multimodal systems, MM1 stands as a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence.

  • Meanwhile, watch our video of the Xiaomi 14:

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G launched in Nepal with Exynos 1380

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Samsung’s A34 was quite a hit, as the market saw an incredible amount of sales of the Galaxy A34. Keeping the same expectations, Samsung has just launched the Galaxy A35 5G alongside the pricier Galaxy A55 5G. Featuring an amazing display, cameras, and performance-delivering chipset, this latest phone cannot be overlooked. In this article, let’s dive into discussing the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G, including its price in Nepal, specifications, and more.

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Overview

Design and Display

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G houses a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+. It comes with a FHD+ resolution and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. In addition, the A35 now has a punch-hole cutout, symmetrical bezels, and flat frames — a much-needed improvement over last year’s A34.

Camera

As for the optics, the smartphone houses a triple camera setup. Furthermore, the primary camera comes with a 50MP shooter, accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide and 5MP macro units. As for the selfie enthusiasts, the Samsung A35 features a 13 MP Camera.

Battery 

Samsung packs a 5000mAh battery inside the A35 with 25W wired fast charging support, ensuring a full day of usage. In addition, the Galaxy A35 will come with 5G connectivity options, Wi-Fi 802.11, and Bluetooth V5.3, giving users full-on fast speed and connectivity.

  • Meanwhile, check all the prices and specs of Samsung devices here

Performance and Storage

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A35 is powered by a 5nm Exynos 1380 chipset and an octa-core CPU, ensuring fast performance at ease. In addition, the Galaxy A35 will run on the latest Android 14 with OneUI 6.1 on top. Moreover, Samsung has recently announced that the Galaxy A35 will receive up to four generations of Android OS updates along with five years of security updates.

Exynos 1380 5G Chipset

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Specifications:

  • Display: 6.6″ Super AMOLED 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus+
  • Chipset: Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
  • GPU: Mali-G68 MP5
  • Memory: 6/8GB DDR4X
  • Storage: 128GB/256GB
  • Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
    – 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96″, PDAF, OIS
    – 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm
    – 5MP macro sensor
  • Front Camera: 13MP lens
  • IP rating: IP67 dust/water resistant
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 25W fast charging (no charger inside the box)

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Price in Nepal and Availability

The Galaxy A35 has been officially launched and is available in Black, Blue, and Lilac colors. The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G price in Nepal is NPR 46,999, and NPR 51,999 for the 8/128GB, and 8/256 variants respectively. Samsung Nepal has bundled in a 25W adapter worth NPR 2,000 for free as well.

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
8/128GB NPR 46,999 Hukut
8/256GB NPR 51,999

  • Also check our Galaxy A35 review video.

Samsung Galaxy A55 launched in Nepal with Exynos 1480 and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection

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Samsung Galaxy A50 series phones have been a regular starter in our best phone under NPR 60,000 list for quite some time now. And the 2024 contender, the Galaxy A55 (successor of Galaxy A54) is also official. And it has made its way to Nepal as well.  In this article, we will delve into the specs, features, and official price of the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G in Nepal.

Samsung Galaxy A55 Overview:

Exynos 1480

The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G ships with a Samsung-AMD partnership chipset, the Exynos 1480. This Samsung-made 4nm fabbed SoC features eight cores, with four Cortex A-78 cores at 2.75GHz and four Cortex A-55 cores at 2.05GHz respectively. The graphics side gets interesting as it’s the Samsung Xclipse 530 GPU based on RDNA 2 architecture.

Samsung Galaxy A55 Chipset

In terms of memory and storage, Samsung has paired the chip with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Booting the A55 is OneUI 6.1, built on top of Android 14. It is promised to receive 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security patches.

Design and Display

Speaking of the design, Samsung has not altered much here on the A55 5G. You still get the protruding camera lens design with a glass back, and a hole-punch display upfront. While the middle frame is now metallic and boasts a boxy form factor. It is available in four color options: Awesome Iceblue, Awesome Lemon, Awesome Lilac, and Awesome Navy.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Design and Display

As for the display, it features a 6.6-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. This FHD+ display has Gorilla Glass Victus Plus protection and supports 1000 nits of peak brightness and HDR 10+ content.

  • Meanwhile, check all the prices and specs of Samsung devices here

Camera

Getting to the optics, the Galaxy A55 5G sports a triple camera setup. It is headlined by a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide unit, and a 5MP macro sensor. The same trio as its predecessor, the A54 5G. Over on the front, there is a 32MP snapper for selfies and video calls. And this time as well, both the main and front cameras are capable of shooting 4K videos at 30fps.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Camera

Battery and Others

Fueling the smartphone is a 5000mAh battery with 25W wired fast charging support. Connectivity options include 5G, WiFi 6, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. Furthermore, you get an indisplay fingerprint sensor for biometrics security.

Samsung Galaxy A55 Specifications:

  • Display: 6.6-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O Display, 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass Victus+
  • Resolution: Full HD+ (1080×2400 pixels)
  • Processor: Exynos 1480 (4nm)
  • Software & UI: One UI 6.1 based on Android 14
  • Rear Camera: Triple
    – 50MP main, OIS
    – 12MP ultrawide
    – 5MP macro
  • Front Camera: 32MP (hole-punch cutout)
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, 5G, GPS, VoLTE
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 25W charging
  • Color Options: Awesome Iceblue, Awesome Lemon, Awesome Lilac, Awesome Navy

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Price in Nepal and Availability:

The official Samsung Galaxy A55 5G price in Nepal is NPR 62,999 for the 8/256GB version and NPR 67,999 for the 12/256GB trim. You can purchase the Galaxy A55 5G from Hukut and other authorized stores in Nepal. Plus, you also get 2000 rupees worth of genuine 25W Samsung adapter for free.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
8/256GB NPR 62,999 Hukut
12/256GB NPR 67,999

  • Meanwhile, check out our Samsung Galaxy A55 Unboxing.

Infinix Note 40 Pro+ goes official with Dimensity 7020 and gaming features

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Infinix, part of Transsion Holdings, is an emerging name in the budget and midrange smartphone arena. Its GT 10 Pro gaming phone was a pretty spot-on smartphone, released some months ago. Now the Chinese company has launched the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ with Dimensity 7020 SoC, a 108MP camera, and Android 14-based XOS 14. In this article, we’ll walk through the specs, features, and expected price of the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ in Nepal.

Infinix Note 40 Pro+ Overview

Design and Display

Recently, Infinix has been quite focused on the design aspect. The Note 40 Pro+ is also not left behind and it gets a curved form factor with a 2.2mm slim curved middle frame. The rear side bears an “Urban Inspired Design” with a vegan leather finish and a square camera module. Likewise, the LED flash is a bit fancy here with the Halo lighting effect for notifications, gaming, music, charging, and so on.

Infinix Note 40 Pro+ Halo Light

As for the display, the Note 40 Pro Plus sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 10-bit color depth. This FHD+ screen also features 2160Hz PWM dimming, 1500Hz touch sampling rate, Gorilla Glass 5 protection, and TUV Rheinland Eye Certification.

Performance

Powering the core of the Inifinix Note 40 Pro+ is the Mediatek Dimensity 7020 SoC built on a 6nm process. It features two Cortex-A78 cores at 2.2GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz. Handling the graphics core is IMG BXM-8-256 GPU. For those who are wondering, this chip is quite similar to the Snapdragon 695 5G SoC.

Mediatek Dimensity 7020 5G Chipset

Infinix has marketed the Note 40 Pro+ as a gaming phone. So, obviously, you get some game-centric features such as XBOOST frame control for enhanced fps on games like Mobile Legends, and X-Axis linear motor for better haptics. There is a Cheetah X1 chip for efficient management of power and enhancement of overall power.

Plus, you get a Bypass charging feature as well which directly provides power to the motherboard instead of the battery for better heat management. Furthermore, the company has paired the chip with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Optics

As for the optics, the smartphone houses a triple camera setup. It is headlined by a 108MP primary camera with OIS and 3x lossless zoom, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth unit. No ultrawide camera here! Upfront, you get a 32MP snapper for selfies and video calls.

Infinix Note 40 Pro+ Camera

Battery and Others

Fueling the device is a 4600mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging support. On top of that, it also supports 20W wireless charging and 20W magnetic suction charging. The latter one is Infinix’s version of “Magsafe” which includes a phone case, a magnetic charging pad, and a wireless magnetic power bank.

Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus Wireless Charging

Connectivity options here include 5G, WiFi 5, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. Moreover, you get an in-display fingerprint scanner for biometrics security.

Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus Specifications:

  • Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1500Hz touch sampling
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7020 5G (6nm mobile platform)
  • Memory: 12GB RAM, 256GB storage
  • Software & UI: XOS 14 based on Android 14
  • Rear Cameras: Triple (108MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP depth)
  • Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5, 5G, NFC, USB-C
  • Battery: 4600mAh with 100W fast charging, 20W wireless, 20W magnetic suction

Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus Price in Nepal and Availability

The official starting price of the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus is USD 309. We expect the Infinix Note 40 Pro Plus price in Nepal to start from 47,999 when it launches here.

Smartphone Official Starting Price Price in Nepal (Expected)
Infinix Note 40 Pro+ USD 309 NPR 47,999

  • Meanwhile, you can check out our Infinix GT 10 Pro review.

Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV now available in sizes up to 98 inches!

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Samsung is hailed as one of the best display manufacturers in the world. They just added a new television to their catalogue. This new TV stretches as wide as 98 inches while offering 4K resolution and some AI magic! Let’s discuss the new Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV in greater detail including its expected price in Nepal.

Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV Overview

Design and Display Technology

The Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV comes in a “Neo Slim” design with a flat look. It also comes with a very minimal bezel giving it an almost borderless look. Meanwhile, the TV only has a visible bezel on the bottom side, which is why Samsung calls it “3 Bezel-less”. The device comes in a Carbon Silver body coupled with an Eclipse Silver coloured sharp neck hexagon stand.

Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV

This TV comes in seven different sizes, starting from 43 inches and going all the way to 98 inches. It features Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Mini LEDs with precise light control. You get a 4K resolution spanning 3,840 x 2,160 pixels on the Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV. In addition, you get a 100Hz native refresh rate across all the sizes. Meanwhile, the company mentions the “Motion Rate 200” feature on TVs measuring 65 inches. This feature supposedly allows you to see fast-moving scenes with minimal blur and judder.

Features and the rest

Under the hood, this TV packs an NQ4 AI Gen 2 processor that upscales the content on the screen to help it look the best. On the software front, it comes with the Tizen Smart TV operating system along with Bixby support. Moreover, the Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV also works with Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and Google Home. Other than that, it comes with two voice assistants — Bixby and Alexa.

Samsung NQ4 AI Gen 2 Processor

Other than that, the Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV above 55 inches features a 70W True Dolby Atmos 4.2.2 channel sound. For this, the TV comes with eight different speaker units. In the meantime, the 50-inch variant comes with Dolby Atmos 2.2 channel while the 43” trim comes with just the Dolby Atmos 2.0 channel. It comes with four HDMI, two USB type-A, and one ethernet jack. For wireless connectivity, it supports WiFi 5 as well as Bluetooth v5.2 support.

Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV Specifications

  • Design: Neo Slim with 3 bezel-less design
  • Sizes Available: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”, and 98”
  • Dimensions (with stand): Up to 2,185.10 mm x 1,305.90 mm x 364.90 mm (98”)
  • Weight (with stand): Up to 70.60 kg (98”)
  • Display:  NeoQLED, 100Hz native refresh rate, Anti Reflection
  • Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
  • Picture Processor: NQ4 AI Gen 2
  • OS: Tizen Smart TV
  • Audio: Up to 70W 4.2.2 channel via eight speakers
  • Connectivity: WiFi 5, Bluetooth v5.2
  • Ports: 4x HDMI ports, 2x USB Type-A ports, 1x Ethernet
  • Colour: Carbon Silver with Eclisple Silver Stand

Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV Price in Nepal and Availability

TVs from the South Korean company are quite popular in Nepal and this one might make its way here at some point in time. When it does, we expect the Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV price in Nepal to start from NPR 208,999 for a 43-inch trim.

Samsung QN90D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV Price in Australia (Official) Price in Nepal (Expected)
43-inch AUD 1,999 NPR 208,999
50-inch AUD 2,399 NPR 250,999
55-inch AUD 2,999 NPR 313,499
65-inch AUD 3,999 NPR 417,999
75-inch AUD 4,999 NPR 522,499
85-inch AUD 6,499 NPR 679,499
98-inch AUD 12,999 NPR 1,358,499
  • Meanwhile, check out our Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3 comparison video:

Asus kills compact Zenfone legacy with an “Ultra” flagship

In a significant shift from its previous flagship models, Asus recently introduced the Zenfone 11 Ultra, marking a new direction for its mainstream Zenfone line. The latest addition boasts top-tier cameras, including a flagship chipset and cutting-edge AI features. However, what’s catching attention is its departure from the compact design ethos of its predecessors. In this article, let’s dive into discussing the latest Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra, including its price in Nepal, specifications, and more.

Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Overview

What’s changed? 

Unlike its predecessors, the Zenfone 11 Ultra takes on a significantly larger form factor, with dimensions akin to the ROG Phone 8 Pro. This alteration in size suggests a pivot towards a more mainstream audience, contrasting with the gaming-centric design of the ROG Phone 8 Pro.

Comparing the Zenfone 11 Ultra with the ROG Phone 8 Pro reveals a shift from a standard compact and a very cute comfort design to a sports package upgrade. While the former offers a premium experience in a sleek design, the latter caters specifically to gamers with features like air triggers and accent lighting.

Display and Design

The device has a glossy matte finish and has a build of aluminum frames and glass on the back. This latest flagship shares similarities with the ROG phones in the design departments. 

ASUS Zenphone 11 Ultra Display and Design

The device features a 6.78” LTPO AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and up to 144 Hz refresh rate. This display, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, promises vibrant visuals and smooth interactions. 

Camera and Battery

On the camera front, it introduces a triple-camera setup, including a 50 MP main camera with Asus’ 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0, a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 32 MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Additionally, on the front, you get a nice 32MP camera, perfect for selfies and vlogging. Equipped with a 5,500 mAh battery, the Zenfone 11 Ultra supports 65W wired and 15W wireless charging.

Zenphone 11 Ultra Camera

Performance

The Zenfone 11 Ultra boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, comprising an octa-core CPU with a configuration of 1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520. Paired with the Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU, this setup promises unparalleled performance for both everyday use and gaming.

Running on Android 14, the Zenphone 11 Ultra comes with an integration of AI, enhancing features like Bokeh in Portrait Video Mode and object tracking. Additionally, AI features extend to functionalities such as transcription in sounds, call translation, noise cancellation, and AI wallpaper.

Reactions on the Internet

Asus, known for its enthusiast phones, took a different route with the Zenfone 11 Ultra, opting for a larger form factor. The new device has top-of-the-line specs and features, but it’s different from its predecessors in terms of design, especially the Zenfone 10. Fans have expressed disappointment over the shift towards larger smartphones, fearing the loss of uniqueness in the market without a compact Zenfone 11.

Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Specifications

  • Display: 6.78″ LTPO AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak)
  • Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)
  • Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm Mobile Platform)
  • Memory: Up to 16GB RAM, 512TB UFS 4.0 storage
  • Software & UI: Android 14
  • Rear Camera:
    • 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS
    • 32 MP, f/2.4, 65mm (telephoto), 1/3.2″, 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
    • 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0″, 1.12µm
  • Front Camera: 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2″, 0.7µm
  • Audio: Dual stereo speaker setup with a 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Battery: 5500 mAh with 65W wired charging, 15W wireless, 10W reverse wired
  • Colors: Eternal Black, Skyline Blue, Misty Gray, Desert Sand

Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Price in Nepal and Availability

The Zenfone 11 Ultra comes in four color options and is priced starting at USD 899 for the 12/256 GB variant,  The higher-end 16GB/512GB version is priced at USD 1,000. However, the smartphone is very unlikely to make its way to Nepal. But by any means, if it arrives here, the Asus Zenphone 11 Ultra might start at no less than NPR 140,000.

Asus Zenphone 11 Ultra Price (Official) Price in Nepal (Expected)
12/256GB USD 899 NPR 143,000
16GB/ 512GB USD 999 NPR 160,000
    • Meanwhile, watch our video on Vivo V30

    Xiaomi 14 review: The best compact flagship phone

    Samsung Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 15, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you know what’s common in these examples? Every ultra flagship phone has a smaller and more affordable version, selling for a much lower price!

    And this is the Xiaomi 14 which is a toned-down version of its top-end Xiaomi 14 Ultra! For a starting price of USD 800, this phone packs a lot of punch with flagship-grade performance and display quality, a nice set of cameras, and a bigger 4600mAh battery. It is also launching soon in Nepal by the way.

    Xiaomi 14 Specifications:

    • Display: 6.36-inches LTPO OLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, 3000nits peak brightness, HDR 10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, Gorilla Glass Victus
    • Resolution: 1.5K (2772 x 1240 pixels)
    • Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm Mobile Platform)
    • Memory: Up to 16GB RAM, 1TB UFS 4.0 storage
    • Software & UI: Android 14 with HyperOS on top
    • Rear Camera: Triple Leica cameras (with LED flash);
      – 50MP primary sensor (OIS)
      – 50MP telephoto camera (OIS)
      – 50MP ultrawide unit
    • Front Camera: 32MP sensor (hole-punch cutout)
    • Audio: Dual stereo speaker setup
    • Battery: 4600mAh with 90W wired charging, 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless
    • Colors: Black, White, Jade Green, Pink

    I have been comparing it side by side with the more expensive S24 and I am excited to share my findings with you! Let’s start my Xiaomi 14 review!

    Xiaomi 14 Review

    It’s pretty compact!

    • 71.5 x 152.8 x 8.2mm, 188 grams
    • Glass front/back, Aluminum frames
    • IP68 dust and water resistant

    Alright, first of all, I like its form factor! I wouldn’t exactly call it a compact phone, but it’s extremely handy, for sure. It’s slightly bigger than the S24 or even the Pixel 8, but these curves on the sides make it fit snugly in the hands. Although I would have liked it if Xiaomi had given a matte finish just like the competition, since this glossy attracts fingerprint smudges very easily and it can get quite slippery too.

    Xiaomi 14 Rear Design

    Xiaomi also hasn’t disclosed what kind of glass protection they have included at the back, but on the front, you get gorilla glass Victus 1st gen. I know, it’s not as good as the latest Victus 2 that we get with the OnePlus 12 or the S24, but it should endure a good level of beating.

    But one thing I am not a big fan of is this huge camera module that sits on almost 25% of the phone’s back. Maybe they could have trimmed it better given this is a compact phone.

    Display

    • 6.36-inches 1.5K resolution, LTPO AMOLED panel
    • 120/240Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
    • 3000 nits (peak) brightness, Dolby Vision, HDR 10+
    • Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection

    The display on this device is, however, excellent. It’s almost as good as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. It features a similar LTPO refresh rate mechanism along with a total of 3000 nits of peak brightness. Now, just a little piece of information, Peak brightness level only indicates the highest a smartphone can go in terms of brightness while displaying things like an HDR video.

    Xiaomi 14 Display

    The thing that actually matters in scenarios such as sunny outdoors is High brightness levels. In this case, the Xiaomi 14 can go up to 1000 nits in high brightness mode vs 1600 nits on the S24, so even though the Xiaomi 14 has 3000 nits of peak brightness, the S24’s display will look brighter in most scenarios. But again, 1000 nits of brightness is bright enough, so I am not complaining!

    Xiaomi has included little perks here though, like this display has the TUF Rheinland flicker-free certification, so it flickers less in low lighting conditions like this, in comparison to the S24.

    And it has Dolby Vision support too which is still lacking on the S24 series or even Samsung’s TV’s for that matter!

    So, yeah, it’s fair to say that this is a solid 9 out of 10 display for me. There’s really not much here to complain about actually, the core quality is great, it can get bright, it’s very responsive, I can use it with one hand comfortably, and the in-display fingerprint sensor works well, so I am happy about it.

    Great Haptics

    What’s also great is the haptics! With the new Hyper OS, one of my beloved changes is how Xioami has made sure to include haptics not only while typing or unlocking the phone, but with other UI elements too, like while using the volume or brightness slider, or while interacting with the elements of the notification shade.

    I will admit that even though the vibration feedback here is great, it’s not as refined as the OnePlus 12 or the S24, but it does not feel bad and I have enjoyed interacting with this screen a lot.

    The speakers on the Xiaomi 14 are okay though. They are loud with a lot of focus on the highs, but I like the clarity and depth of the Galaxy S24 better.

    Performance

    • Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 5G SoC (4nm)
    • 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256/512GB (UFS 4.0) storage

    Alright, performance! And things get really interesting here. The Xiaomi 14 features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is the latest and greatest in the Android world right now and apart from Ultra flagships, this is the only compact phone that has this chipset included.

    Xiaomi 14 Gaming

    This phone has a smaller chassis, so I was really interested to see if it could handle all the power of the 8 Gen 3. And for the most part, it does. It controlled the temperatures very well while gaming. I tested Genshin Impact and PUBG for around 30 minutes each and the phone didn’t go above 41 degrees, so that’s nice.

    Ice Loop Vapor Chamber Cooling

    Xiaomi says they have included something called an Ice Loop vapor chamber system, that has 3 times the thermal efficiency to that of normal Vapor Chamber cooling solutions.

    But I think the limitation here is the smaller chassis because doing extremely demanding stuff like taking a 30-minute 4k 60 fps video in the sun makes the phone heat up badly. Once, I even got this pop-up saying the device had overheated. So, evidently, this small phone cannot handle extreme conditions or if you live in a hotter area.

    While doing regular things though, there is no shred of heating, even charging does not heat the phone up, so I appreciate that!

    Xiaomi 14 Charging

    Which reminds me, you get a 90-watt adapter inside the box with the Xiaomi 14 that charges the phone in just 40 minutes. And the battery life here is good for such a small phone. Somehow Xiaomi has managed to fit in a 4610 mAh battery in this tiny body and it gave me around 5.5 hours on screen on time in regular everyday usage, which is great!

    HyperOS

    • HyperOS with Android 14
    • 4 years of OS, 5 years of security patch updates

    Moving on, software-wise, first of all, Xiaomi has upped the update game to 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates which is nice, well, not as nice as Samsung or Pixel, but it’s acceptable, even OnePlus’s update commitment is the same, so I won’t complain!

    And no 2, the phone boots on Xiaomi’s latest HyperOS which feels much lighter and optimized than MIUI.

    Xiaomi 14 HyperOS

    Plus, there are no bloatware apps. I mean there are apps like Facebook, Netflix Snapchat, and a couple of system apps, but nothing else that can actually be considered trash, so, I am really happy to see that. I turned off all the app recommendations while I was setting this phone up, so I’ve had a pretty much clean and bug-free software experience on this phone.

    The Leica Magic

    • Triple camera setup at the back
    • (50MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto)
    • Leica professional optical lens
    • 32MP selfie camera (hole-punch cutout)

    Alright, let’s get to the camera side of things and this is actually one of the strongest points about this phone. The Xiaomi 14 has a triple camera setup with a 50MP Omnivision light Fusion 900 primary sensor, a 50 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP floating Telephoto lens capable of 3.2x zoom.

    Xiaomi 14 Camera

    The primary sensor does a great job of maintaining details and dynamic range. Sometimes, the dynamic range processing is a little too aggressive and the phone tends to crush the shadows, but other than that, you can get some pleasing images with this phone.

    Color Modes

    Like always, you get two modes to shoot from, Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic. I shot mostly from the Vibrant mode because I found the colors matching Samsung’s image processing to a great instant. Like in this instance, I could barely tell the difference between the images, from the color processing to HDR to details, everything looks so similar.

    The authentic mode also helps produce some good images, but I felt like the contrast was a little overbearing in them. But if you are someone who likes toned-down colors, you might find yourself using the authentic mode more often.

    Macro Shots

    I have loved clicking macro shots from the phone, they have a very natural depth and you can go very close to the subjects as well. The macro shots are possible via the Telephoto lens by the way. The phone does let you go close to subjects from the primary camera too, but not as close as the Telephoto lens, and the blur and everything are more natural from the Telephoto lens.

    You also have the option for a couple of AI features like an object eraser or you can edit the sky like this to get some cool pictures, which are nifty little features that are fun to use.

    Ultrawide

    The thing I think Xiaomi needs to improve upon is the ultra-wide images. If you look at these images, you can see how Samsung has optimized the overall shot better, from the edges to the colors, everything. Plus there is no autofocus in the ultra-wide mode, which I think is a little miss.

    Nighttime

    Especially during nighttime, the S24 tends to do a much better job than the Xiaomi 14! Night-time photos from its primary camera are good though – they are bright, brighter than the S24 in many instances. Then again, in extremely low light, the S24 is able to pull out details better and exposure handling is also superior on the S24.

    Portraits

    I liked the portraits from the Xiaomi 14 though. There are just so many options when it comes to focal lengths and effects that you can choose from and almost all of them will give you unique looking images. I love the B/W filter in particular which uses the 75mm telephoto lens to take pictures and it just looks amazing!

     

    Likewise, the 75mm Leica portrait mode is another effect that I absolutely adore, I love the background bokeh and the skin tone processing, you know, it just gives you the classic Leica camera Vibe.

    And for those who are wondering, yes, I shot a couple of comparison photos with the S24 as well and I found the S24 managing the skin tone, finer details, the background bokeh, and edge detection better in most instances, but, to be fair, Xiaomi’s processing is a bit different and looks pleasing to my eyes. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

    Selfies

    Even in selfies, you will find better details from the S24, but the Xiaomi 14 is not far behind too. I wouldn’t mind uploading a few selfies from this phone to my social media account at all!

    Front Videos

    Talking of the front camera, finally, a Xiaomi phone is able to shoot at 4k 60 fps from the selfie camera, and love that it has a better field of view than the S24 itself. The stabilization and everything is also very similar between the two. The only thing that Xiaomi needs to work on is exposure management in the background at times, but other than that, the selfie videos are good.

    Main Camera Videos

    And so are the videos from the rear camera. You can take up to 8K videos from this phone, but let’s be honest, 4K is more practical and I like that the 4K 60 fps videos are almost as good as the S24. There is a little bit of movement jitter when shooting in motion, but besides that, the videos are quite reliable.

    Weirdly, you cannot switch between the lenses while recording on the Xiaomi 14! So, I hope Xiaomi works on that in the future.

    Improvisations

    Overall, Xiaomi has improved on the camera side of things this time, especially on the video front. There are a few things that they still need to work on apart from the things that I mentioned before, like switching between the lenses in the video mode, a little bit of optimization and consistency when it comes to dynamic range, and also the camera UI.

    Xiaomi 14

    What I found is, that it can get a little confusing while shooting portraits, like, you have the option to shoot a 75mm portrait shot here, but you also get a similar option inside the master lens system and the output is slightly different and better. So, maybe Xiaomi could simplify things a little bit here.

    Xiaomi 14 Review: Conclusion

    Overall, I have loved using the Xiaomi 14. It is a very balanced offering from the company that ticks almost all boxes starting with the compact, well-built design, a nice display, good haptics, flagship performance with a stable software experience, and reliable enough cameras. And, if you look at the global launch price, it definitely is a pure value-for-money compact phone.

    Xiaomi 14 Rear

    If it launches here at 1 lakh periphery in Nepal, the Xiaomi 14 will get no competition. If you are willing to spend more though, there is the Samsung Galaxy S24 with a slightly better camera optimization.

    But, I believe Xiaomi is on the right path with this phone! It just feels like we are getting a nice year-on-year improvement with the Xiaomi flagship lately, and slowly catching up with its competition!

    Xiaomi 14 Review: Pros and Cons

    Pros

    • Compact form factor
    • Solid display
    • Great performance
    • Leica camera magic
    • Fluid HyperOS

    Cons

    • Camera needs slight optimization
    • Can’t switch lens while video recording
    • Slight heats up during intensive tasks

    Xiaomi 14 Lite will be the first to house Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

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    Rumors are swirling around Xiaomi’s move to launch Xiaomi 14 Lite which is potentially a rebranded Civi 4. This upcoming smartphone is soon making its way to the Indian market. In this article, let’s dive into discussing the upcoming Xiaomi 14 Lite in more detail. 

    Xiaomi 14 Lite Overview

    The device, identified by the model number 24053PY09I, has recently surfaced in the database of India’s BIS authority. This model number bears a striking resemblance to the CMIIT-certified 24053PY09C phone, believed to be the Civi 4. Hence, speculation is rife that Xiaomi might be gearing up to launch a variant of the Civi 4 tailored specifically for Indian consumers.

    Drawing from past experiences, where Xiaomi released tweaked versions of its phones under different names for different markets, industry experts are predicting a similar strategy for the Indian release. For instance, the Xiaomi Civi 2 underwent modifications and hit the global market as the Xiaomi 13 Lite. Consequently, it’s plausible that the Civi 4 could undergo rebranding or slight modifications, potentially launching in India under the Xiaomi 14 Lite banner.

    Display and Design

    If the rumors hold true, the Xiaomi 14 is expected to come packed with a slew of enticing features and top-notch specifications. Notable among these is its curved-edge OLED display, boasting a stunning 1.5K resolution and a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

    Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra

    Other noteworthy features include an in-display fingerprint sensor for added security, NFC for contactless payments, IP68 water and dust resistance rating, and the latest Android 14 operating system out of the box.

    Camera

    The Xiaomi 14 Lite is rumored to sport a sophisticated Leica-engineered main camera setup on its rear. With a hefty 50-megapixel sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) support, this device is primed to capture stunning photographs with remarkable clarity and detail. Furthermore, the Civi 4 is said to feature a dual front-facing camera setup complete with LED flash. 

    Performance

    In terms of performance, the Xiaomi 14 Lite is expected to be a powerhouse. Equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, LPDDR5x RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage, users can expect blazing-fast speeds and seamless multitasking capabilities.

    Xiaomi Ciivi 3 Camera

    Battery

    Moreover, with a robust 5,000mAh battery under the hood and support for 90W fast charging, the Civi 4 ensures that you stay powered up throughout the day, with minimal downtime for charging.

    Xiaomi 14 Lite Specifications (Rumors)

    • Display:  Curved-edge OLED 1.5K display, 120Hz
    • Chipset: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
    • Rear Camera: 50MP Camera with OIS and Leica lens
    • OS: Android 14
    • Battery and Charging: 5000mAh with 90W
    • RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR5x
    • Storage: 256GB UFS 4.0
    • Ingress Protection: IP68

    Xiaomi 14 Lite Launch Date and Availability

    Although the device has only made its way to the certification site now, the exact launch date for the Xiaomi 14 lite remains unknown for now. Stay tuned as we will come with all the updates of the Xiaomi 14 Lite in the upcoming weeks.

    • Meanwhile, watch our review of Galaxy S24 Vs iPhone 15

    The battle of the Samsung Galaxy Ultras, S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra

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    Samsung has been quite mighty with its Ultra flagships in recent years. Making a huge hype in the market with the 100X zoom, top-notch display, and exceptional portraits, and offering the best, money can buy in the Android world. The 2024 flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra is also no different. It catches up with the crowd’s expectations with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for the Galaxy, a solid quad camera setup, a gorgeous AMOLED panel, an S-pen, and so on.

    But today, this is not a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review. Instead, let’s talk about its comparison with its predecessors– the S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra. How many things have changed inside and out? Up to what extent have the cameras gotten better plus the performance jump? Let’s find that out in our ‘Battle of the Ultras, S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra”.

    S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Specifications:

    Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
    Display 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Adaptive 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus+, 1750nits peak brightness 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Adaptive 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 1750nits peak brightness 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Adaptive 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Armor, 2600nits peak brightness
    Resolution QHD+ (3088 x 1440 pixels) QHD+ (3088 x 1440 pixels) QHD+ (3120 x 1440 pixels)
    Chipset Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
    RAM 8/12GB LPDDR5 8/12GB LPDDR5X 12GB LPDDR5X
    Storage 256GB 256/512GB 256/512GB
    OS OneUI 6.1, Android 14 OneUI 6.1, Android 14 OneUI 6.1, Android 14
    Rear Camera 108MP Primary OIS + 12MP Ultrawide + 10MP 3X telephoto OIS + 10MP 10X Persicope telephoto OIS 200MP Primary OIS + 12MP Ultrawide + 10MP 3X telephoto OIS + 10MP 10X Persicope telephoto OIS 200MP Primary OIS + 12MP Ultrawide + 10MP 3X telephoto OIS + 50MP 5X Persicope telephoto OIS
    Front Camera 40MP  12MP 12MP
    Battery 5000mAh 5000mAh 5000mAh
    Charging 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless
    Check out the full specs of the S22 Ultra here Check out the full specs of the S23 Ultra here Check out the full specs of the S24 Ultra here
    Check out our full review of the S22 Ultra here Check out our full review of the S23 Ultra here Check out the full specs of the S24 Ultra here

    S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra:

    Design

    Commencing with the design side of things, the three Ultras look pretty identical from the rear side. Taking a quick sight is not enough to segregate between the three. But if you look closely, the S22 Ultra’s camera module is a bit smaller as compared to the S23 and S24 Ultras’.

    Also, if you look at the frames, the curvy middle chassis has now gone flat with the S24 Ultra while the S23 Ultra boasts a flat frame but with slightly curved edges. And the aerospace-grade aluminum material is now replaced with a lighter yet premium, titanium material on the S24 Ultra.

    Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Camera
    S22U, S23U, S24U

    Flipping on the front side, the latest guy now bears a completely flat screen, bidding farewell to the curved screen culture on the Samsung flagship. So, let’s call it an all-boxy phone, like the iPhone. Well, I’m not a hater of the boxy frame design, but the S22 Ultra curved frame just adds more value to my liking. It feels a lot easier to hold that phone, rather than the boxy S24 Ultra.

    Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Display

    Display

    Talking of the display quality, all three siblings boast a super sharp AMOLED panel with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and QHD+ resolution. The latter one has even gotten better on the S23 and S24 Ultra, bumping a slight of more pixels resolutions. But if you put all of them together and play a 4K HDR video, you wouldn’t be complaining on either of the devices. The S22 Ultra even slightly provides a punchier output as compared to the two.

    Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Camera OneUI

    Overall, the 120Hz feels snappy all along the board. Content watching is a visual treat on YouTube or other streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video with HDR 10
    + certification. I, however, still lounge for Dolby Vision support, which is again missing from a Samsung flagship in 2024. Aside from that, be it for an average user or a phone maniac like me, the flagship AMOLED panel on all three would leave no space to complain much at all!

    Performance

    Okay let’s board the performance ship, shall we? The Ultra flagships have always been about choosing the best iterations of chips available. After departing from its Exynos lineup of SoCs, the South Korean tech giant has been opting for the Snapdragon counterpart for the Ultra monikers, at least.

    But things might change from next year, with rumors floating around the entire Galaxy S25 lineup going for the Exynos 2500 chip all across the globe. But hey, that’s still left to see, so, let’s get back to the present.

    Speed Test and Gaming

    Comparing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy against the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 of the S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra respectively, a performance bump is pretty imminent. It’s not a day-and-night difference while casually using the trio, but I ran a speed test and the S24 Ultra did win by a few seconds margin.

    Which is quite negligible for a normal user, so I conducted some gaming tests as well. The latest phone does perform better on PUBG, which is quite expected from a 2024 flagship. I’m not gonna bore you with murmuring the stats and fps data here. So, here’s a table for you to keep things simple and clear.

    Game Graphics Setting FPS Setting Device Front (Celsius) Back (Celsius) Avg FPS
    PUBGM Smooth 90fps S22 Ultra 45 42.5 87.6
    S23 Ultra 39.5 38.3 88.8
    S24 Ultra 42 41.6 89.14
    Genshin Impact Highest, Motion Blur Off 60 fps S22 Ultra 46 44.5 58.61
    S23 Ultra 42.4 43.2 58.1
    S24 Ultra 42.7 41.6 57.6

    Thermals

    Not only the fps, but, the thermals on the S24 Ultra were also relatively cool with the S22 Ultra generating more heat to compare. But to be honest, if you own an S22 Ultra, you really don’t need to jump to the latest one, just for the sake of performance. The 8 Gen 1 is still a powerful chip for gaming. Although, you need to find a way to beat the heat of the 8 Gen 1 while gaming. 

    Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Android OneUI

    Besides gaming, the OneUI 6.1 experience on all three phones is just as smooth as silk. The only edge on the S24 Ultra is its AI features and 7 whopping years of OS updates. While the AI features are scheduled to arrive for the other two as well, somewhere in the near future.

    Cameras

    Finally, my favorite section is here– the darn cameras! All of these guys boast a quad camera setup with two zoom lenses actually. The primary camera has gone up from 108MP on the S22 Ultra to 200MP on the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra. The 3X telephoto and 10X optical zoom lens on the S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra are pretty identical while the latest guy has skipped the 10X one with a 5X optical zoom lens with a 10X digital zoom support.

    All in all, I took hundreds of pictures from all the lenses of all three cameras, and here’s what I have found!

    Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Camera
    S22 U, S23 U, S24 U

    Daylight

    The daylighting images look good on all three devices but the color science separates each of the generations here. The S22 Ultra clicks super punchy photos with brightened-up tones on almost everything. Over time, it feels like Samsung has dialed down the saturation and gone for a natural look, coming from S23 Ultra to S24 Ultra. The latest flagship produces more of a contrasty outlook with less flaunted colors than its past iterations.

    Ultrawide

    Moving to the ultrawide imagery, the color tuning remains the same– the S22 Ultra with a vibrant tone, the S23 Ultra with a less vibrant output, yet with details, and the S24 Ultra with a contrasty output with sharper details. But the latter one’s contrasty game doesnt go well in every condition.

    I found its Ultawide outputs to look darker with the lifting of the shadows. So, if I have to give an edge to the two-year-old S22 Ultra’s brightened-up color tones, which actually look good in most of the scenarios. Likewise, the S23 Ultra stays in the middle ground. 

    Portraits

    Speaking of the portraits, the 1X outputs from the S22 Ultra look too vibrant for my eyes, producing a reddish tone. The S23 Ultra produces warm-looking portraits and on the other hand, the S24 Ultra goes for a more natural and contrasty outlook. If you zoom in, the S24 Ultra’s 1X portraits look like an oil painting to my eyes, so I would pick the S23 Ultra here. But color preference is all subject to be personal, you can either go with any of them.

    Getting to the 3X portraits, the S24 Ultra beats both of them. The outputs are just as good as it should be. It shouldn’t be controversial if I say, the S24 Ultra is kind of taking some pages out of the Phone’s portrait color science. It’s a good thing anyway, so it is what it is, right?

    Selfies

    Alright, when it comes to selfies, the color game remains the same. So, I’m gonna go with the S23 Ultra here with a slightly yellowish tone but decently sharp outputs. If you ask me why, the contrasty selfies on the S24 Ultra don’t look too appealing in most of the scenarios while the S22 Ultra’s red tone is a turn-off!

    Night

    When the sun goes down, the night mode on all three models shines. There is not a massive difference but I noticed some slight improvements on the new iterations.

    Videos

    All of the three devices can shoot 8K videos, but 8K videos have still not become a norm. So, I shot 4K 60fps videos where the S24 Ultra’s stabilization is a tad bit better. When you set the frame at 30fps, the other phones’ stabilization is also pretty darn good! But one thing I must say, during my test, the S24 Ultra unexpectedly heated more than the rest two, while recording videos.

    Battery Charging and Others

    As expected, the S24 Ultra’s battery life is slightly better than the other two. The S22 Ultra with a “hot” SD 8 Gen 1 chip tends to drain quicker, plus it’s already a two-year-old phone. So, a solid one-day usage is an easy cup of tea for both S23 and S24 Ultra. Meanwhile, the 45W charging is common across the board, which takes an hour plus some minutes for a full charge.

    Furthermore, the S-pen on all three phones is pretty handy to take quick notes or igniting that artistic soul inside you for a sketch. The latency has improved in the latest one, but the S22 Ultra’s S-Pen still feels swift.

    S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Review: Conclusion

    Okay so, coming to the conclusion of the S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra review, I feel that the S24 Ultra is undoubtedly a solid option. Arguably the best Android phone money can buy at present! You get the best-in-class performance, top-notch portraits, and excellent battery life. But, I do miss the 10X optical zooming capability here. So, if you are coming from the S23 Ultra, I don’t find a need to upgrade to this one just for the sake of a performance boost. Your phone still packs a punch in all the other aspects.

    But if you are using an S22 Ultra and looking for an upgrade, you might want to switch to the S24 Ultra for extra goodies! Wherein, I still think the S22 Ultra is rocking with a powerful chip and good cameras in 2024. But, if the latest and greatest tech fancies you, the S24 Ultra becomes a no-brainer choice!

    US house passes a bill that could ultimately ban TikTok

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    After a resounding vote in the ‘House of Representatives’ for a bill that could potentially ban TikTok, all eyes are set on the topic. Let’s dive a bit deeper into discussing more about this news regarding a potential Tiktok ban in the US.

    TikTok Ban in US: Oveview

    House Passage Signals Potential TikTok Ban

    The bill in question dubbed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, gained overwhelming support in the House, prompting US President Joe Biden to pledge his readiness to sign it should it pass through both chambers of Congress.

    United states House

    Why does the US want to ban TikTok?

    Intelligence leaders are sounding the alarm about TikTok’s potential as a tool for the Chinese government to meddle in US politics, warning of its capability to disrupt American democracy. Recent “reports” indicate that China’s government targeted both Democrat and Republican candidates in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections, raising worries that similar tactics could be deployed in the forthcoming presidential race. Under China’s security laws, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, could be compelled to hand over US user data to the Chinese government for intelligence purposes, despite TikTok’s claims of never sharing such data. Additionally, new legislation grants the president the authority to label other apps as national security threats if they are controlled by countries seen as adversarial to the US.

    China control over tiktok

    But is that it?

    Well, people have speculated that the motive behind the ban is more than the eye meets. The growing dominance of TikTok signifies a threat to the global media monopoly imposed by the US. As media has been one of the most effective tools to spread American propaganda for decades. TikTok has now become one of the major platforms for Israel-Palestine war discussions and a large hub for political dialogues in general. As the US has been a proponent of Israel, the masses have now become more skeptical of such moves.

    And…about the Senate

    However, the Senate presents a different set of challenges. Unlike the House, where the bill swiftly gained traction, the Senate is yet to introduce a companion bill. Senate rules, which require 60 out of 100 members’ support to advance legislation, could pose a hurdle. Notably, any senator can delay the progress of the bill, potentially leading to a prolonged debate.

    Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky has hinted at his willingness to obstruct the bill, citing concerns over constitutional violations and the protection of First Amendment rights. His stance underscores potential opposition that the bill might face in the Senate.

    Past Legal Battles

    Past attempts to regulate TikTok, such as the RESTRICT Act introduced in the Senate last year, highlight the complexities involved. Despite initial enthusiasm, the bill eventually lost momentum amid criticism and failed to progress through the chamber. The history of legal battles suggests that the fate of TikTok in the US could be subject to prolonged deliberations and lobbying efforts.

    TikTok Ban in the US: Conclusion

    TikTok ban in the US would mean significant changes in geopolitical situations. Moreover, there are hundreds of millions of users in the US alone, and TikTok has been instrumental in impacting people’s lives all around the world, including the US. So let’s see what holds up for TikTok in the coming weeks.

    • Meanwhile, watch our review of Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3