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Windows 11 24H2 update now rolling out with Wi-Fi 7 support, Recall and plenty of AI features
4:53 pm | October 3, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Microsoft has started rolling out the Windows 11 24H2 update, which is known simply as “Windows 11 2024 update”. This version improves security, brings new connectivity options and adds more AI capabilities to Copilot+ PCs. One handy change is that the Quick Settings is now a scrollable list, which you can customize by reordering the various options. The Wi-Fi selection UI has a Refresh button, so that you can easily re-scan for nearby networks. If your PC has the right hardware, this update adds Wi-Fi 7 support for much faster data transfers. Additionally, Windows 11 now works with...

Windows 11 24H2 update now rolling out with Wi-Fi 7 support, Recall and plenty of AI features
4:53 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Microsoft has started rolling out the Windows 11 24H2 update, which is known simply as “Windows 11 2024 update”. This version improves security, brings new connectivity options and adds more AI capabilities to Copilot+ PCs. One handy change is that the Quick Settings is now a scrollable list, which you can customize by reordering the various options. The Wi-Fi selection UI has a Refresh button, so that you can easily re-scan for nearby networks. If your PC has the right hardware, this update adds Wi-Fi 7 support for much faster data transfers. Additionally, Windows 11 now works with...

One UI 7 to bring more AI features to Gallery, but another delay looms
6:59 pm | October 2, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Samsung's Developer Conference 2024 is about to kick off tomorrow in California, USA and we are all waiting to see the new One UI 7 based on Android 15. However, a renowned Samsung tipster suggests its release isn't very close. Ice Universe's post on X says that Samsung isn't ready with the One UI 7 and it "won't be released for quite some time." He stopped short of revealing a timeframe for it though. Among other improvements, One UI 7 is tipped to bring more AI features to the default Gallery app. AI-powered search is the features mentioned. We should get all the details and...

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3 One UI 6.1.1 update has no new AI features
11:11 pm | October 1, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

AI is the buzzword of the year for sure, and it's also something a lot of smartphone makers (hi, Apple) are trying to gatekeep, only making it available on their latest devices. Samsung is kind of playing the same game too, it seems, but far less egregiously. Still, it's worth noting that the update to One UI 6.1.1 which brought new AI features to newer foldables is now rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 without those new AI features like Sketch to Image and PDF Overlay. There's also no Instant Slow-mo either. The update is a 2.2GB download, is identified by a...

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3 One UI 6.1.1 update has no new AI features
11:11 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

AI is the buzzword of the year for sure, and it's also something a lot of smartphone makers (hi, Apple) are trying to gatekeep, only making it available on their latest devices. Samsung is kind of playing the same game too, it seems, but far less egregiously. Still, it's worth noting that the update to One UI 6.1.1 which brought new AI features to newer foldables is now rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 without those new AI features like Sketch to Image and PDF Overlay. There's also no Instant Slow-mo either. The update is a 2.2GB download, is identified by a...

Asus Zenbook S 14 review: the Lunar Lake laptop delivers power and beauty at a price
10:27 pm | September 27, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: | Comments: Off

Asus Zenbook S 14: Two-minute review

The Asus Zenbook S 14 with its lid closed on a desk next to a cactus

Thin and powerful (Image credit: Future)

The Asus Zenbook S 14 has given us our first real look at what an Intel Lunar Lake laptop is capable of, and we’re definitely impressed by what we’ve seen.

Its ceralumium design is stunning, with the material boasting a rugged nature in a lightweight and slim package (coming in at 1.2kg / 2.7lbs and a thickness of 1.2cm / 0.5 inches). Best of all, it doesn’t get easily ruined by fingerprint smudges – something which can’t be said for many other laptops we’ve tested.

The 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED display is also beautiful, offering a fluid experience as you scroll through page after page, and a great screen for watching a film after a busy day of work. Unfortunately, the 14-inch screen size can feel a little cramped the moment you want to run two windows side-by-side.

I also wish it had a few more ports. The five the Zenbook S 14 offers isn’t always enough, and I would have been happy to sacrifice some sleekness to sneak in an extra USB port and maybe an SSD card slot.

Performance-wise there’s less to complain about. In our benchmarks and real world tests, the Asus Zenbook S 14 performed very well, and we have no doubt it’ll serve you well as a productivity machine – even when you’re trying to complete several tasks on the PC at once.

Though if you’ve been drawn in by Intel’s boasts about Lunar Lake’s gaming performance, don’t get it twisted. While this machine can run titles like Cyberpunk 2077, you're not getting any higher than the lowest graphical settings, so if gaming prowess is something you value I’d highly recommend looking elsewhere (especially at this price - more on that in a moment).

The AI side of things are a little trickier to test right now, because while this machine is Copilot+ ready thanks to Lunar lake’s superb NPU, Copilot+ itself isn’t ready – the new features don’t arrive until November. Though when they do arrive, this laptop should have the specs to handle everything Microsoft wants to throw at it.

However this power and beauty comes at a price – $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399 for the standard Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD storage model to be precise. And in the UK things can get even pricier; this review has us testing out the £1,749 model, which boasts a 1TB SSD, 32GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Processor.

Asus Zenbook S 14: Price and availability

  • How much does it cost? Starts at $1,499.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Asus Zenbook S 14 has a few model variants depending on where you live. The standard model available in the US, UK, and Australia costs $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399 and nets you an Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

In the UK you can also find a more affordable £1,299 model which sports an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Processor , 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. There's a top of the line model as well with a 1TB SSD, 32GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Processor which costs £1,749. At the time of writing, there’s no word yet when these models (especially the souped up Ultra 9 model) will make it to other regions.

This review was conducted using the top of the line specs, so I can get a feel for what Asus’ best Zenbook S 14 model is capable of.

Asus Zenbook S 14: Specs

Asus Zenbook S 14: Design

The Asus Zenbook S 14 viewed from behind, showing off its back shell

Fingerprint free (Image credit: Future)
  • Ceralumium finish looks beautiful
  • Lightweight and durable
  • Too few ports

This slim and lightweight laptop (weighing in at 1.2kg / 2.7lbs and measuring just 1.2 cm / 0.5 inches thick) is ideal for sticking in your rucksack and carrying with you all day with little challenge.

But being lightweight doesn’t mean it isn’t durable. The Zenbook S 14 is clad in Asus’ new ceralumium material which it says combines the best properties of ceramic and aluminum to create a portable yet resilient laptop, which also looks gorgeous. Our Computing Editor Christian Guyton likened the laptop’s look and feel to an ancient Roman tablet in these regards and I can absolutely see where he’s coming from. Oh, and did we mention ceralumium is 100% recyclable, which Asus says is part of its more sustainable approach to making tech.

Beyond aesthetics, one of my favorite aspects of the new ceralumium finish is that it doesn’t get easily marked by fingerprints. My partner uses an older Asus Flip and the back is always looking smudgy. The Zenbook S 14 on the other hand is looking as clean as the day I unboxed it – if you ignore the touchscreen.

Speaking of, I love the touchscreen. I like to pretend I’m a laptop purist who just wants to rely on a classic mouse (or trackpad) and keyboard to navigate menus, but every time I try a touchscreen PC I find it so convenient, and I got so used to it with the S 14 that when I swapped back to my personal PC I actually tried to swipe on my regular monitor like a fool.

It’s time for me to accept that touchscreen laptops aren’t just a gimmick, though remember to clean your screen every so often.

And it’s worth keeping the screen clean as the 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED display looks beautiful. It’s perfect for watching a movie or show after a long day’s work – with the OLED providing perfect contrast in those dark scenes that are tough to follow on typical LCDs – and the refresh rate makes scrolling through pages a more fluid experience. Though if you’re trying to run two windows side by side the 14-inch screen can feel a little cramped.

The Asus Zenbook S 14 viewed from the side to show off its HDMI, USB-C, and audio jack ports

Not too bad for ports on this side (Image credit: Future)

Ports-wise, the Asus Zenbook S 14 boasts five of them – an HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a 3.5mm audio port on the left, and a 3.2 Gen 2 USB Type-A port on the right.

I would have liked at least one more USB Type-A port so I wouldn’t have to unplug my mouse whenever I want I want to use an external drive, and don’t feel the extra couple of millimeters it would have added would ruin the S 14’s sleekness. Granted, you can always supplement the Zenbook's ports with one of our picks for the best USB-C hubs as a simple solution.

  • Design score: 4/5

Asus Zenbook S 14: Performance

  • Lunar Lake performs well even under pressure
  • Ready for Copilot+ to launch

The Asus Zenbook S 14 I’ve been testing is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V chipset from its latest Lunar Lake chip release. Throw in 32GB of RAM and it’s no wonder this laptop was able to perform well in our benchmarks – save for an oddly disappointing Geekbench score, I ran it a few times and it performed consistently at this level.

Asus Zenbook S 14 review: Benchmarks

Here's how the Asus Zenbook S 14 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 28,199; Fire Strike: 7,124; Time Spy: 3,619
Cinebench R23: Multi-core: 9,195; Single-core 1,822
Geekbench 6.3: Multicore: 10,615; Single-core: 2,565
PCMark 10: 6,954
Crossmark: Overall:1,759 ; Productivity:1,596 ; Creativity: 2,127 ; Responsiveness: 1,334
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 20 hours, 22 minutes

Regardless, the Asus handled everything I threw at it with aplomb – even that one time I was listening in on a video team meet, while also running Lofi Girl’s YouTube livestream for some relaxing tunes, and had plenty of other tabs open in the background that I needed to help me research an article I was typing up.

It’s responsive too, booting up speedily and opening up apps without leaving me waiting around for noticeable periods. Though I did have some issues loading up some of the benchmarking tools when I started testing it – since then however, I can report I faced zero hiccups.

You’ll also find this machine is equipped with a powerful NPU (it can perform 48 trillion operations per second) for handling AI tasks, plus a dedicated button for calling on Windows Copilot (and Copilot+ when it launches later this year) when you want to talk with the chatbot. Asus says this NPU helps to deliver a 173% better AI performance compared with last gen’s Intel chips, so if you care about onboard AI efficiency, it’s an important factor to consider.

The Asus Zenbook S 14 viewed from its other side to show off one USB port

Another USB port wouldn't hurt (Image credit: Future)

While this laptop is not a gaming machine, I did give it a whirl with a few personal favorites including Marvel Snap and Cyberpunk 2077 to see how well it could do – the latter of which was the title Asus used in its announcement presentation to explain the performance improvements offered by the new Lunar Lake chipset.

With every graphics setting at its lowest option – at higher settings things were noticeably choppy – and my PC’s power settings at Best Performance, I was able to successfully explore Night City and complete a few missions without much issue. A dedicated external mouse is a must, and the laptop did run hot, but it did work even if the experience was a little rough around the edges.

If gaming is a priority, you’ll be far better served by the best gaming laptops, but if you like to occasionally amuse yourself every so often and aren’t concerned with graphical or performance excellence this Zenbook does a passable job.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

Asus Zenbook S 14: Battery

When Asus announced its latest range of laptops, one standout feature was the Zenbook’s battery life, which under the company’s offline movie test conditions achieved a total runtime of 27 hours. In our version, we didn’t get quite as much juice out of it, but it was still phenomenally impressive – clocking in at 20 hours and 22 minutes.

In a more real world test, once it was back up to 100% battery I took it out on a press trip which had me traveling all day. I took my charger with me just in case, but ended up not needing it. The laptop easily survived the day trip, and went until about 3pm the next day, at which point the Zenbook S 14 alerted me that it was time to plug it back in because its battery was starting to run low.

  • Battery score: 5/5

Should you buy the Asus Zenbook S 14?

Buy it if...

You need a big battery
If you need a laptop that can easily go a whole working day without needing a recharge then this machine will serve you well.

You need something light and powerful
At 1.2kg / 2.7lbs and just 1.2 cm / 0.5 inches thick, this Asus machine is super portable, yet still manages to deliver a punchy performance.

You care about AI
Intel’s Lunar Lake chips pack a serious AI performance upgrade compared with last gen’s models. If this is an area you care about you’ll want a laptop that packs one like the Zenbook S 14.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
While this PC has a solid performance to back up its price tag, $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399.00 isn’t cheap. If you’re on a budget you’ll need to wait for a sale or find a different laptop.

Gaming is a priority
Yes the Zenbook S 14 can technically run games like Cyberpunk 2077 (if you crank the graphics settings all the way down), but if gaming is near the top of your priority list, this ain’t the laptop for you.

You want plenty of ports
Slimmer laptops like this often sacrifice a few ports as they simply aren’t thick enough to accommodate them, and from my experience, one sole USB Type-A port can be inconvenient at times.

Also Consider

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)
The Apple MacBook Air 15-inch with M3 is one of the best lightweight laptops on the market, and its performance is top-notch too.

Read our full Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review

Dell XPS 17 (9730)
If you want a powerful laptop and aren't so concerned with portability, then the Dell XPS 17 is one to check out.

Read our full Dell XPS 17 (9730) review

How I tested the Asus Zenbook S 14

  • I tested the Asus Zenbook S 14 laptop for two weeks
  • Tested it using productivity and creative applications and benchmarks
  • Stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test

With any new laptop, I start by swapping it in for my work PC so I can get a feel for how it handles day-to-day workloads and get it warmed up. I then pass it through the gauntlet of TechRadar benchmark tests to see how its processor handles them, and get a sense for how long the battery lasts.

Because it's a portable laptop, I also made sure to take the Asus Zenbook S 14 on any press trips or when I commuted into the office to verify if it's lightweight enough for this task. I also made sure to keep an eye on its ventilation, and how hot the machine can get especially with high-stress tasks.

To round things off, I made sure to play a mix of games on the machine, something I was especially keen to try after seeing Lunar Lake's gaming credentials boasted about in several conferences.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

Next-gen Vision Pro to feature AI spatial computing
9:58 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Ming-Chi Kuo, a highly regarded Apple analyst, says Apple plans to kick off mass production of its next-gen Vision Pro in the second half of 2025. Its key selling point will be AI spatial computing enabled by the Apple M5 chip. Apple's current Vision Pro device is powered by the M2 chip, so the M5 will significantly improve performance. This, in turn, will enable better AI capabilities, which are crucial for spatial computing. Apple wants to make the human-machine interface more intuitive and efficient by combining Apple Intelligence, eye tracking and gesture control. And the M5's...

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: one small step for value, one giant leap for quality
5:20 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Xiaomi Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Xiaomi 14T Pro: two-minute review

The era of AI phones has well and truly arrived, and the Xiaomi 14T Pro proves that mid-range phones don't have to miss out on all the fun. As with previous generations of T Pro models, Xiaomi hasn't skimped on the hardware included in this latest edition, meaning the door is more open than ever for accessible, and affordable, AI exploration.

Unlike many of the latest phones, however, Xiaomi hasn't put all its focus into AI, and it's for the better. Straight out of the box, you can see some of the new thought that's gone into the 14T Pro's design, with the phone sporting a clean aluminum frame and what Xiaomi describes as a "3D curved back". These changes, partnered with a traditionally large (if now a tad less obvious) camera bump, give the 14T Pro a superbly premium feel and weightiness in the hand.

Get it loaded up and frankly, AI is the last thing you'll be thinking about. Xiaomi's HyperOS is smoother than ever, and the continued priority given to the phone's display and processing capabilities means you'd easily be fooled into thinking you're handling a much more pricey device than it is.

Xiaomi 14T Pro in Titan Gray on post in grass field

Xiaomi's new 14T Pro in Titan Grey features an improved design, with a glass back and color matched camera bump. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Xiaomi's ventures into AI are much more measured than we've seen from the likes of Google and Samsung, and, in fairness, what you're given here is a pretty good starting point if you're looking to AI-ify your day-to-day life. While Xiaomi has, of course, added Android-wide features such as Circle to Search and Gemini to the 14T Pro, it has taken positive, if potentially cautious, steps in its own direction in terms of what's offered uniquely on its devices. Rest assured, though, that the Xiaomi 14T Pro is a more than capable scalpal with which to enter the AI world.

Whether your focus is on AI or some of the other more necessary advancements Xiaomi has made in recent years – I'm looking at you, wireless charging – then you're unlikely to be disappointed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. In fact, as ever, you'll likely find yourself seriously impressed with just how much can be packed into a device whose price tag doesn't even come close to those of its flagship competition.

Xiaomi does, however, continue to limit the markets in which it operates (by choice or otherwise), which does a disservice to the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Lacking availability in America leaves a market gap that the likes of Samsung or OnePlus can quite happily fill, and while the price of the 14T Pro is impressively cheap for a phone of this quality, there are plenty more premium options out there for, in some cases, only a fraction more money.

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: price and availability

  • Starts at £650 for 256GB and 12GB RAM
  • Unavailable in the US or Australia
  • No rise in price from the previous model

As a value proposition, the Xiaomi 14T Pro stands strong. No price rise from its predecessor, but a host of increase-worthy upgrades such as an aluminum alloy frame and wireless charging mean you're now getting even more bang for your buck than you'd once have expected, which is something we rarely see from mobile phone manufacturers nowadays.

Here's how much the Xiaomi 14T Pro costs in each of its available regions:

Despite being an extremely high-value phone, the 14T Pro's availability in other regions is frustratingly limited. Since Xiaomi's US presence became muted in the wake of the controversy surrounding Huawei, there's never been a direct route through which to buy a Xiaomi phone in the US. This alone is seriously annoying given how well the 14T Pro fares against similarly priced competition from the likes of OnePlus and Samsung. Maybe next time, US readers.

Value score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: specifications

The Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts some impressive specs given its price tag. Take a look at the full breakdown below:

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: design

Xiaomi 14T Pro in Titan Grey

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
  • New aluminum frame with 3D-curved back
  • Smaller camera bump than previous models
  • Some fingerprint issues

The Xiaomi 14T Pro takes a notable step up in terms of design versus its predecessor, but that doesn't make it flawless. Coming in three colors – Titan Grey, Titan Blue, and Titan Black – you'd almost expect the phone to be built from titanium, right? Well, despite pre-launch rumors hinting at such an upgrade, there is, in fact, no titanium on the Xiaomi 14T Pro, which, while disappointing, isn't necessarily a bad thing.

All three colors look positively premium, and with the aluminum alloy frame and 3D-curved back, the phone possesses a flagship-like feel in the hand, much like the Google Pixel 8, which isn't bad company to be in whatsoever. One thing I did find in testing, however, was that while the back of the phone is indeed lovely, it was an absolute fingerprint magnet. I mainly used the phone in the case that comes with it, but my Titan Gray test model became covered in fingerprints the moment it left that case, which is somewhat of an annoyance when frankly the phone is otherwise rather pleasing to the eye.

Xiaomi 14T Pro side angle view in a field

The camera bump on the Xiaomi 14T Pro has seen serious improvements versus the 13T Pro. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

The biggest improvement in terms of design comes to the phone's camera bump. The best Xiaomi phones are known for their cameras, mainly due to the brand's partnership with Leica (which we'll come to later), but also due to the sheer size of their camera bumps. In reality, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is no different; the bump covers over 50% of the width of the phone and, by rough maths, over a third of the length, from its position in the top left of the back panel. Despite this, the bump is a huge upgrade from prior models, with this year's cameras not only protruding less far from the rear of the phone, but also being housed in a color-matched bump.

Gone are the days of a large, garish black block on the back of your device. Instead, you get a lovely, Lego brick-esque square in a color that matches your back panel seamlessly. What's more, the reduced depth and increased width of the bump means you experience very little wobble should you choose to use your phone without a bump-eliminating case or any case at all, which is a nice (if a tad niche) benefit.

Design score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: display

Xiaomi 14T Pro displaying TechRadar homepage on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
  • Bounds of brightness with viewing angles to match
  • Great responsiveness thanks to adaptive 144Hz capabilities

The 14T Pro continues the Xiaomi trend of putting superb displays on phones you wouldn't expect. The display resolution sits between FHD and QHD at 1220 x 2712 pixels, a resolution unique to Xiaomi, Xiaomi Redmi, and Xiaomi Poco devices.

It's near impossible to find fault with a display like this; CrystalRes AMOLED technology and adaptive refresh rates up to 144Hz meant, more often than not, I had a seriously smooth and vibrant experience. Whether gaming, streaming, or simply scrolling Instagram, the adaptability of the phone's display meant I rarely saw any choppiness that impacted my experience, and I mostly enjoyed 120Hz of seriously pleasant viewing. What's more, if you want to save battery, there's always the option to lock the display to a maximum of 60Hz. That is, if the app you are using doesn't automatically limit your refresh rate, should you choose to simply use the default refresh rate settings.

One limitation I found of the 14T Pro's unique display composition was the compensation some apps made to accommodate it. Most often this came in the form of black bars on either side of applications in landscape mode, which is a frustrating, but not fatal, flaw, especially if you're trying to see the full benefit of the now 93.3% screen-to-body ratio when streaming, for example.

Despite this, the display's 4,000 nit peak brightness and lack of glare make for a very consistent viewing experience at almost any angle. With phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, manufacturers boast about readability, but this seems to have gone especially under the radar with the Xiaomi 14T Pro, despite it being continuously impressive and something that day-to-day use benefits from tremendously during brighter days.

Display score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: software

Xiaomi 14T Pro on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
  • HyperOS with Android 14
  • Steady but well-thought-out steps into the world of AI

Every phone right now seems to be throwing all its eggs in the AI basket, but Xiaomi seems to be taking a more measured approach to its AI rollout. Despite this, there are still some fundamental qualms I have with Xiaomi's approach that tarnish the near-premium experience the rest of the phone provides. While the days of being greeted by tens of preinstalled apps on Xiaomi devices are long gone, it seems that Xiaomi isn't quite ready to give up on them entirely.

On loading up the phone, you're not only greeted by the array of on-device tools and features, which I'll get to in a second, but you're also met with apps such as AliExpress, TikTok, WPS Office, and LinkedIn. Plus, in the same app folder, you're bombarded with a host of recommended apps and games that aren't yet installed but could be downloaded from the Mi Store via a shortcut, which overall seems a tad messy and unnecessary in an otherwise impressively clean layout.

Pre-installed qualms aside, there's very little to take offense to about Xiaomi's HyperOS or the tools that come installed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Instead, this is where we start to see Xiaomi's slow and steady approach to introducing AI come into its own. First and foremost, your digital assistant comes preset to Google Gemini rather than Google Assistant, and, while it wasn't available during our review, Circle to Search will also be rolling out to these devices.

Xiaomi 14T Pro home screen on wooden surface

Xiaomi's HyperOS offers a superbly clean experience, including what it calls Super Wallpapers such as the Mars example above, which spins as you flick between pages. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Outside of what Google adds to the device, Xiaomi's app offerings have become evermore positive since the launch of HyperOS. The biggest benefactor for mobile users of the HyperOS upgrade was the Gallery, which not only saw a number of small feature improvements to improve efficiency and add easy access to auto-generated folders and media types, but also gave prominence to Xiaomi's Best Take feature, which can analyze multiple similar photos and tell you which of the shots is, you guessed it, the best.

The general theme of HyperOS was always to improve the interconnectivity of Xiaomi devices, which essentially boiled down to making everything look clean, work efficiently, and interact seamlessly with each other, no matter what device you were using. The downside of having the nicest user experience on Android, however, is that HyperOS hides some of its best features in the depths so as to not look overly messy – which is made more baffling by the array of apps you're shown on receiving the device.

One of the best examples of this is Xiaomi's AI Subtitles feature, which you can use to translate conversations either in-person using the microphone, or even to translate films and TV shows by configuring it to translate system audio. Pretty cool right? The issue is, to find this feature, which worked impressively well in testing, you need to go into the depths of the settings menu, apply for beta access (as it is yet to be fully released), and then add a shortcut to your home screen.

Xiaomi's control centre featuring on the Xiaomi 14T Pro

Xiaomi's Control Center was one of the biggest benefactors of HyperOS, gaining this new, clean layout with an array of customizable options. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Xiaomi is, however, remaining steady with its AI releases, and we're expecting AI Recorder and some AI Film features to arrive in the near future. One thing's for sure, though: this is the most polished HyperOS we've seen since launch and the Xiaomi 14T Pro is, arguably, the perfect example of this software given just how smoothly you can access everything, from settings in the updated Control Center to your favorite photos via improved image searching.

If the slow, steady, and simple approach does one thing very well for HyperOS and the Xiaomi 14T Pro in particular, it's the extent to which simplicity is combined with effectiveness throughout its apps and interfaces. Whether you're using the Control Center to control your music or the redesigned weather app to check the forecast, there is little to no excess in terms of what you're shown, and yet you can quickly access anything you might need. When partnered with the Xiaomi 14T Pro's hardware, this gives you a seriously impressive mobile experience.

Software score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: cameras

Xiaomi 14T Pro camera layout on grey phone

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
  • Leica partnership continues to impress with standard shooting
  • Some strange variations in light capture and vibrance

If there's one thing the Xiaomi 14T Pro is supposed to excel at, it's photography, but right now I'm constantly flitting between loving it and hating it. Since Xiaomi brought its Leica-partnered camera systems to its T series with the 13T and 13T Pro, it has probably set the bar for mid-range photography. With these latest phones, however, it seems to play jump-rope with this bar a little too much, with some features seriously pushing the mark, and some falling annoyingly beneath.

Take, for example, close-up photographs. There's no denying that the results I was able to achieve were extremely positive, especially when you consider that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, aka the best camera phone from the brand, offers similar close-up performance. However, I often found myself resorting to standard camera modes rather than the usually more effective portrait mode to take the best shots, as I was having difficulty getting the right levels of focus and exposure otherwise. This isn't a major issue, but if one mode can get into focus in less than half the time that another can and produce equal – if not better – results, why wouldn't I use that?

Xiaomi's partnership with Leica brings into focus several features that supposedly enhance your shooting capabilities. The first of these you'll likely encounter is the shooting styles: Leica Authentic, and Leica Vibrant. Shooting with the 50MP wide lens is the best opportunity to see the variations in style in action, as the results can be starkly different. Something that became immediately apparent using the Xiaomi 14T Pro was that, whether you chose Authentic or Vibrant, you were guaranteed an immense amount of color. In either mode, shooting in wide made each color almost excessively saturated, with greens of grass making England seem much more beautiful than it was in reality, and, in fairness, making a much more visually appealing scene out of something that was otherwise rather grey. All in all, superb photos, but not necessarily the most honest to the colors in the scene.

Berries in field

In our tests, our best results came in close-quarters shooting scenarios, with impressive colours and crisp focus. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Something this color-frenzy does help with, however, is the 14T Pro's night photography. This was something that Xiaomi put immense focus on in the build-up to launch, and, with its AI processing systems helping along the way, is an element they've pulled off impressively. There's little to complain about on the night photography front: great colors, impressive light collection, and all-around enjoyable results.

If there's one thing that continues to irk me about Xiaomi's camera systems, it's the interface. Xiaomi continues to assume that you'll instantly understand everything about its cameras, and when I say everything, there's a lot! Take shooting video, for example. You have a standard video mode, and film mode. Within these, you've then got options for Xiaomi's Master Cinema mode, which is given zero explanation anywhere in the camera app itself and requires a Google to work out what it is, as well as options for functionalities such as Motion Tracking Focus and Steady Video. Other settings can also be found in the Camera settings area and the same goes for photos and other modes, too.

When you take into consideration the likely increase in AI functions coming to Xiaomi phones in the next few years, I hope this design gets a rethink. Some of Xiaomi's AI-related photo tools are already hidden in the icons menu of Gallery, and others are annoyingly poorly marked in the editor windows, which isn't an issue once you find everything, but it could take you a while to do just that.

The bottom line is this: Xiaomi's cameras continue to elevate what we expect from phones at this price. While, yes, there are definitely some areas that frustrate – most notably some strange instances of smoothing and occasional extreme amounts of light being pulled in – there's no denying that the results you get are often some of the most stunning among mid-range competitors. In the same way, although there are annoying limitations in terms of camera layout, there's no denying the Leica partnership has played a key role in driving overall quality forward. The 14T Pro, then, is a great all-round camera phone.

Cameras score: 4 / 5

Camera samples

Image 1 of 5

wide shot of a forest in a gloomy time of the day

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Image 2 of 5

path among dark clouds

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Image 3 of 5

A path winds between bushes and grasses of different vibrant greens

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Image 4 of 5

Wide angle camera shot of a field of differing green and yellow grasses and bushes

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Image 5 of 5

Close up shot of red flowers on a branch in a field of yellow long grasses

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: performance

Xiaomi 14 Pro playing Mortal Kombat at a desk

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
  • Dimensity 9300+ chipset benchmarks seriously well
  • Impressive performance in intense gaming scenarios, if a tad hot

As it doesn't come from Snapdragon or Apple, the Xiaomi 14T Pro's Dimensity 9300+ chipset could be easily overlooked, but, if our testing is anything to go by, there's a seriously impressive bit of kit powering this phone, and I struggled to find any scenarios that put this in any doubt.

In our benchmark testing, the Dimensity 9300+ scored only just under the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in single-core testing, and above the S24 Ultra in multi-core, so I wasn't joking when I said it could hold its own. Whether it's the focus on simplicity and efficiency behind HyperOS, sheer performing power, or, most likely, a combination of both, I struggled to create any scenario that caused a genuine performance impact, so you don't need to worry about killing the 14T Pro off with Chrome tabs or your daily Wordle.

The sheer amount of RAM available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro could also play a big part in these benchmark scores, with the device having up to 12GB physical LPDDR5X RAM onboard, plus the option to extend this by up to a further 12GB using the device's internal memory. For the majority of the testing period, I ran the 14T Pro with 6GB of Memory Extension as Xiaomi calls it, meaning it totaled 18GB of available RAM at any time with the model I was reviewing, but, in all honesty, that's probably as much as anyone would need, so having a further 6GB of extension available is just an added bonus.

In gaming scenarios, most notably with the likes of Call of Duty Mobile and Mortal Kombat, I saw very little in terms of performance drops or impact post-session, with the phone able to comfortably play these more graphically intense titles at maximum settings without impacting my ability to smoothly demolish my foes. One thing to note, however, is that the phone was playing games while running at between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius – or 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, if that's your preferred unit of measure. Not exceptionally hot, but hot enough that even with a case on you could tell there was some serious work happening under the hood. Either way, the lack of any performance drops no matter the circumstance puts the Xiaomi 14T Pro in strong company in terms of performance.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: battery

Xiaomi 14T Pro 3D-curved back with logo

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
  • 120W wired HyperCharge continues to impress
  • Wireless charging finally available with 50W wireless HyperCharge

For me, perhaps the best upgrade available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is the arrival of wireless charging. What for many phones has seemed like a reasonably standard feature for several years now has long been missing from Xiaomi's mid-range phones, but now it has arrived with truly Xiaomi-worthy power capabilities.

With 50W wireless charging, the Xiaomi 14T Pro instantly puts the cat among the pigeons in terms of wireless capabilities across both Android and Apple devices. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, for example, only offers 15W wireless charging, also for a 5000mAh battery, so this is a serious step in the charging game for Xiaomi, whose flagship phones were, frankly, already among the best available from a charging perspective.

The Xiaomi 14T Pro continues to offer Xiaomi's 120W HyperCharge when wired, meaning you can get a full charge in around 20 minutes, though Xiaomi is yet to confirm any official charge times. Partner this with a 50W wireless charging alternative, and a 5000mAh battery, and you needn't worry about regularly charging the 14T Pro.

Regular day-to-day use saw me comfortably get multiple days' worth of runtime from the 14T Pro, while more intense use from gaming saw a battery drain of roughly 10% per hour, which, when you consider the strain of maximum graphics settings and online gameplay, is seriously impressive. Nice work, Xiaomi.

Battery score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Xiaomi 14T Pro?

Buy if...

You love a beautiful display
While the resolution is a tad strange, there's no denying that the display on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is one of the most enjoyable to use for day-to-day mobile tasks, gaming, and, streaming.

You never want to worry about charging again
Xiaomi's offering of both 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging on a phone with a 5,000mAh battery and some serious efficiency features means you'll never be left wanting for battery life.

You want serious gaming performance
In our tests, the Xiaomi 14T Pro handled even some of the most intense games with ease, and without completely wiping out your battery after one round.

Don't buy if...

You want an infinite array of AI capabilities
While a whole host of AI capabilities are available from Xiaomi, with more to come too, it's still behind some competitors in terms of the variety and amount of AI-oriented features available.

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: also consider

Honor Magic 6 Pro

A pricier but more premium alternative. The Honor Magic 6 Pro offers an equally, if not slightly more, premium experience in the same regions as the Xiaomi 14T Pro.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

If you don't quite fancy escaping the safety of Samsung in terms of Android, the newly released Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offers a toned down and affordable version of Samsung's flagship device that will be sure to suit.View Deal

How I tested the Xiaomi 14T Pro

I spent around 10 days with the Xiaomi 14T Pro prior to its launch, using the device as my day-to-day machine. During this time, I tested every feature, and was able to conduct benchmarking tests and more technical testing surrounding temperatures, refresh rates, and battery drains.

Day-to-day use of the phone saw me test features such as calling, texting, gaming, Android Auto, and playing music via Bluetooth-connected devices and the built-in speakers. I also performed work-based tasks like searching the web, and using Google tools such as Sheets, Docs, Drive, and Photos. Finally, I used the phone to take pictures, videos, and selfies, while editing these with both the in-built editing tools and Google's editing tools.

My CPU and GPU benchmarking tests were carried out using Geekbench, while temperature and refresh rate tests were conducted using the developer tools built into the Xiaomi 14T Pro. My battery tests were completed using a standardized process for all TechRadar phone reviews.

You can find out more about how we test devices such as the Xiaomi 14T Pro in our dedicated how we test guide.

First reviewed September 2024

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: AI doesn’t come cheap … until now
6:25 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones | Tags: | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Two-minute preview

The Galaxy S24 FE is a phone that almost makes too much sense to get excited about. I spent a couple of hours with the phone in a hands-on look, and we have a sample being tested by one of our reviewers now, but I can already see how this will be a phone worth buying. I reviewed the Galaxy S23 FE, which was my favorite phone in this price range. The Galaxy S24 FE, while a bit more expensive, delivers even more.

It’s been years since Samsung’s ‘FE’ devices were sold as ‘Fan Edition’ phones, tablets, and now wearables, but it’s easy to see how Samsung fans get what they want for less money with the Galaxy S24 FE. The phone looks much like the Galaxy S24, though maybe a bit cheaper. The colors are more muted than I’d hoped, but the blue and teal look pleasantly bright and friendly. 

Inside, you get a Samsung Exynos 2400 chipset, but don’t fret if you were hoping for a Snapdragon. This platform powers the Galaxy S24 in most of the world, just not in the US. It’s plenty potent for all of the new AI features that Samsung is loading onto the Galaxy S24 FE. 

The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 at launch, and there are surprisingly few good phones in that price range, at least not brand-new models. You can buy a Google Pixel 8 for that much, or maybe an iPhone 14, but those phones are a year and two years old, respectively. They won’t get all of the latest AI features, while Samsung is launching this phone specifically to bring AI to a lower price point. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE phones in blue, mint, graphite and yellow

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

That works for me! Samsung’s AI is some of the most fun to use, and the company has so far avoided many of the problems and stumbles that other phone makers have faced. I’m happy to get Samsung AI photo editing, or Samsung’s generative writing tools, on a less-expensive Galaxy model. That’s better than waiting for the price to drop on an iPhone 16.

I could dive into the specs on this phone, but that would be missing the point. The specs are good. The specs are so good that if you want a bigger phone but can’t spend more on a Galaxy S24 Plus, you might consider the Galaxy S24 FE instead. With a 6.7-inch display, it’s a decidedly big phone this year, not middle-of-the-road.

The cameras look good on paper, but we’ll have to test them to be sure. At this price, you rarely see a 3X telephoto zoom lens, and Samsung gives you real zoom in addition to an ultrawide and a normal wide-angle main camera. That’s before we get to all the new AI camera mumbo-jumbo that Samsung has presumably added. I’ve used a lot of Samsung cameras; they are reliably good, especially when shooting specialty photos.

What makes this phone interesting? It’s a great value for its power and features, and it comes with the same promise of seven years of Android OS updates and security patches that you get with a Galaxy S24. That makes it a good investment for companies looking to equip a fleet with professional phones that are also easy on the eyes.

I also expect interesting deals and bundles with this phone. You might buy a Galaxy S24, or you could find a Galaxy S24 FE with a free Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Buds FE, or some other accessory FE. Or a Galaxy Ring … you get the point. The lower price will give carriers more room to make bundle offers, and Samsung gear is more fun when it works together.

We’ll have a full review of the Galaxy S24 FE soon, and we’re making sure it lives up to its promise and my enthusiasm. We’ll be sure to compare this phone against the best Samsung phones and all the best bargain phones you can buy.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Price and availability

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE phones in blue, mint, graphite and yellow

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Starts at Starts at $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 for 128GB of storage
  • Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region of storage
  • Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region

The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099, which is $150 / £150 / AU $300 less than the Galaxy S24. You get a bigger screen on the Galaxy S24 FE, and that amounts to a bigger battery as well. The screen isn’t as sharp or as bright as the regular Galaxy S24 phones, but it still looked very nice in my hands-on time at Samsung’s New York City showroom. 

I was looking forward to seeing the color choices for the Galaxy S24 FE, because Samsung proved with the Galaxy S23 FE that it was willing to cut loose when it came to flashy, saturated hues. The Galaxy S24 FE is a bit more muted and professional, so it won’t jump out of a crowd and into traffic with a bright pink or orange. 

Instead, the Galaxy S24 FE comes in a very pretty blue, a nice mint, an acceptable graphite grey, and boring black. There’s also a yellow color, but it wasn’t available in my US hands-on. Oh, and sorry Australia friends, it looks like black and yellow aren’t coming your way, at least not at launch. 

You can pre-order the Galaxy S24 FE right now from Samsung, but you may want to wait to see what your favorite carrier offers. This phone seems ripe for a ‘get it free’ offer, or a bundle with other Galaxy accessories, and Samsung accessories are worth a look if you have a Samsung phone. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE in mint and graphite showing front and back with cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Exynos 2400e processor – okay, calm down, it’s not so bad
  • Same camera specs, new camera tricks

Below, we've rounded up the keys specs of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.

The Galaxy S24 FE is a small step down from the Galaxy S24 in most ways, but not enough that most people will notice. I expect this phone to have no trouble playing the latest games, running through your productivity apps, and showing off the latest AI parlor tricks. A lot of the AI stuff happens in the cloud, but the Exynos 2400e processor should be able to handle the tasks. 

Wait, what is that ‘e’ on the end of the Exynos chipset? The Galaxy S24 didn’t have the same ‘e’ designation. Samsung’s VP of Product Management, Drew Blackard, told me that this would be a slightly clocked-down version of the same processor. 

That choice usually makes sense for two reasons. First, it cuts down on power consumption. Blackard says that this phone has great battery life, even compared to other Samsung phones with close to the same battery size. 

Second, a slower chip is usually less expensive. Yes, this is a Samsung phone with a Samsung chipset, but you may as well consider Samsung Semiconductor, a different company. After all, Samsung used a MediaTek chip in the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which launched on the same day as the Galaxy S24 FE. 

So, compared to the Galaxy S24, what do you lose if you buy the Galaxy S24 FE? Let’s go spec by spec. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE in mint and graphite showing front and back with cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Galaxy S24 FE is slightly thicker and heavier than the Galaxy S24 or even the Galaxy S24 Plus, which has the same 6.7-inch display size. It uses Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and Victus 5 on the front and back instead of Victus 2 glass, like the Galaxy S24. Thankfully, it is just as water resistant, with IP68 certification.

The display on the Galaxy S24 FE is not as sharp in terms of pixel density as the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Plus. It has the same resolution as the Galaxy S24 but is stretched to a larger display size. The FE cannot get as bright as the Galaxy S24; it reaches around 1,900 nits peak brightness versus a glaring 2,600 nits on the Galaxy S24. That still gives you a very bright phone with the Galaxy S24 FE.

The Galaxy S24 FE is only available with 8GB of RAM, while you can find a Galaxy S24 with up to 12GB of RAM, and 12GB is the standard for the Galaxy S24 Plus.

The battery on the Galaxy S24 FE is 4,700 mAh, much larger than the 4,000 mAh cell on the Galaxy S24. Samsung says it should even last longer than the 4,900 mAh battery on the Galaxy S24 Plus. The Galaxy S24 FE can charge up to 25W, the same as the Galaxy S24, and it can also handle the same wireless charging. You can even charge other devices using reverse wireless charging from the Galaxy S24 FE.

Overall, I’d say the sacrifices are worth the phone's price. Better battery life is always a boon, so I’m willing to trade a drop in performance for a few more hours of screen time. Of course, we’ll need to test all of these features and claims to ensure they live up to the Galaxy S24 FE’s promise. We’re reviewing this phone now, so check back soon for an in-depth look with testing from Future Labs.

First previewed September 2024

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: AI doesn’t come cheap … until now
6:25 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones Samsung Galaxy Phones | Tags: | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Two-minute preview

The Galaxy S24 FE is a phone that almost makes too much sense to get excited about. I spent a couple of hours with the phone in a hands-on look, and we have a sample being tested by one of our reviewers now, but I can already see how this will be a phone worth buying. I reviewed the Galaxy S23 FE, which was my favorite phone in this price range. The Galaxy S24 FE, while a bit more expensive, delivers even more.

It’s been years since Samsung’s ‘FE’ devices were sold as ‘Fan Edition’ phones, tablets, and now wearables, but it’s easy to see how Samsung fans get what they want for less money with the Galaxy S24 FE. The phone looks much like the Galaxy S24, though maybe a bit cheaper. The colors are more muted than I’d hoped, but the blue and teal look pleasantly bright and friendly. 

Inside, you get a Samsung Exynos 2400 chipset, but don’t fret if you were hoping for a Snapdragon. This platform powers the Galaxy S24 in most of the world, just not in the US. It’s plenty potent for all of the new AI features that Samsung is loading onto the Galaxy S24 FE. 

The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 at launch, and there are surprisingly few good phones in that price range, at least not brand-new models. You can buy a Google Pixel 8 for that much, or maybe an iPhone 14, but those phones are a year and two years old, respectively. They won’t get all of the latest AI features, while Samsung is launching this phone specifically to bring AI to a lower price point. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE phones in blue, mint, graphite and yellow

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

That works for me! Samsung’s AI is some of the most fun to use, and the company has so far avoided many of the problems and stumbles that other phone makers have faced. I’m happy to get Samsung AI photo editing, or Samsung’s generative writing tools, on a less-expensive Galaxy model. That’s better than waiting for the price to drop on an iPhone 16.

I could dive into the specs on this phone, but that would be missing the point. The specs are good. The specs are so good that if you want a bigger phone but can’t spend more on a Galaxy S24 Plus, you might consider the Galaxy S24 FE instead. With a 6.7-inch display, it’s a decidedly big phone this year, not middle-of-the-road.

The cameras look good on paper, but we’ll have to test them to be sure. At this price, you rarely see a 3X telephoto zoom lens, and Samsung gives you real zoom in addition to an ultrawide and a normal wide-angle main camera. That’s before we get to all the new AI camera mumbo-jumbo that Samsung has presumably added. I’ve used a lot of Samsung cameras; they are reliably good, especially when shooting specialty photos.

What makes this phone interesting? It’s a great value for its power and features, and it comes with the same promise of seven years of Android OS updates and security patches that you get with a Galaxy S24. That makes it a good investment for companies looking to equip a fleet with professional phones that are also easy on the eyes.

I also expect interesting deals and bundles with this phone. You might buy a Galaxy S24, or you could find a Galaxy S24 FE with a free Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Buds FE, or some other accessory FE. Or a Galaxy Ring … you get the point. The lower price will give carriers more room to make bundle offers, and Samsung gear is more fun when it works together.

We’ll have a full review of the Galaxy S24 FE soon, and we’re making sure it lives up to its promise and my enthusiasm. We’ll be sure to compare this phone against the best Samsung phones and all the best bargain phones you can buy.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Price and availability

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE phones in blue, mint, graphite and yellow

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Starts at Starts at $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 for 128GB of storage
  • Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region of storage
  • Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region

The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099, which is $150 / £150 / AU $300 less than the Galaxy S24. You get a bigger screen on the Galaxy S24 FE, and that amounts to a bigger battery as well. The screen isn’t as sharp or as bright as the regular Galaxy S24 phones, but it still looked very nice in my hands-on time at Samsung’s New York City showroom. 

I was looking forward to seeing the color choices for the Galaxy S24 FE, because Samsung proved with the Galaxy S23 FE that it was willing to cut loose when it came to flashy, saturated hues. The Galaxy S24 FE is a bit more muted and professional, so it won’t jump out of a crowd and into traffic with a bright pink or orange. 

Instead, the Galaxy S24 FE comes in a very pretty blue, a nice mint, an acceptable graphite grey, and boring black. There’s also a yellow color, but it wasn’t available in my US hands-on. Oh, and sorry Australia friends, it looks like black and yellow aren’t coming your way, at least not at launch. 

You can pre-order the Galaxy S24 FE right now from Samsung, but you may want to wait to see what your favorite carrier offers. This phone seems ripe for a ‘get it free’ offer, or a bundle with other Galaxy accessories, and Samsung accessories are worth a look if you have a Samsung phone. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE in mint and graphite showing front and back with cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Exynos 2400e processor – okay, calm down, it’s not so bad
  • Same camera specs, new camera tricks

Below, we've rounded up the keys specs of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.

The Galaxy S24 FE is a small step down from the Galaxy S24 in most ways, but not enough that most people will notice. I expect this phone to have no trouble playing the latest games, running through your productivity apps, and showing off the latest AI parlor tricks. A lot of the AI stuff happens in the cloud, but the Exynos 2400e processor should be able to handle the tasks. 

Wait, what is that ‘e’ on the end of the Exynos chipset? The Galaxy S24 didn’t have the same ‘e’ designation. Samsung’s VP of Product Management, Drew Blackard, told me that this would be a slightly clocked-down version of the same processor. 

That choice usually makes sense for two reasons. First, it cuts down on power consumption. Blackard says that this phone has great battery life, even compared to other Samsung phones with close to the same battery size. 

Second, a slower chip is usually less expensive. Yes, this is a Samsung phone with a Samsung chipset, but you may as well consider Samsung Semiconductor, a different company. After all, Samsung used a MediaTek chip in the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which launched on the same day as the Galaxy S24 FE. 

So, compared to the Galaxy S24, what do you lose if you buy the Galaxy S24 FE? Let’s go spec by spec. 

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE in mint and graphite showing front and back with cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Galaxy S24 FE is slightly thicker and heavier than the Galaxy S24 or even the Galaxy S24 Plus, which has the same 6.7-inch display size. It uses Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and Victus 5 on the front and back instead of Victus 2 glass, like the Galaxy S24. Thankfully, it is just as water resistant, with IP68 certification.

The display on the Galaxy S24 FE is not as sharp in terms of pixel density as the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Plus. It has the same resolution as the Galaxy S24 but is stretched to a larger display size. The FE cannot get as bright as the Galaxy S24; it reaches around 1,900 nits peak brightness versus a glaring 2,600 nits on the Galaxy S24. That still gives you a very bright phone with the Galaxy S24 FE.

The Galaxy S24 FE is only available with 8GB of RAM, while you can find a Galaxy S24 with up to 12GB of RAM, and 12GB is the standard for the Galaxy S24 Plus.

The battery on the Galaxy S24 FE is 4,700 mAh, much larger than the 4,000 mAh cell on the Galaxy S24. Samsung says it should even last longer than the 4,900 mAh battery on the Galaxy S24 Plus. The Galaxy S24 FE can charge up to 25W, the same as the Galaxy S24, and it can also handle the same wireless charging. You can even charge other devices using reverse wireless charging from the Galaxy S24 FE.

Overall, I’d say the sacrifices are worth the phone's price. Better battery life is always a boon, so I’m willing to trade a drop in performance for a few more hours of screen time. Of course, we’ll need to test all of these features and claims to ensure they live up to the Galaxy S24 FE’s promise. We’re reviewing this phone now, so check back soon for an in-depth look with testing from Future Labs.

First previewed September 2024

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