By Ned McRae
There is a lot to talk about when it comes to mobile tech. Apple and Google have released their latest flagships, and Samsung released theirs earlier this year.
Here we will break down the latest news and leaks for both iPhone and Android smartphones so you can keep up to date on the latest info on mobile tech.
The three major smartphone brands have all released their latest smartphone offerings. So let’s take a deep dive into the specs and features of each phone.
On September 7, Apple hosted their ‘Far Out’ Apple event, which revolved around the release of the latest iPhone product lineup. Apple released their new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, which sport updated cameras, faster processors, increased digital security, and features that can save your life.
The standard iPhone 14 is available in two sizes, 6.1 and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus. These new screens aren’t just bigger, they also feature Apple’s Super Retina XDR display that shows whiter whites and true blacks at ultra-high resolution.
A new main camera as well as updated imaging processing allows for 2.5 times better low-light photos than its predecessor, as well as crisper colors and quality. Video features such as Action Mode and Cinematic Mode allow for some epic videos with ultra-smooth stabilisation, so you can create great videos with ease. It also features the longest battery life of an iPhone to date.
Perhaps one of the best features the iPhone 14 boasts is its crash detection technology. A high g-force accelerometer that detects fast accelerations at high Gs, coupled with a barometer that detects changes in cabin pressure, the microphone and gyroscope combine to detect if you’ve crashed your car. It will then automatically alert emergency services to rescue you.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are similar to the standard iPhone 14 but better in every way. The iPhone 14 features Apple's newest 48MP camera sensor, which is 65% larger than the one found in the iPhone 13 Pro, as well as a third camera that offers a 2x optical zoom, not found on the standard iPhone 14. Apple claims their latest flagship offering has the “highest-quality video in a smartphone,” with new software upgrades that allow users to effortlessly edit video, powered by Apple’s latest A16 Bionic Chip.
Google made some huge announcements at their event on October 6 2022. The main draw was Google’s latest additions to the Pixel smartphone range with the announcement of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
The pixel 7 is priced at $999 and offers a 1080 x 2400 resolution on a 6.3-inch screen. It employs Google’s latest Tensor G2 processor which utilises AI to enable new features such as Photo Unblur, which will use AI tech to sharpen up blurry photos. Speaking of photos, there is a 50 MP standard camera as well as a 12 MP ultrawide option with a 114° field of view. The front-facing camera got an upgrade with a higher MP camera with bigger pixels and a greater field of view. The updated front camera now allows users to unlock their phone using their face, with the tried and true under-screen fingerprint sensor still available.
The Pixel 7 Pro features the same standard camera as the Pixel 7 however, has an improved wide-angle camera as well as a telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, with the ability to use 10x zoom at 12.5 MP. The maximum zoom is 30x! The wide-angle camera features a wider field of view with auto-focus.
Video for both Pixel phones has been improved with the ability to shoot 4K at 60fps as well as a new feature called Cinematic Blur. Similar to portrait mode when shooting a photo, Cinematic Blur will automatically blur the background to make the subject pop more.
The screen on the Pixel 7 Pro is brought over from the Pixel 6 Pro. It has a 1440 x 3120 resolution, with the ability to achieve a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, compared to 90 Hz on the Pixel 7. The Pixel 7 Pro comes with 12GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
Both phones of course support the latest congestion-free 5G mobile networks.
Samsung has led the way in the sector of mobile phones and remains the top dog when it comes to features and usability. However new foldable smartphones are emerging in China, with players like Motorola and Oppo entering the Space.
For most markets, the only foldable phones available are from Samsung’s Galaxy Z series. Samsung’s flagship foldable phone is the Galaxy Z Fold4. The Fold4 improves on its predecessor with new and improved features. The upgraded 50MP camera has improved low-light capabilities, rivalling the camera of other flagship competitors. The new taskbar makes multitasking a breeze, with the ability to have multiple apps open in different windows, making life more efficient. The Fold4 comes packed with Snapdragon’s latest 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, which is slightly faster than Samsungs own S22 Ultra. Overall the Galaxy Z Fold4 is the best foldable phone that money can buy, but it will set you back a pretty penny - $2499 for the 256GB model to be precise. The Fold4 is primarily aimed at those who need to use their phone for business.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 is Samsung’s more budget-oriented foldable phone, with a smaller screen than the Fold4 and lesser components. The Flip4 also offers the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, which will handle everything you could throw at it. The battery life and camera are improved over the previous gen and features some refinements such as slimmer bezels. The Z Flip4 is more of a refinement over the previous-gen Flip3 rather than leaps ahead in innovation. But these small improvements make a big difference. The Flip4 starts at $1499.
Foldable phones are taking off in China; established brands such as Oppo and Motorola have released their foldable phones, with other brands such as Huawei and Honor entering the Fray. The Oppo Find N is a great competitor to Samsungs Z Flip4 however, featuring great displays and a compact build. But it has one problem - it’s only available in China. Oppo, Motorola, Huawei and Honor have all released foldable phones - each fantastic in their own right - but they’re only available in the Chinese market. This is still good news nonetheless as it may prompt other mobile phone manufacturers to begin developing foldable devices for the global market.
