Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Final Verdict

This year Samsung once again chose not to release a single flagship phone . Instead, we got three phones, theGalaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra, each with unique additions, sacrifices and prices. 


While Samsung’s range isn’t quite as varied as the massive iPhone 12 line, but each is still different enough to make knowing which is right for your needs and budget a little tricky.
Here to help we’ve created this guide detailing everything you need to know about the top and bottom entry into Samsung’s 2021 flagship line, including our real world findings testing the S21 and S21 Ultra.


Pricing and availabilityLet’s start with pricing. All models of the S21 are cheaper than the outgoing S20 models.
The starting RRP of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is £1149/€1249/$1199, which is marginally less than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 256GB model and more than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. 
The Samsung Galaxy S21 starts at £769 €849/$799. This is a big reduction over the outgoing Galaxy S20. By launching at £799, Samsung undercuts the price of Apple’s iPhone 12 in some regions.


The Samsung S21 Plus will cost from £949/€1049/$999. Again, this price is slightly lower than that of the S20 Plus, which retailed for £999/€1099 at launch.
All three models are available to pre-order now and will ship on January 29. This is the earliest Samsung has ever released a flagship S series phone and it’s one of the first big phone announcements of 2021.
Both the S21 and Ultra have the same overall look. This means that on both phones Samsung has successfully built the camera module into the design, making it stand out more and cling to the top corner. The only big difference is that the S21 and S21 Plus have a smaller camera panel as they have fewer sensors, with the Ultra needing more space for its impressive lens setup.


All three phones have IP68 water and dust resistance rating, a USB-C port on the bottom for charging, stereo speakers and a small cut-out on the display for the front camera. They also all boast a new, much larger optical fingerprint scanner that is built into the screen. We can’t state how much better this optical sensor is than the one of the S20. During testing we found it offers far better accuracy and speed.
There are a few big differences, though. Size and weight are one of them, with the Ultra tipping the scales at a whopping 228g. For comparison, the Galaxy S21 weighs 172g. Check the table below for full dimensions.


One reason for the much lighter Galaxy S21 is that it ditches the glass on the back for plastic, Both other models have glass rears.
You do feel this change when you pick up the Galaxy S21. While the plastic is nice enough, it lacks that high-end finish you get with metal or glass. Considering this is Samsung’s  phone line, the change is a bit of a shame .
The S21 Ultra is the largest phone and as such has the biggest display. Here you’ve got a 6.8-inch curved panel, whereas the S21 Plus has a flat 6.7-inch screen and the smallest S21 packs a flat 6.2-inch version.


There’s more to differentiate the displays than just size. The S21 Ultra has a max brightness of 1500 nits, packs a WQHD+ resolution and an adaptive refresh rate that cycles from 10Hz-120Hz depending on what you’re doing. Unlike the S20, these two options can be utilized at the same time.
If you’re watching a YouTube video, for example, it’ll refresh less than if you’re playing Fortnite. This helps save battery as it ensures you’re not wasting energy when you don’t need to.
There are no two ways around it: this is the best screen on any phone we’ve ever used. It’s ridiculously sharp, pleasingly colorful and an absolute star if you’re streaming HDR video through YouTube or Netflix.


The S21 and S21 Plus also have adaptive 120Hz displays, however they can only drop to 48Hz. They both also have slightly lower FHD+ resolutions – quite an odd move for a series that usually sticks to the best possible screen. The screen here is still good , just not in the same league as the Ultra or even the iPhone 12 series, when we used them.
Specs and cameraS21 has 8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB storage; Ultra models up that to 12/16GB and up to 512GB storageWant the best camera? Go for the UltraS21 has cameras similar to the S20The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra lives up to its branding (and price) by packing in a wealth of top end hardware. Choose this model if you want the most RAM and the biggest storage sizes. 


For instance, RAM on the Ultra model is either 12 or 16GB, with storage options coming in at 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. It’s also the only model to support the S Pen stylus traditionally seen on Samsung’s Note line of phones.By comparison, both the Samsung galaxy  batteryS21 and S21 Plus have 8GB RAM and either 128 or 256GB storage.
You’ll find the same chipset inside all phones, so even if you plump for the cheapest version it’ll still be seriously fast. In the US the chipset of choice is the Snapdragon 888, while us in the UK and certain other markets wi ll have Samsung’s own Exynos 2100. 
All versions of the S21 we have tested are quick, and we didn’t notice any issues with the smaller amount of RAM on the cheaper model. However, the lack of expandable storage and no 512GB option mean that if you’re shooting lots of 8K video you will see that storage deplete very quickly. We’d recommend going to the 256GB model, just to be safe, as a result.


In terms of benchmarking scores, both the S21 and S21 Ultra are on par. You won’t get better gaming performance on the S21 Ultra, aside from the extra freedom afforded by the bigger, far better display.
Where the Ultra mode does come out firmly on top is with its camera and this is firmly the best camera phone you can buy right now. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a wildly different camera array to the S21 and S21 Plus, with an extra zoom lens along with more pixel-packed sensors. Here’s a quick overview of the Ultra camera specs:

Moving over to the S21 and S21 Plus, these have more modest specs and we found the S21 camera took virtually the same kinds of pictures as the outgoing S20 model. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – the S20 had one of the best cameras around when it was released – but a year later and the S21 can’t compete with the iPhone 12.
Battery lifeThe bigger battery on the S21 Ultra gives it more staminaAll S21 phones ditch the chargerWired charging peaks at 25wInside the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, you’ll find a 5000mAh cell, 4800mAh for the S21 Plus and 4000mAh for the S21. All three phones can be charged at 25w wired and 15w wirelessly. They also all pack Reverse Powershare for charging up accessories.


None of the phones comes with a charger in the box though, just a USB–C cable, so you’ll need to use an older USB-C charger or to buy one separately. If you’re upgrading from something like the Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S9 then that plug is not capable of providing full charge speeds to these phones.
The Galaxy S21, on the other hand, is more modest and not much of an upgrade over the outgoing S20. In fact, you could say it is a downgrade thanks to the less premium materials used, lower resolution display and use of the same camera array. But, it’s important to see the S21 as more of a device for those who have much older phones and aren’t interested in blowing over a grand on a new phone. For this market, the Galaxy S21 is an ideal phone at a great price. ll have Samsung’s own Exynos 2100. 
All versions of the S21 we have tested are quick, and we didn’t notice any issues with the smaller amount of RAM on the cheaper model. However, the lack of expandable storage and no 512GB option mean that if you’re shooting lots of 8K video you will see that storage deplete very quickly. We’d recommend going to the 256GB model, just to be safe, as a result.


In terms of benchmarking scores, both the S21 and S21 Ultra are on par. You won’t get better gaming performance on the S21 Ultra, aside from the extra freedom afforded by the bigger, far better display.
Where the Ultra mode does come out firmly on top is with its camera and this is firmly the best camera phone you can buy right now. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a wildly different camera array to the S21 and S21 Plus, with an extra zoom lens along with more pixel-packed sensors. Here’s a quick overview of the Ultra camera specs:

Moving over to the S21 and S21 Plus, these have more modest specs and we found the S21 camera took virtually the same kinds of pictures as the outgoing S20 model. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – the S20 had one of the best cameras around when it was released – but a year later and the S21 can’t compete with the iPhone 12.


Battery lifeThe bigger  Samsung cellphone battery on the S21 Ultra gives it more staminaAll S21 phones ditch the chargerWired charging peaks at 25wInside the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, you’ll find a 5000mAh cell, 4800mAh for the S21 Plus and 4000mAh for the S21. All three phones can be charged at 25w wired and 15w wirelessly. They also all pack Reverse Powershare for charging up accessories.
None of the phones comes with a charger in the box though, just a USB–C cable, so you’ll need to use an older USB-C charger or to buy one separately. If you’re upgrading from something like the Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S9 then that plug is not capable of providing full charge speeds to these phones.


The Galaxy S21, on the other hand, is more modest and not much of an upgrade over the outgoing S20. In fact, you could say it is a downgrade thanks to the less premium materials used, lower resolution display and use of the same camera array. But, it’s important to see the S21 as more of a device for those who have much older phones and aren’t interested in blowing over a grand on a new phone. For this Samsung’s market,  theGalaxy S21  phone  battery is an ideal phone at a great price.

Which Motorola Phone Should You Buy?

IF SOMEONE ASKED what kind of pet you want Motorola’s phones are hamsters in this analogy.Still cute and definitely pets, but not necessarily the first or second one that comes to mind. The company’s Android  Cell Phone Batteries often play third fiddle to the likes of Samsung and Google.

And if you’re an interested buyer, it can be hard to select the best Motorola phone because the company launches way too many models in a year. I’ve tested almost every Moto phone, and in this guide I break down the pros and cons and steer you toward my favorite models.  
The Pros and Cons of Buying a Motorolafront and rear view of the Motorola Mot G Power 5G smartphones


Here’s what’s WIRED and TIRED about Motorola phones. This breakdown can help you decide whether to stick with Moto or buy something else. 
What’s WIRED About Motorola Phones Motorola phones  batteryhave a simple Android interface. This means the company hasn’t done much to gunk up the software. It’s simple and easy to use. There’s often some bloatware, but nowadays you can easily uninstall almost all of it. 


These phones come with 256 gigabytes of storage. This isn’t true of every Motorola phone, but most now offer more than the 128-GB capacity you’ll find on their peers.
They have some of the best battery life. The company stuffs big batteries into these slim phones, and they’re frequently able to eke out two full days of use on a single charge, besting almost all of the competition. 
There’s broad carrier support. While some Android phones have inconsistent carrier support in the US, Motorola phones often work on most if not all networks (the company lists carrier support details in the Specs section of all its phones). They all work on the big three—T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Make sure you buy them unlocked. 
The prices dip quite often. Never buy a Motorola phone at its MSRP. They almost always go on sale a few months (or even weeks) after launch, sometimes at steep discounts. 


What’s TIRED About Motorola PhonesMotorola’s software updates are lackluster. The company is slowly improving here—it promises to deliver three Android OS updates and four years of bimonthly security updates to its high-end smartphones—but it still lags behind its peers. Worse yet, the phones in the Moto G series only receive one OS Android update (with three years of security updates), so they miss out on new Android features fairly quickly.
Moto G phones lack NFC. Near-field communication sensors are what enable tap-to-pay on your phone, allowing you to use contactless payments at participating retailers. Phones as cheap as $200 have this feature, but Motorola is notorious for excluding it on (most) of its Moto G range. 


The cameras are lackluster. Among the things Motorola behind the likes of Samsung putting and Google are the cameras. They can take fine photos, but they’re easily eclipsed by the competition.
There’s no always-on display. Most Android phones have a setting you can toggle on if you want an Always-on Display that will show a clock on your screen even when the screen is “off.” Motorola has Peek Display, which requires you to move the phone or tap the screen to see anything. It’s not a big deal, but that’s a feature you might miss if you’re coming from another phone. 
Best Motorola PhoneThe best Motorola phone right now is the Motorola Edge+ (2023). It’s a tall, narrow device with a 6.7-inch OLED display that curves into the edges for a more immersive screen. I usually dislike these kinds of “waterfall displays” because my fingers tend to disrupt the screen, but I didn’t have many issues on this phone. 


The Full HD+ screen is sharp and colorful, it gets bright enough to view on sunny days, and the refresh rate can ratchet all the way up to 165 Hz. It makes the screen look and feel more responsive, though I set it to 120 Hz , which is plenty for me and doesn’t suck up as much battery. The back of the phone has a glistening design that looks snazzy, and both the front and back are protected by the scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus.
The Edge+ impresses with its raw specs. It’s powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (along with 8 GB of RAM), which is what powers most high-end Android smartphones right now, and I rarely saw stutters, even with the most demanding apps and games. 


There are dual stereo speakers at the top and bottom of this device to pump out loud tunes that sound pretty good, NFC for making contactless payments, dual SIM support, IP68 water resistance, and a whopping 512 GB of storage—well more than you’ ll find on any other smartphone at this price. There’s no microSD card slot to expand that storage, nor a headphone jack in case you want to plug in. 


Most impressive is battery life. There’s a 5,100-mAh cell, and this  Motorola cellphone Battery easily lasted two full days of average use. Even heavy users should expect to get through a full day without requiring a top-up. When you do need to recharge , you can use the included 68-watt charging adapter or a wireless charger. Motorola is one of the few phone makers to still include a charger in the box. 


Where it loses points is the camera system. A 50-megapixel primary camera is joined by a 50-MP ultrawide and a 60-MP selfie camera. In my photo comparisons, the Edge+ took some sharp shots, but it had a hard time keeping up with the $499 Google Pixel 7A. Motorola’s results are often oversaturated and overly brightened, and they tend to deliver slightly off skin tones. In low light, I frequently had to retake photos because the first result was blurry. If the camera is important to you, I’d avoid buying any Motorola phone. Consider the Pixel 7A or Samsung Galaxy S23 instead.

Motorola Phone battery  Android OS upgrades promises four years of bimonthly security updates.  

The best gaming phone 2023: top mobile game champions

The best gaming phones are specifically tailored to gamers. Ideally, when buying a gaming phone, you need fast performance, a large, high-resolution screen with a high refresh rate, good battery life, and features tailor-made for gaming.


So, while some of the best smartphones, such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Sony Xperia 1 IV, might do a great job breaking mobile games, you’re better off getting a gaming phone for a better gaming experience. That’s especially if you spend more of your free time gaming and you want that distinctive gamer aesthetic. 
A dedicated device tends to boast better cooling as well as come with shoulder triggers and even detachable physical controls. Phones like the Asus ROG Phone 6D offer all these features, for example, which is why it tops our list of the best gaming phones. 


Having more tested than our share of phones, we’ve ranked all the best  iphones Battery, prioritizing those that are specifically designed with gaming in mind, followed by more general smartphones that come with enough power to give you a smooth and immersive gaming experience. Take a look at the best gaming phones below. 
The best gaming phone 2023


1. Asus ROG Phone 6D
Asus knows how to make good gaming phones as demonstrated by the Asus Rog Phone 6D. It has a near identical design to the Asus Rog Phone 6 but with superior cooling so it’s never going to overheat while you play.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000 Plus chipset is a force to be reckoned with while it’s paired up beautifully with a 6.78-inch full HD OLED display. A 165Hz refresh rate will delight gamers along with plenty of viewing modes to set. Speaker performance is excellent too while Asus’s software includes extensive in-game tools. 
The only downside here is the camera which is fairly average, but if you’re solely focused on gaming, the Asus Rog Phone 6D will delight. 

2. Asus ROG Phone 5
The Asus ROG Phone 5 is a remarkable gaming phone – even though it’s a generation behind our number highlights one pick, the Asus ROG Phone 6. Its include power from the pairing of a Snapdragon 888 chipset and up to 16GB of RAM, plus a screen that has a refresh rate of 144Hz and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz – both of which are higher than most phones and we found this pairing beneficial to games.
The Asus ROG Phone 5 also has a huge 6,000mAh iPhone battery , so you can game for longer, and with 65W charging you won’t be out of action for long when it runs dry. 
Add to that responsive shoulder buttons, programmable RGB lights, and compatibility with a range of gaming-focused accessories, and the Asus ROG Phone 5 really is the complete package for gamers.


Read our review: Asus ROG Phone 5
The best non-gaming phones for gamingWe’ve suggested the best phones designed for gaming, but if you’d rather have a more mainstream device, here are all the phones we recommend that, among the rest of their strengths, are also very good phones to play games on. 
You’ll find a lot of overlap with our best phones list, for good reason: these handsets have top-end specs and screens to give the best gaming experience possible outside of gaming-focused phones.
It’s worth noting also that there’s now native Xbox and PlayStation controller support on both iOS and Android, so although the following phones don’t – for the most part – have dedicated gaming peripherals from their makers, they do support some existing peripherals.


3. iPhone 15 Pro Max
More than just an iterative upgrade on its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max brings in improved cameras, a 5x telephoto lens, a new Action Button, a Titanium design, and most importantly for gaming: the new A17 Pro chip. 
With that slice of silicon the iPhone Pro is more powerful than ever, with the promise of being able to deliver hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic lighting in games, and the ability to run actual console version of big games like Resident Evil: Village on a smartphone. We need to se this for ourselves, beyond brief demos, but overall theApple Cell Phone batteries iPhone 15 Pro Max could make for a killer gaming phone in an unassuming smartphone chassis. 


Add in access to Apple Arcade games, which are going from strength to strength, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iOS is starting to look like a platform that can deliver serious and unique gaming experiences. It doesn’t hurt that the 120Hz 6.7- inch display is also fantastic, with a design that makes the edges slightly smoother and thus more comfortable to hold. 
All in all, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a fantastic phone that can also handle gaming with ease.

 What is the best gaming phone?

That depends on whether you want a phone specifically built for gaming, or a great all-round handset that also excels for gaming, but we’ve got picks for both.

What should I look for when buying a gaming phone?

The three main factors to consider are screen (particularly size, resolution and refresh rate), battery life, and processing power. Beyond that, look to extra features that might be useful when gaming, such as triggers or fans, and look to the library of available games, as it differs between Android and iOS.

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How to give more juice to your smartphone’s battery

Considering how much smartphones have changed our lives, it is amazing how feeble they are when it comes to battery life . Most people are ready to accept that a smartphone is barely able to make it through one day. As we have all experienced at one point , this is not nearly enough.

As a result, the aftermarket of power alternatives is huge. We analyzed this cluttered market and we want to share some of the best ways to extend the power of your smartphone. Let’s get started

Do you need more power on your smartphone?

A few years back, phones would easily last 4-5 days between charges. Today we moved from phones to  Smartphone Battery that barely get us to the evening. The all-powerful apps of the smartphone era, make us weak in the knees and they do so for a reason. The almighty smartphone is able to exchange messages in dozens of ways, manage your bank account s, serve you music on the go, connect with your social circle s, show you the latest news, access scores of addictive games and the list goes on and on. The conundrum here is that the more you can do on your smartphone, the faster it will run down.
So what can you do? Let’s make sure you have a full list of options in front of you.
In order to make this examination of options practical, we will pick up a few popular smartphones. We decided to get one each from iOS, Android and Windows Phone. When we discuss options, we will put links to the products that work with them so that you have access to pictures and specs and make it easier to get similar options for your smartphone.


Here is the list of smartphones   battery  under consideration in this article and their power specs:
iPhone 6s: battery 1.715 mAh, Lightning connectorNexus 6P: battery 3.450 mAh, USB-C connectorLumia 640: battery 2.500 mAh, Micro-USBOne ability that is conspicuously missing from all the above smartphones is wireless charging. Do not lose hope yet. We will find creative ways s to get this added to the mix.
Chargers, chargers everywhere!The first thing that you may consider for prolonging the battery life of your smartphone, is getting additional chargers. The investment is rather small compared to the price you paid for your smartphone and the bonus of doubling or tripling its use is worth the money.


The key here is to carefully consider where exactly you spend your day (and night!). The usual places, for which you will need additional chargers, are the workplace and your car, assuming that you keep the original charger at home and use it mainly overnight. If you are an avid smartphone user while at home, you may even cons ider having two chargers there: one for the bedroom and another for the living room.
Another scenario is to have a charger in your bag. I have gotten numerous respites in cafes, trains or airports once I found an electrical socket.
smartphone, battery, charger, power, case, solarA notable variation are the docking chargers. These allow an upright position of your smartphone which makes it easier to check on for notifications. Your work desk or your nightstand are the favorite locations for such docks.


The alternative to a full-blown electrical charger is to get a USB cable that plugs into your smartphone and use any computer or any device, for that matter, with a USB port available as the power source.
There are lots of manufacturers that sell chargers. The risk here is that a cheap charger may not charge as fast your smartphone or even damage it in the long run. It is always a good idea to carefully check the reviews left by other buyers to minimize this risk. The chargers produced by the original manufacturers of the smartphone are the safest bet, although they are usually more expensive.


Here are some good power chargers for the smartphones in our list:
iPhone 6s : wall charger, docking charger, car chargerNexus 6P: wall charger + USB-C cable, docking charger, car chargerLumia 640: wall charger, docking charger, car chargerBefore we close this topic, we need to say a few words about fast charging. This is another area where manufacturers do not manage to converge (yet) to unified standards. Qualcomm Technologies have been promoting standards in this area for a few years with the latest one Quick Charge 3.0 announced this September. Although two of our smartphones are equipped with Qualcomm processors, none of them comply with Quick Charge standards. The Nexus smartphone does come with a fast charge claim, but this is based on Google proprietary devices, which use a special voltage/amperage combination.


What you need to take from this is that fast charging is an important feature that may apply to your smartphone. Qualcomm claims that, in tests with a particular battery, a regular charger achieved 12% in 30 minutes, a Quick Charge 1.0 device 30% and a Quick Charge 2.0 one 60%. Quick Charge 3.0 should be able to deliver more than 80% in the same amount of time.


Check out the specs of your smartphone and, if your iPhone smartphone  batteryis compliant, pick up a ch

Why does my iPhone power drain so quickly? Here’s how to care for your phone battery

QUESTION: Why do I have occasional days where my iPhone battery is suddenly low on power by midday when I’m not doing anything unusual?
ANSWER: The single biggest issue for every smartphone user is battery life. No matter what type of device you have, it’s going to diminish over time.


How old is it?Whenever I’m asked this question, I always start by focusing on the age of the device. If it’s relatively new, it’s probably related to app usage. If it’s older, it’s probably suffering from diminished battery capacity.
Start by checking the battery’s maximum capacity, which is a measure relative to when it was new or at 100%.

Tap Settings, then Battery, then iPhone Battery Health to get your current status. If it’s under 80%, it may be time to replace the battery. If it’s well above 80%, your issues are probably app usage related.
chemical ageAll rechargeable batteries are considered consumables, meaning there’s a finite limit to their usefulness. As time goes on, the physical age isn’t as important as the chemical age of the battery, which is primarily determined by charge cycles and how it’s been cared for .

Charge cycles

Apple’s guideline for battery lifespan is based on 500 complete charge cycles. A charge cycle is when you’ve discharged 100% of the battery’s capacity, but not necessarily in one day. For instance, if your battery level is at 50% when you recharge on two consecutive days, that would represent one charge cycle. If you are down to 25% every day when you charge, you’re using just over five charge cycles a week.

After 500 charge cycles, your battery will likely be at or near 80% capacity. For most users, that’s two to three years of regular usage.
Temperature’s impactOne of the easiest ways to quickly increase the chemical age of your battery is through exposure to high ambient temperatures.

Temperatures above 95 degrees can permanently damage the battery’s capacity, which can be a constant challenge if you live in a warm climate.
Another big thing to avoid is charging your phone when it’s hot, which can further damage the battery.


More from Ken Colburn:Here are 6 free alternatives to Microsoft Office
Your app usageWhich apps you use and how you use them can have a big impact on daily battery life. Apple makes it easy to see this by going to Settings, then Battery and scrolling down to the list of apps by battery usage.
The default is “Last 24 Hours,” but you’ll better understand your regular usage patterns by tapping “Last 10 Days.”


The app that uses the most battery power will be at the top of the list along with the percentage of iphone battery consumption. This should reflect the apps you use the most, but there’s more helpful information available if you tap the “Show activity” option.

This will give you more details, including how many hours and minutes you’ve used the app and how much of that time was in the background.
If the background usage is very high, you should start manually shutting down those apps when you aren’t using them.

Battery replacement

If your capacity is below 80%, Apple provides a relatively affordable replacement option for most current iPhone models ranging between $89 to $99. To get an estimate on your exact device


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Undercharged: iPhone 14 owners complain about lower battery endurance

Owners of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are complaining about battery health — but it’s not at all clear yet if this is an actual issue. Apple Insider looks at the data.Reports in August started to surface about battery issues for the current-gen iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro, with claims that the battery is degrading far quicker than it should be.


According to the various complaints, if you check the iphone Battery Health & Charging section under Battery in the Settings app, the Maximum Capacity figure is a lot lower than people want it to be. While you could easily expect that the maximum capacity will go down over time, it’s eroding a little too fast for some.Is there an iPhone 14 battery problem?A vocal group of iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro users have raised issues with the Maximum Capacity number, claiming that its dropping at a far faster rate than they would want. These complaints have surfaced on social media, and over the summer, have become more prominent.
In July, Apple Track’s Sam Kohl pointed out via X that the capacity of his iPhone 14 Pro after less than a year of ownership is at 90%, deeming the number to be “actually unacceptable.” John Rettinger passed comment in August, sharing that his iPhone 14 Pro Max, bought at launch, has a capacity of 90% too.
I’ve had my iPhone 14 Pro for LESS than a year this is actually unacceptable pic.twitter.com/rKkvW6Z60v

The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern also chimed in during August, questioning why her iPhone 14 Pro is down to 88%, and an Apple Store Genius said that he personally had already hit 450 charge cycles. By contrast, a three-year-old iPhone 12 Pro held by Stern’s wife was at 80% capacity, and her editor’s two-year-old iPhone 13 Pro was at 90%.
Others have also pointed out low percentages, including The Verge’s Tom Warren at 91% and Max Weinbach tweeting at 89%.


While these are prominent examples, there are many others on social media complaining about the Maximum Capacity for their iPhone 14-era smartphones. Excluding trolling responses, the typical query for those affected by this phenomenon is for a battery that’s mid to low-90’s in percent, or high 80’s.
The general opinion is that the Maximum Capacity shouldn’t be getting close to dipping down below 90% under a year after release. At least, that the percentages shouldn’t be dropping at a rate faster than the batteries of earlier iPhone releases.
Apple’s iPhone 14 battery expectationsApple does attempt to set healthy expectations for the batteries in its devices, as outlined in its Battery Service and Recycling page.
For the iPhone, Apple insists the battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity after 500 complete charge cycles. By a complete charge cycle, that means effectively depleting the battery then recharging it to full capacity.
Apple’s expectations are for an 80% battery capacity after 500 complete cyclesBy comparison, the Apple Watch, MacBook, and iPad lines are thought to hold on to 80% after 1,000 complete charge cycles, while the iPod does so for 400 cycles.
Apple also includes a clear warning that if you “need to charge your battery more and more frequently, it might be time to service it,” and to do so via Apple or an authorized service provider.


There’s also a one-year warranty for the iPhone, which includes service coverage for a defective battery that’s hit that 80% mark. AppleCare+ will extend this warranty out to two years for iPhones.
For out-of-warranty devices, there’s a battery replacement service.
A common problem?Failure rates for the total number of products manufactured is a bell curve. The early failures are numerically pretty low, with a peak at some point in the middle of the curve, followed by a slow rate as the population declines.

An example of a bell curve graph [Wikimedia]What varies between manufacturers and products is when the peak of failures lies in the timetable of the product. We have it on good authority that Apple has engineered the 80% battery depletion mark average — meaning the peak of the bell curve — at just over two years, and has for at least the last five years of iPhone models.


This means that an about-10% per-year depletion is normal, according to Apple.
For years, we’ve had access to a large amount of service data from within Apple’s repair chain, and iPhone battery replacement rates are included in that set.
We’ve grouped battery replacements into two groups — the iPhone 14 non-Pro models, and the two iPhone 14 Pro models in another group.
Instead of comparing per capita failure rates, we can compare total replacements, given that the total population of iPhones sold in that first year of live is a bit less in 2022 to 2023, than it was in 2021 to 2022.


For the lifetime of the iPhone 14 grouping and iPhone 14 Pro grouping, the number of battery failures, meaning that 80% threshold has been met, or Apple has decided 
to replace the battery in a response to a consumer complaint even if not at 80%, is a hair less than it has been in the past. This is consistent with what is believed to be a lower population of iPhone 14 models sold in total, than the iPhone 13 line.
The iPhone 14 Pro family has slightly more failures in total than the iPhone 14 grouping. It’s also believed that the population to date of the iPhone 14 Pro models is higher than that of the iPhone 14.


If there was a massive problem, there would be a giant deviation in the failure quantity, and a corresponding large deviation from that bell curve. To date, there is not that giant deviation in any iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro model.
It’s still early in the device’s life, though, and the iPhone 14 is still on the left side of the bell curve. We’ll revisit this in about six months.


How a battery works, and what’s happeningAppleInsider has previously covered what happens to a battery to cause wear and tear, and how to care for the battery life.
In short, lithium-ion batteries use an anode and a cathode separated by a generally flammable electrolyte, with charged atoms moving from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. This process frees electrons, which return to the cathode, completing the circuit.
Recharging effectively reverses this chemical reaction, at the expense of some wear on the battery.
These reactions generate heat and can wear the battery, which eventually degrades the battery to exhaustion in a combination of physical and chemical effects beyond the scope of this article. To users, this wear is represented by a reduction of battery capacity over time. No battery is eternal.Replacing an iPhone battery


As for why the percentage change is faster for some users, this could be down to a number of factors. Most obviously the reason for the decrease could be an increase in battery usage, with intensive apps like games more likely to require higher rates of power consumption in a short space of time. And, that always-on display does draw some power.


A worn battery can be an operational issue, as Apple did introduce safeguards in iOS 10.2.1 that throttled the CPU to minimize the chance of shutdowns from excessive CPU power draws. However, this did lead to multiple class-action lawsuits that resulted in a $500 million settlement.
There is the possibility that, with reduced capacities, iPhone 14 owners may encounter these safeguards far earlier than they may have expected, especially considering the multi-year lifespan of an iPhone 14 Battery in many cases.

The real secret to better Android battery life

Attention, Android phone owners: Stronger smartphone stamina is well within your reach . All you’ve gotta do is reach out and grab it.
If there’s one question I hear more than any other here in the land o’ Googley matters, it’s how to grant oneself the invaluable gift of better battery life on Android.
Hey, we all struggle with stamina some days. Our favorite phones are no different.
Here’s the good news, though: While the notion of achieving better Android battery life may sometimes seem like rocket science, it’s actually just regular science — and the secret to making it happen actually isn’t all that difficult at all, once you understand the mechanics around it.
[ How to switch from iPhone to Android ]In fact, all it requires is a touch of careful planning.

Let me explain.
[Get Googley goodness in your inbox every Friday with my free Android Intelligence newsletter. Three fresh tips every Friday — straight from me to you!]
The Android battery life mechanicsThe main thing to know about your phone’s physical battery is that it’s a limited resource that loses capacity over time.


That’s an inherent quality of that type of technology, unfortunately, and the same is true no matter what type of mobile device you’re using: The more you use it — and, specifically, the more you stress it via ongoing charging — the less power it’s able to hold, and thus the worse battery life it gives you over time.
That’s at least in part why even a year-old phone often lasts for noticeably less time than a brand new out-of-the-box model. But once you’re aware of that unavoidable reality, you can take some smart and relatively simple steps to address it.
And here’s the easiest and most effective one of all: Stop charging your phone all the way to 100% and letting it sit on the charger indefinitely.


Ask most any Android   phone battery expert, and they’ll tell you the same thing: The fastest way to shortening your battery’s life and making it perform more poorly is regularly charging it all the way to full — or, worse yet, keeping it plugged in and maintaining that fully charged state for extended periods.
There’s a bunch of technical gobbledygook behind that, but the basic idea is that the higher your charging state, the faster the electrolytes — the components that make the battery work (which, fair warning, are far less tasty than the kind mixed into Gatorade) — degrade. And the more they degrade, the less charge they’re able to maintain.
In human terms, the takeaway is this: Letting your phone go super-high or super-low in charge is bad, mmkay? Instead, what you want to do is stay in the middle as much as possible.


And luckily, that’s almost shockingly easy to do. You just have to take a teensy shred of time now to make some simple changes to your charging habits, and you’ll set yourself up for a longer-lasting battery for months or even years to come.
Your better Android battery life options

All right — enough about the mechanics. Let’s get into the actual answers, shall we?
We’ll tackle three separate categories and associated options for boosting your Android phone’s battery life and setting yourself up for lasting stamina success:
1. For the Google Pixel owners among usFirst, if you’ve got a Google-made Pixel phone from 2019 or later — so the Pixel 4 model and up, in other words — take 20 seconds now to dig up your device’s Adaptive Charging setting:


Open up the Battery section of your system settings.Tap “Adaptive preferences.”Find the line labeled “Adaptive Charging” and make sure the toggle next to it is in the on and active position.Android Battery Life: PixelJRThat’ll allow your phone to take a slow ‘n’ steady approach to charging when it knows you’re gonna have it plugged in for a while, like during the overnight hours. That way, at least in theory, it’ll reach the 100% mark at the end of your charging period instead of getting there quickly and then continuing to maintain that full-charge state with ongoing power pushing.


Now, notably, this feature originally worked only when you charged your Pixel between 9 pm and 4 am and you had an active alarm set for somewhere between 3 am and 10 am That’s a pretty significant limitation, to say the least.
More recently, some Pixel users have noticed the system being far more flexible and working in the same way even when an alarm isn’t set, based solely on typical charging patterns. The official documentation for the feature hasn’t been updated to reflect that change, though, and it isn’t entirely clear how widely available it might be at this point.
Either way, this setup is a smart start — and leaning on it is absolutely a good first step. But if you really want to take your Android battery life to the max and allow for the best possible battery health and thus best possible stamina over the long haul, you’ll want to keep reading (to number 3 in this list, specifically).


2. For the Samsung Galaxy gangGot a reasonably recent Samsung Galaxy-flavored Android
d device? Your phone has a similar sort of system in place that can automatically limit charging, though with a bit of a different twist:


Head into your system settings and search for the word battery.Find the option labeled “Protect battery” and tap it.Turn the toggle on the line labeled “Protect battery” into the on position.Android Battery Life: SamsungJRThat’ll stop your phone from charging anytime it hits the 85% mark, which is a sensible limit for long-term battery health and maximum ongoing stamina. That does mean you’ll have a little less battery power to work with on a day -to-day basis, but as long as you can make that work — or even do a midday top-off, if you need to — you’ll get better battery life over the lifespan of your device as a result.

3. For anyone and everyone using AndroidEven if you’re already using a battery-saving system from Samsung, Google, or any other Android phone-maker who offers a similar sort of setup, you’d be well-advised to consider this last step as a stamina-protecting supplement . And if you’re using a phone that doesn’t offer any sort of built-in battery protection feature, you’ll definitely want to do this:


Install an excellent app called AccuBattery onto your Android phone of choice.Open the app up and, on its main Charging tab, look for the blue slider floating off the percentage circle at the top.Slide that little blue flag left or right to land on the value you want. I’d suggest starting at 90%; if you find that works okay for you, you can then inch your way down closer to 85% or even 80% and see how you do.Android Battery Life: AccuBatteryJRWith that step finished, AccuBattery will now sound an alarm anytime your phone reaches the level you set — and that’ll be your indication that it’s time to take it off the charger.

If you really want to go all out, there are also some physical accessories that can manage this for you and essentially cut off the power for every charge completely once a certain battery level’s been reached. That’s a fine enough option, if you don’t mind dropping the extra dough and charging only in a spot where that specific apparatus is available. But I’m telling you: Taking your phone off the charger when it hits a certain point is something you’ll get accustomed to quickly, provided your schedule supports it.
However you go about it, the ultimate ideal is to keep your phone between 20% and 80% of its battery capacity as often as possible, without any extended time sitting on a charger and constantly being fed fresh power. The same is true whether you ‘re using an Android phone or any other type of battery-dependent gizmo.


And with any combination of the tactics we just went over, you’ll be able to make that happen — and enjoy better  Samsung Android battery  life for longer than ever as a result. 

How to turn on 80% charging limit on the iPhone 15 to save battery health

Apple may have just fixed its biggest iPhone battery problem, and iPhone 15 users get first dibs. Here’s how and when to use it.

The iPhone 15 series is officially available, and whether you already have a device in hand or are anxiously waiting for one, a recent feature discovery should be at the top of your initial set-up agenda.
The feature is called “80% Limit” and is hidden within the deeper end of the iPhone 15’s Battery settings. When toggled on, the iPhone will limit its charging capacity to 80% instead of the normal 100%. 


Also: Want the fastest iPhone? Choose this model on this network
While Apple doesn’t actually explain why this feature exists, it’s safe to assume that the charging cap is a direct response to the recent comments about the iPhone 14’s battery degradation. These aren’t fan theories, unfortunately; it’s just the nature of lithium -ion ​​batteries found in iPhones and other devices, with the maximum capacity slowly degrading every time it completes a charge cycle.
Capping the iPhone 15’s charging to 80% reduces the likelihood of battery degradation, though it may not always be in your best interest to have the feature turned on. More on that later.


How to turn on 80% Limit on the iPhone 15

What you’ll need: At the time of writing, 80% Limit is only available on the iPhone 15 series, which includes the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. 
Also: Your Apple device may be eligible for a major software update. How to check and download


The feature is clearly not processor-exclusive, as the non-Pro models operate on an A16 Bionic chip versus the A17 Pro on the more expensive iPhones. Therefore, the chances of Apple extending the feature to older models are still likely.
1. Access apple Battery Health & Charging settingsFirst, open up the Settings app and scroll down to the Battery tab. Then, tap on Battery Health & Charging.

iPhone 15 Optimized Charging
2. Toggle on 80% LimitNow tap into Charging Optimization and you’ll be presented with three options: 


Optimized Battery Charging: Prompts the iPhone to trickle charge up to 80% overnight and then tops up to 100% as you’re about to wake up.80% Limit: Caps the charging at 80%. Apple says the iPhone will occasionally charge to 100% in order to maintain a more accurate battery state-of-charge estimate.None: Keeps the iPhone’s charging capabilities flexible.Tap on 80% Limit to turn it on.

While you’re on the  iPhoneBattery Health & Charging screen, you’ll also find the maximum battery capacity of your iPhone, which, if it’s an iPhone 15, should be at 100%. If your device shows a lower value, reach out to Apple support as there may be a potential defect with your battery.
When you should (and when shouldn’t you’t) use 80% LimitYou should use 80% Limit if…


You want to preserve the battery health of your iPhone, whether it be for longevity’s sake or better resale value.You’re able to get through a day of average to high usage without battery concerns. This is mostly the case with the larger iPhone models, iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max.You shouldn’t use 80% Limit if…
You’re concerned that iPhone 15 battery 80% battery is not enough for a day’s use. Perhaps you’re traveling and access to power sources is limited or need to use more power-intensive tasks like video capturing, GPS navigation, and gaming.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Overshadowed by Controversy

Despite the initial controversy around this year’s Pro iPhones, is the newer design, 5x telephoto camera, and A17 Pro worth the higher entry price?
Apple released its 2023 iPhone lineup to the masses, and with it comes the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, packing the best hardware that Apple has to offer for users who want it. This year’s Pro iPhone brings subtle but impactful design changes, a new processor with a pro moniker, multiple camera improvements, USB-C, and a few other nifty features.


A New Titanium DesignThe Pro iPhone models offer a new material that replaces the stainless steel from before: titanium. This material has shown up on other Apple devices, such as the Apple Watch Ultra and the titanium Apple Watch Edition (but is no longer available to buy).
Aside from the different feel, the biggest improvement the new material brings is reducing the phone’s weight. If you own an iPhone 13 Pro Max or 14 Pro Max, you will notice the difference with this year’s model since it’s about 19 grams lighter.
Along with the new material, the phone now features contoured edges. Apple says that this design change makes the iPhone more comfortable to hold.

Since the iPhone switched to a squared-edge design with the iPhone 12, the edges have been sharper and less comfortable to hold than rounded-edge iPhones. You’ll feel the difference right away with the contoured edges of the 15 series.
Additionally, the bezels on the iPhone 15 Pro Max are slightly slimmer, making the phone look a little more modern.
When it comes to color choice, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes in four colors: Black Titanium, Silver Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Blue Titanium. I chose Natural and Blue, and both look fantastic.
At Apple’s reveal event, the Blue Titanium color seemed to resemble the Pacific Blue color that was on the iPhone 12 Pro. However, when you see Blue Titanium in person, it is more of a navy blue, which I prefer. I hope both Natural Titanium and Blue Titanium stick around on future iPhones.


, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is slightly shorter than the previous 14 Pro Max. While it is minimal on paper, it is somewhat noticeable when you hold the phone. It seems to make it easier to use Apple’s larger model.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s design feels like what the 14 Pro Max should have been, since that model was the final version of the iPhone 12 cycle. Regardless, I like the 15 Pro Max’s design a lot. It may very well be one of my favorite smartphone designs ever. It almost makes me want to go without a case, but I’m not that bold.
The DisplayThe iPhone 15 Pro Max features the same display as its predecessor. It’s a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2796 x 1290. The display can reach 2000 nits of peak brightness when the phone is outdoors, making it easier to view in sunlight. Since this is a Pro iPhone, the 15 Pro Max also includes up to a 120Hz adaptable refresh rate.


iPhone 15 Pro Max display
Therefore, you can enjoy smooth animations when swiping between home screen pages, scrolling, and more. The iPhone 15 Pro Max still features Dynamic Island, Apple’s version of a hole punch display cutout, which remains unchanged this year. Although there are no changes to the display this time around, it’s still excellent, so no complaints here.
The Action ButtonThe physical Silent Mode switch has existed on every iPhone since the start. But smartly, Apple decided to replace that switch with the Action button. This button is customizable, allowing you to map it to a specific action (even Silent Mode, if you can ‘t live without it!)
It initially showed up on the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra and has now made its way to the iPhone.


Only on the Pro models, the Action button can be used to open the camera, turn on the LED flash, enable a Focus Mode, and more. But you can also configure it to any Shortcut (read our beginner’s guide to Shortcuts on the iPhone ), which lets you do things such as open a specific app or even lock and unlock a Tesla. To trigger an action, you have to press and hold the button instead of just clicking it once.
I think this was a smart decision. The Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra only needs to be momentarily pressed for it to activate, which has led to accidentally triggering the flashlight, in my experience. Having to press and hold requires more intention.


It’s puzzling that Apple didn’t replace the physical Silent switch sooner. I always have my phone on mute, so the switch has been useless to me for years. The Action button is an excellent addition to the iPhone, since it’s multipurpose and adds a bit of customization. I’m interested in seeing if it will come to the standard iPhone models in 2024.The A17 Pro Chip2 Images15 Pro Max Geekbench CPU results15 Pro Max Geekbench GPU scorePowering the iPhone 15 Pro models, you’ll find a new chip: the A17 Pro. The A17 Pro is the first 3nm chip in any smartphone, which translates to better performance than a chipset built on a larger nanometer process.Apple claims the A17 Pro has a 10 percent faster CPU and a 20 percent faster GPU. It features a new Neural Engine that’s twice as fast as the A16 Bionic, as well as a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU; that’s one additional GPU core compared to the A16. Lastly, there is now 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: What Changed?

Apple’s incremental changes make it hard to spot the differences between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. So, let’s compare the two and see what’s new.
The iPhone 15 is simply a slightly improved version of the iPhone 14. While most cutting-edge features have been directed toward the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, the standard iPhone 15 has received notable upgrades.
So, if you’re considering purchasing a new device and can’t decide, we’ll help you choose between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.


Unfortunately, Apple hasn’t made any major display changes to the standard iPhones since the iPhone 12. Besides adopting the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island, the iPhone 15 looks almost identical to its predecessor.
Both models have a 6.1″ Super Retina XDR Display and share the same dimensions. However, the iPhone 15 can deliver 2,000 nits of peak brightness, compared to 1,200 nits offered by its predecessor, making it better for outdoor use.
While both models sport an aluminum frame with a glass back, the iPhone 15 ditched the glossy back for a matte textured finish. It also features slightly contoured edges, making it more comfortable to hold.


Camera configurationiPhone 15 on a tableImage Credit: Apple
The iPhone 14 features a dual-camera system, with a 12MP primary camera and an ultra-wide lens. On the other hand, the iPhone 15’s main camera takes a leap forward because Apple has bumped the resolution to 48 megapixels. This means you can capture pictures with immaculate detail and more accurate and realistic colors, with the flexibility to shoot at both 24MP and 48MP.
The iPhone 15’s 12MP ultra-wide camera, however, remains unchanged from its predecessor. You can capture great selfies with both devices, though, since both feature the same 12MP selfie camera.


However, Apple has introduced next-generation portraits on the iPhone 15, allowing you to take portrait shots in the default camera mode that you can tweak later on in the Photos app.
Pricing, Colors, and Storage Optionsiphone 15 and 15 plus colorsImage Credit: AppleAfter the launch of the iPhone 15, Apple dropped the starting price of the iPhone 14 to $699. The base 128GB model of the iPhone 15 retails for $799, the same as the iPhone 14 did at launch. Both models come in three different storage variants : 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

The iPhone 15 comes in five different colors: Yellow, Green, Blue, Black, and Pink. Besides the Black option, all the colors appear muted this time. So, if you’re struggling to decide on a color, make sure to check out which iPhone 15 color is best for you.
On the other hand, the iPhone 14 is available in six bright color options: Blue, Purple, Yellow, Midnight, Starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED. The iPhone 15’s Black color option no longer carries the subtle navy blue visible in the Midnight iPhone 14.


Performance and Battery LifeUSB-C port on the iPhone 15Image Credit: Apple/YouTubeThe iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 Bionic chip, the same processor that shipped with the iPhone 14 Pro models. The iPhone 14, on the other hand, features the same A15 Bionic chip that Apple introduced alongside the iPhone 13 Pro models. Apple claims the A16 chip consumes 20% less power than the A15.

Given the 4nm architecture of the A16 chip, you can expect better performance than the 5nm A15 chip. All in all, the iPhone 14 is equipped with all the power you need for daily use. However, upgrading to the iPhone 15 might be a good idea if you plan to use it for several years.


Apple has also ditched the Lightning port for USB-C on the iPhone 15. While this change does mean that you can use one cable to charge all your devices, there are no improvements to data transfer and charging speeds.


When it comes to battery life, both devices boast up to 20 hours of video playback and 80 hours of audio playback, according to Apple’s claims. This is surprising, considering the iPhone 15 packs a slightly larger battery. The charging speed remains the same for both devices—up to 50% charge within 30 minutes using a 20W adapter or higher.
Unless you want the slight performance advantage and all the perks USB-C brings to iPhones, you’ll likely notice no improvements if you choose the iPhone 15 over its predecessor.


Is Upgrading to the iPhone 15 Worth It?

You may be wondering if minor design tweaks, similar battery life, and slight performance improvements justify upgrading to the iPhone 15. When deciding whether the upgrade is worth it, you must consider the specific features that matter to you most.


If you want a newer device that’ll support iOS updates for slightly longer, the iPhone 15 is a no-brainer. However, if you simply need a device for daily use at a cheaper price, the iPhone 14 won’t disappoint.
Finally, if you already own an iPhone 14, it’s better to skip the iPhone 15 altogether and save your hard-earned money, as there’s no point upgrading to a new iPhone every year.