We're hearing again that Apple is working on a foldable device with a large 20-inch display, though it might not land for another four years.
from Digital Trends https://ift.tt/xvDLmNB
from Digital Trends https://ift.tt/xvDLmNB
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With the cheap phone market dominated by big Chinese names like Redmi, Realme and Pocophone, it can be easy to forget about the stalwart mobile manufacturers – but HMD Global has just given us a reason to pay it some heed.
HMD Global, which makes Nokia phones, debuted three new super-budget mobiles as part of annual tech conference MWC 2022.
These new mobiles are the Nokia C2 2nd Edition (the original came in 2020), Nokia C21, and Nokia C21 Plus – they're all part of the company's C line, which is its lowest-end collection, compared to the slightly-higher-end G and verging-on-mid-range X families.
As we said, these are super affordable handsets. The first and last phones are launching in the UK, and we have their prices as £75 (roughly $100, AU$140) and £100 (around $130, AU$190) respectively.
Here are their specs, so you can see how they compare:
Phone | Screen | Rear cameras | Front-facing camera | RAM / ROM | Battery | Chipset | Fingerprint scanner | Connectivity |
Nokia C2 2nd Edition | 5.7-inch HD 60Hz | 5MP main | 2MP | 1,2GB / 32GB (expandable up to 256GB) | 2,400mAh | Unspecified | None | 4G |
Nokia C21 | 6.5-inch HD+ 60Hz | 8MP main | 5MP | 2,3GB / 32, 64GB (expandable up to 256GB) | 3,000mAh | Unspecified | Rear | |
Nokia C21 Plus | 6.5-inch HD+ 60Hz | 13MP main, 2MP depth | 5MP | 2,3,4GB / 32,64GB (expandable up to 256GB) | 4,000mAh, 5,050mAh | Unspecified | Rear-mounted | 4G |
If you're confused about the C21 Plus' battery situation, it seems that you can opt between two sizes, just like how many mobiles offer you a choice in RAM and storage.
In an age where every budget phone maker is trying to put out a super-flashy, specs-heavy monster, it's slightly refreshing to see genuine true budget phones. Seriously, how many phones do you see nowadays with just 1GB RAM, or with a single rear camera?
Obviously, these devices aren't going to run like your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy device, but they're designed for people who don't need a best-in-class smartphone. They're cheap and cheery, perhaps for seniors or technophobes who can't totally put off the tech-ification of the world.
Alongside the new smartphones, HMD Global unveiled a few headphones and earbuds, and they're all affordable devices just like their mobile counterparts.
The Nokia phones are coming to the UK starting in April, but we don't know if they'll be arriving elsewhere, so we'll have to wait and see.
These aren't the only cheap phones we've seen at MWC, either. TCL unveiled its own selection with impressive rear cameras and big batteries, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. We're expecting more to launch all the time, so stay tuned in the coming days for more.
Virtual reality might not be everywhere yet, but after the huge success of the Oculus Quest 2 has enjoyed, 2022 is already shaping up to be an important year for new virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets. One of the biggest new announcements is expected to be about Project Cambria, this is a headset currently in development from Meta (née Facebook), and will follow on from the success of its Oculus product line.
Project Cambria was first announced at the Meta Connect conference in October 2021. It’s thought to be what many have previously assumed to be the Oculus Quest Pro, which is a high-end virtual reality and augmented reality hybrid headset. This would make it distinct from the Oculus Quest 2 (and eventual Oculus Quest 3) in being a device aimed at and priced for the pro and enthusiast end of the mixed-reality market.
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg described it as “a completely new advanced and high-end product,” which will sit “at the higher end of the price spectrum.”
Project Cambria is likely to represent the cutting edge of what’s currently possible in wireless virtual reality, unrestricted by the affordability constraints that other Oculus headsets were penned in by as Facebook / Meta looked to prove interest in widespread VR adoption.
With Apple said to also be working on high-end virtual and augmented reality devices, not to mention the imminent launch of the PlayStation VR 2 headset from Sony, Meta will be looking to shore up its position right across the spectrum of all things VR.
Interested? You should be. Here’s everything you need to know about Project Cambria so far.
Despite much of what Project Cambria has to offer being shrouded in secrecy, we surprisingly have a window for when the device will be available. Meta has committed to a 2022 release for the headset.
When precisely that launch will take place is hard to pin down. The original Oculus Quest launched in May of 2019, with the Oculus Quest 2 following in October 2020. That’s roughly 18 months apart; by that reckoning, May of 2022 would seem an appropriate guess.
However, development timelines between products can be different, and with the ongoing pandemic and supply chain issues that have plagued all kinds of consumer tech products, we wouldn’t bet the house on any date.
What is guaranteed, by Zuckerberg’s own admission, is that this will be a more expensive device than the $299 / £299.99 Oculus Quest 2. Don’t be surprised if the headset lands above the $500 / £500 mark – if not significantly more.
Meta has been pretty candid already about what to expect from the Project Cambria hardware, and it’s looking to be markedly more advanced than any Oculus headset that has come before it.
For starters, we know it’ll be a standalone, wireless headset. That’s not to say it won’t be able to connect to a PC for PC VR experiences (or even connect wirelessly to a powerful host PC, like the Oculus Link feature), but since the end of the Oculus Rift line in 2021, Meta’s focus has purely been on cable-free (out of the box, at least) VR hardware. This will also set it apart from the upcoming PlayStation VR 2, which will not only be more of an entry-level device, but will also still need a wire to connect it to the PS5 console.
One much-requested feature will finally be getting its moment in the spotlight – eye tracking. It’s an important aspect of the way humans interact with the world, and a readily-exploitable tool for developers of advanced virtual reality applications. With eye-tracking, devs have another form of user input to play with, not only letting them better understand where a user’s gaze is focused (and tailor interactive experiences appropriately), but also to take full advantage of foveated rendering.
In short, foveated rendering makes sure that the area of the display a user is focused on is displayed in the greatest possible detail, while the surrounding areas of a virtual environment aren’t shown in such high fidelity - much like how the human eye masks peripheral vision. It can be used to maximize device resource usage – pumping processing power only onto the fidelity of objects and areas that a user’s gaze is interacting with. It’s a hugely exciting part of the future-VR puzzle.
Likewise, face tracking will be on board Project Cambria. This will allow in-game avatars to mimic your facial expressions in real time, potentially even opening up accessibility functions such as lip reading. So far however, both eye tracking and facial tracking are mainly expected to be used for avatar-based features – but their potential usage could go way beyond that.
Many of these features can be seen in action in the video below – what is believed to be an orientation video for new users of the Project Cambria headset, which leaked ahead of the announcement for Project Cambria:
Project Cambria will go beyond virtual reality experiences however, and will lean ever more into the augmented reality features that are increasingly becoming available to Oculus Quest users.
Supporting this will be the introduction of high resolution color passthrough features. The Oculus Quest 2 uses an array of head-mounted cameras to present the world outside of your headset on the internal displays – primarily for safely tracking your real-world play space, in real time. But the current Quest devices can only offer a black and white view, at a relatively low resolution.
Project Cambria will make this sharper and in color, expanding the potential for augmented reality experiences. It’s not quite the same as having transparent lenses, as seen in HoloLens or the hibernating Magic Leap headsets, but Cambria's augmented reality will also benefit from the expanded field of view that internal VR lenses can currently offer over transparent alternatives.
One other Project Cambria-related rumor we've heard is that Meta has hit pause on the development of its combined AR/VR operating system, so the upcoming headset may not have a completely new software platform arriving along with it.
Project Cambria, while remaining a head-mounted unit, will look rather different to existing hardware from Meta, thanks to the use of new lens types.
These “pancake” lenses have a thinner profile, reportedly resulting from their use of mini LED panels. Sharper and cooler to run, this is expected to allow Project Cambria’s front area to be much less bulky than that of the Oculus Quest 2, boosting both comfort and resolution.
With a new industrial design afforded by the new lenses, VR data miners have been able to reconstruct what they believe Project Cambria will look like by creating 3D models from render textures. You can find them in the video above and tweet below:
Project Cambria https://t.co/NnHWBJgUZK pic.twitter.com/oD2nD6aFePNovember 2, 2021
If the sleuthing here points to the real product, the headset will be returning to the darker outer shell design of older Oculus devices, with considerable shaving of the depth off the frontmost element of the headset.
A more pronounced padded forehead rest could be in the cards too, as well as more padding on the rear part of the strap. In conjunction with the apparent reduced weight, these features could lead to a much more comfortable headset than the Oculus Quest 2, taking cues from the Rift S and PlayStation VR, whose front forehead rests lead to very ergonomic fits.
So what about the controllers in those renders…
Project Cambria’s motion controllers look significantly different too. While retaining the disc-on-a-wand design the Quest controllers have popularized, you’ll note that Cambria controllers appear to be lacking the tracking ring earlier models have.
This seems to be afforded by the inclusion of infrared tracking cameras on the controllers themselves. You can see this in both the above renders and the below apparent leaked controller photos, all said to be from a Facebook / Meta Workplace video conference. (Workplace is Meta’s internal Slack / Teams solution).
Whether a prototype, or a fake, there’s definitely a correlation between the texture renders and this controller – which also suggests a white colorway may be in the cards for Project Cambria. Dropping the tracking rings would presumably lead to a lighter controller, and reduce the friction between user and VR experience. Previous firmware leaks have suggested that some form of laser-tracking system between the controllers and headset will ensure the two remain in sync and in communication.
Expect hand tracking to increasingly be the norm in VR and AR too; the tracking and processing improvements expected to be found in Project Cambria should help to make the device more accurate and comfortable in day to day use.
Rest assured that the Oculus Quest 3, now more likely to be known as the Meta Quest 3, will still likely launch as a separate offering from Project Cambria.
Speaking with The Information, Zuckerberg stressed that the Oculus Quest line has a long life ahead of it. "We have product teams spun up now working on the next few generations of virtual reality and what Quest 3 and 4 are gonna look like," Zuckerberg stated on the podcast.
Consulting CTO John Carmack also reinforced the idea that Project Cambria represents an expansion of the line, rather than a replacement to existing devices whose price point gives them wider appeal.
“An important point here is that the ‘project Cambria’ product will *NOT* replace Quest 2; it will be sold alongside it,” Carmack said. “Quest 2 will have a long life.”
What will likely happen is that, going forward, Project Cambria will debut the most bleeding-edge VR features for enthusiasts, with those features being implemented later down the line in cheaper, successive Quest devices.
There are now thought to be as many as 10 million Oculus Quest headsets in homes around the world, and it appears Meta has no intention of alienating its existing userbase by encouraging them to re-buy their VR libraries for any eventual Project Cambria headset.
Just as Oculus Quest titles were compatible with Oculus Quest 2, Project Cambria is said to have “compatibility” with the Quest. While Meta hasn’t explicitly referred to this as “backwards compatibility,” it’s hard to understand this any other way. Certainly, the aforementioned orientation video explicitly references Beat Saber in its visuals – perhaps the most popular existing Oculus Quest title of all.
How many of the newer headset’s new features will be taken advantage of by the older software remains to be seen however, though even a more ergonomic form factor could breathe new life into old titles.
A lot has changed for Facebook and Oculus recently: Facebook as a company is now called Meta, as you might have heard; and its upcoming VR headset, dubbed Project Cambria, isn't actually a Quest device at all.
Project Cambria is, instead, a completely new headset IP, designed to introduce users to groundbreaking VR technology that will help Facebook – sorry, Meta – establish the earliest days of its aptly-named (but potentially overambitious) metaverse project.
So, where does that leave the Oculus Quest 3?
Well, Meta has clarified that development is still underway on the next generation of its more budget-friendly VR headsets, which spells good news for those worried that Project Cambria might have condemned the Quest 3 to the grave.
At an earnings call for the company back in 2021, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg told investors that Meta has been working on "new hardware [that] will fit the same platform [as the Quest 2]" for some time.
We're still not certain whether those comments were made in reference to an Oculus Quest 3 headset, a newer version of the Oculus Quest 2 (which is now on shelves) or indeed this newly-announced Project Cambria, but we're nonetheless intrigued to see what new Quest products Meta may have up its sleeve – in addition to the more expensive Project Cambria – over the next year or so.
Importantly, though, Meta has decided to drop the 'Oculus' moniker for upcoming (and, we think, existing) Quest hardware. Moving forward, Meta's VR devices will instead be branded with the 'Meta Quest' label. We're not crazy about the decision, and it also means any Oculus Quest 3 headset is likely to be called the Meta Quest 3.
For simplicity, though, we'll be referring to the Oculus Quest 3 in the below guide without the Meta prefix – at least until the term becomes more widespread among the gaming community. So, read on for all the latest news, rumors and predictions for the most anticipated product in the world of VR.
With Project Cambria supposedly launching next year (though no set date has been given yet), Meta's next Quest headset isn't likely to hit shelves until 2023.
It's certainly disappointing to expect the Quest 3 to launch as late as that, given Meta's clear appetite to establish itself as the home of mainstream VR gaming, but with the potential for clashes between its own hardware releases now a genuine reality, the company will likely put some distance between the two products.
That 2023 prediction was recently corroborated by analyst Brad Lynch, who tweeted (below) that the Oculus Quest 3 will be shown off during a 2023 Meta Connect event. If the company sticks to its annual event timetable, that means we could be playing the Quest 3 by October 2023.
Meta Cambria (Q2 2022) will include MiniLED screens. Targeting to sell 3 million HMD units in its first year.Quest 3 is planned to include uOLED. Meta signed deal to build production lines for these displays with Changxin TechnologyConnect 2023 announce/release soon afterJanuary 4, 2022
Still, with the Quest 2 launching in October 2020, only a year and a half after the original, there's a chance that the Quest 3 could follow a similar timeline – and analyst predictions should always be taken with a hefty pinch of salt.
The signs are promising, too, and more information is being revealed about the next Quest device as the months roll on. In a 2021 interview with The Information, Zuckerberg not only confirmed that the Quest 3 is definitely in the works, but that the company is already in the early stages of work on the Quest 4.
“Because of how hardware gets developed, you kind of need to know what your next three products are going to look like all at the same time," Zuckerberg said.
"It’s not like software, where we’re changing it every couple of weeks. We have product teams spun up now working on the next few generations of virtual reality and what Quest 3 and 4 are gonna look like.“
Although there's a big difference between actually creating these products and defining what they're "gonna look like", this is good news for those who are keen to find out more about the Quest 3.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows, though. In April 2021, details were shared of a recent online chat between two key Oculus executives who suggested its next device is more likely to be an incremental Oculus Quest 2 Pro upgrade rather than a full-on Oculus Quest 3 follow-up – but again, this may have been in reference to the aforementioned upgraded Quest 2, or indeed the recently-announced Project Cambria. Meta hasn't been super clear, either way.
All things considered, then, our best guess for an accurate Oculus Quest 3 release date is late 2023.
Given the improvements made by the Quest 2 over its predecessor, we’d expect the Quest 3 to remain a standalone VR headset with customary improvements to battery life, processing power and resolution.
The Quest 2 boasts a 50% sharper picture than the original device, which sets an impressive benchmark for the Quest 3 to follow. The Quest 2 also upped the refresh rate to 90Hz from the original Quest’s default 72Hz, and increased that figure again to 120Hz in 2021.
It would follow, then, that the Quest 3 will come equipped with a minimum refresh rate of 120Hz, although time will tell whether upcoming VR titles can take full advantage of the upgrade, given that most games still don’t yet support that higher refresh rate.
Interestingly, the aforementioned tweet from analyst Brad Lynch suggests the Quest 3 will include uOLED displays (an upgraded version of OLED). So, while nothing is official just yet, Meta's next Quest headset is almost certain to push the boundaries of visual fidelity.
What's more, a Swiss VR tech manufacturer, CREAL, last year demonstrated its breakthrough in light-field display technology, showing off a headset capable of focusing at long distances and rendering high resolution imagery up close. This hardware is capable of generating imagery that accurately represents how we see light from the real world, and though not yet available for the mass-market, we may see something similar arrive with the Quest 3.
CREAL also says its display is capable of running at 240Hz – double the 120Hz refresh established by the Quest 2 update – though this does seem a little too big of a jump for the Quest 3 to make.
We could also see changes to form factor, possibly decreasing the headset's weight further or focusing on comfort-related alterations. As per recent rumors, we've seen multiple clips showing a device dubbed 'Seacliff' – the supposed codename for a new Oculus (now Meta) VR headset – which could indicate some of the design changes coming to Meta's next device.
In these videos, one of which you can find below, we see a new VR headset (that seems to be wireless like the Oculus Quest 2) sporting a much less bulky front visor, with the weight instead distributed across the front and with a pack at the back.
Quest Pro / Seacliff [thread]found by Samulia in the Seacliff firmware pic.twitter.com/0pGODx2HCpOctober 24, 2021
After the cryptic announcement of Project Cambria, though, we're fairly confident that Seacliff is instead codename for, well, Project Cambria – though the video nonetheless hints at potential form changes we could still yet see in a new Quest headset.
We're sure the software of any new Oculus device will be updated to improve hand tracking, too – especially as the kind of haptic feedback we're seeing in the PS5 DualSense controller seems like it could elevate VR experiences if it came to the Quest's pair of controllers in a meaningful way.
An almost inevitable feature of the Quest 3, though, will be its integration with the Meta ecosystem, meaning you’ll likely need a Meta account to access the platform. This prerequisite means you’ll again be subject to Meta’s data monitoring practices – so if you’re morally against the Quest 2’s data-harvesting methods, you’ll be out of luck once more.
The company has made a conscious effort to distance itself from its previous business model, mind, with its VR division now wholly separate from its Facebook platform – suggesting you may not need the latter to enjoy the products developed by the former.
One other tidbit we've heard from the software side is that Meta may have abandoned development on its combined AR/VR operating system, at least for now, so the software on board the new headset is likely to be similar to what's running on the Oculus Quest 2.
How much would an Oculus Quest 3 model cost? Well, the Oculus Quest 2 comes in two variants: a model with 128GB of storage, priced at £299 / $299 / AU$479, and a 256GB version for £399 / $399 / AU$639.
That’s a significant saving over the initial price of the original, entry-level Oculus Quest. We don't expect a Quest 3 to get too much cheaper, though, and we've seen Oculus adopt a 'same price, but better specs' strategy when upgrading the Oculus Rift to the Rift S.
Having said that, knowing Meta's plans to see its hardware become the go-to mainstream VR platform, it could either opt to make the Quest 3 more accessible to all (i.e. cheaper than the Quest 2) or, instead, adopt an Apple-esque model of making its products seem more appealing (read: exclusive) by hiking their price.
We've already heard mutterings that the upcoming Project Cambria headset will be on the expensive side, so it follows that the Quest 3 could be even pricier – if it does indeed end up being the superior device, that is.
In our review of the Oculus Quest 2, it was hard to find fault with a VR headset that proved immersive, comfortable and easy to use. And yet, while it clearly leads the pack in the VR market, it still falls foul of some of the pitfalls that the technology as a whole suffers from. Here’s a list of updates we want to see on the Oculus Quest 3:
Improved motion sickness prevention
One of those technological pitfalls, and perhaps an unavoidable one, is the motion sickness that can often ensue when using any VR headset. Depending on your tolerance for whirring and blurring, the Quest 2 can be one helluva dizziness-inducer. While there isn’t yet a clear path to making any VR headset immune to user dizziness, it’s nonetheless something we’d like to see improved on the Oculus Quest 3.
A better fit
The same goes for the fit of the device. While the Quest 2 is indeed a comfortable weight when on the head, it can still be a little claustrophobic to achieve a good, tight fit. Again, it’s a problem encountered by almost all VR headsets, and a base-level issue that the next generation of hardware should at least attempt to better address. Those aforementioned design rumors suggest the new Oculus device could solve some of these issues.
Improved Oculus Store
Other improvements we’d like to see include a more effective in-VR Oculus Store. While the equivalent store on browser and in the app makes it easy to discover new releases and search for upcoming games, the store inside the headset itself seems to roll the dice on what apps are shown with no way to quickly navigate to new content. This makes it difficult to pre-order games and discover new titles to purchase when using the device, which is a pivotal part of ensuring the headset maintains replayability.
A neighbourhood-like social space
While the Quest 2 has a competent party invitation system to get you game-to-game with your friends, there isn’t a social space to engage with others in-between. It would be interesting to see the Quest 3 introduce a virtual social space, in the same vein as NBA 2K’s neighbourhood area, to share some downtime with others. What’s with the multi-person furniture in the current home environment if there’s nobody to share it with? Luckily, Meta's new metaverse project – ambitious as it seems – suggests virtual social spaces will be at the forefront of all future Quest headsets.
Improved media sharing
Sharing screenshots and videos on Oculus devices has never been easy, and it’s an issue that the Quest 2 tried to address with little success. You still need to jump through several hoops before you’re able to share your VR content, which is often captured haphazardly anyway, so we’d like to see the Oculus 3 make the whole deal more accessible. 1080p video, app integration, proper audio syncing – that’d all be nice, too.
While VR gaming is a medium that has certainly gained popularity in recent years – the Quest 2 reportedly received five times as many pre-orders as its predecessor – it's still not considered to have cracked the mainstream market.
At least, that’s the opinion of Mark Zuckerberg, who reportedly said in 2018 that 10 million VR users were needed to ensure that the Oculus platform was "sustainable and profitable for all kinds of developers.” He did add, though, that “once we get across this threshold, we think that the content and the ecosystem are just going to explode" (as reported by RoadtoVR).
There’s also a gaping hole in the market right now that the Quest 3 could aim to fill. The Valve Index is one of the best VR headsets we've tested so far, but transistor shortages have effectively shut down manufacturing of the device for the past year, making it very difficult to get hold of one. A new Qust device, then, could learn from the successes of Valve’s headset and achieve a real foothold in the VR industry.
Rumours, of course, are also swirling that an Apple VR headset is in the works (along with an Apple car, Apple glasses, an Apple television and so on…) which could mean heavy competition for Meta in the years to come. Multiple tech heavyweights fighting for the top spot can only be a good thing for VR gaming, though, so we await with bated breath to see what the Oculus (Meta!) Quest 3 can bring to the table.
The iPhone 14 is coming in 2022 - almost certainly in September - and will arrive as a follow up to the impressive iPhone 13 range. And while it's a way off yet, leakers have already begun revealing possible specs, and there are even unofficial renders of the phone online.
- Likely to land in September
- A new iPhone 14 Max in place of an iPhone 14 mini
- No notch for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max
- Similar designs to the iPhone 13 range for the basic models
- Two roughly 6.1-inch phones and two 6.7-inch phones
- 48MP cameras on Pro models
- Bigger batteries
- A powerful A16 Bionic chipset
As such, we have a surprisingly clear picture of the form the iPhone 14 range might take – though this far from launch we’d be extra skeptical, as there’s plenty of time for things to change.
But the rumors so far are promising, pointing to a completely new design for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, a totally new model dubbed the iPhone 14 Max, and some significant camera upgrades.
Here you’ll find everything we’ve heard so far, including details about the potential release date and price. And as soon as we hear anything else about the iPhone 14 we’ll add it to this article, so make sure to check back here soon, as leaks are rolling in at a surprisingly rapid rate already.
Feb. 27: A look at the pill and punch hole replacement for the notch on the Pro models comes courtesy of a leaked schematic.
Feb, 21: Production has apparently started! A report claims that Apple has begun trial production of the iPhone 14 range already.
Feb. 7: Is an iPhone SE 3 coming first? Before we get an iPhone 14, the popular budget SE line will be refreshed in March alongside a new iPad Air 5, Bloomberg predicted recently. We wouldn't be at all surprised.
Jan. 27: eSim only? An analyst predicts that Apple might launch a version of the iPhone 14 that only has an eSIM - meaning no removable SIM card. They claim that the company would release versions with physical SIM cards too, so buyers have a choice.
Jan. 15: 120Hz all the way round! Every edition of the iPhone 14 will come with a 120Hz ProMotion display, one analyst believes – a feature that is currently an exclusive on the Pro and Pro Max models when it comes to the iPhone 13.
Jan. 15: 120Hz all the way round! Every edition of the iPhone 14 will come with a 120Hz ProMotion display, one analyst believes – a feature that is currently an exclusive on the Pro and Pro Max models when it comes to the iPhone 13.
Jan. 13: The notch is dead. Long live cutouts. Apple will incorporate both a circular and pill-shaped camera cutout on the front display of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max handsets, says a supply-chain expert. And "the smaller hole will not be invisible."
Jan. 11: Hold onto your wallet. If you can believe the rumors, the iPhone 14 will cost $799 in the US - the same price the iPhone 13 started at. And the Pro and Pro Max will get even more expensive.
iPhone 14 release date: There aren't any release date rumors yet, but Apple almost always unveils new iPhone models in September.
iPhone 14 price: Pricing is unknown, but for reference the iPhone 13 started at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349, and prices may be similar for the next models.
Design: The iPhone 14 will probably look a lot like the iPhone 13, but the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max could get a punch-hole camera instead of a notch. There might also be a big-screen iPhone 14 Max in place of an iPhone 14 mini.
Display: The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro could have 6.1-inch (or 6.06-inch) 1170 x 2532 OLED screens, while the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max could have 6.7-inch (or 6.68-inch) 1284 x 2778 OLED screens. Expect a 120Hz refresh rate on the Pro models and a 60Hz refresh rate on the others.
Camera: The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max could have 48MP main cameras (up from 12MP on the current models). Other specs are unclear, but a triple-lens snapper on all but the standard iPhone 14 is likely, with the basic phone instead having two rear lenses.
Specs: Every iPhone 14 model is expected to have a powerful A16 Bionic chipset, but the Pro models could additionally have 8GB of RAM (up from a maximum of 6GB currently) and up to 2TB of storage (up from a current maximum of 1TB).
Battery: Little is known about the battery yet, but there are claims that the capacity could increase, with the phones getting thicker to house their larger batteries.
There’s no news on when the iPhone 14 will be released yet, but we can take a very good guess at this, as Apple tends to announce new models around the same time each year, usually at a special event.
The iPhone 13 was unveiled on September 14, 2021, and it shipped on September 24. While we probably won’t see the iPhone 14 on those exact dates in 2022, Apple tends to unveil the new models on either the first or second Tuesday in September, which would mean either September 6 or September 13.
Then they usually go up for pre-order the Friday of that week, meaning September 9 or 16, and ship the following Friday, so September 16 or 23.
Occasionally Apple will announce the phones on the first or second Wednesday instead, but around those dates seems very likely anyway. The iPhone 12 range was an exception to this, landing in October 2020, but that was thanks to delays and supply issues caused by Covid-19.
So far it doesn't look like there will be delays this year, with trial production apparently having already started (as of late February), which is on schedule.
We've heard one iPhone 14 price leak which detailed four members of the new range - with a Max included, but no Mini.
Apparently the base phone will start at $799 - the iPhone 13 starts at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349, so that fits - with the iPhone 14 Max going for $100 more than that.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are said to go for $1,099 and $1,199 respectively, which would mean each would be $100 more than the starting price of their predecessors.
The biggest news on the iPhone 14’s design comes from one big leak, which includes unofficial renders of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
You can see one of these below, and it includes a punch-hole camera instead of a notch, with the Face ID components presumably being under the screen. It also doesn’t really have a camera bump, with the lenses sitting almost flat on the back – a thing that is apparently achieved by making the phone thicker.
The back is a semi-glossy glass, the volume buttons are shown to be round, and it apparently has titanium sides, in place of stainless steel on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You can also see that there’s still a triple-lens camera and a Lightning port.
The colors shown here aren’t official (though the source claims to have seen a rose gold model), and it’s worth also noting that this design is thought to only apply to the Pro models, with the iPhone 14 (and iPhone 14 Max if there is one) likely to still have a notch. It’s not currently clear which if any of the other design details here could make it to the standard models.
We would of course take this with a huge helping of salt, especially as it comes from Jon Prosser, who has a mixed track record, and as another source has said the iPhone 14 Pro range will still have a notch (albeit a smaller one) - possibly as well as a punch-hole.
But Prosser is often right, and both Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo (two leakers with excellent track records for Apple information) have since said that the notch will be replaced with a punch-hole camera, as more recently has The Elec.
Another leaker has chimed in to say the same too, though they claim that the camera cut-out will be pill-shaped, suggesting that it might be bigger than most punch-hole cameras.
Ross Young - a supply-chain expert in the world of smartphone displays - has said he believes the company will adopt a "hole + pill" design of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. That will mean a pill-shaped cutout, as well as a smaller hole that will still be visible – a theory backed up with a leaked schematic cut out.
All that said, Gurman has recently said the iPhone 14 range will include “a hole-punch-sized notch”, and it's not clear from that whether he means a small notch or an actual punch-hole, so there's still some uncertainty.
We’ve also heard similar about the design from another source (Ross Young). Young has been talking about there being under-display Face ID in the iPhone 14 Pro range since June 2021, but doesn’t seem as sure it will happen as Prosser, adding in September 2021 that under-display Face ID is still being worked on and isn’t final yet – though saying that it’s apparently easier to achieve than an in-screen camera.
Elsewhere, we’ve heard that the Pro models could use a titanium alloy for their frame. This would likely be stronger than the materials used in current models, and this source also claims there will be an iPhone 14 Max in place of an iPhone 14 mini.
Reputable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo claims that there will be two 6.1-inch iPhone 14 models (a standard one and a Pro), and two 6.7-inch ones (a Pro Max and a Max).
We’ve also heard more detailed screen specs from Ross Young (another leaker with a good track record). Young claims that the iPhone 14 will have a 6.06-inch 1170 x 2532 OLED screen with a 60Hz refresh rate and 460 pixels per inch. The iPhone 14 Pro will apparently have similar screen specs, but with a 120Hz variable refresh rate.
Then the iPhone 14 Pro Max is said to have a 6.68-inch 1284 x 2778 OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 458 pixels per inch. There’s also apparently going to be an iPhone 14 Max (taking the place of the mini) with basically the same screen specs but a 60Hz refresh rate.
Another source has also suggested that the two cheaper models will be stuck with 60Hz screens, just like in the current range. That said, we've more recently heard that Apple is considering a 120Hz screen for the iPhone 14 Max, but that the decision hasn't yet been made.
A leak has also suggested that all four iPhone 14 models could have 120Hz screens. This is quite an old leak and is at odds with one above, but this claim has been made again more recently, so we're not sure what's right here.
And there’s also a patent for a technology that could make the iPhone screen stronger, without making it any thicker. That would be a nice addition, but patents often don’t turn into anything, so don’t count on seeing this.
On the camera front, the unofficial renders above show the iPhone 14 Pro Max with a triple-lens camera, and indeed another source also points to that phone (and the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Max) having a triple-lens camera. The iPhone 14 meanwhile will apparently stick with two lenses.
So that doesn’t sound like much change from the iPhone 13 range, though the specifications of the lenses and sensors may well differ.
Indeed, Ming-Chi Kuo (an analyst with a great track record for Apple information) has claimed that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will each have a 48MP main camera, up from 12MP on the current models. This would apparently be capable of recording 8K video, and it's something he's more recently reiterated, and in December 2021 reiterated again, so he seems very sure of this.
Plus, another analyst has also joined Kuo in that claim saying that they expect both the Pro models in 2022 to feature 48MP cameras. That isn't confirmation, but it certainly helps Kuo's original claim.
There are also rumors of a periscope camera in the works (for long range optical zoom), and we’ve even seen a patent supporting these claims. However, most sources suggest this is further out – probably landing on the iPhone 15 or later.
One thing we’re almost certain of is that the iPhone 14 range will have a new chipset, probably called the A16 or the A16 Bionic. According to Ross Young, this would be made on a 4nm process, which suggests it could be a reasonable boost on the 5nm A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 range.
In fact, the process could even be moved down to 3nm, according to DigiTimes (via MacRumors).
That said, we've more recently heard that a 5nm process could be used once again, as TSMC (the company that's producing the chipset) is apparently struggling to switch to a 3nm (or 4nm) process.
Another leak also suggests both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will feature 8GB of RAM. 6GB of RAM is the most we've seen on an iPhone, so far. Though we've elsewhere heard that every model will have 6GB of RAM, which would be an upgrade for the cheaper ones, but not for the Pro handsets.
On the storage front, the Pro models of the iPhone 13 increased the maximum amount of internal storage you could buy from 512MB to 1TB, and we're hearing that the iPhone 14 Pro phones could double that again – all the way to 2TB.
Beyond that, some sources reckon we could see under-display Touch ID on the iPhone 14, though Mark Gurman (a leaker with a great track record for Apple information) has said that while Apple apparently tested this, the company is now all-in on Face ID, so it sounds like this probably won’t happen – and if it does, it’s likely to be as well as Face ID rather than instead.
Another source has also said under-display Face ID won't happen, so this looks very unlikely.
Another rumored but unlikely feature is a switch from a Lightning port to USB-C. Apple is reportedly considering this for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, but as yet only one source has pointed in this direction, so we're skeptical.
What the iPhone 14 range is sure to include though is 5G support, while a patent suggests it might also have a new form of 3D Touch, which would use haptic feedback to make interactions more intuitive. But as with all patents we wouldn’t count on anything coming of this one.
There's also talk that Apple could switch from a physical SIM card to an eSIM (which you wouldn't be able to remove). The iPhone 13 range already has this but it's in addition to a physical one, not instead. However, if Apple does go eSIM-only with any iPhone 14, it will probably also offer models that have both kinds.
In terms of the battery, it sounds like there could be improvements there, with one source saying it will be larger in the next models, and another saying the phones will be thicker – which could leave room for a larger one.
When it comes time to charge, you might be making use of a MagSafe charger rather than the Lightning port based on one patent, though notably early unofficial renders show the Lightning port intact.
We'd surprised if Apple did ditch the Lightning port on the iPhone 14, but a new EU plan could mean that its days are numbered.
We're likely to see an iPhone SE 3 come out at some point, as it's a phone convention Apple seems to be continuing with, and reports suggest it could arrive as soon as March 8.
- Might land on March 8
- 5G could be the main addition
- A similar design to the last model is likely
- The screen could either stay the same or grow
- A powerful A15 Bionic chipset
- A 12MP camera with a new sensor
Whenever it comes out, the iPhone SE 3 probably won't be called that, and it'll likely follow the iPhone SE (2020)'s naming convention with the year of release in the title, so perhaps we'll actually see the iPhone SE (2022). Then again, a recent leak suggests it could actually be called the iPhone SE Plus 5G.
But while the name is slightly unclear, some of the specs and features are starting to become more so, as there are various leaks and rumors about this upcoming phone, with more rolling in all the time. We've collected them all below, and we'll update this article whenever we hear anything new.
Feb. 27: A cheaper price? One analyst suggests the starting price of the iPhone SE 3 could drop as low as $300 in the US.
Feb. 7: A 2022 highlight? What will the new iPhone SE 3 be like? If we're right, it could be one of the biggest smartphone surprises of 2022.
Feb. 5: A March launch? We weren't expecting the iPhone SE 3 until April or May 2022, but according to Bloomberg the device will be unveiled alongside the iPad Air 5 on Tuesday, March 8.
iPhone SE 3 release date: The iPhone SE 3 could land on March 8 according to recent leaks.
iPhone SE 3 price: Pricing is unknown, but the iPhone SE (2020) started at $399 / £419 / AU$749. Prices could well be similar for the upcoming phone, although there have been whispers that it could get even cheaper.
Design: The iPhone SE 3 is rumored to look much like its predecessor, with big bezels and a home button, housing a Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
Display: The iPhone SE 3 will likely have a 4.7-inch LCD screen, just like the last model. That said, some reports point to it launching as the iPhone SE Plus 5G and having a larger 5.7-6.1-inch display.
Camera: There might not be many camera changes, with the iPhone SE 3 thought to have the same 12MP snapper as the iPhone SE (2020). However, the actual sensor might be new.
Specs: 5G support is likely to be the big addition with the iPhone SE 3. Beyond that, leaks point to an A15 Bionic chipset - the same as the iPhone 13 range.
Battery: We don't know anything about the iPhone SE 3's battery yet, but it's likely to be similar to the 1,821mAh one in the iPhone SE (2020).
We thought the iPhone SE 3 might land at Apple's Spring Loaded event in April 2021 - after all, that would be a year after the iPhone SE (2020) launched, but it was a no-show. Nor did it appear at the iPhone 13 launch in September.
We're not too surprised though, as we'd previously seen a couple of leaks and rumors suggesting that there wouldn’t be an iPhone SE 3 in 2021, perhaps to give the iPhone 13 mini more time in the spotlight.
But there may well be one in 2022 at least, because it's also rumored that there won't be an iPhone 14 mini - meaning Apple might rely on the SE line for fans of smaller phones.
At this point, all the rumors point to a 2022 release, with sources suggesting the phone will land in the first half of the year, and one getting as specific as saying it will land before the end of March.
Other leaks have suggested March or April, sometime in 'spring' (meaning March to May in the US), or perhaps the second half of April or early May. The most recent and perhaps the most reliable rumor, however, suggests that the iPhone SE 3 will get its debut alongside the iPad Air on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
We've also seen an unannounced iPhone believed to be the iPhone SE 3 get certified by the Eurasian Economic Commission - something that typically happens close to launch.
Trial production is also apparently about to start (as of December 2021), further suggesting it's coming soon.
That said, we've elsewhere heard that the iPhone SE 3 might have been delayed until 2024, so there could be a long wait.
And there’s also the iPhone SE Plus to consider. This was rumored to land sometime after the iPhone SE (2020), and while we haven’t heard much about it lately, Ming-Chi Kuo (an analyst with a good track record when it comes to Apple) claimed back in April 2020 that the iPhone SE Plus might not land until 2022.
So this might land instead of the iPhone SE 3 – or maybe we’ll get an iPhone SE 3 and an iPhone SE 3 Plus. It's hard to say at this point.
As for the price, the iPhone SE (2020) starts at $399 / £419 / AU$749, so the iPhone SE 3 is likely to have a similar price – Apple tends not to change around its pricing too much between versions.
One analyst has suggested the iPhone SE 3 could come in at $300 in the US, a drop of 25%, but that hasn't been verified yet. It would certainly help the upcoming handset compete better against cheap Android phones.
The biggest iPhone SE 3 leak so far has revealed a number of the possible specs, including that it might be visually similar to its predecessor, with the same bezel-heavy design and 4.7-inch LCD screen.
We've also previously heard that it might have a 4.7-inch LCD screen, so that aspect is looking likely. More recently a third source has weighed in to say the design and screen size won't change with the next refresh.
That said, another source claims that actually it will have a 5.7-6.1-inch LCD screen. This is something we've now heard more than once, and it could be accompanied by a name change to the iPhone SE Plus 5G. So we're not sure which of these is right. It's possible that eventually we'll get both phones.
Elsewhere we've heard that Apple could bring Face ID to a future iPhone SE model. That would likely mean a substantial change to the design, with no more home button and a notch instead. However, given that the leaks above suggest a similar design for the iPhone SE 3, this change might be further out (if it happens at all).
In fact, one source said an iPhone 11-like design was on the cards but then backtracked and said that Apple had decided to stick with the iPhone 8-like look for 2022. The source also said that the company plans to use the iPhone 11-like look on the iPhone SE (2024).
According to a big leak, the iPhone SE 3 will have an A15 Bionic chipset (the same as in the iPhone 13 range) and support 5G, while another leak says it will also have 3GB of RAM like its predecessor.
Another source agrees, saying that an A15 chipset and 5G will be added, with a third source also pointing to 5G - so that upgrade looks very likely.
Elsewhere, a leak says it will also have 3GB of RAM, like its predecessor. So that aspect might not be upgraded.
There's also another report that echoes all of the above, but adds that the iPhone SE 3 might stick with a 12MP camera like the iPhone SE (2020), but with a new sensor.
As good as the iPhone SE (2020) is, there’s always room for improvement, so here’s what we want from the iPhone SE 3.
The iPhone SE (2020) has a rather old fashioned design, and certainly an older design than the rest of the current iPhone range. So we’d like to see things brought up to date for the iPhone SE 3.
By that we mean get rid of the home button and the big bezels above and below the screen, for a more modern look. Doing this would also allow Apple to increase the screen size without increasing the overall size of the handset - or alternatively keep the screen the same size and shrink the phone even smaller.
The iPhone SE (2020) has an IPS LCD screen with a 750 x 1334 resolution, neither of which are exactly cutting edge.
Now, there are of course limits to what can be done with a mid-range phone, but when you consider that the similarly priced OnePlus Nord and Google Pixel 4a both manage a higher resolution and OLED technology (which typically delivers better contrast and other improvements versus LCD), it’s hard to see how Apple could justify omitting these things from the next iPhone SE model.
That said, we wouldn’t count on getting either – Apple rarely competes with Android phones on pure specs.
The iPhone SE (2020) has a small 1,821mAh, which might seem reasonable given the phone’s compact size, but we found it didn’t go far, lasting around a day.
That’s not terrible, but it’s certainly not impressive, so we’d like much more from the battery in the iPhone SE 3, whether that’s achieved through increasing the size or making things more efficient.
The iPhone SE (2020) stands out through both its small size and its relatively affordable price, and we want both of those things to remain for the iPhone SE 3.
There aren’t many compact phones anymore – certainly not ones with good specs, and nor are iPhones known for being affordable, so the two things make for a great combination.
The iPhone SE (2020) has just one camera on the back and one on the front, and while they perform reasonably well, they don’t give you the versatility that you can get with more lenses.
Of course, with even the iPhone 13 only having a dual-lens snapper we don’t expect too much more from the iPhone SE 3, but when you consider that rivals like the OnePlus Nord and Moto G 5G Plus have four cameras on the back and two on the front, you’d think an extra lens or two wouldn’t be too much to ask for.
Apple has now embraced 5G on its flagship range, and we really hope the company lets the tech filter down to the iPhone SE 3, as it’s already available on some of the SE (2020)’s key rivals, notably the aforementioned OnePlus Nord and Moto G 5G Plus, among others.
Another feature offered by a number of rivals now is a high refresh rate. The iPhone SE (2020) has a 60Hz refresh rate, which until relatively recently was what all handsets other than gaming phones offered, but now numerous mainstream phones have refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz.
It’s a feature that the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max offer, but we’re not optimistic that Apple will bring it to the iPhone SE 3, since it's only on Pro models so far, so Apple is likely to keep the tech as a premium feature for a while.
But it would be great if the company did start including this as a standard feature – it could still differentiate by giving its flagships a 120Hz (or higher) rate, and the iPhone SE 3 a refresh rate of 90Hz.
Ideas outlined in patents don't always end up becoming actual products, but they can give us an interesting insight into what tech companies could be working on – and it would seem Apple is developing a Mac that fits inside a keyboard.
This is based on a patent spotted by Patently Apple (via 9to5Mac), entitled Computer In An Input Device. Essentially, the key components – processor, memory, storage – all get embedded inside a keyboard.
The idea is that you could take this keyboard with you as you move between the home and the office (or wherever it is that you need a computer), plug it into a display, and load up macOS. It's sort of a Mac mini, in a keyboard shape.
Obviously, packing everything inside a keyboard means there are going to be constraints in terms of performance, local storage, and so on. But for simple, day-to-day computing tasks, it would probably work just fine. After all, there's plenty of power in a smartphone.
The patent suggests that the keyboard could be manufactured from materials specifically designed to dissipate heat from the internal components. There would certainly have to be some clever airflow management with the electronics so tightly packed together.
A trackpad integrated into the keyboard is also mentioned in the patent filing, which would save you having to plug in a mouse. We'll have to wait and see whether this is one of those patents that eventually becomes a finished consumer device.
Computers built into keyboards are of course nothing new, as anyone who remembers owning a Sinclair ZX Spectrum or Commodore 64 will know. The modern day twist is that these keyboards can be made thinner and lighter than ever before.
That improves portability, so instead of having to find room for a laptop in your bag, you only have to find room for a keyboard – the trade-off being that there's no integrated display. You still need to find a monitor or a TV when you get to wherever you're going.
As the Mac mini and countless other tiny computers have shown, there's a lot of potential in these kinds of compact devices that you can take with you anywhere: from room to room, or office to office, or wherever it might be. All your files and apps move with you.
Apple already makes its own keyboards, though the Magic Keyboard might need some extra bulk to fit a complete computer inside. It's bound to appeal to many users, even if it's only going to be capable of basic tasks such as emailing or web browsing.
I'm currently testing the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus, the big new mobile on the block, and while my full thoughts on the phone are all going in my full review (coming soon), there's something I had to share about the phone now.
It's the way the phone feels - and I don't mean in a vague, whimsical, sentimental way - I mean the actual handfeel of the mobile. The way it sits in the palm of my hand.
You see, after kicking off the curved-edge-screen trend a few years back, Samsung then ditched the concept, and now the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus have flat screens (the S22 Ultra luckily doesn't).
But the frame of the device is almost flat - it's a lot like an iPhone 13 in that way, though admittedly the edge does have a slight roundness. You know what other phone I was using recently that I also hated the feel of? The iPhone 13 Pro.
I really, really just can't like the way the iPhone 13 Pro fits in my hand. The flat edges dig into my palm further and further with each tap of the screen (yeah, I've got soft hands) and it just doesn't feel nice to hold.
It's a far cry from the experience of using curved-edge screen phones, as that feature makes the phone feel rounded, pebble-like and smooth. Before the Plus, I was using the Ultra, and that felt great to hold.
Even some phones with flat displays have rounded edges, making them fine to hold - I just tested the Realme 9 Pro Plus and that felt great.
This isn't the case for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus or iPhone 13 Pro - I don't like holding them, and it makes using them way less fun.
Maybe I should try smaller mobiles from the families, like the Galaxy S22 or iPhone 13 mini, but why bother? There are loads of Androids that do feel great in the hand, and hours spent playing games or numbing my mind on Instagram will be much more enjoyable on them.
It's VPN deals season once again and two of the best VPN providers out there are offering tempting discounts to new users.
NordVPN turned 10 years old and decided to celebrate with a generous offer: it has lowered the price of its two-year plan by a huge 70%. On top of that, though, it's giving away up to two years free to anyone who commit to its longest plan.
Offering already one of the best value for money, Surfshark has lowered its price even further. With an amazing 82% discount, TechRadar readers can protect their online privacy and unlock worldwide streaming content from just $2.30 a month. It also adds two months for free when subscribing for the two-year offer.
Ready to invest in your online safety? Read on to discover all the details of these top VPN deals.
NordVPN | 2-year plan + FREE gift | $3.49 per month| 70% off
One of the biggest names amongst VPN providers right now, NordVPN is celebrating its 10th anniversary. But users are the one getting gifts.
Subscribers ready to commit to its longest two-year plan will have the possibility to win one month, one year or two years of free extra protection.
On top of that, a tempting discount lowers the overall price to just $3.49 a month, $84 overall - that’s 70% off. However, after the 10-hour timer runs down on the website, it will become $96 - meaning a 66% of discount on previous prices. Those wishing to opt for the one-year plan will see the price dropped to $60 overall, thanks to a 58% discount.
It looks like you'll have just one month to take advantage of this incredible offer, so hurry up! Still not convinced? Try it out with its risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark | 2 years + 2 months free | $2.30 per month | 82% off
Already among the best cheap VPN services, Surfshark is known to blend excellent quality and affordable pricing. But now, it has decided to go even further.
Anyone subscribing to its two-year plan will have two extra months to enjoy for free. Pretty cool, isn't it?
That's not everything, though. TechRadar readers will benefit from another perk: a generous 82% discount is dropping the price at just $2.30 per month.
Surfshark truly makes using a premium VPN service affordable for any pockets. Try all its features with its risk-free trial, you will have 30 days to get the refund if it's not the service for you.
Our testing places both VPNs among the top services right now. So, which one should you go for? That probably depends what you are looking for in your VPN.
NordVPN offers an impressive level of security - by activating its Double VPN system all your internet traffic will be encrypted not just once, but twice. Plus, it boasts one of the clearest no-logging policies out there. It also carries out regular independent audits to verify its trustworthiness. Other features include a strong DNS leak protection, kill switches as well as proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers.
As only downside - probably just temporary, though - Nord has recently had some issues when accessing worldwide Netflix catalogs. But it still smoothly unlocks US Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon and Hulu. Check our NordVPN review if you want to know more.
Only a step behind in our chart, Surfshark will make new users fall in love: not just for its smaller prices, but also for its super easy-to-use apps and interface. We found it ideal for streaming as it brilliantly unlocks all the main platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Disney+.
However, it doesn't sacrifice anything in terms of security - the new entry among encryption protocols WireGuard is now on offer, and another big plus is the possibility of using unlimited devices at once - NordVPN allows you to use up to six devices simultaneously only.
Our testing shows some small issues with Surfshark's kill switch, though. Plus, if NordVPN managed to achieve amazing connection speeds, Surfshark remains a step behind.
It is worth mentioning that it has just added a new cutting-edge technology, Nexus, meant to improve speed and security. Although, it is too early to say if it achieved its goal. In the meantime, you can read the full Surfshark review to help you make up your mind.
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