This keyboard connects to your devices wirelessly via Bluetooth and can connect automatically to your Mac (note that your computer must have OS X v10.5.8 or later for compatibility). A built-in battery takes around two hours to fully charge and will last up to a month between charges, while a stable scissor mechanism beneath the keys provides for a comfortable typing experience.
This Apple Magic Keyboard has 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon across nearly 600 user reviews. In our review, we questioned the price and the “magic,” but still liked its keys and build quality, as well as the design that matches the rest of Apple’s products. But at this price, it’s too good to pass up.
We were reporting live from the Microsoft Xbox E3 2019 conference at Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on June 10, where the company finally announced its next generation Xbox – Project Scarlett.
The Microsoft Xbox E3 2019 keynote was full of twists and turns, including a surprise appearance from a famous face that had the entire theatre on its feet. Missed out on the action? Don’t worry. We liveblogged the whole conference so read on to see how the whole conference played out in real-time.
Microsoft Xbox E3 2019 conference live blog
Vic Hood
All times in Pacific Daylight Time (PT)
Vic Hood
14:36 – Unless Microsoft is planning some big surprises then that seems to be the end of the conference. We have to admit, we hoped we would hear more on Project Scarlett.
14:35 – Cortana is back too.
14:32 – Master Chief is back and looks better than ever. Also coming Holiday 2020 alongside Project Scarlett.
14:30 – Now for a new, more more in-depth, Halo Infinite trailer.
14:29 – Project Scarlett will launch with Halo Infinite.
14:28 – “Project Scarlett is the foundation of our future in console and the formation of our future in cloud,” Phil says.
14:27 – Project Scarlett coming Holiday 2020.
14:25 – Four times more powerful than the Xbox One X. Up to 120 FPS, 8K, ray-tracing, SSD as virtual RAM and custom design-processor from AMD. Backwards compatibility across all Xbox consoles – four generations.
14:22 – Here comes the next Xbox. Made by the same team that built Xbox One X, Xbox Live and Xbox Pro Controller. You’ve got us on tender hooks here, Phil.
14:21 – Project xCloud first public hands on taking place at E3 2019. Console streaming turns Xbox One into your own Project xCloud.
14:19 – Another rumor confirmed. George R.R. Martin and FromSoftware’s Elden Ring World Premiere.
14:18 – Yep, Borderlands 2 DLC confirmed: Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary.
14:17 – Borderlands 3 new trailer. Are we about to get confirmation of the Borderlands 2 rumored DLC?
14:15 – World Premiere of new Bandai Namco title: Tales of Arise. Coming 2020.
14:12 – Microsoft partnership with Smilegate which means World Premiere of Crossfire which comes out 2020. No one seems to know who they are but Phil says there’s a global fan-base of 650 million. Show us the receipts, Phil.
14:10 – Phantasy Star Online 2 is now coming to the Xbox One. First time in the west but the online title is big in Japan. It’s free to play too. Spring 2020 for a release.
14:08 – State of Decay 2: Wasteland is up next, bringing two new stories to the title. It’s available now and on Xbox Game Pass.
14:05 – I love a good Pop! Vinyl as much as the next geek but not particularly sold on this new Gears of War Pop! game. Pre-orders are open soon though.
14:03 – Forza Horizon 4 is getting… Lego DLC? Speed Champions expansion out on June 13, 2019.
14:02 – Dying Light 2 cinematic trailer.
14:01 – Quick segment on the Xbox Elite Controller 2. Launches in 24 countries on November 4, 2019 for $179.99.
14:00 – If that wasn’t enough, there is also Terminator character DLC available for Gears 5.
13:55 – Here come the pyrotechnics and another whole new cinematic trailer for Gears 5’s Escape mode. Everything smells like burning in the theatre. We’re regretting not being closer to afire exit.
13:53 – Gears 5 is releasing on September 10, 2019. You can play early with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. There’s a load of new and improved modes coming too.
13:52 – New ominous new cinematic trailer for Gears 5.
13:50 – Next is Way to the Woods. An adorable indie title that focuses on a child and parent deer. This is exactly the wholesome content we’re here for. Well, in between the gratuitous violence obviously.
13:49 – 12 minutes, another lovely little indie gem. An interactive thriller apparently. Exciting.
13:48 – Dragonball action RPG: Kakarot. Due for release in early 2020.
13:46 – Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga World Premiere. All nine games in one to be released in 2020.
13:45 – Xbox Studios has acquired Double Fine Productions, developer of Brutal Legend and Psychonauts. Tim Schaefer is here with a brand new Psychonauts 2 trailer.
13:42 – Wasteland 3 next. Some more filler.
13:40 – Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Coming this fall.
13:37 – Flight Simulator coming to Xbox.
13:35 – Xbox Games Pass for PC launches open beta today. Halo: Master Chief collection included. Means we can finally play the Master Chief Collection on PC. Hazaa!!
13:32 – Xbox Game Pass now. From today it’s getting Metro Exodus, Batman: Arkham Knight, Hollow Knight and Borderlands: Handsome Collection.
13:30 – Getting our filler of indie titles: Spiritfarer, Battletoads, The Legend of Wright and a load of others coming to Xbox Game Pass.
13:25 – Cyberpunk 2077 is officially releasing April 16, 2020. Pre-orders open now.
Get ready. We have a city to burn.#Cyberpunk2077 16.04.2020Pre-order now: https://t.co/TlAr81PMbC pic.twitter.com/kw5nL45wrEJune 9, 2019
Vic Hood
13:22 – Keanu reeves is coming to Cyberpunk 2077 and the theatre is going mental. He is definitely a perfect choice for this game.
13:20 – New Cyberpunk 2077 story trailer. The fact it’s showing now could mean it’s only coming to current generation consoles. Hopefully we’re wrong.
13:17 – World Premiere of the Blair Witch. A whole heap of “nope”. Releasing August 20, 2019.
13:13 – This will be the “largest showcase of games” at E3 2019. Xbox plan on showing 60 games in total, 14 games from Xbox Games Studios and 34 games on Xbox Games Pass. Spencer also confirmed we’ll be hearing more on next-gen Xbox.
13:11 – Phil Spencer is here!
13:10 – Minecraft Dungeons next. Imagine an RPG, dungeon-crawling version of Minecraft with a four-player online and couch co-op mode. It’s due out Spring, 2020.
13:08 – Ori and the Will of the Wisps next. New gameplay trailer and release date of February 11, 2020.
13:06 – New title from Ninja Theory is Bleeding Edge. Online melee, 4 v 4 title that looks like a combination of Rage 2 and Borderlands. It”s a neon bloodbath. Technical Alpha starts June 27, 2019.
13:05 – Ninja Theory up next. Let’s see what the studio has been up to now its part of the Xbox family.
13:01 – New trailer for The Outer Worlds. Shedding a bit more light on the game’s narrative and gives us a look at gameplay. Also, a relase date – October 25, 2019.
13:00 – And we’re off! Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 conference is now underway.
12:55 – Announcement in the theatre has just confirmed the conference will start in five minutes. Prepare yourselves!
12:50 – We’ve just had a safety announcement so hopefully it’s not long until things get underway. It should all be kicking off in just 10 minutes. Currently the Microsoft Theatre is comparable to a rave held by the Grinch – green lights everywhere, trance blaring and dancing influencers. If this is how Phil Spencer gets pumped up then who are we to judge?
12:45 – Rumor has is Microsoft are set to announce a whopping 14 games at today’s conference. We’re expecting a few of those to be launch titles for the next Xbox, alongside some games which have already been announced. But we’re also hoping ol’ Phil Spencer has some tricks up his sleeve and hits us with a few surprise announcements.
12:35 – The conference is literally about to start but leaks are still flooding in. According to a tweet by Twitter user Sabi, the next Xbox will have 120FPS, 8K support and backwards compatibility for all consoles.
If that’s the case, it will be an insanely powerful console and the PS5 will definitely have its work cut out trying to keep up. Check out the tweet below:
Xbox’s new console, Scarlett, is crazy powerful. 120fps, 8K, Xbox one backwards compatibility, and it’s implied backwards compatibility with ALL Xbox consoles, not 100% sure on all consoles yet but it’s described as “4 generations worth”.9 June 2019
Vic Hood
12:30 – We’re live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles and the atmosphere is buzzing. Every time the music changes, the crowd audibly gasps but – as far as we know – the conference is running a little behind.
Vic Hood
11:30 – Let the queuing commence!
Let the queuing begin #XboxE3 pic.twitter.com/STbEn5S8YnJune 9, 2019
E3 2019 is the biggest gaming event of the year. TechRadar is reporting live from LA, telling you all about the biggest announcements of the week, from epic game trailers to shocking release date reveals. Follow our expert analysis of the keynotes and what we see on the E3 show floor.
Security researchers at Microsoft have issued a warning concerning an ongoing spam wave which utilizes malicious RTF documents to infect users’ systems with malware.
According to the company, the spam wave is specifically targeting European users as the emails are sent in various European languages. The Microsoft Security Intelligence team explained how the campaign worked, saying:
“In the new campaign, the RTF file downloads and runs multiple scripts of different types (VBScript, PowerShell, PHP, others) to download the payload.”
The final payload is a backdoor trojan whose command and control servers went offline around the same time Microsoft issued its warning on the campaign.
Equation Editor vulnerability
As the initial infection vector relies on an older Office vulnerability, users can be completely safe from this spam campaign by updating their software as Microsoft patched the vulnerability back in November of 2017.
The vulnerability is referred to as CVE-2017-11882 and is a codename for a vulnerability in an older version of the Equation Editor component included with Office. Security researchers from Embedi discovered a bug in this older component back in 2017 that allowed hackers to execute code on a user’s device after they opened a weaponized Office file containing a special exploit.
Once a second Equation Editor bug was discovered in 2018, Microsoft decided to completely remove the older Equation Editor component from Office. However, as organizations and individuals often fail or forget to install software updates, cybercriminals were still able to exploit the vulnerability even after the company released an update that would mitigate the issue.
According to a report from Recorded Future as well as one from Kaspersky Lab, the CVE-2017-11882 vulnerability was one of the top exploited vulnerabilities of 2018 as hackers continued to prey on users that had yet to update their software.
Controversial internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom has begun a final appeal to halt his extradition from New Zealand to the US on copyright-related charges.
The FBI claims Mr Dotcom’s Megaupload site earned millions of dollars by facilitating illegal file-sharing.
But his lawyers told New Zealand’s Supreme Court on Monday it was never meant to encourage copyright breaches.
Mr Dotcom, who denies the charges, could face a lengthy jail term in the US if extradited and found guilty.
In 2005 I created a website that allowed people to upload files to the cloud. At the time only small files could be attached to emails. Megaupload allowed users to email a link to a file. That’s it.
In 2019 the NZ Supreme Court decides if I should be extradited for this “crime”.
Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batatom – all former Megaupload executives – stand accused of the same charges, which include conspiracy to commit racketeering, copyright infringement, money laundering and wire fraud.
The US Department of Justice has been trying to extradite the men since 2012, and in 2015 a New Zealand district court said it would permit the move.
The defendants have since lodged unsuccessful appeals at the High Court and Court of Appeal, leading to a final push this week at the Supreme Court.
‘Wilful breaches’
Mr Dotcom founded Megaupload in 2005 and went on to make millions of dollars from advertising and premium subscriptions on the site.
At its peak it was the 13th most popular website on the internet, accounting for 4% of all online traffic worldwide.
But in 2012 the FBI indicted the site’s owners, claiming they had knowingly breached copyright on a mass scale by hosting illegally created music, film and software files.
This, they said, had cost film and music producers some $500m of losses.
Mr Dotcom – who was born in Germany but lives in New Zealand – was later arrested during a dramatic armed raid at his mansion in Auckland, along with his co-accused.
The men have argued that the site, which was shut down in 2012, was designed only as a digital locker for users to store and share large files – something Mr Dotcom reiterated in a Twitter post on Sunday.
Lawyers for the defendants also argue their actions did not amount to criminal offences in New Zealand, and are therefore not extraditable offences.
If New Zealand’s Supreme Court upholds the extradition order, the final decision on the men’s fate will be made by the country’s Justice Minister Andrew Little.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus deals have proved to be the ultimate waiting game. Delaying your purchase for the price to drop down low enough to own the world’s best smartphone without selling all of your worldly possessions. Luckily, that day has finally come.
While we may have led slightly over-dramatically there (you can hold onto your possessions for now) these deals really are great. The standout offer here is a free upfront EE deal, boasting a hefty 50GB of data. Hitting a monthly spend of £43, this is a huge drop in costs for this mammoth device.
Or for some slightly more manageable monthly costs, a £38 a month Vodafone offer. However, dropping the monthly costs pushes the upfront up to £99 – a slightly cheaper contract overall if you don’t mind that upfront spend.
You can see both of these impressive Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus contracts down below. Or if the price is still a bit too much, check out our guide to the best mobile phone deals for everything else on the market.
These excellent Galaxy S10 Plus deals in full:
What makes the Galaxy S10 Plus so great?
Samsung’s latest and greatest, the S10 Plus is about as good as phones come right now – it’s gone straight to the top of our best smartphone charts. The S10 Plus has a beautiful infinity-O display, in-screen fingerprint scanner, strong battery life and a powerful processor. But obviously with all of these features comes a big price, which is where these affordable offers come into play.
Or if you still can’t quite bring yourself to pay the prices of an S10 Plus, then Samsung Galaxy S10e deals could be a great alternative. Rocking many of the same features at a lower price, the S10e might be better for those on a budget.
Not convinced by this Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus offer? Check out our mobile phone deals page for all of best tariffs on every device.
Electric scooters are a relatively new way to travel, and the law is still catching up with the technology.
Wherever you live, it’s unlikely that you’ll be allowed to ride on pavements or sidewalks. Electric scooters can typically reach speeds up 25mph, which makes them dangerous on walkways shared with pedestrians.
We believe that all the information in this guide is correct at the time of writing, but always check with your local authorities to make sure you’re clear on the law regarding electric scooters where you are.
North America
Are electric scooters legal in the United States? It depends exactly where you live, but probably. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “scooters lacking seats that are operated in a stand-up mode” don’t qualify as motor vehicles, which means they aren’t legislated at a national level. Instead, it’s up to city authorities to decide what to do when a cocky startup dumps a fleet of scooters on its streets (as Bird did in Los Angeles in 2018).
Authorities in LA weren’t too pleased and ordered the company to put its toys away immediately. However the city has since relaxed its stance and approved a pilot program for dockless vehicles.
May other cities have followed suit – not legalizing electric scooters outright, but beginning pilot schemes to find out how well the little vehicles play with others on the streets.
In Canada, the rules on electric scooters vary by province. They aren’t recognized as a type of motor vehicle by current laws in Alberta, British Columbia or Ontario, which means they can only be ridden legally on privately owned land, and sometimes on pavements.
However, there are exceptions – Calgary is currently in the middle of a two-year pilot project, which could result in the city’s laws being reviewed to make electric bikes and scooters road legal. A similar pilot is also underway in Quebec with strict rules regarding driver age, training and equipment compliance. Falling foul of the law will result in a substantial fine, so take care.
Image credit: FerrizFrames/Shutterstock
Europe
Are electric scooters legal in Europe? For the most part, year – or they will be very soon – unless you happen to live in the United Kingdom. We’ve covered a handful of nations, but check with your national transport authority if you’re based elsewhere.
The Dutch love their bikes, but many are taking to electric scooters instead. It’s legal to ride an electric scooter in the Netherlands provided it’s been authorized by the country’s vehicle authority, the RDW. Riders must be at least 16 years old, and all electric scooters must be insured (and fitted with a plate to prove it). Electric scooters must be ridden in bike lanes and travel no faster than 25mph.
Electric scooters are a popular way to get around in France, but the country’s transport minister has announced that it will be illegal to ride electric scooters on pavements from September 2019. Anyone scooting along the pavement after that date will face a fine of €135 (about $150, £120, AU$220). Electric scooters will still be legal to ride on the road, or in cycle lanes.
At the time of writing, Germany has just legalized electric scooters on public roads (riding on pavements will only be allowed in ‘exceptional cases’) provided the rider is over 14 years old, is wearing a helmet, and doesn’t exceed 20kmph (12.4mph). It hasn’t been a universally popular decision, but at GreenTech festival in Berlin, TechRadar saw a raft of German startups desperate to spread their pay-to-ride scooters throughout their home country.
Electric scooters have recently been legalized in Italy, and sharing schemes in Rome, Florence and Pisa makes them a popular choice for tourists.
UK residents, however, are out of luck. Electric scooters are illegal on both roads and pavements in the United Kingdom, and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Changing the law would mean a change to primary legislation, and electric scooters simply aren’t at the top of anyone’s to-do list. At the time of writing, the UK government has recently appointed a new minister for transport. The country will soon have a new Prime Minister too, who might very well reshuffle the cabinet again.
Then there’s the summer recess, plus the ever-looming specter of Brexit and potentially a general election. Even if there was appetite for changing the law, it’s a process that would take several months.
Tulip Siddiq, the MP for Hampstead Heath, asked the new transport secretary about electric vehicles in June 2019, and he repeated that they are currently illegal on UK streets and pavements. It’s not clear whether that’s his personal view or he’s just sticking to the party line, but we won’t see a flock of Birds accompanying the pigeons in London soon.
Image credit: Spic/Shutterstock
Asia
In Japan, if an electric scooter is capable of speeds over 9kph (which they pretty much all are), it’s classed as a motor vehicle and therefore needs a license, registration, turn signals, and everything else that you’d need on a motorbike or moped. Without those, unless you’re riding on privately owned land, electric scooters are illegal. Traffic violations are taken very seriously; breaking the law can mean a hefty fine, points on any driving license you already own (or one you apply for in the future), and even time in jail.
Electric scooters are legal to ride in India without tax and insurance, provided their motors are under 250W and their maximum speed is no higher than 25kmph.
China has just tightened its laws on e-bikes, requiring owners to register their bikes and apply for plates. There are also new power and weight guidelines. However, the rules don’t mention electric scooters, which are banned on roads in most cities, including Shanghai, where they have been involved in several serious accidents.
Rules in the United Arab Emirates vary from city to city, but while Dubai’s transport authority has banned scooter rental companies like Lime and Bird on safety grounds, it’s legal to own and scoot about on one that’s privately owned.
Image credit: Bakdc/Shutterstock
Australasia
In Australia, electric scooter laws vary from state to state. Brisbane was the first Australian city to trial Lime scooters, which can only be ridden on pavements (not cycle lanes or roads) and require a helmet. Lime’s permit was extended into 2019, but after several accidents, its future in Australia looks less bright.
Elsewhere in Queensland, scooters like Lime’s are illegal. The Queensland Government website states that electric scooters must have an electric motor no more powerful than 200W, and a maximum speed of 10kmph. If Lime scooters are found outside the Brisbane trial zone, they’re duly confiscated by police.
Laws in Victoria are similar, but a little more permissive. Any scooters that are too fast or powerful won’t be confiscated, but riders must own a motorbike license and the scooter must be registered with the authorities.
The rules in New South Wales are the same as the United Kingdom (ride on private land, or not at all), but following electric bike trials in Sydney, e-scooters might make their first appearance soon.
In New Zealand, in order to be classed as an electric scooter, “the wheels must not exceed 355mm and the motor must have a maximum power output not exceeding 300W”. Provided those conditions are met, the scooter isn’t classed as a motor vehicle, and you can happily scoot along without a license.
Electric scooters are allowed on footpaths or roads, but not in designated cycle lanes. You’re not required to wear a helmet, but you are obliged to give way to pedestrians, ride carefully, and generally not make a nuisance of yourself.
There are a lot of good Samsung phones out there from today and yesteryear, but how do they rank against each other? We’re here to help you find out.
Samsung is the biggest name in Android phones, and for good reason: the company’s flagship Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 are among the best handsets you can buy.
But Samsung doesn’t only make headline-grabbing flagships – it has a wide range of smartphones which may be the perfect fit depending on your needs and budget.
With that in mind, here’s our guide to the best Samsung phones available right now. It covers new and old(er) at a range of price points, along with different screen sizes, specs and features.
There could well be new entries in our best Samsung phones rundown though, with the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10e currently in for review, while Samsung also launched a number of new mid-range handsets at MWC 2019 as well.
Image credit: TechRadar
1. Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
This is the best Samsung phone right now
Release date: February 2019 | Weight: 175g | Dimensions: 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8mm | OS: Android 9 | Screen size: 6.4-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 3040 | CPU: Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9820 | RAM: 8/12GB | Storage: 128GB/512GB/1TB (up to 1.5TB with card) | Battery: 4,100mAh | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 16MP | Front camera: 10MP + 8MP
Excellent screen-to-body ratio
In-screen fingerprint sensor
Sizable price hike
Slippery design
As Samsung’s latest and greatest mainstream flagship, is it any wonder that the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus tops this list?
It’s a big upgrade over the previous year’s model, with a new all-screen design, enabled by Samsung ditching bezels in favor of a punch-hole camera. Speaking of the camera, you get three on the back and two on the front, making this a very versatile camera phone.
The fingerprint scanner is in the screen now, which is far more ideal than it being on the back, and there’s a big 4,100mAh battery, which gives the Galaxy S10 Plus a lot of life. So much so you might even consider using the new Wireless PowerShare feature to juice up other devices with it.
The Galaxy S10 Plus also has a massive 6.4-inch screen and all the power you’d expect from a flagship in 2019. It’s Samsung’s best and at the time of writing also tops our list of the best smartphones from any manufacturer.
Release date: August 2018 | Weight: 205g | Dimensions: 162 x 76.4 x 9mm | OS: Android 9 | Screen size: 6.4-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2960 | CPU: Snapdragon 845 / Exynos 9810 | RAM: 6/8GB | Storage: 128/512GB (up to 1TB with card) | Battery: 4,000mAh | Rear camera: Dual 12MP | Front camera: 8MP
Improved battery life
Gorgeous display
Very expensive
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 isn’t just one of the best Samsung phones you can buy today, it’s one of the best phones, period. It’s an expensive device, sure, but with more than double the starting storage of the iPhone X at around the same starting price. It actually comes out to be a better deal over Apple’s comparable offering.
Its key selling point this time around is the unique S-Pen, which no longer requires a charge. Not only will you be able to do normal stylus-like things with the new S-Pen, you’ll also be able to use it to take selfies remotely, giving you shots you otherwise would be incapable of getting.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also one of the best camera phones in Samsung’s lineup, with a camera that easily outshines most of the competition.
That’s on top of the improved cooling and battery life, which will see this jumbo device last you through most of the day without burning a hole through your pocket – even if the price does.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is big, in fact its 6.2-inch screen would make it very big, were it not for the almost complete absence of bezel and the curved edges, which ensure it’s actually quite manageable in the hand. The screen is one of the best around too – it’s sharp and sports great colors.
The Galaxy S9 Plus also stands out through its dual 12MP cameras, one of which is a dual-aperture one, meaning it can switch between f/1.5 for dark scenes and f/2.4 for everything else.
Other highlights include impressive stereo speakers and a big 3,500mAh battery. There’s flagship power too of course, and all the bells and whistles that tend to go with that, like a stylish metal and glass build, water resistance, wireless charging and various biometric security options, including a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner and a face scanner.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a smaller, cheaper (but still expensive) alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
The 5.8-inch screen makes it potentially preferable if you have smaller hands or pockets, and as with the S9 Plus it’s more compact than you might expect, thanks to its slim bezels and curvy screen.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 has many of the same high points as the S9 Plus, including a sharp, vibrant display, a high-end build, plenty of power and various biometric security options.
It’s only got a single-lens camera, but it’s still a very good one, and the battery is smaller, so this is definitely the weaker phone overall, but it’s still one of the more impressive handsets you can buy in 2018.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an older model of Samsung’s other flagship, designed for those who want a truly massive 6.3-inch screen and a stylus (known as the S-Pen) to help make the most of it.
Other than that, it has much in common with the Galaxy S range, with a similar (and similarly stylish) glass back and metal frame, a QHD curved screen and a dual-lens rear camera.
There’s lots of power too, though it’s using a 2017 chipset rather than a 2019 one, so it’s not quite a match for the S9 or S10 range. But then it’s also now a little cheaper than the S10 Plus and still has water resistance, wireless charging and loads of storage.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is a big-screen alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S8, but it’s not just the 6.2-inch display that’s bigger, the 3,500mAh battery is too.
Otherwise this is a very similar phone, with many of the same pros and cons. You get a sharp display with great contrast and colors, a powerful – if now slightly dated – chipset, a 12MP single lens camera that excels in most lighting, and more biometric options than you’ll know what to do with.
It’s also cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus or Galaxy Note 8, making the Galaxy S8 Plus a slightly more affordable big-screen option – though it lacks the dual-lens cameras of those phones.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 was one of the best phones of 2017 and it still ranks high now. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is only a fairly minor upgrade – though the S10 range has it well and truly beat.
The S8 has a sharp 1440 x 2960 5.8-inch OLED screen, which of course, is curved. It’s got a great design, with a metal frame, a glass back and minimal bezel, it’s got a 12MP camera that outperforms most phones and even now it’s still very powerful.
It’s also water-resistant, supports wireless charging and has a fingerprint scanner, a face scanner and an iris scanner – though the latter two don’t work as well as on the Galaxy S9 and the former is in a more annoying position. Still, they’re small complaints about what’s otherwise a minor classic in the smartphone world.
The Samsung Galaxy A9’s big draw is its four rear cameras: a 24MP main shooter, an 8MP 120-degree wide-angle lens, a 5MP depth-sensing camera and a 10MP telephoto lens supposedly capable of 2x optical magnification. (There’s also a 24MP front-facing camera, too.) Not bad for a midrange phone!
Of course, the A9 is perched at the top of the company’s midrange offerings and just below its flagship S line, so it’s pushing the label “midrange.” Its specs, however, aren’t entirely cutting edge with its Exynos 7885 chip, though its 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and 3,800mAh battery are respectable.
Whether the rest of the phone lives up to its camera cluster will be a far more serious question to answer when more phones replicate its four-lens trick, but for now, the A9 hold bragging rights – and serious photo clout at the midrange level.
Release date: January 2018 | Weight: 172g | Dimensions: 149.2 x 70.6 x 8.4mm | OS: Android 8 | Screen size: 5.6-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2220 | CPU: Exynos 7885 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 16MP + 8MP
Super-vivid OLED screen
Quality, water-resistant build
Low light photos could be better
No 4K video recording
The Samsung Galaxy A8 finds the sweet spot between Samsung’s flagship S range, and the slightly more basic J and lower-numbered A devices with a mix of high-end features and more affordable compromises.
One feature that is unique to the Galaxy A8 compared to most other Samsung phones in this list is its dual front-facing selfie cameras.
There’s a 16MP primary sensor, which sits alongside an 8MP snapper and allows you to access the Live Focus feature, which blurs the background of portrait shots to create a bokeh effect.
The Galaxy A8 delivers many of the core features offered by the flagships. You can get more for your money elsewhere, but if you’re set on Samsung there’s little to complain about here.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 was one of the best phones of 2016, which means it’s still very decent now, especially given that the price has dropped a lot since launch.
But it could appeal not just to those on a budget, but also those who want a fairly compact phone, as its 5.1-inch screen is small by modern standards. It’s as good as you’d expect from Samsung though, thanks to its use of Super AMOLED and its QHD resolution, though unlike most Galaxy S handsets from the last couple of years this one’s screen is flat.
The Galaxy S7 also has a water-resistant build and a highly capable 12MP camera, plus specs that were once top-end and still hold their own in the mid-range.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is a bigger, curvier alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S7. The larger 5.5-inch screen is the same resolution (and therefore slightly less sharp) but still super crisp and vibrant, while the curves ensure the design is more modern.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge also has a big 3,600mAh battery, making it one of the longer lasting Samsung phones you’ll find, and it has the same great camera as the standard Galaxy S7.
Its chipset is getting on a bit, but still stands up to similarly priced phones, and there’s only 32GB of built-in storage, but you do also get a microSD card slot, so even the bad that points aren’t that bad.
Release date: January 2017 | Weight: 157g | Dimensions: 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm | OS: Android 8 | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Exynos 7880 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 16MP
Good battery life
Potent OLED screen
No camera OIS
Mediocre chipset
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) was launched as a mid-range alternative to the Galaxy S range, and it holds up well, thanks largely to its 1080p AMOLED screen capable of punchy colors.
The Galaxy A5 is also packing mid-range power and a quality metal and glass build that’s quite similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S7.
Battery life is far better than you might expect too, with the phone comfortably lasting well over a day, but the 16MP camera is a bit of a step down in quality from the S7 range.
