☕ Hey there! I’ve been contemplating the purchase of a bicycle for a long time now, just so I can get somewhat active again. I thought about an exercise bike too, but why go there when you can get fresh air, I guess? Nevertheless, today’s edition covers major Samsung Galaxy S23 leaks, Apple’s new HomePod, and more.

Major Galaxy S23 reports reveal specs

Thought you knew everything there was to know about the Galaxy S23 series? Well, trusted tech news outlet WinFuture has posted two comprehensive articles, covering the Galaxy S23/S23 Plus specs and Galaxy S23 Ultra specs. We get plenty of corroborating info as well as some previously undisclosed nuggets.

Galaxy S23/S23 Plus

• The outlet confirmed some previously mentioned specs for the base and Plus models
• This includes a 3.36GHz Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a 3,900mAh battery for the base device, and a 4,700mAh battery for the Plus.
• Other corroborated specs include that triple rear camera system (50MP+12MP+10MP), a 12MP selfie camera, and screen details.
• But the outlet also noted that the S23 has 25W charging and 128GB of entry-level storage versus the Plus model’s 45W charging and 256GB.
• Other details include the screens dropping down to 48Hz, Wi-Fi 6E support, and no 4K/120fps option.

What about the S23 Ultra?

• WinFuture also had plenty to share regarding the top-end Galaxy S23 model.
• Corroborated features include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging, and a QHD+ 120Hz OLED screen.
• Other features touted by the outlet include a 200MP main camera and 256GB of starting storage.
• You should also expect Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, and 4K/60fps or 8K/30fps recording (no 4K/120fps here either).
• The three Samsung phones also share an IP68 rating, wireless charging support, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
• Needless to say, it definitely seems like this is more of an evolution than a revolution.

What don’t we know?

• It’s clear that we know almost everything about the phones from a hardware perspective.
• There are still some questions regarding software, though.
• We’ve seen official teases regarding improved night photography, for one.
• SamMobile also claimed that the phones will come with night hyperlapse functionality, Pro mode for selfies, and 50MP RAW support.
• But we’re keen to learn more about the software, as this tends to be one of the few areas not subjected to the same level of leaks.
• The other major question is pricing. This is much harder to nail down than a hardware feature too.
• One rumor suggests that Australian pricing will be ~$70 more expensive. Another wild rumor points to a hike of over €100 in Europe.
• This would be a step in the wrong direction when contemporaries like Google and Apple are sticking to previous pricing.
• Then again, another leak suggests that Samsung will retain the same pricing for the US.
• We’ll just have to wait for the February 1 Unpacked event to get the official details.

Roundup

📞 Galaxy S23 could be using slightly tweaked version of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2: Could be called Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy (Android Authority).

🎧 Google Podcasts has stopped appearing in Search results: A sign of things to come? (Android Authority).

🖼️ Wallpaper Wednesday is here again with submissions from the team and readers as usual (Android Authority).

📦 Amazon Prime membership has reportedly leveled off for the first time: Amazon disagrees with the report, though (Gizmodo).

🔊 Apple unveils new full-sized HomePod with spatial audio and Matter support (Android Authority).

✂️ Microsoft will lay off 10,000 employees as it cuts costs (Engadget).

🎮 RIP Google Stadia, the gaming service aimed at no-one (Android Authority).

🍎 Apple is once again tipped to be working on a smart display: This would apparently be akin to a low-end iPad (Bloomberg).

✅ Poll: Do you want better performance or longer battery life in 2023? (Android Authority)

🕹️ Metaverse landlords are creating a new class system: Thought rent was only a problem in the real world? (Wired)

Thursday Thing

Traveling is fun, but looking for a toilet in a new city? Yeah, that’s not so fun. Now, online bathroom warehouse QS Supplies (h/t: Digg) has posted its breakdown of the cities with the most and least public toilets per square kilometer. The outlet used data from toilet-finding resources Toilet Map and Pee Place, so who were the best performers?

Well, Paris ranked tops by far with 6.72 toilets per square kilometer, compared to second placed Sydney’s 3.64. Zurich, Taipei, and Copenhagen rounded out the top five. For what it’s worth, London, New York, and San Francisco ranked 24th, 36th, and 39th respectively. My own Cape Town was ranked 44th. Ah well, at least we’re ahead of Rome and Los Angeles. For the record, Cairo was last on the list, just behind Johannesburg.

Have a great day!
Hadlee Simons, Editor