🌻 Hey there! It’s getting brighter and brighter in the mornings, so Spring has definitely sprung. I need to actually get out and take more photos for AA’s Wallpaper Wednesday feature.

This is the Galaxy S23 Ultra

Reliable leaker Steve ‘Onleaks’ Hemmerstoffer posted apparent renders showing the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus earlier this week. Naturally, the leaker has now posted purported Galaxy S23 Ultra renders.

More of the same for Samsung?

• It’s worth stressing that Hemmerstoffer has a top-notch reputation for leaks, so this is likely the real deal.
• The renders show a device that doesn’t seem all that different from the S22 Ultra.
• You’ve got what looks like the same teardrop rear camera housings, a similar shape, and an S Pen slot in the bottom.
• Even the dimensions are similar to the S22 Ultra, which might disappoint those wanting a smaller device.
• It all suggests that Samsung is taking a conservative approach to the Ultra series in 2023.

What to expect in terms of specs?

• The Galaxy S23 series has been subjected to loads of rumors and leaks, and so a picture is starting to emerge for the Ultra too.
• A couple of sources have claimed that the S23 Ultra will switch from a 108MP main camera to a 200MP shooter.
• This is an interesting move if true, but we hope Samsung does a much better job than Motorola’s 200MP phone.
• Our own Dhruv Bhutani tested the Motorola device, calling its 200MP camera “severely underbaked” and criticizing the poor low-light performance.
• Nevertheless, we’re also hoping Samsung maintains the Ultra’s dual 3x and 10x telephoto setup. I’ve previously waxed lyrical about 10x cameras.
• Otherwise, Samsung and Qualcomm announced a deal back in July for Snapdragon chips to power Galaxy flagships “globally.” 
• Hopefully this announcement includes Europe, as it was the only region to receive Exynos-powered S22 phones.
• Finally, a report out of Korea suggests that Samsung could debut the phones earlier than expected. Maybe a January reveal?
• Either way, it looks like Google isn’t the only company to potentially offer an iterative approach to new-gen smartphones.

Roundup

🎮 Razer Edge 5G is a new gaming handheld with 5G support: Complete with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3X Gen 1 silicon (Android Authority).

✏️ Amazon announces a new e-ink tablet called the Kindle Scribe: Following in the footsteps of efforts like the Huawei MatePad Paper? (Android Authority).

📱 New Pixel 7 leak gives us the best look yet at the front and back in all colors (Android Authority).

💻 Google Fiber is testing 20Gbps service at an executive’s home: A step closer to its touted 100Gbps future (Google Fiber Blog).

✋ Cloudflare takes a stab at a Captcha that doesn’t suck: No need to pick out buses, traffic lights, or boats in a sea of fuzzy images (Wired).

🔎 Google Search results could actually be useful again starting today: The company is adding a ‘Discussions and forums’ search feature. No surprise here in light of an AA poll which found that almost 70% of respondents append ‘Reddit’ to search queries (Android Authority).

🎨 DALL-E AI art generator finally opens door to wider internet (Gizmodo).

⭐ PlayStation Stars is the platform’s new loyalty program, and it launched in Asia this week: You can earn loyalty points and digital collectibles, with the former being redeemable for PSN funds and more. Expect a launch in more markets next month (PlayStation Blog).

🖊️ The Galaxy Z Fold 5 should have an S Pen slot even if it means a smaller battery, suggests AA colleague Ryan Whitwam. I definitely agree that a phone screen feels too cramped for a stylus, but I’d personally prefer a bigger battery and nicer cameras (Android Authority).

🚽 Grand Canyon’s explosive gastroenteritis was a 3-month, multisource outbreak: A fascinating new study, fittingly reported by Ars, sheds light on a gastro outbreak that “hollowed out” at least 222 visitors to the Grand Canyon (Ars Technica).

💰 What previously normal thing is now a luxury?: Oof, I agree with uninterrupted videos (r/AskReddit).

Thursday Thing

RIP to rapper Coolio, who won a Grammy back in 1995 for Gangsta’s Paradise. The 59-year-old was found unresponsive at a friend’s home before being declared dead by paramedics. It’s believed that he passed away from a heart attack.

Naturally, many tributes are coming in for the rapper. But one clip doing the rounds again is a 2013 video showing Coolio performing an acoustic version of Gangsta’s Paradise at a student digs in the UK. I remember hearing about this story at the time, and thought it was so cool (pun not intended). He even cooked a three-course meal for the students!

Have a great day
Hadlee Simons, Editor.