Apple Pay Gains Momentum With Estimated 250 Million Users, 200% Transaction Growth Predicted Next Year

An estimated 31 percent of iPhone users have made a purchase with Apple Pay in the past year, up from 25 percent a year ago, according to a new Apple Pay estimates shared today by Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster.

Apple Pay now has an estimated 252 million users, equating to 31 percent of the active installed iPhone base, according to Munster.

Apple does not provide official details on how many people use Apple Pay, but in a recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that there were upwards of 1 billion Apple Pay transactions in Q3 2018, triple the amount from a year ago.

Based on these figures combined with past Apple reports of yearly Apple Pay growth, Munster expects transaction growth of 200 percent over the course of the next 12 months.

Bank adoption of Apple Pay is also growing steadily, and during the same earnings call, Apple announced that 4,900 banks support the feature. The number of banks supporting Apple Pay has increased by 1,701 since the December quarter, marking a 55 percent growth in North America, 141 percent in Asia, and 370 percent in Europe.

Munster believes that just 20 percent of global smartphone users use their phone as a wallet, a number that he expects to rise to 80 percent in the future.

Apple is well-poised to position the iPhone as the premium digital wallet on the market given that it’s the only digital wallet option “with all five payment pillars” defined as mobile, desktop, in-app, peer to peer, and point of sale.

Munster says Apple Pay is much more popular overseas, with 85 percent of users being international compared to 15 percent in the United States. Apple Pay is estimated to have 38 million users in the U.S. and 215 million in the 20+ other countries where Apple Pay is available.

Apple Pay works in retail locations with the Apple Watch and iPhone, and in apps and on the web with iPhone, iPad, and Mac. As of iOS 11.3, Apple also supports Apple Pay Cash payments, a feature that is currently limited to the United States.

Apple Pay is available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong, France, Russia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, UAE, Brazil, Ukraine, Norway, and Poland at the current time, and it is also set to expand to Germany later this year.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
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Hands-On With Samsung’s New Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Watch

Samsung today hosted an event in New York where it unveiled its newest product updates, including the Galaxy Note 9, the Galaxy Watch, and the Galaxy Home speaker.

MacRumors attended Samsung’s event and was able to get some hands-on time with Samsung’s new line of flagship devices, which is worth checking out because Samsung’s main product lineup is quite similar to Apple’s with the introduction of the new Galaxy Home device.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 device comes just a few weeks ahead of when Apple plans to unveil its 2018 iPhones, and it gives us a look at the feature set Samsung is hoping will lure customers away from new Apple devices.

Unlike other Android smartphones, Samsung continues to eschew the notch, and the Galaxy Note 9 looks quite similar to the Galaxy Note 8 with small top and bottom bezels, an aluminum frame, a built-in iris scanner for biometric authentication, and a fingerprint scanner at the rear.

Samsung has tweaked the location of the fingerprint scanner, putting it underneath the rear camera instead of next to it, which often led to people touching the camera element in the previous device. Speaking of the camera, Samsung is using the same dual-camera dual-aperture setup as last year, with the addition of a new Intelligent Camera feature that optimizes camera settings for whatever you’re taking a picture of.

The Galaxy Note 9 features a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen, a smidge bigger than the 6.3-inch screen in the previous device, and also smaller than the rumored 6.5-inch display Apple’s “iPhone X Plus” device is expected to offer.

Inside, the Galaxy Note 9 uses a Snapdragon 845 processor and what Samsung describes as a watercooling system for superior game performance, and it comes equipped with an updated S Pen, a factor that has always set the Note line apart from the iPhone, as Apple’s devices do not support its one and only stylus, the Apple Pencil.

The S Pen has been upgraded with Bluetooth, so it can be used as a remote for things like playing and pausing movies, playing slideshows, and taking selfies. An S Pen SDK is coming later this year that will allow developers to integrate S Pen functionality into their apps. Dock-free DeX support is included in the Galaxy Note 9, allowing it to be connected to an external display.

To compete with the HomePod and the Apple Watch, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Home and the Galaxy Watch. Access to the Galaxy Home was limited and we couldn’t get a good look at it, but it features a spaceship-like design with a U-shaped body that curves inward and three metal feet.

Samsung, like Apple, hyped the audio quality of the Galaxy Home on stage and demonstrated its integration with Bixby, Samsung’s digital assistant and Siri competitor.

As for the Galaxy Watch, it features a circular display with a traditional watch-style face that also maintains the rotating bezel for control purposes. Like the Apple Watch Series 3, the Galaxy Watch features LTE so it is not reliant on an accompanying smartphone.

It has a battery that lasts several days, and like the Apple Watch, it offers a breathing guide, heart rate monitoring, support for 39 types of workouts, and automatic workout detection, a feature Apple is bringing to the Apple Watch in watchOS 5. Samsung is pairing the Galaxy Watch with a wireless charger that can charge a smartphone and the watch at the same time, which sounds a lot like Apple’s still-missing AirPower device.

At its event, Samsung was also showing off the Galaxy Tab S4, its new iPad Pro competitor that was introduced last week. The 10.5-inch Galaxy Tab S4, which has a 16:10 AMOLED display, features DeX support, a Book Cover Keyboard, and an S Pen, along with a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, and a 7,300 mAh battery for 16 hours of battery life.

With today’s announcements, Samsung’s full fall 2018 product lineup is now available, and these are the devices that will directly compete with the products that Apple is expected to launch across the remaining months of 2018.

We’re expecting three new iPhones, including a 5.8-inch OLED device that’s a followup to the iPhone X, a 6.5-inch OLED iPhone that can be thought of as an “iPhone X Plus,” and a lower-cost 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD display. All three devices are expected to ditch the Home button and Touch ID in favor of Face ID enabled through a TrueDepth camera system.

Apple is also planning to launch new Apple Watch Series 4 models, which are said to have bigger displays, better batteries, and improved heart rate monitoring technology, plus there are revamped iPad Pro models in the works with slim bezels, no Home button, and Face ID support.

What do you think of Samsung’s new product lineup, and how does it measure up to what Apple is rumored to be to putting out this fall? Let us know in the comments.

Tag: Samsung
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New 2019 Emoji Candidates Include Service Dog, Deaf Person and More Couples

The Unicode Consortium is working on the list of emojis that will be added to Unicode 12 in 2019, and today Emojipedia shared some details on new emoji candidates that have been suggested for inclusion.

New candidates for Unicode 12 include service dog, deaf people, and mixed race couples.

Because the list of emojis has not yet been finalized, these new emoji candidates won’t be included for sure, but they could make their way onto various platforms that support emoji if the Unicode Consortium ultimately approves them.

These new emoji candidate suggestions join other emoji suggested for 2019, including diving mask, waffle, Hindu temple, white heart, ice cube, sloth, flamingo, skunk, ballet shoes, falafel, onion, garlic, otter, and more.

A full list of Unicode 12 emoji candidates is available from Emojipedia.

Apple will likely add the Unicode 12 emoji to iOS, macOS, and Apple Watch devices sometime in the fall of 2019.

At the current time, we’re waiting on the addition of Unicode 11 emojis, which Apple said it will add to iOS later this year.

Apple previewed many of the new emoji that it plans to add, including red hair, gray hair, curly hair, cold face, party face, face with hearts, superheroes, kangaroo, peacock, parrot, lobster, mango, lettuce, cupcake, and more.

A few proposals have been made for emojis coming in 2020 and were announced by the Unicode Consortium today, including ninja, military helmet, mammoth, feather, dodo, magic wand, carpentry saw, and screwdriver.

Tags: emoji, Unicode Consortium, Unicode, Unicode 12
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Apple Picks Up New Video Game Comedy From Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney

Apple gave a straight to series order for a half-hour scripted comedy show created by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, reports Variety. The show is said to be set in a video game development studio.

Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day are best known for popular comedy show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” which the duo have starred in since 2005 alongside Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito.

McElhenney and Day will write and executive produce the series, and McElhenney is set to be one of the show’s stars.

Apple has inked deals for more than a dozen TV shows, including several other comedy shows. A “You Think It, I’ll Say It” TV show based on Curtis Sittenfield’s short story collection is in development, as is “Central Park,” an animated series developed by Loren Bouchard.

A full list of all of the TV shows that Apple has in development is available in the Original Content section of our Apple TV roundup.

Rumors suggest the first of Apple’s TV shows could debut in the spring of 2019, with Apple perhaps planning to distribute them via a new streaming service.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12Tag: Apple’s Hollywood ambitionsBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on review

Research Center:

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Year-to-year, Samsung phones don’t seem exciting. The improvements are often marginal and the designs hardly change. Individually, however, these phones are incredibly polished, and filled to the brim with features and high-quality components. Reading the specs sheet alone, it’s jaw-dropping how much tech Samsung can fit inside.

From afar, the new Galaxy Note 9 may feel like a miniscule upgrade over its predecessor, but the sum of its parts make it a killer phone. Is it inspiring like the iPhone X? No. Does it have the most recent version of Android? No. But it’s still a damn good phone. Here’s why.

Refined design, beautifully large display

It’s tough to tell the difference between last year’s Galaxy Note 8 and the Note 9 from the front. Blindfolded, it’s impossible to tell the two apart in the hand as well. Like the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, it’s all about refining the design.

Samsung has slimmed the bezels surrounding the screen ever so slightly on the Note 9, allowing for a larger 6.4-inch screen as well as a tiny drop in height. The Note 9 is still a little wider and thicker, but it’s tough to notice. There’s a bit of bezel on the bottom, and the sensors in the top bezel don’t stick out like a sore thumb anymore.

The power button is on the right edge, with the volume rocker on the left, above the infamous Bixby button. They’re incredibly clicky, and all the buttons are easy to access. A headphone jack sits on the crowded bottom edge, next to the USB Type-C charging port, bottom-firing speaker, and S Pen. The speaker works with the top earpiece to produce stereo sound, and you just push on the S Pen to pop it out. We’ll get to the new features with the stylus later.

The edges of the Infinity Display curve into the rear, making the phone feel comfortable to hold, and the flat edges on the sides help with maintaining a tight grip. It feels like you’re holding an expensive remote control.

It all looks more elegant and professional.

The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen will keep you glued to the screen. Its 2,960 x 1,440 pixel resolution is brilliantly sharp, and colors appear vibrate with inky blacks. Samsung makes the best smartphone displays, and we certainly think this one might be its best.

The glass rear of the Note 9 is where noticeable changes have occurred. The fingerprint sensor is now in a more sensible place below the dual-camera module — it’s much easier to reach. Within the camera module itself, the middle camera is bigger than the one to the left. There’s a flash and other sensors packed on the right edge. It all looks more elegant and professional.

Like almost all high-end Samsung phones, the Note 9 is IP68 water- and dust-resistant, so it will be able to survive underwater up to 1.5 meters for about 30 minutes.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The new colors elevate the Note 9 even further. There’s Lavender Purple and Ocean Blue, and we’d pick Ocean Blue largely because of its fun, contrasting yellow S Pen. The Lavender Purple model only comes with a purple S Pen, but it still looks gorgeous.

There’s not much visually different about the Note 9 over its predecessor, which doesn’t make it as exciting, but it still oozes luxury.

Killer performance for gaming, Android software

Almost every flagship smartphone of 2018 has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor inside. The Galaxy Note 9 is no different, but it will likely have an edge over the competition thanks to a new water carbon cooling system. Yes, there is actual water in the phone, though incredibly miniscule amounts. Samsung said the thermal spreader is also three times bigger, which should keep the processor cool during intensive tasks like gaming. It will be fascinating to test how well this system works.

Samsung’s not only trying to target professionals with the Note 9, but gamers as well. One of the world’s most popular game — Fortnite: Battle Royale — is launching on Android for the first time, but Samsung Galaxy owners (S7 and up) will exclusively get access for 30 days, starting today. The game will then become available on Epic Games’ website, rather than the Google Play Store.

This phone will be able to handle anything and everything you throw at it.

In our brief time with the phone, we didn’t notice any performance problems at all. Apps launched quickly, and scrolling through apps and the Android 8.0 Oreo interface felt smooth. This phone will be able to handle anything and everything you throw at it, and we’ll do more testing to see how it handles Fortnite and other intensive games.

There are two models of the Note 9 available: One with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and one with 8GB of RAM and 512GB storage. That massive storage upgrade also means a higher price tag, but we don’t know by how much yet. The phone also supports a MicroSD card slot, so you can add even more space if you need it.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Compared To

Moto E5 Plus

LG V30

HTC U11

Xiaomi Mi Mix

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

YotaPhone 2

Sony Xperia Z3

HTC One Remix

Huawei Ascend Mate 2

LG G Flex

LG Optimus 4X HD

HTC One S

Samsung Galaxy S II

Google Nexus S

T-Mobile myTouch 3G

There’s not much difference in software here over the Galaxy S9 — it’s Samsung’s Experience launcher over Android Oreo, though we’d have liked to see Android 9.0 Pie considering Google just released it. It’s unclear yet when Samsung plans to push the update to the Note 9.

Bixby is still present, though Samsung has yet to share which improvements the virtual assistant has received to make it a little more useful. We’ll likely hear more at the launch event in New York City.

A.I. Camera

Samsung’s mantra with the Galaxy S9 was the “Camera. Reimagined.” It’s no surprise the company is sticking with the same system on the Note 9.

The dual-lens module on the rear is comprised of two 12-megapixel lenses with dual optical image stabilization, and one lens has mechanical disks that enable variable aperture. That means the primary lens can switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture, which will allow the Note 9 to excel with low-light photography. We’ve already seen it in action with the S9 Plus, and the results are fantastic.

The second lens has an f/2.4 aperture, and it can handle 2x optical zoom. It’s also used for Samsung’s portrait mode, also known as Live Focus. From the brief tests we ran, the camera shutter reacts quickly, and photos look great. Does it stand out from the S9, though? Yes, and it’s all because of artificial intelligence (A.I.).

Samsung has injected A.I. into its camera — just like several other smartphone manufacturers like Huawei and LG — which means the camera can detect up to 20 scenes, like a sunset or a pet. “Scene Optimizer” learns these scenes after receiving hundreds if not thousands of similar images, and then it’s taught to tweak the photo to match that ideal scene. For example, if you point the camera at a sunset and snap a photo, the A.I. will know just how to tune the exposure, color, and contrast of the photo to make it look better than ever.

This may just be the best A.I. scene detection tuning we’ve seen to date.

In early tests, photos tuned by the A.I. more often looked better than photos from a Galaxy S9, and it takes less than a second for the camera to identify the scene. This may just be the best A.I. scene detection tuning we’ve seen to date, as the rest tend to mostly oversaturate photos.

A.I. is also used for Flaw Detection. If you take a photo and someone blinked, a popup in the camera app will alert you, suggesting you retake the picture before you put your phone away and lose the moment. It can also identify when there’s a lot of backlight, or when there’s a smudge on the camera.

This is how A.I. should help in a smartphone camera. There’s no work the user has to do, and the changes the A.I. makes are sensible. That being said, you can turn this feature off in the camera settings.

The 8-megapixel front-facing camera has a f/1.7 aperture, and it should take good selfies. You can also access AR Emojis here, in case you want to turn into a Disney character, or someone else.

S Pen and DeX

The S Pen is a crucial selling point of the Note 9, but we’ve never found it to be all that useful (except for drawing). Sure, you can create animated GIFs with Live Messages, or hover over words to translate them, but it’s almost always faster to just use fingers. With the Note 9, Samsung may have finally give the stylus a purpose.

There’s now Bluetooth Low Energy embedded inside the S Pen, expanding its functionality up to 30 feet from the Note 9. This means you can control parts of the phone at a distance, such as moving through a powerpoint presentation; launching the camera and taking a group photo; or changing music tracks. You can customize what you want the button on the S Pen to do all through the Settings menu. It’s intuitive and easy to use, and works as advertised.

Our favorite was placing the Note 9 upright on a table to snap a selfie at a distance, which we can see people doing if selfie sticks aren’t available. What’s better is Samsung is releasing a software developer kit, so third-party app developers can create commands for their apps with the S Pen.

All this means the S Pen does need to be charged, but fret not. Samsung’s engineers have outfitted a supercapacitor into the stylus, which is kind of like a tiny battery that charges in a flash. Store it inside the Note 9 for 40 seconds, and you’ll get about 30 minutes of battery life. You shouldn’t have to worry about battery life too much.

Store it inside the Note 9 for 40 seconds, and you’ll get about 30 minutes of battery life.

The Note 9 also has a productivity-focused trick up its sleeve. Simply plug in a USB Type-C to HDMI cable from the Note 9 to a TV or external monitor, and you’ll launch the DeX Android desktop interface. It’s for a niche group of people, but you can use the phone as a trackpad, and a keyboard will pop up when you need to enter text. It’s especially handy if you want to throw a presentation onto a bigger screen during a meeting — you can continue using your phone without worrying about notifications appearing on the external screen as well.

Massive battery

Despite battery woes that nearly tarnished the Note brand two years ago, Samsung is getting a little bold again by outfitting a large 4,000mAh battery inside the Note 9. It probably explains why the phone is a little thicker, which shows Samsung has learned from its mistake. Either way, this phone should easily get through a day, and potentially half of the next day as well (if not more).

Price and availability

The Galaxy Note 9 will set you back $1,000 for the base 128GB model. It’s clear Samsung is going directly after the iPhone X. This model will be available from Samsung’s website, and retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Tal Wireless, Target, and Walmart. You can also purchase it through a carrier, with support from AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, and Xfinity.

The 512GB model with 8GB of RAM has a eye-widening price tag of $1,250. It’s going to be a tad tougher to find as it’s only available at “select retail locations,” but you can always nab it online at Samsung’s website, or through AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and U.S. Cellular.

The Note 9 may not have a lot of upgrades for Note 8 owners, but it’s packed with top of the line specifications, components, and some handy software improvements. Is it worth the $1,000 price tag? We’ll find out in our full review coming soon.

Samsung’s Wireless Charger Duo can charge two devices at the same time

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

Apple teased a wireless charger last year that could charge up to three devices at the same time, but even though the pad was supposed to arrive earlier this year, we’ve yet to see it in actual existence. Well, Samsung has beaten Apple to the punch with its new Wireless Charger Duo, a wireless charging pad that’s capable of charging two devices at once.

Sure, it can’t charge as many devices as Apple is promising, but it’s still a step above single device wireless charging pads. The Wireless Charger Duo has two charging spots — on one side there’s a circular stand to rest a smartphone on, and the other side is flat, permitting users to lay a smartwatch or another phone on it. Both devices charge simultaneously, and Samsung said it supports fast charging.

The Duo isn’t even the first dual charger for Samsung. The company released the Dual Wireless Charging Tray last year, but it simply was a flat charging pad. With the new product, you have the benefit of propping your smartphone up so you can easily see the screen.

Apple’s AirPower wireless charging mat will be capable of charging three devices at once, such as an iPhone, AirPods in the wireless charging case, and the Apple Watch. But since different devices need different amounts of power, the pad will reportedly be able to detect which device is placed where and then supply the correct amount of power to each one. Some rumors claim the AirPower charging mat will be released in September alongside the 2018 iPhone devices, though others aren’t as confident.

Apple has yet to publicly comment on the status of the AirPower since announcing it at its event in September last year, but for now you may be able to use the Samsung charger to juice up two of your Apple devices. Of course, if you’re an Android user, you can use the Qi-supported Wireless Charger Duo to top up your smartphone and smartwatch as well.

Samsung announced the Wireless Charger Duo alongside the Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Watch at its Unpacked event in New York City.

We’re still waiting to hear more on pricing and availability, and we’ll update this story as soon as we have more information.

This is a developing story.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Here’s everything we know about Apple’s AirPower wireless charging mat
• The best wireless phone chargers for your iPhone or Android
• Nomad creates a wireless charging pad just for the Tesla Model 3
• Samsung Galaxy Watch: Everything you need to know
• Samsung’s S9 and S9+ Prime Day bundles include an Echo and an Echo Spot

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy Note 8 vs. Note 5: All the changes of note

Leading the charge toward bigger smartphones, Samsung’s stylus-toting Note series has built a loyal, growing audience. This year’s Galaxy Note 9 looks a lot like its predecessor, but there are some important improvements and new features to consider.

Samsung’s latest productivity powerhouse sports a souped-up S Pen, but what else sets it apart from last year’s Note 8 or 2015’s Note 5? We decided to pit Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5 to find out precisely how the specs differ and examine whether it’s worth upgrading. If you’re wondering what happened to the Note 6 and the Note 7 — Samsung skipped the sixth version, and the seventh was the subject of an infamous recall due to the phones catching fire.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Size
161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3 x 0.34 inches
162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.34 inches)
153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches)

Weight
201 grams (7.09 ounces)
195 grams (6.88 ounces)
171 grams (6.03 ounces)

Screen Size
6.4-inch Super AMOLED display
6.3-inch Super AMOLED display
5.7-inch Super AMOLED display

Screen Resolution
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (516 pixels-per-inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (521 pixels-per-inch)
2,560 x 1,440 pixels (518 pixels-per-inch)

Operating System
Samsung Experience 9 (over Android 8.0 Oreo)
Samsung Experience (over Android 7.1.1 Nougat upgradable to 8.0 Oreo)
Samsung Experience (over Android 5.1.1 Lollipop upgradable to 7.0 Nougat)

Storage Space
128GB, 512GB
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
32GB, 64GB, 128GB

MicroSD Card Slot
Yes, up to 512GB
Yes, up to 256GB
No

Tap To Pay Services
Samsung Pay, Google Pay
Samsung Pay, Google Pay
Samsung Pay, Google Pay

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 with water carbon cooling system
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420

RAM
6GB, 8GB
6GB
4GB

Camera
Dual sensor 12MP rear with dual OIS, variable aperture, 8MP front
Dual sensor 12MP rear with dual OIS, 8MP front
16MP rear, 5MP front

Video
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
2,160p at 30 frames per second, 1,080p at 60 fps, 720p at 240 fps
2,160p at 30 frames per second, 1,080p at 60 fps, 720p at 120 fps

Bluetooth Version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 4.2

Ports
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-Type C
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-Type C
3.5mm headphone jack, MicroUSB

Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Yes

Water resistance
IP68
IP68
None

Battery
4,000mAh
3,300mAh
3,000mAh

App Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Google Play Store

Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint

Colors
Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple
Midnight Black, Maple Gold, Orchid Gray, Deep Sea Blue
Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Silver Titan, White Pearl

Price
$1,000
$595+
$295+

Buy From
Samsung

Samsung, Amazon

Amazon

Review Score
Hands-on
4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Note 9 features Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor in the shape of the Snapdragon 845 and it offers some serious improvements over the Snapdragon 835 you’ll find in the Note 8 or the proprietary Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420 in the Note 5. Most importantly it’s faster and more power efficient, but it also brings more advanced artificial intelligence support, not to mention improvements in security, connectivity, and camera performance. The Note 5 is still a decent performer today and capable of running graphically-challenging games, but it’s no match for the Note 9. The improvement over the Note 8 will be less obvious unless you really push it. Samsung has added a special water carbon cooling system for the Note 9 so you can game or engage in other intensive tasks for longer.

Both the Note 9 and Note 8 have an ample 6GB of RAM for easy multitasking but the base model Note 8 offers 64GB of storage while the Note 9 starts at 128GB. There’s still the option to go for 128GB or 256GB Note 8 handsets, but if you jump up to 512GB in the Note 9 you’ll also jump to a whopping 8GB of RAM. There’s also support for further storage expansion via the MicroSD card slot. The Note 5 lags behind with 4GB of RAM and 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of internal storage with no room for expansion.

While there’s support for fast charging, with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 standard in the Note 9 and Note 8, as well as wireless charging for all three of these phones, the Note 9 streaks ahead in the battery department with an extra 700mAh of battery life over its most recent predecessor. That’s an enormous jump from the already impressive 3,300mAh capacity in the Note 8 or the 3,000mAh capacity in the Note 5. With light use, the Note 9 may even have the stamina to go two days between charges.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Very little has changed on the surface for the Note 9 compared to its direct predecessor. Samsung has spent a few years perfecting its curved Infinity Display and the Note 9 has the same glass sandwich design as the Note 8. The good news is that it feels expensive and still looks a bit futuristic. The one thing of note that Samsung has fixed is the fingerprint sensor placement, which is now in the middle of the back beneath the camera module instead of to the right of it. This is a positive tweak that makes it easier to find and use without looking, and reduces smearing on the lenses. The Note 5 is also a glass sandwich, but sports the older Samsung home button on the front and lacks the curved display of the newer smartphones.

Drop the Note 8 or 9 and you’ll be hoping the Gorilla Glass 5 is enough to guard against damage, but the smart move is to get a case. There’s no difference in terms of durability here and both phones score an IP68 rating that means they can survive a dunk in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to half an hour. The Note 5 makes do with Gorilla Glass 4 and lacks any real water resistance.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Display

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

Samsung’s Super AMOLED display is still the best in the business, so you’ll find it largely unchanged here. Both the Note 9 and Note 8 sport a 2,960 x 1,440-pixel resolution and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, but the Note 9 display is a hair bigger at 6.4 inches compared to the 6.3-inch screen in the Note 8. Samsung has managed to squeeze the screen-to-body ratio just a little higher. The Note 5 has the same awesome display, but it’s more squat with a 5.7-inch display with the once-standard 16:9 aspect ratio. It still boasts a 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution which is every bit as sharp as the newer phones.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You’ll find dual 12-megapixel lenses in the main rear camera module and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera in both the newer Note smartphones. The Note 5 lags way behind with a single 16-megapixel lens and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. On paper the camera in the Note 9 looks very much like the camera in the Note 8, but there are two major improvements worth highlighting.

Firstly, the Note 9 features the same variable aperture upgrade we saw in the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, which allows the main 12-megapixel lens to adjust between f/1.5 and f/2.4 depending on the conditions.  The Note 8’s main 12-megapixel lens is fixed at f/1.7. The dual setup allows for a great bokeh effect and 2x optical zoom, but the Note 9 is able to handle low-light conditions a lot better than its predecessor because the wider aperture is capable of taking in more light. We’ve seen what this camera setup is capable of in our S9 Plus low light camera test and we compared it directly with the Note 8 in a Samsung smartphone camera shootout.

The second big upgrade is in the video department where the Note 9 can shoot 4K at 60 frames per second (fps), 1080p at 240 fps, and 720p at a super slow motion 960 fps. The Note 8 is limited to 30 fps, 60 fps, and 240 fps respectively. The Note 9 also features AI scene recognition, where it’s capable of detecting and fine-tuning up to 20 scenes, and Flaw Detection, which alerts you to errors such as when someone blinks in a photo, or if there’s a smudge on the camera.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Software and updates

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Galaxy Note 5 shipped with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which has since been updated to Android 7.0 Nougat, while the Note 8 originally shipped with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, but has been upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo since then. The Note 9 will come with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. All of them have Samsung’s Experience user interface over the top, which is much improved and more streamlined than the old TouchWiz skin.

It’s not clear whether the Note 5 will be updated to Android 8.0 Oreo, but it seems unlikely and we definitely don’t see it being updated again beyond that. The user experience in terms of software is going to be virtually identical with the Note 8 and Note 9. We fully expect both of them to get upgrades to Android 9.0 Pie and probably Android Q as well, but since the Note 9 is newer it’s likely to get future upgrades for a bit longer than the Note 8, and that’s why it wins this round.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Special features

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Note 8 and Note 9 are two of the most feature-packed smartphones around. They both have Samsung’s Bixby on board, they can both double as desktop replacements with the Dex Station, and they both have support for the special S Pen stylus. However, the newer Note 9 has a souped up S Pen with Bluetooth support, which allows it to act as a handy remote control. You can still use it to sketch and take notes, but with the Note 9 it can also act as a remote shutter for the camera, a remote control for slideshows, and more. The Note 5 has the S Pen but lacks many of the other new features.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Price

If you bought a Note 5 when it first came out, you would have paid close to $700. An unlocked handset can be found for closer to $300 these days from retailers like Amazon.

The Galaxy Note 8 was north of $900 when it was first released, but you can pick one up unlocked direct from Samsung for $750 now and we expect further price reductions in the next few months. It’s also available from all major carriers and retailers like Amazon.

The Galaxy Note 9 starts at $1,000 and jumps to $1,250 for the 512GB model. You’ll be able to buy it direct or through any of the major carriers in the U.S. and beyond with pre-orders starting August 10 and the first handsets hitting stores on August 24.

Overall winner: Galaxy Note 9

It won’t come as a major surprise to find that this year’s Note is better than last year’s. The Note 9 offers a significant bump in performance and battery life, an improved camera, and the first major overhaul of the S Pen, which is what really sets this phone apart from Samsung’s Galaxy S9 Plus.

The Note 8 is still an excellent phone — this is refinement not revolution — and it may still be the better choice for some, especially if your budget is limited. If you already have a Note 8, then we’re not convinced there’s enough going on here to make an upgrade essential, but if you’re still using a Note 5 then you’ll really feel the benefit of upgrading to the Note 9.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy S9 Plus vs. Galaxy S9: Which is right for you?
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on review
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Everything you need to know
• Speed test: Galaxy S9 Plus vs. S8 vs. S8 Plus vs. Note 8
• OnePlus 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: Which big phone is better?

Google Chrome now shows browser notifications in Windows 10 Action Center

Rather than using its own custom notification engine, Google Chrome will now switch over to display notifications using Action Center for Windows 10 users. With the latest Chrome 68 update, Google will begin integrating the browser’s notification into the Action Center, and initially the feature will be available to about half of all Chrome users. Over time, Google said that the new integration with Action Center will be available to all Chrome users on Windows 10.

“We’re now rolling out support for native notifications in Chrome 68 using the Windows 10 Action Center — super exciting,” Chrome developer Peter Beverloo announced on Twitter. “Would love to hear your feedback!” Beverloo noted that Google had worked with Microsoft’s Edge and Action Center teams to bring Action Center support to Chrome.

By integrating with Action Center, Chrome users will not only have a central location to view notifications, they’ll also be able to more easily manage their notifications. Action Center integrates notifications from across Windows 10 and various apps, and the Focus Assist feature allows users to silence notifications or only display priority notifications. Chrome 68 users will now benefit from Focus Assist with the new Action Center support. The feature can be activated to help users focus on work to minimize distractions, similar to the do not disturb function on many smartphones, and this can be a useful tool for gamers.

If you are one of the early Chrome browser users who have received the update, you can manually enable Windows 10 notification support. “Users who have received the update can enable the new notification experience manually by visiting the flags page (chrome://flags) and then searching for the native notifications option,” NDTV reported. A browser restart is required after you enable native notifications.

During the transition, Beverloo noted that there will be a slight decrease in the click-through rate for notifications as users get adjusted to seeing Chrome’s notification in Action Center. “Metrics show a slight decrease in CTR, something to be aware of if you’re a Web developer using notifications,” he said in a follow-up tweet. “It should pick up again as people get used to their notifications being in the Action Center. Support for `requireInteraction` is unaffected.”

In addition to supporting native notifications on Microsoft’s Windows 10 platform, Google’s Chrome browser also supports MacOS’s notification center. That support came last year.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How to turn off notifications in Windows 10
• The Pixelbook could soon run Windows 10
• SwiftKey is coming to Windows 10 to improve touchscreen typing
• Windows 10 in S Mode rubs me the wrong way
• Google’s Chrome desktop browser is about to receive a major facelift

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy S9 Plus vs. Galaxy S9: Which is right for you?

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Samsung has been turning out some excellent smartphones that are packed with features and dressed to the nines, but which of the latest Galaxy phones is the right one for you? This year’s flagship trio is seriously tempting, and there’s a lot of overlap in terms of functionality, but there are also some important differences.

Let’s take a closer look at precisely what sets the Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9 Plus, and Galaxy S9 apart and see if we can pick a winner.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S9

Size
161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3 x 0.34 inches
157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm (6.21 x 2.91 x 0.33 inches)
147.6 x 68.7 x 8.4 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 inches)

Weight
201 grams (7.09 ounces)
189 grams (6.67 ounces)
163 grams (5.75 ounces)

Screen size
6.4-inch Super AMOLED display
6.2-inch Super AMOLED display
5.8-inch Super AMOLED display

Screen resolution
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (516 pixels-per-inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (531 pixels per inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (568 pixels per inch)

Operating system
Samsung Experience 9 (over Android 8.0 Oreo)
Samsung Experience 9 (over Android 8.0 Oreo)
Samsung Experience 9 (over Android 8.0 Oreo)

Storage space
128GB, 512GB
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
64GB, 128GB, 256GB

MicroSD card slot
Yes, up to 512GB
Yes
Yes

Tap-to-pay services
Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Google Pay, Samsung Pay

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, water carbon cooling system
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

RAM
6GB, 8GB
6GB
4GB

Camera
Dual 12MP (with dual OIS) rear, variable aperture, 8MP front
Dual 12MP (with dual OIS) rear, variable aperture, 8MP front
12MP (with OIS) rear, variable aperture, 8MP front

Video
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0

Ports
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C

Fingerprint sensor
Yes (back)
Yes (back)
Yes (back)

Water resistance
IP68
IP68
IP68

Battery
4,000mAh

QuickCharge 2.0

Qi wireless charging

3,500mAh

QuickCharge 2.0

Qi wireless charging

3,000mAh

QuickCharge 2.0

Qi wireless charging

App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Google Play Store

Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint

Colors
Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple
Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Lilac Purple
Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Lilac Purple

Price
$1,000
$840
$720

Buy from
Samsung

Samsung, Amazon

Samsung, Amazon

Review score
Hands-on
4.5 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

All three of these phones boast Qualcomm’s current top of the line processor in the shape of the Snapdragon 845. That means silky smooth performance and power efficiency. Where things start to differ is the Note 9’s use of a water carbon cooling system to keep temperatures running low, so you can game for a longer period of time. The amount of RAM is also improved on the Note 9. The Galaxy S9 makes do with 4GB, which is enough RAM for most people. The S9 Plus and the Note 9 offer 6GB of RAM, which will be appreciated by multi-taskers, but you can also get a version of the Note 9 with 8GB of RAM.

You can pick up the S9 or S9 Plus with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, but the base models of the S9 and S9 Plus make do with 64GB. The base model of the Note 9 starts with 128GB, and there’s also a 512GB variant (the one with 8GB RAM). They also all support expansion via MicroSD card.

Fast charging via Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 standard and support for Qi wireless charging is universal here, but battery capacity varies widely from 3,000mAh in the S9 to 3,500mAh in the S9 Plus all the way up to 4,000mAh in the Note 9. The extra RAM and battery capacity give the Note 9 an edge here.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

With all three phones featuring Samsung’s curved Infinity Display, with glass backs and a metal frame, it’s clear these devices belong to the same family. However, the Note 9 is a little taller, wider, thicker, and heavier than the other two. The S9 and S9 Plus also look a bit more rounded, particularly from the front, while the Note 9 is slightly more angular.

What you prefer will depend on your needs and possibly your size. There’s no doubt that the Galaxy S9 is the easiest to handle, but you do sacrifice some screen size, battery life, and even a few features by opting for the smallest phone. All three have beautiful, if familiar, designs, but we suspect the Note 9 will be a bit too big for some.

On the durability front, all three phones score an IP68 rating which means they can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes without damage. Despite the fact they all boast tough Gorilla Glass 5, it’s advisable to snag a case if you want to avoid drop damage.

Winner: Tie

Display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Super AMOLED displays that Samsung uses are top notch. All three boast a sharp 2,960 x 1,440-pixel resolution with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The Note 9 is the biggest of the bunch at 6.4 inches, while the S9 Plus display is 6.2 inches, and the S9 display is 5.8 inches. The bigger screens have a slightly lower pixel density because of the extra size, but you’ll have trouble telling these displays apart and they’re all excellent.

Winner: Tie

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Galaxy S9 is the odd one out here with a single 12-megapixel lens in its main camera, though it does boast a variable aperture that can go from f/1.5 to f/2.4 to get the best shot depending on conditions. The S9 Plus and Note 9 pair that lens with a second 12-megapixel lens with an f/2.4 aperture that enables 2x optical zoom. We’ve been impressed by what you can do with the S9 Plus camera and the hardware in the Note 9 appears to be identical, so we’d expect similarly great things, including excellent low-light performance.

The 8-megapixel front-facing camera is the same in all three phones. They’re also all capable of shooting super slow motion footage and capturing 4K video at 60 frames per second.

Samsung has added artificial intelligence scene recognition to the Note 9 to identify 20 different scenes and set contrast, exposure, white balance, and color for optimal results. There’s also a new Flaw Detection feature that will alert you if something happened to ruin a shot, such as a subject blinking or a smudge on the lens. We need some time to test these features out and see how well they work, but we won’t be surprised if they come to the S9 and S9 Plus as well via a software update.

Winner: Galaxy S9 Plus/Galaxy Note 9

Software and updates

You’ll find Android 8.0 Oreo with Samsung’s Experience user interface on top on all three of these devices. There are a few extras on the Note 9 designed to serve the S Pen, but for all intents and purposes the software is going to feel identical whicever you choose. We fully expect all three phones to get the Android 9.0 Pie update and the Android Q update on a similar schedule, so it’s difficult to separate them here.

Winner: Tie

Special features

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Samsung has always been generous in the special features department and so you’ll find these three phones offer all sorts of extras including A.I. assistant Bixby, support for virtual reality with Samsung’s Gear VR headset, and the ability to use your phone as a desktop computer, though the S9 and S9 Plus require Dex Station or Dex Pad to dock whereas the Note 9 only needs a USB Type-C to HDMI cable.

The obvious standout here is the S Pen, which only the Note 9 has and it has been beefed up considerably compared to previous versions. With Bluetooth Low Energy support you can now use the S Pen to control your phone from up to 30 feet away. You can use it to snap a photo, skip a music track, and more. It does require power, but just 40 seconds in the Note 9 will give it enough charge to go for 30 minutes. You can also still use it to sketch or take notes, including screen-off memos.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Price

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are widely available right now. You can buy them unlocked direct from Samsung or other retailers, and you can pick them up from all the major carriers. The S9 starts from around $670 right now and the S9 Plus can be found for as low as $820.

Samsung is charging $1,000 for the 128GB Note 9 and an eye-watering $1,250 for the 512GB and 8GB RAM model. You can pre-order it starting from August 10 and it will land in stores on August 24. It will also be supported by all the major carriers.

Overall winner: Galaxy Note 9

The Note 9 scrapes a win overall here, but with caveats. All it really offers over the S9 Plus is the S Pen, A.I. in the camera, and some extra battery capacity. If you’re not interested in the S Pen we think the more svelte and cheaper S9 Plus is a better bet. Both the S9 Plus and Note 9 really benefit from the second 12-megapixel lens in the main camera, and they also boast more stamina and RAM than the Galaxy S9, but the gap between Samsung’s biggest smartphones is extremely narrow.

Editors’ Recommendations

• LG V35 ThinQ vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus vs. Galaxy S9: Flagship standoff
• HTC U12 Plus vs. Galaxy S9 Plus: Clash of the plus-sized phones
• Moto Z3 vs Samsung Galaxy S9: Which flagship is more worthy?
• OnePlus 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: Which big phone is better?
• Samsung Galaxy S9 review

Intel’s ruler-shaped SSD packs 32TB of storage, aims to redesign servers

(Credit: Walden Kirsch/Intel Corporation)

Intel now provides what it deems as the world’s densest and totally silent solid-state drive, but you’ll never install it in your desktop PC. Instead, it’s a long device resembling an old 12-inch ruler that is designed to bring 32TB of speedy storage to data centers. It joins two other “ruler” SSDs in the company’s DC P4500 Series.

The DC P4500 Series is based on Intel’s 3D NAND technology that stacks memory cells like skyscrapers rather than spread them out horizontally as seen with standard SSDs. This is a better design because storage capacity isn’t limited to the SSD’s physical horizontal space. Intel’s 3D NAND is also supposedly faster because data travels up and down via “elevators” rather than seeks out destinations using “streets.”

But as the “ruler” description implies, the DC P4500 Series doesn’t use your typical “cartridge” SSD form factor. The SSDs measure 12 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, and 0.33 inches thick. They’re designed to fit in a 1U server slot measuring 1.75 inches high and 19 inches long that is capable of packing 32 rulers SSDs side by side. They also require half the airflow, reducing cooling costs.

“A new form factor itself isn’t all that exciting, typically,” says Intel’s Wayne Allen. “But because [the ruler] impacts everything about server design and helps increase performance and reach new levels of density, it’s a big deal. We’re redesigning the data center with this — that’s the most fun part of it for me.”

The idea is to design ruler-based servers so that fresh air can hit the processor, which not only enables processors with higher speeds at the same cooling cost but improves the data center’s overall cooling efficiency. That design starts with the massive amounts of storage used by each storage. With these ruler SSDs, Intel says it’s “delivered a 10x power reduction and a 20x space improvement.”

Currently, data centers mostly rely on hard drives. They’re cheaper than SSDs and provide more storage space per dollar, but rely on moving mechanical parts — picture a vinyl record turntable — whereas SSDs do not. That means hard drives are less reliable and generate more heat, thus they require high amounts of air conditioning to keep them cool, unlike SSDs.

Intel’s 32TB SSD doesn’t appear to be available for data centers just yet, but the 4TB and 8TB models can give us an indication of its performance. Both connect to a PCI Express NVMe 3.1 x4 interface enabling sequential read speeds of up to 3,300MB per second and sequential write speeds of up to 1,900MB per second. They use a mere 18 watts of power while writing, 13 watts while reading and four watts while remaining idle.

Intel’s upcoming 32TB SSD will consist of 64 layers, while the current 8TB and 4TB only have 32. All three are based on Triple Level Cell NAND, meaning each memory cell can store three bits of data. The “ruler” form factor is actually based on a new industry specification called EDSFF that you can read about right here.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Micron’s four-level memory tech stacks the storage in its new SSD
• SSD vs. HDD
• Dell has a new Developer Edition mobile workstation with Ubuntu, 3 more on way
• Intel Optane DC could boost Xeon servers with up to three terabytes of memory
• New laptops may see more storage as SSD prices expected to fall through 2019