Samsung Galaxy A16 5G launched in India on Friday weeks after it went on sale in France. Samsung is assuring six generations of software updates and six years of security updates for the Galaxy A16 5G. It features a 6.7-inch display with 90Hz refresh rate and has an IP54 dust and water resistance rating. The handset runs on MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Price in India, Availability 

The 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version of Galaxy A16 5G is priced at Rs. 18,999, whereas the 8GB+ 256GB storage model will cost you Rs. 20,999. It is available in Blue Black, Gold, and Light Green colourways and will go on sale through Samsung.com, Amazon, Flipkart and other retail platforms. Axis and SBI credit card users can save up to Rs. 1,000 while buying the new phone.

Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G is already on sale in France where it carries a price tag of EUR 249 (roughly Rs. 23,000) for the single 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. It is available in three colours — Gray, Midnight Blue, and Turquoise with a glossy finish.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Specifications

The Galaxy A16 5G comes with a 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor alongside 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. The onboard storage is expandable up to 1TB (via a micro SD card). It is confirmed to receive six OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

For optics, the Galaxy A16 5G has a triple rear camera unit comprising a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 5-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front, the handset has a 13-megapixel selfie camera. 

The Galaxy A16 5G is 7.9mm thick, compared to the 8.4mm thickness of previous models. It also has an IP54-certified build. The phone gets Samsung’s Knox Vault security feature as well. It comes with Samsung Wallet with Tap and Pay feature powered by NFC (Near Field Communication).

It houses a 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging support. The battery on the Galaxy A16 5G is claimed to deliver up to 2.5 days of playback time on a single charge.

iOS 17.3 was released by Apple on Monday alongside macOS 14.3 Sonoma for eligible smartphones and Mac computers. The latest iOS software update comes with a new feature designed to protect your account from thieves. Apple Music has also been updated with support for Collaborative Playlists. Meanwhile, customers will now be able to see warranty details for all their devices in the Settings app. Apple has also included several security fixes as part of the latest iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3 updates.

Apple’s release notes for the iOS 17.3 update reveal that Stolen Device Protection will be available to users after updating to the latest version. This optional security feature is designed to thwart attempts from thieves to steal your phone in public after observing the passcode to unlock the handset, allowing them to change your account password, phone passcode, and access other sensitive information. Instead, iOS will now require Face ID and add a waiting period before certain settings can be changed.

iOS 17.3 (alongside iPadOS 17.3) and macOS 14.3 Sonoma come with fixes for 15 and 16 security flaws, respectively. These patches fix vulnerabilities related to Safari’s WebKit engine, Shortcuts, Spell Checker, Apple’s Neural Engine — the company’s on-device machine learning NPU — and the mail search service. The company also fixed a bug that caused the system’s time zone management service to expose a user’s phone number to third-party apps via the system log.

iOS 17.3 includes fixes for a range of security vulnerabilities
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Gadgets 360

In order to install these updates, you can open the Settings app on iOS, iPadOS, or macOS and tap on General > Software Update. If you have an older iPhone, you can also check to see if iOS 16.7.5 and iOS 15.8.1 are available to download using the same method — these updates don’t bring new features, but they include security fixes for older devices.

Aside from these noteworthy fixes and improvements, Apple has finally rolled out Collaborative Playlists on Apple Music, a feature that was shown off last year and appeared briefly on the iOS 17.2 beta. Apple Music subscribers can now contribute to playlists together and react with emoji within these playlists.

Meanwhile, iOS 17.3 users can also use AirPlay for hotel TVs, a feature that will allow them to scan a QR code — on supported TVs in select hotels — to instantly pair with the TV in their room. IHG Hotels & Resorts has already worked with the company to enable AirPlay for hotel TV support on supported TV models, according to Apple.

Epic Games is bringing back the original Fortnite permanently, featuring the map and loot from the first season of the game. Players will be able to experience the popular Battle Royale title from its early days starting December 9, the developer announced Tuesday. Fortnite launched in early access in 2017 with co-op and Battle Royale modes and quickly became a phenomenon. Fortnite is currently running a Chapter 2 Remix season, with locations and loot inspired from the second chapter of the game.

Fortnite OG Launch

Dubbed “Fortnite OG”, the throwback season was confirmed by Epic Games in a post on X Tuesday. “OG is coming BACK and is here to stay. Relive Battle Royale from the start and explore the OG map, collect OG loot, and relive OG seasons. Drop back in on December 6,” the developer said. The post also featured an image of the map of the original season of Fortnite.

This is not the first time Epic Games is bringing back the original season of Fortnite. The studio launched a month-long season of Fortnite OG in November 2023 and received enthusiastic response from players. Following the launch of last year’s Fortnite OG season, the game experienced its biggest day ever. Epic Games confirmed at the time that over 44.7 players logged in to the OG season and played the game for over 102 million hours.

Fortnite has gone through several seasonal updates and iterations over the years, completely transforming itself from the game it used to be at launch. It now offers six different modes, including Lego Fortnite and Rocket Racing, in addition to the wildly popular Battle Royale mode.

The game is now known for its massive season-ending events and in-game concerts from some of the biggest pop stars. Fortnite is currently in its fifth chapter, with Chapter 6 set to launch next month.

On November 2, Epic Games announced Chapter 2, the Remix, which brings back remixed and reimagined content from the game’s second chapter, with weekly location and loot drops. Additionally, Chapter 2 Remix also features a host of rappers like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Spice, and Juice WRLD. Fortnite is free-to-play across PC, Mac, mobile, Xbox and PlayStation platforms.

Microsoft is in talks about an extension of its acquisition contract with video game maker Activision Blizzard, which is set to expire on Tuesday, so the parties can overcome the remaining regulatory hurdles to their $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,66,100 crore) deal, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The expiration of the contract would not automatically lead to the collapse of the deal, as it simply affords either company the right to walk away from the transaction.

Nonetheless, Microsoft, which makes the Xbox gaming console, has been seeking the contract extension to ensure that Activision is not wooed by another potential acquirer or has a change of heart, the source said.

The terms of the extension under negotiation and whether it would come with more financially advantageous terms for Activision could not immediately be learned.

The companies will continue to negotiate the extension if they do not have an agreement by the end of Tuesday, according to the source, who requested anonymity because the matter is confidential.

Microsoft and Activision did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An extension would give the companies more time to find a regulatory solution in Britain, the only major jurisdiction that stands in the way of them completing what would be the largest acquisition in the gaming sector.

Microsoft and Activision are negotiating potential remedies with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which they hope will appease its antitrust concerns.

The country’s antitrust regulator has argued that Microsoft’s commitment to offering access to Activision’s multi-billion dollar “Call of Duty” franchise to rival cloud gaming platforms would not effectively protect competition in the market. The CMA has agreed to extend its probe to Aug. 29 to allow for more negotiations with the companies.

Last week, Microsoft signed a pact to keep “Call of Duty” on Sony Group’s PlayStation console. Sony had been one of the deal’s toughest critics, arguing that it could stifle consumer choice.

On Friday, a US appeals court rejected the US Federal Trade Commission’s request to pause Microsoft’s acquisition of “Call of Duty” maker Activision. The decision removed one of the last obstacles to the acquisition closing.

Activision’s shares closed at $93.2 on Monday, a small discount to the $95-per-share deal price, indicating that most investors now viewed the completion of the deal as likely. 

© Thomson Reuters 2023 

The Infinix Zero Flip, the company’s first clamshell foldable phone, has finally launched in India. While Infinix is known for its mid-range and budget smartphones, the new Zero Flip changes things by entering a new price bracket. In India, the phone is available for Rs. 49,999, making it the most expensive phone by Infinix. However, you get a lot for that money compared to the other flip phones available in the market. I used the phone for a few hours, and below are my first impressions.

Infinix Zero Flip is available in a lone 8GB RAM + 512GB variant and two colour options. We’ve got the Rock Black variant with us for review. There’s also a Blossom Glow option, which is basically a peach colour.

Both displays on the phone offer a 120Hz refresh rate

Right off the bat, Infinix seems to have done a nice job with the design of the phone. It gets a flat metal frame alongside a metal hinge cover, which features a nice pattern and the Infinix logo. The bottom half of the phone, at the back, is protected by Gorilla Glass 7 and features a rock-like pattern. Infinix hasn’t provided any official IP rating for the phone. The hinge design is free, and you can hover between 30 and 150 degrees. On the inside, the flexible panel is surrounded by uniform bezels.

Talking about the panels, the Infinix Zero Flip has the largest cover screen in the segment. A 3.64-inch AMOLED display on the outside is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. This panel offers a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,100 nits of peak brightness. On the inside, there’s a 6.9-inch AMOLED flex panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, full-HD+ resolution, and a tall 21:9 aspect ratio. The inner panel can offer up to 1,300 nits of peak brightness, and in my few hours with the phone, both the inner and outer displays were bright and colourful.

The phone gets a 50-megapixel selfie camera with a slit flash

In terms of the camera hardware, the clamshell foldable has three 50-megapixel sensors. Two are on the outside, and one is on the inside for selfies. The primary sensor offers OIS; the secondary is an ultra-wide unit with 114-degree FoV. You get LED flash modules on the outside as well as on the inside (a slit LED flash). The outer camera modules do protrude out a bit.

The Infinix Zero Flip is equipped with an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8020 SoC, paired with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. As for software, it runs Android 14-based XOS 14.5 out of the box, and you also get a couple of Infinix AI features. The outer cover display also supports several apps, and we’ll be testing the implementation during our full review.

The cover screen on the Zero Flip is claimed to support over 100 apps

Infinix has packed a 4,720mAh battery in the Zero Flip, which is larger than what the competition offers. You also get a 70W fast charger in the box. We’ll be testing out the battery performance in our review, so stay tuned for that.

The Infinix Zero Flip seems like a great deal, at least on paper. It offers a lot for the money, but how will it hold up in real-world usage? You’ll have to wait for our full review to find out.

Xiaomi is working on a pair of smart glasses that offer support for features backed by artificial intelligence (AI) in collaboration with Apple supplier Goertek, according to a report. Other firms like Meta, Snap, and Baidu have either launched or unveiled glasses equipped with cameras, and Xiaomi’s purported wearable is also expected to offer similar functionality. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun reportedly expects the company to ship over 300,000 units of the product, which could be launched next year.

Xiaomi AI Glasses Launch Timeline (Expected)

According to an IT Home report (in Chinese), Xiaomi is developing a pair of AI glasses in partnership with Goertek. This device has reportedly been designed to offer AI features. It is said to have been in development for a few months, and the company could unveil it in China in Q2 2025, as a Xiaomi-branded wearable.

The purported AI glasses from Xiaomi will reportedly offer features found on similar devices, such as the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Review), which were recently updated with support for AI functionality. Xiaomi plans to equip the AI glasses with camera and audio modules, as per the report.

The publication claims that Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun expects the company to ship “above 300,000 units” of the AI glasses. It is currently unclear whether the device will be launched in markets outside China, including India. Xiaomi’s AI glasses are expected to compete with the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which are yet to make their debut in India.

Earlier this week, Baidu unveiled the Xiaodu AI Glasses its first smart glasses equipped with a 16-megapixel camera and a four-microphone array. The Chinese search giant’s wearable is designed to work with its native large language models (LLMs), and it can answer a user’s queries in real time, according to the company.

While Meta already sells a pair of smart glasses, the company recently showed off a prototype called Meta Orion, that is capable of displaying information on the glasses, providing a form of heads up display to a user. However, these AR glasses are unlikely to be launched until 2027, the company revealed while announcing the device.