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Microsoft bags top position in 12th edition of Metacritic Annual Game Publisher Rankings

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Metacritic has released the 12th edition of the annual game publisher rankings. According to the result, with average 87.4 metascore, Microsoft bagged top position followed by Sony, Humble Games, Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Sega, Electronic Arts, and 505 Games in the rankings.

Sega was the top ranker in last rankings by Metacritic. This year it scored 77.6 metascore and stood at 8th position.

Microsoft’s position has improved from sixth in 2020 to first place in the 12th edition of the rankings. This is for the first time a publisher averaged more than 85 metascore. Forza Horizon 5, Psychonauts 2, Age of Empires IV, and Halo Infinite were top games released by Microsoft in 2021.

With 81.3 metascore Sony has also improved its ranking from fourth in last year to second in the latest rankings.

Humble Games (80.9) Activision Blizzard (80.6), Bethesda Softworks (80.2), Bandai Namco (78.5), Electronic Arts (78.3) and 505 Games (75.7) have improved their positions in the ranking while Capcom, with 80.6 metascore noted downfall in the rankings. A total of 43 publishers released five or more games in 2021.

Three of Microsoft’s titles Forza Horizon 5, Psychonauts 2, and the Xbox Series X version of Microsoft Flight Simulator scored more than 90, which is ‘great’. Other titles of the Microsoft were rated good.

Microsoft was followed by Sony with an average Metacritic score of 81.3, with just Destruction AllStars keeping Sony from closing the year with 100 percent “good” games.

Activision Blizzard, surprisingly, finished off the year in the fourth spot, regardless of the continuous controversies, and before being acquired by Xbox.

Despite the fact that Nintendo contained 18 games, it was not able to find place among top ten. It had to satisfy with 14th place in the ranking chart. None of the games of Nintendo was rated ‘great’ although Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury and Metroid Dread came close with scores of 89 and 88 individually.

Metacritic ranks publishers based solely on the quality of their 2021 releases. Critic reviews (as captured by each game’s metascore) are used to evaluate performance. Sales and user reviews do not factor into these rankings.

Also, Read Here: Cranking up the heat, Apple claims to beat Nvidia’s giant RTX 3090 graphics

 

Audio brand Truke forays into smartwatch segment with Horizon W20: Know key features

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Emerging personal audio brand Truke has now entered the smartwatch market with the launch of Horizon W20 in India. The smartwatch is claimed to be made for adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts at a launch price of Rs 2,999. It’s available for purchase on Flipkart.

The Truke Horizon W20 smartwatch comes packed with an array of dazzling features. It offers a 1.69-inch full screen touch HD colour display with a resolution of 240×280 pixels and a Bluetooth 5.0 for enhanced connectivity.

The smartwatch supports several critical health monitoring features including 24×7 heart-rate sensor, blood pressure monitor, true blood oxygen level (SpO2) monitor, pedometer, and sleep monitor. It also comes with a built-in 9-axis gravity sensor that allows you to accurately record all your daily activities.

The smartwatch is powered by a 300mAh battery which claims to offer a standby time of up to 45 days. Truke, in a statement, said that it provides an impressive battery life of up to 168 hours without GPS function and up to 120 hours with GPS function. The battery life can be extended up to 14 days with a power saving mode.

Among other key features aboard the Truke Horizon W20 are smart notifications, DND mode, sedentary reminder, weather update, music control and 100+ cloud-based watch faces to lend a new look for every occasion.

“The Indian smartwatch segment is growing at an exponential rate and it was only natural for us to venture into this promising category. We are supremely confident that our best in class Adventure smartwatch will be a sensational hit not only with thrill seekers and outdoor enthusiasts but also with those who are uncompromising when it comes to technology and quality,” said Pankaj Upadhyay, CEO, Truke India.

Also Read: Truke Air Buds and Air Buds+ Review: More than enough features to die for in budget segment

Android 12 devices at risk with this new malware: Check if your device is at risk

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A highly severe Linux Kernel vulnerability called the “Dirty Pipe” is putting the Android 12 devices such as google pixel 6, Samsung Galaxy S22 and others at risk. The issue is said to be very serious and malicious as it allows certain hostile software and applications to get access to the device’s root level. It can also access and alter the data in files marked as read-only. This vulnerability was first found on the Linux Kernel and is now replicated on Google Pixel 6 by a security researcher.

Dirty Pipe Malware

Google is aware of the presence of this bug and has advised the users to update to the latest update, including the security updates.

What is the dirty pipe vulnerability?

A similar privilege-escalation was found previously named as Dirty Cow, and this is where the name Dirty Pipe has come from. It was discovered and fixed in 2016 only. Now a privilege escalation is when any unauthorised applications or processes get access to a system through exploiting the vulnerability. The word pipe is added to this one as it influences pipes, which are tools used by the Linux system for communication purposes. This one is much more straightforward to exploit than the Dirty Cow.

How it is discovered?

A German security researcher, Max Kellerman, first found the vulnerability after one of his clients raised a support ticket for a corrupt file he found on his system. Since the malware was new, he couldn’t find a reason to explain it and tried to fix the files manually.
During his course of the research, the number of clients increased, facing the same issue with more files on the table. After more and more scanning and analysing the files and client’s hard disk, Kellerman discovered a pattern where he found multiple corrupted files. Finally, he reached an unlikely conclusion that the flaw must be caused by a bug in the Linux Kernel.

“The kernel is an extremely complex project developed by thousands of individuals with methods that may seem chaotic; despite of this, it is extremely stable and reliable. But this time, I was convinced that it must be a kernel bug,” Kellerman notes in a company blog post.

Dirty Pipe vulnerability: What are the consequences?

Max Kernell has admitted that if any device is affected. the bug might get the full root access of the device. This also means that the software could read and alter the Whatsapp contacts and communications (encrypted ones as well), block messages, simulate users on websites that are unauthorized and possess all the installed banking apps to rob money.

Google pixel bug

The researcher, Kellerman was competent enough to duplicate the same bug on Google Pixel 6 and reported the same to his security team in February. Also, after the report, Google also issued a patch to resolve it in the Android Kernel. Well, it’s still not clear whether the March security patch has resolved the issue or not, but we can still rely on it!

Devices prone to “Dirty Pipe” vulnerability

Reportedly, the flaw affects many devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S22 as well as the Google Pixel 6. Additionally, the “Dirty Pipe” is also affecting some other devices which are also running on Android 12. The new ones are also expected to be vulnerable to invasions.

Dirty Pipe Malware

Hence, it is recommended that the users to not to download programmes from untrusted sites and stay away from apps and games that are not trustworthy. Also, make sure that your that your device is up-to-date to avoid any such bug interferences.

Cranking up the heat, Apple claims to beat Nvidia’s giant RTX 3090 graphics

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After introducing M1 Pro and M1 Max, the next breakthrough chips for the Mac in October 2021, Apple has claimed to further intensify the competition in the graphics processing units (GPU) with the launch of with its new M1 Ultra.

The US-based tech giant Apple claims that it will give tough competition to Nvidia’s giant RTX 3090 graphics card, the fastest GPU available right now.

A 64-core GPU — 8x the size of M1, the M1 Ultra ensures faster delivery of performance for the most graphics-intensive needs, such as 3D rendering and complex image processing.

What is GPU

It is a specialized processor originally designed to accelerate graphics rendering. Gradually, GPU has become more flexible and programmable, improving their capabilities. This made graphics programmers or designers to use with advanced lighting and shadowing techniques to create more interesting visual effects and realistic scenes.

Coming back to Apple and Nvidia, the M1 Ultra dubbed as the world’s most powerful chip for a personal computer, has a combination of two M1 Max dies, they have been clubbed together to create a single powerful chip, M1 Ultra chip that has double the CPU cores, double the memory, double the memory bandwidth, and most importantly, double the GPU cores. M1 Ultra is available in the all-new Mac Studio, it brings unprecedented performance to the desktop. Apple has described this combination as ultrafusion and is ahead of its rivals like Intel, Samsung, and Qualcomm who are in the early stages of working together on a new standard that could let companies build processors out of Lego-like chiplets.

Huge bandwidth jump

With the help of a silicon interposer that connects the chips across more than 10,000 signals, providing a massive 2.5TB/s of low latency, inter-processor bandwidth — more than 4x the bandwidth of the leading multi-chip interconnect technology. This enables M1 Ultra to behave and be recognised by software as one chip, so developers don’t need to rewrite code to take advantage of its performance.  While, Nvidia offers with NVLink for SLI or AMD with Infinity Fabric, which are used as high-speed links between GPUs.

RTX 3090

With its RTX 30-series, Nvidia has practically killed off multi-GPU support as only the RTX 3090 offerS NVLink support. It has been observed that combining two RTX 3090s together for productivity or gaming rigs has hugely mixed results, though. Games that natively support SLI will offer performance benefits, while most will not offer any uplift and some will even see a performance drop.

The RTX 3090 is the fastest GPU on the market right now — until Nvidia finally delivers its delayed RTX 3090 Ti — and Apple claims the M1 Ultra can beat a single RTX 3090 while using 200 watts less of power.

Apple claims to deliver faster performance through M1 Ultra with a 64-core GPU as compared to highest-end PC GPU available while using 200 fewer watts of power.

However, similar claim was made by Apple about its M1 Max. It said that it can beat the RTX 3080, but the actual results were mixed.

When it comes to productivity-focused loads, the M1 Max turned out to be extremely well as compared to the RTX 3080.

Thanks to the M1 Ultra that has made Mac Studio incredibly powerful. Mac Studio is designed to replace the 27-inch iMac and even Mac Pro models for many.

With its M1 Ultra and Mac Studio, Apple id focuses on productivity applications rather than gaming.

Both the M1 Pro and M1 Max did not perform well in gaming reviews. Infact, they were found to be similar to an RTX 3060 in many titles. Experts believe that the M1 Ultra is not going to magically solve the lack of macOS games, or that most cross-platform games are still x86.

Also, Read Here: Inbase launches ‘Urban Lyf M’, an extremely versatile smartwatch

 

iPhone SE alternative from the house of Sony: Know what Xperia Ace 3 has in common

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Even though Sony phones are a thing of the past in India now, they still make news outside their home country (Japan) whenever there’s any development with regard to any new offering. In one such development, the Japanese electronics major is coming up with the Sony Xperia Ace 3, which is said to have an iPhone SE-like compact design.

It must be noted that Android camp is not too interested in launching small smartphones, and the Sony Xperia ACE 3 might come as a surprise from the Japanese company that it still is a big advocate of the compact form factor.

The upcoming Sony Xperia Ace 3 is somewhat akin to Apple iPhone SE 2022 and iPhone 13 Mini that come with small displays and sell like hot cakes despite having old-style design. Although, it’s not a new thing for Sony as it has been making Xperia Ace lineup of compact devices since 2019.

Sony Xperia Ace 3-1

As per images revealed by popular tech leaker OnLeaks (via Zollege), the upcoming Sony Xperia phone almost looks like its compact predecessor launched in 2020, especially in terms of design and overall size. It happens to have a slightly smaller footprint, if the renders are to be believed.

Interestingly, the upcoming Xperia Ace 3 (with 9.1mm) is said to be a little thicker than its predecessor (with 8.9mm), however this minute change in dimensions doesn’t disturb the display size of 5.5-inch, which is a tried and tested endeavor from the house of Sony.

In terms of the rear panel, the leaked renders show that the Sony Xperia ACE 3 comes with a clean design, possessing a small camera module – housing a 13-megapixel shooter and an LED flash – at the top left and the company’s branding at the centre.

Up front, it comes with a selfie camera housed within the waterdrop notch. Although the details about the sensor used here is still unknown, it’s likely to be the same 8-megapixel lens that’s available on Xperia Ace 2.

The rest of the design is said to be borrowed from the Xperia Ace 2. The smartphone sports a SIM tray on the left side and the power button and the volume rocker on the right. Going by the trend, the power button also doubles up as a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. At the top and bottom, the handset comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, a speaker grille and a microphone.

If reports are to be believed, the smartphone is likely to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G SoC paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB of internal storage. It will be backed by a 4,500mAh battery. The forthcoming smartphone will reportedly cost $327 (Rs 24,999) and is expected to land sometime in June this year in Japan.

Also Read: Vivo’s first step into the world of foldables: Know what leaked schematic shows

Xbox aims to increase women participation in gaming industry through this initiative

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With an aim to uplift and support the next generation of women in gaming, Xbox– a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft, has introduced a mentoring program for women candidates who want to pursue career in the industry.

Under the mentoring program, announced to mark the International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month 2022, will offer 1:1 coaching sessions with key leaders in select markets such as the US, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and Korea with additional markets to follow.

Xbox is hopeful to generate meaningful engagements with tangible and purposeful actions to help foster career development in the games industry. With the program available in multiple markets kicking off this month, Xbox is opening up their world to inspire and support the next generation of women leaders in gaming. More details will follow mid- March.

Read Here: Xbox Series X Price Jumps 6% as Rupee Falls

According to Louise O’Connor, Executive Producer, Rare, they hope to increase participation of women in the gaming industry through their mentoring initiative.

Despite efforts by Women in Games and other organizations advocating for gender equity in the industry, it continues to face gender imbalance. Reports claim that women candidates represent only 24% of the total workforce.

Career development, networking opportunities, mentoring and more is offered by the ‘Women in Gaming’ group at Xbox to encourage retention of women in the industry.


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  • Samsung Galaxy F23 5G with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor to go on sale from March 16

Vivo V23, V23 Pro and V23e 5G up for grabs with exciting Holi offers, cashbacks: Details inside

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With Holi just around the corner, Chinese handset maker Vivo has come up with some exciting offers on the recently-launched V23 series smartphones to celebrate the festival of colours in style. You can avail these offers exclusively on Vivo India E-store and across all partner retail stores in India.

The Vivo V23 and V23 Pro are known for their colour changing rear panel, exceptional photography features and ultra-slim Fluorite AG glass design. They have garnered an immense popularity ever since their launch on January 5 this year.

The Vivo V23e 5G, which was launched on February 21, offers the magic of flawless selfies and portraits and is set in an ultra-slim Fluorite AG glass design.

Offers

In terms of offers, you’ll get massive cashbacks worth up to Rs 3,500 available with ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and One card and 1-year extended warranty with Zest Money on these three phones till March 31. One can also avail the benefit of free one-time screen replacement of V23 Pro from March 11 to March 31 and on V23e from March 10 (i.e. today) to March 31.

Also Read: Vivo V23 5G Review: A stylish feature-heavy smartphone for selfie lovers

Prices

It must be noted that the price of Vivo V23 starts at Rs 29,990 and comes in two storage options. While the base model that features 8GB+128GB storage is priced at Rs 29,990, the 12GB+256GB variant costs Rs 34,990. The smartphone comes in Sunshine Gold and Stardust Black colours.

The price of Vivo V23 Pro starts at Rs 38,990 for the base 8GB RAM variant with 128GB storage, while the 12GB storage variant with 256GB storage is priced at Rs 43,990.

On the other hand, the Vivo V23e 5G is priced at Rs 25,990 for the sole 8GB+128GB variant. It comes in two colour options – Midnight Blue and Sunshine Gold.

Also Read: Xbox aims to increase women participation in gaming industry through this initiative

Specifications

The Vivo V23 comes with a 6.44-inch AMOLED display along with a 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone features a flat screen with a wide notch for the dual 50MP+8MP front camera setup. The handset comes with a 64MP rear camera along with an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP depth sensor. It is powered by MediaTekDimensity 920 SoC and houses a 4,200mAh battery with 44W fast charging support. The smartphone runs Android 12-based Funtouch OS 12 out of the box.

The Vivo V23 Pro comes with a 6.56-inch AMOLED display and has a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor with up to 12GB of RAM. It comes with up to 256GB of internal storage and houses a 4,300mAh battery with 44W fast charging support. Camera-wise, the Vivo V23 Pro flaunts a triple-camera setup on the back and has a 108MP primary camera and an 8MP ultrawide camera with a 2MP macro camera. Up front, it has a dual-front camera setup for selfies. It boasts of a 50MP main front camera along with an 8MP ultrawide front sensor.

On the other hand, the Vivo V23e 5G features a 6.44-inch capacitive multi-touch (1080×2400 pixels resolution) display with a refresh rate of 90Hz. It packs a MediaTek Dimensity 810 SoC with 8GB RAM and storage of 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The handset runs Android 12-based FunTouchOS 12 out of the box, and has a 50MP camera setup at the rear and a 44MP selfie camera.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy F23 5G with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor to go on sale from March 16

Tech NewsWrap: Redmi Watch 2 Lite launched in India… and more

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Redmi Watch 2 Lite launched in India

Redmi Watch 2 Lite

The Redmi Watch 2 Lite smartwatch was launched alongside the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G series. It has a SpO2 monitoring feature, a battery life of up to 10 days, and 24-hour heart rate tracking. If you’re searching for a mid-range smartwatch that’s not just reasonable but also performs well, this is the watch for you. The Redmi Watch 2 Lite is available in India for Rs 4,999. It will be available in the colours Blue, Black, and Ivory. The Redmi Watch 2 Lite will go on sale for the first time on March 15 through Amazon, Reliance Digital, Mi’s own website, and retail outlets.

iPhone SE 2020 discontinued in India

iPhone-SE-3 2022

Apple has officially released the iPhone SE 3 with 5G and the same design as the previous iPhone SE. With the latest A15 Bionic CPU (the same one that powers the iPhone 13) and an enhanced rear camera, the phone is now more powerful. It’s also more expensive than the iPhone SE 2020 model, which is no longer available. Following the debut, Apple announced that the previous SE model will be retired, and it is no longer available on the company’s website. However, the device is still available on Flipkart, where its price remains unchanged despite the launch of iPhone SE 3.

Samsung Galaxy A73 5G images leaked

Samsung Galaxy A73 5G

Samsung is set to release the Galaxy A-series’ premium mid-range smartphone. So far, a lot of information about the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G smartphone has surfaced. The South Korean tech giant is preparing to launch the premium mid-range smartphone of the Galaxy A-series. So far, a lot of information has come to the fore about the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G smartphone. Several renders of Samsung Galaxy A73 5G have appeared on the internet, exposing major specifications and features. The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G has a flat display, according to leaked pictures. This phone is expected to be released in the last week of March or early April, according to rumours.

Apple unveils Mac Studio, Studio Display with M1 Ultra chip

Mac Studio

Apple announced a variety of new items during its Peek Performance event, including the iPhone SE (2022), Studio Display, and more. The new Mac Studio, which starts a fully new Mac PC, was one of the main highlights of today’s presentation. The Mac Studio has a similar appearance to the Mac Mini, but it has a somewhat larger body and a lot more power. The M1 Max edition of the Mac Studio costs $1,999, while the M1 Ultra variant costs $3,999.

Apple to roll out iOS 15.4 update next week: Know key features and iPhones supporting the same

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The next version of iOS will soon be a reality, as Apple is all set to roll out its much-awaited iOS 15.4 next week. Although the US-based tech major has reportedly not shared an exact release date of iOS 15.4, your wait for the same will probably end on Tuesday.

The highly-anticipated iOS version, as per reports, will include major new features, with the most prominent being the ability for users to unlock their iPhone employing Face ID while wearing a mask.

Your iPhone would identify the area around your eyes to validate if you are the correct person to access the device. This feature, however, is only available on the iPhone 12 and later, as per reports.

Also Read: iPhone SE 3 launched in India: Check out the specs and price here

Apple has been working on this feature for a long time, especially in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. It has rolled out many beta versions aimed at developers in the past.

The upcoming iOS version will also come up with a host of new emojis, and developments to the iCloud Keychain system, and also a new voice for Siri users in the US region.

Also Read: Apple iPad Air 5 launched: Check specifications, price

The iPhone models that will be running iOS 15.4 includes iPhone SE 3, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, the iPhone SE 2020, and the iPhone SE.

The iOS 15.4 also brings Apple’s new Tap to Pay feature, transforming compatible iPhones into terminals for contactless payments. The update will also come up with enhancements to AirTags, the option to add custom domains to iCloud Mail right on the device, to name a few.

Apple launched four new products – iPhone SE with 5G, Mac Studio, Studio Display and iPad Air – at its much-awaited Spring event last night.

Also Read: Apple Event Highlights: iPhone SE 3, iPad Air 5, Mac Studio and more

Samsung Galaxy F23 5G with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor to go on sale from March 16

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After launching Galaxy F23 5G in India, South Korean tech giant Samsung has announced that the phone will go on sale from March 16. The new smartphone will be available via Flipkart and Samsung online store.

“The #GalaxyF23 sale starts on 16th March, 12 noon. Head to @Flipkart: or visit Samsung online store: to begin your Frevolutionary journey. *T&C apply. #Frevolution #Samsung (sic),” reads a tweet by the Samsung.

Variants, availability and price

Galaxy F23 is available in Aqua Blue and Forest Green colours and carries a price tag of Rs 17499 for 4GB+128GB variant and Rs 18499 for 6GB+128 GB variant. Initially, the phone will be available at an introductory price of Rs 14999 for 4GB+128GB variant and Rs 15999 for 6GB+128 GB variant. The introductory offer includes a bank cashback of Rs 1000 with ICICI bank cards.

The handset launched on March 9 is powered with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Samsung claims it to be a delight for game lovers. According to the Company, customers can play games without any lag or multitask with multiple apps faster than ever before.

The Galaxy F23 offers 120Hz refresh rate to deliver a smooth, stutter free scrolling experience. For an added layer of security and toughness, the phone is equipped with the first ever Gorilla Glass 5 display. The latest smartphone by the Samsung gives a cinematic viewing experience through its large 16.72 cm (6.6”) FHD+ Infinity-U Display.

Voice clarity

To amplify your voice so that you are always heard loud and clear, even in the nosiest of environments, the smartphone comes with Voice Focus specification.

Connectivity

With auto data switch Galaxy F23 5G gives you the flexibility to Make and receive calls or use data from your secondary SIM, even when your primary SIM is in a no network area so that your loved ones can stay in touch with you wherever you go.

Camera

Equipped with first ever 50MP triple camera with 123° Ultra-wide, the Galaxy F23 5G enables you to capture all that you can see. For selfie lovers, the smartphone allows you to take crisp, clear and instaworthy pics.

Frevolutionary 5G

Thanks to the Galaxy 5G-12 Band support you can connect anywhere, anytime.  Download, upload, stream and share at blazing fast speed, no matter where you are.

Battery

Galaxy F23 5G sports massive 5000mAh battery and 25W fast charge support that lets you conquer day and night without having to worry about frequent charging.

Also, Read Here: Redmi Note series go pro with the launch of Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro