Tag: Ice Universe

  • Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Upgrade Rumors Surface

    Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Upgrade Rumors Surface

    Key Takeaways

    1. Samsung has focused on improving additional sensors rather than changing main camera components in recent flagship devices.
    2. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch in January, potentially featuring a return of the variable aperture, last seen in the Galaxy S10 Plus.
    3. The variable aperture in the Galaxy S10 Plus had a range of f/1.5-f/2.4, which differs from competitors like Xiaomi’s f/1.6-f/4.0.
    4. Reintroducing the variable aperture could help differentiate the Galaxy S26 Ultra from its predecessors and competitors, many of which lack this feature.
    5. Speculation about these changes should be approached with caution due to the lack of solid proof, despite the insights from a credible source.

    Ice Universe has shared insights about the camera enhancements expected for Samsung’s upcoming Ultra smartphone. Recently, the brand has been reluctant to alter the main camera components on its flagship devices. Instead, their efforts have been on improving additional sensors, like the 50 MP ultra-wide lens featured in this year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra (currently priced at $1,149.97 on Amazon).

    Potential Changes in the Galaxy S26 Ultra

    This might change with the anticipated Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is set to be launched next January. However, it seems that the company might be looking back to past innovations rather than introducing something completely original.

    As reported by Ice Universe, Samsung is contemplating reintroducing a variable aperture for its main camera, a feature last seen in 2019 with the Galaxy S10 Plus. To give some perspective, that model had an f/1.5-f/2.4 variable aperture, which is quite different from the f/1.6-f/4.0 range provided by the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

    Distinct Features to Stand Out

    Bringing back a variable aperture camera could help Samsung set the Galaxy S26 Ultra apart from its previous version, especially since there seems to be minimal hardware changes across generations. This advantage could also apply when comparing the Galaxy S26 Ultra to its future competitors, many of which lack variable aperture capabilities; for example, Xiaomi has omitted this feature from the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. That said, it’s wise to approach this speculation with some skepticism due to the absence of solid proof, even though it comes from a reputable leaker like Ice Universe.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • iPhone 17 Air Thickness: 9.5mm with 5.5mm Body Design

    iPhone 17 Air Thickness: 9.5mm with 5.5mm Body Design

    Key Takeaways

    1. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to replace the ‘Plus’ series and feature a sleek design, potentially under 6mm thick.
    2. The camera bump will increase the overall thickness to about 9.5mm, with the bump itself around 4mm thick.
    3. Reports suggest the body of the phone could be as thin as 5.5mm, making it one of Apple’s slimmest devices.
    4. The design will include a Camera Control capacitive button, a new C1 modem, and a USB Type-C port, along with a 6.7-inch display.
    5. Apple has not officially confirmed details about the iPhone 17 Air or its launch alongside other iPhone models.

    The iPhone 17 Air is anticipated to be a sleek new smartphone that will take the place of the ‘Plus’ series, at least for this generation. There have been discussions about its thinness, with indications that it could measure less than 6mm in thickness. However, recent rumors indicate that the camera bump will significantly increase the overall thickness of the iPhone 17 Air. It might reach around 9.5mm when you include the camera bump, while still keeping its ultra-slim profile.

    Camera Bump Details

    The popular leaker Ice Universe revealed on Weibo, a Chinese social media site, that the camera bump on the iPhone 17 Air will be around 4mm thick. He also mentioned that the overall thickness of the phone near the camera bump would be 9.5mm, which suggests the body itself could be just 5.5mm thick. The camera bar is expected to include a single camera, an LED flash, and a microphone. It is likely that the camera will be similar to the one used in the iPhone 16e.

    Design Expectations

    Various reports have indicated that the phone could be 6mm or even thinner, but this latest leak hints at an even more streamlined design. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also weighed in, stating it might indeed be 5.5mm thin. This would make the iPhone 17 Air one of the slimmest devices Apple has created, although it would not surpass the iPad Pro OLED models, which measure only 5.1mm and 5.3mm thick.

    Additional Features

    In terms of the overall design, the rest of the phone is expected to follow the typical iPhone aesthetic, featuring a Camera Control capacitive button. It will be equipped with the new C1 modem and a USB Type-C port. Given that it is set to replace the ‘Plus’ model, the iPhone 17 Air may also boast a sizable 6.7-inch display.

    It’s important to point out that Apple has yet to provide any official details regarding the rumored iPhone 17 Air or confirm whether it will be launched alongside the next set of iPhone models.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • iPhone 17 Air May Beat Galaxy S25 Edge as Thinnest Smartphone

    iPhone 17 Air May Beat Galaxy S25 Edge as Thinnest Smartphone

    Key Takeaways

    1. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in over six months.
    2. The iPhone 17 Air will have the same height (163 mm) and width (77.6 mm) as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
    3. The iPhone 17 Air will be significantly thinner at 5.5 mm compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 8.73 mm.
    4. The iPhone 17 Air will be nearly 40% thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
    5. The iPhone 17 Air will also be 0.34 mm thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

    The iPhone 17 Air is probably still more than six months away from being unveiled. To put it in perspective, it is expected to be released at the same time as the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Still, insiders like Ice Universe keep sharing insights about Apple’s debut ‘Air’ branded iPhone.

    Size Specifications

    According to the leaker, the iPhone 17 Air will have the same height and width as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which are both estimated to be 163 mm and 77.6 mm, respectively. This means two of Apple’s upcoming iPhones will match the dimensions of the current iPhone 16 Pro Max (currently priced at $1,019 – refurbished on Amazon).

    Thickness Comparison

    The standout feature of the iPhone 17 Air will be its slimness. Ice Universe has reported that this new ‘Air’ model will measure just 5.5 mm in thickness, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be 8.73 mm thick. This makes the iPhone 17 Air nearly 40% thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it will also be 0.34 mm thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

    Source:
    Link

    iPhone 17 Air May Beat Galaxy S25 Edge as Thinnest Smartphone
    Tags: , ,
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Hands-On: Key Design Changes Revealed

    Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Hands-On: Key Design Changes Revealed

    Prominent leaker Ice Universe recently shared some hands-on photos of the Galaxy S25 Ultra dummy model. This model appears to be aimed at case manufacturers, and these dummy versions typically reflect the actual device. The images indicate that the new Samsung Snapdragon 8 Elite flagship will feature rounded corners, a detail that earlier reports have also pointed out.

    Rounded Corners for One UI 7

    According to Ice Universe, One UI 7 will look great with these rounded corners, as the right-angle design of the S24 Ultra “can’t show the beauty of” its animations properly. In a different post on X, the leaker mentioned that with the introduction of rounded corners, the “R angle” of the screen animations will be uniform across the user interface, while the sharp corners of the S24 Ultra create inconsistency.

    Improved Handling and Size

    Moreover, rounded corners usually provide a more comfortable grip, and the leaker has observed that the Galaxy S25 Ultra seems a bit larger than the S24 Plus. For context, the Galaxy S24 Plus has a 6.7-inch display, while the S24 Ultra is equipped with a 6.8-inch screen (256 GB currently priced at $949.99 on Amazon).

    Changes in Display and Weight

    Previously, Ice Universe mentioned that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will feature a 6.86-inch display, which will feel noticeably bigger than its predecessor due to thinner bezels. Earlier reports also suggested that this upcoming flagship will be lighter, weighing in at 219 grams compared to the 232 grams of the previous model.

    Camera Configuration Similar to S24 Ultra

    In terms of design, the back of the dummy model maintains the same camera setup as the S24 Ultra. Additionally, while leaked renders from OnLeaks imply that the camera rings may resemble those of the Z Fold 6, the new hands-on photos suggest that the camera rings will actually be identical to those of the previous model.

    Ice Universe shared this info on Weibo (translated from Chinese) and on X (tweet embedded above).

    Source: Link

    Image 1
    Image 1
    Tags: , ,
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Upgrade Confirmed by Tipster

    Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Upgrade Confirmed by Tipster

    Samsung is set to introduce the Galaxy S25 Ultra in early 2025. This anticipated Android flagship recently appeared on Geekbench, with two listings indicating that it might not get a memory upgrade. However, well-known tipster Ice Universe has shared different information.

    Confirmation of RAM Upgrade

    In a recent post on X, Ice Universe stated that the Galaxy S25 Ultra is "100% confirmed" to have a model featuring 16 GB of RAM. This implies that the variant shown on Geekbench is likely the lower-end model, while details about the higher-end configuration still remain unlisted on the benchmarking site.

    Expected Performance Improvements

    Although Ice Universe did not provide additional specifics, it is thought that the increase in RAM could help the Galaxy S25 Ultra compete better against flagships from other brands like OnePlus and Google. The Pixel 9 series, particularly the Pro versions, has already incorporated this memory upgrade.

    OnePlus has been ahead in offering devices with more than 12 GB of RAM since the launch of the OnePlus 11, with its latest flagship model even reaching 24 GB. In contrast, Samsung provided 16 GB RAM options for the S20 Ultra and S21 Ultra but has since remained at 12 GB for the S24 Ultra, which is currently priced at $1,049.99 on Amazon for the 256 GB storage version.

    Implications for Galaxy AI Features

    The anticipated increase in RAM is expected to enhance the performance of memory-intensive Galaxy AI features on the S25 Ultra. However, reports from @theonecid suggest that the standard S25 and S25 Plus models will be limited to a maximum of 12 GB of RAM, indicating that these versions may not receive any memory upgrades.

    @UniverseIce on X (tweet embedded above) via: Android Police

    Tags: , ,