We reported yesterday that Samsung might increase the pricing of its high-end phones, starting with the Galaxy S23. This price hike is possible in Australia, Europe, South Korea, and many other countries worldwide. However, the company could compensate for the price hike with a special pre-order offer.
Tipster Roland Quandt spotted specific terms and conditions on Samsung UK’s business website. The information reveals that pre-ordering any Galaxy S23 series device will allow buyers to get a free upgrade to a higher storage variant. For example, if someone pre-orders a Galaxy S23 by paying for its 128GB version, they will get a 256GB version without any additional charge. Similar is the case with the Galaxy S23+ and the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
So, most users in the UK will get a 256GB version of the Galaxy S23, while Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra buyers who pre-order the device will get 512GB versions of the phones as they start at 256GB for their base versions. A similar pre-order offer could be available in most parts of the world, but not all. Last year, too, Samsung had a similar offer for the Galaxy S22 series in the US and some other markets, but the offer could be widespread this time.
In addition, the company is offering a $50 in-store Samsung credit to those who pre-reserve a Galaxy S23. The South Korean firm may also provide additional pre-order benefits in many countries, but those offers might vary depending on the market. In India, the company will offer access to exclusive color variants of the Galaxy S23 to those who pre-order the device. Such exclusive colors could be available in more markets worldwide.
Straight from Samsung UK Business official site:#GalaxyS23 #Preorder #Discounts #StorageUpgrade #SamsungUnpackedhttps://t.co/cjaQ7CN1Fd pic.twitter.com/RTxoIz8Pex
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is just one week away from its official unveiling. All the leaked information so far has painted a positive picture. Samsung upgraded almost every aspect of its upcoming flagship for 2023, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra is an interesting proposition for Samsung flagship customers, especially those living in markets where trade-in values are stellar.
We’ve already listed plenty of reasons why the Galaxy S23 Ultra might be a worthwhile upgrade for Galaxy S20 Ultra customers. But what about Galaxy S21 Ultra users? Should they consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra as their next flagship phone? Let’s answer this by looking at all the improvements the 2023 flagship brings over the 2021 model, and the things you might lose by switching to the newer phone.
Better, brighter display with 1-120Hz refresh rate
Both the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra have 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with similar resolutions. However, the 2023 model increases peak brightness from 1,500 nits to 1,750 nits, and reports indicate that Samsung has fine-tuned color accuracy to a superior level, especially for low-light usage conditions.
In addition, the Galaxy S23 Ultra supports a refresh rate of anywhere between 1Hz and 120Hz, whereas the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s panel can only go as low as 48Hz. This means that the Galaxy S23 Ultra panel is friendlier to battery life, which may compensate for the higher brightness.
All in all, the Galaxy S23 Ultra display is brighter and technologically superior.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra fully embraces the S Pen
Although the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first S-series flagship to adopt S Pen support, the phone doesn’t have a built-in holster for this iconic input device. You could say that the 2021 model is the last pure Galaxy S Ultra flagship, and you could view that as a plus.
Nevertheless, if you have any interest in the S Pen, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a worthy upgrade over the Galaxy S21 Ultra on the S Pen holster alone. The 2023 model fully embeds the S Pen and offers better stylus technology with lower latency. You no longer have to buy an S Pen case for your device, and the accessory will always be within reach.
Better build quality and a newer design
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But even if you prefer the bulky camera housing of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, there’s something to be said about the design consistency of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The 2023 flagship has a squarer footprint and a much more minimalist camera setup without a traditional “hump.” It looks more up-to-date than the 2021 model, and the thicker metal frame makes the phone look sturdier.
Aside from its updated aesthetics, the Galaxy S23 Ultra also employs better building materials, such as a stronger aluminum frame with improved scratch and drop resistance, along with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 instead of Glass Victus display protection. The former should provide better protection against drops on hard surfaces such as concrete pavements. In essence, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is more suitable to use without a protective case than the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Snapdragon SoC everywhere and more (possibly faster) base storage
For the first time, Samsung will no longer split the flagship market between Exynos and Qualcomm chipsets. The Galaxy S23 Ultra ships with a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 worldwide, which means that support should be better, and you’ll get to experience Qualcomm’s best SoC yet, even if you buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra in a so-called “Exynos market.”
And needless to say, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a more powerful solution than the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100 SoCs. Furthermore, the Galaxy S23 Ultra reportedly uses an exclusive version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which boasts higher frequencies for better performance.
In addition, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers more storage as standard. The base model has 256GB of storage, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra has 128GB or higher. On the flip side, you get 8GB of RAM with the Galaxy S23 Ultra rather than 12GB of RAM for the base model, but you can confortably compensate using RAM Plus since the phone offers more storage.
Finally, if rumors are true, the Galaxy S23 Ultra ships with faster UFS 4.0 storage instead of UFS 3.1, which should make file transfers faster and help performance for RAM Plus virtual memory.
Better cameras with a 200MP primary sensor
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is Samsung’s first smartphone to boast a 200MP primary camera. The new ISOCELL HP2 offers many improvements, especially in terms of low-light performance and autofocus.
The telephoto cameras are also better, even though they provide the same zoom capabilities. AI processing was improved, and zoomed-in shots should look much better on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
One possible downgrade could be the 12MP selfie sensor, down from the S21 Ultra’s 40MP unit. However, the 12MP sensor appears to be brand-new, which could mean that it takes advantage of newer technologies to create better selfies with more accurate colors.
If you’re looking for a camera upgrade from the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the S23 Ultra certainly qualifies as one.
Faster battery charging (wired)
One of the most unusual choices Samsung made for the Galaxy S21 Ultra was to downgrade charging speeds to 25W. Thankfully, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has better specifications. Even though both phones have 5,000mAh batteries, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers 45W super-fast charging.
However, Samsung also made an unusual choice for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Although the 2023 model boasts faster wired charging than the 2021 flagship, it seems to have 10W wireless charging instead of the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 15W wireless capabilities.
So, you win some, lose some. But if you’re looking for faster wired charging, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the way to go.
Newer software and support until Android 17
Although the Galaxy S21 Ultra got upgraded to Android 13 and One UI 5.0 recently, Samsung will ship the Galaxy S23 Ultra with the newer One UI 5.1 firmware.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra may eventually get One UI 5.1, but the 2023 model will have a head-start. More importantly, even though both phones qualify for Samsung’s improved four-year Android OS upgrade policy, support for the 2021 model will stop at Android 15. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 Ultra will receive Android 17 closer to the end of this decade.
Reasons not to upgrade from the Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 Ultra undoubtedly offers many upgrades over the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but what’s the downside? Are there any reasons you should consider not upgrading to the 2023 model aside from the money you’d have to spend?
Well, as mentioned before, you might lose 5W of wireless charging speed, down to 10W, if you switch to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. If you care about wireless charging, this may be an issue.
You also lose 4GB of RAM for the base model, albeit you get more (and possibly faster) storage. Nevertheless, if you value more apps running in the background and don’t want to use RAM Plus, you might get a lesser experience on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
On the software side, it is true that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will get support for longer, but the Galaxy S21 Ultra is no slouch. It still has two major OS upgrades planned for the future, so it’s not like you’ll miss out on the next few One UI versions if you decide to keep using the Galaxy S21 Ultra for a couple more years.
And lastly, a relatively smaller user base might want to know that the Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t have an FM radio. This feature was already market-dependent and available only for the Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S21 Ultra (no FM for Exynos). But now, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is likely to ditch FM radio support everywhere.
If you consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra a worthy upgrade, keep an eye out for Unpacked 2023. The event will take place on February 1, and the new flagship should be available for pre-order for roughly two weeks before shipping to early buyers. Until February 1, you can reserve the phone online and earn $50 in Samsung Credit.
NASA is considering asking SpaceX to boost the existing shielding on the company’s Crew Dragon capsule after something blasted a tiny hole in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in December 2022, agency officials said during a press conference on Wednesday (Jan. 25).
The strike, likely by a micrometeoroid, occurred while the Soyuz was docked to the International Space Station (ISS), where it remains today. The impact caused a coolant leak that rendered the Soyuz vehicle, known as MS-22, unsafe to carry astronauts home except in case of emergency.
So Russia’s space agency Roscosmos has decided to launch an empty Soyuz on Feb. 20 to bring the three MS-22 crewmembers back to Earth. That journey is expected to occur in September, about six months after the trio’s original planned homecoming date.
Related: International Space Station: Live updates
The discussions with SpaceX are in the early stages; the shield-boost idea was just raised Tuesday (Jan. 24) at a regularly scheduled commercial crew meeting, said Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
“We started to talk about a little bit — Is there anything we can do now?” he said in Wednesday’s press conference, which provided an update on ISS operations and the next SpaceX mission to the station, Crew-6, which is scheduled to lift off on Feb. 26.
SpaceX’s Sarah Walker said the company is aligned with NASA’s goals. Walker, who is director of Dragon mission management, also emphasized that all analyses to date show that the Crew Dragon docked at the ISS now, called Endurance, is doing just fine.
“The Dragon systems are healthy and operating nominally,” Walker said during Wednesday’s press conference of Endurance, which launched to the orbiting lab this past October on SpaceX’s Crew-5 mission for NASA.
SpaceX’s Crew-5 launch on Oct. 5, 2022, which brought the spacecraft Endurance to the International Space Station with four crewmembers. In a pinch, a fifth astronaut could be put on Endurance for return to Earth, NASA has said. (Image credit: Josh Dinner/Space.com)
Roscosmos officials say that the damaged Soyuz MS-22 could accommodate two of its three crewmembers if an emergency necessitated the evacuation of the ISS. The ride back to Earth would be warm with no coolant, however. The two who would make that trip on MS-22 are cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin. The third crewmember, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, would join the four Crew-5 astronauts on Endurance in a “lifeboat” scenario.
NASA considered numerous safety questions before approving Rubio’s seat liner for a move from Soyuz MS-22 to Endurance, agency officials said Wednesday, including making sure there was enough oxygen in the SpaceX craft, that carbon dioxide could be minimized and that landing would happen safely.
SpaceX originally designed the Crew Dragon vehicle to carry as many as seven people. But Endurance was outfitted with just four seats, and securing Rubio as an unexpected fifth crewmember required clever repurposing of supplies in orbit.
“We looked at taking some cargo straps from, actually, the CRS-26 vehicle,” Stich said, referring to a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule that’s docked to the ISS right now. “We were able to put the straps over Frank and then the seat liner, if we needed to, and then secure him to the floor of the Dragon,” he added.
The next crewed launch to the International Space Station will be Crew-6, a NASA rotation mission flown in a SpaceX spacecraft. From left are Russia’s Andrey Fedyaev, NASA’s Warren “Woody” Hoburg, NASA’s Stephen Bowen, and the United Arab Emirates’ Sultan Al Neyadi in front of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Image credit: SpaceX)
The empty Soyuz vehicle, known as MS-23, will launch during a stretch that NASA associate administrator Kathy Lueders called “one of the busiest increments in the history of station” during Wednesday’s press conference.
Among the many scheduled crewed launches to the ISS in the first half of 2022 are Crew Flight Test, the first astronaut mission for Boeing’s Starliner capsule; SpaceX’s Crew-6; and Ax-2, the second crewed mission to the orbiting lab by private company Axiom Space.
Crew-6 will see the Dragon Endeavour fly the first United Arab Emirates astronaut on a long-duration mission (Sultan Al Neyadi). The other crewmates are NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
The Soyuz MS-22 crew will also see their time in space doubled to a year in orbit as they await the launch of a crewed Soyuz later in 2023 to relieve their duties on the ISS. The current forecast for MS-22’s landing is in late September.
Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of “Why Am I Taller (opens in new tab)?” (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a book about space medicine. Follow her on Twitter @howellspace (opens in new tab). Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or Facebook (opens in new tab).
Last updated: January 23rd, 2023 at 10:39 UTC+01:00
If you own a Galaxy smartphone, there are vulnerabilities in the Galaxy Store app that let attackers install any app on a Galaxy Phone without your knowledge. The vulnerabilities were found by researchers at NCC Group, the cybersecurity firm, between November 23 and December 3, 2022, and the flaw was assigned the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures number CVE-2023-21433.
The CVE number helps researchers keep a track of the flaw or vulnerabilities, and Google cites these CVE numbers in the changelog if it has patched the flaws in the monthly Android updates. There is a second flaw, which has been assigned CVE-2023-21434, and it allows attackers to execute JavaScript on a Galaxy handset.
According to the research report, the attacker can easily allow bad actors to access personal data, which could also result in the app crashing. Because of these vulnerabilities in the Galaxy Store app, an attacker can install any app on the user’s Samsung phone without their knowledge, and it poses a huge security risk.
Samsung has already released an updated version that fixes two vulnerabilities
NCC shared that an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) instructs an app to install the “Pokemon Go” app by submitting an intent to the app store with the desired target application. The intent also gives information on whether the app was opened or not after the installation, giving attackers more choices in attacking the users. Researchers found that the webviews in the Galaxy Store contain a filter that isn’t properly configured.
Tapping the malicious link on Google Chrome or via a pre-installed rogue application on a Samsung device can bypass the URL filter and launch a webview that is controlled by the attacker.
Unfortunately, not all Samsung devices cannot upgrade the Galaxy Store app to its latest version. However, if you have a Galaxy device running Android 13, then CVE-2023-21433 cannot exploit your device, thanks to the security features of the OS. Samsung released a new version 4.5.49.8 on the very first day and announced that it had patched two vulnerabilities in the Galaxy Store. So, if you haven’t updated the Galaxy Store app on your Android 13 running Galaxy phone, we would suggest you do that right away.
Apple unveiled its second-gen HomePod on Wednesday, nearly two years after it discontinued the first HomePod. CNET was on hand at the company’s event in New York City to hear the new speaker in person.
So, first off, what has changed? The new version is a full-size smart speaker with “improved acoustics” and new smart-home capabilities, including temperature and humidity sensors and the ability to notify you if it hears a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm.
Both the new HomePod and the existing HomePod Mini rely on Siri, the company’s voice assistant, to listen for and execute “Hey, Siri” commands.
Called the HomePod like the previous model, the new speaker is now available for preorder at the Apple Store for $299 (£299, AU$479) and will be available Feb. 3. It comes in black or white.
Apple/CNET
Apple’s second-gen HomePod is still in its preorder stage, though we’re now seeing it listed at several third-party retailers in addition to Apple itself. The device starts shipping on Feb. 3.
The design is very similar to the original full-size HomePod. At 6.6 inches tall and 5.6 inches wide, the new speaker is roughly the same size as its predecessor too. But the new HomePod has a range of key upgrades.
Inside is a custom woofer and five tweeters that use beamforming to direct audio and improve immersion, according to Apple. You can link two HomePod speakers to create a stereo pair, although doing so requires two HomePods of the same model. You can’t combine an original HomePod and a new one to create a pair, for example. Multiple HomePods can be linked throughout the home for multiroom audio with AirPlay 2.
The speaker also supports spatial audio, Apple’s term for 360-degree effects that include Dolby Atmos music available on Apple Music. Atmos is a surround-sound standard used both in movie theaters and the home, and more recently has been used to remix albums.
Inside the new Apple HomePod is the high-excursion woofer internal bass-EQ mic and beamforming five-tweeter array.
Apple
The speaker has a couple of new smart-home extras up its sleeve, too. A feature called Smart Recognition, coming via a software update this spring, “can listen for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and send a notification directly to the user’s iPhone if a sound is identified,” according to Apple. The speaker also has sensors for temperature and humidity, and you can set up triggers to close the blinds or turn on a fan automatically when the room reaches a certain temperature.
The temperature and humidity sensor and Smart Recognition features have also been announced as upcoming for the HomePod Mini.
In addition to supporting Apple’s HomeKit, the full-sized HomePod also supports the new Matter standard, an open-source protocol that works with numerous smart-home devices.
Bringing an iPhone near the HomePod allows you to hand off songs, voice calls and more to the speaker.
Apple
You can move an iPhone close to the speaker to hand off whatever is producing audio, from a song to a podcast to a voice call, to the speaker. (That feature requires iOS 16.3.) The phone will also surface personalized song and podcast suggestions when held near the speaker. The HomePod supports Apple’s Find My feature so you can ask Siri to play a sound on a misplaced device, or ask for the location of friends or family who share it via the Find My app.
Owners of the Apple TV 4K streaming device can make the HomePod their TV speaker for all devices connected to the TV, thanks to eARC linking via HDMI. Siri voice commands heard by a HomePod can also control the Apple TV hands free.
Ears-on with the new HomePod
CNET’s Ty Pendlebury attended Apple’s event and offers an in-person perspective.
It’s always difficult to ascertain a speaker’s sound quality in a canned demo like this, and I’ll reserve any definitive thoughts until I get a review unit to test for myself. Generally, though, the song snippets I heard sounded good, and the speaker should appeal to people who already have, had or were interested in the original.
The company began proceedings at its Tribeca loft with some pop music — including The Weeknd — and I was initially surprised to hear how small the speaker sounded. Despite offering 360-surround sound, I found the audio clung pretty closely to the speaker itself. With the next track Boomerang by Yebba, the company wanted to emphasize the HomePod’s spatial audio compatibility. And while there was a swirling effect in the 30 seconds they played, it wasn’t very obvious.
The most impressive part of the demo, though, was when the company added a second speaker, which made it a HomePod stereo pair. When playing Mystery Lady by Masego and Don Toliver the pallet immediately expanded — and not just by creating a stereo field. A percussion effect could be heard to the extreme left outside of the physical location of the cabinets.
Finally, I heard the original HomePod back in 2017 when the company’s representatives used the live version of The Eagles’ Hotel California to highlight its bass response. However, when the bass drum entered about a minute into the song, the sound was unintentionally terrible. The huge drum seemed to overload the speaker and resulted in a “blet” sound.
At today’s event, there were no such issues, and the drum sounded just as enormous and deep as the company would have hoped for.
Entering a competitive market
Apple had been rumored to working on a “HomePod 2” since at least June 2022, and this will only be the company’s fourth speaker in the last 20 years. The company has only released three other speakers — the iPod Hi-Fi, the original $350 Apple HomePod and the HomePod Mini, which remains on sale for $99.
The new $299 HomePod will compete directly with higher-end smart speakers like the Amazon Echo Studio and Sonos One, both of which cost $200. Meanwhile, the current HomePod Mini is priced competitively with Google’s larger Nest Audio, though it is undercut by the $49 Google Nest Mini and most Amazon Echo models.
Apple’s Siri voice assistant may be dominant in mobile, but the company has struggled to translate this success into smart speakers. In terms of competition, Amazon’s Echo series and Google Nest speakers jostle each other for first and second place.
I look forward to reviewing the new Apple HomePod soon.
A leaker has claimed that the Pixel 8 series could gain staggered HDR tech.
This feature offers higher quality HDR than currently available on the Pixel 7’s main camera.
This leak also suggests that the Pixel 8 could therefore gain a sensor upgrade.
Google’s phones have long offered an HDR+ photography feature as a tentpole mode, with both the Nexus and Pixel line using this multi-frame HDR solution to improve dynamic range and reduce ghosting when taking regular snaps.
Now, tipster and developer Kuba Wojciechowski has uncovered references to 2023 Pixels gaining staggered HDR support. Wojciechowski dug into the Google Camera Go app and discovered references to the feature for 2023 devices.
The tipster also rightfully notes that the Samsung Isocell GN1 main sensor used on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series don’t offer staggered HDR support. However, the Isocell GN2 indeed offers this capability, suggesting a main camera upgrade could be on the cards for the Pixel 8.
How does this compare to Google’s existing tech?
Google’s original HDR+ solution took a series of short exposures. But the company switched to HDR+ with bracketing from the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G onwards. This technique sees five short exposures captured before the shutter press and a long exposure when the shutter button is tapped.
Meanwhile, staggered HDR is Samsung’s more modern take on HDR photography. This tech captures three separate exposures (short, medium, and long) in very quick succession, then merges them for the final photo. So it seems like the medium exposure in particular is missing from Google’s HDR+ solutions, for one.
Google’s original HDR+ solution (top) and HDR+ with Bracketing technique.
Samsung noted at the time of the GN2 launch that staggered HDR brought richer detail and more vibrant colors than the GN1’s real-time HDR mode, adding that it reduced energy consumption by up to 24%. The company has also confirmed with other sensor launches that staggered HDR is faster than conventional HDR solutions, although we’re not sure if this was in comparison to the GN1’s mode or earlier HDR implementations.
Of course, speed is life when it comes to HDR capture. And so any speed improvement here should also translate into reduced ghosting and potentially less time spent looking at the dreaded “processing” screen. Toss in other aforementioned upgrades and the Pixel 8 could deliver more efficient, higher quality HDR shots if it leans on this solution.
However, the bigger takeaway here is the fact that Google could upgrade the main camera sensor in the Pixel 8 series. Switching to a sensor like the Isocell GN2 would also open the door for improved low-light performance thanks to bigger pixels and improved autofocus via Dual Pixel Pro tech.
What’s new in The Witcher 3 PS5? The ‘next-gen update’ for CD Projekt Red’s open world RPG boasts a range of improvements and additions, over five whole years after the original game’s release. The developer has brought some highly requested features to the upgrade, which boasts graphical boosts, gameplay modifications, and more.
In this guide, we’ve listed everything new and all of the improvements that we currently know about when it comes to The Witcher 3 PS5.
This guide is currently a work in progress. We’ll continue to update it as we receive new information from CD Projekt Red, leading up to the game’s release on the 14th December.
The Witcher 3 PS5: Everything New and All Improvements
Below is a list of everything new and all improvements in The Witcher 3 PS5. We’ve broken this list down into categories for better readability.
New Content
This is entirely new content that has been added in The Witcher 3 PS5.
A new quest based on The Witcher Netflix show
A new (optional) appearance for Dandelion, based on The Witcher Netflix show
A new armour set for Geralt based on The Witcher Netflix show
New (optional) armour design for Nilfgaardian soliders based on The Witcher Netflix show
New weapons, armour, and items
A fully integrated photo mode, complete with editing tools and filters
Graphics
These are the ways in which The Witcher 3 PS5 has improved the game’s visuals.
Higher resolution textures throughout the game
Improved character models
Improved environmental assets
More varied NPC (non-playable character) models, especially in cutscenes
30fps ‘Quality’ mode which has ray tracing support (resolution currently unconfirmed, 4K is expected)
60fps ‘Performance’ mode (resolution currently unconfirmed, although The Witcher 3 on PS4 Pro ran at a checkerboard 4K, so we’re expecting similar here)
Better draw distance
More foliage, denser grasses
Improved lighting effects and illumination
Additional and more varied weather conditions, like fog
Technical
These are the ways in which The Witcher 3 PS5 is improved on a technical level.
Much improved load times, both when fast travelling and loading / reloading a save
Improved sound effect audio quality
Improved voiceover audio quality
3D audio support on PS5
Gameplay Additions
These are the gameplay additions featured in The Witcher PS5.
New ‘Quickcast’ system allows players to cast signs without having to open the radial menu — instead, you simply hold down a trigger and press the corresponding face button
New (optional) camera setting places the camera much closer to Geralt, over his right shoulder, which applies both in and out of combat
New (optional) movement settings for Geralt, where slow walking / sprinting is mapped to how far you’re pushing the left stick
A ‘hybrid’ minimap option has been added, making the minimap and user interface fade away during gameplay until you press the focus button
Map filters let you customise how much information you can see on the map screen
You can now pause the game during cutscenes
Gameplay Adjustments
These are the adjustments to gameplay in The Witcher 3 PS5.
Numerous gameplay adjustments (to be detailed in full patch notes ahead of the game’s release)
Rebalanced enemy scaling (when enemy scaling is turned on in the options)
Fall damage has been reduced
Rats are no longer ridiculously deadly when level scaling is enabled
Other
These are other additions and enhancements that don’t necessarily fit into previous categories.
Full cross-save and cross-progression support for all platforms
Full DualSense controller support, with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers
Subtitles can now scaled
Simplified Chinese voice acting and localisation added
Korean voice acting added
Improved localisation for other languages
The Witcher 3 PS5 FAQ
Below, we’ve gathered together the most frequently asked questions about The Witcher 3 PS5.
Does The Witcher 3 PS5 include all DLC and expansions?
Yes, The Witcher 3 PS5 features all of the original game’s free DLC packs, along with its two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. However, it’s unclear whether you’ll be able to access the expansions if you’re upgrading from PS4, and you don’t own them on that console. We’ve reached out to CDPR for clarification on this point.
Is The Witcher 3 PS5 a free upgrade?
Yes, The Witcher 3 PS5 is a free upgrade if you already own the game on PS4. This counts for both the original release and the Game of the Year Edition.
Will The Witcher 3 PS5 get a physical release?
Yes, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that The Witcher 3 PS5 will receive a physical release. However, the release date for the physical edition is currently unknown. It’s expected to release after the upgrade launches digitally, on the 14th December, 2022. We’ll update this part of the guide once we know more.
What about The Witcher 3 PS5 Trophies?
The Witcher 3 on PS5 will have its own separate Trophy list from the PS4 version, although the Trophies themselves are the same. Trophies that you already earned in the PS4 version will not automatically unlock if you transfer your save — you’ll have to earn them again on PS5 by starting a new game.
What do you think of everything new and all improvements in The Witcher 3 PS5? Relive your monster-slaying adventure in the comments section below, and check out our other guides for The Witcher 3:
We are just two months away from the launch of the Galaxy S23, and some of its features have already leaked. The design renders of all three phones in the series have also leaked. Now, the priciest phone in the lineup, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, has received FCC certification ahead of its launch.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra received the FCC certification two days after the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23+ received it. The phone has the FCC ID A3LSMS918B. It is the international variant of the smartphone, and it seems to be missing two important upgrades. As per FCC’s certification documents, the Galaxy S23 Ultra still uses 25W charging (EP-TA800) and has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax). However, you should take this information with a grain of salt as it might not reveal the full picture.
Galaxy S23 Ultra’s FCC certification might not reveal the complete picture
Samsung usually tests its phones with the same 25W charger even though the devices support faster charging standards. Similar was the case with the Galaxy S22+ and the Galaxy S22 Ultra, as they support up to 45W charging, but their FCC certification only listed the 25W EP-TA800 charger. Moreover, it has been widely rumored that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-equipped Galaxy S23 series will be among the first phones to feature Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be). So, more accurate information could be revealed by its Wi-Fi Alliance certification.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra’s battery (EB-BS918ABY) is listed in the FCC database, and it was revealed a few weeks ago that it has a 5,000mAh battery. So, you shouldn’t expect the smartphone to have a bigger battery than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The battery is manufactured by Samsung SDI, Samsung’s battery manufacturing arm. The certification also reveals that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is compatible with the S-Pen (EJ-PS918), which features Wacom’s technology.
Samsung is expected to bring various smaller improvements with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, including a much faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor globally, a bigger 3D Sonic Gen 2 fingerprint reader, an improved front-facing camera with OIS, faster Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and more durable glass protection for the display and the camera lenses. The biggest upgrade would be the 200MP rear-facing camera, though, which can take some amazing images.
Citigroup (C) upgraded Tesla (TSLA) stock Wednesday, even as the EV giant has been a loser this year, shedding around 52% in 2022, and retreating back to levels near when the company joined the S&P 500. Tesla shares angled higher Wednesday.
X
Citi analyst Itay Michaeli moved Tesla stock to “neutral,” up from “sell,” Wednesday. Michaeli also increased the price target to $176, up from the previous $141.33. Michaeli told investors that the Tesla stock pullback in 2022 has “balanced out” near-term risk and reward.
The Citi analyst also pointed to the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act, and its support for EV and lithium battery expansion, as reasons for long term optimism on Tesla stock.
Tesla stock spiked 7.9% to 183.30 Wednesday during market trading. On Tuesday, shares closed 1.2% higher at 169.91. Early Wednesday, Reuters reported that CEO Elon Musk had stated South Korea was a top candidate for a potential Gigafactory investment. The remarks were reported by President Yoon Suk Yeol following a virtual meeting between Musk and Yoon.
Analyst Tesla Stock Optimism
The Citi research note follows Morgan Stanley (MS) analyst Adam Jonas writing late Tuesday that Tesla stock “is approaching our $150 bear case, driven by price cuts in China, decelerating EV demand and other market currents (Twitter, Crypto?)”
Jonas did not change his ‘overweight’ rating and $330 price target on Tesla stock. Jonas added that Tesla is expected to see its revenue grow 37% in 2023, the equivalent of 1.8 million units, with around $15 billion in free-cash-flow.
“All other pure play EV OEMs we cover burn substantial amounts of cash, on our forecasts,” Jonas wrote.
Tesla On Track For Worst Year Ever
“We believe Tesla’s ‘gap-to-competition’ can potentially widen, particularly as EV prices pivot from inflationary to deflationary,” he added. “With respect to the (Inflation Reduction Act) we believe Tesla is by far the best positioned OEM in terms of potential eligibility for consumer tax and production credits.”
However, Jonas also added his voice to the list of analysts who view Musk’s focus on Twitter, and that evolving news cycle, as a Tesla-stock negative.
On Nov. 11, a key analyst and longtime Tesla stock bull issued a warning that Musk’s Twitter fascination was damaging Tesla.
“While difficult to quantify, we believe there must be some form of sentiment ‘circuit breaker’ around the Twitter situation to calm investor concerns around Tesla,” Jonas wrote Tuesday.
Tesla Stock, Musk And Twitter
Since Musk took over Twitter on Oct. 28, Tesla stock has fallen around 25%.
Musk has slashed roughly half of the social media site’s staff while tweeting frequently about his plans and politics. Musk has also responded personally to customer complaints and suggestions. There has been widespread confusion over verification features being rolled out and there is speculation the company could enter bankruptcy.
Musk also sold 19.5 million Tesla shares for $3.95 billion on Nov. 4, 7 and 8. The decision to sell some of his Tesla stock came just days after Musk finalized his $44 billion purchase of Twitter.
Last week, Musk testified in a Delaware court to defend himself in a shareholder lawsuit.
While testifying, Musk said he expects to “reduce my time at Twitter and find somebody else to run Twitter over time,” according to news reports.
Please follow Kit Norton on Twitter @KitNorton for more coverage.
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose Wednesday ahead of the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting. Tesla stock raced higher after Citigroup upgraded the EV giant.
X
Before the Fed’s Minutes release at 2 p.m. ET, consumer sentiment, durable goods orders, first-time jobless claims, purchasing managers index readings and new home sales are all due out in the morning. The stock market will be closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday, followed by a shortened trading session on Friday.
Initial jobless claims, out at 8:30 a.m. ET, jumped to 240,000 vs. 222,000 in the previous week. Meanwhile, durable goods climbed 1% in October, higher than the 0.4% Econoday estimate. The services PMI measured 46.1, below the 48.0 estimate, and the manufacturing PMI came in at 47.6, below the 50.0 estimate. Lastly, new home sales rose to 632,000 vs. 603,000 in the month of September. New home sales beat estimates.
Autodesk (ADSK), HP (HPQ) and Nordstrom (JWN) reported earnings late Tuesday, while Deere (DE) earnings came out Wednesday morning.
Autodesk shares plunged 9%, while HPQ stock declined 3.5% in early morning trade. Nordstrom shares tumbled 9.5%. And Deere stock jumped 3% in morning trade.
Electric-vehicle giant Tesla (TSLA) traded up 5% Wednesday morning. Dow Jones tech leaders Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT) were higher after today’s stock market open.
IBD Leaderboard stock Arista Networks (ANET), KLA (KLAC), Shoals Technologies (SHLS) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) — as well as Dow Jones name Caterpillar (CAT) — are among the top stocks to buy and watch.
Arista Networks is an IBD Leaderboard stock and was a recent IBD Stock Of The Day. Ulta Beauty was featured in this week’s Stocks Near A Buy Zone column. Shoals was Thursday’s IBD 50 Stocks To Watch pick.
IBD’s latest newsletter MarketDiem gives you actionable ideas for stocks, options and crypto right in your inbox.
Dow Jones Today: Oil Prices, Treasury Yields
After Wednesday’s opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, while the S&P 500 moved up 0.4%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite traded up 0.7% in morning action.
China-related stocks showed early strength, after news reports said the State Council had announced pending stimulus measures, including a cut to the reserve requirement ratio for China’s banks.
Among exchange-traded funds, the Nasdaq 100 tracker Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) rose 0.7% early Wednesday, and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) gained 0.5%.
The 10-year Treasury yield ticked lower to 3.7% Wednesday morning.
Oil stocks were under some pressure as oil prices backtracked after a rebound on Tuesday. West Texas Intermediate futures dropped more 3%, to below $79 a barrel even after industry data showed U.S. crude stockpiles fell more sharply than expected last week. Official weekly oil inventory data is due out from the EIA at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Natural gas stocks received a boost as gas prices continued bolting higher. U.S. natural gas futures leapt nearly 7% after Russia warned after Russia accused Ukraine of stealing gas form a pipeline, and threatened to curtail deliveries on Russia’s last remaining supply line to Europe.
Stock Market Rally
On Tuesday, the stock market posted solid gains. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite each rallied 1.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.2%.
Tuesday’s The Big Picture commented, “While it’s fine putting money to work in the current stock market, keep your exposure on the conservative side with small positions to start. Just because the stock market is in a confirmed uptrend doesn’t mean you have to be 100% invested. And don’t be afraid to take a 10% gain if you have it, given the choppy nature of the market.”
Now is an important time to read IBD’s The Big Picture column amid the ongoing stock market volatility.
Five Dow Jones Stocks To Buy And Watch Now
Dow Jones Stocks To Buy And Watch: Caterpillar
Dow Jones member Caterpillar is close to retaking its cup base’s 238 buy point, according to IBD MarketSmith pattern recognition, and is less than 1% below the entry. CAT gained 0.1% Wednesday, trading higher along with Deere. Shares are still below their buy point.
CAT stock boasts an impressive 95 out of a perfect 99 IBD Composite Rating, per the IBD Stock Checkup.
4 Top Growth Stocks To Watch In The Current Stock Market Rally
Top Stocks To Buy And Watch: Arista, KLA, Shoals, Ulta
IBD Leaderboard stock Arista Networks moved further above a choppy base’s 132.97 buy point after Tuesday’s 1.1% gain. ANET stock rose 0.1% Wednesday.
KLA is closing in on a cup-with-handle’s 392.60 buy point amid Tuesday’s 2.7% climb. Bullishly, the stock’s relative strength line hit a new high last week, a sign of big outperformance vs. the S&P 500. KLAC stock was down 0.5% Wednesday.
Shoals Technologies is still out of buy range past a 28.57 buy point after a third straight decline Tuesday. The 5% buy zone tops out at 30. Wait for an orderly pullback into the buy range before considering a purchase of shares. SHLS stock was up 1% early Wednesday.
Ulta Beauty moved out of buy range Tuesday, rising nearly 2%. The 5% buy zone past a 426.99 buy point in a cup with handle runs up to 448.34. Ulta reports third-quarter results on Dec. 1. The stock traded down 0.3% Wednesday.
Join IBD experts as they analyze leading stocks in the current stock market rally on IBD Live
Tesla Stock
Tesla stock climbed 1.2% Tuesday, snapping a four-day losing streak that saw the stock hit its lowest level since Nov. 23, 2020. The stock reached a new 52-week low price Monday at 167.54. Tesla shares are around 57% off their 52-week high and sharply below their 50- and 200-day moving average lines.
Shares of the EV giant traded up 5% Wednesday morning after Citigroup upgraded the stock from sell to neutral, raising the price target from 141.33 to 176.
Dow Jones Leaders: Apple, Microsoft
Among Dow Jones stocks, Apple shares rebounded 1.5% Tuesday and are still holding above their recently recaptured 50-day line. The stock is about 20% off its 52-week high. The stock traded up 0.8% Wednesday, as Foxconn workers clashed with police officers. Foxconn is the biggest iPhone assembly plant in China.
Microsoft rose 1.2% Tuesday, adding to Monday’s gains. Shares continue to hold above the 50-day line. The software giant remains more than 30% off its 52-week high. Microsoft shares rose 0.6% Wednesday morning.
Be sure to follow Scott Lehtonen on Twitter at @IBD_SLehtonen for more on growth stocks and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
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