Samsung revealed the Galaxy Z Flip 4 during its Unpacked event in the summer of 2022. This phone packs a foldable display that lets you transform it into a compact device. This makes it ideal for those who like large screens but dislike having large objects in their pockets. If you buy the Galaxy Z Flip 4, don’t forget to protect it with a case. You wouldn’t want that shiny phone to crack! On the other hand, we have the iPhone 13 — which Apple introduced in the fall of 2021. It features a familiar design and offers no innovative spins. If you decide to buy the iPhone 13 instead, also grab a case for the sake of potential accidents. This is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs Apple iPhone 13 — the battle between two very different phones manufactured by rival corporations.
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Galaxy Z Flip 4 (2022) vs iPhone 13 (2021): Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Apple iPhone 13
Processor
Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
A15 Bionic chip
Body
Unfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm
Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9-17.1 mm
187 g
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm
174 g
Display
Main
6.7-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
2640‑by‑1080-pixel resolution at 426 ppi
Support for HDR10+, 120Hz, and 1200 nits max brightness.
Cover:
1.9-inch Super AMOLED display
512‑by‑260-pixel resolution
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
2532‑by‑1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi
Support for HDR, True Tone technology, and 1200 nits max brightness.
Cameras
12MP rear camera system:
Wide: ƒ/1.8
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.2
10MP front camera: ƒ/2.4
Dual 12MP rear camera system:
Wide: ƒ/1.6
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4
TrueDepth 12MP front camera: ƒ/2.2
Memory
128GB/256GB/512GB SSD
8GB RAM
128GB/256GB/512GB SSD
4GB RAM
Battery
All-day battery life
Up to 75 hours of audio playback
Connectivity
5G
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.2
5G
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
Resistance
Security
Fingerprint scanner
OS
One UI 4.1.1 (based on Android 12)
Colors
Bora Purple
Graphite
Pink Gold
Blue
Red
Starlight
Midnight
Blue
Pink
Green
Material
Ultra Thin Glass
Armor Aluminum
Glass back
Aluminum frame
Price
Starts at $999
Starts at $799
Design: The Z Flip 4 is from another Galaxy
Design is one of the first matters we look into when considering buying a new device. It’s true that this aspect is mostly subjective. However, we can still make some objective observations and compare the builds of the two devices. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and iPhone 13 follow two distinct schools of thought when it comes to their designs. They do have some similar elements, but they’re mostly different-looking phones. We will now try to dissect these elements as much as we can to help you understand what each of the two has to offer in the design and build departments. Ultimately, the final say has to be yours.
For starters, both phones offer slim builds and dual rear camera systems — with the lens placements differing on the different phones. Though, perhaps the most notable distinction is the hinge positioned at the middle of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Indeed, this Samsung phone folds in half, and it’s an intentional feature — unlike Apple’s infamous Bendgate on the iPhone 6. The iPhone 13 offers six different colors that beat Samsung’s four. Though, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has a Bespoke Edition, which allows users to personalize different parts of the device and choose between more colors. Apple tend to stick to what users find familiar. Samsung is more adventurous when it comes to that. So obviously, the design and build round goes for the latter corporation.
Display: One is a Flip, the other is a flop
When we flip these devices over, we’re faced with two gorgeous screens. The iPhone 13 indeed has a slightly clearer display. Though, this battle goes way beyond just that. For starters, on the Galaxy Z Flip 4, you get a 120Hz refresh rate. This remains missing on the regular iPhone 13. So the Samsung phone has smoother animations when transitioning between different pages or scrolling through. The lower refresh rate on the iPhone 13 is more obvious than the lower resolution on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 has a larger 6.7-inch screen that you can fold in half. The technology is still absent on all released Apple products. Additionally, the iPhone 13 has a notched display — which some users might find distracting. The Samsung phone goes for a hole-punch camera that doesn’t take as much screen space. Ultimately, this round also goes for the Galaxy Z Flip 4, simply because the iPhone 13 display is too basic when compared to its rival. Samsung’s foldable technology truly is futuristic. Meanwhile, Apple is seemingly stuck in the past decade, recycling its ideas over and over again.
Performance: Apple’s A15 Bionic is quite iconic
When measuring performance, there are several factors to look into. These include the memory, processor, and operating system. After all, more RAM doesn’t always equate to a smoother experience — and this is the case with the iPhone 13 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. While the latter has double the amount of RAM, it doesn’t perform as well as the former. iOS is objectively not as hungry for resources as Android OS is. That’s not to mention that Android OS is buggier than iOS as an operating system. Though, some users can’t tolerate the additional constricts of iOS. We’re not here to discuss which mobile operating system is superior — as this is a personal choice that you should pick.
When looking at benchmarks, the Snapdragon is slightly better than the Apple A15 Bionic when it comes to gaming and graphics. Otherwise, the A15 Bionic dominates the single- and multi-core performance tests. So overall, the Apple chipset has a higher score. Though, is the performance difference between the two phones notable enough to make an actual difference? Likely not. Both phones will get your everyday tasks done remarkably well. Similarly, the two devices can run virtually all of the mobile games in active development. So I’d dismiss this round if you don’t have an OS preference.
Cameras: The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and iPhone 13 shoot in similar ways
Smartphone cameras are important in our modern age. After all, we document our lives through these devices and tend to spread them online for the masses to see. Fortunately, both the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and iPhone 13 offer dual 12MP rear camera systems. While they’re not identical, the output should be relatively similar. The front-facing lens is a different story, though.
Apple’s TrueDepth 12MP camera has a higher resolution and supports 3D mapping — which enables Face ID authentication. The Galaxy Z Flip 4, on the other hand, has a 10MP regular camera. For authentication, you have to rely on a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Though, the Samsung phone doesn’t need a tripod — since you can just fold it at 90º and set it on straight, horizontal surfaces. So if you tend to shoot videos frequently, you might want to consider the Galaxy phone. If you’re after the personalized Memoji and sharper selfies, then the iPhone 13 is the better pick in this round.
Battery: The iPhone 13 is hungry for power
With both devices lasting a full day on a single charge with average use, let’s consider other battery aspects. Staring with the port, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has a USB Type-C one — which is more universally adopted and used. The iPhone 13, on the other hand, has an ancient, proprietary Lightning port. Both get the job done, but the former is simply superior. If you use devices from other popular brands, they likely have USB Type-C ports. So buying the iPhone 13 would mean carrying around an additional cable. Alternatively, you could switch to wireless charging, but that is slower and eats through the battery health at a faster pace.
Moving on, both phones support Qi wireless charging, with the iPhone 13 also being compatible with MagSafe. Though, more importantly, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 supports reverse wireless charging. This means you get to use your phone as a wireless charging pad for another phone or accessory. The feature is currently absent on all iPhone models. As a result, Samsung wins this round. Reverse wireless charging is such a basic and essential feature at this point. With newer AirPods supporting the Qi and MagSafe wireless charging standards, it would only make sense for Apple to support charging them through our iPhones. We can only hope to see this welcome addition introduced on newer iPhone models sooner rather than later.
Bottom Line: New vs Old
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Apple iPhone 13 are two very distinct phones that cater to different customers. Overall — as our previous rounds have shown — the Samsung product wins in terms of innovation and specification. Though, there are a few reasons to pick the iPhone 13. These include being on a more limited budget, already having other Apple products, or the unwillingness to sacrifice the extra years of software support for the sake of a foldable display. If you’re not tied to any other devices and are willing to pay an additional $200, then the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is certainly the smarter and more exciting purchase here. If you are tied into the Apple ecosystem, then the choice has already been made for you.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers a foldable display. It’s compact, packed with innovative technologies, and worth every buck.
The iPhone 13 packs the Apple A15 Bionic chip and runs iOS 15. It’s ideal for those looking for a familiar device.
Which of the two phones will you be buying, and why? Let us know in the comments section below.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
