Back to cell phone basics: Buying a non-smartphone

Back to cell phone basics: Buying a non-smartphone

For some people, smartphones and their always-on Internet connections and apps is a waste of money.

If you don't need apps or games and you can live without fast, robust access to the Net from your cell phone, then a smartphone might be expensive overkill. All four of the major U.S. wireless carriers still offer basic feature phones, which don't require expensive data plans. In this Ask Maggie, I offer some advice to a reader who is looking for one of these phones.

I also offer some advice regarding the new all-in-one desktop computers.

Going retro with a basic feature phone

Dear Maggie,

I have an AT&T iPhone 3GS. It's the worst telephone I've ever owned. And I'd say it wasn't even worth the $0 I paid AT&T for it at the time (a year ago). I have no intention of going to the iPhone 5 regardless of what's written about it. Although I get ok service here in the house I don't need a "smartphone" (I have 2 computers - one PC and one Mac laptop) and I have WiFi, so I don't need a handheld device to find places or play games or watch anything on the Internet or Google while I'm in restaurants or in the car. And I'm tired of paying AT&T for data I don't use each month just because I have an iPhone or a "smartphone" and "must" have data.

I might add that I was in the telecom industry for nearly 25 years (I worked for Sprint and MCI when there was an MCI) and the carriers are among the most rapacious greedy corporate enterprises I've ever gotten close to!

Stepping off my soapbox now. In your opinion, what's the best phone that's just a phone? I don't need to do anything but make and receive calls and do texting. I don't care about browsing or email or anything else. I just need a telephone that's simply a phone thank you very much!

Regards and thanks for your response,
Mark

Dear Mark,

While there are definitely more people switching from basic cell phones to smartphones these days, I know there are lots of people out there in your same shoes. Smartphones offer tons of functionality that many people now feel like they can't live without, but the reality is that all that functionality and that ubiquitous access to the Internet is pricey. In some ways, I think it's kind of surprising that there aren't more people asking me for this same advice.

The good news is that all the major carriers, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA, each continue to offer basic cell phones and what they call quick messaging devices that do not require data plans. The carriers recognize that there is a subset of customers who have no interest in a smartphone because it's either too complicated or too expensive. But the reality is that each of these carriers see their future in data. And they will do everything in their power to encourage as many customers as possible to sign up for smartphones that require data plans.

Overtime, I expect to see fewer of the more basic devices. But for now, carriers still offer a handful of basic phones that are either free or cost very little when you sign up for a two-year contract.

The great thing about these basic phones is that they are inexpensive. The carriers either give them away for free with a two-year contract, or you pay a minimal amount for the devices. But it's not just the upfront cost that's appealing, as you mentioned in your question, but it costs much less to own a basic phone than it does a smartphone, if you keep your services to a minimum.

For example, on AT&T, you could pay as little as $40 a month for your phone service. Compare this to the $80 a month you'd pay for the lowest amount of data you could get on AT&T's new Share Everything plan. Under that plan, the data service costs $40 a month for 1GB of data and it comes with unlimited text messaging and voice service.

Using a basic phone with no data or text messaging, could save you half. But as you start to add additional services, like text messaging and data, the cost difference is not as big. Adding unlimited texting to AT&T's basic feature phone plan is an additional $20 a month. And if you also wanted to add data, it would cost an additional $10 a month. (Data for feature phones is $15 a month if you subscribe to that without unlimited text messaging.) In total, if you wanted 450 minutes of voice service, unlimited text messaging and unlimited data for a feature phone, you'd pay $70 a month. That's only $10 less a month than you'd pay for smartphone, and you'd be getting much less in terms of the service and functionality of the device.

That said, it can offer some savings. And if you don't plan to subscribe to the data or you are not a heavy text messaging user, a basic phone that doesn't require a data contract is a good option.

My colleague Jessica Dolcourt recently updated her "best of" list in this category.

Here are her top choices:

• Kyocera DurXT (Sprint)
• Samsung Gusto 2 (Verizon Wireless)
• Samsung +159 (T-Mobile)
• LG Rumor Reflex (Sprint)
• Samsung Entro (Virgin Mobile)

If you want more information on each of these phones, check out her story and the reviews of these devices.

As you can see from her list, none of these devices are available for AT&T. Since you are an AT&T customer, I have listed a few devices here that I think offer pretty good value and functionality.

Josh Miller/CNET

Pantech Swift

The Pantech Swift has a QWERTY keyboard that slides out and has an angled screen. It also has a touch screen that offers some icons for accessing some of the basic features and functionality. But CNET's reviewers Jessica Dolcourt and Lynn La were not impressed with the processor speed. And they said the touchscreen is unresponsive. Even though they don't recommend this device highly, they seem to think the Pantech Swift is the most appealing Pantech handset on AT&T with a keyboard. AT&T is currently selling it for $0.99 with a two year contract.

Pantech Renue Josh Miller/CNET

Pantech Renue

The Pantech Renue is another touch screen device with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. But CNET reviewer Jessica Dolcourt said she isn't a fan of the speakerphone or the mediocre camera. What's more, the Renue has a short battery life that many consumers have complained about in their own comments and reviews of the device. While the keyboard is nice for heavy texters, she said that the short battery life and underdeveloped camera are setbacks. AT&T sells this device for $49.99 with a two-year contract.

LG A340 LG

LG A340

The LG A340 is a standard flip-phone from AT&T. This is one of the most basic, barebones devices on AT&T's network. It's equipped with enhanced audio technology for users who are hard of hearing and it has Bluetooth so it can be used with a wireless headset and a 1.3-megapixel camera. Other features include "Text to Speech" functionality that lets you listen to your text messages as they're read aloud to you. It also comes with AT&T radio. With a two-year contract, this phone is only $19.99.

LG Xpression AT&T

LG Xpression

The LG Xpression is another touch screen phone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It has a 2-megapixel camera with video, a personal organizer, Bluetooth 2.1, messaging and e-mail, 3G support, microSD card support (up to 32GB), voice dialing, a Web browser, and a basic music player. The device runs LG's standard operating system, but it also includes some social networking apps, as well as AT&T Navigator and LG Instant Note, which allows easy one touch updates to Facebook, Twitter or for sending a text messages. The Xpression is now $29.99 with a two year contract.

I hope this advice and the device suggestions were helpful. Good luck!

New computer advice

Dear Maggie,

I want to buy a 27" Windows 8 All-In-One for my parents, but don't really know which one is best for them. They're not tech whizzes (though they do like to experiment and learn new things), but they need it to work well and perform smoothly for the next five or more years. Which one(s) would you recommend on a $1500-$2000 budget?

Thanks a bunch,
Josh

Dear Josh,
The CNET Reviews team likes the Dell XPS One 27 the best. You may also want to consider Apple's 27 inch iMac. It's a bit more expensive, but with a budget of $2,000, it's doable.

CNET Reviews editor Rich Brown also has written about finding the best 27-inch all-in-one desktop, where he compares the Dell to the models that Apple offers. So you should check out his story, as well.

You might also want to consider the Lenovo IdeaCenter all-in-ones. Right now they only support Windows 7. But if you wait a few more weeks, you'll likely find more all-in-one computers available running Windows 8.

I hope this was helpful. And good luck!

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.

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Samsung's New Z Flip 4, Z Fold 4 Are Partially Made From Recycled Fishing Nets

Samsung's New Z Flip 4, Z Fold 4 Are Partially Made From Recycled Fishing Nets

What's happening

Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 are the first folding phones from the company to be made partially with recycled fishing nets.

Why it matters

Samsung's efforts are part of a broader effort by several tech companies to build products more sustainably.

What's next

Samsung, Microsoft and Apple are likely to continue investments into sustainability, with various pledges to become either carbon-neutral or to increase use of recycled materials.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 will include components made from repurposed fishing nets, marking a first for Samsung's foldables. It builds on Samsung's previous efforts, following its decision to incorporate such materials into its Galaxy S22 lineup earlier this year.

The announcement came during Samsung's Unpacked event on Wednesday, when it revealed the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 as well as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. All of the new devices include some components made from repurposed materials. More than 90% of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are made from recycled parts. 

Samsung's efforts are part of a broader movement by consumer tech companies to offset the mounting pile of global electronic waste their devices inevitably contribute to by giving back to the environment. Only 20% of e-waste is dealt with appropriately, according to the World Economic Forum, while much of the rest ends up in landfills. Sourcing more materials from sustainable channels may not fix the world's electronic waste problem. But it does give tech companies the opportunity to contribute to solving other environmental issues in the process of building their own new gadgets.

More from Samsung Unpacked

Samsung's new foldables include components made from repurposed fishing nets.

Samsung

For Samsung, that issue is "ghost nets," or fishing nets that are no longer in use and have been abandoned in the ocean. The World Wildlife Fund describes them as a "major contributor to the ocean plastics crisis," saying that 268 tons of nets, ropes and other materials were found in the Baltic Sea in a single 2015 mission. 

As for specifics, the side key bracket on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4, as well as the Fold 4's display connector cap, are made from discarded fishing nets. But there are several other parts inside each phone that are made from other post-consumer materials. For the Z Flip 4, such components include the upper antenna bracket, upper and lower brackets of the speaker module, display connector cap, receiver deco and inner part of the side key. The upper case of the Z Fold 4's top speaker, the inner part of its side key as well as its long and short connector to connector brackets are made from post-consumer materials, according to Samsung.

One of the major challenges with creating components from recycled fishing nets is ensuring these parts are durable enough to work properly in a variety of conditions. Phone parts must be designed to survive various extreme weather conditions in all areas of the world where Samsung devices are used, says Pranveer Singh Rathore, materials R&D manager for Samsung. That's particularly true of foldable phones like the Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4.

"They are a unique design, and with that comes a fresh set of challenges," says Rathore, in reference to Samsung's foldable phones. "The internal parts are different. The sizes are different. The way they are supposed to perform is different."

Certain components in new Samsung products like the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 are made from recycled materials.

Samsung

Samsung is far from being the only company investing in more sustainable ways to build new products. Microsoft pledged to become carbon-neutral, zero-waste and water-positive by 2030, and it launched a computer mouse made with 20% recycled ocean plastic last year. Apple is making the latest iPhone SE with low-carbon aluminum and wants to eventually only use recycled and renewable materials in its products and packaging. 

But the industry is likely far from creating a phone completely from recycled materials, says Rathore. 

"I personally think that it should be possible in the future," he said. "But when, I don't know."

Read more: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: What to Know About the Floating Islands of Trash

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• Samsung S New Z Flip 4 Z Fold Pen
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Samsung Unpacked Live Blog: Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Watch 5, Buds 2 Pro Reveals

Samsung Unpacked Live Blog: Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Watch 5, Buds 2 Pro Reveals

August 10, 2022, 7:00 AM PDT

That's a wrap!

By David Lumb

And that's Samsung Unpacked 2022! That's only a tease of what these devices have to offer -- for in-depth looks, head to our deep dives on everything Samsung revealed today: 

August 10, 2022, 6:53 AM PDT

No physical bezel on the Watch 5

By David Lumb

One thing that isn't here: a new Samsung Galaxy Classic. If you want a physical rotating bezel, you'll have to go with last year's model. And for the chip nerds -- no, the Watch 5 won't pack Qualcomm's upcoming W5 wearables chip, which promises huge battery life gains. Instead, it'll use the Exynos W920, which came out last year and is the same chip as used in the Watch 4.

August 10, 2022, 6:52 AM PDT

Samsung Watch 5: Pricier than last year

By David Lumb

With advances come price bumps: The Galaxy Watch 5 starts at $279 for the 40mm noncellular version, which is $30 more expensive than the Watch 4. The Watch 5 LTE starts at $329, which is also up $30 from last year's watch. If you want the Watch 5 Pro, prepare to pony up $449 for noncellular or $499 for the LTE version.

August 10, 2022, 6:52 AM PDT

From $449

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:51 AM PDT

Watch 5 Pro upgrades: Routes, battery life and big size

By David Lumb

The Watch 5 Pro has improved workout routing, guiding you back along the route you too. And you'll have enough battery life to keep going, with a 590-mAh battery that's twice the capacity of the smaller 40mm Watch 5. That said, if you've got small wrists, the Watch 5 Pro might not be for you -- it's a massive 45mm. But that size allows room for a huge 590-mAh battery.

August 10, 2022, 6:49 AM PDT

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:49 AM PDT

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a big, rugged watch for the outdoors

By David Lumb

The rumors were true! The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is real. It's a bigger, tougher version of the Watch 5 with more battery life and durability. It's an option for outdoorsy folks and rugged workout fans. How tough? It's got a titanium case and an even more durable sapphire crystal display than the Watch 5. It's twice as scratch-resistant as the screen on the Watch 4.

August 10, 2022, 6:47 AM PDT

Wear OS will get better, we promise

By David Lumb

Samsung switched to Google's Wear OS for last year's Watch 4 and kept it with the Galaxy Watch 5. At Unpacked, Google is promising more apps and functionality, like improvements with Google Maps, which now syncs locations from your Google account and lets you navigate with voice commands. Great to have on the go.

August 10, 2022, 6:45 AM PDT

Z foldables are the best of a niche

By David Lumb

Samsung has recently touted some big numbers for foldables, saying sales increased by around 300% last year. But it's all relative: Analyst firm IDC reported that 8 million foldables sold in 2021, a drop in the bucket considering the 1.3 billion phones sold overall last year. The firm projects that number to grow to 25 million foldables sold in 2025. 

August 10, 2022, 6:44 AM PDT

Z Fold 4 cameras improve software, not hardware

By David Lumb

There's a newly redesigned under-display camera, but otherwise, the cameras aren't changed from the Z Fold 3. But like the Flip 4, the new Fold 4 will take better night photos. Space Zoom is a bit easier to use, too, harnessing that second screen to keep track of the overall picture while you're zoomed in. 

August 10, 2022, 6:42 AM PDT

Z Fold 4 melds mobile and tablet software

By David Lumb

The big upgrade is in software, with a redesigned app dock at the bottom of the screen -- something inherited from the Android 12L software for tablets. It's small enough to stay tucked out of the way. It looks easier to tap and drag apps from the dock to one side of the screen, or swap them. 

August 10, 2022, 6:38 AM PDT

Z Fold 4 brings better durability

By David Lumb

The Z Fold 4 also saw minimal changes from last year's Z Fold 3, but it's slimmer, which will help it fit in more pockets. The redesigned hinge is more durable, Samsung says, and its inside screen is also 45% stronger than the Fold 3's. It's also lighter, which is always nice when you're essentially carrying two phones in one.

August 10, 2022, 6:38 AM PDT

Z Fold 4

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:37 AM PDT

Galaxy Z Fold 4: a foldable "for the mainstream"

By David Lumb

Roh came onstage to say that foldables were here "for the mainstream," echoing recent Samsung statements. If they want that, well, there's one feature that folks really want -- a lower pricetag.

August 10, 2022, 6:34 AM PDT

Fold 4

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:34 AM PDT

Samsung's foldables and Buds 2 Pro packaged in 100% recycled plastic

By David Lumb

In a bid to show sustainability, the packaging of the Flip, Fold and Buds 2 Pro is made entirely of recycled plastic. Samsung has extended its Galaxy for the Planet sustainability program, started last year, to recycle ocean netting plastic for use in packaging for these products. But no parts of the Fold 4 or Flip 4 are made using recycled plastic, unlike the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which uses it for a few parts including the S Pen stylus sheath. Samsung has pledged to incorporate more sustainable plastic in the devices themselves in the future, but not for this year's foldables, apparently.

August 10, 2022, 6:33 AM PDT

Galaxy Watch 5 upgrades

By David Lumb

Another big upgrade is its 15% larger battery from the Galaxy Watch 4 -- up to 276 mAh in the smaller 40mm size and 397 mAh in the larger 44mm size. Recharging is fast, too, getting 45% battery in 30 minutes. Thanks to the more advanced BioActive sensor, Samsung promises sleep coaching is better. Your morning sleep report now tracks sleep stages, blood oxygen levels and how much time you spent snoring. All that data is collected into an overall sleep score. It's one number you definitely want to go up.

August 10, 2022, 6:31 AM PDT

Samsung x BTS: Another K-pop collab

By David Lumb

Samsung's Fall 2022 Unpacked event included a BTS ad, with the K-pop group sporting the new Z Flip 4 foldable.

Samsung

K-pop sensation BTS have appeared in another Samsung ad! They're repping this year's Z Flip 4 -- and I wouldn't be surprised if we see some sort of proper BTS edition Z Flip 4 at some point.

August 10, 2022, 6:28 AM PDT

Galaxy Watch 5

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:27 AM PDT

Galaxy Watch 5's new feature: Tracking your skin temperature

By David Lumb

The new feature for the Watch 5 is reading your skin temperature. It won't take exact number readings, but will look at significant changes in temperature that could signify possible illness or other conditions. 

August 10, 2022, 6:25 AM PDT

Watch 5: Slimmer design for better sensor readings

By David Lumb

At first glance, not much has changed since the Watch 4. But the Sapphire Crystal glass in the Watch 5 is 60% more resistant to scratches than the glass used in its predecessor. Samsung has also reshaped the curve on the back glass that covers the sensors so that more of it touches your wrist, which should improve readings.

August 10, 2022, 6:24 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is revealed

By David Lumb

Given how much we liked last year's Galaxy Watch 4, we were excited for the new Galaxy Watch 5. The Galaxy Watch 4 was the first to switch from Samsung's Tizen OS to Google's Wear OS 3, which integrates features from Tizen. But since any watch running Wear OS 3 so far isn't compatible with iOS, once again, iPhone owners are left in the cold as they won't be able to sync with the Watch 5. It's not clear how big the market is for iPhone users who want a Samsung watch.

August 10, 2022, 6:23 AM PDT

Galaxy Watch 5

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:23 AM PDT

Buds 2 Pro are a bit pricier

By David Lumb

Samsung has also raised the price of the Buds 2 Pro by $30, and they'll retail for $229 when they go on sale on Aug. 26. You can get them in white, graphite and Bora purple.

August 10, 2022, 6:21 AM PDT

Buds 2 Pro improves sound quality

By David Lumb

The Buds 2 Pro have 24-bit hi-fi audio for richer sound, Samsung says. The noise canceling has gotten better, with an expanded range of 3 extra decibels of noise reduction compared to the Buds Pro. The new earbuds will block more higher-frequency sounds, too. Later this year, LE audio will be added to capture 360-degree audio from the environment around you -- great for ASMR fans, I suppose?

August 10, 2022, 6:20 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: New elite earbuds

By David Lumb

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro brings a lot of small ergonomic changes. They're 15% smaller than the Buds Pro, with a redesign for better airflow, a windshield that's twice as big to block outside noise and tweaks to its shape to ensure they don't rotate.

August 10, 2022, 6:20 AM PDT

Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:18 AM PDT

Galaxy Z Flip 4, the best clamshell foldable yet

By David Lumb

More durability, Flex Mode apps and extended battery life are are basically everything on our wishlist for the Z Flip 4. Well, everything but a price drop -- the Z Flip 4 price starts at $999, the same as its predecessor. Still, it's competitive with other premium flagships.

August 10, 2022, 6:18 AM PDT

Bespoke Edition

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:15 AM PDT

Personalize your Galaxy

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:15 AM PDT

A more durable Z Flip 4

By David Lumb

New for this year's Flip is a more robust hinge and slightly slimmer design. Samsung has made durability improvements every year, which is encouraging after the initial wave of Samsung Galaxy Fold phones in March 2019 had to be recalled due to reports of easily damaged displays and hinges. The design hasn't changed much, but Samsung has added more app widgets for the outer display, like tapping to make purchases with Samsung Pay.

August 10, 2022, 6:13 AM PDT

12 MP

By James Martin

August 10, 2022, 6:12 AM PDT

Flex Mode gains for folding fun

By David Lumb

There are also more apps that work in Flex mode, splitting the top and bottom of the screen when the phone is partially folded. This means having a chat window on the bottom with a video call on the top, for instance, or making Instagram Reels without hands. It's a big feature that only a foldable can use, so we're eager to see more ways to use the split-screen function -- and using the bottom as a touchpad, new for the Flip 4, is one of them.

August 10, 2022, 6:11 AM PDT

Z Flip 4 Cameras: New software, not hardware

By David Lumb

The cameras also haven't changed from the Z Flip 3, with a 12-megapixel wide and 12-megapixel ultrawide. But the Z Flip 4 does inherit the camera software upgrades from the Samsung Galaxy S22 released earlier this year, which should enable better night photos. 

August 10, 2022, 6:08 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is real

By David Lumb

And here it is! The Galaxy Z Flip 4, Samsung's next version of the clamshell foldable. New for this year's Flip is a more robust hinge and slightly slimmer design. Samsung has made durability improvements every year, which is encouraging after the initial wave of Samsung Galaxy Fold phones in March 2019 had to be recalled due to reports of easily damaged displays and hinges.

August 10, 2022, 6:07 AM PDT

Z Flip 4

By James Martin

Samsung/Screenshot by James Martin, CNET

Z Flip 4

August 10, 2022, 6:07 AM PDT

A decade in the works

By David Lumb

Samsung President TM Roh has taken the (prerecorded) stage to remind us that Samsung started making foldables a decade ago. It took eight years to get the the original Samsung Galaxy Fold to market in 2019.

August 10, 2022, 5:43 AM PDT

What we don't expect

By David Lumb

There are several devices we aren't expecting. We haven't heard any rumors of a new Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet or of a Galaxy S22 Fan Edition. The FE is the more affordable and slightly lower-specced version of the flagship phone that usually comes out around this time, though the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition was delayed until early 2022. 

There's also no expectation of a Galaxy Note -- and it's safe to say we won't see one this year, if ever again. 

August 10, 2022, 5:22 AM PDT

Leaks and expectations

By David Lumb

We saw plenty of leaks for the foldables we expect to see, including a listing on Amazon Netherlands supposedly for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 that showed slight design changes and a new external case for the S Pen. Maybe the stylus won't get a slot, like the S22 Ultra has?

So what are we expecting? Samsung foldables: the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the larger Galaxy Z Fold 4. We also anticipate the brand's next smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 5, which we expect will run Google's Wear OS 3, which incorporates Samsung's Tizen OS. 

August 10, 2022, 4:59 AM PDT

Leadup to today's Unpacked

By David Lumb

A leak in mid-July from tipster Evan Blass suggested that Samsung's next Unpacked was a month away and that it would likely see foldables revealed. 

A day later, Samsung itself teased the Unpacked event with a colorful puzzle that, when solved, revealed the date: Aug. 10. That's today!

August 10, 2022, 4:32 AM PDT

Samsung Unpacked for 2022 so far

By David Lumb

Samsung's first Unpacked this year was in February, when it revealed the Samsung Galaxy S22 series and Galaxy Tab S8 tablet line. Both of these ranges included more affordable devices and top-tier premium models: the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and the huge Samsung Tab S8 Ultra. 

Samsung revealed the new Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 phones at another event in March. These phones are aimed at the midrange market. Only the Galaxy A53 is sold in the US for $450 (£399 or roughly AU$710). That's around the same price as the iPhone SE (2022) and Google Pixel 6A, which was released later in the year. All of them are competing to win over folks who don't want to pay top dollar for a capable 5G device.

August 10, 2022, 4:08 AM PDT

It's Samsung Unpacked day

By David Lumb

Hello and welcome to our live blog for Samsung Unpacked! We're expecting a lot of updates on some fan-favorite devices. Here's the YouTube link, or you can watch at Samsung.com. There's also Samsung 837X for the AR and VR fans. CNET will also have a live show on our YouTube channel as the event begins, including commentary and reporting from our editors. You can send us questions for the show and watch it here.

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Microsoft Windows 10 review: Microsoft gets it right

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Microsoft Windows 10 review: Microsoft gets it right

When Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 in 2015, it delivered an elegant operating system that could -- for the first time -- fulfill the potential of each modern computing form factor. Equally proficient on a touchscreen tablet, laptop, or conventional desktop PC, Windows 10 resuscitated the operating system's best features while setting the stage for Microsoft's ongoing innovation streak that includes idiosyncratic products like the Surface Pro 4, Surface Book and, more recently, the Surface Studio -- a desktop PC for artists and designers in need of high-end horsepower and display -- and the Surface Dial, a touch-friendly dial designed to facilitate fine contextual controls.

Late 2016 update

The next generation of the popular Surface tablet, the rumored Surface Pro 5, is expected to appear in the spring of 2017 -- timing that may coincide with the rollout of the next version of Windows, a free update scheduled for the first half of 2017. Windows "Creators Update" will introduce 4K video game streaming and support "augmented reality," bringing 3D capabilities to legacy applications such as Paint and PowerPoint. It will support 3D rendering for Microsoft's HoloLens technology, which will be incorporated into forthcoming devices from Acer, Lenovo, Dell, HP and Asus. And it will enable a virtual touchpad that lets you control external monitors from tablets, without need for a mouse.

It's worth mentioning that Apple delivered its own operating system overhaul in September 2016. MacOS Sierra added some new features inspired by its own mobile operating system. And though Apple clearly wishes to continue the integration of Macs and iOS products, providing additional incentives to keep your hardware inside Apple's walled garden, it's not always a perfect fit. In fact, the new MacBooks announced in early October 2016, equipped only with USB-C ports, can't connect to the new iPhone 7 and its Lightning Connector, without an adapter.

Editors' note: The original Microsoft Windows 10 review, first published in July 2015, follows.

Windows 10 is the Goldilocks version of Microsoft's venerable PC operating system -- a "just right" compromise between the familiar dependability of Windows 7, and the forward-looking touchscreen vision of Windows 8.

This new Windows, available as a free upgrade for existing Windows 7 and Windows 8 noncorporate users, is built from the ground up to pursue Microsoft's vision of a unified OS that spans all devices without alienating any one platform. It's an attempt to safeguard Microsoft's crumbling software hegemony, assailed on all sides by Google and Apple. And it's a vision of the future as Microsoft sees it, where a single user experience spans every piece of technology we touch. Welcome to Windows as a service.

Yes, this new OS is chock-full of fresh features. To name just a few: a lean, fast Internet Explorer replacement called Edge; Microsoft's Siri-like voice-controlled virtual assistant, Cortana; and the ability to stream real-time games to your desktop from an Xbox One in another room. (And in case you're wondering: there is no "Windows 9" -- Microsoft skipped it, going straight from 8 to 10.)

Windows 10 bridges the gap between PC and tablet. Nate Ralph/CNET

But Windows 10 is also the end of a long, awkward road that began with the release of Windows 8 in 2012, when Microsoft tried to convince a world of keyboard and mouse wielders that touchscreens were the way to go -- or else. Ironically, in 2015, the PC hardware for that touchscreen future is now here -- everything from 2-in-1s such as the Lenovo Yoga line to convertible tablets with detachable keyboards, like Microsoft's own Surface. And Windows 10 smoothly lets users transition from "tablet" to "PC" mode on such devices like never before.

For the rest of the PC universe -- including those who still prefer good old-fashioned keyboard and mouse navigation -- Windows 10 is a welcome return to form. The Start menu, inexplicably yanked from 8, is back and working the way you expect it to. Those live tiles from the Windows 8 home screen still exist, but they've been attached to the Start menu, where they make a lot more sense. And the fiendishly hidden Charms bar has been morphed into the more straightforward (and easier to find) Action Center.

As always, there are some quibbles and gripes with the end product, but all-in-all -- after living with Windows 10 for months -- I can say it's a winner. It's flexible, adaptable and customizable. And it's been battle-tested by an army of beta testers for the better part of a year, making it one of the most robust operating system rollouts in recent memory.

A fresh Start

The Start menu is back; it's almost funny how relieving that is. That humble Start button has been a fixture on the lower left corner of the Windows desktop since the halcyon days of Windows 95, offering speedy access to apps and settings. Press it on Windows 10, and you'll see the latest step in a long conversation about the state of the PC industry.

I spend more time than I'd like to admit rearranging the Start Menu. Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

The past sits on the left: a neat column with shortcuts to your most used apps. Press the "All Apps" button and you'll get an alphabetical list of all of the apps installed on your PC. There are folders in there too -- press them, and extra options will fly out, just like they always have.

The future -- or at least, the future as Microsoft envisions it -- sits on the right side of the Start menu. These are the colorful, animated live tiles that debuted in Windows 8, pulling double duty as app shortcuts and informative widgets. You can resize these live tiles, drag them about to arrange them into groups and pin as many apps as you'd like -- the entire Start menu can be shrunk or expanded to suit your liking. It's essentially a miniaturized version of the fullscreen Start menu we saw in Windows 8. Hate live tiles? Then unpin them to excise them from your computer, leaving you with the narrow column of frequently used apps we've known for so long.

One step back, two steps forward

The Start menu in Windows 10 is admission that Windows 8 maybe have been a bit too forward thinking. But Microsoft hasn't abandoned that vision of unifying all manner of devices under a single operating system: Continuum in Windows 10 is the latest attempt to bridge the gap between touch and non-touch devices, and this time it doesn't force us to relearn how to work with our PCs.

To start, there's no divide between the Windows 8-style "Modern" apps you get from the Windows app store, and those you install the old-fashioned way. Everything exists as a traditional windowed app, sharing space on the desktop. If you're on a two-in-one device like Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 , pop the keyboard off and Windows 10 will switch to tablet mode. The Start menu and your apps will stretch to take up the entire screen, and all of the miscellaneous apps and shortcuts on your taskbar will disappear, to give your finger fewer obstacles to hit.

Apps go fullscreen, and the taskbar gets a little less cluttered in tablet mode. Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

Reattach the keyboard, and everything slots back into place. It's an instantaneous, seamless process (once you've shooed away the annoying confirmation window). It's also entirely optional: you can disable the feature and switch to tablet mode manually, or forget that this whole touch concept exists at all.

This is what Windows 8 always should've been: an operating system that bridges the divide between touch and non-touch, without alienating folks who fall into one camp or the other. Like it or not, the future belongs to devices with touchscreens. But Microsoft (finally) understands that we'll all get there at own pace, and Continuum makes the transition painless. And now that there are so many hybrid devices to choose from, making the switch to touch without abandoning the interface we know is more important than ever.

Learning new tricks

Microsoft hasn't stopped at making touch make sense on a Windows PC. With Windows 10, just about every facet of the OS has been tweaked and updated, and a few new features have been rolled in. In typical Microsoft fashion, there's a dizzying array of keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures for each of these features, giving you no fewer than three ways to access the things you're trying to get to. No need to memorize them all -- just use whatever suits you (or your device) best.

Virtual desktops

If I had to pick my favorite new feature, I'd go with virtual desktops. Click the new Task View button on the taskbar and you'll get a bird's-eye view of all of the apps you've got open. Drag one of those apps onto the "new desktop" button, and it'll be moved to its own independent workspace. I can keep one workspace focused on work, a separate desktop for gaming forums, yet another workspace for the new camera lenses I'm checking out; there's no limit to the amount of virtual desktops you can create, and each one is treated as its own little private island.

Virtual desktops help you spread your apps across several workspaces. Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

Virtual desktops are far from a new development, and they've been available in past versions of Windows thanks to third-party apps. But it's nice to see Microsoft catching up here. The feature could still use some work: desktops are numbered, but if you create a lot of them it can be hard to keep track of where everything is. The "traditional" Win32 apps you might download and install from a website are happy to open a new instance on any desktop, while clicking the shortcut on an app from the Windows store will yank you back to whatever desktop you used it on last.

You can move apps across virtual desktops -- just drag them, or right-click to shunt them over -- but there's no way to reorder the virtual desktops themselves, which would be really useful for staying organized. I'd also like to be able to set a different wallpaper for every virtual desktop -- I can do both of those things in Apple's OSX operating system, and have always found it really handy.

Windows Snap

The Snap feature introduced in Windows 7 has gotten a bit of an upgrade, too. Drag an app to the left or right side of the screen, and it'll "snap" to fill that space. The new Snap Assist feature will then chime in, showing you little thumbnails of any other apps that are currently open -- click a thumbnail, and it'll fill up the remaining space. You can also snap an app into a corner of your display and fill your screen with up to four apps, divided equally across the screen -- this could prove useful for folks with massive monitors.

Action Center

The new Action Center replaces the "Charms" introduced in Windows 8, and is another nod to mobile operating systems. Click the Action center icon on the taskbar to bring up a panel that houses all of your app notifications, and offers quick access to a few important system settings, like toggling your Wi-Fi network or switching in and out of tablet mode -- you can choose the options that turn up here in the settings menu. If you're coming from Windows 7 and have no idea where to find some of the settings you're used to, there's a good chance you'll find them here.

Wi-Fi Sense

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Wi-Fi Sense. While technically not a new feature (it's part of Windows Phone 8.1) its presence in Windows 10 should've been a welcome addition: Wi-Fi Sense connects your devices to trusted Wi-Fi hotspots.

I love the idea. Automatically sharing Wi-Fi credentials with my friends would remove much of the hassle of most social gatherings, when people just want to jump on my Wi-Fi network. And -- this part is key -- Wi-Fi Sense doesn't share your actual password, so it theoretically eases a social transaction (the sharing of Wi-Fi connectivity) without necessarily compromising my network security.

Until Wi-Fi sense offers granular control over sharing, I'd avoid it. Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

But the implementation is, in a word, daft. I do want to automatically share my network with a select group of friends who are visiting, and have them return the favor. I don't want to automatically share access with everyone in my Outlook address book, or on Skype, or the random assortment of folks I've added on Facebook over the years. Give me the ability to choose who I share access with, down to the individual, and I'll give it a shot. Until then, I'll be leaving Wi-Fi Sense off -- I recommend you do too.

Windows Hello and Windows Passport

Microsoft is also beefing up security with Windows Hello. The feature will use your Windows 10 devices' camera or a fingerprint scanner to turn your body into a password. Once you've authenticated yourself with Windows Hello, Windows Passport will then give you access to a number of third-party sites and products, without forcing you to log in all over again. This should make it a bit more convenient to log in to your devices, so you don't skimp on traditional measures, like having a robust password. The only catch is that Hello isn't widely supported on a lot of existing hardware: you'll need a device sporting Intel's RealSense camera, or a fingerprint scanner.

Chatting with Cortana

Microsoft's virtual assistant Cortana isn't exactly a new feature, as she's been on Windows Phone for just over a year. But the company's answer to Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa and Google Now has made the transition to the desktop with Windows 10, taking over the OS' search functionality, while also handling quite a few housekeeping duties. You can have Cortana trawl through your email and calendar, and keep you notified of any upcoming flights you're taking, or packages you're expecting. She can set reminders and track stocks, and you can even dictate email messages for her to send to your contacts. Cortana can also be set to listen for you to say "Hey, Cortana," and can be trained to recognize several different voices. If you want to learn more about Cortana, head over to my preview on Microsoft's virtual assistant .

Cortana will help you get things done. James Martin/CNET

I'm torn. I love Google Now's proactive stream of useful information, served to me whenever I need it. But my primary mobile device is an Android phone and not a Windows Phone, which keeps my interactions with Cortana sequestered to my desktop.

She's not especially useful here. Windows 10's Voice recognition is rather accurate, but if I have to send an email message and I'm at my desk, I'm just going to use my email client. She'll offer recommendations for places to eat or things to see, but that'd be a lot more useful when I'm out and about than at my desk. The same goes for reminders, which are decidedly less useful if I can't access them anywhere.

Cortana will be making her way to Android and iOS devices later this year, which should clear up most of these issues -- provided most of her functionality crosses platforms without issue. I'll still turn to Cortana for the occasional joke, but until it's available on a phone I use regularly, I'll be sticking to Google for Now.

Microsoft Edge rethinks the browser

Microsoft has added a brand-new browser into Windows 10, and it's called Microsoft Edge. Introducing a new browser in a world that already has Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Apple's Safari is a pretty bold move. Doubly so when your previous effort was Internet Explorer -- once a juggernaut in the space, now the Internet's favorite punchline.

Annotate webpages with Microsoft's Edge browser. James Martin/CNET

Edge is a fast, modern browser that offers quite a few commendable features. Cortana is integrated right into the browser, and she'll offer detailed information on things like the weather or flight statuses while you're typing into the browser's address bar. Navigate over to a bar or restaurant's website, and Cortana can pull up a little sidebar full of useful information, like reviews or directions. The webnote feature lets you scribble on webpages and share your annotations to OneNote or via email, and you can use the Reading view option to strip a website down to its bare essentials. Edge has also been built with tighter security from the start, to hopefully circumvent some of the headaches that erupted from Internet Explorer.

But there are no extensions to tame overzealous advertisements, or enhance websites like Reddit, or simply organized my tabs -- I've been thoroughly spoiled by Google Chrome. There's no way to sync tabs or bookmarks across devices, and you currently can't import bookmarks from other browsers. All those features will be available eventually, with support for extensions coming sometime before the end of the year -- like Windows 10, Edge is a constantly evolving work in progress. But it's going to take a lot for someone like me, wholly enmeshed in Google's ecosystem, to ditch Chrome for something new. Internet Explorer also isn't going anywhere: it'll remain a part of Windows for the foreseeable future, as legacy apps are dependent on it. Head over to my Microsoft Edge preview to learn more about Microsoft Edge .

Getting your game on

Windows 10 adds and tweaks a few things in the entertainment department. The Xbox Video and Xbox Music apps have been renamed to Movies & TV and Groove Music, respectively. Their function is identical: any music and video files on your device can be found here, but it mostly serves as a means to convince you to buy or rent content from Microsoft's stores. You've got plenty of streaming services to choose from, for music and video.

Xbox Live achievements for Solitaire? Brilliant. Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

If you're a gamer, the Xbox app will prove far more interesting. It's a window into your Xbox Live feed, letting you see what your friends are up to and send them messages, browse recordings people have made, compare achievements, and all of the expected ways of interacting with the social network. But if you own an Xbox One, you can stream activity from your console to any device running Windows 10.

It's awesome. No, it's not a game changer, and certainly not a reason to run out and grab an Xbox One. But it's still awesome: if someone wants to use the television, I can just plug an Xbox One controller into one of my PCs and continue plugging away at the Xbox One version of The Witcher 3 . The quality of the experience is going to be dependent on your network, so I'd recommend making sure both your console and the PC you're streaming to are connect to your LAN. The console also can't be used by others when it's streaming so this won't enable cooperative gaming. But if you frequently find yourself sharing the TV and have a PC with Windows 10 on hand, it's a fun little addition that could come in handy.

Handy tools for shutterbugs

The new Photos app isn't going to replace something like Adobe Lightroom, but if you take a lot of photos and are looking for a simple tool to keep things organized, you'll do well here.

Use the Photos app to make quick, non-destructive edits to your pictures. Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

The Photos app scans your devices and OneDrive account for photos, and automatically arranges them into albums. You can use the app as a way to keep track of your pictures, but it also offers some basic editing tools too. If you prefer a hands-off approach, Photos will automatically enhance all of the photos it finds, wrangling red eye and sorting out exposure levels -- it works on RAW files, too. But don't worry: the edits Photos makes are non-destructive, so you can undo any changes it makes, or prevent it from altering your photos altogether.

Windows, everywhere

Windows 10 has finally arrived, but this version of Windows is fundamentally different from any that have come before it. It will truly be an everywhere OS, a concept Microsoft will be pushing with Windows 10 Mobile , and Universal Apps. We've been here before: apps developed for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 could share much of their code, which was supposed to make it easy to create a single app that ran everywhere.

Microsoft's universal apps share an identical codebase: the Excel client on your desktop, for example, will be the exact same client as the one on your phone, with elements adjusted to make sense of the different display, and the lack of a keyboard or mouse. You can currently get a taste of this on the latest version of Windows 10 Mobile, and while I wouldn't recommend editing spreadsheets on your smartphone, it's possible.

Universal apps will lead to their own challenges, as developers will have to weigh creating rich, robust apps that can run on a mobile device, against developing apps that can make use of all of the power a full PC can bring to bear. Microsoft is already drafting a solution using Continuum. Microsoft has demonstrated Continuum for phones: plug a Windows Phone into a display, and the interface will one day morph to mimic the PC-based version of Windows. You'll see the desktop, desktop-versions of Windows Store apps, and get full mouse and keyboard support. There's no word on when Continuum for phones will be available, or what devices it'll run on, but it offers a tantalizing glimpse of what Microsoft has in store.

Getting ready for what's next

The Windows Update process will be key to getting everyone on board with Microsoft's vision of the future of Windows. It'll also prove to be one of the most contentious elements: if you're running the standard Home version of Windows 10, updates are automatic and can't be refused.

This is a great thing. Windows' Achilles' heel has long been its nigh-ubiquity, which makes it a prime target for malware and other digital nastiness. A computer that's kept up to date is a happy computer, as it will offer you the best chance of avoiding viruses and other unpleasant things.

You can delay updates, but you can't avoid them. Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

This is also a terrible thing. Many of us have encountered software updates that don't quite work out, occasionally breaking more than they fix. One of the last updates to the Windows 10 preview has been triggering software crashes, a recurring reminder that things occasionally don't work out as intended.

Microsoft has plans in place to mitigate these snafus: those of us who've signed up for the Windows Insider program can opt to continue serving as beta testers in perpetuity, and we'll be receiving every update first, for better or worse. But an army of five million testers could go a long way toward making sure these compulsory updates go as smoothly as possible. Insiders will also be able to continue driving the future of Windows by sharing feedback on features and functionality in Windows as they are developed.

I still worry that something will eventually slip through the cracks, and that will be the forced update that sours everyone's mood on the whole process. But I still favor Microsoft's approach: better to deal with the occasional botched update than have the legion of vulnerable or compromised devices that currently exists.

Conclusion

In an ideal world, we'd just call Microsoft's latest operating system "Windows," and sweep version numbers and codenames under the rug. That "10" gives the impression that something comes next, when in reality Windows is transitioning from something you buy (begrudgingly) once every few years, to a living document that's constantly being updated, and tweaked. For many Windows users expecting a predictable upgrade cadence, this is going to be a difficult transition.

Windows 10 will mean the end of grand, sweeping changes, with a marked increase in the sort of minute, quality-of-life tweaks we've grown accustomed to on our smartphones and tablets. Cortana will learn new tricks, and the interface will become flexible enough to support entirely new kinds of devices, like Microsoft's HoloLens . Should Windows Phone survive, we'll eventually see the world Microsoft envisioned back at the launch of Windows 8, when every device was supposed to feel right at home.

All of that comes later. What we have, at present, is a fast, functional OS that that is equally at home on a beefy gaming rig as it is on a Surface tablet. It does everything you expect it to, and bakes in all of the improvements Windows 8 brought to bear. Both Cortana and Edge have a long road ahead of them before they'll supplant Google's vicelike grip on my digital life, but the novelty of dictating emails and requests to my PC is not lost on me. And then there's the price: free, for those upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.

If you're running Windows 7 or Windows 8 you've little to lose, and quite a bit to gain, by making the jump to Windows 10. If you're still on Windows XP, you've probably got your reasons. But Windows 10 marks the first steps in a transition from operating system to ecosystem, a wild dream that gets a little less crazy every time I ask my PC a question, or pop the keyboard of my laptop to get some reading done. This is Microsoft's second attempt at bringing us the future, and this time they're getting it right.

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