Hannah Davies
2025-01-26 04:30:00
www.trustedreviews.com
OPINION: This has undoubtedly been Samsung’s week as the company unveiled its latest line of flagship S Series phones for 2025 – though not without valid criticism, as you’ll learn in this week’s Winners and Losers.
Elsewhere, the TikTok ban came and left just as quickly, Fujifilm unveiled its most versatile Instax camera yet and Apple confirmed that CarPlay 2 is still in the works despite missing its 2024 target.
Three suffered a major outage, leaving customers unable to call even emergency services, while Netflix announced another hefty price hike in the States.
Keep reading to learn who we crowned and winner and loser this week and why.
Winner: UK drivers
Not only did Brits dodge the Netflix price hike (for now) and get a Snapdragon-powered version of the S25 this week, but it has also been confirmed that the new GOV.UK Wallet app will soon allow us to keep a digital version of our driver’s licenses on our phones.
This means no more carrying around a wallet just to house a physical ID for those of us who have already gone virtually cashless and cardless thanks to smartphone wallets like the Apple Wallet and Google Wallet that carry everything from your credit card to concert tickets, and the ever important Tesco Clubcard.
According to a recent government blog post, Brits will be given the option to use a digital version of their licence to show their right to drive and prove their age when buying age-restricted items online and in-person.
The digital driver’s license and Veteran Card will be the first documents to be available in the GOV.UK Wallet starting later this year, with more government-issued documents – including DBS checks and proof of benefits – to follow by the end of 2027.
The government has also announced a GOV.UK App due to launch this summer. This will include access to government information, the ability to complete essential tasks, a place to make payments, reminders and even an AI-powered chatbot.
Loser: Samsung
When it comes to Samsung’s new line-up, the top-end Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a number of perks over its predecessor. That includes a larger, more durable display, an upgraded ultra-wide camera and of course, the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.
However, there is one major downgrade that was easy to overlook on the launch night – especially because it has nothing to do with the actual phone. Rather, it is connected to the S Pen that comes in the box with the Ultra.
Fans of the Ultra series have noticed that the S Pen has lost a major piece of its functionality with this update: its Bluetooth connectivity. There are some upsides to this. The stylus weighs less now and there’s no need to concern yourself with charging a battery. However, there are also some pretty obvious downsides.
Namely, S25 Ultra users can not utilise Air Actions when using the new S Pen with the phone. This means there’s no gesture support to open apps, control music, browse your photos or use the stylus as a remote shutter for the camera.
Samsung reportedly cut the feature because customers rarely used Air Action gestures and it made sense to remove Bluetooth connectivity to cut costs (via The Verge). This would perhaps be forgivable if the savings were passed onto the customer, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with the S25 Ultra carrying the same RRP as its predecessor.
Meet the Anker 20W USB C Power Strip, the ultimate desk power solution! With 9,659 ratings and a stellar 4.6 out of 5 stars, it’s a trusted favorite for its reliability and performance. Over 3K+ units were bought in the past month!
This compact power cube features 3 AC outlets, 2 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C port to power everything on your desk with ease. Equipped with a 7-point safety system, including fire resistance, circuit-overload protection, and short-circuit protection, it gives you peace of mind. Plus, enjoy super-fast charging for your devices.
Grab this versatile power strip for only $13.99. Buy Now on Amazon!
Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support
If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.
As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!
BITCOIN bc1qlszw7elx2qahjwvaryh0tkgg8y68enw30gpvge Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
DOGECOIN D64GwvvYQxFXYyan3oQCrmWfidf6T3JpBA Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
ETHEREUM 0xe9BC980DF3d985730dA827996B43E4A62CCBAA7a Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
Please read the Privacy and Security Disclaimer on how Techcratic handles your support.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, Techcratic may earn from qualifying purchases.