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PlayStation Plus price increases – are you affected?

The price of some subscription plans is to jump by about 36 per cent in some territories from next week

It has been about 19 months since the last PS Plus price hike

Sony is raising the price ofPlayStation Plusin 22 countries because of the impact of “global market conditions”.

Affected regions include South America, south-east Asia and Australia, where the price of certain subscription plans are jumping almost 36 per cent.

Here is what you need to know about the PS Plus price rise, including affected countries and how you can evade them.

When are PS Plus prices going up?

The new PS Plus prices will come into force onWednesday April 16for new subscribers andJune 24(or when subscriptions run out) for existing subscribers.

Sony said the hike is down to “global market conditions” – in plain terms, that means things like inflation and other economic changes, especially in regions like Latin America where costs have soared.

Sony’s PlayStation Plus service includes access to online multiplayer, free monthly games, and a huge library of titles depending on the subscription tier

Pexels

The company argued the changes are needed to keep delivering top-tier games and perks throughPlayStationPlus. It’s part of a wider trend: asXbox Game Passand Netflix (whichnow offers games) raise their prices, Sony is following suit to stay competitive.

>>>SP86R Battery for Sony PS Vita2007 Vita2006

Where are PS Plus prices going up and by how much?

Below we have listed all the countries where Sony is upping the cost of PS Plus, along with the new and old prices for each region (and the percentage difference).

South Korea

Essential:

1 month: KRW 8,900 → KRW 10,800 (+21.3%)
3 months: KRW 23,800 → KRW 28,400 (+19.3%)
12 months: KRW 72,900 → KRW 86,400 (+18.5%)

Extra:

1 month: KRW 13,300 → KRW 16,200 (+21.8%)
3 months: KRW 36,000 → KRW 46,000 (+27.8%)
12 months: KRW 115,900 → KRW 145,800 (+25.8%)

Deluxe (Premium):

1 month: KRW 15,600 → KRW 19,000 (+21.8%)
3 months: KRW 43,200 → KRW 54,000 (+25%)
12 months: KRW 139,900 → KRW 171,000 (+22.2%)

Latin America (general pricing in USD)

Essential:

1 month: $6.99 → $7.99 (+14.31%)
3 months: $17.99 → $20.99 (+16.68%)
12 months: $59.99 → $64.99 (+8.34%)

Extra:

1 month: $9.99 → $11.99 (+20.02%)
3 months: $27.99 → $33.99 (+21.43%)
12 months: $89.99 → $107.99 (+20%)

Premium:

1 month: $11.99 → $13.99 (+16.68%)
3 months: $34.99 → $39.99 (+14.29%)
12 months: $109.99 → $124.99 (+13.64%)

Sony regularly adds new titles to the PlayStation Plus library, with recent additions including Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Brazil

The following price increases are for current/new subscribers:

Essential:

1 month: R$34.90 → R$39.90 / R$43.90 (+14.3% / +25.8%)
3 months: R$89.90 → R$97.90 / R$114.90 (+8.9% / +27.8%)
12 months: R$278.90 → R$319.90 / R$359.90 (+14.7% / +29%)

Extra:

1 month: R$52.90 → R$59.90 / R$65.90 (+13.2% / +24.6%)
3 months: R$139.90 → R$159.90 / R$186.90 (+14.3% / +33.6%)
12 months: R$475.90 → R$546.90 / R$592.90 (+14.9% / +24.6%)

Deluxe (Premium):

1 month: R$60.90 → R$68.90 / R$76.90 (+13.1% / +26.3%)
3 months: R$161.90 → R$183.90 / R$219.90 (+13.6% / +35.8%)
12 months: R$549.90 → R$619.90 / R$691.90 (+12.7% / +25.8%)

Australia

Essential:

1 month: $11.95 AUD → $12.95 AUD (+8%)
3 months: $33.95 AUD → $35.95 AUD (+5%)
12 months: $95.95 AUD → $102.95 AUD (+7%)

Extra:

1 month: $18.95 AUD → $20.95 AUD (+10%)
3 months: $54.95 AUD → $59.95 AUD (+9%)
12 months: $169.95 AUD → $187.95 AUD (+10%)

Deluxe (Premium):

1 month: $21.95 AUD → $23.95 AUD (+9%)
3 months: $63.95 AUD → $70.95 AUD (+11%)
12 months: $196.95 AUD → $214.95 AUD (+9%)

Latin America

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay

Asia

Indonesia
Korea
Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
China (Taiwan Hong Kong)

Oceania

Australia

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How to avoid the PS Plus price hike

As the increase doesn’t start until April 16, there is still time for users to get the lower price, even if they are current subscribers.

You canpurchase extra cards at a lower priceand add them to your account, andReddit users have reportedthat PlayStation lets them add additional years to their account this way.

Alternatively, Sony has cut the price of membership forBlack Fridayin the past so, if you can’t afford an annual membership now, the chances are you will get a second bite of the cherry come November. Stacking two three-month memberships should see you through till then.

Currently, the US and Europe are safe from these price hikes, but uncertainty prevails with the ongoing tariff situation.

Microsoft Recall is rolling out following major controversy — what you need to know

Recall redo

Microsoft’s Recallfeature has had a rocky start to its existence. Designed to capture screenshots of your actions onCopilot Plus PCto find later, it’s been delayed and pushed back since it was first announced.

However, Microsoft appears ready to try again, as the company is starting to preview the feature toWindows Insiders.

Microsoft described Recall in a recentblog post: “You work across so many apps, sites, and documents it can be hard to remember where you saw something you want to get back to. Recall saves you time by offering an entirely new way to search for things you’ve seen or done on your PC securely.”

Recall was initially meant to launch with the first batch of Copilot Plus PCslast June, but it was pushed back due to security concerns. In October, Microsoft planned to re-release it, but it pushed it back to give itself a chance to make “a secure and trusted experience.”

It seems the company is at least close to ready to create that secure experience, as rolling the feature out to those in the Windows Insider program is typically the last step before the company launches a feature to the masses.

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(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft’s blog post also mentions that you must opt in if you want to have Windows save your screenshots and make them findable.

“You will need to opt-in to saving snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enrol in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access your snapshots,” reads the company’s blog.

Having Recall on PCs as an opt-in feature instead of on by default is a smart move from Microsoft, as it’ll allow those more security-conscious users to ignore the feature and keep using their Copilot Plus PC without any changes.

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Microsoft didn’t say how long the feature would be in testing before launching it to all Copilot Plus PC users. Based on the issues with the initial launch, I assume it’ll keep it in testing for a while to ensure everything is ready for prime time.

MicroSD Express vs microSD card: What’s the difference?

It comes down to speed, price, and compatibility

(Image credit: Petapixel)

For about two decades, traditionalmicroSD cardswere the storage solution of choice for portable devices like mobile phones andhandheld consoles.

However, the evolution of storage solutions has led to the development of microSD Express, an advancement over its predecessor.

While microSD cards and microSD Express appear the same, their specifications and applications differ. You may be wondering why you haven’t heard about microSD Express – that’s because the technology is not only relatively new, but its adoption has been quite slow.

microSD Express vs microSD card – the basics

microSD Express is an advanced version of microSD that uses PCIe and NVMe interfaces similar to high-end SSD storage solutions to achieve significantly faster transfer speeds of up to 985MB/s.

This storage format was first released by the SD Association in 2019, and since then, several brands have developed cards with guaranteed minimum speeds of 150MB/s, 300MB/s, 450MB/s, or 600MB/s, as indicated by the “E” symbol on the card label. These cards, however, have not seen wide usage until recently, when Nintendo announced plans to use them for expanded storage in the upcomingSwitch 2.

On the other hand, a microSD card is a small, removable storage device that has been widely used in smartphones, tablets, cameras, and gaming consoles. Originally launched in 2005, the format has evolved into SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC variants, with capacities up to 2TB.

These cards use the SD interface and are classified based on speed. Most consumer devices today support UHS-I cards, with read speeds up to 100MB/s. Less common UHS-II and UHS-III cards can reach speeds of up to 300MB/s and 600MB/s, respectively.

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Speed and performance

The obvious advantage of microSD Express over microSD is transfer speed. Its interfaces enable faster write speeds, allowing for seamless recording and quicker file transfers. Another key benefit is reduced latency, thanks to NVMe technology.

Unlike traditional microSD cards, which rely on older interfaces, microSD Express offers lower response times when accessing data. This leads to faster system responsiveness, especially when opening large files, running applications, or switching between stored media.

Backward compatibility concerns

One major drawback of microSD Express is its lack of full backward compatibility. If you use a microSD Express card in an older device with a traditional microSD slot, the transfer speed drops to UHS-I levels, which can be disappointing. In addition, devices made for microSD Express are exclusive, meaning regular microSD cards will not work in them.

This compatibility issue is clear with the Nintendo Switch 2, which only supports microSD Express cards. Users now need to purchase new storage solutions, even if they have plenty of data on older microSD cards from previous Switch models. This shift has caused frustration among users who expected backward compatibility to be preserved.

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Use cases and adoption

microSD Express cards are not designed for all use cases. If you mainly store regular photos and videos on mobile phones or cameras, a standard microSD card will do just fine.

microSD Express shines in scenarios where high-speed data transfer is critical, with one key example being gaming.

Games are data-intensive, and faster read/write speeds reduce load times, improve performance, and make gameplay smoother. This is likely a key reason why the Nintendo Switch 2 adopted microSD Express.

Standard microSD cards often struggle with large files, leading to dropped frames or slow transfers when dealing with high data rates, such as4Kor8Kvideo. This makes microSD Express especially valuable for filmmakers and content creators.

Cost and availability

That all said, getting a microSD Express card isn’t easy. Few brands currently produce them, and availability may be limited in some regions.

Also, because the technology is still developing and uses more advanced components, microSD Express cards tend to be more expensive. For example, a 1TB microSD Express card from Lexar costs around $200, while a standard 1TB microSD card from the same brand is priced under $70.

Should you upgrade to microSD Express?

Whether to switch to microSD Express depends on your needs and device compatibility. If your device requires it, like the Nintendo Switch 2, then upgrading is necessary. But if your device only supports standard microSD cards, there’s little benefit, as speeds will drop by almost 90%. That said, if low latency is a priority, it may still be worth considering.

For general users who want affordable storage for smartphones, cameras, or other devices, traditional microSD cards remain a practical choice. Professionals working with high-speed applications, may find microSD Express to be a worthwhile investment.

Future of microSD Express

Portable computing devices, including laptops, tablets, and handheld gaming PCs, now use high-grade hardware and often rely on expandable storage for larger apps and media. For example, some mobile phones and cameras can now record in 8K, which puts a lot of pressure on storage performance.

A one-minute 8K video can be as large as 20GB. Saving this to a regular microSD card could take around four minutes, while a microSD Express card could do it in about 30 seconds. That is a significant difference that could drive the adoption of microSD Express.

Still, the future of microSD Express really depends on how many device manufacturers choose to support it. If more consoles, cameras, and portable devices integrate the format, prices may come down and the market could expand.

Google Workspace is getting a bunch of new AI features, including a boost to Docs

It seems Google is pretty happy with the state of its Gemini model at the moment because it’s inserting AI features into every product it has lately. This time,Workspaceis getting the AI refresh, with new features coming to Docs, Sheets, Vids, Meet, and Chat — along with a new “agentic AI” feature called Workspace Flows.

First up, Docs is getting new audio and AI writing capabilities. The podcast feature first used inNotebookLMreceived a lot of praise, and now it’s starting to appear in more places. It came to Gemini a few weeks ago, and now it’s coming to Google Docs in a few weeks.

Google

If you haven’t heard about it,audio overviewsare basically AI-generated summaries of your document but presented in a new way — instead of text, you get a podcast hosted by two AI personas. It sounds quite out there, but Google says it’s had great feedback and there are plenty of people online talking about how great it is for multitasking.

As well as the podcast-style overviews, you can also get an audio version of your document as is. This is meant to help you spot any weird phrasing in your writing or check through a document without actually sitting down and reading it.

The second feature for Docs is Help me refine, and Google says it’s more than just a text-generating tool. Instead, the model has been trained to offer “thoughtful suggestions” to improve both your language and the content of your writing — encouraging you to engage in the process and develop your skills as a writer and communicator.

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Google

Tools that “force” you to do something properly like this can be a little unpopular with some users — since there are plenty of LLMs that will just fix everything for you, it can seem a little condescending for Google to decide you need to put some work in yourself.

However, if you can see past this, it likely really is a better way to utilize an AI writing tool. Offloading tasks to AI can quickly affect your own abilities, and while writing assistance can help speed tasks up, most people will still have to spend a lot of time writing documents. It would frankly suck to spend so much time on something just to find your skills degrading rather than improving.

Either way, if this feature works well,Grammarlymight not be so pleased — most people won’t want two different programs highlighting their typos at the same time, so one or the other will probably get the boot.

Moving on to the other features, we’ve got theHelp me analyzebot inGoogle Sheets, built to help you spot patterns and interesting trends in your data that you might have missed. If you’re not sure how to get the results you want, it can point you in the right direction — saving you time while making sure it doesn’t also waste time by taking control and generating charts that aren’t quite what you need.

Google

Vidsis also getting access to in-app video generation, andMeetis adding a personal in-meeting advisor to help you catch up on discussions you missed or draft a point you want to make before saying it. If you have a long discussion in Chat, Gemini will soon be available for you to @ and ask for a summary.

And lastly, Workspace is getting access to its own AI agents, allowing teams to build new automatic processes that help streamline work. These agents, known asGems, can look at the documents in your Drive for context and guidance to inform its decisions.

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The exampleGoogle shows offis a customer support Gem that can review request forms, understand the issue, research solutions, draft a reply, and flag it for a team member to review and send. Again, the design of the tool focuses on not going too far, always seeking out human input before it makes any mistakes that could drastically reduce its effectiveness as a time-saving tool.

It looks like there will be a staggered release for all of these features, with most coming in the next couple of weeks or months, and the Sheets feature coming later in the year.

Trump pauses most global tariffs for 90 days but increases China tariffs to 125%

The U.S. just called a 90-day truce on the global trade war, but it’s escalating the situation with China.

(Image credit: FOX 5 New York / YouTube)

Just as the second round of his announced tariffs began to take effect, President Trump said he would delay their full implementation for many countries for 90 days. However, because China retaliated against the 104% tariff on its goods by applying 84% import duties on American goods, the White House is firing back by pushing the China levy back to 125%. This pause will apply to the 75 countries that have reciprocal tariffs applied against them but have not announced any retaliation against the planned higher tariff rates. However, a 10% tariff applied to all imports remains for those countries during the pause.

This news has allowed the market to recover a bit, with a few tech companies rebounding fromhitting their record lows. The 90-day period will also hopefully be enough time for many countries to negotiate a deal with the White House so that global trade can return to normal. However, the U.S.’s actions against Chinese trade are the latest in a series of moves escalating the trade war between the two countries.

Trump first applied a 20% tariff on Chinese goods in February, alongside the 25% taxes on Canada and Mexico. This jumped to 54% when he announced additional import duties in early April. Because of this,Beijing put a 34% levy on American productsandrestricted the export of several rare earth metals.

Trump responded with an additional 50% tax on the already existing 54%, pushing tariffs to 104%. Because of this, China retaliated with its own 50% increase, pushingimport taxes on American goods to 84%. This did not end there, though, as the latest Truth Social post by Trump says that he will push taxes on Chinese imports to 125%.

He made this announcement in the early afternoon in the U.S., which is just beyond midnight in Beijing. So, we’ll have to wait a few hours to see how China will react to this news.

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from X

It seems that the tariffs that Trump announced are meant to bring the rest of the world to the negotiating table, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posting on X (formerly Twitter), “The world is ready to work with President Trump to fix global trade, and China has chosen the opposite direction.”

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Incidentally, the E.U. just applied its own retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. a few hours before the announcement. However, this will not take effect until next week, so we don’t know if it will retract these levies or if Trump will also punish Europe with more taxes if it does not change its direction.

Microsoft is giving the Windows 11’s start menu an upgrade that could fix one of its biggest flaws

Windows takes a step backward to move forward

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone whoisn’tdispleased withWindows11 in some shape or form, but Microsoft is developing a newWindows 11Start menu that’s bound to make a lot of people happy.

Bluesky userphantomofearth, who dives into Windows Insider builds, discovered the new Start menu in a recent build. The menu offers a larger, more streamlined look that finally displays all of your apps in one place. More importantly, you can finally axe the Recommended feed.

The new Windows 11 Start menu

PreviousWindows 10users have been asking for this back forever now, which makes sense why people are so excited. Going a step backward is obviously a step forward for Windows, which surprises (let me check) no one.

To be clear, I am still using Windows 10 for my gaming PC for these exact issues… and also Microsoft put aridiculous hardware requirementon Windows 11. (At least I get to experience the silliness on each laptop I review.)

Again, I love that I don’t need to go through two different menus just to see my appsandthat I don’t need to see the (generally) useless Recommended section anymore. However, a list of all the apps in alphabetical order isn’t exactly clean, either. It just makes it more accessible.

Getting the apps front and center is nice and all, but I’m more excited about the overall customization.

With the new UI, you can easily switch between seeing “All” apps alphabetically, all apps in a Name Grid, and then in Categories. This isn’t anything new, but the Category setting previously felt useless because I’d have to click into the Start menu, click All, then click on the category with the app I want, and finally click the app.

However, now with Categories, you’d get an instant, clean look at all my apps in the Start menu on one page with little-to-no scrolling. This isn’t revolutionary by any means, but Microsoft makes Windows hard to love. Heck, that’s why some folksditched Windows 11 for Linux.

But if the Categories aren’t your style, you can now pin more apps, up to 8 per row. And you’re not stuck with 3 rows anymore, you can technically customize all the apps you see on your Start menu by doing this. So, folks who are very particular will have a field day customizing their Start menu.

If all you care about is ditching the Recommended section, however, you can disable it in the Personalization section in the Settings. Or at least whenever this update becomes available.

Technically, this feature was found in both the 23H2 and 24H2 versions of Windows 11. All that means is that we’ll likely see these new features soon, ideally in the coming weeks.

Camera phone shootout: the iPhone 16 Pro Max Vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Wondering how two of the top flagship AI phones compare in camera quality? The battle of the camera phones continues in this latest shootout.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra camera phone shootout vs iPhone 16 Pro Max

I’ve finally done it. I’ve tested out two of thebest camera phonesthat you can buy right now, and pittedApple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, against Samsung’s newest flagship, theSamsung GalaxyS25 Ultra series. Both of these phones are infused with AI power and have some seriously impressive camera specs on paper, but there can only be one winner here, so which is it?

If you’re familiar with some of thebest iPhones for photography, then you’ll know that these smartphones are very capable of capturing a sharp shot. The iPhone 16 series is the first, however, to introduce the innovative new Camera Control Button, and I’m surprised by how much I really enjoyed using this feature. If you’re more of an Android fan (guilty), then Samsung smartphones are the best alternatives to Apple handsets for photographers and content creators, thanks to innovative features like personalised filters, super Nightography, and more detail with the AI ProVisual Engine.

Remember, it’s not all about owning the most expensive device to get great shots, and some of thebest budget camera phoneshave pleasantly surprised us too. Interested in more camera phone comparisons? Take a look at my shootout between theHonor Magic 7 Pro and my S24 Ultrato see how these models tackled stunning Slovenian landscapes. More recently, I also pitted theNothing Phone 3a Proagainst my Samsung, and the results were impressive.

Take a look at the spec table below to see what we’re working with, and then check out the results and image sliders (drag the slider to see the full image) and see for yourself how the iPhone 16 Pro Max faired against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

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Camera Phone Specs

iPhone 16 Pro Max Vs Samsung S25 Ultra specs

	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Chipset:	Apple A18 Pro	Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite
Main Camera:	48 MP f/1.8, 24mm (wide)	200 MP (f/1.7) 24mm (wide)
Zoom Camera:	12 MP f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto	10 MP (f/2.4) 67mm (telephoto) + 50 MP (f/3.4) 111mm (periscope telephoto) with 5x optical zoom
Ultrawide camera:	48 MP f/2.2, 13mm	50 MP, f/1.9, 120˚
Selfie Camera:	12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm	12 MP (f/2.2) 26mm
Video	4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps	8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps

Image comparisons

During today’s camera phone shootout, I took to the sunny streets of Bath armed with both of these flagship camera phones, with the intent to capture the exact same shot with each device. I’ve never shot with either of these phones before, as my current smartphone of choice is the S24 Ultra.

To keep things fair, I stood in the same spot, used the same aspect ratio (16 by 9), and shot using the highest possible quality setting (excluding RAW modes) that both camera phones could muster, which is 48MP for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and 200MP for the S25 Ultra.

https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/juxtapose/latest/embed/index.html?uid=7094c344-0f06-11f0-9397-d93975fe8866

I’m always interested in how AI assists with smartphone photography, as I think that sometimes it can be overused to increase saturation and vibrancy where it’s not needed. I think the image sliders above demonstrate that the images captured have accurate true-to-life colours, for a more natural-looking image rather than anInstagram-ready one.

The main focus of this camera phone shootout has been landscape imagery, but check outRankin’s 8 steps to Smartphone Photography Successif you’re seeking some excellent tips on shooting portraiture with a smartphone.

https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/juxtapose/latest/embed/index.html?uid=cb568420-0f06-11f0-9397-d93975fe8866

The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes equipped with a 48 MP f/1.8, 24mm (wide) camera, as well as a 48 MP f/2.2, 13mm ultrawide camera which isn’t far off what the Samsung S25 is sporting. One area where the iPhone 16 Pro Max is lacking is with its zoom, with only a 12 MP f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto) lens. With that said, I did not notice any issues or distortion with the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s zoom camera, and it performed well in testing.

In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a 200MP main camera (f/1.7), a 10MP telephoto (f/2.4), a 50MP periscope telephoto (f/3.4), and a new 50MP (previously 12MP) ultrawide (f/1.9) camera array. In terms of footage, my Samsung can shoot 8K at 30fps, compared with 4K at 120fps with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

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Zoom test

https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/juxtapose/latest/embed/index.html?uid=33605562-0f0e-11f0-9397-d93975fe8866

As you can see from the image sliders above, the difference in quality between these two camera phones is minimal and really splitting hairs. I have struggled to tell the difference between which phone captured which shot during the upload process and the only giveaway was the larger 20MB+ file sizes of the images shot with the 200MP S25 Ultra.

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Image galleries

Photos from the iPhone 16 Pro Max

Photos from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Verdict

I can’t believe that I’m saying this publicly on the internet as a Samsung fan, but I have to admit that the iPhone 16 Pro Max might be the winner here (though it’s very very close). During today’s shootout, having never used either camera phone before, I found it much easier to use the iPhone 16 Pro Max and adjust camera settings on the fly thanks to the new Camera Control Button. Being able to control the aperture so easily really is a game-changer.

However, I did find when using the camera control button that it would active and change quite easily without me meaning to adjust it, and I think this may have been down to the Apple silicone case that we had on the phone during testing. The Samsung S25 Ultra performed exquisitely, as I had no doubt that it would, but the reason I think the iPhone succeeds here is not only ease of use – but the fact that Samsung had the advantage in this shootout with a 200MP main camera compared with the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 48MP lens, yet the outcomes captured were very similar.

Nintendo says Game-Key Cards are not tied to accounts and can be loaned or resold

Game-Key Cards for the Nintendo Switch 2 are like physical game cards but without the game on them, and will prompt owners to download the game digitally. Now, Nintendo clarifies that they can be loaned or resold like regular game cards.

The Game-Key Card is always required to play a game. (Image source: Nintendo)

Alongside a new type of Game Card, Nintendo also announced that the Switch 2 will support what is calledGame-Key Cardswhich look like Game Cards but don’t contain an actual game. Instead, they are described as a key todownloading the full gameto your Switch 2. Now, Nintendo has provided new information about the Game-Key Cards.

When a Game-Key Card is purchased, buyers will have to insert it into the console and then proceed to download the game. An internet connection will be required the first time you launch the game for the first time. Subsequently, players will only need to insert the Game-Key Card into the Switch 2 to play, just like they do with a Game Card.

While that might sound as if the Game-Key Card is tied to a console, that isn’t the case. According to Nintendo’s Testuya Sasaki, the Game-Key Card isn’t tied to a console or Nintendo account, as they can be loaned, rented, and resold just like a regular Game Card.

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An example of the packaging for a Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card. (Image source: Nintendo)

Apparently, the reason for Game-Key Cards according to information provided by Nintendo America’s president, Doug Bowser, to The Verge, is so that publishers can sell physical copies of games that are larger than the 64GB capacity of the Nintendo Switch 2 Game Cards. However, it is impossible to rule out that some publishers will opt for Game-Key Cards even if their games don’t reach the 64GB max file size of a Switch 2 Game Card.

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Despite the clarification that Game-Key Cards are not tied to accounts as is the case with digital downloads, there are those who are concerned about the future of these type of games several years into the future if the servers are shut down.

Considering owners of theNintendo 3DSandWii Ucan still redownload previously purchased games and download updates for their games despite theclosure of the eShopfor these consoles, it is safe to assume that those who purchase Game-Key Cards will always have access to download their games years down the line.

Mario Kart World – everything we know so far

What we know about the new Mario Kart game

(Image credit: Nintendo)

MarioKart Worldhas now been revealed, having been showcased during the recent Nintendo Switch 2 reveal event. From what we’ve seen so far, the newMarioKart looks primed to push the franchise forward, with a new art style, and seamless racing between tracks across a large map.

Of course, we’ve known about a new Mario Kart game for a while, as it was teased during the initial Nintendo Switch 2 event back in January. This full reveal is no doubt music to your ears, given just how long it’s been since we got a brand new Mario Kart game on consoles. We’ve even played it, and you can read what we thought in ourMario Kart Worldpreview.

Now we know that it’s coming toNintendo Switch 2, as well as some new details on what to expect. The promise of a new Mario Kart has certainly convinced us here at Oriccabattery to stay up to date withNintendo Switch 2 pre-orders.

Following its reveal,Mario Kart Worldis easily one of the most highly anticipatedupcoming gamesfor 2025. Hopefully, it’ll end up on our list of thebest Nintendo Switch gamesby the end of the year. Who knows, maybe it’ll even dethrone its predecessor after many, many years at the top of sales charts? Rather big shoes to fill indeed.

Here’s everything we know so far aboutMario Kart Worldso far, including a look at gameplay, as well as all of the latest news and trailers. As new info drops this page will be updated.

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Mario Kart World: cut to the chase

What is it?The next entry in the legendary Mario Kart series
When does it come out?June 5, 2025
What can I play it on?Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusively)
Who’s making it?Nintendo

Mario Kart World release date and platforms

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Mario Kart Worldwill launch on June 5, 2025, for Nintendo Switch 2, alongside the main console.

This newMario Kartis going to be an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2.

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Mario Kart World trailer

So far, we’ve only received one trailer forMario Kart World. It was revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025. This reveals the game’s name and gives us our first look at the new 24-player races.

Mario Kart World – Announcement Trailer (Nintendo Switch 2)

We’ll likely hear more aboutMario Kart Worldin the coming months. To keep up to date with every trailer release for the game, be sure to check out theofficial Nintendo YouTube channel.Alternatively, you can stay up to date with all things Nintendo using theNintendo Today app.

Mario Kart World gameplay

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Mario Kart Worldgameplay was shown off during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal event that aired on April 2, 2025. In it, we see that all tracks in the game lead into one another, in a large interconnected world map. This allows players to drive between tracks during Grand Prix. In addition, you can drive anywhere on a track, even outside of the guidelines.

From what we’ve seen so far,Mario Kart Worldfeatures a bunch of new mechanics. The first is the ability to grind, which is shown in the reveal trailer. Players can seemingly drive into larger vehicles and take them over as well. There are new items to play with too, like a burger seen in the aforementioned trailer. There’s wall-riding, and an expanded flying mechanic as well.

Races can now contain 24 players, the largest in the series so far. We’ll have to see how this works in action, but given the larger scope of the game’s world, we think it’ll be just the right mix of chaos and fun.

Mario Kart World characters

(Image credit: Nintendo)

So far, the following characters have been confirmed forMario Kart X:

Baby Daisy
Baby Luigi
Baby Mario
Baby Peach
Baby Rosalina
Birdo
Bowser
Bowser Jr.
Cataquack (new)
Chargin’ Chuck
Cheep Cheep (new)
Coin Coffer (new)
Conkdor (new)
Cow (new)
Daisy
Dolphin (new)
Donkey Kong
Dry Bones
Fish Bone (new)
Goomba
Hammer Bro.
King Boo
Koopa
Lakitu
Luigi
Mario
Monty Mole (new)
Nabbit
Para-Biddybud
Pauline
Peach
Peepa (new)
Penguin (new)
Pianta (new)
Piranha Plant (new)
Pokey (new)
Rocky Wrench (new)
Rosalina
Shy Guy
Sidestepper (new)
Snowman (new)
Spike (new)
Stingby (new)
Swoop (new)
Toad
Toadette
Waluigi
Wario
Wiggler
Yoshi

Mario Kart World tracks

(Image credit: Nintendo)

We’ve only seen a fewMario Kart Worldtracks in action – also called courses – with some returning from previous titles, while others are brand new to the series. Here’s what’s been revealed so far:

Mario Bros. Circuit
Crown City
DK Spaceport
Whistlestop Summit
Desert Hills (DS)
Shy Guy Bazaar (DS)
Wario Stadium (N64)
Airship Fortress (DS)
DK Pass (DS)
Starview Peak
Sky-High Sundae (Tour)
Wario Shipyard (3DS)
Koopa Troopa Beach (SNES)
Faraway Oasis
Peach Stadium
Moo Moo Meadows (Wii)
Bowser’s Castle

Mario Kart World: FAQs

Is Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 only?

Yes,Mario Kart Worldis being developed exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. It will not be available on the previous console.

Can you pre-order Mario Kart World?

You can now pre-orderMario Kart Worldin select region. Currently, it’s the UK that’s seeing the most Mario kart pre-order pages going live. We’ll update once we see it come to the US and other regions. For now, check out ourhow to pre-order the Switch 2article for more details.

Does Mario Kart World have splitscreen?

Mario Kart Worlddoes indeed have splitscreen. You can also play online, though a Nintendo Online subscription will likely be required.

Mario Kart World news

Nintendo confirms the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers have been ‘designed from the ground up’ and I couldn’t be happier
Nintendo has confirmed thatthe Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 controllers have been redesigned, hopefully, to avoid potential stick drift.

During anexclusive hands-on preview of the Nintendo Switch 2, TechRadar Gaming asked Technology Development Division general manager Tetsuya Sasaki if any improvements have been made to prevent Joy-Con stick drift.

Sasaki responded, confirming that the new magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers have been completely redesigned for smoother gameplay.

Mario Kart World has been revealed
Mario Kart World has now been officially revealed, and it’s a launch title!

Mario Kart World teased
What we now know to beMario Kart Worldwasfirst teased during the first look at Nintendo Switch 2 event. We only saw a brief glimpse of gameplay, but it certainly got the internet talking.

Nintendo Switch 2 Doesn’t Have Hall Effect Sticks, But Nintendo Still Thinks Joy-Cons “Feel Really Good”

Connected Nintendo Switch 2 joy cons in front of Mario Kart 9 gameplay.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 will be a significant jump over the original console in many respects, Nintendo has confirmed that the system’s controllers won’t be receiving a specific type of upgrade. A common pain point of the original Switch’s Joy-Cons and, to a lesser extent, even the Pro Controller, was that their control sticks were prone to drifting after prolonged use — and while the Switch 2’s controllers might prove to be better in that respect, they won’t be implementing a much-requested feature.

As confirmed in aNintendo Lifeinterview with Nintendo of America executive Nate Bihldorff,neither the Switch 2’s new Joy-Cons nor the Switch 2 Pro Controller will make use of Hall effect sticks— though Bihldorff stated that the Joy-Cons have been “designed from the ground up” and “feel really good.” While Bihldorff didn’t specifically address the issue of stick drift, he did make sure to stress that the Switch 2’s Pro Controller “is one of the quietest controllers[he’s]ever played.“

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Nintendo Promises Joy-Con 2 Is A Big Improvement

The Switch 2’s Controllers Come With Notable Upgrades, But Not Hall Effect Sticks

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller's Audio Jack.

For reference, Hall effect sticks are control sticks that make use of magnets and electric conductors, eliminating the usual kinds of wear-and-tear that cause stick drift to develop in standard analog sticks. Notably, however, Hall effect sticks can have other issues, usually requiring larger dead zones and being somewhat susceptible to interference from external magnetic fields — the latter of which could possibly have been a concern for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, which already use magnets to snap onto the console.

Additionally, though Nintendo has yet to state whether the Switch 2 will improve on the original’s stick drift issues,there are some tangible upgrades being made to the systems’ Joy-Cons and Pro Controller. Most notably, the new Joy-Cons coming with the Switch 2 can function as a mouse, and the magnetic attachments should be less prone to wear and tear than the original Switch’s rail attachments. The Switch 2’s Pro Controller also includes “GL” and “GR” back buttons, which can have inputs from other buttons assigned to them for easier access, and an audio jack.

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It’s Hard To Trust Nintendo On Analog Sticks After Drift Issues

The First Switch’s Stick Drift Issues Might Cause Buyers To Doubt The Switch 2

While Hall effect sticks may or may not have been the right solution to the Switch’s drift issues,it can be hard to trust that the Switch 2’s controllers aren’t just repeating the mistakes of the first console. Presumably, Nintendo would want to avoid a repeat of the original Joy-Cons drift issues, which at one point had users threatening a class-action lawsuit and caused Nintendo to have to set up a repair service. But before users can get their hands on the products for long-term use, it’s hard to say whether any tangible improvements have been made.

At the moment, the Switch 2 is facing larger issues, as the pricing of the console and its exclusive games are causing widespread backlash from potential buyers. With those prices unlikely to change, however, the next best step would be to make the console a quality, durable product worthy of its premium price point. For now, it’s uncertain whether the Nintendo Switch 2‘s controllers will suffer from stick drift as badly as the first console did, but the lack of Hall effect sticks might be a bad sign.