Batteries

With no "normal" flagship scheduled for the rest of the year, Samsung fans might be looking forward to next year's Galaxy S22 for their next upgrade. Samsung has traditionally been offering three Galaxy S models every year, and next year won't be so different. What might be different, however, is how Samsung will spin the Galaxy S22 because, as far as recent leaks go, it seems to be taking one step forward and a few steps back, putting the line at risk for another disappointing year.

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Although Apple adopted a four-phone strategy last year with the iPhone 12 series, Samsung didn't exactly follow suit. The Galaxy S21 offered only three models, eschewing what would have been the equivalent of an iPhone 12 mini. Despite being notorious for copying Apple, it would seem that Samsung will stick to its guns with the Galaxy S22 next year. One difference, however, is that it might actually offer a "mini" base model, which would probably explain its disappointing rumored battery size.

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Despite all the fuss over fast-charging technologies sprouting left and right in the mobile world, the biggest names in that market seem to be laid back, almost unconcerned about how slow their flagships phones are in that arena. Samsung has been flip-flopping between 45W and 25W, the new iPhone 13 still maxes out at 20W, and Google's Pixel phones haven't gotten past 18W since their incarnation. It seems, however, that the tides of change have finally caught up with the Pixel 6 Pro, but probably still not in a gigantic wave.

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We're still months away from its debut, but rumors surrounding the Galaxy S22 series are already piecing together an almost complete picture of Samsung's next latest and greatest smartphone. Unfortunately, those leaks don't exactly paint a reassuring picture of the "greatest" effort from the company, especially when it comes to specs. Many of what we've heard so far seem to suggest a "same old, same old" affair, but one aspect, in particular, might leave even Samsung fans scratching their heads in confusion.

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Samsung has made great strides in the smartphone market, but there is one technology in particular where it seems to be stuck in the past. While the rest of its competitors have gone above and beyond when it comes to charging, even Samsung's flagships haven't moved forward considerably. It did make a step forward last year but then took a step back again this year. It seems that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will continue the dance next year with a half-step forward in terms of charging speeds.

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Very recent natural disasters have again shown the need for emergency power that is not only environment-friendly but also safe for use. Fuel-powered generators are a dime a dozen, of course, but consumers should be aware by now of the dangers these power sources pose. A good number of portable power stations have popped up left and right in the past few years, but Bluetti's new AC300 makes one of the most interesting propositions. Backed by B300 battery modules, the power station mixes power and portability in a distinctly modular design and is now finally available for purchase to keep the lights on in the event of another hard-hitting hurricane.

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Recent weather disasters and natural calamities have made the need for emergency power even more apparent these days. While fuel generators have been the go-to solution for such situations, they are no longer viable options in terms of safety and reliability. Portable power generators are popping up left and right but rarely do these devices have enough power to truly run your home in an emergency. That's where EcoFlow's new Delta Pro portable power station comes in, stretching what "portable" means while also expanding what power stations are often expected to do.

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Researchers have managed to pack the same amount of voltage found in a AAA battery cell into a microsupercapacitor as small as a speck of dust. This is the first time such an achievement has been reported, paving the way for tiny energy storage systems that can be safely embedded in the human body for biomedical gadgets and treatments.

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The US Consumer and Product Safety Commission has announced a new product safety recall involving some Hovertrax 2.0 hoverboards featuring GLW battery packs from Razor USA. The issue, according to the recall notice, is one we've heard before: the batteries may overheat, which could lead to everything from smoking all the way to blowing up.

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Portable power stations have become important members of a household, whether or not they get used to brave the great outdoors. The need for clean and safe emergency power always comes up, especially during these uncertain times. There are, of course, quite a number of options in the market, some of which we have reviewed in the past. Bluetti definitely has no shortage of choices, and its family is growing within the next few weeks. To start its Bluetti Power Week with a blast, the company is launching the AC200 MAX and its B230 battery module companion, kicking off a new generation of modular portable power stations that don't force you to compromise between portability and power.

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Power outages are no longer a rarity in the US, and increasingly people are asking what's the most cost-effective and flexible way to keep the essentials going when the grid goes down. If you're dealing with roughly 24 hour outages, a big portable battery like the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Core can make sure you still have lighting, internet, and a fridge that stays cool, even if there are some caveats to bear in mind too.

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It is almost expected that every new smartphone generation improves on the previous one, usually with upgraded specs. Unless there was a big problem in an older model, that usually means bigger, better, or more hardware. There are times, however, when companies inexplicably backtrack on something and use a less impressive component for a next-gen phone. That might be the case with the Galaxy S22+ and its battery, which, when taken together with other rumors, paints a rather disappointing picture.

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