HI-FI TECH NEWS: December 2022

Saturday 31 December 2022

The 41 Most Anticipated Games of 2023

Happy New Year! 2023 is here — and that means there's a lot to look forward to in the new year. For instance, what are the biggest upcoming games in 2023? Whether you're on mobile, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, or Xbox Series S/X, there are a lot of new games headed your way in 2023. We will take to the Indian Ocean in Skull and Bones, head to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and get the best of both worlds in Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile.

Elsewhere, 2023 heralds the return of new and old franchises. We're getting a second Marvel's Spider-Man game, a third Payday heist, a fourth Diablo title, a sixth Street Fighter, the eighth Tekken and Forza Motorsport, the sixteenth Final Fantasy adventure, and the twentieth The Legend of Zelda. (Of course, this is all if you're counting mainline entries only.) The new year also brings extra downloadable content for games such as Destiny 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.

Lastly, some of the games coming in 2023 were expected in 2022, but were delayed for one reason or another. This lot includes the likes of Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Owing to how development functions, you won't see exact release dates on a lot of titles below — but they are scheduled for, or expected sometime in 2023.

With that, here are the games we're most excited to play on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X in 2023.

Alan Wake II

Following the surreal experiences of a tortured novelist, Alan Wake remains a cult favorite since its release in 2010. And if the remastered version from last year wasn't enough for the fans, its eponymous protagonist is returning in Alan Wake II. This time, the game will be taking a survival-horror direction, delivering more scares than its predecessor. With writer-director Sam Lake at the helm, Alan Wake II is sure to be a nightmarish trip. It is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Ark 2

Learn to survive in a strange primitive land dominated by dinosaurs in Ark 2. This sequel has been completely redesigned with an improved third-person camera view, Souls-like melee combat, and a chaotic new environment. Dynamic world events and a sensory-based creature AI makes exploring the world even more challenging than before. Furthermore, the story mode will see Vin Diesel reprise his iconic role of Riddick. The next-generation survival experience will drop on PC and Xbox Series S/X.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

FromSoftware is returning to its roots with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, where mecha robots battle in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world, to claim control of a mysterious energy source. While Masaru Yamamura, designer on 2019's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is involved as game director, the developer has confirmed that the title will be devoid of Souls-like elements. Players will assemble and pilot their own mechs in fast-paced missions involving both ranged and melee combat, besting challenging bosses. It will be out on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

Assassin's Creed Mirage

Returning to its roots, Assassin's Creed Mirage follows the origins of assassin Basim Ibn Ishaq in 9th century Baghdad, the primary antagonist from Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and is all set to refocus on stealth gameplay — just like the original AC games.

For the past three mainline titles, the franchise has followed an open-world RPG structure, but fans have been clamouring for an AC game that goes back to basics. Assassin's Creed Mirage promises just that. Mirage is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Amazon Luna.

Watch the Cinematic Trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Repel the invading RDA forces as a Na'vi in this first-person action-adventure game based on James Cameron's Avatar movies. Explore a never-before-seen region of Pandora — the Western Frontier. Venture across a reactive world encountering unique creates and new characters when Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora drops on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Baldur's Gate III

Release date: August 2023

Out in early access for a couple of years, Baldur's Gate III will finally see full release in 2023. It comes with a campaign across the vast Forgotten realms. Based on the 5th-edition Dungeons and Dragons rules, you will be able to pick from a wide selection of races and classes, or an origin character with a pre-selected background. Shape the world around you and decide the fate of your party when the game comes out on PC.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Release date: March 17, 2023

Enter the storybook world of Avalon Forest in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon to meet Cereza before she became renowned as Bayonetta. On this journey, she will be accompanied by her first demon Cheshire. Use the Joy-Cons to control both characters for solving puzzles and engaging in combat. The game is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile

Call of Duty: Warzone has become a battle royale phenomenon in the past two years, and Call of Duty: Mobile remains extremely lucrative for Activision. The upcoming Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile attempts to bring the two together, dropping mobile players into the familiar battle royale bowl of Verdansk. With more guns, operators, vehicles, and up to 120 live players in a match, the game promises to offer enough for Call of Duty: Mobile players to make the switch. Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is expected on Android, iOS, and iPadOS in 2023.

Company of Heroes 3

Release date: February 23, 2023

Take command of ground, air, and naval troops to ensure your victory in a new theatre of war — the Mediterranean. Company of Heroes 3 combines tactics, strategy, and action with real-time battle mechanics. Dynamic campaign maps with destructible environments will ensure that none of your playthroughs are alike. Soak in its cinematic action when the game drops on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Crash Team Rumble

The next entry in the Crash Bandicoot series is taking the beloved franchise into slightly unfamiliar territory. While kart racers have been quite popular over the years, with Crash Team Rumble, it's headed into online multiplayer waters. Crash Team Rumble is a team-based multiplayer online battler, where players take on rivals in four-versus-four arena battles.

Each team's goal is to collect more Wumpa Fruit and sabotage their opponents' attempts to do the same. Crash Bandicoot staples like Crash, Coco, and Doctor Neo Cortex are all present as playable characters. Crash Team Rumble is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077 had a troubled release in 2020, to say the least. The game has made a bit of a comeback this year, with the release of the next-gen upgrade. Cyberpunk 2077 is more than just playable now — it's enjoyable.

The game's first (paid) expansion features a new story and new areas to explore in Night City. Keanu Reeves is returning as the iconic Johnny Silverhand, and Idris Elba will be joining him this time around as well. Very few games out there offer an immersive open world quite like Cyberpunk 2077. More of the same is always welcome. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Dead Island 2

Release date: April 28, 2023

Set a few months after the events of Dead Island, Dead Island 2 takes place in a quarantined Los Angeles following a zombie outbreak. Redesigned first-person combat allows players to unleash unspeakable violence on the undead using both melee weapons and guns. And you can do that with multiple playable characters against a host of different zombie types. Dead Island 2 arrives on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

Dead Space

Release date: January 27, 2023

Everyone's favourite alien-hunting engineer Isaac Clarke gets actual dialogue in this awaited remake of Dead Space. Revisit the claustrophobic confines of the USG Ishimura ship, as you curb stomp Necromorphs, set them ablaze, and electrocute them into tiny pieces of flesh. The remake has been built as one sequential shot with no loading screens and brings back the Impossible difficulty mode.

Watch the Gameplay Trailer for Dead Space Remake

Destiny 2: Lightfall

Release date: February 28, 2023

The latest DLC for Bungie's live-service title takes the campaign to a new location on Neptune — a neon metropolis — where you will encounter the Witness. You can experiment with the new Warlock Architect, Hunter Threadrunner, and Titan Tyrant when Destiny 2: Lightfall arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Diablo IV

Release date: June 6, 2023

The Diablo franchise holds a special place in video game history. For its fourth installment, Diablo is embracing the grim aesthetics of Diablo and Diablo II, leaving behind the slighter lighter tone of the third game. Diablo IV is not just bloodier and darker — it is also wider in scope. The game is shifting to an open world setting, with hundreds of procedurally-generated dungeons to explore. It arrives on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

Diablo IV Won't Include Pay-to-Win Game Mechanics

Final Fantasy XVI

Release date: June 22, 2023

The 16th main instalment in the decades-spanning Final Fantasy franchise takes a darker turn with a reimagining of the Eikons. This action role-playing game game will include both melee and magic attacks. Play as Clive Rosfield in a revenge-driven tale when Final Fantasy XVI arrives on the PS5.

Forspoken

Release date: January 24, 2023

Square Enix's upcoming open-world action RPG blends magic-based parkour traversal and hack-and-slash elemental combat, while promising to deliver a narrative-driven experience. Forspoken follows the story of Frey Holland, a young New Yorker who gets pulled into the fantastical world of Athia and now must find her way back.

In addition to a sentient bracelet that constantly talks to her, Frey has a plethora of magical spells and abilities at her disposal to survive in the hostile Athia. Forspoken is coming to PC and PS5.

Forza Motorsport

Turn 10 Studios' racing sim franchise is getting a soft reboot with the next Forza Motorsport. It has been built from the ground up with overhauled driving mechanics and damage simulation. You will be able to enjoy its fantastic visuals enhanced by real-time ray tracing when this game drops on PC and Xbox Series S/X in the first half of 2023.

Hogwarts Legacy

Release date: February 10, 2023

Experience Hogwarts in the 1800s, as you battle dark wizards, journey through familiar locales such as the Forbidden Forest, and hone your skills in potions, herbology, curses, and more. Create your custom witch/ wizard and align yourself with allies who lead you into quests to earn enough XP and upgrade your talents.

Sadly, Quidditch won't be playable in Hogwarts Legacy, but you can still ride around on broomsticks and explore the magic-laden areas. It drops on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X. Last-gen versions have been delayed.

Homeworld 3

Take command of your fleet and guide them through space combat in a 3D space. Homeworld 3 is a sci-fi RTS that will offer players several tactical approaches for an encounter. There is a story mode, alongside co-op multiplayer and PvP battles as well. You will be able to test your skills in 1v1, free-for-all, and team battles when the game comes out on PC in the first half of 2023.

Kerbal Space Program 2

Release date: February 28, 2023

Shoot for the stars and beyond in space flight simulation game Kerbal Space Program 2. New technologies will pose new sets of challenges. The game also brings space colonies and interstellar travel to provide further depth to space exploration. And you get modding support and a new multiplayer mode as well. The game is headed to early access on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Release date: May 12, 2023

When The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came out in 2017, it changed the gaming landscape. The game redefined the possibilities of the open-world genre and introduced gameplay mechanics that many games are trying to rip off to this day. Naturally, its sequel The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has big boots to fill. Players will take control of Link once again and return to the world of Hyrule.

Nintendo has been tight-lipped, but some changes are confirmed. Hyrule will feature explorable floating islands in the sky, with new mechanics in place for traversal. If Tears of the Kingdom manages to recapture the wonder of its predecessor, it'll be a job well done. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom arrives exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.

Lies of P

Blending Victorian-era architecture with a steampunk aesthetic, Lies of P is sure to scratch your Bloodborne itch. Assuming the role of the long-nosed Pinocchio, players are thrust into the gothic city of Krat to unravel the mystery behind nightmarish living ghouls, who murder all that is living. Mess around with weapon builds, spells, and more, when it drops on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Release date: February 21, 2023

Don the clothes and weaponry of the lone samurai Sakamoto Ryoma, during the chaotic 1860s in Kyo — now Kyoto, Japan — and clear yourself of a framed murder to restore honour to your family's name. Partake in high-octane blade battles, deflect bullets, and force-feed red hot spicy pickles to your enemies in Like a Dragon: Ishin!. The latest Yakuza game launches across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Release date: Autumn 2023

PS5-exclusive Marvel's Spider-Man 2 partners returning protagonists Peter Parker and Miles Morales for a new blockbuster chapter that pits them against Venom. While there isn't much information on the plot, it's confirmed that there are more Spidey suits to try on!

Moving Out 2

Work with up to three of your buddies to pack up the belongings of the residents of Packmore. Moving Out 2 adds to the hilariously silly challenges with new inter-dimensional portals that will take you to new worlds. While the first game only had local co-op, there will be cross-play multiplayer this time around. Moving Out 2 is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.

Party Animals

Fight your friends as an adorable corgi, a blunt-toothed dino, a duck that resembles a Pokémon, and more in this physics-based competitive brawler. In addition to punching, tossing, headbutting, and dropkicks, Party Animals throws in an assortment of weapons to help knock out enemies and be the last person standing. It also includes a team-based capture-the-gummy mode, which seems super fun. It's coming to PC and Xbox Game Pass.

Payday 3

It's almost been a decade since the last Payday game. And while at its core, Payday 3 retains the DNA of the franchise — a first-person shooter doubling as a bank heist simulator — there are some changes on the way. Starbreeze Studios have confirmed that the game will be built in Unreal Engine.

Payday 3 also moves the action from Washington DC to New York. Taking place years after the events of the last game, Payday 3 sees the return of the franchise's four main characters — Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf. The crew had retired after the events of Payday 2, but they're back now for their next mark. The game arrives on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.

Redfall

Arkane Studios have made a name for themselves for their first-person immersive sims that blend action, puzzle solving, and narrative. After conquering the single-player space with games like Deathloop and Dishonored, their next title, Redfall, is their first foray into cooperative multiplayer.

The open-world first-person shooter is set in a titular island town, which has been taken over by a horde of vampires. Players can choose from four different playable characters, each with their own unique abilities, and help rid Redfall of the vampire problem. It arrives in the first half of 2023 on PC and Xbox Series S/X.

Resident Evil 4

Release date: March 24, 2023

Capcom has rebuilt this timeless classic for a new generation, transporting us back to the plague-ridden European village, where we step into the shoes of officer Leon S. Kennedy, and track down the president's daughter. The Resident Evil 4 remake retains the over-the-shoulder perspective like recent entries, and adds a parry mechanic to the mix. Resident Evil 4 launches across PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Watch the Trailer for Resident Evil 4 Remake

Skull and Bones

Release date: March 9, 2023

Pillage your way from an outcast to a pirate captain in the tumultuous waters of the 17th-century Indian Ocean. Skull and Bones is an open-world action-adventure game with a focus on naval combat. You can sail with your friends or be everyone's foe when the game launches on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and Amazon Luna.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl

Playing as a lone stalker, you will explore the post-apocalyptic Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in this FPS survival horror game. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl includes a branching storyline with varying paths. Choose from an arsenal of over 30 weapons that can be customised to offer hundreds of combinations. The game launches on PC and Windows Series S/X in 2023.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Release date: March 17, 2023

Five years since the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Cal Kestis is now a powerful Jedi Knight, continuing his desperate crusade against the oppressive Empire. Armed with a new set of combat arts and Force abilities, players must discover new galaxies, tame wild animals, and explore beyond the horizon to find hidden rewards. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Starfield

One of 2022's most anticipated games is now one of 2023's most anticipated games. Known for the iconic Elden Scrolls and Fallout franchises, Starfield is Bethesda's first new IP in over two decades.

The space epic drops players in the year 2330, twenty years on from a major conflict between the game's two big factions. As always is the case in a Bethesda game, player choice will be paramount. Players will be able to create their character, customise their play style, and explore space in both third-person and first-person perspectives.

Starfield arrives in the first half of 2023 on PC and Xbox Series S/X.

Starfield Quadruples the Amount of Dialogue That Was Present in Skyrim

Street Fighter 6

Release date: June 2, 2023

The iconic fighting franchise returns in 2023 with Street Fighter 6 — with new characters, new game modes, and a new, more colourful art style. The World Tour and the Battle Hub modes will allow players to create custom avatars for a story-driven experience and to engage in online fights. Iconic characters like Ryu, Chun-Li, and Luke are back as well. Street Fighter 6 releases on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Release date: May 26, 2023

Discover the conception of Amanda Waller's infamous Task Force X, as they're dispatched to take down members of the Justice League, who've succumbed to the Brainiac's mind control. Pick from familiar characters — Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Deadshot — who are equipped with a unique set of weapons and abilities, and partake in both solo and multiplayer co-op missions. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League launches across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Tekken 8

Built from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 brings a new “Heat System” game mechanic that can grant characters special movements and enhance their abilities. Jun Kazama will be returning as a playable character after more than 25 years. Jin Kazama, Kazuya Mishima, Paul Phoenix, Marshall Law, King, Lars Alexandersson, and Jack-8 have been also confirmed. It launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

From its miniature wargaming roots to its subsequent adaptations as books, board games, and video games, the Warhammer 40,000 franchise has a devoted legion of fans. After visiting the Warhammer universe in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide this year, they'll be getting another taste soon with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

Sequel to 2011's Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, the third-person shooter hack-and-slash title will see the return of Captain Titus as a Primaris Space Marine, and will follow the Ultramarines saga of the Space Marines. The game is confirmed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Wild Hearts

Release date: February 17, 2023

As EA's response to the Monster Hunter franchise, Wild Hearts looks to be a promising affair, throwing players into a fantasy landscape inspired by feudal Japan, where they hunt down enormous beasts using ancient tech such as firecrackers and a giant bamboo copter. There's a co-op system as well, allowing up to two friends to join you, when help is required to take down a boss. Wild Hearts launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Watch the Gameplay Trailer for Wild Hearts

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Release date: March 3, 2023

From the creators of Nioh comes Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, where you play as a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantastical version of the later Han Dynasty, plagued by demonic monsters. Master Chinese martial arts and swordplay through lightning-fast parries/ deflects to topple bosses inspired by folklore, and explore hidden stages to unlock rewards. The Souls-like title releases across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

The Wolf Among Us 2

Under Telltale Games' new management, Bigby Wolf is returning to the gritty noir New York to solve a new mystery that involves the fables. Picking up six months after the events of season one, the Sheriff of Fabletown survives winter with a new case that involves Tin-Man and Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz children's novel. The Wolf Among Us 2 launches across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.

From Elden Ring to BGMI's ban, 2022 gave us a lot in the gaming space. We discuss it all on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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ISRO’s Upcoming Experiments for 2023 Includes Dedicated Mission for Sun, Moon

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will turn its focus on science experiments in 2023 with dedicated missions to the Sun — Aditya — and the moon — Chandrayaan-3 — even as the nascent start-up sector is set to soar in the space applications segment. The upcoming year will also witness a series of experiments on India's maiden human space flight — the Gaganyaan project — with the first uncrewed mission expected in the last quarter of 2023 aimed at validating the performance of the human-rated launch vehicle, orbital module propulsion system and recovery operations.

ISRO further plans to conduct the first runway landing experiment (RLV-LEX) of the reusable launch vehicle early next year from Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka's Chitradurga, Union Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh told Parliament this month.

Indian start-ups that marked their arrival with the sub-orbital flight by Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-S rocket, the first by a private sector company and the launch of Pixxel's hyperspectral satellites Shakuntala, on SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket in April and Anand onboard ISRO's PSLV in November.

Skyroot Aerospace, which launched India's first privately developed rocket in November, plans to put a client satellite in orbit sometime next year, while Agnikul Cosmos, a start-up incubated on the IIT-Madras campus, has also lined up the test flight of its highly customisable Agnibaan rocket.

"We are developing six commercial hyperspectral imagery satellites which will be ready for launch next year," Awais Ahmed, Pixxel co-founder and CEO, had told PTI.

Ahmed said many more rocket companies around the globe will see their first orbital launches come to fruition which will lead to a rocket-themed game of thrones as they vie for the same set of customers sending satellites into space.

The start-ups are eyeing the huge space applications market in the country, which was earlier the sole domain of ISRO, carving a niche for themselves in the earth imaging sector, developing rockets to launch small satellites, designing cheaper fuels for satellites and even planning to take tourists on a space journey.

"The potential for innovative space applications is immense, especially if established aerospace companies form partnerships with businesses that traditionally haven't ventured into orbit, e.g. pharmaceutical, agriculture companies," Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy, Chief Financial Officer, DhruvaSpace, told PTI.

DhruvaSpace had launched two satellites Thybolt 1 & 2 onboard ISRO's PSLV C-54 mission that demonstrated the ability to conduct amateur satellite communication which will help ham radio operations.

Surapureddy said DhurvaSpace has already bagged its first commercial contract worth Rs 20 crore to build satellites.

"The number of space startups in India has already crossed 100 and these startups have raised funding of more than $245.35 million (roughly Rs. 2,000 crore)," Lt Gen A K Bhatt (retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA) told PTI.

Agnikul also inaugurated its first launchpad and mission control centre at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

In 2022, the industry witnessed some major milestones with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) authorising the space conglomerate formed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited a Rs. 860-crore contract for the commercial development of the next five Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs).

OneWeb also signed up the services of ISRO's launch vehicle to put 36 satellites in low earth orbit from Sriharikota. A follow-up launch of another 36 satellites is expected next year.

The OneWeb contract for ISRO is learnt to be an outcome of some aggressive bidding by the Indians after the Ukraine conflict knocked off the Russian space launch capabilities off the market.

Chaitanya Giri, space consultant with Research and Information System for Developing Countries likens the aggression in the Indian space sector to the one displayed by Sourav Ganguly's cricket team.

"Our earlier approach was like Mohammad Azharuddin-led cricket team - very mellow and gentlemanly. The newfound aggression is because of India's rising geopolitical stature. Also, the Russian market has become a no go due to the Ukraine conflict. So is the Chinese market. Now, it is Advantage India," Giri told PTI.

He said Indian start-ups should also vie for international contracts and not look at ISRO for business.

"ISRO is not an entity that will sustain business for them. Indian space start-ups, MSMEs and big corporates will have to strike business arrangements amongst each other. These B-2-B arrangements need to grow," Giri said.

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iPhone 15's A17 Chip Expected to Focus on Battery Life Over Power: Report

iPhone 14 series was launched earlier this year with its Pro models featuring the Apple A16 Bionic chip. Now, a recent report has suggested that the Cupertino company will equip the iPhone 15 series Pro model with its new chipset — the Apple A17. It is believed that Apple is emphasising on delivering an improved battery life with this chip, while its performance aspect takes a back seat. Apple is likely to use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) 3nm process to manufacture the Apple A17 chip.

A recent MySmartPrice report claims that the Apple A17 chip featured on the iPhone 15 series may lean towards providing an improved battery life. This speculation stems from the rumours that suggest TSMC's 3nm process would result in chips that offer increased power and improved energy efficiency.

TSMC chairman Mark Liu was reportedly quoted as saying that the 3nm process chips would offer better performance than the 5nm process chips, while also requiring about 35 percent less power. Providing a vague statement for power, but giving a somewhat concrete figure for battery life could be taken as a clue to what we can expect from TSMC's 3nm chips.

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models are expected to feature this 3nm Apple A17 chip. Meanwhile, the non-Pro variant could get the Apple A16 Bionic chipset. Furthermore, the iPhone 15 series could also get a boost in the RAM department. They may come with 8GB of RAM, instead of the 6GB memory offered on the iPhone 14 handsets.

Apple may also equip the iPhone 15 smartphones with Sony's advanced image sensor. This sensor is expected to offer double the saturation signal level in each pixel than a conventional sensor. It may also be able to capture increased light reducing overexposure or underexposure in images.

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company's latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Best Smartphones of 2022

When you think of the ‘best smartphones' of the year, it's easy to just picture expensive, flagship phones. However, like every year, we've had some real standout mid-range offerings as well in 2022 that might not go toe-to-toe with proper flagships, but offer enough performance and features at much more affordable prices. Folding phones continued to get better in 2022 thanks to Samsung pioneering this segment in India, while charging speeds reached new heights. However, the big focus for all the phones on our list is cameras. We've seen smartphones with incredible zoom perfjoamcne, high-resolution sensors, and next-level video stabilisation for content creators. Depending on your budget and requirements, there's something for everyone in our list.

All these smartphones have been reviewed by us and we've chosen only the best of the best, based on the ratings they received and what we felt were unique enough offerings that still stand out, even today. Here's Gadgets 360's list of the best smartphones in India for 2022, in no particular order.

Google Pixel 7

After a couple of years of neglecting the Indian market, Google finally decided to launch its 2022 flagships in India, and we're really glad it did. Between the Google Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro, we feel the Pixel 7 is the flagship that most people should have their eye on because it offers the best of Google's vision but at a fairly approachable price. Apart from the telephoto camera and a higher resolution display on the 7 Pro, the Pixel 7 does pretty much everything that its more expensive sibling can. It has a slick design with good build quality, a bright display, useful software features, quality cameras, and very good battery life. Being a Pixel, you can expect day-one updates from Google which should keep the phone fresh and relevant for a couple of years at least.

iPhone 14 Pro

The iPhone 14 Pro raises the price bar once again in India, making it the most expensive Pro model yet. Apple's big upgrades this time is a more powerful SoC, new-age display notch which it refers to as the Dynamic Island, and a higher resolution main camera. The latter is possibly the most exciting feature and the improvements are noticeable in stills and recorded videos. While not as good as the Google Pixel 7 Pro for still photography in our experience, the 14 Pro is in a league of its own when it comes to video recording. The rest is business as usual. The iPhone 14 Pro features excellent build quality, very good performance, strong battery life, and comes with promise of long-term software updates. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is also available with a larger display and battery, but is considerably more expensive.

iPhone 14 Plus

While some of us are sad to see the iPhone mini being discontinued, we're happy that Apple has replaced it with something that has more mass appeal. The iPhone 14 Plus resurrects the plus-size model that ended with the iPhone 8 Plus, and is the perfect choice for those that want a Pro Max-sized iPhone but without the steep premium. The iPhone 14 Plus is essentially an iPhone 14 with a larger 6.7-inch display and bigger battery and for a lot of people, that should be a good enough reason to get one. Despite having a large footprint, it's actually lighter than even the iPhone 14 Pro, which is a huge bonus.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Last year's folding phones from Samsung really raised the bar by introducing an IPX8 rating for water resistance and this year, we saw a further refinement of the design and features. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 this year wasn't a huge upgrade over its predecessor, which is why it misses a spot on our list, but the Galaxy Z Flip 4 received some meaningful updates making it the best entry-point to foldables. The new model has gotten a more refined design, a better outer display, and battery life has improved drastically. It also features the more power-efficient version of Qualcomm's flagship SoC, which helps it achieve top-tier performance with no significant heating issues. The cameras are good, the display is excellent, and the fact that it can fold to half its size is not just a novelty act anymore.

Nothing Phone 1

Behind all the hype and flashing LED lights of the Nothing Phone 1 lies a very underrated mid-range offering that till today, offers a complete package at an unbeatable price. Considering it is the startup's first smartphone, it really nailed the premium fit and finish. For a smartphone that costs around Rs. 30,000, you get a powerful 5G SoC, an IP53 rating, and wireless charging. The Phone 1 also has a vivid 120Hz display, clean software, and a very good primary camera. Even if you never use the Glyph lights (which we still think is more of a gimmick), the Phone 1 still delivers a premium Android experience that not many can brag about, especially at these prices.

OnePlus 10R (150W)

One would typically expect one of the fastest charging smartphones to be a flagship, but surprisingly, it's a mid-range offering. The OnePlus 10R defies the typical design philosophy of the brand for a more generic design, but if you can make your peace with that, you'll find that it's a good little mid-range smartphone. The 150W or Endurance Edition of this phone really steals the show as you can charge the battery at a ridiculously quick rate. The smartphone also has an impressive main camera, good battery life, and lean software. The standard version of this phone can charge at 80W, which is still impressively quick. One more phone that's worth mentioning is the Realme GT Neo 3, the twin brother of the 10R. It's essentially the same phone but with a different design and software.

Vivo X80 Pro

If we had to pick the best phone for video content creation that's not an iPhone, we'd have to go with the Vivo X80 Pro. Although pricier than its predecessor, Vivo's flagship for 2022 is the best Android phone for shooting video content thanks to its dedicated imaging chip and the gimbal-stabilisation system. It also has an extremely good Night mode for low-light stills, something that could give Google's Night Sight a run for its money. Apart from the cameras, the smartphone looks and feels the part of a premium flagship. You get a sophisticated design, an excellent display, great performance, and very good battery life.

Xiaomi 12 Pro

The Xiaomi 12 Pro represents a more grown-up and mature flagship compared to the year before. Rather than focusing on big numbers and gimmicky features, the 12 Pro boasts of a sophisticated design and premium components that focus on delivering quality, rather than quantity. The Xiaomi 12 Pro comes with excellent build quality, a crisp 120Hz display, 120W wired charing, great sounding speakers, and a very capable camera. What truly makes it better than the Mi 11 Ultra from last year is that you can actually buy this smartphone in India.

Asus ROG Phone 6

The Asus ROG Phone 6 remains unchallenged in India as no other company has released a dedicated gaming phone this year. The Phone 6 offers better value than the ROG Phone 6 Pro, and elevates the specialised gaming features that we've seen in previous generations even further. With support for up to a 165Hz refresh rate and a massive 6,000mAh battery, the ROG Phone 6 is truly a beast when it comes to slaying pretty much any game you throw at it. Some new noteworthy features include an IPX4 rating for splash resistance, improved cameras, and quicker charging. The accessories are something you'll want to invest in too, as some of them like the Aeroactive Cooler 6 actually make a big difference to the performance.

OnePlus 10 Pro

The OnePlus 10 Pro is a solid, no-nonsense flagship that offers the best OnePlus experience (whatever's left of it anyway) and very good cameras. Its design is unlike any previous OnePlus smartphone and there in lies the charm. It's sleek and stylish, has an excellent display, top-notch performance, and very good battery life. It misses out on an official IP rating in India, but it does have all the seals and protections in place to make it water and dust resistant. With the company going through an identity crisis, this may just be the last time we see trademark OnePlus features such as the 'Alert slider' on a flagship OnePlus phone, which was conspicuously missing on the OnePlus 10T 5G that came after it.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The union of Samsung's Galaxy Note and S series was complete this year with the arrival of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. If we had to pick a single Android phone which we felt was near-perfect, it's hard to find anything better than this one. Samsung has thrown in everything but the kitchen sink this time by including a built-in S Pen stylus, an incredible display, and what are arguably the best telephoto cameras in any phone. It is quite expensive compared to other Android flagships on our list but still cheaper than an iPhone 14 Pro. If you want a phone which excels in pretty much every area, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is an easy choice.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro

The ‘flagship-killer' award this year goes to the Motorola Edge 30 Pro as apart from having a flagship-grade SoC, it also features the typical frills such as wireless charging and an IP rating. What makes it an easy contender for this title though is its price, which was pretty aggressive when it launched in February this year, and is even better value now after recent price cuts. The Edge 30 Pro offers a clean Android experience, very quick charging, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a very good selfie camera. If you're not keen on spending a lot but still don't want to miss out on things such as a good telephoto camera or solid gaming performance, it's hard to find a better all-rounder at this price.

What are the best smartphones you can buy in India in 2022? These are the phones we think stood out the most this year Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Twitter to Soon Allow Users to Side Sweep Through Tweets, Trends, Topics, More

Elon Musk announced today that Twitter users will soon be able to side swipe for switching between tweets, trends, topics, lists, and more. The new Twitter CEO has been making sweeping changes to the social media platform since his $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3.6 lakh crore) takeover. He has also suggested that several major UI changes for the platform will arrive in January. Twitter had recently rolled out the View Count for tweets feature globally, intending to showcase how alive the platform is as most users are believed to just read a tweet without interacting.

Musk shared a post on Saturday revealing that a new side swipe feature will arrive on the platform in January. This feature is said to allow users to easily access recommended and followed tweets, trends, topics, and lists. Furthermore, Musk says that with the gradual improvement of Twitter AI, "recommended tweets, lists & topics will become awesome." Currently, Twitter allows users to read tweets in chronological order or the Home timeline with recommended tweets.

New Twitter navigation coming in Jan that allows swiping to side to switch between recommended & followed tweets, trends, topics, etc.

Until then, tap stars icon on upper right of home screen to switch.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 30, 2022

In a recent reply to a Gadgets 360 staff member's comment, Musk responded that "several major UI improvements" will come on the microblooging site in January. In addition, Twitter could also be working on replacing the texts for Views, Likes, Retweets and Quote Tweets below each tweet on its mobile clients with icons.

In related news, Twitter had recently introduced a new View Count feature for tweets. This feature was previously only limited to videos on the platform. The View Count is notably visible to everyone, instead of just to the original poster. However, the feature is currently not compatible with older tweets.

Twitter Blue has also received a couple of new features recently. The site will reportedly now prioritise the paid subscribers in searches, mentions, and replies over regular users. Furthermore, Twitter Blue subscribers will now be able to upload 60-minute full-HD videos, which is an increase from the previous limit of 10 minutes.

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Redmi K60 Cooling Case Said to Reduce Maximum Temperature by 4 Degrees Celsius

Redmi K60 series was launched in China on Tuesday. This flagship lineup includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 series-powered Redmi K60 and Redmi K60 Pro, and the Redmi K60E featuring a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC. They are equipped with a 17-layer heat liquid cooling VC dissipation system that is said to offer up to 15 percent improved thermal conductivity than the previous generation. Xiaomi has also released a cooling case for the Redmi K60 series which is supposedly capable of further reducing the maximum temperature by up to 4 degrees Celsius.

According to a post by a digital blogger on Weibo, the Redmi K60 Series Ice Cooling Case can reduce the handset's maximum temperature by up to 4 degrees Celsius. This case is available to purchase for CNY 79 (roughly Rs. 1,000).

Xiaomi says that this cooling case is equipped with a phase-changing material that purportedly switches between solid and liquid states depending on the smartphone's temperature to dissipate heat efficiently. This is said to be especially effective when the device is being used at its full power or for an extended period.

The cooling is said to take place immediately. Xiaomi says that this case is ideal for gaming or marathon streaming sessions. The Redmi K60 Series Ice Cooling Case also supports wireless charging. In addition, the case has a split-layer structure to protect the handset from any physical damage.

To recall, the Redmi K60 series was launched in China on Tuesday. Its top-of-the-line model is the Redmi K60 Pro, which is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The smartphone features an Adreno GPU and Qualcomm AI Engine. It sports a 6.67-inch 2K AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. This handset gets a 5,000mAh battery with support for 120W wired fast charging and 30W wireless fast charging.

What are the best smartphones you can buy in India in 2022? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Friday 30 December 2022

Binance’s Acquisition of Voyager Digital Could Be Delayed by US Review

Binance's $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,275 crore) acquisition of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital could be delayed or blocked by a US national security review, according to a Friday bankruptcy court filing.

The crypto exchange's US-based affiliate Binance.US intends to buy Voyager's crypto lending platform with a bid that includes $20 million (roughly Rs. 165 crore) in cash and crypto assets that will be used to repay Voyager's customers.

But the US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency body that vets foreign investments into US companies for national security risks, said Friday that its review "could affect the ability of the parties to complete the transactions, the timing of completion, or relevant terms."

Attorneys for Voyager and Binance.US did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.

CFIUS has increasingly been used by Washington as a tool to stymie Chinese investment in the United States.

Binance is owned by Chinese-born and Singapore-based Changpeng Zhao and has no permanent headquarters. The company has been the subject of a money laundering probe by US prosecutors. Binance.US, based in Palo Alto, California, has said that its separate American exchange is "fully independent" of the main Binance platform.

CFIUS did not mention any specific security concerns raised by the Voyager acquisition in its court filing, but it said that bankruptcy courts have sometimes ruled that national security concerns can prevent a company from bidding on assets in bankruptcy.

Voyager filed for bankruptcy in July, months after the crash of major crypto tokens TerraUSD and Luna sent shockwaves across the digital asset industry.

Voyager initially planned to sell its assets to FTX Trading, but that deal imploded when FTX went bankrupt in November amid a frenzy of customer withdrawals and fraud allegations that led to the arrest of founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

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Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 With Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 Processor Unveiled: Details

Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 with Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 processor was unveiled by the South Korean tech giant on December 28. The new Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 comes with major performance improvements with the new Gen 3 processor, an upgrade from previously launched laptop with 12th Gen Intel processor. The company first unveiled the Intel-powered Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 back in February. The new model was recently announced in South Korea and will be released on January 16.

In an official release, Samsung has announced the company's premium laptop, the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 processor. The mobile PC comes with enhanced speed and efficiency, along with a stylus and a 360-degree swivel display.

Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 with Snapdragon chipset price, availability

The new laptop from Samsung was unveiled in South Korea on December 28 and will be launched in the country on January 16. As of now, the upcoming Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 will debut in graphite color variant, while the launch price is fixed at KRW 1.89 million (nearly Rs. 1,24,200). As of now, the company has now announced the date for launching the product in global markets, including India.

Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 with Snapdragon chipset specifications

Samsung's upcoming laptop with the new Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chipset is claimed to come with strong privacy features. The laptop will come in a 13.3-inch model and will be super light. The new Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 will support an AMOLED display with the ability to flip around 360 degrees.

The laptop will run on Windows 11. The company claims that the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 with Snapdragon chipset comes with a better battery life of up to 35 hours of video playback on single charge.

Apart from these, other specifications of the laptop remain same as the previously launched Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360. The laptop, that comes along S Pen stylus, offers 5G and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity support.

Is the new expensive 10th generation iPad worth buying instead of its predecessor? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Turkey Joins China, India in Marking CBDC Milestones on Wider Scale Before 2022 Wraps Up

The year 2022, while not having been positively eventful for the crypto sector, did emerge as a milestone year for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Turkey has become the latest member of the CBDC club, that has touched a significant point in its CBDC trials. The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT), that started its CBDC trials earlier this year, has completed its first phase before the year of 2022 ends. Turkey's CBDC is named the Digital Turkish Lira.

For now, Turkey has been conducting closed circuit pilot tests of its CBDC. In the first three months of 2023, the CBRT plans to take this CBDC trial to select banks and fintech companies, which will continue till the end of next year.

“Studies on the legal aspects of the Digital Turkish Lira demonstrate that digital identification is of critical importance for the project. Therefore, studies on the economic and legal framework of the Digital Turkish Lira as well as its technological requirements will be prioritised throughout 2023,” the Turkish central bank said in an official statement.

Built on the blockchain, the CBDC of any nation is just a digital representation of its fiat currency. As opposed to traditional digital transactions, blockchain networks record all transactions with more transparency while keeping them shut to being altered or changed. CBDC transactions could prevent cases of financial frauds.

This year, a bunch of nations expanded their roots into the CBDC sector.

India, for instance, marked some crucial landmarks in its CBDC trials. Earlier this month, India's digital rupee CBDC, officially stepped into its retail trial period in four cities — New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar in partnership with the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and IDFC.

The RBI, that is overseeing the digital rupee trials, is testing the CBDC with select merchants and customers for day-to-day retail purchases.

The official roll out of India's CBDC could see the light of the day sometime in 2023.

China also, that launched its e-CNY CBDC for broader trials this year, has begun to push its adoption among the masses.

This week, the Chinese authorities introduced a feature for existing CBDC users to let them send financial gifts to their friends and family as ‘red packets'. Considered as a symbol of ‘good luck', the ‘red packets' — also called the ‘Hongbao' — are used for presenting people with money as a gesture of luck around festivals in the Asian nation.

Kazakhstan and Pakistan are looking to facilitate the gradual roll out their respective CBDCs around 2025.

Japan and South Korea also are moving forward with its CBDC pilots.

Meanwhile, some countries have already released their CBDCs in full force this year.

Nigeria, for instance, launched its CBDC named the eNaira earlier this year. In a bid to promote the use of this CBDC, the Nigerian government has banned weekly ATM withdrawals over $225 (roughly Rs. 18,565) and daily ATM withdrawal at $45 (roughly Rs. 3,710) in the African nation.

Jamaica also released its Jam-Dex CBDC for commercial uses.

Will crypto tax hurt the industry in India? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Xiaomi 13 Ultra Tipped to Get a Vastly Improved Periscope Camera

Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC were launched in China earlier this month. The Chinese tech giant is now expected to bring the Xiaomi 13 lineup to the global markets next year. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is also believed to be a part of the global lineup. A reliable tipster has now claimed that its periscope camera's performance will "shock everyone." There is not much else known about this handset at this point, however, rumours suggest that it could come with high-speed LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage.

According to a post by tipster Kartikey Singh (Twitter: @That_Kartikey), the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will come with a vastly improved periscope camera. He had previously claimed that Samsung had gone complacent when it comes to the camera zoom capabilities of the Galaxy S series.

Singh believes that in 2023 Samsung could be outdone by one of its competitors. However, the tipster did not delve into any specific details about the Xiaomi 13 Ultra's periscope camera. We can expect this upcoming Xiaomi smartphone to offer better camera zoom performance than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which comes with 3x and 10x optical zoom capabilities.

In related news, tipster Digital Chat Station has shared the alleged storage and memory configuration details of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. This smartphone could come with 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB or 1TB of UFS 4.0 onboard storage.

Xiaomi had recently launched the Xiaomi 13 series in China, including the vanilla Xiaomi 13 and the Xiaomi 13 Pro. In terms of camera, the Pro model gets a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 50-megapixel 1-inch Sony IMX989 primary sensor. There is also a 50-megapixel floating 75mm telephoto sensor and a 50-megapixel wide-angle sensor. It also features a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

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5G Services in India to Attract Rs. 1.5 Lakh Crore in Investments in 2023, Tariff Hikes Likely: Report

From connecting people with 5G services to lowering the cost of operations, the country's revitalised telecom sector is witnessing the bloom of reforms, and is set to attract more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore investments to build up networks in the new year.

Once the poster boy of India's growth story, then a debt-laden segment that saw many players withering away and now riding the wave of reforms as well as big-ticket investments, the telecom sector turned a new chapter in 2022.

While the Adani group is yet to unveil its full-fledged plan for the telecom business, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has committed Rs. 2 lakh crore investment for rolling out a 5G network across the country by December 2023.

"It has been an exciting year because of the launch of 5G, a much-awaited technology for 4-5 years. This is a big step forward. We look forward to a robust rollout of 5G next year because this year is just the beginning.

"We are all working on use cases. We are telling state governments, ministries, startups and innovators to come out with innovative use cases in the Indian context, which will unlock businesses and will also solve some public problems, some challenges," Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman told PTI.

He also said the government will continue to take measures that will lower the cost of operations for telecom operators, a move that will result in higher margins for the sector, which had been reeling under a debt burden for more than a decade.

Reliance Jio has committed Rs 87,946.93 crore for the spectrum that it has to pay over a period of 20 years, leaving a balance of Rs 1.12 lakh crore. While the company had invested a partial amount in building its own 5G core, it will invest the majority of the Rs 1.12 lakh in capex for 5G in 2023, according to sources.

Bharti Airtel is expected to invest in the range of Rs 27,000-28,000 crore and state-owned BSNL around Rs 16,000 crore in 2023 for rolling out an indigenously developed 4G network by TCS and C-DoT-led consortium. Later, the system will be upgraded to 5G.

Together, investments worth more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore are expected in the telecom sector.

COAI Director General SP Kochhar said the structural and procedural reforms in the telecom sector approved by the government last year such as e-KYC, doing away with Spectrum Usage Charge (SUC) for spectrum acquired in a future auction, 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route as well as rationalisation of bank guarantee, Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), interest rates and penalties, and facilitating Right of Way (RoW) have positively impacted the sector in 2022.

Digital Infrastructure Providers Association Director General TR Dua said that most state governments have followed reforms led by the Centre and came up with telecom infrastructure-friendly policies this year.

Recently, Minister of State for Telecom Devusinh Chauhan informed Parliament that telecom operators are installing on an average of 2,500 base stations per week for providing 5G services in the country and 20,980 mobile base stations were installed as of November 26.

Telecom gear majors -- Nokia and Ericsson -- have ramped up their manufacturing in India. The government has also received investment commitments of Rs 4,115 crore from 42 firms shortlisted under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for making telecom gears.

Nokia said it is witnessing the world's fastest rollout of the 5G network in India.

"In 2023, we hope to see continued government support in enabling the digital ecosystem to truly tap the benefits of the socio-economic applications of 5G technology. 2023 is also expected to witness wider adoption of private networks by enterprises and businesses for enhanced efficiency and security," a Nokia India spokesperson said.

Ericsson's MD, India & Head of Networks, Southeast Asia, Oceania and India, Nitin Bansal said that enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) are expected to be the initial 5G use cases in India. This technology will help to bridge the digital divide by addressing the concern of limited fixed broadband penetration levels and improving the data experience while on the move.

Tech Mahindra President, Communications, Media and Entertainment Business, and CEO, Network Services, Manish Vyas said 5G will be used to develop revolutionary applications and innovative use cases in industries, such as manufacturing, healthcare, BFSI, and autonomous driving.

"We see 5G for Enterprise (5G4E) as our next growth strategy, and we are already doing multiple pilots on it across the world," he said.

IDEMIA India, Senior Vice President, Rahul Tandon said as India ushers in 5G connectivity it opens up many new capabilities to enhance productivity and safety of not only online transactions but Machine2Machine (M2M) transactions as well.

While telecom operators are investing billions in building a 5G network, a senior Airtel official said there are no applications as of now that can help companies monetise 5G.

"5G is helping in offloading traffic from the 4G network. 5G is a very efficient and better technology but at present the applications like video, gaming etc are working well on 4G. We are yet to see any applications that can specifically help in monetising 5G," the official said.

He also said the company expects growth to come from customers upgrading their service from 2G to 4G, pre-paid to post-paid and post-paid to home broadband, and tariff hikes.

The annual tariff hike by telecom operators -- Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Jio -- in the range of 18-42 per cent has brought the companies a sustainable level of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) situation in 2022.

Vodafone Idea had taken lead in November 2019 to raise mobile services rates by up to 42 per cent. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio followed VIL in raising tariffs.

The tariff hike in 2019 was after a gap of about five years. The data prices had nosedived by 95 per cent to Rs 11.78 per GB in 2017 from Rs 269 per GB in 2014.

Bharti Airtel is running a pilot to increase its entry-level mobile plan by about 57 per cent. The company has increased the minimum recharge price for a 28-day mobile phone service plan by about 57 per cent to Rs 155 in Haryana and Odisha.

A company official said it will take a look at the result of the tariff increase in another six weeks to decide on hiking the tariffs across India.

While VIL has been able to sail through 2022, the year 2023 is likely to be a make-or-break year for the company as the debt-ridden company awaits the government to pick around 33 per cent stake under the scheme to convert interest dues into equity.

A note by JM Financial in October 2021 said that VIL will need to have an APRU of at least Rs 190-200 by March 2023 to survive but the company is far from the mark and is struggling to check subscriber churn.

Where did Realme go wrong with the 10 Pro+ 5G? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Samsung Galaxy Book Laptops Expected to Launch Alongside Galaxy S23 Series in February: Report

Samsung is reportedly planning to reveal the next generation of Galaxy Book laptops along with the Galaxy S23 series. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is rumoured to arrive soon, with the South Korean tech giant expected to unveil their flagship series of smartphones in February. The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Book laptops are expected to feature better hardware and specifications, however, no details are available as yet. Notably, the Galaxy Book 2 lineup of laptops launched in India early this year.

According to a report by SamMobile, the next generation of Samsung Galaxy Book laptops will launch alongside the Galaxy S23 series of smartphones at the rumoured Galaxy Unpacked event in February. Samsung is reportedly planning to reveal a host of devices at the said event, including the Galaxy S22 FE. The upcoming Galaxy Book could be powered by 13th Gen Intel Core processors.

Samsung has not officially confirmed the launch slate for the Galaxy Unpacked event, neither has it revealed any details about its upcoming devices. The event has been tipped to take place on February 1, with the Galaxy S23 series expected to headline Samsung's showcase. Additionally, the S23 lineup could go on sale starting February 17. The company is expected to host the event in San Francisco, USA.

Samsung's flagship Galaxy S23 series is said to include improvements in battery capacity, display brightness, and cooling capabilities. The lineup is expected to run Android 13-based One UI 5.1 out-of-the-box.

The Samsung Galaxy Book 2 lineup includes the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro, Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, Galaxy Book 2 360, Galaxy Book 2, and Galaxy Book 2 Business. The series runs on Intel's 12th Gen processors and comes with Windows 11 out-of-the-box. The Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, Galaxy Book 2 Pro, and Galaxy Book 2 360 feature AMOLED screens and are available in Silver and Graphite colourways.

The Galaxy Book 2 lineup went on sale in India in April, starting at the price of Rs. 99,990.

Do the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 offer enough over last year's models? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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