Phone and communications

It seems that there's a new Samsung Galaxy S22 rumor dropping every day at the moment – and today we've got unconfirmed snippets of information to share about the charging speeds and colors of the upcoming flagship smartphones.

First up, reputable tipster Ice Universe has taken to Twitter to reiterate that the S22 Ultra model will come with a 5,000mAh battery capacity and a charging rate of 45W. That's apparently enough to charge up to 70% in a mere 35 minutes.

In terms of both battery capacity and charging speed that matches up with previous leaks that we've come across, so these particular specs are now looking more likely than ever to be accurate. The S22 and S22 Plus, meanwhile, might well stick at 25W charging.

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Green is the color

The other tidbit again concerns the Galaxy S22 Ultra and this time it's about the colors the handset will come in. We'd already heard that a special dark red version was in the pipeline, but it now seems that a green color variant will be available as well.

That's as per GalaxyClub, which is usually a reliable source of Samsung-related information. If the tip is right, the S22 Ultra could go on sale in black, white, dark red and green, and GalaxyClub reckons there might even be more colors to pick from.

Whether this particular green is the same green as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is available in remains to be seen, but LetsGoDigital has lost no time in trying to imagine what this shade might look like with some mock-up renders.

Analysis: the S22 Ultra is the model to watch

We've had an absolute flood of leaks around the Samsung Galaxy S22 phones in recent months, giving us a very good idea of what's coming when these devices finally see the light of day – which is likely to be sometime towards the start of 2022.

There's a clear distinction between what we're hearing about the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Plus, and what we're hearing about the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The former two sound like more of the same, whereas the latter sounds like something quite different from what's gone before.

We've seen unofficial renders of the two cheaper and smaller handsets, and there's been talk that the battery capacities and the screen sizes could be unchanged or even reduced from what we got with the Galaxy S21 phones at the start of 2021.

Contrast that with the rumors around the Galaxy S22 Ultra – it looks to have an upgraded design, and in most respects is being positioned as a replacement for the Galaxy Note 22, complete with S Pen support, a large screen and top-end specs (including the rear camera module).

• These are the best Samsung phones you can buy right now

T-Mobile USA has delayed the planned switch off of Sprint’s 3G network by three months to give its partners extra time to help affected customers make the transition away from the aging technology.

The carrier had said it would pull the plug at the end of this year in order redirect spectrum, engineering, and other network resources towards its 5G rollout.

T-Mobile says its ‘Extended Range’ 5G now covers 308 million people in the US while its ‘Ultra Capacity 5G’ reaches 186 million. It plans to increase this to 200 million before the end of the year.

T-Mobile 3G

However, it said its partners had not done enough to assist customers with this migration and would therefore give its 3G network a stay of execution.

“It’s become increasingly clear that some of those partners haven’t followed through on their responsibility to help their customers through this shift. So, we’re stepping up on their behalf. We have made the decision to extend our deadline for the CDMA sunset by three months to March 31, 2022,” it said.

“Our reason for extending is simple: we want to give those partners who haven’t done the right thing for their customers every opportunity to step up now and do so.

“There should be no more room for excuses. We have provided even more time and those partners can follow suit with the effort that is needed to ensure no one is left on the wrong side of the digital divide.”

The operator stressed that this additional time would not impact the timeline of its rollout nor would it have any negative financial impact.

Mobile operators across the world have used 3G networks alongside their 4G services in order to provide additional coverage in areas where 4G is not available. However, as 4G has become increasingly available, the need for 3G and its inferior speeds and capacity is significantly reduced.

Most mobile data in developed markets is transmitted via 4G, while Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology means such networks can also handle the majority of calls.

Earlier this year, EE became the first UK operator to commit to switching off its 3G service and hopes to do so by 2023.

2G is likely to outlast 3G in many markets because it offers universal roaming and is used to power certain IoT applications. In the UK it has been suggested that any 2G switchover should wait until at least the 2030s, with a possible shared 2G network touted as a possible solution. However Swiss operator Swisscom has already turned off its 2G service.

Need an upgrade from 3G? Why not see if you can find a 5G phone deal to suit you?

The Samsung Galaxy S22 range is likely to be one of the next big smartphone launches, as while we don’t expect these phones until 2022, they could land in January, and there’s not much more expected in 2021.

As such, there have already been lots of leaks about these handsets, and many of those leaks are focused on the S Pen stylus – a feature which is likely to be supported by at least one model, given that the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra supports it.

With there not being a Samsung Galaxy Note 21, the Samsung Galaxy S22 range could therefore also be the closest thing to a new Note model that we see for a while, especially if Samsung carries out some rumored changes to the range.

Below we’ll run you through all the S Pen leaks and rumors so far, to paint a picture of which models are likely to include stylus support, and how big a feature it could be for Samsung’s next flagships.

Evidence of the S Pen

There’s a whole lot of evidence that the S Pen will be a feature of the Samsung Galaxy S22 range, but so far this evidence points to it once again only being the Ultra model that will get it.

We first heard that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra might support the S Pen back in July 2021. This came from a wide-ranging leak, and only the Ultra model was mentioned as getting this support.

The leak didn’t provide any additional details about it though, such as whether the stylus would come as standard with the phone, and whether there would be a slot for it, neither of which were the case with the S21 Ultra, despite these being features of the Note range.

More recently though, prolific leaker Ice Universe claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra would have an S Pen slot, and that it would also have a similar design to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

They didn’t share any imagery, but we didn’t have to wait long for that, with another leaker (@OnLeaks via Digit.in) sharing unofficial renders of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra just a couple of days later. You can see one of these above, and it shows an S Pen slot in the bottom left corner (when viewing the phone from the front).

These renders also show the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra as having a squarer design than its predecessor, giving it a Note-like look as suggested by Ice Universe.

The same source then came back with renders supposedly showing the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus, and these had a more S21-like design, with no S Pen slot.

Next up, we’ve seen case renders for cases seemingly designed for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, and these include a cut-out that’s likely for the S Pen slot, backing up the renders above. You can see one of these below.

And most recently of all, a leaker shared images and videos of what’s apparently a dummy unit of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Dummy units are sometimes used by accessory makers to help them design products prior to a phone’s launch, and this one is light on details – with no S Pen slot or any other ports, but the source of the leak claimed that the finished phone will have an S Pen slot.

The case for the S Pen

Beyond the leaks suggesting that S Pen support is planned for the Galaxy S22 range, there are also good reasons Samsung would include it.

As noted above, there wasn’t a Samsung Galaxy Note 21, so fans of that range will have been left clamoring for a suitable handset. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra could potentially fill that role – especially if as has been rumored it has an S Pen slot and a Note-like design.

In fact, some sources suggest it will even be called the Samsung Galaxy Note 22 Ultra, meaning the Note range might not be so dead after all, and instead we could simply see a new model launch alongside a reduced S22 range.

What will Samsung do?

So will the Samsung Galaxy S22 range support the S Pen? We won’t know for sure until Samsung unveils these phones, but the evidence so far strongly suggests it will – though only with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

That would follow the pattern of what the company did with the Galaxy S21 range, but this time it looks as though Samsung will make the S Pen a more fundamental part of the experience – including it as standard with the S22 Ultra and including a slot for it.

Given that multiple sources have suggested this and that there aren’t any dissenting voices, we think that’s likely, especially given the lack of a new Note model.

That would still leave a gap in the market where the standard Samsung Galaxy Note 20 sat, as based on these leaks you’re going to have to spend an awful lot to get a new Samsung phone with a stylus. So we’d like to see Samsung expand support to the rest of the S range, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen this time around.

• These are the best Samsung phones

We have a tip for Huawei phone and tablet users: make sure you have the latest version of the My Huawei app, previously known as Support. 

Can’t find either on your home screen or still have Support instead of My Huawei? It’s time for a trip to the Huawei AppGallery app store. 

Search for “My Huawei” and you’ll be able to see if you have the latest version of the app*. You might find there’s an update available. 

Huawei has given My Huawei a full facelift recently, and nowadays there’s a whole lot more going on in the app. 

Deals, deals, deals

The Huawei fan will want to keep an eye on the Huawei Store, which is one of the core navigation tabs in My Huawei. Sure, you can use it to keep up with the latest Huawei phones, wearables, laptops, tablets and headphones. But if you’re like us, you’ll be more interested in Huawei’s deals. 

Huawei holds regular sales on its store, and the most recent was part of its annual Carnival1 promotion. That has ended now, but it’s worth keeping an eye out in My Huawei. 

Earlier this year, for example, we picked up one of Huawei’s WiFi AX3 routers with Wi-Fi 6 support for an absolute steal of a price. 

Huawei’s community

You can also get a heads-up about the latest Huawei gear and deals in the Community tab, which is where many Huawei fans hang out. Some might let you know about cashback promos, others will just post pics taken with their phone’s camera.

You’ll find information about any competitions Huawei is currently running in the Community tab too. As we write this you can get involved with Huawei’s annual NEXT-IMAGE competition if you’re in a creative mood. 

Submit your photographic works in one of the ten categories, from “Story Teller” to “Telephoto”, and you could win up to $10,000 or a Huawei Watch 3, the company’s next-generation smartwatch.

We’re just trying to give you the flavour of the My Huawei app. There’s always something to see when you drop in. 

Calling tech support

It is also the place to be if you have an issue with your device, or its software, and want some help. In My Huawei’s Support section you’ll find a treasure trove of information about your phone or tablet.

First-up, there’s the digital manual, which is arranged into quick-navigation sections to let you find what you need in two taps of the touchscreen. You can look at the quick guide to HMS too, the software backbone of all Huawei’s mobile devices. 

My Huawei also gets you quick-fire access to real tech support. You can live chat to Huawei staff, and the app has quick links to Huawei’s support hotline and email service. No need to dig about online to find the number of address you need. 

If there’s something wrong with your phone or tablet, you can use My Huawei to request a postal repair and track its progress. You can even look up available spare parts for Huawei laptops, phones and tablets, the kind of information that is usually not easy to find. 

It’s no wonder Huawei stopped calling this app Support. There’s a whole lot more to it these days. My Huawei lets you find hot deals, enter competitions, get involved with the Huawei community and discover a few tips and tricks you might not have heard about before. 

To download the app, click here, or head to the Huawei AppGallery and search for “My Huawei”.  

*Currently the Shop feature is only available in select countries.

Based on the leaks we've seen so far, it looks as though the Ultra model of the Samsung Galaxy S22 is going to look significantly different to the other editions – and a leaked image purporting to show the backplate of the Galaxy S22 Ultra offers more evidence.

Appearing on Chinese social media platform Weibo (via Android Authority), the unverified picture shows off a black backplate with five holes, arranged in a P pattern. Presumably, the rear camera lenses and flash would poke through the gaps.

This is slightly different to the design shown off in previous leaks, which had an entire P-shaped cut out. It seems as though the rear camera module design sported by the standard Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Plus will be different again.

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The Note Ultra?

Based on everything we've heard so far, it would appear that the Galaxy S22 Ultra is shaping up to be something of a replacement for the Galaxy Note – remember that there wasn't a Galaxy Note 21 last year, and a Galaxy Note 22 seems unlikely.

It's rumored to be coming with an S Pen slot, and more of a flatter, Note-esque design than the other handsets in the Galaxy S22 series. We've even heard murmurings that the Galaxy S22 Ultra could actually be called the Galaxy Note 22 Ultra when it launches.

We'll have to wait and see how many of these rumors and predictions are right. It was thought that the Galaxy S22 series would be launching in January 2022, a year after the Galaxy 21 phones saw the light of day, but they could end up arriving later than that.

Analysis: the Galaxy S22 series is one to watch

Like just about everyone else in the electronics industry, Samsung has had a difficult 2020 and 2021, but all the indications are that it could be back with a bang in 2022 – starting with its flagship Galaxy S22 series of handsets.

We've seen plenty of Galaxy S22 leaks and rumors at this stage, and it sounds as though the Ultra edition is going to become even more distinct from the other models in the Galaxy S range when 2022 rolls around. That may or may not coincide with a name change to emphasize its position as a Note replacement.

With the iPhone 13 and the Pixel 6 now out in the wild, the Galaxy S22 series is a chance for Samsung to raise its smartphone game again – with next-gen chipsets and processors for 2022, and all the usual Samsung ingredients (such as superb OLED screens).

As a whole, the Galaxy S22 series should offer a choice of configurations across a range of price points, appealing – in theory – to a wide range of potential buyers. With the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 available for those who want something even more innovative (and expensive), the Galaxy S22 phones have a real chance to shine.

• Where is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE?

In mid-October, Samsung held another Unpacked event that revealed new colors and special editions for previously-announced products…and no new devices. It seemed like something should have debuted at an event pitched to be ‘for the fans,’ and the best contender is probably the more affordable flagship ‘Fan Edition’ of the Galaxy S21. So where is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE?

We’d been expecting the S21 FE to launch back in September, a year after its popular predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, was revealed at an August 2020 Unpacked event. But the month came and went. Now, in late October, rumors suggest the cheaper version of the Samsung S21 may launch in January – alongside or even stealing the launch slot for the Samsung Galaxy S22.

TechRadar reached out to Samsung to ask if the S21 FE was intended to launch at the October Unpacked event, and they declined to acknowledge that the phone was coming, or even admit its existence.

“We can’t comment on our product roadmap, but we’re focused on listening to consumer needs and providing options across our mobile portfolio for every price point,” a Samsung spokesperson told TechRadar over email. “We’re seeing a lot of demand and interest in both our current S series lineup and our latest foldable devices. To meet our customers’ needs, we’re prioritizing those devices right now.”

We’ve heard enough rumors and leaks to feel confident that the S21 FE exists – so what’s keeping the phone from being ready for release? 

As you might have suspected, it’s probably due to the supply chain issues that have kept everything from GPUs and PS5s to automobiles to dress shirts from reaching consumers – a continued effect of Covid’s impact on interrupting resource supply, production, shipping, local transport, and retail. Reports indicate the shortage could last into 2022, and will certainly impact stock for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Given the 10 million unit iPhone 13 production shortfall, it’s believable that shortages would apply to other phones, too. Here’s what analysts say about how phones like the S21 FE continue to be impacted – and why that phone seems to be delayed more than devices from other brands.

Smartphones, supply fiascos, and more

By April 2020, reports started coming out that Covid outbreaks in production facilities in China and elsewhere resulted in shutdowns and interruptions. This resulted in the global chip shortage that has affected so many industries, as Avi Greengart, founder of tech research and analysis firm Techsponential, told TechRadar over email.

“The initial shutdowns in China stopped smartphone production for a few weeks, but that wasn’t too problematic because there was also an initial drop in smartphone sales during the first round of lockdowns in the US and Europe,” Greengart said. “After that, though, there was a massive surge in demand for electronics of all kinds, making it hard to source components for smartphones, GPUs, game consoles, PCs, home appliances, and cars.”

The impact of those shortages has been compounded by more Covid shutdowns, shipping and port jams, and natural disasters, Greengart added. “In my conversations with manufacturers, one constant is that there are breakdowns everywhere throughout the supply chain. Even if you switch to air freight for finished goods to get around the seaport jams, the raw materials and components coming into factories are stuck in the ports or in factories without enough truck drivers to move them to the next stop.”

But the smartphone industry has seen far less impact than others. Some phones have been in reduced supply, like the Samsung S21 line, but they aren’t nearly as scarce as PS5s and GPUs.

That’s largely because the phones industry has been growing as a whole for years in contrast to a PC and notebook industry that has plateaued or declined, according to Nabila Popal, mobile industry analyst at IDC. The firm expected the smartphone industry to grow in 2020, and thus it was better able to absorb Covid’s shock to its system. 

“As far as the smartphone industry in 2020, the manufacturers and vendors were already expecting kind of a growth year, so the momentum and preparations had already been made,” Popal told TechRadar over the phone. “Of course [Covid] hit and then we had a six percent decline, but because of that anticipation, we were basically better prepared from all sides, be it accruement of materials needed, logistics, factory and capacity, or differences in value chain.”

“We shouldn’t look at the positive growth to say that there aren’t any issues there, because there are, but they’re not as compounded as they are in automotive and PC and notebooks,” Popal said.

There’s another reason the smartphone industry absorbed the interruption in the supply chain, Popal noted: the industry was in the process of switching from 4G to 5G, which requires entirely new chipsets and modems. This means smartphone manufacturers needed to set up their own new supply and production chains to make new silicon, which weren’t as affected by the global chip shortage. Instead, the smartphone industry was hit hard by components shortages, which ended up affecting 4G phones more than 5G devices – which constitute mainly flagship but more and more mid-range and budget phones in 2021.

So…what about the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE?

Popal couldn’t confirm or deny anything specifically on the potential delay of the S21 FE, but she did point to a particular strain on Samsung’s production in Q2 2021: Covid outbreaks in Vietnam that impacted the company’s production facilities. Despite previous containment, an outbreak in May threatened tech production, per Reuters, which led to Samsung shutting down factories in July to contain the virus, according to Nikkei Asia. 

The Korean phonemaker wasn’t the only one hit – Apple supplier Foxconn was ordered to temporarily shut its factories in August, per Bloomberg – but because half of Samsung’s smartphone production is in Vietnam, the shortages may have impacted Samsung’s current and upcoming lineup more than other companies’ releases. 

“For the S21, in Q2 [2021], the major issues that Samsung faced was their supply was constrained for many of the leading models because of the shutdowns in Vietnam, because of Covid,” Popal said, also affirming that supply issues ultimately led to the cancellation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 21. 

Even if we can’t get a straight answer from Samsung itself or analysts that supply shortages led to the delay of the S21 FE, given their impact on the availability of current phones and outright cancellation of another highly-anticipated Samsung device, it’s still the most likely reason we didn’t see the S21 FE launch at the October Samsung Unpacked, let alone in September when we expected it to be unveiled.

But the big phone companies are doing what they can to mitigate the effects, and they may not be felt by everyone. Despite a previous report that Apple might ship 10 million fewer iPhone 13 units, Popal told TechRadar that the company’s high-volume orders and dominance means it can remain at the top of the priority list in supply chains and expect component suppliers to make up shortfalls. Apple will in turn prioritize shipments to its biggest markets, like the US, Europe, and likely China, and have lower supply in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. 

It probably won’t be the last phone shortage we see, given how Covid’s initial impacts continue to domino into new crises. The latest are a series of regional planned blackouts in Chinese factories that are affecting phone production, and we can’t guess what the next might be. 

• Best phone 2021: the top 15 smartphones you can buy in the US right now

The Google Pixel 6 has plenty of promising features, but one stuck with me more than others – mostly because it would have come in clutch when a massive thunderstorm grounded flights and stranded me in an airport with a perfect stranger.

I had been traveling through the South visiting family, and flew into Charlotte in the middle of North Carolina, hoping to board a plane to Raleigh, but the storm kept every plane out of the sky. I quickly coordinated with my family for alternative transport – a taxi to the train station – and was about to leave when someone handed me a phone.

The phone's owner didn’t speak English, but his contact did, and begged me to help the man get to the same city I was going; could he tag along on my planes, trains, and automobiles journey? Divided by a language barrier, we labored back-and-forth with the person on the other end of the call acting as intermediary. I managed to direct my fellow traveler through a US airport and got us safely on a train to our mutual destination, but it was a journey of faith and trust in strangers. 

It would have been a lot easier if my phone could bridge that language gap for us.

When Google introduced the Pixel 6, it showed off plenty of new software features made possible by the phone’s new secret weapon, the Tensor chipset. One of these was an enhanced version of Live Translation that lets folks use the phone as an intermediary that, well, translates spoken phrases into another language. 

Imagine how groundbreaking a Pixel 6 could’ve been in that situation! I could simply have held the phone between myself and the non-English-speaking stranger to hold a delayed but still direct conversation.

If you’ve ever had the uncommon experience of using someone on a speakerphone as an intermediary, you know how frustrating it is to lose crucial details over scratchy call quality, let alone the awkwardness of hovering over a phone hoping what you say is being conveyed to the other person.

Using a feature like the responsive Live Translation on the Pixel 6 in the moment seems like it would feel not just superior but a relief to both parties – it’s so much more dignified to look someone in the eye as you speak rather than belatedly wait for a third party or translation software to bridge the language gap over a speakerphone (subject to the usual pitfalls of calls, like audio dropout and lack of clarity). 

Which isn’t to say that the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro will single-handedly break down language barriers; there are surely kinks to work out in its Tensor-enhanced version of Live Translation, and it’s limited by Google’s lineup of languages and dialects integrated into the service. 

But it’s a promising feature that could be a relieving safety net for travelers and others who regularly engage with folks who don’t speak their language. If it could’ve helped me connect with a stranger suddenly cast adrift in a foreign place who didn’t speak the local tongue, it would’ve been a port in an airplane-grounding storm. That’s what cutting-edge chipsets and tech should help with.

• Best phone 2021: the top 15 smartphones you can buy in the US right now

At some point in the next few months Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S22, its new series of flagship smartphones, but if the jump from the Galaxy S10 to S20 or S20 to S21 has taught us anything, it's that it probably won't be a huge upgrade.

There could be a reason to care though, thanks to something unveiled recently. At an otherwise quiet Galaxy Unpacked event in October, Samsung launched a new service for its devices, called Galaxy Bespoke, and it could point towards the future of Samsung phones.

In fact, more so than any other leak or tease we've seen so far, Galaxy Bespoke could give us a reason to care about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 series of smartphones.

Looking dull

There's a big problem with many modern smartphones: they look too boring. We're not talking about the actual appearance – in the grand scheme of it, there's very little difference between how most non-folding phones look – we're talking about colors.

The vast majority of phones come in pretty bland shades like gray, navy or black – there's very little vibrancy. Even the outliers can be a bit dull: the Google Pixel 6 colors are all just soft pastel colors, and some of them are fairly attractive, but none of them are particularly eye-catchingly bright or bold.

Some could consider the Galaxy S21 colors an exception: the choice between black, white, pink or purple gave two interesting colors. But they were still quite soft, pastel hues, not enough to turn heads or blind onlookers.

Samsung's actually one of the better companies when it comes to bold phone colors, with the Galaxy S20 FE in particular coming in loads of fabulous shades. But there's still more that could be done.

Galaxy Bespoke gives Samsung a chance to do even better in the colors department.

Bespoke

Galaxy Bespoke lets you customize the colors and design of a new gadget from the company, so you can pick which hues and shades specific parts of the device have in order to make it feel 'yours'.

At the moment it's available for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Watch 4 (including the Watch 4 Classic), but it seems the company is going to offer the service for more products going forward.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 would be a prime candidate for this kind of treatment, and the fact that the company is making a big deal of Galaxy Bespoke – there's an entire section of the Samsung website dedicated to it – suggests it could come to the future devices.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 customization tool lets you change the color of the hinge as well as the front and back. The system wouldn't work as well on a generic looking smartphone, with fewer parts to color, but it could still work.

The Galaxy S21 had a colored rear as well as a highlight section around the camera bump and phone frame – this was gold on each Galaxy S21. Perhaps if Samsung let you choose the shades of the S22, you could get this nice highlight pattern with colors of your choosing.

Colorful thinking

Alternatively, perhaps Samsung could let you design your own rear of the phone, picking patterns and colors or specific logos, icons and decals. Going even further, the company could potentially let you import your own designs (like your own photos, or images you whip together on Microsoft Paint). 

Of course, this could bring with it some problems; you could draw something rude and have it imprinted in your phone, for example – but then again there's nothing stopping you just doing this with a sharpie anyway (except, y'know, common sense).

For the existing Bespoke Edition devices, you have to pay a little more, and that's just for Samsung picking out certain color panels for its phones; if you designed your own mobile, it'd likely cost you quite a bit more than the standard edition.

Some people really care about the appearance of their phone though, and would be willing to pay. Either way, it seems very possible that Galaxy Bespoke will be open for the S22, and if it lets you customize your mobile to a meaningful degree, it could make the device tempting for people who care about the design of their phones.

Moreover, if the Samsung Galaxy S22 isn't a big specs upgrade over the S21, Galaxy Bespoke will likely be the big selling point, to tempt people who don't need the newer specs.

• Samsung Galaxy S22 leak reveals more about the smartphone’s design

It used to be heresy to suggest buying that shiny new iPhone in October. It is, after all, almost a full month before the traditional Black Friday iPhone deals land and offer up what's supposedly the best chance all year to score a bargain.

Delivery delays, back-order backlogs, and general stock issues, however, have plagued the new flagships since launch. It's left me questioning – is it actually worth waiting until Black Friday to get an iPhone 13? 

The iPhone 13 family has had no shortage of fantastic deals already, and those backorder queues just seem to be getting longer with no signs of letting up. Maybe you should settle instead of braving a multiple month-long wait until you finally get your hands on that new upgrade.

Especially when several recent reports have suggested that Apple's starting to feel the squeeze in the global chip shortage. No one can hide from the fact – that's bad news if you don't have that iPhone 13 yet.

What normally happens

Cell phone deals in general have traditionally revolved around launch events (like this week's Google Pixel 6 deals) and big sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday – with the exception of the odd sale or two from the likes of Amazon or Best Buy.

It used to be the case, especially with iPhones, that lining up your upgrade with a launch window or Black Friday would be your best bet for securing a decent deal. In all truth, I expect this to be the case again when things return to normal. However, certain market factors and reports have led me to believe this year's Black Friday iPhone deals may be disrupted, or at least in shorter supply. 

The issue: chip shortages

The ongoing global chip and supply chain crisis isn't exactly breaking news – it's been widely reported on and discussed openly for several months now. In fact, it's positively old news for any who have braved the queues over the past year to attempt to secure a coveted PS5 or one of the latest graphics cards. 

Phones, so far, have been one category of tech that's largely escaped the indignity of bare shelves and backorders. That could be set to change in the following months if recent reports are anything to go by, however. 

Last week, Bloomberg broke the news that Apple is set to cut iPhone 13 production numbers by upwards of 11 percent. The company was set to manufacture 90 million handsets by the end of 2021, but according to 'people with knowledge of the matter' that figure has now been slashed by as many as 10 million. 

Apple didn't comment on the news. However, it did state earlier in the year that it would 'would face supply constraints of the iPhone and iPad during the quarter that ended in September'. It's worth noting that's the period directly before Black Friday. If demand goes up over the next month (as we'd expect), then we could be seeing some very lengthy wait times for delivery indeed. 

And, we've already seen the iPhone 13 on backorder at Verizon and many local Apple stores nationwide. The iPhone 13 Pro Max in particular is looking at an estimated delivery date of December 3rd via Verizon right now and November 26th via the official Apple store. Unless a large number of devices are somehow delivered by surprise it seems prudent to expect that delivery date to stretch out further from here onwards.

But, will I miss out on deals if I buy early?

Tough question. The short answer is yes. The long answer is, yes, but this year's Black Friday iPhone deals might not be much to shout about anyway.

Back in 2020, when the iPhone 12 was fresh off the presses, in good stock, and in high demand, carrier Black Friday deals weren't actually that great. Verizon and AT&T's maximum saving of up to $700 with a trade-in was essentially the same deal that was offered with a pre-order when these devices were first launched. 

This week's iPhone 13 deals are actually better than what was served up on the iPhone 12 last year if you're considering the overall amount of savings on offer. 

Both AT&T and Verizon, for example, are offering up to $800 off with a trade-in on the standard iPhone 13 (up to $1,000 off on the Pro), and Apple's maximum trade-in rebate of up to $790 is actually the highest we've ever seen from the retailer.

The kicker here is these deals aren't quite as good as those offered at the initial launch back in September. Existing Verizon customers, for example, could keep their line at launch and simply upgrade for free with an eligible trade-in. Right now you can only get $440 off as an upgrade.

It's hard to say whether 'big upgrade' deals will be back on the iPhone 13 over Black Friday. We hope so, but again it's doesn't seem wise to pin hopes down when the devices themselves may be in short supply.

The bottom line

If you want to be safe and get your device this side of 2022, then it's probably wise to consider beating out the crowds to secure your device by Black Friday. We would advocate at least investigating the excellent range of deals available right now, especially on the more popular 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max models. It's generally a safe bet that trade-in rebates won't get too much higher than they are right now – especially if you're picking up a device on a new line.

If you're after an iPhone 13 mini, however, then you might be able to get away with holding out until Black Friday. This device is the least popular of the four new models and seems to be the least likely to sell out over November. This one's definitely in the 'wait and see' territory and could potentially be worth holding out for. Either way, it's wise to keep an eye on those estimated delivery dates at leading retailers right now.

In case you hadn't heard already – Google Pixel 6 deals have officially landed and this weekend's brought some fantastic pre-order bonuses to consider.

The frontrunner for value is Verizon so far with an excellent combination of a nifty 'buy-one get-one free' promo and a tempting trade-in rebate of up to $700.

Now, you can only pick one, and both are eligible with unlimited data plans only, but this is a great opening offer in our eyes. There's not one, but two different ways to bag a free device here – and it gives both single and multi-line users a good option.

If you happen to be a new customer Verizon will also score you a free $500 gift card as a welcome bonus – a nice freebie that's in addition to either the 'BOGO' or trade-in rebate.

One criticism? This weekend's Verizon Google Pixel 6 deals only offer a measly $350 off for those existing customers who are looking to simply upgrade (keep their line and trade-in). That's much, much, lower than the $700 off maximum we saw on the iPhone 13 at launch. The new line bonuses, however, are just as good, if not better.

If you're looking for something a little more premium, you'll find these same excellent offers with this weekend's Verizon Google Pixel 6 Pro deals too. Take note, the 'BOGO' offer on this device will only cover $700 off since it's a pricier phone.

Outside the US? See the best Google Pixel 6 and cell phone deals in your region just below.

Verizon Google Pixel 6 deals this weekend

• See more – View all of this weekend’s Verizon deals
• Read about the upcoming Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals

And, we've got plenty more from this carrier in our weekly roundup of the best Verizon deals. If you're interested, we've also got a guide to the upcoming Black Friday Verizon deals.