| Cult of Mac

America’s favorite iPhone will surprise you

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iPhone SE
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020?
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

Despite the demand for larger, sharper smartphone displays, iPhone SE has beaten out all other smartphones to top the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Just two of Apple’s devices placed in the top five, and with a score of 87 out of 100, iPhone SE took the number one spot ahead of iPhone 7 Plus and the Galaxy S7 series.

iPhone 8’s curved OLED display to be made by Samsung

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iPhone 8 concept
Imagining the iPhone of the future.
Photo: Gabor Balogh

Apple’s “premium” iPhone 8 will offer an OLED display with curved glass similar to that used by Samsung, according to a new report out of Japan.

In fact, sources say the display will be manufactured exclusively by Apple’s South Korean rival, but its curves won’t be quite as pronounced as those found on the Galaxy S7 edge.

Samsung’s answer to iPhone 7 lands March 29

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Galaxy-S8-invite
Galaxy S8 will be one of the hottest handsets of 2017. (But hopefully not too hot.)
Photo: Cult of Mac

Samsung has issued invites to a press event in New York City on March 29 where it will unveil the much-anticipated Galaxy S8 series.

Fans are expecting two devices, both of which will attempt to outshine the iPhone 7 with curved glass designs, Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon processor, and features like iris recognition.

Samsung fans remain as loyal as Apple’s despite Note 7 disaster

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Samsung fans will continue to buy Galaxy phones.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Samsung really dropped the ball with the Galaxy Note 7, but according to a new survey, fans haven’t lost faith in the South Korean company.

In fact, Samsung’s fans are just as loyal as Apple’s, with 91 percent saying they would buy another Samsung smartphone again.

Can Samsung recover from its Galaxy Note 7 nightmare? [Friday Night Fights]

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Galaxy Note 7 on fire
Will you buy a Samsung phone again?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Fans have mourned the loss of the Galaxy Note 7 — perhaps the best smartphone released in 2016 — and while a small few are determined to cling onto the device despite the risks, most have handed theirs back and moved on.

Friday Night Fights bugThe whole debacle is going to cost Samsung billions in lost revenue, and it will likely take years for the South Korean company to regain the trust it has lost. But just how detrimental could the problem be for Samsung’s smartphone business?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we discuss Samsung’s chances of recovering from the Galaxy Note 7 nightmare.

How Google’s Pixel phones stack up against iPhone 7

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Pixel
Pixel and Pixel XL.
Photo: Google

Google’s new Pixel smartphones have landed, and they’re here to show the world that Android is stepping up its fight against the iPhone.

The Pixel lineup shares a lot in common with the Nexus family it replaces, but it’s not designed with pure Android enthusiasts in mind anymore. Google wants to reach everyone with its new Pixel and Pixel XL, and it has gone all out to make that happen.

But does the Pixel duo have what it takes to beat iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and other high-end rivals? Find out in our smartphone comparison below.

iPhone 7 camera loses to Samsung in expert tests

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iPhone 7 back
iPhone 7's new iSight camera is better, but not the best.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The new iSight camera packed into iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is Apple’s best yet, according to tests carried out by the experts at DxOMark. It has been improved by a wider aperture, support for a wide color gamut, and faster autofocus.

But it’s not quite enough to beat the cameras found in Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones.

Galaxy Note 7 review: The best smartphone money can’t buy

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Galaxy Note 7
Don't let a few explosions put you off.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Forget what you’ve read about the Galaxy Note 7 exploding (and wiping out family cars, hotel rooms and homes). Samsung’s latest phablet delivers an improved design, faster internals, an iris scanner, the same great camera we got with the Galaxy S7 and an even better display.

When this baby goes on sale again, without that dreaded battery fault, it will be the best smartphone available — and the iPhone 7 (probably) won’t change a thing.