Update: while today is the Samsung Galaxy S22 launch day, at least in certain countries around the world, we've been hearing reports that not everyone is receiving their devices on time.
In our full report on the matter , we've detailed many different reports of people having their estimated shipping dates pushed back, including on many different devices (including the Tab S8 range) and to various different dates.
So, if you've pre-ordered your device, it might not arrive today. Our original story follows below.
Original story: If you’ve been hoping to get your hands on a Samsung Galaxy S22 then today could be the day, as the whole range – including the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – is now on sale.
Or at least it is in the US, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is also out now in the UK, but that phone isn’t coming to Australia until March 3. Both the UK and Australia have to wait a bit for the other models, with the standard Samsung Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Plus both hitting Australia on March 3 and the UK on March 11.
So if you’re in the US and you’ve pre-ordered any of these phones then they should be turning up on your doorstep today, with UK orders of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra doing likewise.
If you haven’t ordered yet though then there may still be a bit of a wait, as demand for these handsets is high, so you might find there’s a wait to receive them depending on the configuration you choose.
That’s no surprise, as the Samsung Galaxy S22 range are the most high-profile phones so far this year, and are likely to remain so until the iPhone 14 range arrives in September.
They arguably deserve to be that high-profile too, especially the S22 Ultra, which we awarded 4.5 stars to in our review, praising its incredible cameras and zoom, its excellent S Pen, and its silky-smooth screen.
Analysis: other phones on the horizon
While the Samsung Galaxy S22 range look to be the flagships to beat right now, they’ve got plenty of competition on the way.
That includes the OnePlus 10 Pro , which has actually already been unveiled, but so far only for China. This has a top-end chipset, a 6.7-inch QHD+ screen, a triple-lens camera tuned by Hasselblad, and more, and it’s likely to be joined by a standard OnePlus 10 when it gets its global launch.
Then there’s the Xiaomi 12 and the Xiaomi 12 Pro, which include similarly high-end specs. Plus there’s the Oppo Find X5 range, with numerous other upcoming phones on the horizon as well.
No, Apple isn't gearing up to buy Peloton
It’s been a rough few months for Peloton , and we’re starting to hear rumors that Apple might be interested in buying the ailing company and working its on-demand workouts into Apple Fitness Plus . I don’t see that happening any time soon, though – it’s just not the right fit.
First, there’s the brand itself. Although its reputation has taken a beating in recent months , Peloton has always been aspirational. While the digital-only membership costs around the same as most workout subscription plans , the bike has always been the main draw – and it’s a pricey status symbol. The Peloton Bike starts at $1,895 / £1,750, while the flashier Bike Plus starts at $2,495 / £2,295 – and that’s before you add in the monthly payment necessary to access the fun live workout classes led by bright-eyed, bushy-tailed instructors.
You could get a great workout on a regular spin bike in front of your TV, but you wouldn’t catch Miley Cyrus or Venus Williams showing off their Sunny studio cycle on Instagram. Peloton is a name synonymous with stylish young people working out in open-plan suburban homes and chic loft apartments .
Apple, by contrast, isn’t quite so exclusive. Yes, a 1TB iPhone 13 Pro Max costs as much as a Peloton Bike, but there are also much more affordable devices like the iPhone SE for those of us on a modest budget. The Apple Watch 7 is moderately priced as well; you don’t have to be Mr Big to join the club.
Bike building
Then there’s the hardware. Apple Gymkit allows you to connect an Apple Watch to a compatible treadmill, bike or rower so you can get more accurate workout stats, but so far the company has avoided manufacturing its own machines – and that makes sense. Apple Fitness Plus includes workouts that you can follow on treadmills and exercise bikes , but that’s only a small part of its overall offering. The company is putting much more emphasis on activities like walking, running, and yoga that have a lower barrier to entry.
Building exercise equipment would be a huge step for Apple, even with Peloton’s supply chains and manufacturing facilities, and Apple would likely want to start afresh rather than simply re-badging Peloton’s existing machines. Everything would likely need to be fully redesigned to fit in with Apple’s infamously stringent industrial design process, and there would almost certainly need to be a more accessible, more affordable bike available for anyone who’s interested in spinning but can’t drop almost $2,000 on the equipment.
That’s before we get into the matter of the Tread and Tread+, which were recalled in May 2021 after reports of accidents and injuries – including one fatality. Peloton has now developed a fix for the Tread to prevent its screen coming loose during workouts, but Apple may not want its name associated with it at all.
Peloton personalities
Finally, there are the Peloton instructors who make the live classes so appealing – what would become of them? Apple has its own carefully curated pack of Fitness Plus trainers, but the whole experience isn’t quite so personality-focused. Would Apple be happy to throw in Peloton’s team of 55 leaders as well, or would it prune the ranks and risk losing subscribers?
Although Apple and Peloton might seem to have a lot of commonalities at first glance, they don’t overlap in the right places, and I can’t see Tim Cook revealing a spin bike as ‘one more thing’ any time soon.
Prime Video's best comedy series has been renewed for one final season
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel will return for one final performance on Prime Video after Amazon Studios renewed the comedy series for a fifth season.
In a press release, Amazon confirmed that its award-winning comedy Prime Video show would return for the fifth and final time. The news comes ahead of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel season 4's launch on the streaming giant on Friday, February 18.
The announcement was accompanied by a screenshot, posted on Prime Video's social media channels, of the titular character – Miriam 'Midge' Maisel, who is played by Rachel Brosnahan – in a taxi. It's a nice touch, with the image adding a bit of poignancy to the bittersweet announcement. Take a look at it below:
Commenting on the show's fifth and final season, Amazon Studios Head Jennifer Salke said: “Amy [Sherman-Palladino], Dan [Palladino], and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have blazed an unparalleled path, elevating the stories we tell about women, challenging the norms in our industry, and forever altering the entertainment landscape with their one-of-a-kind storytelling.
“The dozens of awards cement Maisel’s legacy in many ways, but what’s even more enduring and poignant are the characters Amy created and the joyous, brilliant, singular world she and Dan brought to life. This series has meant so much to Prime Video and the effects of its success will be felt long after its final season. I can’t wait for fans and our worldwide Prime Video audience to savor each moment as we embark on the culmination of this ground-breaking and unforgettable series.”
No release date has been revealed for The Marvelous Mrs Maisel season 5 just yet. But, with the series set to return to our screens after a two-year hiatus, let's hope that it won't be another long wait until 'Midge' delivers her final mic drop.
Analysis: a fitting farewell to the queen of comedy
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel's last hurrah – whenever that may be – will bring the curtain on one of Prime Video's most successful original shows ever.
The period comedy-drama was the first of its kind to receive a multi-season renewal from Amazon Studios, and made Emmys history when showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino became the first woman to win both Comedy Writing and Comedy Directing awards at the 2018 ceremony.
In total, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel has won 51 awards at various ceremonies across the globe, including 20 Emmys, during its three season run so far. Other prominent award wins include an Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series win for Brosnahan, five Critics Choice Awards, and an Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series gong at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild awards event.
Sure, other Prime Video shows and movies won prizes before and after The Marvelous Mrs Maisel's arrival, but few have been as successful as this Amazon Original project. In some ways, the show was a trailblazer on the award circuit for Prime Video, and proved that it can compete with the likes of Netflix and HBO for the biggest TV gongs.
It'll be a sad day, then, for Amazon and Prime Video subscribers alike when the curtain falls on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel for the final time. But, with other critically-acclaimed shows like The Wheel of Time , Invincible , and The Boys under its belt, Prime Video will continue to prosper long after 'Midge' departs the stage for the last time. It'll just be a less comedic place without her.