Galaxy A9 Pro visits Bluetooth SIG

We exclusively reported last month that Samsung has started working on the Galaxy A9 Pro (SM-A9100) and it appears that the company is looking to get it out the door quickly. The Galaxy A9 Pro has visited Bluetooth SIG for the relevant certification and it’s an indication that this handset will be coming out soon.

The Galaxy A9 Pro was also recently spotted on GFXBench benchmark where it was listed with a 5.5-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 652 processor with 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage with microSD card support,16-megapixel rear camera, a 4,000mAh battery and possibly Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. This may not be the final retail unit so there’s always the possibility of the final specs being a bit different. Just like the Galaxy A9, the Galaxy A9 Pro is expected to be released only in China.

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Verizon pushes out February security update for the Galaxy Tab S2

Verizon, the largest telecommunications provider in the United States, has been making the grade with its promise to distribute Google’s monthly security patches to all the flagship devices in its lineup, and has today started rolling out February’s fixes for its carrier-branded model of the Galaxy Tab S2 in the region. The upgrade (LMY47X.T817VVRS2APB2) addresses a handful of critical bugs embedded in the operating system, which could have allowed remote access via an instant message.

To prevent a server overload, the update is being pushed out in stages — so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the notification prompting you to download and install the update over the next couple of days. Verizon suggests that you have a fully-charged battery and be connected to a Wi-Fi network before pulling the upgrade to ensure that you obtain the quickest download speeds, and to avoid the slate from running out of juice halfway through the installation.

 

 

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Mophie takes the wraps off its wireless charging Juice Pack for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

Mophie, one of the largest names in the smartphone accessory industry, has just announced its brand new Juice Pack for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. These cases are the first on the market to utilize wireless charging technology, thus making them the most advanced portable battery cases around.

Although you’ll have to charge its ginormous 3,300mAh integrated battery via a traditional wall outlet using a USB cable, the bumper will be able to wirelessly charge your handset once it’s clipped on, thereby eliminating the need for a hefty lip at the bottom of the case as a microUSB doesn’t have to be plugged into the device.

Unfortunately, Mophie hasn’t provided any dimensions for the unit, but from what we can see the exclusion of the microUSB charging output cable has enabled the manufacturer to streamline the case, and hopefully shed some weight in the process.

Pre-orders for the Juice Pack will start soon at $99.95. However, if you’d like to be one of the first to know when it’s up for grabs, you can register your interest by hitting the source link below.

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The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will carrier lock to the first SIM inserted

Earlier today, a leaked slide from a Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge setup presentation surfaced online revealing that carrier-branded variants of the handsets will lock to the network of the SIM card that’s inserted. This the first time that Samsung has implemented an automatic carrier-locking mechanism into any of its Galaxy smartphones. Up until now, all devices sold through operators were factory unlocked and could be openly used on other networks.

If, for whatever reason, you want to use your handset on a different carrier, you’ll have to contact your current operator or a third-party provider and request a Network Unlock Code (NUC). More often than not, it costs money to generate these codes and unlock your device. However, under certain circumstances, they are free. Many networks in the United Kingdom will unlock a contracted smartphone at the end of a tariff so that customers can sell the devices on and put the money towards a new handset.

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Samsung’s Tizen Smart TVs strengthen their hold on the market

A new report has found that Samsung’s dominance in the smart TVs segment has continued into 2016. According to market researcher GfK, one in three smart TVs sold in Europe were based on Samsung’s Tizen operating system. As of November, Tizen-based smart TVs had a market share of 31%, while LG’s webOS was a distant second at 13%. LG’s figures were closely contested by Android TV offerings (Sony, Philips and the likes), which had a collective market share of 11%.

This goes to show that despite the presence of multiple Smart TV operating systems out there, Samsung continues to dominate the market, as has been the case for the entirety of 2015 really. Tizen only had a market share of 13% in July but has clearly won over the consumers since then to reach 31% by November. Samsung will hope to take a larger bite of the pie in the months to come as it plans to aggressively market the new range of curved OLED and “SUHD” televisions in global markets.

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Galaxy S6 edge+ gets Android 6.0.1 outside South Korea

Samsung recently started sending out the Android 6.0.1 for the Galaxy S6 edge+ in South Korea. Well, the update is now available outside South Korea as well (in Iraq), specifically for the model number SM-G928C. The update weighs in at over 1GB, so make sure you’re connected to an unlimited Wi-Fi network before proceeding. You will find the firmware version to be G928CXXU2BPB8 post the update, and the update can be manually downloaded from our dedicated firmware page here. Alternatively, the update can also be nabbed from the Samsung Smart Switch application on your desktop.

Samsung has already sent out the Android 6.0.1 update to the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge as well as the Galaxy Note 5 as of recently. If you’re wondering what’s new, check out this post where we’ve detailed the changes that you will find with Samsung’s Android 6.0.1 update.

Firmware Details:

Model	SM-G928C
Model name	Galaxy S6 edge+
Country	Iraq
Version	Android 6.0.1
Changelist	7254923
Build date	Wed, 17 Feb 2016 11:46:17 +0000
Product code	MID
PDA	G928CXXU2BPB8
CSC	G928COJV2BPB7

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The Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge is a better buy compared to the iPhone 6s, here’s why

Well, the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge are now official. While the announcement was a grand success and the hype generation has been pretty decent so far, the smartphone’s real test is yet to come. Starting March 11, when the handset starts reaching customers’ (and our) hands, we’ll know for sure if Samsung has a winner on its hands.

As is the case with every Samsung flagship launch, it’s customary for us to compare it with the iPhone flagship that’s in circulation at the time. In this case, it is the Apple iPhone 6s. Well, how do the two smartphones compare in terms of hardware, software and most of all, user likability?

The iPhone 6s is no doubt a decent device with features like Force Touch and that 12MP camera that’s impressed most of us. However, what Samsung has here is in a different league altogether. I know what you’re thinking, “You write for SamMobile, you have to be biased towards Samsung.” Well, it’s not exactly that simple.

Read More: Top five reasons why you should get the Samsung Galaxy S7

I owned an iPhone 6s (briefly) before eventually surrendering it to return to my beloved Android flagship. So you will have to realize that I’m perhaps the most impartial person to talk about how the iPhone fares in comparison to the newly released Samsung flagship. But don’t take my word for it, I have good reason to believe that.

The Design

Have you seen the curves on the Galaxy S7 edge? Yeah, they’re no different from the Galaxy S6 edge or the Galaxy S6 edge+, but that’s not to say it’s not a distinguishable feature in the mobile industry today. As far as design is concerned, I don’t think there’s any handset out there that even comes close to the Galaxy S7 edge and its refined, polished exterior. Advantage Samsung.

Features

This has been Samsung’s strong suit for a long time now. I remember thinking to myself about some of the mundane Samsung features from a few years ago that were merely party tricks and wouldn’t serve users in the long run. Well, thanks to the company’s continued insistence on those features and perfecting them over time, we think the Galaxy S7 reigns supreme with regards to onboard features. One thing I liked about Samsung’s offerings this year is that they didn’t jump to release a feature that was being pushed by other OEMs (like the USB Type-C port). Instead Samsung decided to actually think about its practical use for the consumers.

Speaking of practical features, the Galaxy S7 comes with one of the biggest and most sought after features today. Yes, we’re talking about the microSD card slot. This was surprisingly missing from the Galaxy S6 range last year, but Samsung was wise enough to learn from its mistakes. Now compare this with a 16GB iPhone 6s, which will cost you a bomb and leave you with little to no usable storage and you’ll know what I mean.

Last but not the least, the IP68 certified water and dust resistance. Well, this again is something that has made the Galaxy S7 a strong contender for the best flagship of the year crown, even though we’re just two months into the year. (And no, the iPhone 6s is not water resistant, in case you were wondering). We will certainly see more innovations from Samsung later this year when the successors to the Galaxy Note 5 and possibly the Galaxy S6 edge+ are unveiled by the manufacturer.

Display

This is an area where Samsung has had an advantage over the competition for a prolonged period, thanks to its extensive use of AMOLED panels in smartphones and even tablets since recently. It is being said that Apple’s LCD panels might be a thing of the past with the company supposedly contemplating the switch to OLED panels with this year’s iPhone models. The pressure on Apple has seemingly increased significantly since the release of the Galaxy S7, which is currently packing the best mobile display in the market, as per DisplayMate’s new report.

I won’t even begin to talk about the endless stream of support for newer hardware like the Gear VR, Gear 360 as well as the range of wearables that the company is offering. So taking all these factors into account, it’s a little hard to call the iPhone 6s an actual competitor at this point.

Sure, the sales figures might suggest otherwise. But if history has taught us something, it’s that not every good phone will be a crowd favorite. And I for one have never believed that the sales figures of a mobile device are an accurate metric of a smartphone’s capabilities.

So regardless of whether the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge will sell in millions or not, both of them are great devices. And that’s what really matters, right?

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