AT&T launches the Galaxy A6 (2018) in the US

Samsung launched the Galaxy A6 about five months ago. The company said back then that it would release this handset in select markets across Asia, Europe and Latin America. A North America release was not mentioned at that point in time. Subsequent reports suggested that a US launch was possible for this handset.

The reports had also mentioned that AT&T could be the carrier partner for this device in the country. That’s precisely what has happened as the country’s second largest mobile carrier has now launched the Galaxy A6 (2018) in the United States.

Galaxy A6 (2018) in the US

It was first reported about four months ago that the Galaxy A6 is headed Stateside and that it would be released by AT&T with the model number SM-A600A. The carrier has now listed this device as being available for purchase. AT&T will deliver it to customers in a couple of days. It’s also possible to pick up the device at AT&T retail stores across the country.

The Galaxy A6 is a proper mid-range device complete with a sleek design. It has a 5.6-inch 720×1480 pixel resolution 18.5:9 aspect ratio flat Infinity Display, a 1.6GHz quadcore processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It supports microSD cards of up to 256GB. There’s a fingerprint sensor at the back in addition to the 16-megapixel camera with f/1.7 aperture. A 16-megapixel camera is present upfront with f/1.9 aperture and an adjustable LED flash.

Interested customers can purchase the Galaxy A6 (2018) from AT&T in the United States for $419.99 at full retail. Customers will also have the option to split the cost over a 30 month installment agreement and pay $14 per month for the device.

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Galaxy P30 pictures show no in-display fingerprint sensor

Some Galaxy P30 pictures have surfaced online and they don’t show the rumored in-display fingerprint sensor. Samsung is expected to release a separate handset this year with a display-based fingerprint sensor. Recent reports have suggested that this device will get an optical fingerprint sensor. That’s because Samsung is saving the more advanced ultrasonic sensor for the Galaxy S10 that’s due next year.

The Galaxy P30 was thus expected to be that device. Multiple rumors had claimed that this device, bearing model number SM-G6200, will be Samsung’s first smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Galaxy P30 pictures

The Galaxy P30 pictures have now surfaced from China where the device has been submitted to TENAA for certification. It’s the Chinese certification body that has to approve devices before they can be sold in the country.

The TENAA listing includes images of the SM-G6200 which clearly show a rear fingerprint sensor alongside the dual camera system. This puts to rest the rumors of the Galaxy P30 being Samsung’s first smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor. We had reported on this possibility a few days back as well.

The 5.9-inch display doesn’t appear to have a notch. There’s no word as yet on the specs of this device but it would most likely be a bonafide mid-ranger. The listing does mention a 3,300mAh battery which isn’t really anything to write home about.

There’s a possibility that the SM-G6200 may not be launched as the Galaxy P30 and the rumors about this moniker have been wrong all along. It’s also possible that there could be two variants of this device and one may have the in-display fingerprint sensor.

Samsung is yet to confirm when it’s going to launch this device. It’s possible that it may first be made available in China only before being released in other markets across the globe.

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Samsung’s new Odyssey+ WMR headset receives 3C certification

Microsoft added a Mixed Reality platform to the Windows 10 as part of the Fall Creators Update released in October last year. Responding to Microsoft’s mainstream push into AR and VR, many PC OEMs launched Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets towards the end of last year. Samsung also joined the party with its Odyssey headset and motion controllers.

Though not a major PC maker, Samsung’s WMR headset was the best of the available lot last year and received praise from many reviewers. Unfortunately, the Windows Mixed Reality platform hasn’t really taken off and all the MR headsets, including Samsung’s Odyssey, remained mostly a niche offering in the market. Nevertheless, Samsung seems to be interested in giving the platform another try by launching a successor to the last year’s Odyssey headset.

Samsung Odyssey+ inches closer to launch

The new model was first spotted last month on the FCC website, where the Odyssey+ name and specifications were revealed. The same headset has now received 3C certification (Chinese approval) as well, indicating an imminent launch. It carries the model number XE800ZBA, which lines up as a successor to the last year’s XE800ZAA model.

The 3C certification doesn’t reveal any other significant information about the headset, but that shouldn’t be an issue as the FCC filing disclosed almost everything about the new device. The FCC documents showed that the Odyssey+ would be mostly similar to the previous version, barring few minor design changes to make it more comfortable to wear. The only significant change in the spec sheet seems to be the mentioning of AMOLED+SFS as the display type.

We don’t know when Samsung is planning to launch the new WMR headset, but it would be a safe bet to say the company will probably target the holiday quarter. Microsoft has an event scheduled for October 2 where the company might offer some information about its latest Windows Mixed Reality efforts and new partner devices.

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Recap: What we discussed in our YouTube live stream this week

We just concluded this week’s YouTube live stream. These live streams give us a great opportunity to interact with you, our loyal readers, live and discuss all of the latest Samsung-related news.

We had a full agenda in this live stream as well. The new Galaxy A7 was the star of the show. It’s Samsung’s first smartphone with three rear cameras and we had it with us in the live stream. We also talked about Samsung’s bold new marketing stunt involving a community in the Netherlands that’s called Apple.

Other Samsung news that was discussed included the possibility of the Galaxy J series being discontinued, the big camera update released today for the Galaxy Note 9 and the free Samsung smartphone covers that our premium members can claim. General discussion on the state of Android was on the agenda as well.

The live stream is embedded below so do check it out. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel as well for more videos.

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Samsung gave the Galaxy S9 for free to an Apple community

Apple is Samsung’s main competitor in the premium smartphone segment. The Cupertino company, however, enjoys a much loyal fanbase when compared to Samsung, or for that matter any other brand on the planet. This makes Samsung go to great extent to convince Apple fans users to switch to its products through various marketing campaigns.

The Korean company has often mocked devoted Apple fans with its ads, but the company has taken a slightly different approach for its new marketing campaign in the Netherlands. A team from Samsung went to a village named Appel, which literally means Apple (the fruit) in Dutch, in the Gelderland province and handed over free Galaxy S9 smartphones to 50 of the village’s 312 inhabitants.

Galaxy S9 takes over Appel

Samsung took help from an 18-year old Apple fan in the village named Manouk to carry out the campaign. You can watch the video below to see how people reacted after receiving a brand-new Galaxy S9.

“With our innovative products and services, we have been off the beaten track for years to make everyday life more fun and easy. With this marketing campaign we do exactly the same. We are off the beaten track to get our message across. Our goal is to introduce as many people as possible to the possibilities of the Samsung Galaxy S9,” said (translated) Gerben van Walt Meijer, Marketing Manager, Samsung Mobiles, Netherland.

It’s a bold marketing stunt that Samsung has employed, seizing on the similarity between the names of this village and its biggest rival. It has helped the company get the message across about the Galaxy S9 which it would rather have customers buying over the new iPhones.

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Galaxy Note 9 camera improvements arrive in new update

Samsung is rolling out a new firmware update which brings improvements for the Galaxy Note 9 camera. The handset has one of the best cameras you can find on a flagship smartphone today but there’s always room for improvement on the software front. Those who found the camera software a bit lacking in terms of further enhancing the imaging experience will be happy with this update.

The company has started rolling out this update in Germany. It’s obviously going to take a while before this firmware update for the Galaxy Note 9 becomes available in other markets across the globe.

Galaxy Note 9 camera improvements

The company has focused on software features to enhance the Galaxy Note 9’s imaging chops from the get-go. The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s first smartphone with Scene Optimizer. This artificial intelligence-based feature can study the subject and scene before matching them to 20 presents automatically. The presets include landscapes, food, portrait, animals and more. Flaw Detection is another feature that informs users with a pop-up notification if they take a blurry photo or if someone in the photo blinked.

Samsung is rolling out firmware version N960FXXU2ARI9 for the Galaxy Note 9. The update weighs in at around 302MB. The changelog mentions that the camera picture quality has been improved with this update. It also improves the brightness of faces in backlit conditions. Day/Night HDR control accuracy, low light brightness and SNR or Signal Noise Ratio has been improved too.

This firmware update for the Galaxy Note 9 is now rolling out over-the-air. It brings substantial improvements for the camera which device owners will certainly appreciate. It’s good to see that Samsung is working diligently to ensure that its camera remains competitive. That too in a market which has no shortage of handsets with powerful camera hardware and software.

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Galaxy Watch Golf Edition launched with Smart Caddie app

Samsung today announced the launch of the Galaxy Watch Golf Edition. This variant of its new smartwatch comes with the Smart Caddie app. If you have ever played golf you know just how important a caddy is on the course. They know the geographical features well and are a good resource on courses that you’re not familiar with.

There are plenty of watches available on the market that are geared towards golfers. Samsung is joining the list with the Galaxy Watch Golf Edition. The only difference between this variant and the regular Galaxy Watch are the software features otherwise it’s the same smartwatch.

Galaxy Watch Golf Edition

This isn’t the first time that Samsung is launching a variant of its smartwatch for golfers. The company also launched the Gear S3 Golf Edition last year. It also had the Smart Caddie app which has information about 60,000 golf courses across the globe.

The app is present on the Galaxy Watch Golf Edition as well. Developed in collaboration with Golfzon Deca, it offers other features such as Shot Tracking and record keeping. It’s even possible to get information on the height of the green from the app.

Since the Galaxy Watch has a bigger battery than its predecessor, its battery life is good enough for three rounds of golf, or 54 holes. The Galaxy Watch Golf Edition is now available in South Korea. The 46mm and 42mm models are priced at 409,700 won (US$367) and 389,900 won ($351) respectively. No word as yet on when it will be available outside South Korea.

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We’ll be live on YouTube tomorrow – tune in to see the triple camera Galaxy A7!

We cover a lot of interesting news about Samsung products every week so there’s always plenty to discuss with our readers. We have started conducting live streams on YouTube for this purpose so that our readers can join in and engage with us live. We’ll be going live on our official YouTube channel tomorrow, Friday, at 12:00 Amsterdam time (3:30 pm Delhi, 11 am London).

There’s a lot that we will be talking about, such as Samsung’s renewed commitment to its mid-range lineup and the serious steps it’s taking to challenge its Chinese rivals. The new Galaxy A7 is the first product based on this strategy and we’ll have it with us in the live stream so do tune in to hear our thoughts about Samsung’s first smartphone with three rear cameras.

Head over to our YouTube channel and subscribe. We’ll send you a little reminder when we go live tomorrow.

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Cloud Silver is officially the latest Galaxy Note 9 color option

A render surfaced a couple of weeks ago suggesting that Samsung might offer the Galaxy Note 9 in a new color option. The render revealed that it would be a shade of silver and that’s exactly what the company has announced today. Samsung’s latest color option for its flagship is called Cloud Silver.

Initial reports had suggested that this color option may only be launched in the United States. We dug around and found that once it’s out in the United States, this new color option will also be launched in dozens of other markets as well.

Cloud Silver Galaxy Note 9

Cloud Silver has been officially confirmed as the latest color option for the Galaxy Note 9. It will be available in the United States before anywhere else. It has a silver S Pen to match the device. Samsung had originally launched its new flagship with the Lavender Purple and Ocean Blue color options in the United States.

Midnight Black, a popular color for this device, wasn’t available in the US at launch. That’s changing now too. Samsung has confirmed that in addition to Cloud Silver, it’s also making the Galaxy Note 9 available in Midnight Black for customers in the US.

The Cloud Silver Galaxy Note 9 will be available starting October 5 exclusively from Best Buy stores, it’s website and Samsung.com. The 128GB Midnight Black Galaxy Note 9 will be available through all retail channels starting October 12. Its 512GB model will be available from October 26.

Samsung hasn’t said when the Cloud Silver Galaxy Note 9 will be made available in other markets. It may take a few weeks to arrive elsewhere.

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Scene Optimizer on the Galaxy A7 is a dedicated (separate) camera mode

With the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung introduced a new camera feature called Scene Optimizer. Scene Optimizer’s task is simple: Try and detect the kind of scene and subject that the user is trying to take a photo of and then optimize the photo’s colors to make it pop. On the Note 9, you can either turn Scene Optimizer on or off and then take photos in Auto mode. On the Galaxy A7, that’s not the case. The Galaxy A7’s camera app has Scene Optimizer as a dedicated shooting mode.

Galaxy A7 Scene Optimizer a separate camera mode

It’s not entirely surprising that Samsung has separated the feature into a mode of its own on a mid-range phone, especially one that takes 24MP photos with the primary rear camera. The Galaxy A7 probably doesn’t have enough power to take photos and then modify its colors quickly enough in real-time mode. On the flip side, it’s now easier to switch between regular automatic mode and Scene Optimizer, as you don’t have to go into the camera settings to turn the latter on or off. In fact, maybe that’s the sole reason for this change compared to the Galaxy Note 9 and not the lower processing power under the hood.

Of course, it also helps in seeing the kind of difference Scene Optimizer makes to the photo. It’s not a huge difference, but we’ll have to take a few photos in both modes to give a proper verdict. That verdict will come as part of our Galaxy A7 review in the coming weeks and will also tell you how those triple rear cameras work. In the meantime, check out how a picture differs when taken with and without Scene Optimizer on the A7 below (swipe right for regular picture, left for optimized picture).

← SLIDE →

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Samsung will manufacture crypto mining chips for Squire

The hype around cryptocurrencies may have come down a bit, but there is still enough interest in the idea and technology behind it for many companies to get involved and make money. As the world’s largest semiconductor company, Samsung also saw an opportunity and entered the cryptocurrency market earlier this year by making ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chips for mining hardware firms.

It appears Samsung Semiconductor has found a new customer in Canada. Squire, a Canadian Bitcoin mining firm has announced that it has signed a deal with Samsung for manufacturing ASIC chips. ASIC mining chips are designed to make crypto mining faster and more power-efficient, making them ideal for mining rigs. Squire develops specialized mining equipment and is a competitor to Bitmain, a leading player in the mining hardware space.

Samsung’s push into cryptocurrency market

“On August 1, 2018, we announced that Squire had engaged an undisclosed arm’s length design fabrication firm to perform the back-end design, testing and initial mass production run of our next generation ASIC chip for mining Bitcoin.  We are delighted that we are now able to disclose Gaonchips as our design house and Samsung Electronics as our foundry partner,” Squire said in a press release. No other details about the agreement are made public, and Samsung is yet to make a formal announcement of the deal.

Samsung hasn’t been very aggressive in catering to the crypto industry, probably due to the volatility and uncertainty associated with it. It is also possible the company doesn’t see this market as a substantial and sustainable source of revenue to be more involved, at least at this point in time. Its slow push into this space puts it in competition with the Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, who has been active in the crypto mining industry far longer.

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SDC 2018 keynote speakers announced by Samsung

Samsung today announced the SDC 2018 keynote speakers. The company confirmed its dates for the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 three months ago. It will showcase the advancements it has made in software at its annual developer conference. It will be extra special this year as some hardware-related announcements will be on the agenda as well.

The Samsung Developer Conference 2018 is going to take place on November 7-8 in San Francisco. It was held from October 18-19 last year. Thousands of developers, technologists and innovators will attend Samsung Developer Conference 2018.

SDC 2018 keynote speakers

Samsung hosted its first proper developer conference in the United States five years ago. It had previously hosted some for its Bada and Tizen operating systems. The Samsung Developer Conference covered a wide range of software and solutions than earlier events and became an annual occurrence.

The company today confirmed the SDC 2018 keynote speakers. The initial roster includes DJ Koh who is the president and CEO of Samsung’s mobile division. He will open SDC 2018 and discuss Samsung’s vision for the future of technology.

Samsung is due to provide more details about its foldable smartphone at SDC 2018 therefore Koh’s keynote will be particularly noteworthy. Samsung also teased its Bixby-powered Galaxy Home smart speaker at the Galaxy Note 9 event on August 9. It will provide more information about this product at SDC 2018.

The company’s fans can thus expect hardware announcements at SDC 2018 as well in addition to the advancements in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things that Samsung will largely focus on.

Samsung introduced an updated Bixby experience with the Galaxy Note 9 and it will talk about future improvements for the assistant at the event. Dag Kittlaus, CEO of Viv Labs, will be speaking at the keynote for this very purpose. He will be joined by the company’s CTO Adam Cheyer. They will talk about Samsung’s strategy to make Bixby more personal, natural and ubiquitous.

Other Samsung executives who will be taking the stage during the keynote include the company’s EVP and Head of Software and AI Eui-Suk Chung and VP and Head of Service Security Technologies Group Jaeyeon Jung.

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Samsung Experience 10 Launcher APK surfaces for Oreo-powered phones

We got our first glimpse at the Samsung Experience 10 launcher about a week ago. A leaked Android Pie for Galaxy S9 build had surfaced which gave us our first glimpse at the upcoming major firmware update. The Samsung Experience 10 Launcher APK is now available for download and it’s compatible with Samsung’s Oreo-powered devices as well.

This Samsung Experience 10 Launcher has been pulled from that very leaked build. It’s not the only app that was taken from that build. The upcoming version of the Samsung Internet browser was pulled as well.

Samsung Experience 10 Launcher APK

Many of you have seen the screenshots from that leaked Android 9.0 for Galaxy S9 build. Samsung Experience 10 brings major changes for the entire user interface and the launcher is a part of that UI.

The icons in this updated launcher are slightly larger in both the app drawer and folders. A new animation plays when Bixby Home is launched while the Home screen settings menu’s design language is similar to that of the Samsung Experience 10 skin.

The APK is now available for download. We have decided not to upload it on our APK page because it’s not officially signed by Samsung. SamMobile does not host unsigned APKs from third-parties as per policy, nevertheless, you can obtain it from the source link below and install it at your own risk.

This Samsung Experience 10 Launcher APK is compatible with Samsung devices running Android 8.0 and Android 8.1. It’s obviously compatible with devices running that leaked Android Pie build as well (here’s our guide on how to install that leaked build on the Galaxy S9). The app will have to be sideloaded before it can be selected as the default launcher from the Settings app.

The launcher won’t let you experience the full extent of the UI changes in Samsung’s custom Android skin. That will only be possible with Samsung Experience 10 which will ship the Android 9 Pie update. Samsung is currently testing the Pie update in all markets for the Galaxy S9 and will subsequently start rolling out the firmware update in the coming months.

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Samsung partners with PUBG Mobile for a global tournament

Samsung was the exclusive launch-partner for Fortnite on Android, although the exclusivity didn’t last for any meaningful amount of time. Last week, the company announced a Fortnite contest in partnership with the popular Fortnite streamer Ninja. The contest, which is open only to the Galaxy Note 9 and Tab S4 users in the US, promises attractive prizes to the winners.

If you are in the PUBG camp, then Samsung has something for you as well, sort of. The company has announced that it will sponsor the PUBG Mobile Star Challenge (PMSC) – a global tournament for celebrity streamers. Players will be competing for a $600,000 prize pool and official streaming contracts. Samsung doesn’t seem to be involved in the PMSC in anyway other than a sponsor, but we can expect the company to use the opportunity to showcase the gaming capabilities of the Galaxy Note 9.

Samsung sponsors PUBG Mobile Star Challenge

Unlike the Fortnite contest, the PMSC has higher barriers to entry and is open only to players with more than 1000 followers on streaming or social media platforms. The tournament is open to players and teams from Europe, North America, South America, China, Korea/Japan, and the rest of Asia.

The contest will be at the regional level first after which the winning teams from the six regions will fight for the global championship. Regional champion will get $20,000, while the runner-up and third-place winner will receive $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. The global final promises prize money of $200,000, $100,000, and $50,000 for the first, second, and third-place winners, respectively.

You can visit the PUBG Mobile Star Challenge page here for more details.

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Galaxy P30 might not have an in-display fingerprint sensor

There’s been plenty of speculation and rumor mongering about when exactly Samsung will release a phone with an in-display fingerprint sensor. It hasn’t made its way into the flagship Galaxy phones yet, and recent rumors have suggested that Samsung will be bringing such a fingerprint sensor to the Galaxy P30 later this year. But a new rumor is now claiming that may not be the case.

Galaxy P30 features might not include in-display fingerprint sensor

The latest tidbit comes from Chinese leakster MMDDJ_, who has taken to Twitter to say there’s no in-display fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy P30. The leakster also says that the P30 will have 6GB of RAM and the Galaxy P series phones will offer high-end hardware at a low price. The Galaxy A series, meanwhile, will reportedly continue to be all about the overall experience. It’s unclear if an in-display fingerprint is still on the cards for the Galaxy P30+. It’s possible Samsung will stick to a conventional fingerprint sensor for the non-Plus model, just like it has only equipped the Galaxy J6+ with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and not the Galaxy J4+.

That won’t mean the Galaxy P30 won’t still be a relatively high-end device. As we revealed exclusively today, the P30 will come in a 128GB storage flavor, pretty much like the new Galaxy A7. It will also have gradient color options. Samsung has already dipped its toes into the world of gradient colors with the Galaxy A9 Star, and offering the Galaxy P30 in similarly beautiful paint jobs should make it more visually attractive to consumers in China, where the P30 and P30+ are expected to debut.

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Samsung may soon launch ‘Gradation Covers’ for its new smartphones

Samsung has significantly improved the competitiveness of its budget smartphones this year with Infinity displays and thoughtful software features. This has helped the company to regain some of the lost market share in countries like India. The company is also changing its strategy for the midrange smartphones and has already launched the Galaxy A7 (2018) as part of it.

Apart from the devices themselves, it appears Samsung is focusing on launching attractive accessories as well. A report in GalaxyClub says the company will soon unveil ‘Gradation Covers’ for the recently launched Galaxy A7 (2018), Galaxy J4+, and Galaxy J6+. No official images are available yet, but the reported details are enough to give us an idea.

Gradation covers ‘add’ new colors to the smartphone

As the name implies, these covers add a gradient effect to the smartphone. The report says these are probably partially transparent silicone covers with a color gradient that ‘changes’ the color of the smartphone depending on the angle you look at it.

The concept is similar to the gradient color options of the Huawei P20 Pro, but, unlike Huawei, Samsung is doing it through a cover for the aforementioned devices. Samsung has embraced gradient colors for one handset in China. We have also reported exclusively today that Samsung’s first smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor is going to be offered with four gradient color options.

We don’t know when Samsung is planning to bring them to the market, but the October 11 Galaxy event in Malaysia, where the company is rumored to unveil the new Galaxy A9 with a four-camera setup on the back, seems like a good venue for announcing them.

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Exclusive: Galaxy P30 storage and color options revealed

Samsung is working on a new handset with an in-display fingerprint sensor which will be launched as part of a new Galaxy P series. This device is expected to arrive before the end of this year. The Galaxy S10 will thus not be Samsung’s first smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor. That title will go to the Galaxy P30.

It has been reiterated in recent rumors that the Galaxy P30 will be Samsung’s first in-display fingerprint sensor phone. The device is said to feature an LCD display with an optical display-based fingerprint sensor.

Galaxy P30 storage and color options

We can now exclusively reveal some information about Samsung’s first in-display fingerprint sensor phone which bears model number SM-G6200. The Galaxy P30 moniker isn’t confirmed yet, by the way, but it’s possible that this is what Samsung might use for the device.

The Galaxy P30 will be available with 64GB and 128GB of storage. That’s pretty standard for a decent mid-range smartphone in 2018. The handset will be available in Blue, Pink, Black and Red colors. Samsung recent shift to gradient colors isn’t a one-off event. All four color options for the Galaxy P30 will be gradient and these will be the base colors.

It’s expected that Samsung may launch this handset in China first. A Galaxy P30+ is also believed on the agenda which may feature a display-based fingerprint sensor. Both are likely going to be released before the end of this year.

Optical in-display fingerprint sensors can already be found in devices from the likes of Huawei and Vivo. They’re cheaper but less accurate compared to their ultrasonic counterparts. The Galaxy S10 will feature an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, the best that Qualcomm has to offer.

Samsung is likely pushing out this device later this year as it’s now aggressively taking on its Chinese rivals. That strategy has already resulted in the new Galaxy A7 being launched as Samsung’s first smartphone with a triple rear camera.

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New Galaxy A7 price and release date in India confirmed

Samsung today confirmed the new Galaxy A7 price and release date in India. The Galaxy A7 is Samsung’s first smartphone with three rear-facing cameras. India is one of the first markets to get this device. The new handset brings a premium design, a triple-camera system at back and promises of superior performance.

Samsung says that it developed the Galaxy A7 based on consumer insight which shows that nearly half of Indian millennials use their smartphone cameras daily. They happen to use the rear camera twice as much as the front camera.

New Galaxy A7 price and release date in India

The new Galaxy A7 has three rear-facing cameras. There’s the primary 24-megapixel sensor coupled with an 8-megapixel 120-degree Ultra Wide sensor. It also has a 5-megapixel depth sensor at the back. There’s a 24-megapixel front camera as well.

With Pixel Binning, the device can detect low light conditions automatically and combine four pixels into one “Super Pixel.” This results in clear shots in the dark. The depth sensor enables Live Focus which lets users control the depth of field or bokeh effects during and after taking a photo.

Samsung’s Scene Optimizer feature is present on this device as well. It can automatically detect up to 19 different scenarios such as food, sunset etc and then optimize each shot for the perfect picture. The AR Emoji feature is present as well but it’s the same watered down implementation as the Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8.

The Galaxy A7 features a 6-inch 1080×2220 pixel resolution AMOLED display. It’s powered by the Exynos 7885 processor with 4GB/6GB and 64GB/128GB RAM and storage variants. It supports microSD cards of up to 512GB. There’s a 3,300mAh battery, LTE Cat.6, Samsung Pay mini and Android 8.0 Oreo as well.

Samsung is selling the Galaxy A7 in blue, black and gold colors. The 4GB/64GB variant is priced at INR 23,990 (~$330) and the 6GB/128GB costs INR 28,990 (~$400). Customers are eligible for a cash back worth INR 2,000 when they pay through HDFC bank credit and debit cards.

It will be available for a special preview sale on Flipkart, Samsung e-shop and at the Samsung Opera House in Bengaluru on September 27 and September 28. The Galaxy A7 will also be available from the company’s countrywide retail network by the end of this month.

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Galaxy Note 9 is Consumer Reports’ highest-rated smartphone

Incremental changes in a new smartphone may not sound very appealing on paper but may result in a great device that is a joy to use and easy to recommend. It seems to be the case with the Galaxy Note 9 as well if we go by all the praise the device is receiving in the recent weeks.

At the time of the announcement, not many people were excited with the Galaxy Note 9 due to its incremental upgrades, but the narrative seems to have changed quite a bit once the reviews started pouring in. Most of the reviews, including our very own, presented the Galaxy Note 9 as an uncompromising device which excels in almost all the critical aspects of a smartphone.

Consumer Reports (CR) is also now joining the chorus with a glowing review for Samsung’s latest flagship. The Note 9 excelled in CR’s extensive tests to climb to the top of their smartphone ratings. CR attributes Galaxy Note 9’s score to its long-lasting battery, improved durability, great cameras, and innovative features like the S Pen.

Galaxy Note 9 is CR’s highest-rated smartphone

Samsung’s phablet lasted an impressive 29 hours in CR’s battery test that simulates real-world use with a robotic finger programmed to make calls, browse the internet, snap pictures, and use GPS navigation on the test device. In the durability test which involves dropping the device from a height of 2.5 feet into a tumbling machine, the Note 9 reportedly survived all the 100 test drops without any damages to the glass.

CR also, unsurprisingly, praises the Galaxy Note 9 for its beautiful OLED display, cameras that take great pictures, and S Pen features. The report points to few obvious shortcomings as well – size, weight, and price. With the new iPhones about to hit the market, we have to wait and see if the Note 9 will be able to hold on to the top rank for long.

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Galaxy P30 may be Samsung’s in-display fingerprint sensor phone

Samsung was expected to introduce its in-display fingerprint sensor with the Galaxy S10. If recent reports are anything to go by, the company will be launching a couple of new handsets before the Galaxy S10 with this technology. It’s Samsung response to the competition from Chinese rivals like Huawei who have already released devices with this technology.

The company is expected to launch a new series – Galaxy P – for this purpose. The Galaxy P30 and P30+ are rumored to be Samsung’s first smartphones with an in-display fingerprint sensor. They may be released in China later this year.

Galaxy P30 and P30+ with in-display fingerprint sensor

Bearing model number SM-G6200, the Galaxy P30 may be Samsung’s first device with an in-display fingerprint sensor. A China-based leakster claims that this technology will be present in both the Galaxy P30 and P30+.

These handsets may be China-only initially which would make sense. Samsung wants to compete with its Chinese rivals on their home turf. What better way to do that than by launching smartphones that can match their offerings on paper in their markets.

The Galaxy S10 is expected to feature a high-end ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor from Qualcomm. These handsets may not get that. They’re said to feature an optical in-display fingerprint sensor instead with their LCD displays. It may make this decision because this will allow Samsung to split its in-display fingerprint sensor offerings and keep the more powerful technology for its upcoming flagship. It would thus be able to immediately cater to its fans who have been waiting for this technology instead of making them wait for the Galaxy S10.

Samsung has employed a similar strategy with the triple-camera system. The new Galaxy A7 is Samsung’s first smartphone with three rear-facing cameras. It was believed that this crown will also go to the Galaxy S10 but clearly it hasn’t. Samsung has said that it’s going to bring more technology to mid-range devices before it even arrives on flagships. That’s precisely what’s happening now.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy P30 and P30+ later this year. It’s unclear if these handsets will be offered outside China and how much they’re going to cost.

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Samsung files a trademark application for ‘Samsung Buds’

Samsung has filed a trademark application for ‘Samsung Buds’ at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) last week. Unfortunately, we don’t have any credible reports or rumors surrounding this name so far, and all that we have are some calculated guesses.

Beginning with the trademark itself, Samsung Buds sounds like a possible name for earphones if we go by the current trend in the industry. Whether that means Samsung is planning to launch a new earphones lineup under this name is currently unknown. The company already makes wireless earbuds under the Gear Icon branding. We wonder if this trademark has anything to do with that lineup.

What are Samsung Buds?

Samsung ships a pair of premium AKG earphones with all its flagship smartphones. While AKG might have a lot of brand value among audiophiles, it doesn’t enjoy the same level of popularity among other segments. Rebranding these earphones as Samsung Buds makes sense from a consistency perspective, but we are not sure if that is the reason behind this trademark.

Pixel Buds from Google comes to mind immediately when reading about Samsung Buds. Google launched Pixel Buds last year with Google Assistant built-in. Is Samsung planning to launch a similar product powered by Bixby? Again, we don’t know for sure, but it’s a possibility given the company’s efforts to put Bixby everywhere.

While all this speculation may sound exciting, it is worth remembering that Samsung, like many other companies, trademarks many names which may never turn into real products. We have to wait and see if and when Samsung will bring these ‘Samsung Buds’ to the market.

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Galaxy J6+ and Galaxy J4+ official, price in India confirmed

Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy J6+ and Galaxy J4+. These entry-level handsets have been leaked considerably over the past few weeks. There’s nothing in today’s announcement that’s going to surprise us. At least the official pricing and availability information about these devices is now public.

Samsung says that these new devices have been “created especially for young millennials.” It has focused on combining a modern design with new features. The Galaxy J series is one of the most popular smartphone series in India. It makes up almost a third of all smartphones sold in the country, according to Samsung.

Galaxy J6+ and Galaxy J4+ official

The Galaxy J6+ and Galaxy J4+ both feature a glass finish, reflective back and 6-inch HD+ Infinity Design displays. Dolby Atmos is onboard as well. They’re relying on the same Snapdragon 425 chip, 3,300mAh battery and Android Oreo. The Galaxy J6+ will be available with 4G RAM/64GB storage and the Galaxy J4+ with 2GB RAM/32GB storage. The Galaxy J6+ also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. It’s actually the first Galaxy device with a fingerprint sensor on the side. The Galaxy J4+ does not have a fingerprint sensor.

The Galaxy J6+ has a 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual rear camera with features like Background Blur and Dolly Zoom. There’s an 8-megapixel front camera as well. The Galaxy J4+ gets a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera. There’s a new Emotify feature on both devices. It will let users customize messages and use creative ways to express themselves. Emotify avatars will be available in 22 Indian languages which can be shared on social media and popular messaging apps. Other features include the ability to install apps to SD card.

The Galaxy J6+ will be available in red, black and blue colors for INR 15,990 (~$220). Samsung will sell the Galaxy J4+ in gold, black and blue for INR 10,990 (~$150). Both devices will be available from September 25 across Samsung’s countrywide retail network, Amazon, Flipkart and the Samsung Shop. Samsung will likely offer these handsets in other markets as well. The company’s regional divisions will confirm pricing and availability information for their respective markets.

Galaxy J4+

• Model: SM-J415F
• Dimensions: 161.4 x 76.9 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.0" (152.4mm) TFT
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS F1.9

More specifications

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Samsung Galaxy A7 India launch set for September 25

Samsung India has revealed on Twitter that the new Galaxy A7 will be launching in the country on September 25th. The company has posted a link to the Galaxy A7 on online retailer Flipkart, suggesting it will be the exclusive online seller of the Samsung’s first smartphone with three rear cameras. Samsung isn’t revealing the Galaxy A7 price in India just yet, but that should change on the launch date.

Galaxy A7 India launch happens next week

The Flipkart listing for the Galaxy A7 confirms that the phone will support AR Emoji out of the box. The Galaxy A8 Star’s recent software update also added AR Emoji support, in addition to the feature making its way to last year’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 as well. The Galaxy A7 camera also has the Note 9’s Scene Optimizer feature built-in. In addition to the regular 24-megapixel camera, the new A7 comes with an 8-megapixel wide-angle (120-degree) camera and a 5-megapixel depth sensor for Live Focus shots. At the front, it gets a 24-megapixel camera.

Other Galaxy A7 specs are similar to the Galaxy A8+ (2018). It has a 6-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display, octa-core Exynos 7885 SoC, 4/6GB of RAM, 64/128GB storage options, and a 3,300 mAh battery. It remains to be seen which storage and memory options will be released in India, although the heavy competition in the Indian market is likely to force Samsung into skipping the 4GB RAM variant altogether. The Galaxy A7 also comes with a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button and support for Samsung Pay payments over NFC in select markets.

Does the new Galaxy A7 interest you?

Don’t Miss: First Galaxy A7 (2018) firmware now online, wallpapers available

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Specs of the Samsung four camera phone have surfaced

Amid rumors that there’s a Samsung four camera phone in the pipeline, the company confirmed an event for October 11. The invite subtly hints at a device with four cameras. Our information suggests that the handset will be called the Galaxy A9. It will indeed come with four rear facing cameras.

This will be the first smartphone from Samsung to feature four rear cameras. The company has already launched its first triple camera device, the new Galaxy A7.

Samsung four camera phone

A new report today sheds some light on the specs of this upcoming device. It’s said to feature a 6.38-inch FHD+ resolution display with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chip under the hood. It may also have a 3,720mAh battery.‎ The new Galaxy A7 has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. This device might have the sensor on its back.

That’s not what most people will buy this phone for. The rear quad camera system will be it’s biggest selling point. The report mentions that the device will have a 24-megapixel primary sensor with an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor that has a 120-degree field of view. The Galaxy A7 has two similar sensors.

The Galaxy A9 is also said to feature a 10-megapixel zoom and an additional 5-megapixel zoom sensor. The setup may allow for different optical zoom levels on the device in theory. One could be a depth sensor as well to improve background blur in shots. The device might have a 24-megapixel front camera as well.

None of this has been officially confirmed so take it with a grain of salt for now. More information about the Galaxy A9 is likely going to surface in the days leading up to its launch.

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Samsung is reportedly planning to cut down memory chip output next year

Thanks to the stellar performance of its semiconductor business, Samsung posted record profits in the last couple of years. The impressive growth in its chip business also helped Samsung to emerge as the world’s largest chipmaker in the world, ending Intel’s 24-year reign at the top. Many analysts, however, saw this growth as temporary, driven by a volatile boom in the semiconductor industry.

It appears the boom days are coming to a close and the chip industry is expecting a slowdown in the near future. Samsung is making plans accordingly to cut down memory chip output next year, at least according to a report in Bloomberg. Reducing the supply will help the company to maintain or drive up the prices of its products.

Samsung expects lower bit growth next year

Samsung was apparently expecting a ‘bit growth’, a term used to refer to the amount of memory produced in the market, of 20 percent for DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory) products and 40 percent for NAND offerings in 2018, but has now revised its expectations to less than 20% for DRAM and 30% for NAND.

Since bit growth is a key metric for assessing market demand, the estimates from Samsung do point to a slowdown in the market. However, being the largest producer of DRAM and NAND, Samsung Semiconductor has the clout to control supply and influence prices. The fact that there are only three major players in the market (SK Hynix and Micron Technology) will also work in Samsung’s favor.

Interestingly, there were reports earlier this year that the Chinese agencies were looking into Samsung and other chip makers for possible collusion and price fixing. Though nothing concrete has come out of it yet, we wonder if the reported strategy of restricting supply to jack up prices will add more fuel to those allegations.

“We’re flexibly managing capacity in line with the market supply-demand situation,” Samsung said to Bloomberg in a text message.

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First Galaxy A7 (2018) firmware now online, wallpapers available

Samsung has said the new Galaxy A7 will go on sale sometime this fall, and it looks like some markets could see the phone hit retail shelves within the next week or two. The first Galaxy A7 (2018) firmware are now available in the SamMobile firmware database for Turkey, India, and the UAE.

Oddly, the phone is running Android 8.0 and not Android 8.1. That’s a shame considering cheaper devices like the Galaxy J6+ will run Android 8.1 out of the box. It suggests Samsung is rushing the Galaxy A7 out so it can have a device with three rear cameras on the market, and hopefully the imaging experience will make up for the slightly older software.

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) wallpapers also available

Thankfully, the Galaxy A7 firmware do include the September 2018 security patch. And thanks to the firmware, we also have the official Galaxy A7 wallpapers available for download from our wallpaper archive. These are similar to those found on the Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy J4+, and Galaxy J6+, with a couple of new additions. You can download individual wallpapers or get all wallpapers in a single package that you can extract on your PC or mobile device. We have added some of the wallpapers below for your viewing pleasure.

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Confirmed: These are the three Galaxy S10 model numbers

Plenty of rumors in the last couple of months have suggested that the Galaxy S10 will be released in three variants. We have now been able to confirm the model numbers Samsung will be using for the three Galaxy S10 variants. Two of the Galaxy S10 model numbers are SM-G970F and SM-G975F, following Samsung’s usual tradition. What about the third Galaxy S10 model? That will be the SM-G973F.

Testing on all three Galaxy S10 models has begun

Samsung is testing the three Galaxy S10 models with firmware version XXU0ARI8 at the moment. The Galaxy S10 will run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, as expected. Speaking of Android Pie, the leaked Galaxy S9+ Android 9.0 Pie firmware confirmed earlier this week that a 5G variant of the largest Galaxy S10 version is also being tested. The 5G variant is unlikely to have a separate model number and will most probably be exclusive to South Korea and the US, two countries where Samsung is actively working to usher in the 5G era.

Current rumors and reports peg the screen size of the biggest Galaxy S10 at 6.44-inches. A recent benchmark listing suggested an increased aspect ratio as well. The SM-G970F and SM-G973F are rumored to have a 5.8-inch screen, with a dual rear camera on one and a single rear camera on the other. The SM-G975 could have a triple camera setup at the back and a dual camera setup up front, although everything is just a rumor at this point. It also remains to be seen if the significant design changes DJ Koh had mentioned will be seen across all three models.

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Good Lock 2018 update brings enhanced Multi Window functionality

After a long hiatus, Samsung resurrected the much-loved Good Lock app in June this year. In our hands-on with the app, we were impressed with the long list of features and deep customization options it offers to Galaxy owners. The app is now receiving an update with new features, including a new add-on called MultiStar.

Latest Good Lock 2018 update improves multitasking

The MultiStar add-on focuses on Multi Window options and is only compatible with Galaxy devices running Android 8.1 and above. The most impressive feature of the MultiStar module is the ability to use apps in Multi Window mode without pausing any of them. It allows for much better multitasking when compared to the current Multi Window implementation in the default Samsung Experience launcher.

MultiStar also brings a Ghost Mode feature which allows users to control the transparency level of any pop-up window. It currently supports five transparency levels, starting at 20% and going all the way up to 100% in intervals of 20. This is an addition to the Pop-up View multitasking feature all Samsung devices offer.

Another major feature in the new Good Lock 2018 update is called Floating Notification. When enabled, it displays incoming notifications as app icons, which, when tapped, will open the application in a pop-up window. Other changes in the update include support for Routines in LockStar, creating new clock styles with ClockFace, and some bugfixes.

Available via Galaxy Apps store and our APK database

The Good Lock 2018 update is already rolling out via the Galaxy Apps store. Once the update is installed, you can access the MultiStar plugin from within the main Good Lock app. Do remember that the Good Lock 2018 app is available only in select regions and for select Galaxy devices. If the app is not yet released in your region, you can download the APKs from our database.

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