Samsung reveals prices for its 2018 QLED TVs

Earlier this month, Samsung officially launched its 2018 QLED TVs at a special event in New York. Samsung used the launch event to showcase all the new features and improvements coming to its 2018 QLED TV lineup. The company, however, didn’t reveal any pricing information at the time of the launch.

Samsung’s new QLED range starts at $1500

Samsung has now updated its US website with pricing information for most of its 2018 QLED TVs. As to be expected, these TVs are expensive starting at $1500 and going all the way up to $6000. Samsung’s 2018 QLED TV lineup includes Q9F, Q8F, Q7F, Q7C, and Q6F models. All these models are available in different screen size options ranging from 49 inches to 82 inches. The Q7C models are the curved TV variants, and the rest are flat-screen panels.

Of the listed prices, the 75-inch Q9F model is the most expensive at $6,000, while the 55-inch Q6F model is the cheapest at $1,500. The Q6F model also has a 49-inch option, but Samsung hasn’t revealed the pricing for it yet. When available for purchase, it should be the lowest priced option among all the 2018 QLED TVs. The 82-inch Q6F model which is the largest of the bunch retails for $4,500.

The pricing for the entire range is as follows:

• Q9F Class

1. 75-inch (QN75Q9F): $6,000
2. 65-inch (QN65Q9F): $3,800

• Q8F Class

1. 75-inch (QN75Q8F): $4,800
2. 65-inch (QN65Q8F): $3,000
3. 55-inch (QN55Q8F): $2,200

• Q7F Class

1. 75-inch (QN75Q7F): $4,000
2. 65-inch (QN65Q7F): $2,600
3. 55-inch (QN55Q7F): $1,900

• Q7C Class (Curved TVs)

1. 65-inch (QN65Q7C): $2,700
2. 55-inch (QN55Q7C): $2,000

• Q6F Class

1. 82-inch (QN82Q6F): $4,500
2. 75-inch (QN75Q6F): $3,500
3. 65-inch (QN65Q6F): $2,200
4. 55-inch (QN55Q6F): $1,500
5. 49-inch (QN49Q6F): TBA

Samsung’s new QLED TVs will be available for purchase in the United States later this month with other markets to follow suit down the line.

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FCC documents reveal a new Galaxy J7 model

Samsung’s budget Galaxy J series is a crowded and confusing lineup. Keeping track of this series is a difficult task as the model numbers and specifications vary from market to market. Samsung seems to be in no mood to clear this mess as it is gearing up to launch even more Galaxy J series phones this year.

Earlier this year, we came across a list of unannounced Galaxy devices in the leaked Galaxy Note 8 Oreo beta firmware files. The list hinted at new Galaxy J series phones under the J4 and J6 names. Devices with model numbers pointing towards these names have also been spotted on benchmarking websites, adding some credibility to the news of their existence.

Model number points to a new Galaxy J7

Now, a new device with the model number SM-J720F has been spotted at the FCC, indicating an impending launch. This could be a new Galaxy J7 model if we go by the current naming pattern of Samsung devices. We can confirm from our sources that this device is headed towards markets in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. The device will launch in both single-SIM and dual-SIM variants.

This new Galaxy J7 model has also surfaced on GFXBench and Geekbench websites, revealing some of its specifications. The device will be powered by an Exynos 7885 processor, runs Android 8.0, and will have either 3 or 4 GB RAM. While the FCC documents pretty much officially confirm the existence of the SM-J720F device, the alleged specifications revealed in benchmarks cannot be taken at face value as benchmark results can be easily faked.

Samsung has also filed trademark applications for the ‘Galaxy J7 Crown’ and ‘Galaxy J3 Orbit’ at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). We currently don’t know if the trademark application for the ‘Galaxy J7 Crown’ name is in any way related to the SM-J720F device spotted at the FCC. The ‘Galaxy J3 Orbit’ trademark is probably for one of the upcoming Galaxy J3 carrier variants in the US.

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Galaxy S9+ Coral Blue vs Lilac Purple: Side by side pictures

It seems that every time Samsung thinks up a new color for its flagship smartphones, the company decides to make it barely accessible for most of its consumers, only to make that color a regular option with the next flagship while launching yet another fancy new color variant. This usually means that by the time most of us get to choose the color we liked the last time the company launched a flagship, it gets succeeded by an even more attractive but not-as-widely available color.

For me, this happened with the Coral Blue option that Samsung launched with the Galaxy Note 7. When the Note 7 met its demise, Samsung gave the Coral Blue treatment to the Galaxy S7 edge. The Coral Blue S7 edge came too late, so when the Galaxy S8 launched in Coral Blue in my country, I was quick to place an order without having checked out the device in person. Not a great decision, sadly, as I realized that the Maple Gold Galaxy S8 looked better, partly because it was a sober shade and not the shiny in-your-face hues Samsung would offer with devices before the Galaxy S8.

Lilac Purple is the new kid on the block

Coral Blue has come along for the ride with the Galaxy S9 as well, and this time, it’s a darker shade of blue that, to me, looks miles better than the brighter version of Coral Blue on the Galaxy S8. Thankfully, Samsung’s one new color option for the Galaxy S9 turned out to be Lilac Purple. Lilac Purple is attractive, with a paler tone working its charm just as it did on the Maple Gold Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. It’s also widely available, but it’s not exactly the color everyone would take a fancy to.

I certainly didn’t get as excited for the Lilac Purple Galaxy S9 as I did for the Coral Blue S8, and Samsung chose not to release the Titanium Gray variant in most markets (or none at all), which further simplified my decision. As someone working a full-time gig involving Samsung smartphones, though, my upgrade cycles are far shorter than they are for regular consumers. Regular consumers can keep their current phone for three years or more before upgrading, especially if carrier contracts or retail deals don’t make it as easy to switch to a new phone regularly in their country compared to others. That makes selecting the right color super important, as it’s what many consumers would have to live with until the time arrives to change to a new device.

Don’t Miss: Samsung Galaxy S9 review

So between the Coral Blue and Lilac Purple Galaxy S9, you’re probably wondering which to pick. Those who love black would have already decided on the Midnight Black version, but what about those who are torn between blue and purple? Going to a retail store and checking out all the Galaxy S9 color variants is the best way to decide, but for those who can’t do that (either because of lack of time, unavailability of a retail store close to their home, or some other reason), we’ve taken a few pictures of the Coral Blue and Lilac Purple Galaxy S9+ side by side.

We know we might be a bit late, and these pictures may or may not make your decision easier. But if you’re still holding out on purchasing Samsung’s latest flagship, we certainly hope you can get a good idea of what color would be a better choice for you.

Now, without further delays, check out the photos below, and let us know what you think!

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Galaxy Note 9 firmware development has now begun

We can now reveal that the Galaxy Note 9 firmware development has begun. Samsung has started testing two firmware builds for its next flagship smartphone which is due for release later this year. It’s not surprising to hear that the Galaxy Note 9 firmware development has begun considering the fact that this crucial step normally begins several months before the device is actually due for release.

Take the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ for example. Samsung launched its new flagship on February 25, 2018 but we reported almost five months prior to that on September 29, 2017 that work on the firmware for both models had begun.

Galaxy Note 9 firmware development

The Galaxy Note 9 is going to be Samsung’s second flagship handset for 2018 and if recent reports are any indication, it might very well be the company’s first device to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor.

The first two Galaxy Note 9 firmware builds being tested carry version numbers N960FXXE0ARB7 and N960FXXU0ARC5. Samsung is testing the firmware globally. It’s interesting to note that while firmware development for the Galaxy Note 8 started on April 6, 2017, Samsung is doing the same for the Galaxy Note 9 over two weeks earlier than last year. Samsung started firmware development for the Galaxy S9 two weeks earlier than it did for the Galaxy S8 as well.

Does the early Galaxy Note 9 firmware development suggest that the new phablet will be launched earlier than its predecessor was? The question is justified seeing as how the Galaxy S8 was launched on March 29, 2017 but the Galaxy S9 was launched a month before on February 25, 2018.

For those who don’t remember, the Galaxy Note 8 was launched on April 23, 2017. We’ll likely hear rumors about an early Galaxy Note 9 launch in the months to come like we do every year for every new Samsung flagship but it remains to be seen whether or not Samsung will really do it or not.

In any case, early Galaxy Note 9 firmware development or not, the upcoming flagship phablet from Samsung isn’t going to be out before the second half of this year anyway.

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Samsung bolsters foundry business by adding IoT and fingerprint sensors

Samsung decided to spin its foundry business into a separate division in May last year as it seeks to further increase revenues from this crucial business that has already proven to be a veritable cash cow for the company. The division is solely responsible for manufacturing mobile processors and other non-memory chips for Samsung’s clients which include the likes of NVIDIA and Qualcomm.

The company has decided to bolster its foundry division by adding new RF/IoT and fingerprint technology solutions to its 8-inch or 200-millimeter wafer foundry service. Many of Samsung’s customers are already closely working with the company to utilize its 8-inch technology offerings in various applications.

Leveraging its technology to sell more chips

Samsung’s foundry business has grown considerably over the past few years. An estimate by market research firm IHS last year suggested that the company’s revenue from this part of the business surged a whopping 86 percent to $4.7 billion when compared to 2016.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Samsung is expanding the technology solutions that are now available to customers through its 8-inch foundry services. It will enable the company to leverage this technology to sell more chips to customers.

Samsung will now offer RF/IoT and fingerprint sensor technology solutions on the 8-inch service over and above the exiting eFlash, Power, display driver IC and CMOS image sensor solutions. All 8-inch offers that range from 180nm to 65nm are produced at Samsung’s highly automated Line 6 facility in Giheung, South Korea.

“Customers’ interests are very high given the industry’s needs for alternative 8-inch solutions,” said Samsung’s VP of Foundry Marketing Ryan Lee, adding that by expanding its technology offerings the company will enable its customers to take full advantage of Samsung’s 8-inch solutions in a broader range of applications.

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AT&T Galaxy S8 Oreo update finally released

The AT&T Galaxy S8 Oreo update is finally rolling out today which means that all four major carriers in the United States have now released Oreo for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. We have seen Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint release said update on their networks quite recently so it was only a matter of time before AT&T followed suit and that’s precisely what it has done today.

AT&T Galaxy S8 Oreo update

Samsung actually started rolling out the Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ about a month ago but as many of you already know there’s always a delay for carrier-branded devices. That’s because carriers tend to make their own tweaks to the software before it’s rolled out.

The wait is finally over for customers of the second largest mobile network in the United States as the AT&T Galaxy S8 Oreo release has now taken place. AT&T is rolling out firmware version G950USQU2CRB9 and G955USQU2CRB9 for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ respectively. The update comes in at just over 1.5GB and comes with the February 2018 security patch.

It’s unclear if and when the March 2018 security patch will be rolled out for these devices in the United States. AT&T customers can head over to the Software update menu in the Settings app right now to download the update if they have yet to receive the over-the-air update notification on their handsets.

The AT&T Galaxy S8 Oreo update brings several new features such as multitasking support for apps, picture-in-picture mode, Autofill, notification dots, and more. There are some Samsung-specific new features as well such as the Dual Messenger and additional Edge lighting effects.

If you’re curious about all of the new features that are part and parcel of Android 8.0 Oreo then do check out our extensive What’s New With Android 8.0 Oreo series. The series will give you great insight on all of the new features included in this update.

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