[Update: Appears to be fixed] Android 9.0 Pie update brings troubles for some Gear smartwatch users

With every major Android update, it’s common for some apps to misbehave, and the same thing happened with the Samsung Gear app when Google released the Android P Developer Preview back in March. Gear device users who installed the beta software faced compatibility and performance issues with the Samsung Gear app. The app apparently suffered from crashes and connectivity issues, rendering some Gear...

Contradicting other reports, IDC puts Xiaomi at the top in the Indian smartphone market

When IDC, Strategy Analytics, and Canalys published their Q2 2018 global smartphone shipment numbers, all their findings were in sync in spite of minor differences in data. When it comes to the Indian market, however, the figures from IDC tell an entirely different story from that of Canalys and Counterpoint Research. Both Canalys and Counterpoint Research showed considerable gains for Samsung in...

The higher base storage on the Galaxy Note 9 is a boon for dual-SIM users

With the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung is giving us 128GB of storage on the base model, along with support for 512GB microSD cards (yes, these worked before, but now there’s official support built in). And while more storage is great for everyone, it will be especially useful for dual-SIM users. More internal storage is great for those using two SIM cards With current Samsung flagships, when the 64GB of...

Go home, selfie stick! With the Galaxy Note 9, I’m finally using the S Pen

It was back in 2011 when Samsung released the first Galaxy Note and single-handedly started the phablet revolution. Everyone is making big-screen phones now, but the Galaxy Note lineup has continued to be unique thanks to the S Pen. But while the S Pen is great for many who pick up a Galaxy Note smartphone, I had never been a fan. That has now changed thanks to the Bluetooth-enabled S Pen introduced on the Galaxy Note 9. The Bluetooth-enabled S Pen...

Yep, the Galaxy Note 9 has the best smartphone display ever

DisplayMate has published its results of the Galaxy Note 9’s display and deemed it the best smartphone display ever. Surprised? Neither are we. The Galaxy Note 9 display has many improvements over the Galaxy Note 8 and also a few over the Galaxy S9. For example, while the Galaxy S9 had a record absolute color accuracy (0.7 JNCD) that was already visually indistinguishable from perfect, Samsung has...

Galaxy S7 edge August 2018 security patch update rolling out

Another flagship Galaxy phone is now being updated with the August 2018 security patch. The Galaxy S7 edge is on the receiving end this time around, with an update for the device rolling out in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. The update brings software version G935FXXU2ERH1 and is the first software update after Oreo for the Galaxy S7 edge in these markets. August 2018 security patch release...

Galaxy J3 (2017) Oreo update released in Russia and the UAE

It looks like while our attention was focused on the Galaxy Note 9 last week, Samsung decided to release the Oreo update for the Galaxy J3 (2017). The Galaxy J3 (2017) Oreo update is available in Russia and the UAE at the moment. It’s the first J series phone to get the Android 8.0 Oreo update and hopefully its siblings – the Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2017) – will not be too far behind. Galaxy...

New SmartThings Mesh Wi-Fi system will deliver improved performance

Samsung’s SmartThings IoT division today announced the launch of a new Wi-Fi mesh system that promises to provide improved performance. The new system has been built keeping the demands of the modern day internet user in mind. The system will thus deliver an intelligently optimized whole home network while also offering users the ability to control smart home devices. SmartThings Mesh Wi-Fi system The...

Galaxy C9 Pro Android 8.0 Oreo update released in China

The Galaxy C9 Pro is making the jump to Android 8.0 Oreo in China. It seems the update was released at the beginning of August, but we missed it at the time. The update first went out to the unlocked model and it has now been released for the China Mobile variant. The software version is C9008ZMU1CRG8 for the China Mobile variant and C9000ZCU1CRG6 for the unlocked model. Both come with the July 2018 security patch. Galaxy C9 Pro update...