Galaxy Note 9 battery life isn’t great, but it never leaves me worried

The Galaxy Note 9 hit retail stores worldwide in late August. Barring the two weeks of using the Galaxy A7 in between, the Galaxy Note 9 has been my daily driver for nearly two months at this point. The Galaxy Note 9’s 4,000 mAh battery was one of the biggest reasons I had been looking forward to its release, and I feel battery life on the phone isn’t as great as I had expected. But the Note 9 never leaves me worried, which is not something I can say for any other Samsung flagship since the Galaxy Note 4.

Galaxy Note 9 battery life ain’t great, but it’s dependable

I have been taking battery life screenshots at the end of each day for a couple of weeks now. And I noticed that I could always get at least four hours of screen on time and 14 hours of total time off the charger. On most days the phone would be sitting idle on a 4G connection for two hours or so as I played badminton; the rest were spent on my home’s Wi-Fi network, with two SIM cards active at all times. And I have to admit that it’s not the kind of performance I had expected from the 4,000 mAh battery, especially since it was mostly just moderate usage that didn’t involve a lot of browsing, video viewing or other heavy tasks on any given day.

But then the Galaxy Note 9 battery does have to power high-end hardware. Samsung’s newest Exynos chipset (the 9810) is based on the (albeit improved) 10 nm process that last year’s Exynos 8895 was built on as well, so it’s left to the higher battery capacity to improve things instead of major enhancements to efficiency under the hood. And it’s also worth mentioning that Note smartphones offer a few extra software features over the Galaxy S smartphones.

If I had to vote in our poll about Galaxy Note 9 battery life, I would select the “it’s good, but I expected more” option. Some of you might be wondering how I can have anything other than great battery life. Or how the screen time almost never seems to cross the 5-hour mark. That might be down to how battery life on Samsung phones seems to differ by country. Mobile networks here in India aren’t very optimized and using a flagship phone with two SIM cards also takes its toll. You can imagine what people in India go through with a Galaxy S9, then, with that measly 3,000 mAh battery.

Dependable battery life on a flagship is enough for me

But the Galaxy Note 9 almost never has me worried about running out of juice. That’s something I can happily live with, especially given how the Note 9 offers an excellent overall user experience as well. It may not be enough for everyone, but after years of seeing fast charging being offered as an alternative to long-lasting batteries, the Galaxy Note 9 is a breath of fresh air. Here’s hoping Samsung will continue to keep battery endurance a priority on future flagship Galaxies as well.

Check out the screenshots below to see some of my battery life figures. Do tell me what your Galaxy Note 9 battery life is like in the comments section.

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Samsung is launching its new flip phone on November 9

There have been a lot of rumors and leaks about Samsung’s new flip phone in recent weeks. It was evident that the company will soon launch the SM-W2019 officially. Samsung China has now confirmed when it will be unveiling this device. The launch takes place later this month.

As expected, the company’s flagship flip phone will be unveiled in China like its predecessors. Samsung doesn’t release this device globally since there aren’t a lot of takers for it in other markets across the globe.

Samsung’s new flip phone launch set for November 9

Samsung China has sent out invitations for the launch event of the new flip phone. The event will take place on November 9 in Wuxi, a city near Shanghai in eastern China. Samsung has always positioned its flagship flip phone as more of a luxury product in China. That appears to be the case for this latest model as well.

We do know that it will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor. The device will also have two Full HD resolution AMOLED displays. There will be a dual camera system at the back with AI features like Scene Optimizer. It will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo but will eventually receive an upgrade to Android 9 Pie.

Leaked images of the SM-W2019 show that the design won’t be too different compared to its predecessor. The metal build will give the device a premium look and feel. The most recent leaked images suggest that this device may not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. It would certainly be a first for Samsung if that does end up being the case.

No word as yet on how much this new flip phone is going to cost. That information will only be revealed on November 9 when Samsung officially launches the device. Don’t expect it to be available in other markets.

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Exclusive: Galaxy F series revealed, will this be the foldable phone?

We have some exclusive details today about the much-rumored Galaxy F series. Samsung was first rumored to be developing a Galaxy F lineup back in 2013 but it hasn’t made one yet. This moniker has been attached to the company’s foldable smartphone in recent months. Some believe that the foldable device will mark the beginning of Samsung’s Galaxy F series.

Samsung is going to provide a sneak peek of the foldable device at SDC 2018 next week. It may not be a proper unveiling as it isn’t expected to launch its foldable smartphone until early next year. There’s also the possibility that this moniker may be used for an entirely different device.

Details about the Galaxy F series

The first device in the Galaxy F series may bear model number SM-F900U. It would make sense for the company to start the model codes with 900 much like it did with the flagship Galaxy S series. Even the earliest rumors about this series have suggested that the Galaxy F devices will be premium handsets.

Firmware version F900USQU0ARJ5 is now being tested for this device in the United States. It’s being tested on all major mobile networks in the country and the firmware itself appears to have been largely developed in the United States.

It suggests that this could be the foldable phone since Samsung is working on a unique version of the Android UI for this device in partnership with Google. Samsung has its US headquarters in San Francisco which is where it will be hosting its annual developers’ conference next week.

We can also confirm that this device will ship with 512GB of internal storage. Samsung’s mobile boss has already hinted at the foldable phone being a high-end device. It will also have dual-SIM support.

Samsung will soon begin testing firmware for the European and Asian variants of this device – SM-F900F and SM-F900N – respectively. This shows that it will be a global device. Samsung’s boss has also confirmed that the foldable phone will be a global device.

The other possibility

There’s a good chance that this may be the foldable smartphone but one has to consider all possibilities. Recent reports have suggested that Samsung is building a gaming smartphone. That will also be a high-end device which will be released across the globe. There is a chance that the Galaxy F series may be for the gaming smartphone.

What do you feel the Galaxy F moniker will be used for? Does it seem more appropriate for the foldable device? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Samsung needs to show some seriousness about the Android Pie update

November has just begun, and Samsung smartphone owners are still waiting for news on the Android Pie update. Forget the official update: We don’t even know when the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta will begin. We could look at when previous beta programs started and hope the Pie beta kicks off at around the same time. But then Project Treble didn’t exist before Android Oreo. And while we know Treble isn’t as helpful for software updates as we might think, it’s disappointing to see Samsung keeping mum on the matter.

Samsung’s still lagging with major Android updates

We have seen Samsung tease the Android Pie update through the Samsung Members/Samsung+ community, with a hint that the update could roll out officially in January 2019. But while Samsung is just teasing the update, other manufacturers have already released Pie for many devices. It would be unfair to compare Samsung with Nokia or OnePlus, who use stock Android without any of the UI modifications we see on Galaxy devices. But Sony smartphones do have some level of customization, yet the Japanese company has released Pie for at least three devices already.

Now, the kind of changes Samsung is making to its software for Android Pie go much deeper. The same goes for Xiaomi, Oppo, or Vivo phones. And since none of those three Chinese OEMs have updated any device with Pie, we guess we can cut Samsung some slack. Still, that doesn’t excuse the fact that Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 owners are still in the dark about when they will see the major OS upgrade arrive on their phones.

If there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s not coming with Pie

We also agree that like all major Android upgrades, the latest one isn’t that important because most of the features that are coming to stock Android now have already been around on Samsung devices. Oh, and that regular consumers don’t really care about software updates. That doesn’t make the current state of affairs less disappointing, though. And if Samsung can run a beta program for testing newer versions of Android, the company surely isn’t just thinking of regular consumers, right?

Samsung’s user interface might be the best out there, but its relationship with Android updates is still rather lacking. We’ve seen Samsung releasing security updates more frequently in recent months, and we can only hope things will improve when it comes to major OS upgrades for Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

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Samsung patent shows more pressure sensitive navigation: Squeezing, new keys

A patent application published today shows Samsung may have more aces up its sleeve regarding a phone UX with a pressure sensitive display. We see new virtual keys, and the possibility to squeeze your Galaxy.

Samsung patent: squeeze and press more

Back in April 2017, Samsung filed a patent application in South Korea, titled Electronic Device And Method Of Controlling the Electronic Device Based On Touch Input. The patent describes several implementations of pressure sensitive virtual keys. One of them we are already familiar with, as the company has used it in devices like the Galaxy S8 and S9: the virtual, pressure sensitive home key.

Samsung describes how different levels of pressure trigger different actions. This is how, for example, the Galaxy S9 knows whether you are tapping a key in an app, or if you want to return to the home screen. So far, that is nothing new. However, the patent goes on to outline several more ways to employ the same technique.

For example, by measuring pressure on both edges of a display, a squeeze can be detected. Squeeze hard enough, and you can switch the display off, for example. Now, we’ve seen HTC’s squeezable U11, but Samsung does not make the frame squeezable – only the screen. We’re assuming the bent dual-edge display on Samsung’s flagship devices would make this work.

Also included in the application is a description of a pressure sensitive power key. It functions just like the virtual home key and provides different functions. Depending on how hard you press, the display switches off, the phone reboots, or an emergency mode is triggered. With the application of pressure, an indicator on the screen shows the user which action will be triggered.

It’s not hard to image all kinds of implementations of the same concept: volume keys, or completely new virtual buttons that sit on the curved edge of the display, waiting to be pressed, not merely touched.

The usual disclaimer

Of course, there is no way to know if and when we’ll be seeing any of these ideas in future Galaxy phones. After all, the virtual home key already is in use, and Samsung could have concluded it is the only truly useful implementation. But in a world of ever-shrinking bezels and growing screen-to-body ratios, Samsung still has a few UX tricks up its sleeve, as this patent application shows.

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Galaxy J2 Core Android Go phone may be headed to the US

Samsung’s first Android Go phone, the Galaxy J2 Core, may be headed to the United States. It was initially launched in Malaysia and India earlier this year. Since it’s a budget device it’s likely that the Galaxy J2 Core may only be offered by prepaid carriers in the country.

Some certifications have been spotted which suggest that the Galaxy J2 Core could soon be launched in the United States. It runs an iteration of Android Oreo that’s optimized for devices with 1GB of RAM or less. Contrary to popular belief, a stock Android experience is not guaranteed for Android Go devices.

US launch of the Galaxy J2 Core Android Go phone likely

The Galaxy J2 Core bearing model number SM-J260A has received its Wi-Fi certification. The Federal Communications Commission has also certified model SM-J260T. It’s thus likely that the handset may be available from Cricket Wireless and Boost Mobile. They’re the prepaid carriers owned by AT&T and Sprint, respectively.

This is an entry-level device with the specs to match. It has a 5-inch TFT 540×960 pixel resolution display and an Exynos 7570 processor. There’s 8GB of storage and 1GB RAM. The device also has an 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera. The power is supplied by a 2,600mAh battery.

The Galaxy J2 Core comes with fewer apps pre-loaded. It gets optimized versions of Google’s popular services which require less memory. Android Go also gets additional memory optimizations for an improved experience.

Samsung is selling the Galaxy J2 Core for around $90 in other markets. That’s likely how much this device will cost when it arrives in the United States. Samsung and the carriers in question have not yet confirmed when it may be released.

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Galaxy Tab A (2016) Android 8.1 Oreo update out, November patch included

Something has changed at Samsung, at least when it comes to software updates. The Korean giant has been rolling out security updates in quick succession in recent months for a plethora of devices, and it has now gotten to a point where the November 2018 security patch was already on three Galaxy devices in the month of October. And Samsung is adding two more devices to the mix today. These devices are the Galaxy A3 (2017) and Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016); the Tab A is also making the jump to Android 8.1 Oreo.

Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016) Oreo update now available

The Galaxy Tab A 10.1 update follows the Galaxy Tab 2 Active Oreo update, which also included the November patch. The Wi-Fi and LTE variants of the Tab A are being updated to Oreo in South Korea and the UAE respectively. Only the UAE update includes the November patch, but you can expect all of the Oreo features to be the same across both variants. The Galaxy A3 (2017) update, meanwhile, is unlikely to have anything but security fixes. Funnily enough, the A3 (2017) received the October security update just a few days back in some markets.

The November 2018 security patch hasn’t been detailed by either Google or Samsung, so we have no clue what it includes. In any case, if you own either of these devices, you should check if the update is available for you by going into the Settings app, tapping Software update, then hitting the Download updates manually option. Firmware for these updates are also available in our database, so you can skip waiting for the over-the-air release.

Galaxy Tab A (2016) with S Pen

• Model: SM-P580
• Dimensions: 254.3 x 164.2 x 8.2mm
• Display: 10.1" (255.4mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 8 MP, CMOS

More specifications

Galaxy Tab A (2016) with S Pen

• Model: SM-P585
• Dimensions: 254.3 x 164.2 x 8.2mm
• Display: 10.1" (255.4mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 8 MP, CMOS

More specifications

Galaxy A3 2017

• Model: SM-A320F
• Dimensions: 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 4,7" (119mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 7870 Octa
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS F1.9

More specifications

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Galaxy A9 (2018) introduction video shows off its four rear cameras in style

At the official unveiling of the Galaxy A9 (2018), we were able to snap a scene with all of the phone’s four rear cameras to show you the kind of difference each lens makes. Samsung is now offering a similar glance at the rear cameras in action in a stylish introduction video. And while the video will have simulated images, it’s still a nice way to show consumers the purpose of putting four rear cameras on a single phone.

Each Galaxy A9 (2018) rear camera serve a purpose

Samsung released a similar commercial video a couple of weeks back, but the introduction video adds the phone’s camera interface to the mix for a more closer-to-real-life demo. The Galaxy A9 (2018) comes with a 24-megapixel primary rear camera that’s accompanied by a 5-megapixel sensor for depth-of-field (bokeh) shots. There’s an ultra-wide 8MP lens with a 120-degree angle for capturing wide scenes, and the fourth camera is a 10MP telephoto lens that makes 2x optical zoom possible. It also comes with a 24-megapixel front camera for selfies.

Apart from the cameras, the striking design is another of the A9 (2018)’s highlights. The phone comes in three gradient color options that play against the light beautifully, and Samsung believes gradient colors are the future, or at least the latest trend that it needed to hop on. The A9 (2018) is also special for being one of few non-flagship Samsung phones with a dedicated Bixby key. Galaxy A9 (2018) specs include the Snapdragon 660 SoC, 6GB/8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display, and a 3,800 mAh battery.

Check out the Galaxy A9 introduction video below and also take a look at our hands-on experience with the device.

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