Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S7, and more getting November 2018 security update

The November 2018 security patch is rolling out to a number of Galaxy smartphones through new updates. The Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S7, and Galaxy A5 (2017) are all being updated with the latest patch in various regions. The Galaxy Note 9 update is rolling out in the US and Bulgaria, while the A5 (2017) and Galaxy S7 are seeing the update in Canada and the United Kingdom.

November 2018 patch released for more Galaxy phones

The Galaxy Note 9 updates come with software versions M1AJQ.N960USQS1ARJ9 and N960FXXS2ARK2. For the A5 (2017) and the Galaxy S7, the new software version is A520WVLU5CRJ3 and G930FXXU3ERJE respectively. All of these updates seem to include only the new security patch. The November patch fixes 11 critical Android OS vulnerabilities and 8 critical ones found in Samsung’s software. As usual, a number of lower-risk vulnerabilities have also been fixed, details of which can be found here.

Own any of the devices mentioned above? If yes, you can open the Settings app, go into the Software update menu, and tap Download updates manually to download the update. If it doesn’t show up, you can download the relevant firmware from our database and upgrade right away. You can also try updating via Samsung Smart Switch on Windows or Mac.

Galaxy Note 9

• Model: SM-N960F
• Dimensions: 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8mm
• Display: 6.4" (162.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)

More specifications

Galaxy A5 2017

• Model: SM-A520W
• Dimensions: 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm
• Display: 5.2" (132.2mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 7880 Octa
• Camera: 16 MP, CMOS F1.9

More specifications

Galaxy S7

• Model: SM-G930F
• Dimensions: 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm
• Display: 5.1" (129.2mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8890
• Camera: 12 MP, Dual Pixel F1.7

More specifications

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Galaxy S6 update released with November 2018 security patch

Samsung’s first all-glass flagship, the Galaxy S6, is getting a new software update in Hong Kong and Taiwan today. The update brings the November 2018 security patch with it, putting the phone at the latest security patch ahead of Samsung’s most recent flagship, the Galaxy Note 9. The Galaxy S6 was also updated with the October patch in some countries last month.

November 2018 security patch out for the Galaxy S6

The software version accompanying the update is G9200ZHU2ERK2 and G9208ZTU2ERK2 for Hong Kong and Taiwan respectively. There’s likely to be nothing noteworthy included in the update other than security fixes, and there’s certainly no Android Pie update in queue for the Galaxy S6. Still, Samsung continues to show it won’t stop supporting devices even after the three-year software support period has ended. We just hope the company will start offering three major updates to all of its flagships now that even the Galaxy J smartphones are being updated with two big OS upgrades.

The firmware for the new Galaxy S6 update can be downloaded from our firmware section. It should also be available over the air—you can check by going into the Software update section of the Settings app on the phone. The Galaxy S6 edge doesn’t seem to be getting the update just yet, but that should change in the next couple of days.

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Be prepared: Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta program likely to start on November 15

November 15 was first revealed as the possible start date for the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta program by Samsung’s customer support staff. Well, we reached out to Samsung support ourselves and were told November 15 is indeed the day the beta program will kick off. So if you own a Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+, this is a reminder that you should be prepared tomorrow if you wish to test Android Pie ahead of its final release in January next year.

Mark your calendars, set your alarms

There’s no telling what time the beta will be released, so it’s best to be ready lest you miss out on the chance to enroll. As usual, slots for beta testers are likely to be limited, although Samsung does open up additional slots later on. Only confirmation for Germany has been provided by Samsung support staff, but the beta program should launch in the US and South Korea on the same day. The UK launch will be on November 20, as confirmed by Samsung’s United Kingdom website.

To get into the program, you will need to be logged in to your Samsung account on your Galaxy S9 or S9+ and use the Samsung Members app (Samsung+ in the US). Of course, if you’re not willing to turn your life upside down for this, you can just keep an eye out on SamMobile to see when the beta goes live.

Galaxy S9

• Model: SM-G960F
• Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS OIS (F1.5/F2.4)

More specifications

Galaxy S9+

• Model: SM-G965F
• Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
• Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)

More specifications

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[Poll] Are you looking forward to purchasing Samsung’s foldable device?

It’s been a few years since we have been hearing about Samsung working on a foldable smartphone. Last week, Samsung finally gave us a glimpse of what the device will look like. Well, we don’t fully know what it will look like, but we do know that it can effortlessly transform from a phone to a tablet and back again to a phone. And come 2019, this foldable device will, at long last, make it to retail stores.

Samsung’s foldable device, which will possibly be launched as part of the new Galaxy F lineup, will be limited in availability. It will also command an exorbitant price tag, as such an advanced mobile device is expected to. Recent reports suggest the price could start at nearly $1,800, which means buyers of the device will join an elite and exclusive club while the rest of us wait for the foldable form factor to become more affordable in the coming years.

But should the price not be an obstacle for you, are you excited for and interested in picking up Samsung’s first foldable phone (or foldable tablet, depending on how you look at it)? That’s the question we’re asking today. Be sure to leave a comment to let us and other readers know your thoughts once you’ve voted in the poll.

Are you looking forward to purchasing Samsung's foldable device?

• Yes
• No
• Can't say until both the device and pricing are revealed

Results

• Yes 0%, 0 votes
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• No 0%, 0 votes
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• Can't say until both the device and pricing are revealed 0%, 0 votes
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Total Votes: 0

14 November 2018

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• Yes
• No
• Can't say until both the device and pricing are revealed

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Results

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Samsung said to buy more parts from China starting with the Galaxy S10

Samsung’s mobile division hasn’t really been minting money. Its profits were almost a billion dollars less in Q3 2018 than they were in the same period last year. The company is having to deal with increased competition in all segments of the market.

In what may be a bid to improve its margins on smartphones, Samsung will reportedly be sourcing more components from China starting with the Galaxy S10. Camera lenses and antenna parts are likely to be what it sources from Chinese suppliers for its next flagship smartphone.

Sourcing more parts from China to improve margins

This is viewed as a strategic call on Samsung’s part to cut costs in order to limit the decline in earnings from the mobile division by improving margins. Industry watchers suggest that Samsung has signed up several Chinese companies as vendors in recent months.

The decision to go with these Chinese suppliers is reportedly based on two major factors. Not only are they cheaper but their components have now become technologically viable for Samsung. The company can use them in its flagship products without any quality or yield concerns.

The report also mentions that some of these companies are already supplying a small amount of components for a few low and mid-range Samsung smartphones currently being mass produced. The Galaxy S10 would be the first flagship that Samsung sources antenna parts from China for. The antennas for Near Field Communication, Magnetic Secure Transmission and Wireless Power Consortium power mobile payments and wireless charging.

Samsung previously used to source these components from a sister company called Samsung Electro-Mechanics. South Korean component manufacturing company Amotech was also a supplier for these antennas. It said to get hit the hardest by this change because Samsung will split orders between its sister company and the Chinese suppliers. This would leave Amotech out of the supply chain.

Just how big of a difference will this make to Samsung’s bottom line remains to be seen. The company must have projected significant cost savings to consider switching up its supply chain for a flagship device.

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Galaxy A9 (2018) launching in India on November 20

The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is all set to hit the Indian market. The top-end Galaxy A smartphone will be launched in the country on Tuesday, November 20 at an event in Gurgaon. Samsung India is sending out media invites for the event which starts at 12 pm. The device will be sold exclusively by retailer Flipkart.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A9 (2018) in Malaysia last month with the tagline “4X Fun”, highlighting it as the world’s first smartphone to sport four rear cameras. The phone was launched with a price tag of 599 euros (approx. ₹51,300). While there’s no word yet on Indian pricing, various reports suggest it to be a sub-₹40,000 phone.

Galaxy A9 coming to India next week

The Galaxy A9 comes to India a few months after the Galaxy A7 (2018), which is the company’s first phone with three rear cameras. The Galaxy A9, meanwhile, goes one notch up by sporting a quad-camera setup at the back. In addition to a 24MP main sensor with f/1.7 aperture, the smartphone also features an 8MP 120-degree ultra wide-angle camera with f/2.4 aperture, a 10MP telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture for 2x optical zoom, and a 5MP depth sensor for Live Focus shots. At the front, the new A9 gets a 24MP camera with f/2.0 aperture.

As for everything else, the A9 (2018) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. It comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 512GB via a microSD card. The phone features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ (1080×2220 pixels) Super AMOLED Infinity Display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

The Galaxy A9 (2018) houses a 3,800mAh battery with fast charge support via USB Type-C. It gets a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and supports facial recognition as well. The device comes with a 2.5D curved glass on the front and back sandwiching a metal frame. While the phone was announced in Bubble Pink, Lemonade Blue and Caviar Black last month, it remains to be seen if all three variants come to India.

Want to know more about the Galaxy A9 (2018)? Read our hands-on experience here.

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Samsung Exynos 9820 vs Exynos 9810 specs comparison

The Exynos SoC that will power the Galaxy S10 next year has been unveiled by Samsung today. The Exynos 9820 brings a number of improvements over the Exynos 9810 from last year, including 8K video recording, LTE speeds of up to 2Gbps, support for UFS 3.0 storage, and an 8nm manufacturing process. It also gets a dedicated unit for processing artificial intelligence tasks.

Samsung has the usual figures to throw at you to boast about the Exynos 9820’s capabilities, but how does it compare on paper with its predecessor? Find out in the comparison table below, and do let us know what you think about the Korean giant’s newest Exynos SoC. For more details on the Exynos 9820, check out Samsung’s official website.

Exynos 9820 vs Exynos 9810 specs comparison

	Exynos 9820	Exynos 9810
Process	8nm LPP FinFET	2nd gen. 10nm FinFET
CPU	Dual-core (Custom CPU) + Dual-core (Cortex-A75) + Quad-core (Cortex-A55)	Up to 2.9GHz Quad-core (Custom CPU) + Up to 1.9GHz Quad-core (Cortex-A55)
GPU	ARM Mali-G76 MP12	Mali-G72 MP18
Display	WQUXGA (3840×2400), 4K UHD (4096×2160)	WQUXGA (3840×2400), 4K UHD (4096×2160)
LTE Modem	LTE-Advanced Pro Cat.20 8CA 2Gbps (DL) / Cat.20 3CA 316Mbps (UL)	LTE Cat.18 6CA 1.2Gbps (DL) / Cat.18 2CA 200Mbps (UL)
Storage	UFS 3.0, UFS 2.1	UFS 2.1, SD 3.0
Memory	LPDDR4x	LPDDR4x
Camera	Rear 22MP, Front 22MP, Dual-camera 16MP+16MP	Rear 24MP, Front 24MP, Dual Camera 16+16MP
Video	8K 30fps or 4K UHD 150fps encoding and decoding with 10-bit HEVC(H.265), H.264, VP9 codec	4K UHD 120fps encoding and decoding with 10-bit HEVC (H.265), H.264, VP9 Codec

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Samsung unveils Exynos 9820 with on-device AI processing

Samsung today unveiled the Exynos 9820. Its the company’s next flagship processor which supports on-device artificial intelligence processor. As reports had suggested, it comes with a separate neural processing unit which will handle all AI-related tasks independent of the main processor.

The company’s latest flagship chip features a fourth-generation custom processor. There’s also an LTE Advanced Pro modem capable of speeds of up to 2Gbps. The neural processing unit will allow for more powerful augmented reality and virtual reality experiences on the device.

Exynos 9820 features a dedicated AI chip

The separate neural processing unit on the Exynos 9820 performs AI tasks nearly seven times faster than its predecessor. It allows AI processing to be carried out on the device itself. There’s thus no need to send the task to a server. This not only results in improved performance but also better security of personal information. It will enable new experiences such as instantly adjusting camera settings for a shot based on the surroundings.

Based on Samsung’s 8nm LPP FinFET process, the CPU has two custom cores to do the heavy lifting. The two Cortex-A75 and four Cortex-A55 cores are for optimal performance and greater efficiency, respectively. Samsung says that the Exynos 9820 delivers 20 percent in single core and 15 percent improvement in multi core performance. There’s also a 40 percent gain in power efficiency. The graphics are handled by the Mali-G76 MP12 GPU. As a result, it delivers a 40 percent improvement in performance and 35 percent power enhancement.

The image signal processor of Samsung’s new flagship chip supports up to five sensors including an IR sensor. This will allow for flexible multi-camera solutions. It is capable of powering 16-megapixel dual camera setups and up to 22 megapixel front and rear cameras. There’s even support for decoding 8K videos at 30fps and 4K videos at 150fps.

Furthermore, The Exynos 9820 doesn’t come with a 5G modem. This further supports the belief that there’s going to be a separate 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 which may use a Qualcomm processor. The LTE Advanced Pro modem in the new chip can hit speeds of 2.0Gbps downlink with 8x carrier aggregation and 316Mbps uplink. The chip supports the UFS 3.0 storage standard. It offers double the memory bandwidth over UFS 2.1.

Samsung says that the Exynos 9820 will enter mass production by the end of this year. If history is any indication, the Galaxy S10 will be the first device to be powered by this processor.

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