Seems like the Galaxy S10+ has been spotted being used in the wild

Many Samsung employees will evidently be using the new Galaxy S10 handsets before they’re made official to test the handsets in the real world. It often happens that someone slips up. Or they don’t pay too much attention to their surroundings and that results in pictures like this. It seems someone was spotted using the Galaxy S10+ on a bus in South Korea.

Going by the image, it’s likely the Galaxy S10+, given that we can see a dual camera at the front. The cutout for the camera is in the top right corner as expected. This picture surfaced on Reddit earlier today with no explanation from the original poster.

Someone was clicked using the Galaxy S10+ on the bus

A commenter claims to have one also. He says that this is likely a worker on the bus to or from Samsung’s Suwon campus in South Korea. He further points out that the security case has been left on the device, the flip cover has been folded on the left.

This employee has apparently removed the security software that puts a “watermark/employee+deviceId on screen.” The commenter says that employees tend to get in a lot of trouble for doing this. When asked about their assessment of the device, he says that the device is about the same size as the Galaxy Note 9 but feels lighter than it.

Facial recognition is said to be working better than previous generations. The in-display fingerprint sensor has been given a thumbs up as well. When asked to comment on the actual feel of the device, he expresses his inability to do so. He says the device will lock up if an attempt is made to remove the security case.

All of this does sound plausible and the device in the image isn’t all that different from the renders of the Galaxy S10+ we have seen so far. However, it does appear suspect enough to be not taken at mere face value. And what to say of claims made by an anonymous commenter on Reddit?

It won’t be long now before all of the details are officially revealed. Samsung is set to unveil the Galaxy S10 on February 20. Do you like what you see so far?

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SamMobile Daily Recap, January 16, 2019: Galaxy S10, Galaxy A8s, and more

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we covered today.

Phones

Galaxy A8s launch in Korea reportedly due this month

Samsung Galaxy A40 specs and release markets surface

Galaxy S10 might not bring faster charging speeds after all

Samsung’s foldable smartphone receives certification in China

Firmware News

Galaxy Note 8 Pie beta program also live in the UK and South Korea

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ One UI beta registrations are now open

Worldwide rollout of Galaxy S9 Android Pie update has begun!

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Worldwide rollout of Galaxy S9 Android Pie update has begun!

It has begun, folks. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are now getting the official Android Pie update in quite a few markets, suggesting that the worldwide rollout has started in earnest. The update is out in various regions at this point, and it should only be a matter of time before the rollout completes for most countries.

As always, carried-locked devices may have to wait longer than unlocked units, and some markets will see the update come out in February for unlocked models as well. The best way to check when your country is expected to get Android Pie is to open the Samsung Members app on your S9 or S9+ and check the notices section for the Android Pie upgrade schedule. You’ll see the expected time frames for most devices eligible for the Pie update here, not just the Galaxy S9.

To check if Pie is available for your S9 or S9+, open the Settings app on the phone, tap Software update, then select the Download updates manually option. An alternate way to upgrade is by downloading the Android Pie firmware for your country from our firmware section (Galaxy S9 | S9+). You can also use Samsung Smart Switch on a Windows or Mac PC.

Android Pie for Galaxy devices brings a new user interface that’s designed to make one-handed usage easier and allow you to focus on the task at hand. There are plenty of new features included in Pie, and you can find out more by checking out our One UI (Android Pie) feature focus series of articles.

Own a Galaxy Note 9? Check out which markets have received the Pie update here.

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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Samsung’s foldable smartphone receives certification in China

Samsung’s much-awaited foldable smartphone is likely to be unveiled alongside the Galaxy S10 on February 20. Ahead of that, the device which will have model number SM-F9000 has bagged approval from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (CMIIT).

The foldable smartphone will reportedly be produced in limited numbers and this certification indicates that China could be among the few markets to get it.

CMIIT approves Samsung’s foldable smartphone

The model number SM-F900 surfaced back in November 2018. We reported exclusively that Samsung is testing the firmware version F900USQU0ARJ5 for the device in the United States. The European and Asian variants of this device may bear the model number SM-F900F and SM-F900N, respectively.

The CMIIT certification for SM-F9000 doesn’t reveal anything much. However, in the last couple of months, we have seen reports about its design, availability, and much more. Samsung showed off the device’s Infinity Flex Display at SDC 2018 in November. Samsung also reportedly showcased the foldable smartphone to a select crowd at the Consumer Electronics Show 2019 in Las Vegas earlier this month.

The foldable smartphone will reportedly sport a triple-camera setup on the back with Sony’s IMX374 sensor. The device is expected to be powered by Snapdragon 855 SoC and may come with 512 GB of internal storage. It may also pack two batteries with a combined capacity between 5,000 to 6,000mAh. And when it comes to pricing, the smartphone could well breach the $2,000 mark.

Samsung has confirmed that it will be announcing Galaxy S10 series at a Galaxy Unpacked event on February 20. It’s quite possible that the foldable device may also be announced then.

 

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Galaxy S10 might not bring faster charging speeds after all

Samsung’s tenth Galaxy S flagship may not change things when it comes to the fast charging capabilities of the company’s smartphones, despite an earlier rumor that claimed the Galaxy S10 would bring faster charging speeds. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ have surfaced on China’s 3C certification website with the same charging specifications as those we have seen on Samsung flagships since the Galaxy Note 4.

These charging specs include the standard 5 volts, 2 ampere output and the 9 volts, 1.67 ampere output for fast charging. The charger is the same model that Samsung bundles with its flagships at the moment, and with the Galaxy S10 launch just a little over a month away, the 3C certification can be taken as confirmation that the Korean giant won’t be doing anything to improve charging times. Perhaps the company was too busy developing the reverse wireless charging feature instead?

Samsung’s fast charging implementation is far from inadequate, with 0-100 charging times that don’t differ all that much from other devices. But it’s the charging times for the first 50-60 percent that make the difference. Galaxy smartphones aren’t as quick to reach 50 percent charge as some of the competition, which can be a problem when you’re looking to top up your phone battery to a usable level in a hurry.

Do you feel Samsung should move to the newer, more efficient fast charging standards, or do you think what we have now on the company’s devices is more than enough?

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Samsung Galaxy A40 specs and release markets surface

Samsung’s previously rumored Galaxy A40 has made an appearance in a benchmark test, providing the first glance at its specifications. Furthermore, some details about where the phone will be released have also surfaced.

Galaxy A40 specifications

As is so often the case, it is benchmark test Geekbench that spills the beans on a new Samsung device with model number SM-A405FN. Chances are, this is the Galaxy A40 which is supposed to be one of the new A series devices packing an AMOLED display. As GalaxyClub points out, the listing reveals hardware similar to last year’s Galaxy A8: the Exynos 7885 soc is accompanied by 4GB RAM. Just like the upcoming Galaxy A50, the A40 runs Android 9 Pie out of the box.

Whether the Galaxy A40 will share some of the A50’s characteristics, such as a 4,000 mAh battery, remains to be seen. A fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the display is likely to be a part of the package as well. And of course, we expect it to have some type of notch or punch hole to accommodate the front camera.

Release markets and date

Furthermore, it is confirmed that the benchmarked A40 variant, the SM-A405FN, is headed for a variety of European markets. Development is underway for devices for the UK, Germany, France, Poland, Netherlands, Scandinavia, and other markets. The A40 is thus the second device in Samsung’s European Galaxy A lineup. The Galaxy A50 will make its way over there as well.

At present, no launch or release date is known for any of the new Galaxy A phones. The fact that both the Galaxy A40 and A50 are being tested with Android Pie suggest they will be launched after the Galaxy S10 makes it debut. Only the Galaxy M series will see the light of day before the new flagship devices, and they will be released running Android 8.1. For now, we assume Samsung will start selling the new A series at some time during the spring.

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Galaxy A8s launch in Korea reportedly due this month

Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything about the Galaxy A8s launch in South Korea but the possibility still exists. Local news outlets are suggesting that Samsung’s first Infinity-O display smartphone is going to be launched on its home ground later this month.

The Galaxy A8s has only been released in China so far. Some circumstantial evidence has surfaced in recent weeks to suggest that this handset could be launched in South Korea as well.

Galaxy A8s launch may take place in Korea this month

Samsung launched the Galaxy A8s in China last month. It’s the company’s first smartphone with an Infinity-O display. The front camera is placed in a cutout inside the display instead of a notch, allowing for more screen real estate.

It also happens to be the first Galaxy-branded smartphone without a 3.5mm headphone jack. It features a 6.4-inch FHD+ display with a Snapdragon 710 processor. There’s up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. A triple camera system is present at the back not unlike the one on the Galaxy A7.

The Korea Herald cites a Samsung official who says that the Galaxy A8s is going to be released in South Korea in the coming weeks. It will reportedly be launched as the Galaxy A9 Pro. The price tag may be between 500,000-600,000 won or $450-$530. Wi-Fi Alliance and FCC certifications have already suggested that the Galaxy A8s will be headed to South Korea under model number SM-G877N.

Samsung is yet to confirm, though, if and when this device will be released in South Korea. It also remains to be seen if the company is going to release it elsewhere. You don’t have to wait too long for a smartphone with an Infinity-O display. The Galaxy S10 will have it as well.

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