PSA: The Galaxy S10e doesn’t have a heart rate sensor

No, the Galaxy S10e doesn’t have a heart rate sensor. This is something we here at SamMobile missed because, frankly, the heart rate sensor has been such a common part of Samsung’s flagships for so many years that we automatically assumed it would be there on all Galaxy S10 models. The S10e does have a small black hole with some kind of chip inside next to the rear camera flash, and we assumed the S10e’s heart rate sensor is partly hidden unlike the S10’s and S10+’.

But that is not the case, and the Samsung Health app doesn’t have a heart rate tracker on the Galaxy S10e. The lack of a heart rate sensor is no doubt a sacrifice made by Samsung to achieve the $750 price tag for the smallest Galaxy S10. However, those who regularly upgrade to Samsung’s flagship phones and use the heart rate sensor might be in for a surprise if they go into a store to purchase the Galaxy S10e and take the presence of a heart rate sensor for granted. This is also why Samsung was unable to add a notification light for the Wireless PowerShare feature on the Galaxy S10 lineup to the Galaxy S10e with the latest software update.

Some apps let you measure heart rate with the camera

You can still measure your heart rate on the Galaxy S10e by downloading apps such as this, which use the phone’s camera to do the job. The dedicated heart rate sensors on phones and smartwatches work by shining a light on your finger and measuring the blood flow beneath the skin, and the camera can also be used to do this. You risk smudging the camera lens and the results aren’t as accurate, but it doesn’t deviate much from what you get with a heart rate sensor. Of course, if heart rate monitoring is a serious part of your fitness lifestyle, then a dedicated heart rate sensor is always going to be better.

Do you use the heart rate sensor on Galaxy flagships? Did you buy the Galaxy S10e thinking it would have a heart rate sensor only to be disappointed to find out it doesn’t? Drop a comment and let us know!

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Galaxy S10 design team explains how it ‘created a Galaxy for everyone’

From being mocked for its utilitarian designs to turning into a benchmark for premium smartphone design, Samsung has come a long way in the last few years. It showed its design prowess once again with the recently launched Galaxy S10 series that has been receiving praise from all quarters. The Korean company took its critically-acclaimed flagship design from last year and refined it further to stay ahead of the rivals.

In an interview published on Samsung Newsroom, the design team behind the Galaxy S10 lineup sheds some details on the thinking and the process that went into making the latest flagships. Much of what is published is vague and PR speak, but it also reveals a bit about the thought process behind the design of the new flagships.

The Galaxy S10’s design motto is ‘Radical, Magical’

The team says the central motto behind the Galaxy S10 design is “Radical, Magical.” It used premium materials, attractive colors, and sleek design to make the Galaxy S10 feel like a “radical change with a magical feel.” It focused on “prism colors” to enhance the gradient effect by generating “a vast spectrum of colors.”

“To create Prism White, we overlaid around 1,000 sheets of nanofilms together, each with different reflectivity. It was especially difficult to fine-tune which colors would stand out the most,” said Duyeong Choi from Design Team’s CMF Group that oversees color. The team also introduced bold new colors like Canary Yellow and Flamingo Pink to appeal to the Millennials and Gen Z.

Moving beyond glass, Samsung also introduced luxurious ceramic backs for select Galaxy S10+ variants. The team says the ceramic finish is a 200 hour-long process and offers increased durability and scratch resistance, some of which we have already experienced in actual use. They also talk about the position of the front camera and how it enhances the overall design with minimal bezels.

The Galaxy S10’s design may not look like a big leap forward at first glance, but the seemingly minor improvements it brings to the table are hard to achieve as easy gains in design are over. “In smartphone design, continual innovation is no easy task, but we are always listening to users, and are committed to pushing the boundaries of design to create Galaxy devices that everyone can enjoy,” said Seungho Jang from the Flagship Product Design Group in the Design Team.

Galaxy S10e

• Model: SM-G970F
• Dimensions: 69.9 x 142.2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F1.5/F2.4 (77°) & 16MP, CMOS F2.2 (123°)Ultra Wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10

• Model: SM-G973F
• Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10 Plus

• Model: SM-G975F
• Dimensions: 74.1 x 157.6 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.4"(162.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

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Galaxy S10 heart rate sensor now lights up for reverse wireless charging

Samsung’s second software update for the Galaxy S10 lineup brought with it improvements to Wireless PowerShare, and it turns out that the company has made a very useful change. The heart rate sensor on the back of the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ will now light up to indicate that Wireless PowerShare is being used. Notice that we don’t mention the Galaxy S10e here, and that’s because the S10e’s heart rate sensor is almost completely hidden behind the camera assembly.

Only for Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ owners

Those who have updated their Galaxy S10 or S10+ will now see the phone’s heart rate sensor light up to indicate various stages of charging. When you enable Wireless PowerShare, you’ll see a blinking blue light. Once a device is placed on the back and actual reverse wireless charging begins, the light turns a stable red. Once the device you’re charging reaches 100 percent charge, you’ll simply see the heart rate sensor go dark.

It’s good to see Samsung making minor improvements to the Galaxy S10 with software updates. We can expect more such changes in the future, including improvements to the in-display fingerprint sensor as the company has promised and fixes for issues like high battery drain that some users are facing. For now, don’t forget to update to the newest software by going into the Software update menu of your Galaxy S10’s settings and tapping Download updates manually.

Wondering what Wireless PowerShare is and how you can use it on your Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, or Galaxy S10+? We have all the details right here and also a slew of Galaxy S10 tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your device.

Galaxy S10

• Model: SM-G973F
• Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10 Plus

• Model: SM-G975F
• Dimensions: 74.1 x 157.6 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.4"(162.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

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Galaxy S10 is the best smartphone yet, Russian quality check concludes

The Galaxy S10, S10+, and the Galaxy S10e have been recognized as the three best smartphones in a research conducted by Roskachestvo, the Russian non-profit organization for quality checking. Samsung’s latest flagships replace the Galaxy Note 9 from the top spot.

Seven Samsung phones in top ten

Roskachestvo, together with the International Consumer Research Association (ICRT), has presented an updated list of the best smartphones. The organization’s analysts studied 25 new smartphones that were launched in the last few months. The results were combined with those of the 334 phones tested earlier. The Galaxy S10, S10+, and the Galaxy S10e beat all of them to occupy the top three spots.

The smartphones are evaluated in more than 250 quality and safety parameters, such as durability, functionality, maximum electromagnetic radiation (SAR), battery and processor performance, and sound quality. At the same time, security parameters, like those associated with unlocking of the device, are also evaluated. The test is carried out at Müller-BBM in Germany. It is the largest test center in Europe.

As of now, Samsung smartphones occupy seven of the top ten positions in the ranking. Galaxy Note 9 is in fourth, followed by the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ and the Galaxy S8 in seventh, eighth and ninth places, respectively. The Apple iPhone XS Max, Apple iPhone XS, and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro make up the top ten. Samsung devices, however, are languishing far below in the list of devices with best camera performance. The Galaxy S10+ and the S10 are in the seventh and eighth places, whereas the Galaxy S10e finds itself tenth in the list. Rest of the spots in the top ten are occupied by Apple devices.

Roskachestvo is currently testing another batch of devices, which includes the Galaxy Fold. Results of this test will be published in May 2019. A detailed description of the methodology and a complete list of parameters are available on Roskachestvo’s website.

Galaxy S10e

• Model: SM-G970F
• Dimensions: 69.9 x 142.2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F1.5/F2.4 (77°) & 16MP, CMOS F2.2 (123°)Ultra Wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10

• Model: SM-G973F
• Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10 Plus

• Model: SM-G975F
• Dimensions: 74.1 x 157.6 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.4"(162.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

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Five best cases for your Galaxy S9

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9+ are truly amazing devices. The best case for your Samsung Galaxy S9 should be something which shows the true majesty of the device. It should also be strong and sturdy enough to provide good protection against any possible accidents. Thus, in order to help you figure out the right case for your phone, we have gathered a list of the five best Samsung Galaxy S9 cases that you can buy online.

SamMobile cover

We’re a bit biased towards this one! SamMobile offers a free case to its premium members. The case is available in black with a nice matte finish. Our entire team uses it on their Samsung phones and absolutely loves it. It’s a heavy duty case that will protect your device from dust and scratches. Oh, and did we mention, it’s free for our premium members!

Samsung Clear View Cover

Let’s kick things off with the Clear View cover from Samsung. It is available in a large variety of colors. What’s more is that the case with its premium build also lends well to protecting your precious S9 thanks to the back, front and side coverage that it provides. While it may not be the most heavy-duty case in the world, it does guard your screen and keeps your phone’s back nice and scratch-free. The front cover can also quickly transform into a handy media viewing stand making it ideal for watching movies hands-free anytime. Where this case really excels, however, is with its smart functionality. The semi-transparent view through the front cover will allow you to quickly see the time, date and any incoming notifications that you might have.

Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay

OtterBox Symmetry Series Case

This is arguably OtterBox’s most popular case series to date, the Symmetry Case. Comprising of two fused layers, the Symmetry series represents all of OtterBox’s famed qualities but in a much slimmer package. With all the military-grade drop protection you could wish for the Symmetry series is sure to keep your S9 looking good for as long as possible. The raised lip also helps guard your screen against drops on flat surfaces. So even though it doesn’t feature a built-in protector, it will still help keep your precious Infinity display looking crystal clear.

The overall look may not win any awards but the simplistic nature will appeal to many. I also really like the smooth incline on the camera port opening as this makes using the relocated fingerprint scanner extremely convenient. With all the branding and top-notch build quality that you’ve come to expect from OtterBox, the Symmetry Series for the Samsung Galaxy S9 still represents a top pick for any owner looking for rugged protection for their device without adding much heft to it.

Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay

Olixar ExoShield Case

Up next we’ll be taking a look at the ExoShield clear case from Olixir. A simplistic option that ticks all the boxes. Olixar’s ExoShield Case delivers exceptional clear protection that’s ideal for those looking to safeguard their S9 while at the same time preserve its stunning good looks. The great thing about the ExoShield is that all this protection doesn’t come at a cost. With the case still feeling extremely sleek and slim in hand, it is also aided by the non-slip coating that adds extra grip meaning that you’ll be able to keep hold of your brand-new S9.

Get it on Amazon

Samsung Alcantara Cover

We move back to Samsung now with our fourth pick in this lineup which comes in the form of their official Alcantara Cover. Again, available in an impressive array of color options, the Alcantara offers a premium look and feel for your S9 that you just won’t get anywhere else. The Alcantara finish runs throughout the case for an incredibly smooth finish that’s great to hold. This sleek styling is broken up neatly with the use of subtle color. There is also some very nice subtle Samsung branding which helps to break up the strong Alcantara finish. This finish also runs into the inside of the case, providing some nice soft cushioning for the back of your phone so that it can avoid getting scratched easily. This case doesn’t have any other features like some of the official cases in Samsung’s lineup do, however, it does what it’s supposed to do; providing a really sleek overall look that enhances the S9.

Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay

Olixar Sentinel Case and Screen Protector

We finish up now with the Sentinel case from Olixar. Representing excellent value, this Sentinel comes packed in a stylish case with an easy-to-apply glass screen protector that ensures total all-around protection for your Galaxy S9. What’s great about this combo is that by purchasing the Sentinel, you instantly take the hassle and headache out of trying to find a reliable screen protector that’s also compatible with your favorite case. The screen protector’s case compatibility allows you to fully protect your Samsung Galaxy S9 while keeping it looking great at the same time. The Sentinel case itself features a really slim and sleek build that looks fantastic. The carbon fiber borders at the top and bottom contrast beautifully with a sleek matte finish that runs throughout. Overall the Sentinel makes for a top option that will protect your S9 perfectly.

Get it on Amazon | Get it on eBay

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SamMobile TV Episode 2: Join us as we have lots to discuss!

We brought back our live YouTube sessions with a bang (and a new name) two weeks ago. We know many of you have been waiting for the next episode so don’t forget to tune in today for Episode 2 of SamMobile TV. There is a lot that we’re going to discuss in this episode.

First and foremost, we’ll be discussing in detail all of the Samsung news from this week, including last night’s announcement of the new 8-inch Galaxy Tab A with S Pen support. We’ll talk about the possibility of Samsung taking a buttonless approach with the Galaxy Note 10 and whether there’s a chance of that actually happening. The Galaxy A70 was announced this week and we’ll provide our opinion about whether or not it’s worth your money.

The Galaxy Fold is a hot topic these days and we’re excited about it as well. We’ll talk about the elephant in the room, its 2000 euro price tag, and discuss whether it’s really as expensive as it seems at first glance.

The Galaxy S10 is on the agenda as well. There will be discussions about the strong ongoing sales of the Galaxy S10 which is definitely good for Samsung. Some of you have complained about the Galaxy S10 fingerprint issues and we’ll talk about how it does get better over time.

So don’t forget to tune in at 13:00 CET (13:00 GMT and 18:30 IST) today for Episode 2 of SamMobile TV. As always, you’ll be able to ask questions during the live stream. This is as good a time as any to remind you to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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