Galaxy Tab S5 could launch with the latest Snapdragon chipset

Samsung is working on a sequel to the Galaxy Tab S4, as it had been revealed a month ago. Expected to be the Galaxy Tab S5, the LTE version of the upcoming tablet (SM-T865) has shown up on the Geekbench benchmark database, revealing a couple of specs in the process. And it looks like the Galaxy Tab S4 successor will launch with the latest silicon inside instead of a year-old Snapdragon chip (the Tab S4 came out last year with a Snapdragon 835 instead of the Snapdragon 845).

Snapdragon 855, 6GB of RAM, Android Pie on the Tab S5

The Galaxy Tab S5 (a tentative name for the time being) is powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset according to the Geekbench listing, along with 6GB of RAM. The substantial jump in the model number for the new tablet already suggested a major upgrade over the Tab S4, so it’s not completely surprising that it has a Snapdragon 855 under the hood. Also unsurprising is that it runs Android 9 Pie. If history is any guide, there’s next to no chance of Samsung upgrading it to Android Q before its retail launch, even though the company has pushed out the Android Pie update for its devices in record time.

The Geekbench listing doesn’t reveal any other specs, which is par for the course. Our sources had revealed that the Tab S5 would come with a minimum of 128GB of storage, but that’s pretty much it for now as far as hardware details are concerned. We can expect features like a big and beautiful Super AMOLED display, S Pen stylus support, and quad AKG-tuned speakers, and more information should be revealed as the weeks go by and we get closer to the tablet’s launch.

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Galaxy Tab S5e update brings June 2019 security patch

Samsung has released an update that brings the latest Android security patch to the Galaxy Tab S5e. The update is available in the United Kingdom and South Korea and comes with software version T720XXU1ASF1. Only the Wi-Fi model has received it till now, but the LTE model should also be getting a similar update in the next couple of days.

The Galaxy Tab S5e was launched in May this year and has received two updates in South Korea and one update in the UK since then. However, since the Tab S5e falls in the quarter security update schedule, the higher frequency of updates is only going to last for the first couple of months. Samsung’s support of its tablets has often been lackluster compared to its phones, and the Galaxy Tab S5e probably isn’t going to change things on that front.

That doesn’t mean you should overlook the Galaxy Tab S5e if you’re out to buy a tablet. The Tab S5e gives you a beautiful AMOLED display in an extremely thin frame for the price of a mid-range tablet, making it more affordable than the Galaxy Tab S4. You might, however, want to wait a few months if you want a full-fledged flagship Android tablet, as Samsung is working on the successor to the Tab S4 for a launch later this year.

If you own a Tab S5e and live in South Korea or the UK, you can grab the update over the air from the Software update section of the tablet’s Settings app by tapping the Download and install option. If there’s no update available for your device just yet, you can make the jump to the new software by downloading the relevant firmware from our database.

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Samsung again says the Galaxy Fold launch date will be confirmed soon

Samsung wasn’t able to meet the initial Galaxy Fold launch date of April 26 because of issues with review units. The issues forced Samsung to delay the launch and make some tweaks to iron out the problems. The communication about a new launch date has left a lot to be desired.

Recent reports out of South Korea suggest that Samsung will confirm the date at a press briefing later this month. The Galaxy Fold isn’t expected to hit the market before July even if a date is confirmed in June.

Please hold for the Galaxy Fold launch date

Fans got excited when Samsung mobile CEO DJ Koh said over a month ago that the Galaxy Fold release date would be confirmed soon. It has been long since then and there hasn’t been an official update. Subsequent reports suggested that the company might not be able to release the device in May or June. The message that Samsung kept sending out through various channels was that a final date would be confirmed soon.

It’s sending out the same message once again for the Galaxy Fold’s launch. When contacted by CNET, a spokesperson for the company said “We will announce timing in the coming weeks.” This is just as vague as the earlier comments from Samsung. It could either mean that an announcement would take place in June or July.

One theory is that Samsung may have initially wanted to release the Galaxy Fold no later than May or June but decided to take additional time after Huawei was caught in between the US/China trade war. The Chinese giant has much bigger fish to fry right now than compete for the title of the world’s first foldable smartphone.

Details of the changes that it has made to the Galaxy Fold have surfaced already. We have also reported that Samsung has been diligently testing new firmware for the Galaxy Fold. All signs point to an impending launch. We just hope Samsung comes out with a firm launch date sooner rather than later.

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Could the Galaxy A7 (2017) be getting its Android Pie update soon?

There was little hope for the Galaxy A7 (2017) Android Pie update. That’s because this device has already received two major OS updates since it was launched with Marshmallow out of the box. It got Android 7.0 Nougat in 2017 and Android 8.0 Oreo in 2018. That should have been it but there’s something which might give some hope to Galaxy A7 (2017) owners.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified a Galaxy A7 (2017) running Android 9.0 Pie. It’s out of the ordinary since this doesn’t happen for phones that have received the two major OS updates that they’re entitled to. Could it really be getting a third major update?

Galaxy A7 (2017) certified with Android 9.0 Pie

Certifications from the Wi-FI Alliance are normally a good indication of impending updates. They usually surface a couple of weeks before the update itself is rolled out. This should, at least in theory, mean that the Galaxy A7 (2017) bearing model number SM-A720F will be getting Android 9 Pie soon.

There may be more here than meets the eye. Some of you might remember that a similar certification was spotted for the Galaxy S7 two months ago. The listing was later amended but for a hot minute, it seemed like the Wi-Fi Alliance had certified a Galaxy S7 with Android 9 Pie. We all know that there’s a slim chance of that device getting a third major update despite the fact that it’s a former flagship.

There was a logical explanation for that listing which hinted at an internal mixup. The Galaxy S7 with model number SM-G930F was listed with Android Pie and soon retracted. The SM-G390F, the model number for the Galaxy XCover 4, later surfaced with Pie merely hours after the Galaxy S7 certification was retracted. This suggested that there had perhaps been an oversight which had been addressed.

The same can’t be said for this Galaxy A7 (2017) certification. There’s no obvious contender here with which the model number has been mixed up. So either this is more than just a typo or there really is an official Android Pie build for this device. I’m sure those who own this device will be keeping their fingers crossed for the latter.

We’ll keep an eye out just in case and will update if there’s more evidence about the Galaxy A7 (2017) Android Pie update, no matter how unlikely it seems.

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Samsung’s XCover 4s rugged smartphone goes official with Android 9 Pie

We knew that it was only a matter of time before Samsung unveiled a new rugged smartphone and it has done that today. The Galaxy XCover 4s is official with a familiar design and the latest software in the form of Android 9.0 Pie.

Some press renders of the Galaxy XCover 4s had already been leaked online about a week ago so the design doesn’t come as a surprise. The handset had also picked up some crucial certifications over the past few weeks. That was a sign of its impending launch.

Samsung officially launches the Galaxy XCover 4s

The Galaxy XCover series has been around for a few years now. It’s meant for a certain type of consumer, one that operates in an environment where your average smartphone may not be able to survive.

Like its predecessors, the Galaxy XCover 4s gets enhanced impact resistance through its rubber coating. It’s also built to the MIL-STD 810G standards for ruggedness and has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating. There’s even a dedicated ‘XCover Key’ which can be used to launch any app or feature.

The specs are pretty normal. There’s a 5.0-inch TFT HD display and an Exynos 7885 processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. It also features a 16-megapixel f/1.7 aperture rear and 5-megapixel f/2.2 front camera. The device measures in at 145.9 x 73.1 x 9.7 mm. It’s powered by a 2,800mAh removable battery, a trait that it shares with its predecessor. The Galaxy XCover 4s ships with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.

Samsung only tends to make its XCover devices available in limited markets. That will be the case with this latest addition to the series as well. According to the press release sent out in Italy, Galaxy XCover 4s will be available starting next month for €299.

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How to activate slow motion camera mode on Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A40

The May security update for the Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A40 had one thing in common: The changelog for both devices mentioned that the update adds the ability to take slow motion videos, only for owners of the device to discover that there was no slow motion mode in the camera app after they installed the update. However, it seems the slow motion mode was a part of the update, but there’s something you need to do before that mode shows up in the camera app.

Requires a reset of camera settings

As reported by GalaxyClub, clearing the camera app’s data to reset its settings is what does the trick. You can do this by opening the camera app, tapping the gear icon to open camera settings, then hitting the Reset settings option found by scrolling all the way to the bottom. Once you’ve reset camera settings, the slow motion mode should automatically show up in the mode selection carousel in the camera app.

Resetting camera settings won’t delete your photos and videos, but you will lose all the changes you might have made in the camera app (like changing the default resolution for video recording). A small price to pay for being able to capture slow motion videos on the A30 or A40, although Samsung should have tested things more thoroughly before releasing software updates with a common issue to two devices.

Galaxy A30

• Model: SM-A305F
• Dimensions: 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7mm
• Display: 6.4"(162.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 7904
• Camera: 16 MP, CMOS F1.7 & 5MP, CMOS F2.2

More specifications

Galaxy A40

• Model: SM-A405F
• Dimensions: 144.4 x 69.2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 5.9"(149,8mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 7885
• Camera: 16 MP, F1.9 & 5MP, F2.2 (123°)

More specifications

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Daily Deal: 52% off SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSDHC card

This SanDisk microSDHC card is ideal for Android smartphones and tablets. With its 98MB/s transfer speed, it’s quite agile in shooting and playing back full HD video as well as data. In addition to its speed, this product also comes with a 10 year manufacturer warranty.

You can get this top-rated microSDHC card at a 52% discount now which is a steal for a product of this quality. Use the Buy Now button below to claim your discount but be fast as the stock doesn’t usually last with deep discounts like this.

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Galaxy J7 Nxt now making the jump to Android Pie and One UI

Samsung has released the Android Pie update for the Galaxy J7 Nxt in Thailand. The Galaxy J7 Nxt, a slightly upgraded variant of the Galaxy J7 (2016), launched with Android Nougat and was updated to Android Oreo in September last year. With the Android Pie update for the device launching just nine months later, it’s yet another example of how quickly Samsung has released Pie for its devices compared to any previous Android OS upgrade.

Last major update for the Galaxy J7 Nxt

The Galaxy J7 Nxt will not be getting Android Q, as Android Pie is its second major update, which is the maximum Samsung provides for even its $1000 flagships. Of course, Samsung could have launched the Galaxy J7 Nxt with Oreo out of the box instead of launching it with Android 7.0 Nougat in July last year, a few months after Android Oreo was released for flagship Galaxy smartphones. But launching new phones with older versions of Android is something the company continues to do, and it probably won’t stop any time soon.

Owners of the Galaxy J7 Nxt will get the new One UI interface with the update, along with plenty of new features, including a system-wide Night mode, navigation gestures, a floating mode for the Samsung Keyboard app, and improved battery life thanks to Adaptive Battery. There’s a lot more in Android Pie, details of which you can find in our coverage of One UI and Android Pie features and functionality. The update also bundles the May 2019 security patch.

The Galaxy J7 Nxt Pie update should be available for download over the air in Thailand and make its way to other countries in the coming weeks. You can check if it’s available for you by opening the Settings app on the phone, tapping Software update, then selecting the Download updates manually option. An alternative method to make the jump to the new software is to download the firmware from our database and flash it on your phone manually.

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Android Pie update now arriving on the Galaxy Tab Active 2

Samsung has begun rolling out the Android 9 Pie update for the Galaxy Tab Active 2. The rugged Samsung tablet is now receiving the Pie iteration of Android in Italy. However, only the LTE model (SM-T395) is getting the new update as of now. It carries the software version T395XXU4CSF1 in the country. The update should start making its way to the Wi-Fi model (SM-T390), and other countries, soon.

Bundles the June 2019 security patch

Launched with Android 7.1 Nougat back in October 2017, the Galaxy Tab Active 2 is now getting its second major OS update. The new firmware is being rolled out to the LTE model initially and comes with the security patch for the month of June 2019. In addition, the update should also bundle the standard suite of features baked into Android Pie, as well as Samsung’s new One UI custom skin, which itself comes with tons of new features. How many of them made the cut for the Tab Active 2 remains to be seen.

The latest software update for the Galaxy Tab Active 2 is now available over the air in Italy. But, as always, the update is being rolled out in stages. To see if it’s available for your unit, head into the tablet’s Settings app, navigate to Software Update, then hit Download Updates Manually. Alternatively, you can grab the firmware from our database and flash it on your device.

Galaxy Tab Active2 LTE

• Model: SM-T395
• Dimensions: 127.6 x 214.7 x 9.9mm
• Display: 8.0" (203,1mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 8 MP, CMOS

More specifications

Galaxy Tab Active2 WIFI

• Model: SM-T390
• Dimensions: 127.6 x 214.7 x 9.9mm
• Display: 8.0" (203,1mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 8 MP, CMOS

More specifications

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New rumor says Galaxy Note 10 Pro will have only 25W fast charging

The Galaxy Note 10 may not come with 45W fast charging, according to a tweet from XDA Developer’s Max Weinbach. A previous rumor excited everyone by suggesting that the Galaxy Note 10 will have fast charging speeds almost double of what the Galaxy S10 5G, Galaxy A70, and Galaxy A80 offer, but the 45W fast charging tech may debut on the Galaxy A90 instead. And it’s certainly plausible — the Galaxy A70 was the first Galaxy phone with 25W fast charging to hit retail shelves, so the next jump in fast charging speeds in Samsung’s smartphone lineup may very well be introduced with a Galaxy A series phone.

It’s also worth mentioning that the new rumor specifically mentions the Galaxy Note 10 Pro, making us wonder if the fast charging speeds will be different on the regular Galaxy Note 10. Leaving the lower-end model on the old 15W fast charging tech wouldn’t be a major issue if it’s going to have just a 3,400 mAh battery, and it might also be one of the ways Samsung keeps the price of the device palatable. As for the Galaxy Note 10 5G, we’re assuming it might be the one with 45W fast charging, similar to how the Galaxy S10 5G can charge faster than the non-5G Galaxy S10 models.

With the Galaxy Note 10’s launch a few months away, we will probably see conflicting reports for a few more weeks before information from various leaks and rumors begins to converge. Frankly, it was always overly optimistic to expect the Galaxy Note 10 to offer charging speeds three times higher than the Galaxy S10, as that’s the kind of upgrade Samsung is unlikely to provide just six months after releasing the tenth-anniversary Galaxy S flagship.

Would the fast charging speed of the Galaxy Note 10 be a major factor influencing your decision to purchase the device when it comes out later this year? Or would you care more about features like the headphone jack, which may finally be on its way out from Samsung’s mainstream flagships?

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