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Samsung had earlier confirmed that the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ won’t work with the Gear VR but didn’t offer an explanation for why that is the case, and we have now been told by one of our sources that the expiry of Samsung’s partnership with Oculus is the reason for the lack of support for the Gear VR on the new flagships. Existing devices, like the Galaxy S10 lineup, should continue to work with Samsung’s virtual reality headset.
Since Oculus develops the software that powers the Gear VR, it isn’t surprising to learn that Samsung won’t be able to add Note 10 support if Oculus is no longer bound by whatever partnership the two companies had when they started out to make virtual reality more affordable a few years ago. Oculus has its own VR headset, the Oculus Go, which is a standalone device that doesn’t need a phone to be inserted on one side, and Oculus will no doubt want to focus on selling its in-house VR headset, one that costs $199 and $249 for the 32GB and 64GB variants.
We’ve reached out to Samsung for a comment on whether the Note 10/Note 10+’s incompatibility with the Gear VR is actually down to the end of its partnership with Oculus. In the meantime, tell us whether the lack of Gear VR support is something that will factor into your decision to not buy either of the new Note flagships down in the comments!
The smartwatch market is quite healthy and while it continues to grow year-over-year, Samsung is seemingly getting a share of the pie. According to Strategy Analytics, global smartwatch shipments were up by 44% at the end of Q2 2019 compared to a year ago, and Samsung more than doubled the number of smartwatches it shipped year-over-year.
Samsung ships 2 million smartwatches, secures 2nd place
Samsung shipped 0.9 million smartwatches in Q2 2018, but as the market segment continued to grow, so did the company’s market presence. A year later in Q2 2019, Samsung managed to ship 2 million smartwatches worldwide.
This has allowed Samsung to secure 15.9% market share, up from 10.5% market share recorded in Q2 2018. Meanwhile, Fitbit seems to be losing ground, shipping fewer smartwatches and losing more than 5% market share over the same period. Fitbit fell in 3rd place.
Samsung is doing pretty well, it seems, and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 has just been announced along with the Under Armour Edition. In fact, Strategy Analytics believes that the Galaxy Watch Active 2 should allow the South Korean tech giant to further solidify its place on the market for the remainder of 2019. In other words, it’s highly unlikely for Samsung to be dropped down from the second spot on the podium this year, but it’s just as unlikely for Samsung to catch up with Apple’s 5.7 million vendor shipments and 46.4% market share.
Now that Samsung’s done with the unveiling of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+, it can begin focusing on individual markets. The devices are already up for pre-orders in several countries, including India. However, Samsung will still be holding a formal launch event for the Note 10 duo in the country.
The latest flagships will be unveiled in India on Tuesday, August 20. The event will take place at the Samsung Opera House, Bengaluru. For those who can’t make it to the event, you can watch the live stream on Samsung India Newsroom 12 noon onwards.
Note 10 sales begin on August 23
Samsung’s latest flagships are already winning accolades in the industry. From cameras to display to the UFS 3.0 storage, the Galaxy Note 10 is outperforming the competition with ease. Samsung is now letting its fans in India experience the beast hands-on before they arrive on the shelves. The new smartphones will go on sale in the country on August 23.
Planning of buying a Galaxy Note 10/10+? You can now pre-order the devices through Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm Mall, Samsung Online Store, Tata Cliq, and major offline retailers across the country. Prices start at Rs. 69,990 (~$980) for the 8GB/256GB Note 10. The base variant (12GB/256GB) of the Note 10+ is priced at Rs. 79,990 (~$1,120).
Samsung’s latest flagships come in Aura Black, Aura Glow, and Aura White color options. Samsung is offering exclusive benefits to the customers who pre-order the phone. You can see the complete list of Galaxy Note 10 price, availability and offers in India here. Don’t forget to check out our hands-on video to know what these phones bring to the table. Our full reviews of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ should be up in a few weeks.
It doesn’t look like the floodgates will close anytime soon when it comes to the number of budget and mid-range Galaxy phones Samsung is launching this year. A new Galaxy M series phone with model number SM-M107F has been certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance and has shown up on Geekbench, revealing that the Korean giant is working on what should be the Galaxy M10s, an iterative upgrade over the Galaxy M10 similar to devices like the Galaxy A10s and Galaxy A50s.
And the M10s’ main upgrade looks to be in the performance department – the SM-M107F is powered by an Exynos 7885/7904 chipset, the same one that powers the Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M30. The M10 uses the Exynos 7870, which is a rather old budget-grade Exynos chip that is all about efficiency and has been found in many Galaxy J series phones. The device also has 3GB of RAM, and like every phone launched after the Galaxy S10, runs Android Pie out of the box.
The unannounced Galaxy A50s eluded us for about a month while Samsung was preparing the Galaxy Note 10 for Unpacked, but now the mid-range model has resurfaced, this time through the Wi-Fi Alliance. The WFA has approved the SM-A507FN/DS earlier today, confirming very little about the device itself but putting it on the radar once again.
Testing is seemingly done, now it’s time for approvals
We’ve exclusively reported roughly three months ago that Samsung is working on a new mid-range phone known by the model number SM-A507F, so the phone’s existence doesn’t surprise us. Likewise, following our initial report, the Galaxy A50s was spotted on a couple of benchmarking websites like Geekbench and AnTuTu. With this part of the testing seemingly concluded, Samsung now appears to be getting closer to the smartphone’s market release as it begins acquiring the necessary certifications.
The Wi-Fi Alliance hasn’t disclosed any details pertaining to the Galaxy A50s, aside from the fact that it runs Android Pie. But judging by previous encounters, the upcoming mid-range model might not be too different from the regular Galaxy A50. Benchmarks show that it uses the same Exynos 9610 chipset as the standard A50, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.
Most changes will likely affect the camera performance but time will tell exactly what the company has in store for the refreshed model. Samsung’s release plans are currently unknown but nearly six months have passed since the standard Galaxy A50 became available so, in theory, the Galaxy A50s might make an official appearance in the coming weeks.
Google Maps’ ability to tell you where you parked your car is quite handy, but if that isn’t enough for you, you will be able to save a photographic reminder for your parking location with Bixby on the Galaxy Note 10. Bixby can already remember your parking location if you ask it to do so, and with the latest Bixby update, those using the Note 10 or Note 10+ will also see the virtual assistant take a photo with the camera app and add it to the location reminder so you can have a visual clue if you can’t locate your vehicle with just the location coordinates.
The update also brings other changes. With the latest version of Bixby, the dictation feature will be enabled by default for those who are setting up Bixby for the first time and those who have never enabled or disabled the feature from Bixby settings before. Bixby will also provide more detailed descriptions in results for commands such as asking it for the battery status of the Bluetooth headset connected to your phone. The rest of the changelog talks about improvements to Bixby Marketplace and Bixby Capsules. Bixby Marketplace, for example, is now easier to access thanks to a tabbed interface that separates Bixby’s Home panel and the Marketplace/Capsules section.
You will need to update the main Bixby app, the Bixby Wakeup app, and the BixbyService app if you want to take advantage of the new functionality. You can grab these updates from the Galaxy Store on your Galaxy device by tapping the three-dot button on the top right, selecting My page, then tapping Update. Of course, a Galaxy Note 10 is required as well if you want to save photographic parking reminders, and if you’re wondering if that feature will come to other Galaxy devices in the near future, well, your guess is as good as ours.
A new update is now rolling out for T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note 9 in the United States, bumping the software build up to N960USQU2CSGA. It reportedly introduces the long-awaited Night mode for the camera which should allow Note 9 users to capture better photos in low-light conditions. Presumably, given the build number, the update should also include the QR scanner feature.
The package carries the same software build as the one released by Verizon for its Galaxy Note 9 last week. Along with the new features and enhancements, the update also pushes the July 2019 security patch onto the device. As usual, it fixes a number of vulnerabilities within Android OS and Samsung’s software. You can read more about it in the July 2019 security patch detailed report.
T-Mobile is rolling out the latest update over-the-air, meaning it should be accompanied by an update notification which users can tap in order to start the process. If you happen to own the Galaxy Note 9 on T-Mobile’s network in the US, you can also attempt to trigger the update manually by opening the Settings app on the phone, navigating to Software update, and tapping Download and install.
Feel free to drop us a line in the comment section below if you’ve received the update or you’ve found any hidden features that haven’t been mentioned in the changelog.
The Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ do not come with a USB-A to USB-C cable in the box, only a USB-C to USB-C cable. And that presents a problem if you don’t have a modern laptop or desktop PC with a dedicated USB-C port, as you will need to have a separate cable with a full-sized USB connector (USB-A) on one end and a USB-C connector on the other to transfer files to and from a computer.
Of course, it would be extremely unlikely for someone buying the Note 10 or Note 10+ to not have a regular USB-A to USB-C cable lying around at home, but we still thought it’s worth pointing out that Samsung’s new flagships only have a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box. This is the case with every Galaxy phone that supports the company’s new 25W Super Fast Charge technology (like the Galaxy A80, Galaxy A70, and Galaxy S10 5G), as the 25W charger has a USB-C port instead of a standard USB port.
Samsung is no doubt saving costs by only bundling the USB-C to USB-C cable with its devices, and it is also trying to earn an extra buck by making consumers buy a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle separately instead of offering one with the Note 10 and Note 10+ in many markets. The same goes for the 45W Note 10+ charger, although with the device having excellent charging times with the bundled 25W charger, not having the 45W charger out of the box shouldn’t be as big of a concern for every customer.
Samsung is reportedly hoping to have “at least one handset either next year or in 2021” with a graphene battery instead of a lithium-ion battery. Yes, many of you are probably shaking your head right now, as we have been hearing about graphene batteries becoming a viable solution for smartphones for years at this point. And the latest rumor, courtesy of leakster Evan Blass (aka evleaks), suggests that there is still a couple of years to go before we see a phone powered by a graphene battery.
Last year, rumors of Samsung being close to using graphene batteries in smartphones started floating around on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo, but as we all know, no such device has made its way to market yet. Why are graphene batteries so important? Well, thanks to a material Samsung calls “graphene ball”, graphene batteries can charge up to five times faster than lithium-ion batteries. The material can also increase battery capacities by 45 percent, and these batteries can also handle higher temperatures.
All of those benefits would be right at home on smartphones, especially as manufacturers continue to insist on making their phones as thin as possible. The Galaxy Note 10+, for example, is just 7.9 mm thick, nearly 1 mm less than the Galaxy Note 9. Granted, Samsung has still managed to fit the Note 10+ with a 4,300 mAh battery, but no one will complain if we can get, say, a 5,000 mAh battery in such a sleek profile with faster charging capability than we have right now.
Just how much longer consumers will have to wait before they can buy a smartphone with a graphene battery is anyone’s guess. Samsung is likely to be the first manufacturer to have such a phone on the market, and while it’s now being suggested that phone could be ready as early as 2020, it’s best to keep the proverbial salt container handy until companies officially make some commitments about bringing graphene to mobile devices.
Samsung’s upcoming 5G smartphone, the Galaxy A90 5G, has been certified by the Korea National Radio Research Agency (NRRA), bringing it a step closer to its official launch. The NRRA certification follows approvals from the Bluetooth SIG and the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Galaxy A90 5G launch imminent
Korea’s NRRA has just certified an unannounced Samsung smartphone with model number SM-A908N. It is presumably the Korean variant of the Galaxy A90 5G, Samsung’s first non-flagship 5G smartphone. There’s also an SM-A908B, which should sell internationally. Both of these variants were certified by the Bluetooth SIG last week with the Galaxy A90 5G moniker.
In the imaging department, the Galaxy A90 5G is rumored to feature a triple rear camera setup with “Tilt OIS” tech. Details about megapixel counts are scanty at the moment. Samsung was previously rumored to launch the Galaxy A90 with a pop-up camera system. However, that particular handset was eventually launched as the Galaxy A80 (review). So it remains to be seen whether the upcoming A90 5G retains the Galaxy A80’s not-so-well-tested sliding, rotating camera system.
There’s no word yet on when Samsung plans to take the wraps off the Galaxy A90 5G. Given all these certifications, we may not need to wait too long now. Once it arrives, it will be the most affordable 5G smartphone from Samsung. It may still cost significantly more than the Galaxy A80, though. After all, it will be the most high-end 2019 Galaxy A phone, and 5G support alone would result in a higher price tag.
The Galaxy Note 10+ can go from 0 to 100 percent charge in just an hour and five minutes with the bundled 25W charger, as revealed by a couple of tests done on the device. The 4,300 mAh battery inside the Galaxy Note 10+ is the biggest yet on any Galaxy Note flagship, and the new Notes are also the first mainstream Galaxy flagships with support for 25W fast charging. The Note 10+ also supports 45W charging with Samsung’s 45W fast charger, but it seems the bundled 25W charger will be fast enough for most users.
A battery charging test by YouTube channel Gadgets Portal pitted the Galaxy Note 10+ against the Galaxy Note 9, OnePlus 7 Pro, and the iPhone XS Max and found the Note 10+ to have the fastest overall charging times. The OnePlus 7 Pro’s 4,000 mAh battery charges faster during initial charging with OnePlus’ 30W adapter, but it takes a full 20 minutes longer than the Note 10+ to reach 100 percent. That’s because the OnePlus 7 Pro starts charging at 10W as it nears 100 percent capacity while the Galaxy Note 10+ drops down to 15W.
The Galaxy Note 9’s 4,000 mAh battery took nearly two hours (1 hour 54 minutes) to reach 100 percent, and as expected, the iPhone XS Max finished last with a 0-100 time of 2 hours 3 minutes. The Galaxy S10+ wasn’t included in the test, but Samsung’s largest Galaxy S10 model takes around an hour and a half to reach 100 percent charge. And no, the S10+ will not charge faster with the Note 10’s 25W charger, in case you’re wondering.
Galaxy Note 10+ battery goes above 60% with 30 minutes of charging
So the Note 10+ is the fastest to the finish line, but how well does it do with, say, 10 or 30 minutes of charging? According to test results posted by leakster Ice universe, the Note 10+ goes up to 22 percent and 64 percent charge after 10 and 30 minutes of charging respectively. That’s quite impressive and considerably better than the Galaxy A70, and we can only imagine how quick it must be with the 45W charger that Samsung is selling as a separate accessory.
The same goes for the regular Galaxy Note 10. With its 3,500 mAh battery, we’re assuming it doesn’t take very long to reach 100 percent. Of course, it remains to be seen if Samsung’s new flagships are as quick to charge when the phones are turned on and in use. Before the Galaxy S10 came along, Samsung flagships reverted to standard charging when the screen was on, and it will be interesting to see whether the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ charge at 25W when they’re being used or if they go down to 15W instead.
