Samsung sold 2 million 5G smartphones, expects 4 million by year’s end

2 million 5G-enabled Samsung smartphones have been sold by the company this year, revealed JuneHee Lee, senior vice president and head of the company’s technology strategy team, during Qualcomm’s presentation at IFA in Berlin. With the advent of the Galaxy Fold 5G and the Galaxy A90 5G, the company now expects the figure to double by the end of the year.

This is quite an accomplishment considering the fact that Samsung doesn’t have a lot of 5G smartphones on the market. Its first 5G mobile device – the Galaxy S10 5G – debuted in South Korea on April 5, and since then, no other 5G handset was released until the Galaxy Note 10 5G arrived in the country late last month.

The Galaxy S10 5G is seemingly leading the pack

The Galaxy S10 5G alone surpassed the 1 million mark in South Korea a couple of months ago. This means that the remaining 1 million units were sold over the past two months. The Galaxy Note 10 5G series undoubtedly helped to push the bar up to 2 million sales, especially since the LTE models are not available in South Korea.

Samsung predicts it will manage to sell 4 million 5G smartphones by the end of the year. The recently-announced Galaxy A90 5G (hands-on) will be the company’s most affordable (or least expensive) 5G smartphone on the market once it hits the shelves for €749. The Galaxy Fold 5G, on the other hand, finds itself at the opposite end of the spectrum as the company’s most expensive 5G smartphone.

5G should become more widespread next year. And with Samsung’s latest Exynos 980 5G-enabled chipset set to enter mass production by the end of 2019, the technology will become easier to obtain across a more varied price range next year.

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Daily Deal: 34% off the Samsung T5 Portable SSD – 1TB

Here’s a good deal for those looking for a portable external drive with fast transfer speeds: the 1TB Samsung T5 Portable SSD is available at a 34% discount right now. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are considerably faster than traditional hard disk drives and can be the best upgrade one can make for their desktop or laptop PC, and the T5 Portable SSD gives you SSD-like speeds on a disk (up to 540 MB/s over a USB 3.1 connection) that you can carry around with you.

The T5 Portable SSD is shock resistant which makes it more durable than traditional hard disks because there are no moving parts inside. It also comes with a USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A (full-sized USB connector) cables in the box so you can connect the disk with whatever USB ports are supported on your PC or laptop. And with the reduced pricing, this is the perfect time to invest in one of these portable SSDs.

So go ahead and hit the Buy Now button below to buy the Samsung T5 Portable 1TB SSD before the price goes back up again.

 

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Galaxy Note 10 KlaytnPhone edition launches in South Korea

Kakao Corp’s cryptocurrency smartphone ‘KlaytnPhone’ is real and it’s now available for purchase in South Korea. As reported yesterday, this is essentially a Galaxy Note 10 / Note 10+ edition that embraces Klaytn’s KLAY crypto tokens.

The phone comes with 2,000 KLAY tokens pre-loaded in Samsung Blockchain Keystore. It ships with various Klaytn BApps (Blockchain Applications), which are technically DApps (Decentralized Applications) that wear a different branding.

The KlaytnPhone is only available with 5G connectivity, which isn’t surprising given that this is a South Korean release and the LTE-based Galaxy Note 10 models have not been launched in the country. Prospective buyers can choose between the Galaxy Note 10 5G as well as the 256GB or 512GB Galaxy Note 10+ 5G.

Pricing similar to regular 5G Galaxy Note 10s

Pricing is similar to the standard, non-crypto Galaxy Note 10 5G models sold by Samsung and South Korea’s major carriers. The Galaxy Note 10 KlaytnPhone costs 1,248,500 Won ($1,047), whereas the 256GB and 512GB Note 10+ models cost 1,397,000 Won ($1,171) and 1,496,000 ($1,254), respectively. They can also be acquired on a monthly payment plan starting at 125,680 Won ($105) per month.

Galaxy Note 10

• Model: SM-N970F
• Dimensions: 151.0 x71.8x7.9mm
• Display: 6.3"(160.02mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F2.2 Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy Note 10+

• Model: SM-N975F
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 77,2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.8"(172.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 12 Ultra Wide: 16MP F2.2 (123°) & Wide-angle: 12MP 2PD AF F1.5/F2.4 OIS (77°) & Telephoto: 12MP F2.1 OIS (45°) & DepthVision Camera: VGA

More specifications

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Galaxy A90 5G hands-on: Like a Galaxy A70 with 5G and more power

With the Galaxy A90 5G, Samsung is hoping to give consumers a cheaper point of entry into the 5G world. The Galaxy A90 5G is the Korean giant’s first non-flagship phone with a flagship processor – it is powered by the Snapdragon 855, the same chip that sits inside the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 (in markets where the Exynos variants aren’t available). We were able to go hands-on with the device at IFA 2019. What are our first impressions? Well, the Galaxy A90 5G feels like a Galaxy A70 on steroids, if we’re being honest.

Hands-on with the Galaxy A90 5G

And that shouldn’t surprise most people if they’ve seen the Galaxy A90 5G’s specs. It’s like Samsung simply added a Snapdragon 855 and 5G support to the A70 and renamed it. Which is fine, actually, since the Galaxy A70 had some excellent features – a beautiful 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, big battery with 25W fast charging, and high-resolution cameras. What Samsung has also added to the A90 is glass on the back and a metal frame for a more premium look and feel, as befits a phone that’s going to cost €749. Sadly, it has also removed the headphone jack.

We have mixed opinions about that design pattern on the back of the phone. Samsung’s gone for a two-tone look, with half of the rear panel sporting a traditional plain shade of black or white and the other half featuring the gradient effect that we’ve seen on the Galaxy A70, Galaxy A50, and other new devices. There’s also a thin shiny strip running on the right side, and while the design looks unique, it’s not going to be to everyone’s liking. We’d much prefer the entire panel have the same finish from top to bottom.

Unfortunately, we were unable to put the phone’s titular 5G connectivity to the test, but we did get to play around with the phone a bit and noticed that it performs just as well as you would expect a phone with a Snapdragon 855 under the hood. On the software side, the Snapdragon 855 makes it possible to have Samsung DeX support, a first for a mid-range phone. However, we’ve not been told if the A90 5G supports running DeX on Windows and Mac with a USB-C cable, like the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+.

The A90 5G does come with some Note 10 features, like the ability to shoot bokeh videos and integration with Microsoft’s Your Phone app. That’s because it runs Android Pie with One UI 1.5. The device will get Android 10, naturally, but when that update will arrive is anyone’s guess. Android 10 and One UI 2.0 should bring the option to run DeX on Windows and Mac to the Galaxy A90 5G if it can’t already do so, as other Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S9 and Note 9, are also expected to gain that functionality with the next version of Android.

Galaxy A70 + 5G + Snapdragon 855 equals Galaxy A90, more or less

All in all, the Galaxy A90 5G is an interesting device, and a necessary one for Samsung if the company wants to make 5G connectivity more accessible. We’ll be able to test it thoroughly once we have our hands on a review unit, although we can already say it will simply be faster at software performance and network speeds while offering the same experience in other aspects as the Galaxy A70, with a few Galaxy Note 10 software features thrown in.

What do you think about the Galaxy A90 5G?

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New Galaxy Fold hands-on: Rising like a phoenix from the ashes!

Many were quick to write off the Galaxy Fold when Samsung decided to delay the launch. They felt that Samsung had rushed the product in order to beat Huawei to the market. Much like the death knell was rung for the Galaxy Note series after the Galaxy Note 7, the critics called on Samsung to dump the Galaxy Fold for good and start all over again.

Personally, I was quite sad to return the Galaxy Fold review unit that we got back in April. Samsung decided to take all of them back once the launch had been delayed. Many reviewers had managed to wreck their units but we didn’t have any problems with it in the two weeks that we got with the device. Our sample didn’t break yet Samsung took it back because it realized that some of the concerns were genuine and that more work was needed.

Hands-on with the “new” Galaxy Fold

I have long been a believer in foldable devices. The mobile market needs a renaissance which the Galaxy Fold did bring about. As soon as I went back to my Galaxy S10+ after returning the Galaxy Fold, it felt like a step backward. Suddenly this very capable flagship device felt like an archaic representation of what a smartphone can be.

Some of you might feel that this is a tad too dramatic. I can understand the skepticism from those who have never experienced the Galaxy Fold in person. That’s most people to be honest since Samsung didn’t allow the public to get up close and personal with the device. Their frame of reference was the word of some overzealous bloggers and YouTubers who had blown the issue out of proportion.

The Galaxy Fold reimagines what a smartphone can be. It has the capability to reinvigorate the mobile market in ways that no device has been able to over the past few years. It cuts through the monotony that persists in the market and offers an experience that’s entirely different. You already know what you’re going to get with a new iteration of an existing device. The Galaxy Fold gets you excited about a smartphone again because there’s the thrill of the unknown.

Samsung confirmed today that it’s going to start selling the Galaxy Fold from tomorrow. Once it’s out in South Korea on September 6, the Galaxy Fold will be released across Europe on September 18. It will be available in the United States on September 27. It has made significant changes to improve the durability of this device. The question I had in my mind before trying out the new and improved model was whether it would retain the same wow-factor. I’m happy to report that it does.

No major design changes were required to address the concerns that led to the initial delay. The most visible change is the small piece of rubber at the top and bottom of the hinge. This significantly reduces the gap between the hinge and the body to prevent foreign substances like dirt and grime from making its way inside the device. Samsung also tucked the display’s protective layer into the body itself so that it could no longer be mistaken for a screen protector and removed.

We noted earlier today that the “new” Galaxy Fold is marginally thicker and heavier than the original. That was to be expected since there are even new metal layers underneath the panel itself for enhanced durability. This isn’t a deal-breaker, though. You wouldn’t even notice it. For most customers, this won’t even be a comparison because they never got to hold the first iteration of the Galaxy Fold.

What I was most looking forward to was the satisfying snap with which the Galaxy Fold opens and closes. We had sung its praises in our initial review of the Galaxy Fold. There was some concern that perhaps these structural enhancements might have altered that somewhat. Samsung has hit a home run here. The hinge feels just as capable as before. It’s not flimsy and it doesn’t betray a lack of durability.

Samsung does appear to have polished the user interface a bit more in the time that it has had to tinker with the Galaxy Fold. It continues to focus on the ease of running multiple apps on the 7.3-inch foldable display. Features like App Continuity will seamlessly transition supported apps between the cover and the foldable display when the device is unfolded. All of these features seem to be a bit more polished than before and that’s certainly a good thing. The Galaxy Fold is still running Android 9.0 Pie with Samsung’s One UI skin on top.

I’m happy to see that the Galaxy Fold has not lost its wow factor. It’s an unreal experience to unfold the device and experience the gorgeous display on the inside. Once you’ve had a taste of this you’ll find it so very difficult to go back to your old phone.

As you can probably guess, I can’t wait to get my Galaxy Fold. I would also like to take a moment to thank Samsung for continuing to believe in its product. The Galaxy Fold is an exceptional product. Sure, there was a misstep, but Samsung has fully owned up to that and made amends. It rightly deserves praise and recognition for that. The Galaxy Fold has risen like a phoenix from the ashes and vindicated Samsung’s position that it can deliver something truly special with its first foldable smartphone.

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September security patch rolling out to the Galaxy A30 and A7 (2018)

Samsung kickstarted the rollout of the September 2019 security patch earlier this week, beginning with the Galaxy Note 10/10+. It has now released the same update to the Galaxy A30 and A7 (2018) as well. If you’re wondering what about the Galaxy S10 and other top-end models, do note that It is not uncommon for Samsung to push security updates to some of its budget and mid-range devices before seeding the same to all of its flagships.

The Galaxy A7 (2018) is currently receiving the update in Russia and Spain. The update for the Galaxy A30, meanwhile, is rolling out more widely and is now out in Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and a few other regions. From what we know so far, the update doesn’t seem to bring any new features to these devices and is limited to security fixes.

As usual, the latest security update includes patches from Google and Samsung. While the patches from the former target four critical and over a dozen high and moderate-risk vulnerabilities in the Android OS, the fixes from Samsung take care of 13 threats of varying levels that are specific to Galaxy devices.

If you own one of these devices, you should be getting an OTA update in the above-mentioned regions already. If you haven’t received the notification yet, you can go to Settings, select Software Update, and tap on the Download updates manually option to trigger the update. Alternatively, you can also download the latest firmware for the Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A7 (2018) from our database and manually install it.

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 A70

• Model: SM-A705FN
• Dimensions: 164.3 x 76.7 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.7"(170.2mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
• Camera: 32 MP, CMOS F1.7 & 8MP, CMOS F2.2 & 5MP, CMOS F2.2

More specifications

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Galaxy Note 8 September security update rolling out

The Galaxy Note 8 is now receiving a software update that brings the September 2019 security patch to the device. Samsung was quick to push out the September patch to the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+, and it seems the Galaxy Note 8 has managed to grab a seat on the express update train alongside the company’s newest Note flagships. The Note 8 update is available in Germany and sports software version N950FXXS7DSHC.

Galaxy Note 8 owners will find nothing but the latest security patch in the update that’s rolling out right now. The September patch brings fixes for four critical vulnerabilities that were found in the Android operating system and 17 vulnerabilities that only affect Samsung’s software. The latter include a vulnerability that enabled brute force attacks on the screen lock password and one that allowed attackers to change the USB configuration without needing to unlock a secured device.

You will be able to download the Galaxy Note 8 update over the air by hitting the Download and install option in the Software update section of your phone’s Settings app. As always, you can also upgrade by downloading the relevant firmware from our firmware archive and flashing it on your phone manually using a Windows PC.

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The Galaxy Fold has already sold out in South Korea

It seems that Samsung is seeing quite the response for the Galaxy Fold in its home country. South Korea is the first market to get the Galaxy Fold. The device has gone on sale there today and it appears that the first batch has already sold out.

Samsung Electronics told Korean media outlets today that the first batch of the Galaxy Fold has already sold out. The company didn’t give a precise figure of the number of units that were in this first batch, though.

Galaxy Fold is selling like hot cakes in Korea

According to industry sources cited in a Korean report, the first batch of pre-orders may have contained around 1,000 units. The units have been sold through the three major South Korean carriers. It’s pertinent to note here that this number doesn’t include the units that Samsung has directly sold online and through its retail stores.

Customers who had pre-ordered their units through carriers have started receiving their units today. Most of the customers are said to be in their 20s and 30s with almost 90 percent of them being male.

With the first round of pre-orders proving to be successful, all eyes will now be on the second round to see if there’s sustained demand for this device. Customers in Korea will be able to take part in the second pre-order round from September 18. Their devices will arrive on September 26. Samsung is expected to make up to 30,000 units available to customers in its home country initially.

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Galaxy A90 5G will not receive monthly security updates

The Galaxy A90 5G is the first non-flagship 5G smartphone from Samsung. That being said, it’s not exactly cheap either. It’s at the top end of Samsung’s Galaxy A series. If you thought that this meant it would receive monthly security updates, think again.

Samsung has made it clear from the get-go that the Galaxy A90 5G is not going to receive monthly security updates. It has been put on the quarterly schedule so owners can expect to receive one update every three months.

Galaxy A90 5G will only get a new security patch every quarter

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A90 5G a few weeks ago. It’s also showcasing the device at the ongoing IFA 2019 trade show in Berlin. The Galaxy A90 5G has been released in South Korea first and it will soon make its way to markets across Europe.

It’s a proper premium device with a glass sandwich build and noteworthy specs. The Galaxy A90 5G touts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor with a Snapdragon x50 5G modem. It’s available with 6GB and 8GB of RAM with 128GB internal storage. There’s also a triple-camera system at the back.

The Galaxy A90 5G costs 749 euro so it’s not exactly cheap. That was to be expected, but those who are looking for a lower entry cost to experience 5G will appreciate it. It certainly beats having to pay more than 1,000 euro for a compatible device.

Customers should be mindful of the fact that Samsung has put the Galaxy A90 5G on the quarterly update schedule from the outset. This isn’t the only device to get this treatment. Many other recent Galaxy A handsets are on the quarterly schedule as well.

The Galaxy A90 5G is readily available for purchase in South Korea. It will be released in select European markets next month.

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