New Galaxy S21 teaser highlights the history of the series

The Galaxy S series has proven to be a resounding success for Samsung. These devices continue to be among the most sought after Android flagships every year. Samsung has introduced some major innovations with the series over the past few years.

As we approach the launch of the Galaxy S21, the company has put out a new teaser which highlights the history of this series. It builds anticipation for what to expect from the Galaxy S21 lineup.

New Galaxy S21 teaser delivers a memory refresh

It all started with the original Galaxy S in 2010. Major improvements were made with subsequent models with notable upgrades being introduced. The Galaxy S5 had the distinction of being water resistant.

Samsung revamped the look and feel of its flagship phones with the Galaxy S6 lineup by switching to a metal and glass build. The Galaxy S7 brought back water resistance while the Galaxy S8 ditched the home button in favor of larger screens.

The Galaxy S10 took it a step further with the Infinity-O display and further refinements to the design. The 2020 flagship, the Galaxy S20 lineup, brought significant camera upgrades and larger displays.

A new Galaxy awaits, teases Samsung, making no secret of the fact that a new flagship is coming soon. From what we know so far, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra will receive design upgrades, new internals and camera upgrades.

Reports suggest that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S21 series at a virtual launch event on January 14, 2021. The handsets will be released before the end of the month.

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Another clue brings the unannounced Galaxy F12 closer to release in India

Samsung’s new and rather unexpected Galaxy F family of smartphones is about to welcome a new member, namely the Galaxy F12. Support pages for the Galaxy F12, or more precisely a device carrying model number SM-F127G/DS, recently went live on the official Samsung India portal.

As usual, the support pages don’t contain any technical details pertaining to the phone, except for its dual-SIM capabilities revealed by the model number, but the fact that the pages exist suggests that Samsung is gearing up for the Galaxy F12’s market launch.

Now, the Galaxy F12 may or may not be the exact same device as the upcoming Galaxy M12, the later of which is reportedly being mass manufactured in India. But there’s no guarantee that both variants will be released in the country at the same time, or at all. It could be that both models are manufactured in India but the Galaxy M12 moniker will be reserved for the variant destined to be shipped out from India into other markets.

The Galaxy F12 will join the Galaxy F41 on the mobile scene as a more budget-oriented solution. The phone could have a 7,000mAh battery, which would be outstanding for a low-end budget phone, and possibly a quad-camera setup.

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New Galaxy Z Fold 2 batch for Vietnam comes in as a Limited Collection

Samsung has introduced a new special edition Galaxy Z Fold 2 for Vietnam. It’s called the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection – Spring 2021 and customers have an opportunity to pre-order it before January 7.

Interestingly, Samsung Vietnam isn’t selling the new Limited Edition Collection alongside the standard Galaxy Z Fold 2. Instead, what seems to be happening here is Samsung has replenished the Galaxy Z Fold 2 stocks in Vietnam after the foldable phone’s unexpected success in the country, and the company has decided to make the new batch a little bit more special.

Galaxy Z Elite Privilege cards make a comeback

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Edition Collection – Spring 2021 includes the standard foldable smartphone-tabled hybrid in Mystic Bronze. It’s the same foldable flagship as before, however, the retail box includes a handful of goodies and incentives.

To begin with, the Galaxy Z Elite Privilege card that was originally reserved for early pre-order customers in Vietnam is now making a comeback and it’s included in the special edition retail box. The card is valid until September 25, 2021, and those who possess it will enjoy preferential treatment and discounts of up to 35% on non-foldable Galaxy smartphones, and up to 45% off consumer electronics with the exception of 8K TVs.

In addition, the Limited Edition Collection includes a Premium Leather Case, Samsung Care+ extended warranty, and it even lets customers choose the color of the hinge. All these goodies are wrapped in a new Limited Edition Collection retail box adorned with Lotus flowers. The Lotus is Vietnam’s national flower and it’s considered a symbol of purity, commitment, serenity and optimism for the future.

You can refer to the links below for more details on this new special edition for Vietnam and/or the Galaxy Z Fold 2 itself. Not much has changed regarding the phone or the foldable scene over the past few months so our review is just as relevant now as it was a few months ago.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 review

• Pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 2 Limited Collection – Spring 2021 at Samsung Vietnam.

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Verizon squeezes in a sneaky Galaxy S20 update before year-end

Verizon just sneaked in another monthly firmware update for the Galaxy S20 series. Or tried to, at least, but we’re still hazy on the details. The official changelog from the wireless carrier is pretty generic and appears to be a simple copy-paste job reiterating the contents of the previous over-the-air update that Verizon started rolling out earlier this month.

As it turns out, that was a pretty major release, seeing how it included an upgrade to One UI 3.0 based on Google’s Android 11. Be that as it may, a new firmware package, identified by version number RP1A.200720.012.G988USQU1CTL4, is now making its way to owners of the Galaxy S20-series devices on Verizon’s national network.

Are Verizon’s software update practices finally approaching acceptable levels?

Verizon started deploying the said update last week and no other carrier in the United States or abroad appears to have followed suit with a second Android 11-based update. Meaning we’re most likely looking at something that Verizon cobbled together after identifying at least one crucial defect in its original implementation of Samsung’s software.

Such missteps aren’t anything too out of the ordinary. That’s especially true for stateside mobile service providers who have a tendency to pre-load all sorts of shovelware onto their smartphones. Naturally, the more mandatory apps you have in your OS base, the trickier it is to optimize general-purpose updates in a timely and problem-free manner.

Though we can’t say Verizon hasn’t been improving on the update timeliness front over the last several years. Granted, it’s still difficult to say how much of that progress is directly thanks to the company actively intensifying its efforts. As we might simply be looking at some long-overdue results of Project Treble.

Galaxy S20 5G

• Model: SM-G981U
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 865
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20+ 5G

• Model: SM-G986U
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 865
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

• Model: SM-G988U
• Dimensions: Bar: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 865
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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[Giveaway] Get a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2!

Would you like to welcome the new year with a new smartwatch? Then don’t miss the chance to participate in our latest contest. One lucky winner will receive the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 from SamMobile!

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is one of the best smartwatches that Samsung has made. It has an elegant design, great health and fitness features in addition to long-lasting battery life. Check out our detailed Galaxy Watch Active 2 review to learn more.

It’s actually very simple to take part in this contest. Just follow our official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts and let us know in the comments why you’d like to win the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Remember, you must follow us on all three platforms, like and share the contest post in order to be eligible to win.

The contest is open to participants in all countries. The winner will be announced on January 11, 2021. Good luck!

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Galaxy S21 might be Samsung’s cheapest addition to the series in years

The Galaxy S21 is still shaping up to be the cheapest addition to Samsung’s Android flagship series in quite a few years. Namely, yet another report out of South Korea pointing toward this likelihood emerged earlier today. Industry sources close to Samsung now estimate the Galaxy S21 series will retail at between 980,000 and 1.18 million won, which amounts to a $900-$1,085 range.

This potential ambit is in line with initial industry rumors about the Galaxy S21 pricing, if only just barely. Yet the implication of such a price level remains quite significant, seeing how the Galaxy S20 debuted at the equivalent of $999 earlier this year.

Has the Galaxy S line reached its absolute price ceiling?

An $899 introductory price would make the Galaxy S21 the cheapest “founding” member of the said premium smartphone family since the Galaxy S7 launched at 836,000 won – which amounted to just over $750 four years ago. So, not accounting for any Lite variants, fan editions, and the like.

But speaking of which, the same report asserts that the uplifting performance of the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition greatly affected the manner in which Samsung decided to price the Galaxy S21 series.

It’s still too early to speculate how a 10% lower pricing point will reflect on Samsung’s bottom line. Assuming it ends up being accurate, of course; though that seems all but confirmed, at this point. Regardless, it would appear the Galaxy S family hit its price ceiling with the 2020 generation. Whether it would have still done so if a global pandemic hasn’t taken hold is difficult to ascertain going off on today’s data – but also pretty much irrelevant.

The Galaxy S21 series is scheduled to become official in mid-January, two weeks ahead of its global release. With that said, it’s likely that Samsung will cut its pre-orders short.

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Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong could face up to 9 years in prison

Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong is currently undergoing a retrial for accounting fraud, bribery, and stock manipulation charges. Due to his father’s death, Lee was absent from the retrial proceedings to attend the funeral of Lee Kun-hee. The prosecution is now demanding a prison sentence of up to nine years for Lee.

According to South Korean publication Yonhap News, prosecutors said that Lee deserves nine years in prison, given Samsung’s position and the severity of his wrongdoings. The prosecution also said that his imprisonment would also set an example in South Korea. The retrial related to the famous bribery scandal, which involved former South Korean President Park Geun-Hye’s close friend Choi Soon-Sil, began three months ago.

It is alleged that Lee bribed Choi Soon-Sil to force the merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T so that he could take control of Samsung Group from his then-ailing father. The case first began a few years ago, and Lee was sentenced to five years in prison. However, his prison sentence was cut short to 2.5 years and he was soon released.

Since the retrial began a few months ago, Lee has been visiting Samsung factories and R&D centers all over the world, meeting top leaders of the company, and drawing up mega plans for the company to succeed in the future. He has also been stressing the importance of Samsung’s semiconductor and foundry businesses.

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BREAKING: Galaxy Note 10 users get Christmas gift in the form of One UI 3.0 update

After releasing the One UI 3.0 update to the Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy Note 20 series, and other high-end smartphones, Samsung has released the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 stable update to the Galaxy Note 10+ (SM-N975F). The company could soon roll out the update to the Galaxy Note 10 as well.

The new software update bears firmware version N975FXXU6ETLL, and it is rolling out in Germany. The new update also brings along the December 2020 security patch to the Galaxy Note 10+. If you are a Galaxy Note 10+ user in Germany and if you still haven’t received this new update, you can check for it manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install on your phone. Alternatively, you can also download the entire firmware from our firmware section and flash it manually.

This is a developing story…

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Samsung India drops the pricing of Galaxy A31, Galaxy M01, and Galaxy M01s

Samsung has permanently dropped the prices of the Galaxy A31, Galaxy M01, and the Galaxy M01s in India. This price drop comes a few weeks ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S21 series and the Galaxy A lineup for 2021. Recently, the company had also dropped the prices of the Galaxy Buds+ and the Galaxy Buds Live in India.

The Galaxy A31, which was launched in India in June 2020 with a price tag of INR 21,999 (around $300), is now being sold for just INR 17,999 (around $245). The Galaxy M01 and the Galaxy M01s have received modest price cuts compared to the Galaxy A31. The Galaxy M01, which was originally priced at INR 7,999 (around $110), now costs INR 7,499 (around $102). The Galaxy M01s was launched with a price tag of INR 9,499 (around $130), but it is now sold for INR 8,999 (around $122).

Galaxy A31, Galaxy M01, Galaxy M01s specs recap

The Galaxy A31 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Full HD+ display, Android 10, MediaTek Helio P65 processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a microSD card slot, a 20MP selfie camera, and a 48MP quad-camera setup at the rear. It is equipped with a dual-SIM card slot, LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, headphone jack, a 5,000mAh battery, and 15W fast charging.

The Galaxy M01 has a 5.7-inch HD+ PLS IPS LCD display, Android 10, Snapdragon 439 SoC, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD card slot, a 5MP selfie camera, a 13MP+2MP dual rear-facing camera setup, a microUSB port, and a 4,000mAh battery. It was launched in India in June 2020.

The Galaxy M01s sports a 6.2-inch HD+ PLS IPS LCD screen and comes equipped with the MediaTek Helio P22 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, an 8MP selfie camera, and a 13MP+2MP rear-facing camera. It has a fingerprint reader, microUSB port, and a 4,000mAh battery. It was launched in the Indian market in July 2020 with Android 9, but it received the Android 10 update within a couple of months.

Galaxy A31

• Model: SM-A315F
• Dimensions: Bar: 159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm
  
• Display: 6.4 inch / 162.56 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65
• Camera: 48MP

More specifications

Galaxy M01

• Model: SM-M015F
• Dimensions: Bar: 147.5 x 70.9 x 9.8 mm
  
• Display: 5.7 inch / 144.78 mm PLS TFT LCD
• CPU: Snapdragon 439
• Camera: 13MP

More specifications

Galaxy M01s

• Model: SM-M017F
• Dimensions: Bar: 156.9 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.1 inch / 153.7 mm PLS TFT LCD
• CPU: Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22
• Camera: 13MP

More specifications

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First phones powered by Exynos 1080 are proper flagships

When Samsung unveiled the Exynos 1080 processor a few days ago, the company had mentioned that the first phones using the new chipset would be from Vivo. The Chinese smartphone brand has now unveiled two new smartphones powered by the Exynos 1080: Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro. Both devices are proper flagships, featuring high-end specs, design, and cameras.

The Vivo X60 and the Vivo X60 Pro+ feature 6.56-inch Super AMOLED (E3) screens with Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, an in-display fingerprint reader, and a center-aligned punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. Both phones run Android 11-based OriginOS and are equipped with the Exynos 1080 processor, 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM, and 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The Vivo X60 is powered by a 4,300mAh battery, while the Vivo X60 Pro uses a 4,200mAh battery. They are compatible with 33W fast charging.

Vivo’s new flagship phones feature a 48MP wide-angle camera (Sony IMX598) with gimbal OIS and an F1.5 aperture, a 13MP ultrawide camera with autofocus, a 13MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, and a 32MP selfie camera. The Vivo X60 Pro has an additional 8MP telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom periscope lens. Both phones can record 4K 60fps videos using their rear cameras. Needless to say, they both are 5G compatible. The Vivo X60’s price starts from $535, while the Vivo X60 Pro is priced at $688.

On paper, both Vivo phones seem pretty amazing. It would be pretty great if Samsung can make mid-range and affordable high-end phones powered by the Exynos 1080 SoC. Perhaps the Galaxy A92, Galaxy Note 20 Lite, and the Galaxy S21 FE?

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Samsung’s HDR10+ Adaptive feature adjusts video quality as per ambient lighting

Samsung has been pushing the HDR10+ format by partnering with various studios, TV brands, and streaming services. The company has now announced HDR10+ Adaptive, an improvement over the open-source HDR10+ format, to offer optimum video quality by factoring in ambient lighting.

The HDR10+ Adaptive feature improves the HDR10+ viewing experience by adapting to the ambient lighting in the room, which means that it will offer optimal quality regardless of lighting conditions. It utilizes the TV’s ambient light sensor to measure ambient light and make necessary adjustments. It also makes sure that there no loss of details or contrast in the process of making adjustments. Dolby has a similar feature and it is called Dolby Vision IQ.

Samsung says that the HDR10+ Adaptive feature also supports Filmmaker Mode to offer a true cinematic experience. HDR10+ Adaptive will be available on Samsung’s 2021 QLED TV lineup that will be unveiled over the next few days. All HDR10 content that is available in Prime Video will be available as HDR10+ Adaptive on compatible Samsung TVs. The company is also working on bringing more HDR10+ content from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) and other video streaming services around the world.

Younghun Choi, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “As consumers spend more time at home, Samsung has been looking for ways to enrich consumers’ entertainment experience in the comfort of their homes. We are delighted to offer smart picture quality solutions that will enhance consumers’ at-home HDR viewing experience, bringing original-quality cinematic experience to our consumers around the world.”

Samsung’s QLED TVs come with an ambient light sensor for the Ambient Brightness feature. It remains to be seen if HDR10+ Adaptive will be exclusive to Samsung TVs or if it will be available on TVs from other brands such as Hisense, Panasonic, TCL, Toshiba, and Xiaomi.

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PSA: Your Samsung 4K smart TV can’t keep up with the PlayStation 5

Samsung’s 2020 range of 4K smart TV models reportedly can’t deliver the highest graphical experience for PS5 (PlayStation 5) console owners, even though TV models such as the Q70T, Q80T, Q85T, Q90T, and Q95T should technically be capable of whatever the Sony PS5 can throw at them. Now, although this might be frustrating for PS5 owners who may want to experience the console’s highest-possible graphical settings, it could be a temporary problem and it might be fixable through a firmware update.

Oddly though, Xbox Series X owners don’t have to worry about any of this. Microsoft’s new console and all its graphical features appear be fully compatible with Samsung’s 2020 4K smart TV range, so it’s not entirely clear why PS5 owners can’t enjoy a similar experience. According to reports, Samsung’s 4K TV models can play 4K SDR content at 120Hz or 4K HDR content at 60Hz. They can’t offer 4K HDR content at a high 120Hz refresh rate. PS5 owners essentially have to choose a higher framerate or HDR but they can’t have both at the same time.

This unwanted behavior seemingly occurs even with the latest firmware updates installed on Samsung’s 2020 smart TV range. The exact cause is unclear but it probably has something to do with HDMI 2.1 given all the issues that have surrounded the standard so far. Samsung will probably address this shortcoming through another firmware update but time will tell. Until then, just be aware that your Samsung smart TV doesn’t seem to be capable of delivering the best graphical experience for your PS5.

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The Galaxy S21+ flat display with thin bezels looks gorgeous in this leak

If you’re up for another Galaxy S21 leak then you probably won’t be disappointed by the latest. A few hands-on photos featuring the Galaxy S21+ in Phantom Violet have emerged via @MauriQHD and although they don’t reveal anything we didn’t already know about the phone, they still offer a good view on the actual product rather than the press renders.

The leaked hands-on photos appear to be depicting a Galaxy S21+ preview unit that’s not intended for sale. More importantly, they once again highlight some of the phone’s most attractive design features, from the unique camera bump design to the flat display with thin bezels all around. In fact, the Galaxy S21+, as seen in these photos, appears to have some of the thinnest screen bezels around.

And no, we won’t see under-display camera technology making it into the Galaxy S21, even though Samsung is exploring various unique ways in which it might tackle the challenge for future flagship models. Regardless, the Galaxy S21+ Infinity-O selfie camera cutout appears to be fairly small. And in the realm of things we’ve seen before, the leaked hands-on photos also reconfirm one of the Galaxy S21’s official wallpapers. They were all leaked a couple of weeks ago and they’re available for download – unofficially – ahead of the phone’s January 14 unveiling.

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Official Galaxy S21 case renders may have revealed the S Pen’s location

Third-party case renders for the Galaxy S21 series have been leaking for a few good weeks now. They were among the first leaks to reveal some of the flagship’s new design elements, but since then the entire Galaxy S21 series has been fully unveiled in press renders that have left nothing to the imagination. Except for Samsung’s range of official cases.

Now a new batch of leaked renders depicting some of the company’s official Galaxy S21 case models emerged via MySmartPrice. They reveal a couple of LED covers, Clear covers, Leather and Protective Standing covers, and a silicone case. In addition, the renders also reveal a couple of Kvadrat textile cases for the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+. The purple Kvadrat case was spotted before but the gray variant is new.

Interestingly, not every case model is hiding the new camera bump design employed by the Galaxy S21 series. This is by far the most striking design element and, thankfully, it looks like customers might have enough case models to choose from regardless of whether they like the idea of covering the camera module or not. There might be an option for everyone.

Clear View Case appears to be wide enough for an S Pen

Samsung’s official range of cases for the Galaxy S21 series offers a wide variety of designs, materials, and color options. They look similar to the previous models but they were tailored to fit the Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. This also means that the latter model should get at least one case accessory that features an S Pen holster.

That particular case appears to be the Clear View Case. The S Pen holster itself is not visible but @ishanagarwal24 made an interesting point about the case having an unusually-wide aspect ratio precisely because it accommodates an S Pen.

We expect most of these Galaxy S21 official cases to become available on the same date as the flagship series itself but prices have not yet been revealed. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we find out more. Until then, feel free to let us know if you plan on buying the Galaxy S21 next month and pair it with one of the official case models seen below.

Galaxy S21

• Model: SM-G991B
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21+

• Model: SM-G996B
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.4 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21 Ultra

• Model: SM-G998B
• Dimensions: Bar: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Samsung might use this neat trick to hide the under-display selfie camera

Smartphone brands have been trying various technologies to make smartphones bezel-free. We saw screen notches of various shapes, including a rectangular notch, a V-shaped notch, and a U-shaped notch, to maximize the screen area. We also saw phones with flip and pop-up selfie cameras. Samsung then introduced phones with punch-hole-shaped display cutouts. Now, the company seems to be working on a new solution to hide the selfie camera.

A new patent filed by Samsung with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) shows that the company is working on a solution that involves a sub-display to hide the front-facing camera. The patent explains how a small-sized sub-display can be placed below the main screen and then it can be operated using a motor. Whenever the user needs to use the front-facing camera, the phone moves down the sub-display to let all the light pass through to the sensor. When the camera is not being used, the sub-display covers the camera sensor, making it an elegant solution.

Samsung talks about using a dual-camera setup below the screen in its patent. The second sensor could be a ToF camera that can be used for secure face unlock. Moreover, the company also talks about the ability to only move the sub-display partially to reveal just one camera sensor. For example, while unlocking the phone, only the ToF camera can be revealed, while the camera sensor can be revealed while taking selfies and videos. LetsGoDigital has created an easy-to-understand GIF to showcase the technology.

The patent also mentions that the movable sub-display can show useful bits of information such as notification icons, time, battery level, and messages. The sub-display can either be moved by the phone automatically or by the user manually through a double-tap or a swipe-up action. This solution, if managed well, can be great because it can be used in an IP68-certified smartphone body. It doesn’t even degrade the image quality, which is a problem on phones like the ZTE Axon 20 5G that have an under-display camera.

This patent from Samsung was published on December 24, 2020. However, we are not sure whether the South Korean tech giant will use this technology in its upcoming smartphones. Would you enjoy using a phone that uses this under-display selfie camera technology? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Galaxy M12 to launch in India soon as it reportedly goes into mass production

Samsung is working on yet another affordable phone with a big display and a high-capacity battery. The Galaxy M12 first surfaced last month when its 3D CAD renders were leaked. Later, some of the phone’s specifications were revealed along with its Bluetooth certification. We now have a report that offers some information about its launch time frame.

According to a new report from 91Mobiles, Samsung has already started the mass production of the Galaxy M12 in India. This means that the phone could be launched in the first quarter of 2021, at least in India. The unnamed source also reportedly shared live images of the phone’s chassis, which further confirms that it will feature an Infinity-V display.

Going by previous leaks, the Galaxy M12 features a 6.7-inch display (probably an LCD unit). It measures 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm and features a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The phone was seen rocking an Exynos 850 processor and 3GB RAM. It will be launched with Android 11-based One UI 3.x, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 7,000mAh battery.

The Galaxy M12 could also be launched as the Galaxy F12 in some markets as the device goes by multiple model numbers: SM-M127F, SM-M127G, SM-F127F, and SM-F127G. Since the Exynos 850 lacks a 5G modem, the Galaxy M12 will not feature 5G connectivity.

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Samsung might not stop making LCD panels so soon

Samsung Display had originally planned to stop the production of LCD panels by the end of 2020. However, that plan was postponed slightly, and the production was scheduled to stop in March 2021. The company has now announced that it will continue making LCD panels indefinitely in its L8 fab in the Asan plant.

South Korean media IT Chosun says that Samsung Display will continue producing LCD panels for monitors and TVs as the demand for such products has increased following the COVID-19 related stay-at-home trend. Samsung Electronics reportedly requested Samsung Display to continue the production of LCD panels. However, a Samsung Display spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.

According to TrendForce, a 30% QoQ uptick was seen in demand for laptops, monitors, and TVs since the COVID-19 pandemic. Samsung Display had originally planned to stop the production of LCD panels by 2020 and move to the QD-OLED technology. It even sold its China LCD factory in Suzhou to TCL’s CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology). However, the company will now continue operating its LCD plant in South Korea.

Samsung Electronics has reportedly denied buying QD-OLED panels from Samsung Display for its TVs because it has been rallying against OLED technology, and adopting QD-OLED might send wrong marketing signals. Reports claim that the company might buy some small-sized QD-OLED panels for monitors soon. For its high-end TVs, the company plans to use Mini-LED and MicroLED technologies.

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Samsung starts accepting pre-orders for 110-inch MicroLED TV in Korea

Samsung’s first ready-to-install MicroLED TV was unveiled earlier this month. The company has now announced that it will start accepting pre-orders for its premium TV in South Korea. Those who pre-order the 110-inch MicroLED TV will get access to various benefits.

Pre-orders for the MicroLED TV will start tomorrow and continue until January 29, 2021. Samsung has created an entirely new process to offer consultation to the buyer right from pre-order to the installation of the new TV. The company will send a limousine when customers visit a special consulting store. Moreover, a dedicated team will install the MicroLED TV at the buyer’s home. The South Korean firm is also offering a 7-year warranty for the new TV.

Customers can pre-order the TV via specialized call centers, Samsung Digital Plaza, and other authorized brick-and-mortar stores. Deliveries of the MicroLED TV will begin after its launch in March 2021.

While pre-ordering the MicroLED TV, customers can choose from three packages: Chef Collection, Home Cinema, and Relax. The Chef Collection will come with a Samsung Chef Collection Refrigerator (Mare Blue), which features metal doors designed by Italian firm De Castelli. The Home Cinema package will come with The Premiere laser beam projector, the JBL L100 Classic luxury speaker, and a massage chair. The Relax package includes air travel and accommodation to visit Jeju island and play professional golf.

Samsung’s MicroLED TV offers stunning design, picture quality

The new MicroLED TV from Samsung comes in a 110-inch variant right now, but the company has plans to launch it in more screen sizes. It features the MicroLED technology and uses more than 8 million micrometer-sized LEDs to create various backlight zones. This new technology offers OLED-like deep blacks, high contrast ratio, and very high brightness for an immersive experience. The TV has a monolith design, which means it has no bezels and sits close to the wall.

Samsung’s Tizen-powered 110-inch MicroLED TV features ‘Majestic Sound System’ with a 5.1-channel speaker setup and Object Sound Tracking. It also has a Micro AI processor for content upscaling and the 4Vue feature that lets users watch four channels simultaneously. The TV will be launched in other markets such as the Middle East and the US in the coming months.

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Firmware updates don’t stop and the Galaxy Buds Live get a new one

Samsung is rolling out a new firmware update for the Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds. We can confirm that the update is being deployed in Europe at the least, but as usual, availability will expand gradually into more markets over the coming days and weeks.

Availability aside, you shouldn’t expect a game-changing update for your wireless bean-shaped earbuds; not according to the minimalist changelog that mentions only stability improvements. The update weighs about 2.2MB and it’s labeled as firmware version R180XXU0ATK2. It’s a bit larger than the recent stability update for the Galaxy Buds+ so other tweaks and/or improvements may have snuck in but we haven’t noticed anything worth reporting. In case you do, feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

The Galaxy Buds Live are a few months old and this isn’t their first firmware update, but in case you are new to Samsung’s wearable ecosystem then the way you acquire new updates is through the Galaxy Wearable app that runs on your connected smartphone. Just tap the notification followed by Download and install. And in case you haven’t yet received an update notification, well, there’s not much else you can do besides remaining patient until the gradual rollout reaches your device.

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Galaxy Z Flip 3 might be getting downgraded to ‘budget flagship’ status

Despite the premium form factor, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 might not be a full-fledged flagship. Namely, GalaxyClub just dug up a model number likely belonging to the international variant of Samsung’s upcoming foldable smartphone – SM-F720F. What’s more, that designation is said to belong to an LTE-only device, which carries some less-than-exciting implications.

Primarily because the last high-end SoC to even release in an LTE-only configuration was the Snapdragon 855 Plus. This is the same chip found inside the original Galaxy Z Flip, whereas its promptly launched follow-up utilized the 5G-enabled Snapdragon 865 Plus.

Should we be getting worried about the next Galaxy Z Flip?

While Samsung is no stranger to downgrading its non-mainstream smartphone lines, the worst we can probably expect here is a combo of the Snapdragon 865 (the non-plus model) and some LTE modem. Or the Exynos 990, of course, as that would pretty much make the SM-F720F on par with the regular Galaxy S20 Fan Edition.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 variant with 5G support is likely to be labeled as the SM-F721B. But that’s just an informed guess based on today’s leak and Samsung’s recently established product practices. It’s worth pointing out that the very existence of an LTE-only Galaxy Z Flip 3 contradicts a recent report from the tech giant’s home country. Exactly two weeks ago, industry sources claimed that Samsung’s entire 2021 foldable smartphone portfolio will embrace 5G connectivity.

But if Samsung truly intends to release another foldable smartphone without 5G connectivity, such a device would almost certainly debut with a sub-$1,000 price tag. That’s a pretty major silver lining to this development, seeing how the company’s flexible-display devices still haven’t descended into the triple-digit territory. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is currently expected to launch in May or thereabouts.

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Galaxy S21 pre-order reservations start in the US

More than three weeks ahead of the Galaxy S21 announcement, Samsung USA has started accepting pre-order reservations for the upcoming phones. You can now sign up to be notified when pre-orders for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra go live in the region.

Samsung is letting consumers register for the pre-order notification via the Samsung Shop app. If you want to register for the pre-order, you need to click on the ‘Reserve Now’ button on the banner image, fill in the required details, and accept the terms and conditions.

The South Korean firm is offering some benefits for reserving the pre-orders. You can get up to $60 credit that you can spend on accessories while pre-ordering a Galaxy S21 series device. The company is also offering an extra $10 credit to those who pre-order the phone via the company’s app. The company will also let you trade-in your existing smartphone for up to $700, depending on the phone and its condition.

Galaxy S21 series specs

The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra are expected to feature a new design, 120Hz Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 888 processor in the US (Exynos 2100 in other markets), 8GB/12GB RAM, 128GB/256GB/512GB storage, and Android 11-based One UI 3.1. The Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21+ are rumored to sport Full HD+ screens, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra could have a QHD+ display.

The Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21+ could come with a 10MP selfie camera and a 12MP+12MP+64MP triple-camera on the rear. The Galaxy S21 Ultra could have a 40MP selfie camera and a 108MP+12MP+10MP+10MP quad-camera setup on the rear. All phones are expected to feature 8K 30fps video recording, stereo speakers, 5G, IP68 certification, in-display fingerprint reader, Samsung Pay, Wireless DeX, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

Samsung is expected to equip the Galaxy S21 Ultra with additional features like S Pen compatibility and Wi-Fi 6E. The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra are expected to be powered by 4,000mAh, 4,800mAh, and 5,000mAh batteries, respectively.

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Samsung fails to ship 300 million phones for the first time in 9 years

Samsung has been the number one mobile phone brand globally since 2012, and it has been shipping close to 300 million phones every year since 2011. However, it won’t be able to reach the 300-million mark this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, related shutdowns, and the market conditions. And this would be the first time in nine years that the company won’t reach that figure.

By the end of Q3 2020, Samsung shipped 189 million mobile phones. That is lower than Samsung’s usual Q3 shipments, but it is still a good number considering the pandemic. However, it won’t be able to ship more than 270 million phones by the end of 2020. According to a new report coming out of South Korea, Samsung is aiming to get back in form and ship 307 million phones in 2021. The company is reportedly planning to expand its mid-range, affordable 5G, and foldable phone lineups next year.

Apparently, the company wants to ship around 287 million smartphones and 20 million feature phones. Of those 287 million smartphones, almost 50 million units could be foldable devices. The company is reportedly planning to introduce more affordable foldable smartphones next year.

The Galaxy S series didn’t do very well this year, but Samsung came back well by launching the Galaxy S20 FE. It also launched mid-range 5G smartphones such as the Galaxy A51 5G, Galaxy A71 5G, and the Galaxy A42 5G. Now, the company is working on the Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy Note 21 series, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and a bunch of mid-range 5G smartphones.

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Exynos’ market share slipped in Q3 2020 even as Samsung supplied chips to Vivo

Samsung is not particularly known for its Exynos processors, but it was still among the top three brands last year due to the sheer number of Galaxy devices it shipped with its in-house chipsets. However, the company’s market share seems to have slipped a bit in the third quarter of this year.

According to the latest numbers from Counterpoint Research, Samsung’s market share dropped from 16% in Q3 2019 to 12% in Q3 2020. The company is still placed in the third position, but it is now joined by Apple and Huawei’s HiSilicon. Surprisingly, MediaTek overtook Qualcomm in the third quarter to take the global smartphone chipset throne. MediaTek had a 31% share of the market, while Qualcomm had a 29% share of the market. MediaTek appears to have done really well in markets like India and Latin America, especially in the $100-$250 price segment.

Despite shipping its new Exynos 980 and Exynos 880 chipsets to Vivo, Samsung’s market share slipped. This could be due to Samsung’s own smartphone division using more Qualcomm and MediaTek chipsets this year. Even next year, the company is expected to launch mid-range phones like the Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72 with Snapdragon processors.

Hopefully, Samsung’s semiconductor division will be able to win back the smartphone division’s trust with upcoming chips like the Exynos 1080. The company is also scheduled to unveil the Exynos 2100 processor on January 12, and it is rumored to be quite a performer, and that’s good considering the Exynos 990 blunder. With 5G-capable chipsets like the Exynos 980, Exynos 1080, and Exynos 2100, the only thing that Samsung seems to be missing out on is a good entry-level chipset.

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Samsung unveils first videos of Galaxy Book Flex 2 5G

Samsung unveiled its 2021 laptop lineup last week. The company has four new Windows 10-powered laptops: Galaxy Book Flex 2, Galaxy Book Flex 2 5G, Galaxy Book Ion 2, and Notebook Plus 2. Now, the company has published the first videos of the Galaxy Book Flex 2 5G.

The South Korean tech giant published the official unboxing of the Galaxy Book Flex 2 5G on its YouTube channel. It also published a video that explains how to use the new laptop’s features. The Galaxy Book Flex 2 5G comes with a USB Type-C charger, a SIM card ejector pin, and a quick start guide.

It has a 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen display, 11th Gen. Intel Core CPU, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 512GB SSD. The 2-in-1 laptop features an S Pen, a full-sized keyboard, a 13MP world-facing camera, a 720p HD webcam, and a trackpad. It is powered by a 69.7WHr battery.

The built-in camera app on the Galaxy Book Flex 2 5G has a document mode that lets you capture documents easily and enhances productivity. The pre-loaded Samsung Notes app can be used to note down things, draw, edit images, create PDFs, sign documents, and more.

In terms of port selection, the Galaxy Book Flex 2 5G has a full-sized HDMI port, a USB 3.0 Type-A port, a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. The laptop also comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.1, and a fingerprint reader.

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Massive Galaxy S21 leak leaves nothing to imagination

Samsung has been terrible in plugging leaks this year. Various aspects of the Galaxy S21 series have been leaked over the past few weeks. We have already seen the design, specs, and pricing of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. A new leak further corroborates those details and reveals some additional information.

According to the report from WinFuture, the Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display, while the Galaxy S21+ sports a 6.7-inch screen. Both phones use Full HD+ panels with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, up to 1,300 nits brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus, and under-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader. They will reportedly feature Exynos 2100 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB internal storage. Apparently, there are no signs of a microSD card slot on any of these two phones.

As reported earlier, the Exynos 2100 SoC features one Cortex-X1 CPU core clocked at 2.9GHz, three Cortex-A78 CPU cores clocked at 2.8GHz, and four Cortex-A55 CPU cores clocked at 2.3GHz. The Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21+ will reportedly come with Android 11-based One UI 3.1. Connectivity features of these phones include 5G, dual-SIM capability (nano SIM + eSIM), GPS, Wi-Fi 6, UWB, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and USB Type-C port.

In terms of imaging, the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21+ feature 10MP selfie cameras with an F2.2 aperture, 1/3.24-inch sensor, 1.22µm pixels, and 4K 60fps video recording. At the rear, both phones feature a triple camera setup featuring 12MP wide-angle camera with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 64MP telephoto camera with OIS. The rear-facing camera can record 8K 30fps and 4K 60fps videos.

The Galaxy S21 reportedly features a 4,000mAh battery and the Galaxy S21+ is powered by a 4,800mAh battery. Both phones feature 25W fast charging, Qi wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. Other features include stereo speakers, IP68 certification, and Samsung Knox.

The Galaxy S21 measures 151.7×71.2×7.9mm, weighs 171g, and will be sold in four colors: Grey, Pink, Purple, and White. The Galaxy S21+ measures 161.4×75.6×7.8mm, weighs 202g, and comes in three colors: Black, Purple, and Silver. The report also states that the phones won’t come with a charger in the box, at least in the European markets.

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