Samsung shuts down factory once again after another coronavirus case

A little over a week ago, Samsung announced the temporary shutdown of its smartphone manufacturing factory in Gumi, South Korea due to a confirmed case of the coronavirus infection. The factory was shut down for two days as the company carried out the disinfection of the entire workplace.

The company today announced that it’s going to shut down the factory once again for two days after another coronavirus case was confirmed. Production will remain suspended at its Gumi plant for two days, from March 1 to March 3.

There have been a total of three cases at Samsung

South Korea has been hit hard by the coronavirus infection. It has the highest number of infection cases outside China, the epicenter of the disease. The country’s biggest companies have rallied behind the Korean government to support its efforts to control the spread of this disease. Samsung announced this week that it will be donating $24.6 million to help the government’s efforts.

Samsung confirmed its latest coronavirus case today. A worker at the wireless business division of its Gumi factory, where premium devices like the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Fold are made, was infected. The assembly line where the worker was stationed has been closed temporarily and will be fully functional next week while the floor where he worked will remain closed until March 3 after which production will resume.

A confirmed case was also reported at Samsung’s Giheung semiconductor factory but it wasn’t a company employee. The infected employee was of a cafeteria partner. As a precaution, Samsung has shut down the cafeteria temporarily and could extend that for additional time if need be.

Like many South Korean companies, Samsung is having to deal with the fallout from the coronavirus infection. However, the company maintains that it doesn’t expect to have a supply shortage for the Galaxy Z Flip despite the earlier shut down of the Gumi factory.

The post Samsung shuts down factory once again after another coronavirus case appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/32G05yE
via IFTTT

Weekly SamMobile Quiz 15 – Come test your Samsung knowledge!

Consider yourself a superfan of Samsung? Take our quiz and see how many answers you can get right! This is a fun activity that we do with our readers every week to test their knowledge of our favorite company. The quiz has a mix of easy and difficult questions that most fans should be able to answer without turning to Google.

We intend to make a new quiz for you every weekend so we hope that you’ll participate and learn a thing or two about Samsung in the process! Don’t forget to share the results of the quiz with your friends and see if you can outscore them. A little competition never hurt anybody!

Remember, if the quiz isn’t loading properly, please access the non-AMP version of this webpage.

The post Weekly SamMobile Quiz 15 – Come test your Samsung knowledge! appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Towvd4
via IFTTT

Galaxy S10 series March security update is out

What’s this? Is Samsung rolling out a new security patch for one of its flagships ahead of time again? Yes, that’s happening indeed: Samsung has released the March security update for the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+. The Galaxy S20 series, or at least the Galaxy S20 Ultra, has already received the March security update, though with no one actually owning a Galaxy S20 yet, the Galaxy S10 gets the distinction of being the first flagship to receive next month’s security patch.

We know nothing about the March security patch, as Samsung will only publish details about it sometime in the first week of next month. We do know what the latest software update for the Galaxy S10 series contains, however. Carrying firmware version G97xFXXS4BTB3, the update brings just the March security patch. It has no other improvements, changes, or new features, but it is possible we will see some of the improvements the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ received in the latest update make their way to the Galaxy S10 lineup as well, perhaps with the next update.

The new update for the Galaxy S10 series is rolling out in Switzerland at this moment and should soon be released in other countries. To check if it’s available for your phone, open its Settings app, select Software update, and tap Download and install. You may have to do this a couple of times before the update shows up. If that doesn’t work, you can download the latest firmware for your S10e, S10, or S10+ from our firmware archive and install it on the phone using a Windows PC.

The post Galaxy S10 series March security update is out appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2POfyI7
via IFTTT

Samsung could face global supply issues as Vietnam sets quarantine

Vietnam is taking extra precautions against the new coronavirus outbreak, and it will quarantine all arrivals from South Korea for 14 days, all the while suspending Visa Waivers for tourists from South Korea, reports Nikkei. Around half of all the Galaxy smartphones sold worldwide are manufactured at Samsung’s facilities in Vietnam, and the state of quarantine could disrupt the company’s output, potentially leading to supply shortages.

Reports indicate that South Korea has become a coronavirus hotspot and presently has the second-most COVID-19 cases in the world (over 2,300), after China. The outbreak has disrupted the local economy, and even early Galaxy S20 sales in the country have been underwhelming because people aren’t in a hurry to visit local stores. Likewise, Samsung decided to temporarily shut down its Galaxy Z Flip factory in South Korea last week after one employee was found to carry the coronavirus infection.

Samsung’s two largest smartphone manufacturing plants are located in Vietnam

Vietnam has had only 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, and all of them have reportedly recovered. However, Vietnam also has the largest population of South Koreans in all of Southeast Asia, tallying at around 200,000. With many South Koreans – some of which are Samsung employees – flying in and out of the country, the Vietnamese government has decided that the best course of action against the coronavirus epidemic is to set a 14-day quarantine for every new arrival from South Korea.

Time will tell what kind of impact this quarantine might have on Samsung’s manufacturing schedule in Vietnam. The company’s products account for 1/4 of the country’s exports, and any disruptions there could create ripple effects around the globe, not to mention the local economy.

The post Samsung could face global supply issues as Vietnam sets quarantine appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/39aI0ez
via IFTTT

Alleged Galaxy A11 leaked render sheds light on Infinity-O panel

As the Galaxy A11 keeps dodging the market weeks after its WFA approval, an alleged official render of the device has been leaked and passed along by Android Headlines. The render matches the sketch previously seen in FCC documents, at least from the back, and suggests that the device will sport an Infinity-O display with a corner cutout.

This is unlike Samsung’s more recent mid-range devices such as the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71, both of which are equipped with an Infinity-O AMOLED display boasting a centered selfie camera.

The off-center cutout positioned to the left harks back to earlier models like the Galaxy A60 and Galaxy M40, and time will tell if the Galaxy A11 will also sport a TFT screen as those two Galaxy devices do, or if it will switch to AMOLED.

As one of the company’s most budget-friendly devices of 2020 along with the Galaxy A01, the Galaxy A11 could very well stick to TFT technology, much like the A01 does. Rumors claim that the panel will have a 6.2-inch diagonal but this remains subject to change.

The Galaxy A11 could be one of the last Samsung phones to have a 3.5mm jack

Other details include a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and a triple-camera setup paired with a flash. The side button and volume rocker are located on the right edge of the phone, and the back cover is seemingly made out of plastic. Finally, while it’s difficult to confirm this detail from this render alone, the Galaxy A11 appears to accommodate a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge.

The Galaxy A11 should ship with Android 10 out of the box, but it remains to be seen exactly when Samsung will begin shipping the device to prospective buyers. The phone has yet to be unveiled by Samsung but it’s been leaked enough times to have its existence all but officially confirmed.

The post Alleged Galaxy A11 leaked render sheds light on Infinity-O panel appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Vsm8Yh
via IFTTT

Daily Deal: 14% off AKG USB-C Headphones

Most of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones that lack a 3.5mm headphone jack ship with a pair of AKG Type-C earphones in the box. These earbuds satisfy the audio needs of most users, and unlike 3.5mm-based solutions, the AKG earbuds can be improved even after release via firmware updates.

Whether this is the first time you’re considering buying a pair of Type-C earphones or if you’re looking for a new replacement, you’re in luck, as Samsung’s AKG-tuned Type-C earphones are now available for purchase online at 14% off the original price.

Hit the Buy Now button below and order them before they’re out of stock!

The post Daily Deal: 14% off AKG USB-C Headphones appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2w9CXfX
via IFTTT

Samsung improves its LATAM share in 2019 despite a stagnant market

Samsung retained its top spot in the LATAM region throughout 2019, and it managed to increase its smartphone shipment market share from 36.6% in 2018, to 38% by the end of 2019. The Korean tech giant increased its influence even as the entire segment stopped growing in LATAM because of sluggish replacement rates, according to Counterpoint Research.

Although Samsung did increase its smartphone shipment market share throughout last year, it also lost a couple of points in Q4 when its devices have covered 34.2% of the market, down from 36.6% a year before. But overall, the company has not only kept the crown throughout the year but it also bumped up its market share over the 12-month period ending December.

Samsung has more market share than the 2nd and 3rd largest vendors combined

Samsung was not the only smartphone vendor to increase its influence in the region. In fact, each of the top-three vendors in LATAM, including Motorola on 2nd place and Huawei on 3rd, have increased their market share in the region by a couple of points at the expense of other, smaller brands. Nevertheless, Motorola and Huawei are not a threat to Samsung yet. While Samsung held 38% of the LATAM market in 2019, Motorola secured the second spot on the podium with only 15.5% market share, while Huawei held 12.9% of the segment. Even if these two companies would combine forces, that would still not be enough to overtake Samsung.

Apple is even less of a threat in the region, as it was the 5th largest vendor with just a 3.6% market share, down 1% from 2018. However, sales for the company have picked up in Q4 thanks to the iPhone 11 which has been selling well globally, so 2020 might look a bit different. The report doesn’t go into detail as to which Galaxy smartphones were the most popular in LATAM, but if the region reflects the global market in any capacity then the Galaxy A10 and Galaxy A50 would be fair guesses.

The post Samsung improves its LATAM share in 2019 despite a stagnant market appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2PyX4uW
via IFTTT

Galaxy S10 Lite’s 512GB storage variant lands in India

Samsung had launched the 128GB storage variant of the Galaxy S10 Lite in India last month. Now, the company has launched the 512GB storage variant of the smartphone. The amount of RAM in this variant remains similar to that in the 128GB variant, at 8GB. The phone will be available in three colors: Prism Black, Prism Blue, and Prism White.

The 512GB variant of the Galaxy S10 Lite is priced at Rs 44,999, which is Rs 5,000 higher than the price of the 128GB storage variant. The new variant will go on sale in the country starting March 1 through Samsung e-shop, Samsung Opera House, online stores, and all major offline retailers. The South Korean smartphone giant is offering an additional upgrade bonus of Rs 5,000 in exchange for old smartphones.

The Galaxy S10 Lite was launched alongside the Galaxy Note 10 Lite last month. The Galaxy S10 Lite features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen with HDR10+, a 4500mAh battery, and 45W fast charging. It runs Android 10 with One UI 2.0 and is equipped with the Snapdragon 855+ processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB/512GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot.

The smartphone features a triple-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 48MP primary sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide-angle camera, and a 5MP macro camera. At the front, there’s a 32MP selfie camera hidden inside the screen’s punch hole. Other features include an under-display optical fingerprint reader, dual-SIM card slot, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port.

The post Galaxy S10 Lite’s 512GB storage variant lands in India appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2I0SOQL
via IFTTT

First Galaxy Buds+ firmware update rolls out with stability improvements

Samsung has begun rolling out the first firmware update for the new Galaxy Buds+. It weighs only 1.21MB and carries software version R175XXU0ATB5. The changelog is sparse but mentions ‘improved system stability and reliability’ which is always welcomed.

Interestingly, while Samsung is spreading the update over-the-air, the company also took to the Samsung Community website in South Korea to discuss some aspects that go by unmentioned in the changelog. Specifically, the official blog post suggests that a white noise issue may have also been addressed with this latest update.

We haven’t found any white noise issues with the Galaxy Buds+ throughout our review, and we haven’t run into anyone else who may have experienced this problem, so perhaps it is limited only to some units or regions, like South Korea. And if it doesn’t affect units shipped to other countries like Germany where we’ve received the update so far, that would explain why there’s no info in the changelog.

Whatever the case may be, if you happen to own the new Galaxy Buds+, you can now benefit from improved stability and reliability, so you might want to grab the new firmware update as soon as possible. You can do this through the Galaxy Wearable app that’s installed on your paired smartphone.

The post First Galaxy Buds+ firmware update rolls out with stability improvements appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2vokvAb
via IFTTT

Galaxy Z Flip arrives in Japan via two carriers and sells out in day-one

The Galaxy Z Flip was released today in Japan through mobile carriers KDDI and the Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company. And much like in most other markets including Canada, China, Germany, the US, and South Korea, the Galaxy Z Flip was sold out in Japan on its first day on the market, reports Blog of Mobile.

The Galaxy Z Flip was released in Japan in two color options, namely Mirror Purple and Mirror Black. Both flavors were sold out, but because Samsung has yet to reveal any sales figures for its second foldable phone, there’s no way to tell which color option is more popular, or just exactly how many people in Japan now own the Galaxy Z Flip.

Some people do prefer a more compact device

The Galaxy Z Flip had a launch price in Japan of 179,360 Yen or the rough equivalent of $1,650. That sum of money won’t guarantee the latest and greatest hardware specifications, but the Galaxy Z Flip proves that not all smartphone owners are alike.

Even if we keep in mind that the exact sales numbers are unknown, the Galaxy Z Flip shows that some users do prefer a more compact or stylish device even if it means that they’ll get slightly lesser hardware components in certain areas. It’s all about function versus form, and while most users seem to care more about the former, others gravitate towards products that embrace the latter.

As yet there’s no news as to when the second Galaxy Z Flip batch will be shipped to Japan, but it shouldn’t take more than a week if Samsung continues to manufacture and ship new Z Flip units at the same rate as before.

The post Galaxy Z Flip arrives in Japan via two carriers and sells out in day-one appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/399OytY
via IFTTT

Galaxy S20 sales disappoint for reasons not in Samsung’s control

Samsung started selling the Galaxy S20 lineup in its home country of South Korea yesterday and the initial numbers reported in local media are disappointing. However, it’s not because the handset hasn’t been well received. The huge drop in sales compared to the Galaxy S10 is due to reasons that are not in Samsung’s control.

Local media reports from Korea suggest that the Galaxy S20 sales are 50 percent lower on their first day compared to the Galaxy S10 from a year ago. That’s despite the fact that the new lineup brings one of the most comprehensive camera upgrades to the lineup.

Fewer people are visiting retail stores due to infection fears

South Korea is dealing with the coronavirus outbreak on a large scale. This has seriously dampened consumer sentiment. The country actually has the highest number of confirmed cases outside China. 256 new cases were reported just this morning, pushing the total number of infected people to over 2,000. The Samsung Group recently announced that it would donate $24.6 million to help the government’s efforts to contain the outbreak.

According to the report, fewer people are visiting retail stores due to coronavirus infection fears. This has led to a decline in first-day sales for the Galaxy S20 lineup. Samsung has itself canceled many secondary events for the Galaxy S20 as a precaution so it hasn’t really been able to push as hard on marketing and promotion as it normally does.

It has sold an estimated 70,800 units combined of the Galaxy S20 lineup compared to the 140,000 Galaxy S10 units that were sold on the first day of the launch last year. The Galaxy Note 10 lineup did even better with 220,000 units sold on the first day. We would have likely seen a similar response for the Galaxy S20 had South Korea not been battling with the outbreak.

The Galaxy S20 sales could pick up down the line once the outbreak has been controlled. More customers would also look to purchase the handset online if they don’t want to risk going to a crowded store. Like many other companies, Samsung is just having to deal with the huge economic fallout caused by the virus.

The post Galaxy S20 sales disappoint for reasons not in Samsung’s control appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/393zdLw
via IFTTT

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip sold out in just nine minutes in China

Another day, another story about the Galaxy Z Flip selling out soon after it was made available for purchase. China is a highly lucrative market for Samsung and the company has been working hard to regain its lost market share.

The Galaxy Z Flip presents the company with an opportunity to target customers who are looking for something unique, a smartphone that’s unlike anything else on the market right now. No wonder, then, that customers in China were quick to get their hands on the Galaxy Z Flip. It sold out just nine minutes after Samsung start taking orders online.

Galaxy Z Flip is on a roll in China

Samsung doesn’t reveal how many units are made available initially so it could be 100 units or 10,000, nobody knows, but the company gets to create more hype. These stories about the device selling out feed into the element of scarcity that gets more people to make a purchase than you’d think.

What’s interesting, though, is the interest that customers in China have shown in the Galaxy Z Flip at this point in time. Consumer sentiment in the country has dampened as China pulls together to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Yet, the Galaxy Z Flip was capable of having a strong first outing in the country. The exclusive Thom Browne edition was sold out as well in just three minutes.

Customers in China are used to seeing flip phones from Samsung. It was actually one of the very few countries where Samsung launched its W series of flip phones. It was only this year that Samsung didn’t release a conventional flip phone under the W series, it launched the Galaxy Fold as the W20 5G instead. This was likely because of the Galaxy Z Flip which is a truly next-gen foldable flip phone.

Samsung will begin delivering the handsets to customers in China immediately. The company will soon make another batch of units available to customers who weren’t able to purchase it the first time around. Despite a coronavirus-related shutdown at the factory where the Galaxy Z Flip is made, Samsung is confident that there’s not going to be an impact on the supply.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip sold out in just nine minutes in China appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2I74mle
via IFTTT

Unlocked Galaxy Z Flip will be back in stock tomorrow in the US

The unlocked variant of the Galaxy Z Flip was quickly sold in stores as well as on Samsung’s website in the US after the launch. The company had also claimed that it was overwhelmed with the response it received from consumers for its second foldable phone. Now, the South Korean smartphone giant says that the Galaxy Z Flip will be back in stock in the US tomorrow.

The phone was meant to be back in stock on February 21, but that didn’t happen for some reason. On its official website, Samsung has now mentioned that the unlocked Galaxy Z Flip will be back in stock and available to buy starting February 28. So, keep your wallets ready for tomorrow. If you’re an AT&T customer, though, you can buy the smartphone right away. It is still out of stock on Best Buy and Sprint.

The unlocked Galaxy Z Flip costs $1,380 and comes in two colors: Mirror Black and Mirror Purple. It features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED vertical foldable screen on the inside with Ultra Thin Glass. There is a 1.1-inch screen at the front to check the time and notifications. It runs Android 10 with One UI 2.1 and features the Snapdragon 855+ SoC, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage.

It has a 12MP+12MP dual-camera on the rear and a 10MP autofocus selfie camera. A side-mounted fingerprint reader, AKG audio, Samsung Pay, and a USB Type-C port are also on the offer. The Galaxy Z Flip is an LTE phone with a 3300mAh battery, 15W wired charging, and wireless charging. Check out our hands-on review of the Galaxy Z Flip if you’re interested in the phone.

The post Unlocked Galaxy Z Flip will be back in stock tomorrow in the US appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2PxoZeB
via IFTTT

This is our first look at the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

We exclusively reported over two months ago that Samsung is working on a new tablet (SM-P615) that features an S Pen. It was revealed yesterday that the tablet would be launched as the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, all thanks to its Bluetooth certification documents. Now, we have our first look at the upcoming tablet’s design.

Staying true to its Lite tag, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite appears to have a design similar to that of the Galaxy Tab S6 but with thicker bezels all around its 10.5-inch AMOLED screen. The tablet also comes with an S Pen, which could attach magnetically at the back of the device and charge wirelessly. There could also be an LTE variant of the device as we can see the cellular network icon on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s status bar.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite uses a mid-range Exynos processor

The tablet’s specifications were revealed last month through Geekbench’s database. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite appears to come equipped with the Exynos 9611 processor and 4GB of RAM. It will be available in 64GB and 128GB storage variants. It would be launched with Android 10 out of the box, so it is safe to assume that it runs One UI 2.0 (or newer). The tablet also appears to have a metal body and has a black variant. The Wi-Fi only variant of the tablet carries the model number SM-P610.

The price of the Galaxy Tab S6, which is Samsung’s flagship tablet right now, is $649. So, it’s safe to assume that the South Korean smartphone giant would price the Wi-Fi only variant of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite lower, possibly as low as $399, similar to the price of the Galaxy Tab S5e.

The post This is our first look at the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3cdE5ja
via IFTTT

Samsung dominates the list of top 10 smartphones in 2019

Samsung is the world’s top smartphone vendor so it’s not surprising to see that it had the most Android devices on the list of top 10 smartphones in 2019. The latest data from two different market research firms show that the company saw significant interested in its Galaxy A series handsets.

This has been quite evident from the way the Galaxy A series was received. Samsung had overhauled the entire lineup with the express purpose of having a better chance competing against its Chinese rivals in key markets like India. It looks like the strategy has worked.

Samsung is the dominant Android OEM on the list

Research firm Canalys has released its list of the top 10 smartphones in 2019. The graph is based on sell-in units estimated by the firm. Apple captured the top two spots with the iPhone XR and the iPhone 11. Since Apple sells fewer models than its Android competitors, it’s normal for its models to come out on top of these lists.

As far as Android manufacturers are concerned, Samsung was the one to beat. The Galaxy A10 came in third place overall and was the best selling Android phone of 2019. Given its entry-level specs, it’s safe to say that the majority of the people who bought it were either heavily price-sensitive or first-time smartphone buyers. That’s exactly the demographic that Samsung wanted to target with the device.

The Galaxy A50 and Galaxy A20 took the fourth and fifth spots respectively. The Galaxy A50 was one of Samsung’s best-performing phones last year so its position here is well-deserved. Only one Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S10+, made it on the list in 10th place. Xiaomi was the only other Android OEM to have a device on this list.

Counterpoint Research’s data paints a slightly different picture. Samsung does occupy the third place on the list but with the Galaxy A50. The Galaxy A10 comes fourth while the Galaxy A20 is able to secure the seventh place. Once again, Samsung is the dominant Android manufacturer here, with Oppo being the only other one in fifth place.

This report further breaks down the top 10 smartphones in 2019 by region. The Galaxy A50 was on top in Europe while the Galaxy A10 was the one to beat in Middle East and Africa as well as Latin America. The Galaxy A50 was also the second best-selling smartphone across the rest of Asia Pacific.

The bet that Samsung made by revamping the entire Galaxy A series has evidently paid off. It has since launched the Galaxy A51, which now has the reponsibility of taking this momentum forward. It certainly seems up to the task but we’ll have to wait until next year to see if it was able to do that. If Samsung sticks to its guns, there’s no denying that it may once again be the dominant Android OEM in next year’s list of top 10 smartphones in 2020.

The post Samsung dominates the list of top 10 smartphones in 2019 appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2T2W8kw
via IFTTT

Galaxy Z Flip made waves at the fashion week trifecta after launch

If there was any doubt about how Samsung wants to position the Galaxy Z Flip, it have been cleared by the company’s strategy to create hype for the product. At launch, Samsung unveiled a special Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne edition. It debuted at the New York Fashion Week on February 12, the very next day after Samsung’s February 11 Unpacked event where the Galaxy Z Flip was launched.

Since then, Samsung has hit the fashion week trifecta to highlight the Galaxy Z Flip’s potential as the must-have fashion accessory for 2020. It was showcased at the pretigious London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks.

Galaxy Z Flip is the must-have fashion accessory for 2020

The Galaxy Z Flip made its runway debut at the London Fashion Week runway with ace designer Ashley Williams. The designer’s AW20 collection included a custom-made microbag for the Galaxy Z Flip and even hairclips to really flaunt that you’ve got this device. Microbags are actually in fashion this year for some reason and the Galaxy Z Flip really is the perfect phone to carry around in them.

Next up, the Galaxy Z Flip went to Milan Fashion Week. It was prominently featured at a pop-up store launch event of fashion retailer 10 Corso Como. Both the Galaxy Z Flip and the Thom Browne edition were showcased at this event. It was actually possible to purchase the latter at the popo-up store.

During Paris Fashion Week, the Galaxy Z Flip is being featured at a pop-up store inside the iconic Galeries Lafayette department store on the Champs-Élysées. The location highlights the intersection of high fashion and technology, something the Galaxy Z Flip is the embodiment of.

The post Galaxy Z Flip made waves at the fashion week trifecta after launch appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/384Qvqn
via IFTTT

Samsung Galaxy M30s secures March 2020 security patch in India

Samsung is keeping to its three-month security patch release schedule for its mid-range devices, and as a result, the Galaxy M30s is now getting a new software update introducing the March 2020 security patch. Indeed, while other Galaxy phones are making the jump to the February security patch, the Galaxy M30s is beating them to the punch and it is now the first Samsung smartphone to bag the latest security update, aside from the yet-to-be-shipped Galaxy S20.

The update is presently rolling out in India and weighs around 119MB. Unlike the last security patch which was introduced in November along with AR Doodle, the latest package doesn’t seem to include any new features or additions to One UI. It’s simply a quarterly security update arriving according to Samsung’s usual roadmap.

The Galaxy M30s is a very successful smartphone in India, and it greatly contributed to increasing the company’s market share in Q4 2019 after it’s original launch. Given the smartphone’s popularity in India, it’s not surprising that the M30s is receiving the March 2020 security patch ahead of other Galaxy devices that may be newer or more powerful.

As usual, you can check to see if the update is available for download over-the-air by opening the Settings app and navigating to Software update, then tapping Download and install. You can also refer to our firmware archive and download the latest update manually – software version M307FXXS2ATB3 – when we’ll make it available (soon).

Galaxy M30s

• Model: SM-M307F
• Dimensions: 159.0 x 75.1 x 8.9mm
• Display: 6.4" (162.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 48 MP, CMOS F2.0 & 8MP, CMOS Ultra Wide F2.2 & 5 MP Depth F2.2

More specifications

The post Samsung Galaxy M30s secures March 2020 security patch in India appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2VrgmWN
via IFTTT

Daily Deal: 44% off Samsung Wireless Charger DUO Pad

This might be one of the best times to jump on the wireless charging bandwagon, not only because the technology has advanced over the past few years, but also because the Samsung Wireless Charger DUO Pad is now available for a whopping 44% off.

The Samsung Wireless Charger DUO Pad can charge two smartphones or one smartphone and a smartwatch simultaneously. It’s capable of up to 12W fast-charging and it’s compatible with Samsung devices like the Galaxy S8 and newer devices. The 44% discount applies to the black model, whereas the white variant is presently available for 39% off.

Hit the Buy Now button below and order yours today while the offer lasts!

The post Daily Deal: 44% off Samsung Wireless Charger DUO Pad appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2vofwiO
via IFTTT

Samsung Display unveils optimized OLED display for 5G smartphones

Samsung Display, the display-making affiliate of the conglomerate, unveiled an optimized OLED display for 5G smartphones today. Samsung continues to dominate the mobile OLED market with an over 90 percent share and it aims to keep things that way.

So it continues to innovate and offer products that other display manufacturers are not yet able to. This competitive edge is what helps Samsung maintain its significant lead over the entire market. Samsung Display’s latest offering is likely going to be used for many top-tier phones due this year.

New display panel also has reduced power consumption

Samsung Display also supplies the display panels for the Galaxy S20. The entire new flagship lineup from Samsung features Eye Care-certified displays with a 120Hz refresh rate. The panels have also been certified by VDE Germany for 100 percent Mobile Color Volume in the DCI-P3 color range.

The latest offering from Samsung Display has reduced blue-light emissions and lower power consumption. Swiss certification and testing company SGS has awarded it the ‘Eye Care Display’ certification while Underwriters Laboratories has certified the display for lower blue-light emission and power consumption.

In its testing, SGS found that the new OLED display emits 6.5 percent blue light which is noticeably lower than the 7.5 percent level of the Samsung OLED panel released last year. Power consumption has dropped by 15 percent, according to UL, which found that the average power consumption when performing tasks like taking pictures or surfing the web dropped from about 1.5W to 1.3W.

Samsung Display has quickly commercialized the new display inventions that were unveiled with Samsung’s latest smartphones. It also confirmed last week that the Ultra Thin Glass, used for the Galaxy Z Flip’s foldable display, can now be mass produced for different foldable devices and screen sizes.

The post Samsung Display unveils optimized OLED display for 5G smartphones appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3a6R2cK
via IFTTT

New Galaxy Note 10 update improves face recognition, navigation gestures

Samsung has released a new software update for the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+, one that brings improvements other than enhanced security for the first time after the two phones were updated to Android 10 and One UI 2.0. This new update, sporting software version N97xFXXU2BTB5, was released in Malaysia a little over a week ago and is now available in Germany. It will likely be released in more markets in the coming days.

The improvements in the new update are focused on facial recognition and full-screen navigation gestures, though Samsung doesn’t go into detail about exactly how these features have been improved. The update doesn’t include the March security patch, which is somewhat surprising as Samsung had recently gotten into the habit of releasing the next month’s security patch for its flagships before the preceding month was over. However, it’s possible that in some countries, Samsung will bundle the aforementioned improvements with the March patch.

If you own a Galaxy Note 10 or Note 10+, you can check if the update is available for your phone over the air by opening its Settings app, selecting Software update, and tapping Download and install. You can also update by installing the latest firmware, which you can download from our firmware archive, on your phone using a Windows PC.

The post New Galaxy Note 10 update improves face recognition, navigation gestures appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/32tPrLo
via IFTTT

Samsung Knox awarded best mobile innovation for digital trust by MWC

This year’s Mobile World Congress may have been canceled due to fears over the coronavirus infection, but it’s Global Mobile Awards have still been announced. Samsung always manages to pick up a few awards at these things and that’s no different in 2020.

Samsung Knox, the company’s enterprise-grade security platform, has been recognized by the Global Mobile Awards as the Best Mobile Innovation for Building Trust in the Digital Age.

Samsung views security as a highly important aspect of maintaining a trusted relationship with its customers. The company keeps security as a priority every step of the way, from designing the chipset to the operating system, device to network and app to cloud.

Knox is Samsung’s global defense-grade security platform that protects all data that’s stored, sent or received on consumers’ devices throughout the device’s entire lifecycle. As the largest mobile vendor on the planet, the Knox platform already secured billions of devices and it has been recognized by the mobile industry at large as well as governments across the globe.

A panel of six judges was responsible of selecting the winner of this particular award. Samsung Knox was chosen by the panel which also highlighted that Knox happens to be “a very good solution to the issue of device security – a global defence-grade platform.”

This isn’t the first time that Knox has picked up an award. The Global Mobile Awards had previously recognized Samsung Knox Workplace as the Best Security/Anti-Fraud product in 2015.

The post Samsung Knox awarded best mobile innovation for digital trust by MWC appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2PrmRVC
via IFTTT

Samsung’s next budget tablet may be called the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

The Galaxy Tab S6 is a flagship Android tablet that Samsung released last year. Samsung addressed a major shortcoming of its flagship tablet lineup with this device by shipping it with the latest processor, which was the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 at that time.

It appears that the company’s next tablet is going to be an offshoot of the Galaxy Tab S6. However, it’s not going to be a premium product. Samsung is likely going to launch its next budget tablet as the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite will truly be a Lite device

We exclusively revealed a couple of months ago that Samsung is developing a new tablet bearing model number SM-P615. Specs of the device emerged the following month. We now know what Samsung is going to call this tablet courtesy of the device going through its Bluetooth qualification process. The Bluetooth SIG listing reveals that this product, the SM-P615, will be called the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.

Despite sharing its name with Samsung’s flagship Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is going to be Lite in every sense of the word. Key specs of the tablet were revealed last month when it surfaced on Geekbench. It will use the same Exynos 9611 processor as found in mid-range devices like the Galaxy A50s. It will be available with 64/128GB storage options and 4GB of ram. There’s also a possibility that it will be paired with an S Pen and will most likely come with Android 10 out of the box. A Wi-Fi only variant of the tablet with model number SM-P610 will be on offer as well.

Seeing as how this is going to be a truly mid-range affair, expect Samsung to launch the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite by way of a press release at some point in the coming months. No word as yet on the pricing and availability details but we’ll be sure to let you know if we get a hold of them.

The post Samsung’s next budget tablet may be called the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2VqdJVa
via IFTTT

Galaxy Watch Active 2 Golf Edition, Aluminum LTE variant launched in Korea

Samsung has launched two new variants of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 in South Korea. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 Golf Edition, as the name suggests, is targeted towards golf aficionados. The South Korean tech giant has also unveiled the LTE version of the existing aluminum variant of the smartwatch.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 Golf Edition comes with upgraded golf shot distance measurement. It also comes with a built-in Smart Caddie app, which offers information on more than 40,000 golf courses worldwide. This variant of Samsung’s newest smartwatch comes in two variants: 44mm Aqua Black and 40mm Pink Gold. They are priced at KRW 393,000 ($323) and KRW 359,700 ($295), respectively. Samsung had also launched golf editions of the Gear S3 and the Galaxy Watch in the past.

The South Korean firm has also introduced a new variant of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 Aluminum with LTE connectivity. It will be available in both 40mm and 44mm sizes. It comes in three colors: Aqua Black, Cloud Silver, and Pink Gold. The 40mm variant is priced at KRW 359,700 ($295), while the 44mm variant costs KRW 393,700 ($323) in South Korea.

These new variants of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will be available in South Korea starting tomorrow. The company also mentioned that these new Galaxy Watches would be introduced in some markets outside of Korea. The golf-focussed variant will be launched in the UK and the US, while the Aluminum LTE variant will be launched in some Asian and European markets in the future.

The post Galaxy Watch Active 2 Golf Edition, Aluminum LTE variant launched in Korea appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2TiYWcd
via IFTTT

Samsung says it will improve Galaxy S20’s camera performance with software updates

The main selling point of the Galaxy S20 series is its cameras. Samsung managed to cram in a lot of cameras in its latest flagship phones, the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Moreover, the camera sensors in the phones are some of the largest in the industry. However, some reviewers are complaining of bugs and underwhelming camera quality.

Some of the Galaxy S20 Ultra reviews published over the past few days have mentioned that the cameras on the phone have an inconsistent and slower-than-usual focusing mechanism, both in the photo and the video modes, and excessive processing. The phone uses PDAF (phase-detection autofocus) rather than a faster and more reliable dual-pixel PDAF system that is found in most modern high-end phones, including its previous-generation flagships. The cameras also seem to over smoothen people’s faces and skin.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra reviews published by PCMag and InputMag talk about similar issues with its cameras. TheVerge hasn’t published its full review of the phone yet but notes that it has faced issues related to autofocus and skin smoothening as well. In response to the publications, Samsung said that it would improve and optimize the camera performance of the Galaxy S20 series in the future with software updates.

Here’s the complete response from Samsung:

“The Galaxy S20 features a groundbreaking, advanced camera system. We are constantly working to optimize performance to deliver the best experience for consumers. As part of this ongoing effort, we are working on a future update to improve the camera experience.”

The Galaxy S20 Ultra has the mightiest camera setup on any smartphone in the world, featuring a monster 108MP (1/1.33-inch) primary camera, a 48MP camera with a 10x hybrid optical zoom periscope lens, a 12MP ultrawide-angle camera, and a 3D ToF camera on the rear. The phone can also record 8K videos, albeit at a frame rate of 24fps. The South Korean smartphone giant has already released a software update in South Korea that improves the camera performance of the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

We are working on our own review of the Galaxy S20 Ultra and will soon share our findings regarding the phone’s camera performance with you. What are your expectations from the Galaxy S20’s cameras? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Samsung says it will improve Galaxy S20’s camera performance with software updates appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Tk8mUP
via IFTTT

Samsung has yet to slow down its R&D spendings, hits record high in 2019

Samsung Electronics is one of the biggest R&D spenders in the world, and last year, the company managed to outdo itself by spending no less than 20.1 trillion won ($16.5 billion) in researching and developing new or improved products.

The company’s R&D spendings by the end of 2019 were up by 8.3% compared to 2018. That’s quite impressive given that Samsung did spend money on R&D in 2018 as well, and was South Korea’s biggest spender in this area throughout that year. In 2019, however, Samsung managed to increase its R&D to sales by 1.1% compared to a year prior. This effectively means that Samsung’s R&D expenses have taken shape in real products, more so last year than they did in 2018, and part of this effort and research is now being felt by customers in one form/product or another.

According to Yonhap News citing industry sources, the bulk of Samsung’s R&D expenses in 2019 has covered the development of system chips and next-gen displays. Near the beginning of 2019, Samsung confirmed its plans to invest $115 billion in logic chip development over the next decade, and to a degree, it looks like the company’s vision has already taken shape throughout 2019.

Interestingly enough, the same report mentions that Samsung Electronics made a bigger push into R&D last year despite the fact that sales and operating profits have dropped by 5.5% and 52.8% year-on-year, respectively. This only goes to show that Samsung is very serious about its long-term R&D vision, and it’s willing to aim at higher profits in the long run rather than cashing in and resting on its laurels.

The post Samsung has yet to slow down its R&D spendings, hits record high in 2019 appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Pr27NI
via IFTTT

Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 will not be getting Android 10 update

In a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing, Samsung’s customer reps have previously claimed, not once but twice, that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 will receive Android 10 this year. As hopeful as that may sound, that’s simply not going to happen.

The two aforementioned smartphones were omitted from Samsung’s Android 10 update roadmap that was published a few months ago. That hasn’t stopped Samsung’s customer reps to once again offer false hopes a couple of months later, so if you still have any doubts on the matter then let us clear them out: the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 will not receive Android 10 and One UI 2.0, and this was directly confirmed to us by Samsung at Unpacked.

Now, this is actually par for the course. If it wasn’t for the erroneous information passed along by Samsung’s own representatives in the first place, we wouldn’t have dared to hope that Android 10 would be released on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. That’s simply because both of these smartphones fall outside of Samsung’s guaranteed update window. The company offers two major software updates for its smartphones, and both of these devices have already made the jump from Android 7.0 Nougat to Android 8.0 Oreo and then to Android Pie.

On the bright side, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 should continue to receive security patches, at least for a while. Even so, the Galaxy S8 is virtually three years old so it might stop receiving updates altogether soon. Technically speaking, Samsung no longer has an obligation to deliver security patches to the device, but the February 2020 patch is already rolling out for both the S8 and Note 8. Future patches designed to fix severe issues could continue to arrive, albeit at a slower pace than before.

Galaxy S8

• Model: SM-G950F
• Dimensions: 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12 MP, Dual Pixel F1.7 OIS

More specifications

Galaxy S8+

• Model: SM-G955F
• Dimensions: 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm
• Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12 MP, Dual Pixel F1.7 OIS

More specifications

Galaxy Note 8

• Model: SM-N950F
• Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6mm
• Display: 6.3" (160.02mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 8895
• Camera: 12 MP, 2x, 1 telephoto F2.4 and 1 wide angle F1.7 OIS

More specifications

The post Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 will not be getting Android 10 update appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2HY3DDe
via IFTTT

Samsung showcases Galaxy S20 Ultra Folded Lens in assembly video

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is one of the largest, most powerful, and camera-centric smartphones ever created. You might be wondering how it all comes together and how the hardware looks on the inside, and you might be thinking that your best chance to get an inside look at the device is to wait for one of those destructive ‘durability test’ videos.

But if you’re like some of us and you don’t enjoy watching new smartphones being smashed to pieces, Samsung has your back. The company has just published an official assembly video of the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and although it doesn’t go into the finer details like an iFixIt video normally would, it does offer a better view of the internal hardware.

We get a close look at the camera assembly and the Folded Lens module which makes Space Zoom possible. Aside from the camera setup, the video also showcases all of the PCBs that hold everything together, the large 5,000mAh battery, and the wireless charging coil to name a few.

Mind you, it’s obvious that the video at hand doesn’t highlight whether the Galaxy S20 Ultra is easy or difficult to repair. We’ll have to wait for videos from third-party sources for that.

Samsung left out the parts in which the host of the video deals with screws and adhesives, and instead chose to create a cleaner video that’s focused mainly on highlighting the flagship’s internal components. Check out the video below and feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

The post Samsung showcases Galaxy S20 Ultra Folded Lens in assembly video appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/32u3Yqt
via IFTTT

[List] Galaxy devices that have received Android 10/One UI 2.0 update

Samsung surprised us with how quickly it released the official Android 10/One UI 2.0 update for the Galaxy S10, and if that weren’t enough, the company even managed to push out the update to two budget smartphones before its other 2019 flagship, the Galaxy Note 10. And, if if Samsung can keep the momentum going, we could see other Galaxy devices making the jump to the newest version of Android in the near future.

While we will be writing a separate article every time One UI 2.0 and Android 10 come to another Galaxy device for the first time, we decided it would also help our readers if we put together a list that tells them which Galaxy devices have already received the update. You can find that list below – you can bookmark this page and keep checking back from time to time to see if Android 10 is available for your Galaxy smartphone or tablet.

Do keep in mind that the presence of a device on this list does not mean it has been updated to Android 10 in every country. Samsung gradually expands availability of software updates, whether they are simple security updates or those that bring a newer version of the OS, although you can keep an eye on our firmware archive to find out if the update has been released in your country.

Galaxy devices that have received Android 10/One UI 2.0 update

• Galaxy S10 series
• Galaxy Note 10 series
• Galaxy M20
• Galaxy M30
• Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy A40s
• Galaxy S9/S9+
• Galaxy A30
• Galaxy A50s

What to know what’s new in Android 10? Check out our One UI 2.0 feature focus series to learn more about all of the new features. We also have a detailed walkthrough on the visual differences between One UI 1.1/1.5 and One UI 2.0.

The post [List] Galaxy devices that have received Android 10/One UI 2.0 update appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2YZ6vHq
via IFTTT

Galaxy A50s bags Android 10 and One UI 2.0 update in India

Samsung has widened the availability of Android 10 for the Galaxy A50s into India, where owners of the device can now expect to be greeted with an update notification at any moment. The package weighs around 1.6GB and includes the February 2020 security patch, but the most notable changes come through One UI 2.0.

The update at hand carries software version A507FNXXU3BTB2, which is essentially the same as the software version that debuted in Vietnam a couple of weeks ago. As usual, you should be able to download the new firmware in India either by tapping the update notification or by opening Settings on your phone, navigating to Software update, and tapping Download and install.

Dark Mode, new gestures, better UI are all par for the course

The Galaxy A50s shipped with Android Pie and One UI 1.5 out of the box. This is its first major firmware update out of the expected two, so it’s a pretty big deal especially for owners of the device who have been teased with some of the latest One UI 2.0 features that are available out-of-the-box on newer mid-range devices like the Galaxy A51 (hit the link for our review).

As you would expect from the Android 10 / One UI 2.0 package, the Galaxy A50s user experience should be improved through a more refined UI with smoother animations and one-handed usability in mind. Dark Mode also got better, and so have the icons that now boast improved layouts to eliminate wasted screen space.

Navigation gestures are also available as they were before, but with the latest update, users can choose between Samsung’s or Google’s gesture solutions. You can read more about navigation gestures and some of the best One UI 2.0 features here.

Have you received Android 10 and One UI 2.0 on the Galaxy A50s in India – or elsewhere – yet? Leave a comment below. Do you want to learn more about the Galaxy A50s itself? Check out our hands-on review.

Galaxy A50s

• Model: SM-A507FN
• Dimensions: 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7mm
• Display: 6.4" (162.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 48 MP, CMOS & 5MP, CMOS Depth & 8MP, CMOS Ultrawide

More specifications

The post Galaxy A50s bags Android 10 and One UI 2.0 update in India appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2HXPLZG
via IFTTT

Daily Deal: Up to 45% off Samsung BAR 128GB USB drive

USB sticks have been around for ages but they’ve remained as relevant as they’ve ever been because they offer a convenient way to backup and/or share your data across different devices, ranging from personal computers to TVs. You probably don’t have to look too hard to find a USB stick lying around somewhere, but if you are in the market for a new driver then you probably want to check the latest discount on Samsung’s BAR Plus USB 3.1 flash drive. It offers 300MB/s speeds and comes in different storage variants including 32, 64, 128, and 256GB.

The Samsung BAR Plus is now available for purchase at a discount of up to 45% depending on your storage and color choices. For example, the Champagne Silver 128GB stick is available for 45% off while the same configuration in Titan Gray is offered for 38% off.

Hit the Buy Now button below to check out the deal while it lasts!

The post Daily Deal: Up to 45% off Samsung BAR 128GB USB drive appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3cajcFx
via IFTTT

Samsung and Verizon 5G demonstration hits speeds of 4.2 Gbps

Already a leader in the 5G network technology space, Samsung joined Verizon, Qualcomm Technologies and Motorola Mobility for a demonstration of 5G peak speeds in the United States. Peak speeds of up to 4.2 gigabits per second were hit during the demonstration.

This was made possible using carrier aggregation, it’s a technology that combines multiple spectrum channels to increase efficiency for data sessions over wireless networks, thus allowing for greater speed.

Samsung and all of the other companies that participated in this demonstration combined eight separate channels of mmWave spectrum to achieve speeds of 4.2 Gbps on an upcoming Motorola smartphone.

This demonstration was conducted at a cell site in Texas where 800 MHz of 28 GHz band spectrum was aggregated through Samsung’s 5G NR 28 Ghz access unit. Verizon added that it has commercially deployed this 5G network solution from Samsung.

“Using 5G carrier aggregation, we are able to achieve unprecedented mobile speeds and bring the massive bandwidth available with mmWave spectrum to life,” explained Adam Koeppe, Verizon’s SVP of technology planning. This wasn’t just a proof of concept. Verizon is going to make eight channel carrier aggregation widely available on its 5G network this year.

“This trial also shows the power of the Samsung Networks’ 5G NR 28GHz Access Unit, the smallest integrated mmWave radio in the market,” said Magnus Ojert, a VP at Samsung Electronics America’s Networks Division.

The post Samsung and Verizon 5G demonstration hits speeds of 4.2 Gbps appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2TgcBRj
via IFTTT