Samsung might be forced to allow European users to uninstall bloatware

Most smartphones these days come with bloatware in some form or the other, and users can’t uninstall those apps and services. Such apps not only take up additional storage space, but they are also used for marketing activities and push unnecessary notifications. However, smartphone OEMs might have to offer users an option to uninstall bloatware.

According to a report from the Financial Times, the European Union is planning to pass an act that forces smartphone OEMs to allow users to uninstall the bloatware that comes pre-loaded on the devices. The Digital Services Act, which aims to tackle big technology companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google, is expected to be passed by the end of this year. Some measures prescribed in the draft version of the act include stopping brands from using data collected on their platforms for their own commercial activities unless they make it “accessible to business users active in the same commercial activities.”

The act also talks about prohibiting gatekeeper platforms (Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store) from using advertising data they collect from other businesses on the platform for any purpose other than advertising services. Moreover, the act also stops big tech companies from giving preferential treatment to their own services. If this act is passed, it could affect brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and others who pre-load their own app stores and alternative apps. For example, apart from Google’s and its own apps, Samsung also pre-loads apps from Microsoft and Facebook.

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Samsung launches all-in-one outdoor LED signage displays for small businesses

Samsung has announced that it is launching its new, all-in-one outdoor LED signage display lineup for small and medium-sized businesses in the US. The company calls its XPR-B lineup of outdoor LED signages ‘LED in a Box,’ which means that it includes the display and a web-based content management system.

The XPR-B lineup includes models that come in two sizes: 1m x 2m and 1.5m x 3m. Each of these sizes is offered in single and double face designs, and in 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm pitch. Similar to the XPR-E lineup, the signage displays in the XPR-B lineup are designed for those businesses which do not need prolonged periods of max brightness. They offer exceptional picture quality, extremely high brightness (up to 7,500 nits) in all conditions, multiple operational safeguards to prevent errors, and a more power-efficient power supply with a built-in backup.

These signages can be used by hospitality chains, local entertainment complexes, medical campuses, restauranteurs, retailers, schools, quick-serve restaurants (QSRs), and more. These products also offer seasonal and time-specific advertising features, hassle-free installation of unibody cabinet structure, a low-profile design, a 5.9″ depth for more aesthetically pleasing display, and front ventilation. You can view the entire lineup here.

Mark Quiroz, Vice President, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America, said, “The XPR-B was developed to help small and medium-sized business owners stay nimble by providing a platform for seasonal and time-specific advertising, wayfinding and provide an additional method of direct communication with customers.”

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Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs LG Wing…? A friendly match between neighbors

We don’t often compare Galaxy smartphones with other brands but today we’re going to make an exception, for science, or more realistically for the purpose of history and entertainment. ‘History’ because the two devices in question carry the Samsung and LG brands, and ‘entertainment’ because there should be some inherent entertainment value in juxtaposing Samsung’s most powerful foldable to date, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, with one of the most unusual smartphones that have been created by its neighboring rival LG, i.e., the LG Wing 5G.

In case you didn’t know, LG unveiled a dual-screen smartphone recently called the Wing 5G. It looks unassuming but conceals a unique design. It has a swiveling display that can be rotated to 90 degrees in landscape mode to reveal a smaller, secondary display underneath.

Even though the LG Wing 5G is not a foldable device and it’s conceptually different from the Galaxy Z Fold 2, you could say it might owe its existence to Samsung’s foldable device. Without Samsung’s bold approach to kickstarting a design revolution for the mobile industry, perhaps LG wouldn’t have been pressed to create this device and fans of the brand would have missed out.

Regardless, we could argue there’s another reason why the LG Wing 5G exists, and that’s because of LG’s own decision to abandon the use of flexible display technology for mobile devices early on. Roughly one decade ago, LG and Samsung recognized that flexible display technology was the future and began researching and developing at an accelerated pace. They were locked in a competition to be the first to introduce flexible display technology in a commercial product, and in October 2013, Samsung won by a month. It released the Galaxy Round before LG introduced the G Flex in November.

What followed for LG was a sequel, the G Flex 2, in Q1 2015, before the company abandoned its plans for foldable phones. Meanwhile, Samsung continued pursuing its ambitions and we all know what followed. The technology that had been used in the Galaxy Round was repurposed to become the company’s edge display, and later the Galaxy Fold became the first smartphone/tablet hybrid to carry an actual foldable panel.

The LG Wing 5G may not be a spiritual successor to the G Flex 2 the same way the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is to the Galaxy Round, but it raises the question of how the present would’ve looked like if LG kept pursuing foldable display technology? The LG Wing 5G probably wouldn’t exit, so you could say that the phone is the result of LG’s decision to abandon the segment as much as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the outcome of Samsung’s continuous efforts in this area.

So how do they actually compare given their different heritage and the fact that they have little in common spec/design/price-wise?

LG Wing 5G vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G: Design and display

At first glance the LG Wing 5G looks like the type of high-end smartphone you would expect buying in 2020. It has a full-screen design, an in-display fingerprint scanner, a prominent triple camera setup, a metal frame, and a glass back panel. But the lack of a display notch or a selfie camera cutout is the first clue hinting that there’s more than meets the eye. This is because the phone has a motorized pop-up selfie camera.

Of course, the pop-up camera is not the LG Wing 5G’s only moving component. The entire 6.8-inch P-OLED display rotates to the side, revealing a smaller 3.9-inch secondary OLED screen. The main panel has a resolution of 2460 by 1080 pixels whereas the secondary screen has a pixel count of 1240 by 1080. Both support a refresh rate of 60Hz.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 2 needs no introduction at this point but we’ll give it one for the sake of consistency. Samsung’s foldable phone may look like a somewhat elongated candy-bar smartphone from afar – and that’s because it has an odd aspect ratio – but you don’t have to spend a lot of time up-close with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 before you realize it’s highly unusual.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a book-like design made possible by a very complex hinge. It can be used like a regular smartphone when folded, but unfold it and you will experience it through a whole different perspective; that of a tablet.

Samsung’s ultra high-end phone is equipped with a 6.23-inch Super AMOLED cover display and a 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The former has a resolution of 2260 x 816 and a 60Hz refresh rate, while the latter has a pixel count of 2208 x 1768 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The device has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

How the form factors mold the user experience

We should point out that we haven’t spent any time with the LG Wing 5G. It’s not a Samsung device, but even so, it’s not yet available for purchase. Therefore we can’t speak from experience about how it feels using the phone, but we can look at the marketing material and take a guess on how this unusual form factor can mold the user experience.

The first thing that comes to mind is that, similar to Samsung’s Flex Mode, the swiveling display can be used as a camera viewfinder when capturing photos and recording videos, while the secondary screen can accommodate all the camera controls. The form factor could also work very nicely with mobile or emulated games for the same reasons.

Capturing photos or recording videos in landscape mode using the rear-facing camera is made easier by the LG Wing’s design. It’s generally much more comfortable to hold a phone in portrait mode with one hand than it is holding it in landscape mode, so content creation can be made easier by the swiveling mechanism. Another use case might be when attaching the phone to a car holder as it could be switched between portrait and landscape modes without having to touch the holder itself.

As for the Galaxy Z Fold 2, there are two modes of operation and they don’t overlap as much. The device can be used as a regular smartphone through the cover display, or as a tablet when unfolded to reveal the foldable screen. The hinge allows for Flex Mode which is a clever way to deliver dual-screen controls when the phone isn’t unfolded all the way through, although the mode is supported only by certain apps.

As we pointed out in our Galaxy Z Fold 2 review, it delivers an incredible multitasking experience thanks to its ability to run three apps simultaneously on the same screen, and the cover display can act as a preview window when capturing selfies or group photos with the rear-facing triple camera.

LG Wing 5G vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G: Camera and other specs

Their unique design and user experience aside, there’s no way around the fact that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is in another class as far as specifications go. Then again, it is a lot more expensive and costs twice as much as the LG Wing 5G. It’s not a fair fight, so let’s consider it a friendly match.

The LG Wing 5G is equipped with a triple camera combo comprising a 64MP wide-angle shooter with PDAF and OIS, a 13MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 12MP shooter that also appears to have an ultra-wide lens. The motorized pop-up selfie camera has a resolution of 32MP.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 also has a triple camera setup but it consists of a 12MP wide-angle shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP telephoto sensor. In addition, the phone has two identical 10MP selfie cameras, one for each Infinity-O display.

The LG Wing 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 765G SoC, 8GB of RAM, and 128/256GB of built-in memory, so it’s not really a high-end phone through and through. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 features the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865+ chipset, 12GB of RAM, and 256/512GB of storage. The LG Wing 5G has a 4,000mAh battery while the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a 4,500mAh unit.

Finally, one advantage the LG Wing 5G has over the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the microSD card slot. The other is its IP54 splash-proof rating.

Swiveling and folding their way to the final round

The obvious conclusion here is that these phones are nothing alike, aside from the fact that they have dual screens and follow an ambitious vision. But the takeaway, in our view, is that the smartphone market is much more interesting than it used to be, to the point where we can look at different form factors and how they can change the user experience. If the Galaxy Z Fold 2 can be its own tripod then the LG Wing 5G’s design acts a bit like a handheld gimbal/selfie stick.

Even if the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a clear winner spec-wise, and even if LG had given up on foldable phones/tablets a long time ago, the LG Wing 5G is closer to being a Galaxy Z Fold 2 rival than most other smartphones on the market, thanks to its boldness and unique design. That’s commendable and perhaps even somewhat nostalgic considering the history of Samsung and LG.

Do you think Samsung can learn something from LG and the Wing 5G? As far as unique designs go, which concept do you think makes more sense; the foldable form factor or the swiveling display? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs LG Wing…? A friendly match between neighbors

We don’t often compare Galaxy smartphones with other brands but today we’re going to make an exception, for science, or more realistically for the purpose of history and entertainment. ‘History’ because the two devices in question carry the Samsung and LG brands, and ‘entertainment’ because there should be some inherent entertainment value in juxtaposing Samsung’s most powerful foldable to date, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, with one of the most unusual smartphones that have been created by its neighboring rival LG, i.e., the LG Wing 5G.

In case you didn’t know, LG unveiled a dual-screen smartphone recently called the Wing 5G. It looks unassuming but conceals a unique design. It has a swiveling display that can be rotated to 90 degrees in landscape mode to reveal a smaller, secondary display underneath.

Even though the LG Wing 5G is not a foldable device and it’s conceptually different from the Galaxy Z Fold 2, you could say it might owe its existence to Samsung’s foldable device. Without Samsung’s bold approach to kickstarting a design revolution for the mobile industry, perhaps LG wouldn’t have been pressed to create this device and fans of the brand would have missed out.

Regardless, we could argue there’s another reason why the LG Wing 5G exists, and that’s because of LG’s own decision to abandon the use of flexible display technology for mobile devices early on. Roughly one decade ago, LG and Samsung recognized that flexible display technology was the future and began researching and developing at an accelerated pace. They were locked in a competition to be the first to introduce flexible display technology in a commercial product, and in October 2013, Samsung won by a month. It released the Galaxy Round before LG introduced the G Flex in November.

What followed for LG was a sequel, the G Flex 2, in Q1 2015, before the company abandoned its plans for foldable phones. Meanwhile, Samsung continued pursuing its ambitions and we all know what followed. The technology that had been used in the Galaxy Round was repurposed to become the company’s edge display, and later the Galaxy Fold became the first smartphone/tablet hybrid to carry an actual foldable panel.

The LG Wing 5G may not be a spiritual successor to the G Flex 2 the same way the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is to the Galaxy Round, but it raises the question of how the present would’ve looked like if LG kept pursuing foldable display technology? The LG Wing 5G probably wouldn’t exit, so you could say that the phone is the result of LG’s decision to abandon the segment as much as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the outcome of Samsung’s continuous efforts in this area.

So how do they actually compare given their different heritage and the fact that they have little in common spec/design/price-wise?

LG Wing 5G vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G: Design and display

At first glance the LG Wing 5G looks like the type of high-end smartphone you would expect buying in 2020. It has a full-screen design, an in-display fingerprint scanner, a prominent triple camera setup, a metal frame, and a glass back panel. But the lack of a display notch or a selfie camera cutout is the first clue hinting that there’s more than meets the eye. This is because the phone has a motorized pop-up selfie camera.

Of course, the pop-up camera is not the LG Wing 5G’s only moving component. The entire 6.8-inch P-OLED display rotates to the side, revealing a smaller 3.9-inch secondary OLED screen. The main panel has a resolution of 2460 by 1080 pixels whereas the secondary screen has a pixel count of 1240 by 1080. Both support a refresh rate of 60Hz.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 2 needs no introduction at this point but we’ll give it one for the sake of consistency. Samsung’s foldable phone may look like a somewhat elongated candy-bar smartphone from afar – and that’s because it has an odd aspect ratio – but you don’t have to spend a lot of time up-close with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 before you realize it’s highly unusual.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a book-like design made possible by a very complex hinge. It can be used like a regular smartphone when folded, but unfold it and you will experience it through a whole different perspective; that of a tablet.

Samsung’s ultra high-end phone is equipped with a 6.23-inch Super AMOLED cover display and a 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The former has a resolution of 2260 x 816 and a 60Hz refresh rate, while the latter has a pixel count of 2208 x 1768 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The device has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

How the form factors mold the user experience

We should point out that we haven’t spent any time with the LG Wing 5G. It’s not a Samsung device, but even so, it’s not yet available for purchase. Therefore we can’t speak from experience about how it feels using the phone, but we can look at the marketing material and take a guess on how this unusual form factor can mold the user experience.

The first thing that comes to mind is that, similar to Samsung’s Flex Mode, the swiveling display can be used as a camera viewfinder when capturing photos and recording videos, while the secondary screen can accommodate all the camera controls. The form factor could also work very nicely with mobile or emulated games for the same reasons.

Capturing photos or recording videos in landscape mode using the rear-facing camera is made easier by the LG Wing’s design. It’s generally much more comfortable to hold a phone in portrait mode with one hand than it is holding it in landscape mode, so content creation can be made easier by the swiveling mechanism. Another use case might be when attaching the phone to a car holder as it could be switched between portrait and landscape modes without having to touch the holder itself.

As for the Galaxy Z Fold 2, there are two modes of operation and they don’t overlap as much. The device can be used as a regular smartphone through the cover display, or as a tablet when unfolded to reveal the foldable screen. The hinge allows for Flex Mode which is a clever way to deliver dual-screen controls when the phone isn’t unfolded all the way through, although the mode is supported only by certain apps.

As we pointed out in our Galaxy Z Fold 2 review, it delivers an incredible multitasking experience thanks to its ability to run three apps simultaneously on the same screen, and the cover display can act as a preview window when capturing selfies or group photos with the rear-facing triple camera.

LG Wing 5G vs. Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G: Camera and other specs

Their unique design and user experience aside, there’s no way around the fact that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is in another class as far as specifications go. Then again, it is a lot more expensive and costs twice as much as the LG Wing 5G. It’s not a fair fight, so let’s consider it a friendly match.

The LG Wing 5G is equipped with a triple camera combo comprising a 64MP wide-angle shooter with PDAF and OIS, a 13MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 12MP shooter that also appears to have an ultra-wide lens. The motorized pop-up selfie camera has a resolution of 32MP.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 also has a triple camera setup but it consists of a 12MP wide-angle shooter, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP telephoto sensor. In addition, the phone has two identical 10MP selfie cameras, one for each Infinity-O display.

The LG Wing 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 765G SoC, 8GB of RAM, and 128/256GB of built-in memory, so it’s not really a high-end phone through and through. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 features the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865+ chipset, 12GB of RAM, and 256/512GB of storage. The LG Wing 5G has a 4,000mAh battery while the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a 4,500mAh unit.

Finally, one advantage the LG Wing 5G has over the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the microSD card slot. The other is its IP54 splash-proof rating.

Swiveling and folding their way to the final round

The obvious conclusion here is that these phones are nothing alike, aside from the fact that they have dual screens and follow an ambitious vision. But the takeaway, in our view, is that the smartphone market is much more interesting than it used to be, to the point where we can look at different form factors and how they can change the user experience. If the Galaxy Z Fold 2 can be its own tripod then the LG Wing 5G’s design acts a bit like a handheld gimbal/selfie stick.

Even if the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a clear winner spec-wise, and even if LG had given up on foldable phones/tablets a long time ago, the LG Wing 5G is closer to being a Galaxy Z Fold 2 rival than most other smartphones on the market, thanks to its boldness and unique design. That’s commendable and perhaps even somewhat nostalgic considering the history of Samsung and LG.

Do you think Samsung can learn something from LG and the Wing 5G? As far as unique designs go, which concept do you think makes more sense; the foldable form factor or the swiveling display? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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This is the most infuriating thing about Samsung’s smartwatch updates

Samsung only recently realized that longer software support for Galaxy phones has been one of the biggest demands of its fans. At long last, Samsung announced that it will offer three generations of Android updates to its flagships along with some mid-range devices. However, as long-time users of Galaxy smartwatches will know, the updated, er, update policy for Galaxy phones and tablets still doesn’t match what Samsung’s smartwatches have already been enjoying for a few years.

Where new features for Samsung’s smartphones and tablets stop coming in after two years on the market (at least until that new policy goes into effect), Galaxy and Gear smartwatches receive new features for far longer after they hit retail shelves. Case in point: Just five months ago, Samsung updated the Gear S3, a smartwatch launched in late 2016, with some features from the Galaxy Watch 2.

Samsung also tends to quickly bring features from its latest smartwatch to existing ones. For example, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 gained a slew of Galaxy Watch 3 features just a couple of weeks after the latter went on sale around the world. Samsung hasn’t said anything about those features coming to the Galaxy Watch Active or the Galaxy Watch, but if history is any guide, those older watches will be invited to the party eventually.

Now, while I love how Samsung’s smartwatch support has been so solid for the longest time, there is something that infuriates me about it: The time it takes for those smartwatch updates to make their way across the globe after the initial rollout.

The global rollout for these updates takes too long to complete

Samsung first announced that the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will be getting Galaxy Watch 3 features on September 10th, and the related update was pushed out in select markets soon after. But, in the US, that update didn’t start showing up for users until almost two weeks later, and for markets like India, the update only started rolling out today, almost three weeks after the initial announcement.

Software updates for Galaxy smartphones have always been staggered. And considering the carrier and country-specific customization on those phones, staggered rollouts do make sense. Not rolling out updates everywhere at once also helps make sure that any serious bugs that may have slipped through testing don’t create too much havoc. However, despite all the intricacies involved in the process, Samsung has done an increasingly good job in the last year or two at rolling out smartphone updates to a wide audience as quickly as possible.

The same doesn’t hold true for the company’s smartwatches, but I hope that changes soon and Samsung can find a way to speed things up. Despite not being an avid smartwatch user, I find myself getting annoyed by how long I have to wait before a new update — both major and minor — arrives for my watch, so I can only imagine how frustrating it must feel to those who actively use their smartwatches.

What about you? Do you think updates for your Galaxy/Gear smartwatch should come out sooner after they are announced, or are you fine with waiting however long it takes for them to arrive?

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Best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases to protect your investment

At $1,299, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra isn’t a cheap phone by any stretch of the imagination. If you’re one of the many who bought it then perhaps you’d like to protect your investment. It would be a good idea to look at these best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases and pick one that appeals to you the most.

There are some good Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases that Samsung itself sells but you’re not just limited to first-party options. There are countless other case manufacturers who offer similar products for the 2020 phablet. There’s a lot of variety, too. You can have a case that doubles as a wallet, has a built-in kickstand, or is just a simple clear case that lets you show off the device’s brilliant color.

Best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra case in 2020

Your opinion about the best cases for Galaxy Note 20 Ultra might differ from other people. You might have more use for a kickstand while someone else would want a case that can double as a wallet. There are some great rugged Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases for those who want to add a touch of durability as well. Let’s jump into the list and see if we can find you one that you’d like to purchase.

1. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G Clear Standing Cover

Want a case that can show off that beautiful Mystic Bronze color of your Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and also give you a kickstand to prop up the phone? Made by Samsung, this case has a solid polycarbonate back and a TPU bumper to provide shock and drop protection. The detachable kickstand is a great way to prop the phone at an optimized viewing angle for hands-free streaming or video calls.

Buy for $29.99 at Amazon

2. OtterBox Commuter Series case for Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Otterbox products are trusted by many for their durability. Its Commuter Series offers one of the best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases for those looking to add robust protection for their device. It has soft inner and hard outer layers to absorb and deflect impact. The case also has a lasting antimicrobial coating to protect the exterior against many common bacteria.

Buy for $39.99 at Amazon

3. Ghostek Exec Magnetic wallet case

If you are looking for the best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra case to carry credit cards, look no further than this option from Ghostek. It can easily hold up to four credit cards and even has a built-in magnet that lets you attach the phone to any magnetic cellphone mount. Since the card holder is detachable, you can easily take it off when you want to wirelessly charge the phone or use Wireless PowerShare. The case itself has a military-grade shockproof design with elevated corners for added shock absorption.

Buy for $29.98 at Amazon

4. Arkour Slim Leather case

Most leather cases tend to double as wallets but what if you want the luxurious feeling of leather without that added bulk? Arkour makes a great Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leather case. The case itself is made from soft TPU and has a shock-absorbing layer for protection. There’s high-grade leather on the back in a gorgeous finish to provide a touch of luxury. It’s available in a variety of colors including Saddle Brown and Red.

Buy for $15.99 at Amazon

5. Spigen Rugged Armor case for Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Spigen knows a thing or two about making robust cases for smartphones. The Rugger Armor series case for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra provides resilient shock absorption and has a carbon fiber design for a touch of class. The flexible TPU case has a raised lip around the screen and camera to protect both vital areas. Wireless PowerShare and wireless charging can both be used without having to take the case off.

Buy for $11.99 at Amazon

6. Vapesoon waterproof case

While the device itself is IP68-rated for water and dust resistant, if you’d prefer buying a waterproof case for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, this is a good option. It offers full protection for the device that exceeds MIL-810G-516 durability standards and has a built-in screen protector to further safeguard the display.

Buy for $16.99 at Amazon

7. Caseology Parallax case

Want a good Galaxy Note 20 Ultra case that also spruces up the design? The Parallax case from Caseology has a functional 3D design for enhanced ergonomics and visual appeal. Its dual-layered bumpers offer military-grade drop and shock protection. It’s wireless charging and screen protector compatible so the case really won’t get in the way of how you like to use your phone.

Buy for $15.99 at Amazon

How to pick the best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra case

Base your purchase decision on what you expect to get out of the case. For example, the leather case might not be for everyone and would also require some extra care to ensure that the finish stays pristine. A credit card case for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra case may not be of much use to you if you primarily pay with a mobile service like Samsung Pay.

Since most of these manufacturers offer cases for both the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, just be sure to double-check that you’ve bought the right case for your device. Due to the size difference between these devices, one is not going to fit the other.

Cases are a simple way of switching up the look and feel of your device. So buy a few and rotate among them to express yourself, all while having the peace of mind that your $1,299 handset is sufficiently protected. Haven’t bought it yet? Check out our Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review and let us help you make that decision.

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Samsung Galaxy M11 hits Europe, raising the entry-level quality bar

It certainly took a while, but Samsung finally brought the Galaxy M11 to Europe, with the smartphone officially arriving to the Old Continent earlier today. This release is a significant boost to Samsung’s entry-level portfolio in the region as the Galaxy M11 does a pretty decent job of punching well above its modest price tag. Speaking of which, the smartphone will retail at €159 in the Netherlands and most other EU state members.

Minor pricing fluctuations are only a possibility due to VAT differences across the European Economic Area. The Galaxy M11 will start appearing on the digital and physical store shelves in Europe from tomorrow, Samsung confirmed.

Stellar battery life meets affordability

While it’s been four months since its debut in India (and three from release), the Galaxy M11 is still one of the most well-rounded Android smartphones money can buy in the lower end of the price bracket. It features a sizable 6.4-inch TFT display supporting resolutions up to 1,560 x 720, an 8-megapixel selfie camera, and a triple-sensor, 13-megapixel mobile photography setup on the back.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 is the brains of the operation, backed by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable flash storage. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear Europe will be getting the better-specced, 4GB/64GB variant of the Galaxy M11 that previously launched in India. On the bright side, we’re still looking at a device with an impressive 5,000mAh battery and support for respectably fast 15W charging speeds.

Prospective Galaxy M11 buyers in Europe will get a choice between black and metallic blue color options. Meanwhile, the violet version of the smartphone doesn’t appear to be leaving Asia for the time being.

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Galaxy S21 Ultra battery capacity pretty much confirmed in second leak

The battery capacity of the Galaxy S21 Ultra seems to be as good as confirmed, as suggested by yet another highly credible leak on the matter. Well, an early product certificate, to be more precise; one coming out of China, i.e. Chinese telecom authority 3C. The documentation concerns a battery carrying model number EB-BG998ABY. Which is a pretty unambiguous reference to the SM-998, previously identified as the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

According to this particular source, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will feature a non-removable battery with a rated capacity of 4,885mAh, amounting to a typical capacity in the ballpark of 5,000mAh. If all of that at least sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because we already heard pretty much the same story in mid-September.

Equal battery capacity doesn’t guarantee identical (or similar) battery life

It should also go without saying that a battery capacity identical to that of the Galaxy S20 Ultra hardly promises comparable screen-on time. Chip performance and user habits are both major factors that could tip the scales in either direction – and to any degree – once Samsung actually releases its next premium smartphone range.

As a reminder, the Galaxy S21 is just a tentative name for the series. It’s still unclear how close Samsung actually is to greenlighting the moniker for marketing purposes. Recently, there’s been no shortage of speculation about the Galaxy S30 brand, as well. Whatever the case may be, Samsung is expected to officially unveil its upcoming range of Android flagships early next year. February, to be more specific.

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Samsung announces US pricing for The Premiere 4K projectors

Samsung had unveiled its lineup of 4K Ultra Short Throw (UST) laser projectors, The Premiere, earlier this month. However, the company had not announced the official pricing for the US. Now, the South Korean firm has announced the prices and shipping dates of its new projectors.

The Premiere currently consists of two models: LSP7T and LSP9T. The 130-inch LSP9T is the world’s first 4K HDR10+ laser projector, and it costs $6,499 in the US. The LSP7T is a 120-inch laser projector, and it costs $3,499.99. They are currently available for purchase through Samsung’s online store, and both models will start shipping on October 16. The LSP7T and the LSP9T are also listed on Best Buy’s website, but they can’t be added to the cart yet, so we assume that they will be available in the near future.

The LSP9T has a triple-laser light source, and it can reach a peak brightness of 2,800 ANSI lumens. It covers 106% of Rec. BT.2020 and 147% of DCI-P3 color gamuts. The LSP9T even has a Filmmaker Mode that lets you consume content as the director intended to. It also has a built-in 4.2-channel 40W speaker setup with Acoustic Beam technology so that you don’t necessarily need to have separate speakers. The LSP7T can reach a peak brightness of 2,200 ANSI lumens and covers 83% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It has a 2.2-channel 30W speaker setup.

Both projectors use Samsung’s latest Tizen operating system, so it is compatible with all the audio and video streaming apps. They also feature Alexa and Bixby voice assistants. Other features include hassle-free installation, screen mirroring, easy cable management, and Game Enhancer.

• Buy The Premiere LSP7T (120-inch) from Samsung US
• Buy The Premiere LSP9T (130-inch) from Samsung US

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Samsung drops prices of Galaxy M01, Galaxy M11, Galaxy M31s in India

Samsung has dropped the prices of three of its affordable smartphones in India. The Galaxy M01, Galaxy M11, and the Galaxy M31s are now available at slightly reduced prices in the country. While the Galaxy M11 is seeing a price drop for the first time since its launch, it is the second price drop for the Galaxy M01.

The Galaxy M01 was launched in India with a price tag of INR 8,999 (around $122), but Samsung has now dropped its price to INR 7,999 (around $108). The phone is available in black, blue, and red colors. The Galaxy M11’s 3GB+32GB variant, which was earlier priced at INR 10,999 (around $149), now costs INR 10,499 (around $142). The variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage was originally priced at INR 12,999 (around $176), but it is now being sold for INR 11,999 (around $162). The Galaxy M11 is available in three colors: black, metallic blue, and violet. The Galaxy M01 and the Galaxy M11 can be purchased through Amazon.in and Samsung India’s online store.

The Galaxy M31s was launched in India four months ago with price tags of INR 20,499 (6GB+128GB) and INR 22,499 (8GB+128GB). The South Korean firm has now dropped the phone’s prices to INR 19,499 (around $264) and INR 21,499 (around $291), respectively.

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Tizen 5.5 update starts rolling out to Galaxy Watch Active 2 in India

Samsung had announced earlier this month that it will bring some of the best Galaxy Watch 3 features to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Last week, the update started rolling out in the US, bringing Fall Detection to the smartwatch. The company has now started rolling out the new update to the Galaxy Watch Active 2 in India.

The new software update brings Tizen 5.5 and One UI 2.0 to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. It carries firmware version R820XXU1CTI4 and has a download size of 292.91MB. However, the download size could be slightly different for the LTE variant of the smartwatch. If you are a Galaxy Watch Active 2 user from India, you can check for the update by launching the Galaxy Wearable app on your smartphone and navigating to Watch software update » Download and install.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 gets various new features with the software update, including Advanced Running Analysis to give you more insights to improve your running form and VO2max to check the maximum amount of oxygen you utilize during exercises. It also brings Fall Detection, AR Emoji, Bitmoji, and the ability to capture scrolling screenshots to the smartwatch.

The Fall Detection feature can send SOS calls and messages to emergency contacts when the watch detects a hard fall. With the new update, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 opens a chat window when you receive a message, offering you a better view. It can also display images received in the chat thread.

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Google Photos can’t save Samsung’s Motion photos properly anymore

Samsung introduced its Motion photos feature back in 2016. The feature captures a few seconds of video before the shutter button is tapped to take a photo. This lets you save that moment in moving form and choose the exact moment you want to save as the still frame.

The company quietly improved this feature with One UI 2.5. Samsung’s Motion photos now capture both video and audio, as opposed to only video in the past. You might want to take note if you back up your content to Google Photos. It seems to be having a problem saving Motion photos properly.

Motion photos being stripped of the audio and video

According to multiple reports, Motion photos being backed up to Google Photos are only being stored as still images because the service is stripping them of the video and audio. This seems to be a recent change because Google Photos was properly backing up Motion photos with the audio and video up until last month, even though the processing took a long time.

Motion photos may have been around since 2016 but Google only started supporting them in Photos last year. Clearly, this isn’t something that the company attaches a lot of importance to. It’s likely that a recent update to Google Photos has broken its ability to properly save Motion photos.

Google will need to look into what happened before it can go ahead and fix this bug. As for when it will get around to doing that is anybody’s guess right now. So if you don’t want to lose them, it would be best to keep copies of your Motion photos on the device as well.

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Samsung Pay: Supported banks in Germany

Samsung Pay has been around for a few years now and while it’s available in many markets across Europe, Germany was always missing from the list. The company may have faced an uphill battle trying to get local banks to partner with it for the mobile payments service. That’s why Samsung took a slightly different approach in order to bring Samsung Pay to Germany.

Samsung usually partners with individual banks in every country to launch its mobile payments service. This meant that even if the service was available in your country, your ability to use it was contingent upon your bank working with Samsung.

Instead of chasing after German banks, Samsung teamed up with Visa and Solarisbank AG, a Berlin-based fintech company, to launch Samsung Pay in the country. This means that anybody in Germany can use Samsung Pay regardless of the bank they chose to keep their money in.

Once registered with Samsung Pay, users receive a virtual Visa debit card that can be linked to almost any German bank account. The actual process of making payments with Samsung Pay is just like it is in other markets. Just swipe over the lock or start screen of the device to access Samsung Pay and tap it to the payment terminal.

Have questions about Samsung Pay? Check out our dedicated page to see what Samsung Pay is all about, the devices it supports, how you can set up and use Samsung Pay, supported banks in other countries, and more.

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Be a Galaxy app user in Canada and get free access to SiriusXM

Samsung customers not only have access to Samsung TV Plus on their smart TVs and smartphones, but they can often benefit from free access to a variety of other streaming services for a limited time, such as Spotify, YouTube Premium, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. These free trials are usually offered with new smartphone/tablet purchases or pre-orders and are available globally, but the company announced a different promotion recently that concerns only customers in Canada.

Samsung Canada and SiriusXM Canada are offering Samsung customers free access to SiriusXM Premier for three months. The promotional period lasts until January 2, 2021, and according to the two companies the offer is available to users across Samsung Members, Galaxy Apps [Galaxy Store],Samsung Health and Samsung Pay. So this should virtually cover every Galaxy smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch user in Canada.

If you decide to sign up for the free trial, you’ll gain access to SiriusXM Video, personalized ptations powered by Pandora, Howard Stern, over 300 ad-free music channels, thousands of hours of on-demand content, and exclusive online-only channels.

The content is available through the SiriusXM mobile app which you can download on your smartphone or tablet from the Galaxy Store. It can also be streamed on a variety of home devices including Samsung smart TVs and Blu-ray players.

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Samsung Galaxy S20 FE hands-on: Hard to resist for the price

Samsung is redrawing the lines that separate flagship smartphones from the rest of the pack. While the Galaxy S10 Lite may have been viewed as a toned-down version of the Galaxy S10, it has positioned the Galaxy S20 FE as a flagship in its own right. Then again, the Galaxy S20 FE has a lot more similarities with the other devices in the S20 family.

The company has a very specific demographic in mind for the Galaxy S20 FE. It’s targeting those who may be thinking of upgrading from a Galaxy A51 or A71, who may have a tight budget but want a flagship-level phone or simply those who felt that $999 was too much to ask for the base Galaxy S20 variant.

We have had some time to play with the device so we can share our first impressions in this Galaxy S20 FE hands-on. Stay tuned for the full review which will be up in the near future.

Design and feel

The Galaxy S20 FE’s design is not that different from some of the other devices that Samsung has released this year. You get a 6.5-inch flat display on the front. Since the panel isn’t spilling over the edges, the bezels and chin are a tad more prominent than they are on the Galaxy S20, for example. That’s not a bad thing and as we’ve noted in our Galaxy Note 20 review, a flat panel can be surprisingly good to use.

Since Samsung had to cut some costs in order to bring the price down, it has replaced the glass rear panel with plastic. It’s similar to the one on the Galaxy Note 20. As we’ve already said, glass is overrated and these plastic rear panels really are good enough. They’re nice to the touch, don’t attract fingerprints and also won’t shatter as easily (or at all) as a glass back if the phone is dropped. You won’t feel like the phone is going to slip out of your hand, either.

It feels every bit the premium and well-built device that Samsung is making it out to be. The lack of a glass back doesn’t take anything away from that feeling. It helps that the vertically-aligned camera housing has circular cutouts for the sensors, which is what we see on the Galaxy Note 20 series and the considerably costlier Galaxy Z Fold 2 as well.

Display

We are in familiar territory with the 6.5-inch Full HD+ resolution flat Super AMOLED display. Samsung’s panels tend to be exceptional and we find nothing wrong with the one on the Galaxy S20 FE. Then there’s also the fact that it supports 120Hz refresh rate. Nothing can rival the buttery smooth experience that a higher refresh rate provides.

There’s a fingerprint sensor embedded within the display. It gets an optical scanner, though, not the ultrasonic scanners used in the other Galaxy S20 models. The performance of in-display fingerprint sensors doesn’t match capacitive sensors regardless of the technologically being used. That being said, the Galaxy S20 FE’s optical sensor is good enough to get the job done.

Software

The Galaxy S20 FE doesn’t really bring any new software features beyond what Samsung has already made available to other devices. That’s because it ships with One UI 2.5 which has been out for existing models for quite some time now. Those considering the Galaxy S20 FE will be happy to know that Samsung has confirmed it will receive three major Android OS upgrades. Since it ships with Android 10, the Galaxy S20 FE will be supported until Android 13.

Camera

There’s only one camera that’s “new” here, because the Galaxy S20 FE uses the same 12-megapixel wide and 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensors as the Galaxy S20 and S20+. You can read our Galaxy S20+ review to find out more about these cameras. TL;DR: Crisp photos in daylight with great detail, brighter pictures in the dark with little noise.

The 8-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and OIS is what demands our attention. In the preliminary tests we have conducted, there appears to be truth in Samsung’s claims of lossless 3x zoom. We don’t find any degradation in quality at 3x zoom compared to 1x. The Galaxy S20 FE is also capable of 30x “Space Zoom,” a fancy word for digital zoom. There’s sufficient detail in pictures taken at 30x so you can get some good use out of it.

Here’s one example of how 3x zoom maintains quality levels similar to a photo taken with the main camera:

← SLIDE →

A 32-megapixel selfie camera is also present. It works like most selfie cameras on Samsung phones. The colors pop nicely, the camera captures a good amount of detail but the processing is a bit aggressive so don’t be surprised if your skin appears to be unusually smooth. We’ll be taking a more in-depth look at these cameras in our full Galaxy S20 FE review so do check back for that.

Performance

Samsung is shipping the Galaxy S20 FE with the same chipsets found in the other S20 models. You will get the Snapdragon 865 in select markets and the Exynos 990 everywhere else. Both 4G and 5G models will be available. The processor is mated to 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage with support for microSD expansion.

It feels snappy, doesn’t get bogged down when playing resource-intensive games or multitasking and packs more than enough punch to handle everything you can throw at it. That’s one of the reasons why the Galaxy S20 FE is such a compelling option. It’s truly offering flagship-level performance at a reduced price.

Battery life

Samsung has placed a 4,500mAh battery inside the Galaxy S20 FE. This is exactly the same as the Galaxy S20+. Your mileage with it will be similar for the most part. Expect to go through the entire day with around 20 percent left. You can drop the display down to 60Hz if you want to extend it a bit more.

There’s support for 25W fast charging but unfortunately, Samsung is only shipping a 15W charger in the box. Expect the device to take just over an hour and some change to charge fully, at least if you buy the 25W charger separately for the faster speed.

Conclusion

It’s not difficult to understand why Samsung has launched the Galaxy S20 FE or why it’s saying that future flagships will get their own Fan Edition models. The company has been very mindful about what it cuts from the main flagship trio to end up with a model that feels just right for the price. The vibrant Cloud Navy, Mint, Lavender, Red, Orange and White color options also make it clear that this is aimed at the younger demographic.

At $699 for the base 5G model in the United States, the Galaxy S20 FE can do some serious damage to OnePlus’s market position. Samsung is going after customers that don’t want to pay top dollar for a flagship but would happily put money down if they felt they were getting a good enough deal for a lower price. They may find it hard to resist the Galaxy S20 FE.

That’s it for our Galaxy S20 FE hands-on. We’ll run the gauntlet with the phone and be back with our full review in the near future.

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The Galaxy S20 FE can be yours for $0 with this Best Buy deal

If you’re in the market for a new Galaxy S20 FE then you might want to look into Best Buy’s latest deal involving the Sprint/T-Mobile variant. The retailer is offering Sprint/T-Mobile’s Galaxy S20 FE for virtually $0. The phone would normally set you back $29.17 a month for 24 months for a total of $700. However, the carrier is now offering that monthly fee back to customers in the form of bill credit for 24 months, effectively bringing the phone’s price down to $0.

You’ll have to add a new line of service or open a new account with the carrier if you want to take advantage of this Best Buy deal, but otherwise there are no strings attached. The retailer offers the Galaxy S20 FE 5G with 128GB of storage and customers can choose from three color options including Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, and Cloud Navy.

For those of you who might not know this, Sprint and T-Mobile have completed their merger earlier this year, and for end users, this virtually means that when they buy the Galaxy S20 FE through this Best Buy deal they’re effectively signing up to a 2-year agreement with T-Mobile, which now incorporates Sprint. Likewise, customers are essentially taking advantage of the entire network infrastructure of both Sprint and T-Mobile.

The Galaxy S20 FE is already a very attractive value proposition even without the previous $70 discount from Samsung USA and the fact that various online retailers have already dropped the phone’s pre-order price by $100. As for the latest Best Buy deal, the Galaxy S20 FE is expected to ship to customers on October 2 and you can check the link below for more details..

• Check Best Buy’s offer for the Galaxy S20 FE

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[Poll]Would you prefer a flat screen on your next Galaxy flagship?

It’s been over six years since Samsung’s engineering awed the world by bending a modern capacitive touchscreen, which looked pretty cool next to a bunch of boring old flat screens. And yet flat screens ended up being much more timeless than their arching counterparts. Ever since that seminal Galaxy Note Edge, Samsung has essentially been reverting on that design direction. That anti-trend has actually been so consistent that it’s pretty amazing curved displays are still so well-represented at the very top of Samsung’s smartphone portfolio every single year.

Still, with the Edge display literally getting shallower on an annual basis, Samsung may just opt to cut it altogether as early as 2021. The recently introduced Galaxy Note 20 range is already halfway there, seeing how only the more expensive, Ultra-branded model features a Dynamic AMOLED panel curving around its longer edges.

Flat or not, 2021 Galaxy flagships won’t change the fact Edge displays peaked years ago

Likewise, even the Galaxy S20 family ended up expanding to a flat-display device with the newly launched Galaxy S20 Fan Edition. And it’s not like Samsung decided to waste a bunch of cash on mass-producing a fourth iteration of the same series. On the contrary, it would not have done anything such if even just one of those first three devices achieved meaningful success, i.e. had any sales traction left after the first few weeks on the market.

So, would you get behind that decision? Would you like us to send off the Edge display to retirement next year? Or are you among the rare few that still like this (relatively) unique selling point of Samsung’s top-end flagships? At least from a standpoint of aesthetics, seeing how the swipe-edge-for-shortcuts gesture is nowadays offered by every somewhat respectable manufacturer and LG? Perhaps you just like the plurality of device choices Samsung offers, even though you prefer your smartphones flat?

Let us know where you stand in today’s poll and do join the discussion in the comments as we try to figure out whether the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20 FE were the thin edge of the wedge, hinting at Samsung’s curved-edged displays fraying at the edges a bit too much, and falling over the edge of relevance… ok, I’ll shut up.

Would you prefer a flat screen on your next Galaxy flagship?

• Prefer? I DEMAND IT!
• Yes, but I'd still buy the best model even with a curved screen
• No
• Like the people in charge of Bixby, I just don't care.

Results

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Galaxy S20 Fan Edition’s reason to exist may not be what you think

The one and only reason why the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition is happening is that the original three models from the series sold poorly. That’s according to a new report out of South Korea which today delivered multiple insider perspectives on the current state of the global smartphone market. And the industry consensus regarding the latest Galaxy flagship is that Samsung would not have bothered with repackaging the Galaxy S20 if the original series was successful.

Or, better said: was still successful. Because Samsung proved time and time again that if it has a widely successful lineup on its hands, it’s more than capable of maintaining its momentum in a cost-effective manner. Usually meaning a consistent influx of new color options combined with meticulously targeted and equally incessant sales. Which is how you could describe the first six to nine months of many flagships Samsung released in the past.

Will fourth time be the charm for the Galaxy S20 range?

Many, but not the Galaxy S20 series. Well, alright, the half a dozen “Fan Edition” color options are still happening. But a complete device rehash that the Galaxy S20 FE constitutes is anything but cost-effective; the most cost-effective thing would have been for Samsung to just continue selling its existing designs instead of respeccing production lines and devising an entirely new marketing campaign just to sell a smartphone sitting between the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ in terms of both price and capabilities..

But seeing how the Galaxy Note 20 isn’t exactly setting the world alight right now, Samsung is unsurprisingly turning to other methods of generating media buzz around its products. At least that’s how many insiders close to Samsung see things. And regardless of how accurate that interpretation may be, if catering to the overwhelming budget-conscious demographic in combination with the still-incredible BTS effect doesn’t help salvage the sales of the Galaxy S20 range, nothing short of a galaxy-brain moment will.

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Latest Good Lock modules will add personality to your shares and… keystrokes?

Samsung today announced no fewer than four Good Lock modules (well, three plus one major revamp), but the company is also no match to our speed of reporting, so you may have already known about two of those for several weeks by now. Those would be custom live wallpaper creator Wonderland and Pentastic, a service service for S Pen Air Command customization. Additionally, the company now also unveiled Keys Cafe, a module that introduces a wide variety of granular controls over the on-screen keyboard on your Galaxy devices.

Topping things off is a major update to the recently introduced Home Up module which introduces a less-cheekily named Share Manager feature. As that super serious name implies, this particular functionality is meant to elevate your content sharing experience by several degrees of awesomeness, allowing you to issue precise commands on what, when, how, and with whom to share.

Good Lock, better modules

As for Keys Cafe, it will let you customize the exact screen position of the One UI keyboard, as well as its dimensions, in addition to introducing completely programmable layouts and dynamic repositioning shortcuts. So, imagine One-Handed Mode on steroids. Wait, no need to imagine it, we actually picked up on this novelty as well last week.

But Samsung did manage to announce one legitimately new piece of Good Lock info: among other things, Keys Cafe will let you inject some “personality” into your smartphone typing experience by offering support for dynamic effects, themes, and even a gamified plugin that incentivizes you to avoid typos and be that much more literate at the end of the day. Leaderboards are part of the package as well, so that you can laugh at your not-as-literate friends for as long as they’ll tolerate you.

As we’ve already reported earlier this month, Wonderland and Pentastic are already available for download. The new version of Home Up and Key Cafe, on the other hand, are scheduled to be released early next month. So – next week, probably.

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