Samsung Exynos 981 spotted, could be a new mid-range chipset

It’s that time of the year when we keep our eyes peeled for information about the new components that will be used for the next iteration of Samsung devices. As we await the high-end Exynos chipset that will be used for the Galaxy S21, there’s also excitement for a new mid-range processor.

Samsung offers some great mid-range smartphones as part of its Galaxy A series. The upcoming lineup will require a new chipset and perhaps it might be called the Exynos 981. This unannounced processor has been spotted on the Bluetooth SIG but little is known about it right now.

Exynos 981 could be used in Samsung’s new affordable 5G phones

We already know that Samsung has a new mid-range chipset in the pipeline. It’s called the Exynos 1080 and Samsung has confirmed that it will use ARM’s latest Cortex-A78 CPU cores. Many believe that this will be the successor to the Exynos 980.

The Exynos 980 was not used for the Galaxy A51. It was announced long after this device hit the market. It uses the Exynos 9611. Samsung only went with the Exynos 980 for the separate 5G variants of the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71.

So where does that leave the Exynos 981? If it is indeed the successor to the Exynos 980, then it may be used for 5G variants of the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72. Samsung has also sold the Exynos 980 to other OEMs like Vivo so it may do that with this new chipset as well.

Does that mean the upcoming Exynos 1080 won’t have integrated 5G? It would also highlight the fact that Samsung will sell separate 4G and 5G variants of its most important mid-range phones. That would make sense. These models sell very well in markets where there’s no sign of 5G, so there’s no point in equipping those with a 5G-enabled chipset.

The Bluetooth SIG listing doesn’t reveal much about the Exynos 981 apart from its support for the Bluetooth 5.2 standard. This filing was made by the Samsung Cambridge Solution Centre which is a part of Samsung Electronics.

We’ll keep an eye out for this and see what we can find out about the Exynos 981. Expect Samsung to announce its new chipsets in the coming weeks.

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Weekly SamMobile Quiz 50 – Come test your Samsung knowledge!

Fancy yourself as a Samsung superfan? 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 the Korean giant. The quiz has a mix of easy and difficult questions that most fans should be able to answer without turning to Google.

We 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.

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Can Samsung phones FaceTime? No, but you should check this out

Many who are switching to a Galaxy smartphone for the first time often wonder can Samsung phones FaceTime? It might be that they’re switching over from an iPhone or just have a lot of people in their social circle that use Apple’s video calling app.

No other video calling service is as popular on iPhones as Apple’s own, so much so that it has become an adjective. Like “Googling” something is the same as telling someone to run a search on the internet, so is “FaceTiming” for iOS users who want to make a video call.

So one can understand why those considering a shift would be interested to know can you FaceTime on a Samsung phone. It’s all the more important in these pandemic times when most of us are relying mostly on video calling for both personal and professional needs.

Can Samsung phones FaceTime?

No, Samsung phones can’t FaceTime. Apple doesn’t make FaceTime available for Android devices. So no Android-powered smartphone, including the ones from Samsung, are able to run FaceTime. This is just one of the ways Apple keeps iOS users locked to its ecosystem. If they want to use FaceTime they will need to use a device made by Apple.

This isn’t the end of the world, though. Just because you can’t FaceTime on a Samsung phone doesn’t mean you can’t make a video call to a friend who uses an iPhone. There are plenty of third-party video calling services that work on both iOS and Android devices. You can use whichever one you like to make video calls to iOS devices.

FaceTime alternatives for Samsung phones

Now that you know it’s not possible to download FaceTime on a Samsung phone, it’s time to consider some FaceTime alternatives for Android. There are plenty of options to choose from. These days you can even make a video call on Instagram. Apps like Slack and Zoom that are used for communicating with colleagues offer this feature as well.

The best FaceTime alternatives for Android are those that are widely known services that many people already use. We have listed them as they’re the easiest for even the most novice of users to get started with.

Skype

Skype has exceptional brand recognition because it has been around for so long. It’s available for both iOS and Android devices in addition to Windows and Mac. You can make HD video calls between devices and also use its IM features for messaging. A whole host of other features make it a very useful app to have on your phone.

Download on Google Play Store | Download on iOS App Store

Facebook Messenger

Nothing bridges the video calling divide between iOS and Android devices quite like Facebook Messenger. Billions of people across the globe who use Facebook also use the standalone Messenger app for keeping in touch with friends and family. So even if you can’t FaceTime on your Samsung phone, you can fire up Messenger and make a video call to an iPhone. You’ll obviously need to be friends with that person on Facebook for this to work. Messenger also provides many features that enhance the video calling experience.

Download on Google Play Store | Download on iOS App Store

WhatsApp Messenger

WhatsApp may not be as ubiquitous in the US but billions of people in other parts of the world swear by it. In case you weren’t aware, WhatsApp is also owned by Facebook. Its video calling functionality is robust as it supports both individual and group video calls. WhatsApp is also a great instant messaging app so you can really get the best of both worlds with it.

Download on Google Play Store | Download on iOS App Store

Google Duo

Google Duo is the native video calling solution for Android devices that’s developed by Google itself. The app keeps things simple as it opens up the camera when the app is launched and shows the contacts lists so that you can easily get started. It’s highly regarded for its exceptional video call quality. If both you and your friend have a recent Samsung flagship, you can use advanced Duo features like auto framing and even make Full HD (1080p) video calls with up to 8 people. A Google Duo app is available for iOS devices, thus making it a great FaceTime alternative when you need to video call an iPhone user.

Download on Google Play Store | Download on iOS App Store

So even though you can’t download FaceTime on a Samsung phone, there are plenty of other options available. Seeing your friends who prefer to use the fruit company’s devices isn’t really that difficult. Just choose an app that works for the both of you and you’re off to the races.

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Samsung bets on festive deals to increase sales in India by nearly half

Samsung is winning over the Indian market with innovative reward programs, strong online sales and various discounts. In Q3 the company had shipped more smartphones in India than any other brand – at least according to Counterpoint Research. Canalys data suggests that the company is trailing behind Xiaomi on second place, but regardless, Samsung improved its market position in India over the first three quarters of 2020 and the company isn’t showing signs of backing down in Q4.

Samsung has launched an offensive in India against its Chinese rivals with Grand Diwali Fest: a week of discounts on a wide variety of products ranging from Galaxy S20 smartphones to Galaxy Watches, freezers, TVs, and more. Discounts can go as high as 60% and as of this writing, the Galaxy S20+ is available for 40% off and you can get a 4K QLED TV for 32% off.

Samsung aims for a 40% year-on-year sales increase

Samsung’s goal this festive season is to increase sales by 40% year-on-year, reason why the company is offering killer deals on a variety of great products. This goal was reportedly confirmed by two senior executives at Samsung cited by Business Standard, who added that this is the most exciting quarter of the year.

Armed with great deals, Samsung has actively improved its online retail business in India throughout the year, some say at the expense of other retailers, and has created various reward programs for loyal customers. Samsung’s Grand Diwali Fest began on October 28 and lasts until November 3.

• Check out the Grand Diwali Fest deals at Samsung India

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Samsung streamlines Galaxy Store UI with a slight focus on gaming

Samsung is revamping the Galaxy Store and bringing a couple of changes to the app’s UI. In the official announcement, which seemingly doubles as an ad for Fortnite and Xbox Game Pass, Samsung describes the streamlined Galaxy Store experience as the place for casual and hardcore gamers alike. The storefront now caters to both audiences with curated selections, and it has a cleaner home screen.

The updated Galaxy Store reorganizes the home screen tabs, replacing the Home, Games, For Galaxy, and Watch categories with just two tabs called Games and Apps. You could look at this from a different angle and say that the update has more to do with the other sections besides Games being reorganized, rather than it having a focus on mobile games. Either way, Samsung is clearly taking this opportunity to remind us that the Galaxy Store is the only mobile app store in the USA where users are able to download Fortnite.

In case you didn’t know, Epic Games started a war with Apple and Google when it snuck in an update that allowed Fortnite players to purchase in-game items directly from the developer without the marketplace owners taking a cut. Apple and Google responded by removing Fortnite from their app stores, and the Galaxy Store remains the only mobile app store in the USA where Fortnite is readily available for download.

The streamlined Galaxy Store UI isn’t available on any of our phones so the update is probably limited to the United States. It might be subjected to a staged rollout and it could cross the pond into Europe and other markets soon. We’ll keep you posted.

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Galaxy Xcover Pro and A2 Core are next for the November security patch

More Galaxy smartphones are getting the November 2020 security update after the patch debuted on the Galaxy Z Fold 2 yesterday. The latest security update is also included in the third One UI 3.0 beta for the Galaxy S20 series, and now Samsung is bringing the November 2020 security patch to two of its less popular smartphone models, namely the Galaxy Xcover Pro and the Galaxy A2 Core.

The latest firmware update for the Galaxy Xcover Pro is identified by firmware version G715FNXXS6ATJ2 and it’s rolling out across the European continent. Meanwhile, the new firmware for the Galaxy A2 Core carries version A260FXXS8ATJ1 and availability is much more limited. The update is rolling out in Saudi Arabia as we speak but it should reach more markets soon.

Samsung hasn’t disclosed the details of the November 2020 security patch but we’ll keep you up to speed as soon as we find out more. In the meantime, the new security update is bound to reach more Galaxy smartphone models in the coming days. If you happen to own the Galaxy Xcover Pro and/or the Galaxy A2 Core, you should be able to download the latest firmware in markets where it’s available by opening Settings, accessing Software update, and tapping Download and install.

As always, you can circumvent the procedure above by visiting our firmware section, downloading the right firmware for your Galaxy device model and region, and installing it on your smartphone using a Windows PC.

Galaxy Xcover Pro

• Model: SM-G715FN
• Dimensions: Bar: 159.9 x 76.7 x 9.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.3 inch / 160.02 mm TFT
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 25MP

More specifications

Galaxy A2 Core

• Model: SM-A260F
• Dimensions: Bar: 141.6 x 71.0 x 9.1 mm
  
• Display: 5.0 inch / 127.00 mm PLS TFT LCD
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 5MP

More specifications

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Galaxy W21 5G gets a release date, looking kind of familiar

Samsung today attached a release date to its latest foldable smartphone called the Galaxy W21 5G, a familiar-looking flagship headed to China. The release date, scheduled for next Wednesday, November 4th, will center around what is simply a rebranded version of the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Which wouldn’t be that curious, if not for the fact this same device already launched in the Far Eastern country a couple of weeks ago.

The Galaxy W21 5G doesn’t seem to be that much different from the original model, either, save for the fact it will sport a different-colored hinge and a slightly flashier back panel.

Don’t expect the Galaxy W21 5G to break any sales records

This is yet another one of Samsung’s attempts to claw itself into something resembling relevancy in China, the world’s largest smartphone market where it now holds less than a single percentage point of both sales and shipments.

Just to add to the futility of the situation, Samsung still appears to be selling both the Galaxy W20 5G and Galaxy Z Fold 2 (5G) in China, the latter of which goes for the equivalent of over $2,500. It remains to be seen what price this luxury version of the device will command.

Either way, Samsung can at least take some solace in the fact that it gets some bonus points from consumers in the world’s second-largest smartphone market, India, precisely because it’s obvious China isn’t too friendly toward it.

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Third One UI 3.0 beta firmware update is out with November security patch

One UI 3.0 is getting closer to a widespread public release by the day. Samsung has just released the third One UI 3.0 beta update for the Galaxy S20 series and the firmware is now being rolled out in Germany. The third One UI 3.0 beta update carries a generic changelog that mentions the usual camera and stability improvements, but it also introduces the November 2020 security patch.

As usual, the latest security patch is being rolled out without a changelog mainly for security reasons but Samsung will publish these details in the coming weeks. This release also suggests that the November 2020 security patch is ready to be deployed publicly for more smartphones running non-beta firmware. The patch debuted on the Galaxy Z Fold 2 earlier this week.

The third One UI 3.0 beta update for the Galaxy S20 series carries firmware version G98xxXXU5ZTJN and weighs a little under 650MB. If you participate in the One UI 3.0 beta program and you own the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, or Galaxy S20 Ultra in Germany then you should be able to download the latest beta firmware by opening Settings on your phone, accessing Software update, and tapping Download and install.

For non-beta users, there is no exact release date in sight but Samsung is clearly working on making One UI 3.0 feasible for a public release relatively fast. The second beta firmware was released just a week ago and the third beta should be bringing One UI 3.0 closer to its widespread debut. We’ll keep you posted if the third One UI 3.0 beta will be released in other markets where the beta program is available, such as the USA.

Galaxy S20

• Model: SM-G980F
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20+

• Model: SM-G985F
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

• Model: SM-G988B
• Dimensions: Bar: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Samsung is really thinking of adding an S Pen to the Galaxy Z Fold series

Over the past year there have been numerous rumors hinting at the possibility that Samsung will eventually add an S Pen to its foldable flagship lineup, but not a lot of hard evidence has emerged to support these theories so far. Enter a Samsung Electronics WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) application that confirms the company’s true intentions.

The WIPO application was filed in April 2020 and published earlier this week. It confirms that Samsung is truly considering the possibility of adding an S Pen to the Galaxy Z Fold series. The application discovered by LetsGoDigital reveals a handful of sketches depicting a generic Galaxy Z Fold model paired with an S Pen. The stylus is housed inside the phone’s body just like it is on the Galaxy Note series. To be clear, the sketches don’t reveal an actual product design but they exemplify the use of an S Pen together with a foldable display.

Samsung might be a few steps ahead of this WIPO application

Worthy of note is that the application at hand seemingly mentions EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) digitizer technology. In contrast, the latest rumors pertaining to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 suggest that Samsung is considering adopting AES technology to bring the S Pen to the foldable series. The AES solution is more expensive than the EMR digitizer but it generally offers better performance and it’s more suited for foldable displays from a technical point of view.

The fact that the application doesn’t mention AES technology stands as a reminder that it was filed back in April, and it doesn’t necessarily negate the more recent rumors regarding the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the S Pen. It could mean that Samsung is simply a few steps ahead and it now has a better understanding of how to pair the S Pen with a foldable screen compared to half a year ago.

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Google Messages to support Samsung’s Call and Message Continuity

Samsung’s Call and Message Continuity feature has been around for a while now. It’s a very useful feature that lets you receive and make calls as well as send and receive text messages even on Wi-Fi-only variants of Galaxy tablets and the Galaxy Watch Active 2.

There is one major restriction with this feature, though. It only works with the native Samsung Messages app. If you’re using any other app for messaging, Call and Message Continuity isn’t going to work. That might be changing soon as Google’s Messages app might get support for this feature.

Google Messages app may get support for this feature soon

Samsung’s Call and Message Continuity will work across your devices as long as they’re all logged into the same Samsung account as the primary device that has cellular service. Once it’s set up, you can initiate and take calls, send and receive text messages from the secondary device.

The notification for an incoming call is displayed on both the smartphone and the connected device. It’s also possible to switch between the devices during the call without any interruption. For text messages, the conversation trail will automatically sync across both devices.

If you liked using the Google Messages app for some of the great features that it offers like carrier-independent RCS and Messages for Web, you couldn’t use Call and Message Continuity. However, it seems that Google is building support for this Samsung feature.

The folks at 9to5Google have dug into the latest version of Google’s Messages app and found two new references in the code of the version shipped to members of the app’s beta program that hint at support for this feature.

<string name=”cmc_consent_key”>cmc_consent_key</string>

<string name=”cmc_consent_settings_title”>Text on Galaxy devices</string>

These references alone aren’t confirmation that Google will definitely ship the feature, it may just be testing the waters for all we know. It would be nice if it does. Galaxy smartphone users would then be able to use Google Messages without having to give up this awesome feature.

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Are ‘Buds Beyond’ the new earbuds Samsung will launch with Galaxy S21?

Samsung has launched new wireless earbuds with its flagship Galaxy S series for the past two years. It actually launched two of them in 2020. The Galaxy Buds+ came out with the Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy Buds Live with the Galaxy Note 20.

It’s safe to say that we can expect a new pair of wireless earbuds with the Galaxy S21 as well. A new trademark filing suggests that Samsung might go with a different name for the earbuds this time around.

Buds Beyond might be launched with the Galaxy S21

Our friends over at GalaxyClub have spotted an EU trademark filing from Samsung for “Buds Beyond.” This trademark application was filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office yesterday and covers the same use cases as earlier Buds devices.

Nothing else is known about the Buds Beyond for now. If one were to speculate, they would simply be an upgraded version of the Galaxy Buds+ with some minor design improvements. It remains to be seen if features like Active Noise Cancellation will be present.

If history is any indication, we might see the Buds Beyond launching alongside the Galaxy S21 series. The company has a habit of offering new earbuds as a pre-order gift so it would make sense to offer a new pair. Of course, the Galaxy Buds Live aren’t outdated so Samsung could still use them if it doesn’t plan on launching new ones.

It’ll be known for sure if new earbuds are on the agenda as more leaks surface in the coming weeks. We have revealed already that the Galaxy S21 series will be launched in early January 2021.

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Samsung launches SmartThings Find to help you quickly find Galaxy devices

During the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra launch, Samsung showcased a new SmartThings feature that lets users quickly find Galaxy devices through an app. The company has now officially launched the SmartThings Find feature, and it comes as a part of the SmartThings app. It can also find devices when they’re offline.

The SmartThings Find feature works on Galaxy devices running Android 8 (or newer). It uses Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) and UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technologies to help you find select Galaxy earbuds, smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets by ringing them. After a quick registration process, you can even find an individual earbud when it gets lost. The AR feature lets you find the exact location of a lost device via the camera’s viewfinder and a map overlay.

Even if the device is offline, you can securely opt in to let other Galaxy users find your lost device. Once the device is offline for 30 minutes, it starts transmitting a Bluetooth LE signal to nearby devices. Once you report your device as missing via SmartThings Find, it gets added into Samsung’s database. Opted in Galaxy products can then find misplaced devices.

The SmartThings Find feature works even better on Galaxy devices that have the UWB feature. Samsung will also expand the capabilities of SmartThings Find to let it find tracking tags. These tracking tags can be attached to your favorite objects, and not just Galaxy devices.

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Samsung becomes world’s second-biggest tablet brand in Q3 2020

Samsung is doing pretty well in almost all its primary businesses. Yesterday, the company reported its highest-ever quarterly earnings and became India’s biggest smartphone brand. Now, a new report shows how Samsung did in the global tablet market during the work-from-home boom.

According to a new report from IDC (International Data Corporation), Samsung became the second-best tablet brand globally during Q3 2020. The company managed to ship 9.4 million tablets and grabbed a 19.8% share of the market. Samsung’s shipments showed the highest growth (89.2% higher YoY) among all top tablet vendors. As always, Apple topped the list with a 29.2% market share as it shipped 13.9 million iPads.

Amazon’s tablet market share shrunk during Q3 2020 as it slipped to the third rank. The e-commerce giant had an 11.4% share of the market and shipped 5.4 million tablets. Huawei and Lenovo were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. You can view the complete table in the image below.

Samsung launched multiple tablets over the past few months, including the flagship Galaxy Tab S7 and the Galaxy Tab S7+. The Galaxy Tab S7+ 5G became the world’s first tablet with 5G connectivity. It was also reported yesterday that the Galaxy S20 series was the best-selling 5G smartphone series globally during H1 2020.

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Google Chrome to get a feature that Samsung has had since 2015

Screenshots are a wonderful thing. They let you quickly take a snapshot of whatever’s on your screen. So you can use them to save something you might find useful in the future or to have dirt on your enemies, assuming you’re the kind of person that has enemies.

Scrolling screenshots are even more wonderful. A simple screenshot only captures whatever’s on the screen at that point in time, you can’t scroll down and capture the rest. That has never been possible on stock on Android but Google seems to be building this feature for Chrome. Samsung users have had this feature for years.

Long Screenshot feature being developed for Chrome

Chromestory has spotted a new experimental flag for Google Chrome for Android. It’s for a feature called “Long Screenshot.” It’s not live in the Canary channel just yet so it can’t be tested. However, the flag description makes it clear that this is going to let users take a scrolling screenshot.

“Chrome Share Long Screenshots: Enables UI to edit and share long screenshots on Android,” reads the flag.

Stock Android doesn’t allow users to take scrolling screenshots but there are plenty of third-party apps that can do just that. Google only seems to be building this feature for Chrome right now so users would still need a third-party app to take long screenshots in other apps. If this feature is brought over to WebView, other apps would be able to add Long Screenshots to their integrated browsers as well. Google did test the feature during the Android 11 beta period but it didn’t make the cut.

Of course, none of this would change anything for you if you’ve been using a Samsung device. Samsung introduced the Scroll capture feature with the Galaxy Note 5 back in 2015, back when its custom UI used to be called TouchWiz. In case you forget, here’s how you take a scrolling screenshot on your Samsung phone.

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Crack Samsung’s code and win a complete Cyberpunk 2077 gaming setup

In anticipation of the Xbox Series X’s November release, Samsung, Microsoft, and game developer CD PROJEKT RED have joined forces to create an exciting alternate reality game called Samsung QLEDecode. Game participants can now begin hunting for clues to solve the puzzle set forth by the three companies, and from our understanding, the first clue appears to have been contained in the presentation video embedded below.

According to the official Samsung QLEDecode landing page, a mysterious shipping container has been intercepted in Night City – a fictional Californian city located in the world of Cyberpunk 2077 created by CD PROJEKT RED. People who may want to participate in the alternate reality game will have to follow clues to find and crack the container. The first five people to find the container will face off in a final competition on November 17 when the winner takes all.

Crack Samsung’s code for a chance to win a Cyberpunk 2077 gaming setup

The first player to crack Samsung’s code will win a complete gaming setup comprising an Xbox Series X console provided by Microsoft, a copy of Cyberpunk 2077 supplied by CD PROJEKT RED, and of course, a gorgeous Samsung QLED Limited Edition Cyberpunk 2077 TV, as seen in the featured image above and the presentation video below.

Samsung doesn’t specify exactly which one of its QLED TV models was converted into a Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition device but the company mentions that it supports 4K HDR at 120Hz, making it a perfect match for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X console.

The one caveat to this contest is that only US residents who are at least 18 years of age are eligible to participate. You can refer to the official terms and conditions for more details, and you can join us in the comment section below to let us know if you’re excited for the Xbox Series X’s or Cyberpunk 2077’s release. Will you take on Samsung’s challenge?

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Samsung drops the Galaxy Tab S6 price in various markets with new deal

The Galaxy Tab S6 remains a very decent choice as far as Android tablets go, even after the launch of the Galaxy Tab S7 sequel, so if you’re in the market for a high-end tablet that doesn’t break your bank then Samsung’s 2019 model might be it. The Galaxy Tab S6 is now available at a worthwhile limited-time discount in various markets including Europe, Malaysia, and the USA.

You can now save RM 700 ($168) on the Galaxy Tab S6 in Malaysia and pay RM 2,399 ($577) at checkout instead of the full RM 3,099 price. Meanwhile, in European countries like Germany, the Galaxy Tab S6 Wi-Fi is available for 620 EUR instead of 730 EUR. And in the USA, you can buy the Galaxy Tab S6 Wi-Fi without a carrier agreement for just $519, down from the original $649 price.

The Galaxy Tab S6 doesn’t benefit from some of the latest technologies such as a high-refresh display, however, it remains a fairly powerful tablet and the accompanying S Pen is as useful as it’s ever been. The tablet continues to benefit from Samsung’s support and was recently updated to One UI 2.5.

Galaxy Tab S6 review

• Buy the Galaxy Tab S6 at Samsung Malaysia
• Buy the Galaxy Tab S6 at Samsung Germany
• Buy the Galaxy Tab S6 at Samsung USA

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Samsung did a Halloween promo that is genuinely creeping us out

It’s not like anyone really wanted this year to get any scarier, but Samsung just figured it probably can’t make things much worse and now our skin is crawling and we’re not sure how to undo that. The whole gimmick here was to promote SmartThings in a way that lets the public know Samsung is keeping tabs on the calendar as much as any real, totally not incorporated human being, if not more. Because brand awareness and other indirect benefits of marketing most companies can never dream to afford, you know?

In other words, that premise didn’t really require things to get anywhere close to nightmare fuel territory. And maybe you’re willing to take your chance, if only for the opportunity to argue that it didn’t; not for you. Just don’t say you weren’t warned about this spooky Halloween 2021 video being unironically spooky and enough to fill your risky click of the day quota:

Samsung subverting expectations, one nightmare fuel video at a time

So, let this be a lesson to anyone who doubted Samsung can ever reach a level of mainstream popularity that would prevent this kind of content from getting made in the name of just keeping its name in the headlines.

The role SmartThings, the technology, played in the creation of this creepy promo is a direct consequence of the fact that Samsung UK expects close to two-thirds of British households to attempt Halloween-themed decorations later this month. And about half of those are aware of the company’s IoT platform and how it’s versatile enough to automate the creeps, making your skin crawl in an energy-efficient manner, as needed.

Let’s just leave it at that and spend the rest of the day trying to unsee this thing that had no business being so spooky for something with “spooky” included in its title.

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Samsung turns 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class into SmartThings home hub

Mercedes-Benz is doubling down on its efforts to embrace the Internet of Things and related technologies, starting with the 2021 iteration of its iconic S-Class. With this in mind, the German automaker turned to Samsung and the Korean tech giant turned the S-Class into a full-featured smart home hub. This whole lot of turning was significantly easier to implement than any feasible in-house solution because of the simple fact that a lot of the technology was already highly standardized and ready to ship as part of the SmartThings platform.

As a result, the new S-Class will be both firms’ first real attempt at doing something so unique that they even came up with a new name for it – car-to-home experiences. This isn’t just a remote connectivity thing as being able to do stuff like unlock your door or kickstart your heating system on your drive home is not unprecedented and hasn’t been for at least a few years. It’s an intuitiveness thing, and also a compatibility one, courtesy of the fact SmartThings continues to generate momentum and already encompasses more than 62 million users across 10 million homes.

S-Class is yet another conduit for SmartThings

The SmartThings ecosystem, itself, has been around for about eight years by now, six of which as part of Samsung’s corporate umbrella. But it wasn’t until recently that Samsung really started investing any obvious, concentrated effort into expanding the platform way beyond its own device portfolio. This is in no small part a result of the fact that even “just” Samsung’s families of consumer electronics encompass a large number of ever-expanding lines.

But much like the late-2014 acquisition of the California-based company suggested, IoT products and services were always a long-term play for Samsung. And it’s doing just fine on the third-party support front these days, as evidenced by the aforementioned user figures which include devices from 120 certified brands.

All of that is fairly unsurprising, considering how reliant the whole sphere was and still is on having access to high-speed, low-energy mobile services. So, the true IoT revolution that we have been hearing about as a singular event for the better part of the last decade is actually a more gradual process that has been ongoing for about as long as practical 5G standardization. Yet as this newly confirmed collaboration with Mercedes-Benz illustrates, the fact that it’s happening in stages does not detract from its significance derived from the sheer versatility of SmartThings, not to mention its continued momentum.

This level of control will be made possible by MBUX, the in-care voice assistant, which will respond to commands like “Hey Mercedes, did I forget to turn off my lights at home?”. Ultimately being able to use your brand-new S-Class to control a large portion of your home with just voice commands while you’re in another country doing stuff that whatever people who can afford a $150,000 car do when they go abroad for the purpose of getting mentioned in a news article analogy… yeah, kind of lost that one but this is definitely one of the most luxurious IoT partnerships Samsung announced in recent memory.

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Galaxy A70s hasn’t been forgotten, One UI 2.5 firmware update rolls out

One UI 2.5 debuted with the Galaxy Note 20 series back in August and Samsung had gradually made it available for other devices through firmware updates. In a somewhat surprising move, the latest device to receive the One UI 2.5 firmware update is the Galaxy A70s, a smartphone that hasn’t seen the light of day in too many markets outside of India.

The latest update for the Galaxy A70s is identified by firmware version A707FDDU3BTH4, it weighs roughly 1.6GB, and it comes pre-loaded with the October 2020 security patch. There is no newer software available for any of Samsung’s smartphones outside of One UI 3.0 beta, which means the Galaxy A70s is now running virtually the same software as higher-end devices such as the Galaxy Note 20. This release could also indicate that One UI 2.5 might soon arrive on the Galaxy A50, the Galaxy A50s, and the Galaxy A70.

What does One UI 2.5 bring to the Galaxy A70s?

The user experience post-update is not going to be identical to Samsung’s latest flagship phones as some One UI 2.5 elements are missing, such as shutter speed controls in Pro Mode for the camera. Nevertheless, the update should include most One UI 2.5 improvements including new Wi-Fi monitoring tools, the ability to request a Wi-Fi router’s password from a nearby device, new Samsung Keyboard functions, support for Bitmoji stickers on the Always On Display, SOS functions for Messages and more.

The firmware update is now rolling out for the Galaxy A70s in India and you should be able to download it over the air by opening Settings, accessing Software Update, and tapping Download and install. Keep in mind that the firmware package weighs 1.6GB so you’ll probably want to download it over a Wi-Fi network. Alternatively, you can always check our firmware archive, download the latest update from there and install it on your Galaxy A70s using a Windows PC.

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Samsung confirms more foldables and affordable 5G phones for 2021

Samsung’s mobile division has been able to ride out the pandemic in Q3 2020. As the world gradually opened up after restrictive lockdowns, Samsung’s focused on providing products that helped customers make the most out of the new normal.

The company revealed in its full earnings release for Q3 2020 today that the mobile division’s profits surged by 51% compared to the same period last year. It has also laid out its plans to sustain this momentum going into the new year.

More foldables and 5G phones coming next year

Samsung says that its smartphone sales rose sharply in the previous quarter due to the launch of the Galaxy Note 20 series and the Galaxy Z Fold 2. The company also saw the considerable success of mass-market models particularly in markets like India.

It also took many steps on the business side of things to improve profitability. This included more efficient cost management through component standardization and a reduction in marketing expenses. The third quarter of this year also saw an uptick in sales for tablets and wearables with Samsung offering new products like the Galaxy Tab S7, Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Buds Live in these categories.

Samsung sees demand for its mobile products shrinking in Q4. That’s largely because the effects of new product launches has now been diminished. There’s increased competition as well and marketing spends tends to be traditionally higher in Q4 as well.

The company expects the mobile market to witness an increase in demand next year as economies across the globe recover from the effects of the pandemic. Its strategy to expand sales centers around further expanding its foldable phone lineup and launching more affordable, mass-market 5G smartphones.

It’s first foldable smartphone of 2021 will likely be the Galaxy Z Flip 2. The Galaxy Z Fold will also get a successor next year. There has been some talk of a “Lite” Galaxy Z Fold but concrete evidence on that is yet to surface. The Galaxy A42 5G is already Samsung’s cheapest 5G smartphone, we can expect the barrier of entry to be reduced further in 2021.

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Galaxy S20 was world best-selling 5G smartphone in first half of 2020

Samsung reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue for Q3 2020. It even recaptured the number one rank in the Indian smartphone market after a gap of two years. Now, it is being reported that the Galaxy S20 was the world’s best-selling 5G smartphone series.

According to the latest numbers from market analysis firm Strategy Analytics, the Galaxy S20+ 5G was the world’s best-selling 5G smartphone in the first half of 2020. The Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G and the Galaxy S20 5G were the next two top-selling 5G smartphones globally, grabbing the second and third ranks, respectively. The Huawei P40 Pro 5G and the Huawei Mate 30 5G stood at the fourth and fifth positions.

Despite Samsung’s strong performance in the 5G smartphone market, it is being predicted that its market share could decline in Q4 2020 and the rest of 2021 as Apple recently launched the iPhone 12 series. All four iPhone 12 series models—iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max—come with built-in 5G connectivity.

The South Korean smartphone giant is expected to counter Apple by launching more mid-range and entry-level 5G smartphones in markets where 5G networks have been rolled out. The Galaxy A42 5G has already been showcased, and it should launch in more markets in the coming months.

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Latest Galaxy S21 Ultra leak hints at a major camera upgrade

There’s a new Galaxy S21 Ultra leak today and it’s all about the camera setup. The very first unofficial renders of the device surfaced about two weeks ago. They gave us an idea of what Samsung’s next flagship smartphone might look like.

It’s not uncommon for subsequent leaks to reveal changes to the original design. That’s what we’re seeing in today’s leak. Samsung has apparently been rather indecisive about the rear camera configuration for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. These renders are said to reflect the setup that it has now decided upon.

New Galaxy S21 Ultra leak reveals camera changes

The leak comes from a source who has been accurate on many occasions in the past. So there’s no reason to believe that any outlandish claim is being made here. @Onleaks says that the latest Design Validation Test prototype, it’s the final stage before mass production, features up to five rear cameras.

The technical specifications of the camera setup haven’t been revealed yet. There’s also the possibility that the Galaxy S21 Ultra may only have four rear cameras and an unknown sensor. When compared with the earlier renders, you can see that there’s been an addition to the rear camera housing. Exactly what that is should become clear in the coming months.

Previous reports suggest that the Galaxy S21 Ultra could feature two separate telephoto lenses, pairing a standard 3x lens with a periscope-style module capable of achieving magnification levels of 5x and above.

Everything else remains the same in these renders. With January fast approaching, we can expect to see more leaks about the Galaxy S21 series in the days to come. We have already exclusively revealed that Samsung is going to unveil the Galaxy S21 lineup in early January 2021.

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Galaxy Z Fold 2 November 2020 security update already rolling out

The new Android security update for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is already rolling out to select variants of Samsung’s second-generation foldable flagship as of today. The build number attached to this over-the-air package, F916BXXU1BTJB, by itself confirms the target is the SM-F916B model. It also reveals there’s more to this particular firmware version than just a new set of fixes for any number of security vulnerabilities.

With that said, even something as minor as general system stability improvements fits that definition of “more” which Samsung has been using for years. And given the historically modest file size of this update, which is just under 350MB, it’s unlikely we’re looking at anything more consequential. But we probably won’t be able to say either way with complete certainty for at least a few more days – until Samsung publishes an official changelog.

The first Galaxy to receive the November 2020 security patch

As a matter of fact, we’re still waiting for Samsung to even detail the new security patch level, dated November 1st, 2020. Which makes the Galaxy Z Fold 2 its first Android smartphone to receive it. An unlikely debut, given how it’s been just over a week since the recently released foldable started embracing the October update.

But seeing this kind of unexpected urgency on Samsung’s part is hardly a reason to complain. Especially right now, while pretty much all of us using it are still in a highly impressionable phase, which tends to be a pretty good thing when the product at hand is as impressive as this latest among Samsung’s attempts at a foldable smartphone concept is.

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Samsung partners with South Korean IT service firm to improve NEON

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies are of great importance for every tech firm. Samsung has been improving its AI technologies for the past few years, but it is yet to match the likes of Amazon, Apple, and Google. Now, the South Korean firm has announced that it is partnering with a South Korean IT firm for improving its AI tech NEON.

Samsung Technology and Advanced Research Labs (STAR Labs) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CJ OliveNetworks Co. to create human-like algorithms for AI technologies. The two companies will create an “influencer” in the virtual world, and it can be used in various media content. Earlier this year, the company showcased NEON, an AI chatbot in the virtual human form. The software that powers NEON is CORE R3, and it is developed by STAR Labs.

Samsung is planning to improve NEON and use it in various areas, including customer reception, education, media, retail, and more. NEON can be a news anchor or a shopping host, depending on the implementation and the needs of the client. In the future, NEON will be offered in two enterprise models: NEON Content Creation and NEON Workforce.

STAR Labs, which is led by 39-year-old computer scientist Pranav Mistry, is also set to sign another partnership with a financial firm in South Korea in the near future. However, Samsung didn’t reveal the name of the firm. Mistry said, “We are excited to collaborate with CJ, the K-content leader. And neon technology will bring new changes to the way and scale of content creation.”

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Samsung dethrones Xiaomi to become India’s biggest smartphone brand in Q3 2020

It looks like today is a good day for Samsung. Earlier today, the company reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue. It is now being reported that Samsung managed to dethrone Xiaomi in the Indian smartphone market and regained its number one position after a gap of two years. However, a report from Canalys stated a few days ago that Samsung is still in the second position.

According to the latest numbers from market analysis firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung’s achieved an impressive 32% year-on-year growth during Q3 2020 to become India’s leading smartphone brand. The South Korean firm managed to grab a 24% share of the market, while Xiaomi slipped to the second spot and its market share was 23%.

Samsung was reportedly the fastest to recover from the COVID-19 dent. The company’s strong performance resulted from multiple strategies, including effective supply chain management, the launch of good mid-range models, and touching of various price points. The company aggressively pushed its smartphones in the online market, and its online contribution to the business was the highest. Anti-Chinese sentiment could also be one of the factors for Samsung’s impressive growth in the country.

Vivo was the third-biggest smartphone brand in India with a market share of 16%, while Realme and OPPO grabbed the fourth and fifth positions with a market share of 15% and 10%, respectively. In the value flagship segment ($400 to $600), OnePlus remained at the top position. Apple did well in the premium segment, thanks to strong sales of the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE 2020.

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Samsung’s Q3 2020 earnings reveal its highest-ever quarterly revenue

Earlier this month, Samsung had posted its earnings estimates for Q3 2020. Now, the company has published its final numbers for the latest quarter. Despite the pandemic, the South Korean tech giant has come out like a winner, posting its highest-ever quarterly revenue.

Samsung said that it saw a significant increase in consumer demand for smartphones, computers, TVs, and other devices. Even its display panel and semiconductor businesses did well during the period. The company reported that its sales climbed 8% from last year to KRW 66.96 trillion (around $59 billion). Its operating profit jumped 59% from Q3 2019 to KRW 12.35 trillion (around $10.09 billion) and its net profit rose to KRW 9.36 trillion (around $8.2 billion).

The South Korean conglomerate’s revenue was higher than market expectations. Due to the COVID-19 scenario, Samsung said that consumers purchased more smartphones and other consumer electronics. The company’s highest-ever quarterly revenue is also due to its efficient cost management, one-time gains from its display and chip businesses, and the launch of flagship products like the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

The company’s mobile sales increased by 6.1% from the previous year to KRW 29.81 trillion (around $26.3 billion). Compared to Q2 2020, its smartphone business showed a whopping 51% jump as markets opened up around the world during Q3 2020. Samsung also attributed higher sales to the increased demand for mass-market products (Galaxy A and Galaxy M series smartphones) in markets like India.

Samsung’s profits could decline in the current quarter due to the launch of the iPhone 12 series. The company also expects to receive fewer memory chip orders during the fourth quarter. While the company has warned about a possible decline in profits for Q4 2020, it expects 2021 to be better for the electronics industry.

Developing…

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[Poll] Would you even care if Samsung removed chargers from the box?

Samsung didn’t waste any time in pulling Apple’s leg when the latter announced that its new iPhones won’t ship with a charger and earphones in the box. A new report suggests that it may be thinking about doing the same thing.

Korean media is of the view that the Galaxy S21 series may not include either accessory in the box. Even if the charger is retained, they fully expect Samsung to ditch the earphones. We may have seen a trailer for that with the Galaxy Note 20 series in the US. Samsung doesn’t ship earphones with its new flagship in the US but does give users one for free if they ask customer support.

Apple put an environmental spin on its decision but that’s a bit too convenient. This will obviously increase the company’s margins on the product and also spur sales of chargers and wireless earbuds. Samsung wouldn’t want to leave that extra money on the table as well.

How would you feel about it, though? Are you fine with not getting chargers and earphones as long as Samsung’s flagships get a noticeable price cut? Or if environmental benefits are tangible enough? Would you just not care either way? Vote below and share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment.

Would you even care if Samsung removed chargers from the box?

• I would, I don't want to buy chargers and earphones separately
• I won't, but only if devices get cheaper
• Meh, I can't be bothered about this
• I won't, as long as its truly benefits the environment

Results

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The Galaxy Z Flip 2 is apparently back on track for a spring 2021 release

Exactly one month ago we came across a rumor passed along by @DSCCRoss on Twitter suggesting that Samsung may have delayed the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 2 to late 2021. At the same time, we explained why you probably shouldn’t make any plans based on this particular rumor, and today we’re hearing a different narrative from the same source.

According to the new rumor, the Galaxy Z Flip 2 won’t be delayed to Q3 2021 after all. It won’t be released along with the Galaxy S21 series either, which we have already exclusively revealed to be launching in January, but instead it will debut in spring next year. In other words, Samsung is likely to adopt its usual yearly flagship launch schedule for the Galaxy Z Flip series. The original model was introduced in February 2020 and it was followed by a 5G variant in August.

So far it’s business as usual

The Galaxy Z Flip 2 is expected to feature 4G and 5G connectivity from the first day of availability but even though we have our own wishlist for the device, there’s not much else known about this mysterious foldable sequel. Nevertheless, @DSCCRoss claims to have the scoop on some of the impressive upgrades the Galaxy Z Flip 2 will receive but details are lacking. We’ll keep you up to speed as soon as more details come to light.

Until then, feel free to let us know if you’re a foldable phone owner of if you have an interest in this technology/form factor. What’s your take on the original Galaxy Z Flip and what would convince you to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 2 next year? Leave a comment below.

The Z Flip 2 will not be launched with the S21, but it will be launched in the spring. I am impressed with the upgrades it will get.

— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) October 28, 2020

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