Galaxy S20 refresh rate, battery size, and other details leak

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is making the rounds again thanks to new bits of leaked information shared by XDA-Developers. There’s quite a lot to take in, so strap yourselves in and let’s dive into this.

Firstly, the source was able to confirm an earlier rumor that the 120Hz display mode will only be available for the FHD+ resolution. This is apparently true, and the phone will automatically switch to 60Hz when detecting the higher WQHD+ pixel count.

Galaxy S20 has an odd screen resolution

We also got news on the Galaxy S20+’ exact screen resolution, which seemed to be slightly higher judging by the newly-leaked Galaxy S20 wallpapers. Indeed, the display seemingly clocks in at 3,200 by 1,440 pixels on a taller 20:9 aspect ratio. These characteristics will be shared across all three Galaxy S20 models including the standard variant, the S20+, and the S20 Ultra.

The screens employed by these three devices are expected to measure 6.3-inch, 6.7-inch, and 6.9-inch, respectively. This will make the Galaxy S20+ larger than last year’s Galaxy S10+, and the source was able to back up this suspicion by sharing the image below.

Likewise, the source claims that the Galaxy S20 will have an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner. If you were hoping that Samsung will switch to an optic-based solution, you might be disappointed, but on the other hand, there’s still a chance that the Galaxy S20 might have the newer ultrasonic sensor from Qualcomm.

New leaked video shows the Galaxy S20+ up close

The video below is of the alleged Galaxy S20+ 5G. It doesn’t have a standard headphone jack, but the source claims that the phone should ship with a pair of AKG Type-C earbuds in the box, which will presumably be the same as the earbuds shipped along with the Galaxy Note 10 series.

There’s not much else to be said based on this video alone. We’ve pretty much seen all there is to the Galaxy S20+’ exterior design so far, and it’s very unlikely for Samsung to be able and pull any surprises at this point in time.

As for other specifications, the Galaxy S20+ appears to feature 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM – which is now expected to be the base memory option for the series – and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. The device will reportedly be powered by a battery with a 4,370Ah typical capacity.

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Galaxy Chromebook visits Bluetooth, hints at four memory configs

Four different versions of the new Samsung Galaxy Chromebook have been approved by Bluetooth so far. They carry the model numbers XE930QCAI, XE931QCAI, XE930QCA, and XE931QCA. They appear to have very similar specifications, with the main difference between them lying in their memory configuration.

As usual, Bluetooth hasn’t revealed any technical details about the product, but it was pretty obvious from Samsung’s official press release that the Galaxy Chromebook will be released only in one 13.3-inch flavor powered only by an Intel Core i5 processor. However, Samsung did confirm that prospective buyers will be able to fit the device with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Galaxy Chromebook could launch in four memory configurations

Samsung didn’t go into detail as to what memory configurations the Galaxy Chromebook will offer, but the four models spotted at Bluetooth likely represent the entire lineup. The highest-end model is known to feature 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, so it’s easy to assume that the base model could feature 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The remaining two configurations would obviously attempt to strike a balance between these extremes. They might ship with 16GB/256GB and 16GB/512GB, respectively, but as yet, there’s no official info to go by and the different model numbers could represent other discrepancies of which we might be unaware.

Time will tell just how far from the $999 base price some of these configurations will be. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is planned to hit the shelves by the end of the first quarter, and with the Bluetooth approval in the bag, there’s one less formality keeping it away from the consumer market.

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Samsung’s new Instagram interactive story has you running after bad guys

Samsung has created an interactive video adventure in a new bid to promote the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G through Instagram. The video adventure takes the first-person perspective of a free runner and showcases some of the main features boasted by the company’s newer flagship phone. This includes Super Steady mode, Zoom-In Mic mode, and the ability to take real-world measurements using the ToF camera combo.

The interactive video adventure was created by Samsung in collaboration with Social Chain. It was published on Samsung UK’s Instagram, and the whole campaign required 20 different Instagram accounts and 50 Instagram Stories to complete.

The interactive story starts with you – the protagonist – being handed a hard case labeled ‘Samsung.’ You’re not being told what the case contains but it all seems pretty important and official. However, the handover never concludes as a third party rushes into the frame and snatches the case right before you were able to get your hands on it. The rest of the adventure involves the protagonist racing through different urban environments and making decisions to try and catch the bad guy before it’s too late.

You can experience the interactive adventure by heading over to Samsung UK’s Instagram account or by hitting this link. Feel free to share your thoughts on this new campaign and let us know how your adventure went.

Galaxy Note10+ 5G

• Model: SM-N976B
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 77,2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.8" (172.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
• Camera: 12 Ultra Wide: 16MP F2.2 (123°) & Wide-angle: 12MP 2PD AF F1.5/F2.4 OIS (77°) & Telephoto: 12MP F2.1 OIS (45°) & DepthVision Camera: VGA

More specifications

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Exclusive: Galaxy Buds+ have a larger battery, no active noise cancellation

The Galaxy Buds+ will be among the products that Samsung launches at its Unpacked event next month. We have been hearing about the company’s new earbuds for a while now. It was initially rumored that they might feature active noise cancellation.

We have now received some details about the upcoming earbuds from reliable sources. The bad news first: The Galaxy Buds+ don’t come with active noise cancellation. This will certainly disappoint people who were excited about this feature.

Galaxy Buds+ won’t have active noise cancellation

Many Samsung fans believed that active noise cancellation will be a done deal for the Galaxy Buds+, particularly after Apple added the feature to the AirPods Pro. However, Samsung has decided to skip the feature for its new wireless earbuds. The company has made improvements to the overall sound quality, but the design isn’t going to be all that different from the existing model.

The original earbuds had a 58mAh battery. We’re told that the Galaxy Buds+ is going to increase that to 85mAh, allowing the earbuds to last for 12 hours on a single charge (combined with the cradle case). That’s going to be a welcome improvement for those who use their Galaxy Buds religiously.

Many of our readers have said that they’re not that happy with the call quality when using the Galaxy Buds. Samsung has done something about it. The Galaxy Buds+ will have four microphones, double that of its predecessor. That should, at least in theory, make a meaningful difference. That can only be quantified once we get the earbuds in for a full review.

However, will that be enough to get customers to buy the Galaxy Buds+? It’s clear at the outset that existing Galaxy Buds owners will have little reason to upgrade. There’s just isn’t enough to justify the purchase as the original Galaxy Buds happen to be quite good. Besides, it’s quite likely that Samsung will be liberally handing out the Galaxy Buds+ as a pre-order gift with the Galaxy S20.

The Galaxy Buds+ is due to be unveiled at the Unpacked event on February 11 alongside the Galaxy S20 and the new Galaxy Z Flip foldable smartphone.

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Galaxy Z Flip to have a much more resilient display, 3,300mAh battery

A few weeks back we came across a rumor claiming that Samsung will use ultra-thin glass for the flexible display of the Galaxy Fold 2 / Galaxy Z Flip instead of a transparent polyimide layer. This would make it more resilient and would result in a flatter, less wrinkly screen. But according to a Twitter leaker, Samsung is doubling down with the Galaxy Z Flip and will treat the phone’s flexible display with both ultra-thin glass and a plastic layer.

In addition, the same source claims that the Galaxy Z Flip will be powered by a 3,300mAh battery. It should give the phone enough battery life to be on par with the Galaxy S10, especially since they should both utilize the same Snapdragon 855 SoC (where applicable). More precisely, the Galaxy Z Flip is expected to have two batteries, and it sounds like 3,300mAh would be the combined capacity of both. We’ve detailed the secondary 900mAh unit months ago before it was exposed in real photos (seen below).

Galaxy Z Flip will reportedly have a more resilient display

The Galaxy Z Flip’s flexible screen will reportedly be based on ultra-thin glass instead of polyimide, while an additional layer of plastic will provide extra protection. This should raise the phone’s repairability score considerably as users would technically be able to replace the plastic layer without having to replace the entire screen assembly.

The Galaxy Fold’s fragile screen was one of the more criticized aspects of the device. It makes sense for Samsung to take measures to prevent the same issues from cropping up again on a newer device, but time will tell whether or not this is the solution that the company has chosen. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait for much longer before we find out all there is to know about the Galaxy Z Flip, as the device is expected to make an official appearance at Unpacked on February 11.

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Galaxy Z Flip envisioned in new fan renders with the same look

Flip phones are about to make a comeback in style thanks to flexible display technology, and the Galaxy Z Flip is going to play an important role in these events. And if you can’t contain your excitement until February 11 when the device is expected to hit the stage at Unpacked, then you might get some enjoyment out of looking at these pretty 3D concepts from LetsGoDigital, depicting the phone’s exterior design from all angles.

Similar to the previous unofficial concept video for Samsung’s upcoming clamshell device, the latest renders are based on leaked information and specifications. In other words, they might not be entirely accurate but they should capture the essence of what the Galaxy Z Flip is all about.

And, in essence, it’s all about creating a compact device that can unfold to reveal a screen that’s twice as large as the phone’s folded footprint. As you can tell from these images, the Galaxy Z Flip is not going to have the thinnest bezels around, and although that was also said about the original Galaxy Fold, it still had a lot of other features and design elements that detracted one’s attention from the bezels. The Galaxy Z Flip, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have a lot to brag about in regards to the design, other than the unusual form factor itself.

Then again, the OG Fold targeted a market segment beyond ‘premium’ and this resulted in an unprecedentedly high $2,000 price tag. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Flip is consciously cutting some corners in favor of a lower price tag. There are only two exterior cameras, a single front-facing unit, and the cover display is the definition of minimalistic.

Do you like the Galaxy Z Flip’s design based on these renders? Is there anything about this device that you would change while staying true to the clamshell formula? Leave a comment below.

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Galaxy Z Flip (Fold 2) certification reveals 15W fast charging support

Between Samsung’s own software hinting at super fast charging speeds for the Galaxy Z Flip and rumors that say the device will charge at 15W like the Galaxy Fold, it’s been hard to come to a conclusion on what kind of charging tech the upcoming foldable phone will actually support. But we may finally have an answer, and it may not be to everyone’s liking.

China’s regulatory body 3C has certified a Samsung device with model number SM-F7000, and it reveals that the device will come with a 15W charger in the box. This likely means that super fast wired charging is out of the question for Samsung’s next foldable smartphone.

Galaxy Z Flip may only support 15W fast charging

This isn’t really surprising because Samsung’s clamshell foldable smartphone is not expected to offer the latest in mobile technology. Rumor has it that it’s going to use last year’s Snapdragon 855 processor. This appears to be a conscious decision on Samsung’s part in order to bring the overall cost down.

Making foldable smartphones more affordable is the only way to get more people to purchase them. Given that the Galaxy Z Flip is expected to cost under $1,000, it will certainly see a lot more takers than the original Galaxy Fold. People are interested in foldable smartphones, seeing as how over half a million people bought the $2,000 Galaxy Fold.

So while all Galaxy S20 models are expected to feature 25W charging, it may not be present on the company’s second foldable smartphone. It’s not like 15W isn’t fast, but some could feel that it’s not fast enough. Samsung is likely going to unveil the Galaxy Z Flip at its Unpacked event on February 11.

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Galaxy S20’s 120Hz display mode may not work at max screen resolution

With the Galaxy S20, Samsung is all set to join the high refresh rate game. It’s more or less confirmed that the Galaxy S20 series will feature a 120Hz display panel, which will make for smoother animations and scrolling in the user interface and give gamers an edge in fast-paced titles. However, it seems the 120Hz refresh rate will not work at the maximum screen resolution if the latest rumor from the Twitterverse is to be believed.

The 120Hz display mode will reportedly work only at Full HD+ resolution, not at WQHD+. The limitation probably has something to do with Samsung trying to balance battery life with a high-quality viewing experience, as higher refresh rates typically cause more battery drain. It also takes more processing power to maintain high frame rates, especially when gaming, so the compromise between screen resolution and refresh rate does make sense, even if it will disappoint many who had been looking forward to the 120Hz AMOLED display on the Galaxy S20.

And perhaps this will be a limitation we will see on phones from other manufacturers as well, including OnePlus’ next phone, which is set to have a 120Hz display panel made by Samsung. Smartphone displays with 120Hz refresh rates are a new territory, one that multiple manufacturers are expected to enter this year, and it will be interesting to see if all of them will prevent users from enjoying the benefits of high refresh rates and high screen resolutions at the same time.

What do you think? Would it matter to you if the Galaxy S20 will force you to use a lower resolution in order to offer a higher refresh rate?

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Galaxy Note 10 Lite release in India reportedly set for mid-February

Samsung is planning to start taking pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 10 Lite in India from January 21, according to popular Indian YouTuber Technical Guruji, who revealed the date in a hands-on video for the device. However, a report from 91Mobiles claims that regular sales of the Galaxy Note 10 Lite will not kick off until sometime in mid-February. That would put the release of the Note 10 Lite in the country around the same time the Galaxy S20 and Samsung’s new clamshell foldable phone are unveiled.

It’s not completely surprising that Samsung isn’t in a hurry to bring the Galaxy Note 10 Lite to stores in India. The company will also be launching the Galaxy A51, Galaxy A71, and Galaxy S10 Lite in the country in the coming weeks and is probably trying to space out their  releases to prevent things from getting too crowded. It’s not clear which of the four smartphones will go on sale first – the Galaxy S10 Lite is the most likely suspect, as it’s the only device for which a concrete launch date has been revealed till now.

The pricing for these phones is unknown as well, although rumors claim the Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite will be priced at around Rs 40,000 and Rs 35,990 respectively for the base models. The Galaxy A51 will reportedly be priced at Rs 22,990 for the 6GB+128GB configuration, while the Galaxy A71 will set prospective customers back by Rs 29,990.

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