Galaxy A51 headed to all major North American carriers

Last year, Samsung released countless new mid-range Galaxy A smartphones, but only a few of them made their way to the US. The Galaxy A50 was among the first of the 2019 A series phones to be released stateside, although not all of the major carriers offered the device. That looks set to change this year. The carrier-locked US version of the Galaxy A51 has been certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and firmware development for the device suggests it will be sold by AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint.

This is the first time we are seeing evidence that the Galaxy A51 will make its way to North America, though it doesn’t come as a surprise. Right now, it’s unclear when the US launch will take place. As we exclusively revealed a couple of weeks ago, Samsung also has a 5G variant of the Galaxy A51 in the works. It is currently only in development for South Korea, however, and it remains to be seen if Samsung will also bring it to the US at some point.

The Galaxy A51 is one of the best smartphones in its category despite some shortcomings. It offers just the right amount of upgrades while carrying the same price tag as the Galaxy A50 did when it launched last year, and you can read more about it in our Galaxy A51 review. Also let us know in the comments if you would be interested in picking up the Galaxy A51 once it goes on sale in the US.

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Galaxy Note 9 gets January security patch in second Android 10-based update

The latest Android security patch has now been released for the Galaxy Note 9. The January 2020 security patch comes bundled as part of the second update for the Galaxy Note 9 that’s based on Android 10. It’s rolling out only in Germany at this time, but it’s likely to make its way to more markets in the next couple of days. The software version for the new update is N960FXXS4DTA1.

As we have seen with other devices that have received an update after they made the jump to Android 10, the new Galaxy Note 9 update only brings the January security patch. The January patch, as Samsung detailed earlier in the month, fixes five critical vulnerabilities discovered in the Android operating system and also patches 17 vulnerabilities that only affect Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

To download the new update over the air if you own a Galaxy Note 9 in Germany, open the phone’s Settings app, tap Software update, then select Download and install. You can also update your phone using a Windows computer by downloading and flashing the latest firmware from our firmware archive.

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Galaxy Z Flip main camera rumored to clock in at 12MP, not 108MP

This may not surprise you if you’ve kept a close eye on the more recent leaks and rumor surrounding Samsung’s upcoming clamshell foldable device. But according to what could be called the Twitter leaker sphere, the Galaxy Z Flip is not going to be equipped with a 108MP camera as reported by Bloomberg a couple of months ago.

Instead – and in a rather expected turn of events – recent rumors now claim that the Galaxy Z Flip will have a 12MP camera, which may or may not be identical to the Galaxy Note 10‘s.

It’s wise to remember that unofficial details are subject to change, so perhaps there is some truth to the earlier 108MP sensor claims. More realistically, the inclusion of a 12MP main shooter instead of a 108MP one shouldn’t be a shock to anyone given the fact that the Galaxy Z Flip is supposed to lower the entry-level costs of flexible display technology. The upcoming device is said to make a few compromises in favor of a lower price tag, and with that in mind, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for it to adopt an outlandish camera configuration.

Strengthening previous storage and color options reports

Speaking of the clamshell foldable aiming for a lower price tag, nearly half a year ago we’ve exclusively reported that the upcoming Galaxy Fold (tentative name at that time) will feature 256GB of storage instead of 512GB in a quest to be more affordable than the original Galaxy Fold. Nothing changed in this regard, according to the recent tweets.

Likewise, we’ve talked about the black and purple color options on top of the white/gray flavor for the Galaxy Fold 2 / Z Flip months ago, and how Samsung is considering a 6.7-inch display for the device. Those reports have now been further strengthened along with the more recent details on battery capacity.

More confirmations on Galaxy Z Flip: 6.7inch Dynamic AMOLED Displya, 12MP Main Camera (not 108MP, obviously). 10MP Front Camera and 256GB Storage as told earlier. One UI 2.1, 3300mAH or 3500mAH Battery (some confusion regarding that). Black and Purple colours. https://t.co/U4GA46Qj1r

— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) January 20, 2020

You can keep up to date with new Galaxy Z Flip developments by checking our dedicated news page for the device. We’ll continue to update it regularly with new relevant information, at least until the phone becomes official on February 11.

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Galaxy A71 cases already on sale ahead of February 7 UK release

Official and 3rd party cases for the upcoming Galaxy A71 have popped up online at retailer Mobile Fun. The smartphone is reportedly set to hit the UK market on February 7, but 3rd party Olixar cases are already in stock and available for purchase. Appropriately, the official cases are going to be in stock in 1-2 weeks.

Samsung is going to offer two official case designs for the Galaxy A71, including a Silicone Cover case in four color options (black, blue, pink, and silver), an well as an S-View Flip Cover case in black or white. You can check the designs in the image galleries below.

Third-party Olixar cases are already on sale

The Galaxy A71 is also going to get special treatment from third-party case manufacturer Olixar, who has prepared numerous accessories ranging from silicon bumpers with elaborate designs around the camera assembly to a leather-style Wallet Stand Case.

The Galaxy A71 is expected to cost around $450 or equivalent. It was unveiled as an upper mid-range phone equipped with a 6.7-inch Infinity-O Super AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 730 chipset from Qualcomm, and 6/8GB of RAM. The four rear camera setup comprises a 64MP primary unit, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and two 5MP depth and macro shooters.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy A71 should go live in various regions – including Indonesia – starting today, and the device will hit the shelves in more markets next month.

Galaxy A71

• Model: SM-A715F
• Dimensions: 163.6 x 76.0 x 7.7mm
• Display: 6.7" (170.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730
• Camera: 64 MP F1.8, 12MP Ultra-wide F2.2, 5MP Depth F2.2 & 5MP Macro F2.4

More specifications

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Samsung India offers free smartphones, TV deals on Republic Day

Samsung India has prepared numerous deals and gifts for Republic Day, giving prospective buyers a chance to bag a free smartphone along with their QLED and 4K UHD TV purchases.

Additionally, the company has prepared up to 15% cashback on some offers, as well as easy EMIs with zero down payment.

You can get a free Galaxy S10 along with your QLED and 4K TV

One of Samsung India’s most attractive Republic Day deals includes a free Galaxy S10 with 512GB of storage along with select Samsung QLED and 4K UHD TVs. It’s not entirely clear which TV models will be coupled with the free flagship, but other freebies – for other TVs – include the 4GB Galaxy A50s, the 6GB Galaxy M30, the Galaxy A10s, and the Bluetooth-enabled U Flex Headphones. Customers taking advantage of these deals will also get a 30-day subscription to Zee5 for free.

Samsung’s Flexi EMI Offer lets prospective buyers acquire a new TV on a flexible monthly installment plan. Customers buying a new TV before the promotional period ends will also get a 10-year No Screen Burn-In warranty. As you may already know, the whole no screen burn-in angle has been used by Samsung for marketing purposes before, and the company used it a couple of times to paint LG’s OLED TVs in a not-so-positive light.

Samsung’s TVs have become quite popular in India, and record sales have been topped not long ago during Diwali. In other news, the company reportedly restarted manufacturing TVs in India through Dixion, so India remains a very important market for Samsung even if taxes have pushed the company’s production line outside of the country a couple of years ago.

Get free kitchen utensils, extended warranty with new Microwave Oven

Select Samsung Microwave Oven models purchased throughout the Republic Day promo will also be paired with a kit of Borosil kitchen utensils for free, assuming that the ovens have capacities equal to or greater than 28L. Additionally, Microwave Oven customers will now get a 10-year warranty on the ceramic enamel cavity.

Samsung India’s Republic Day deals will become available on January 26 and prospective buyers will have a few days at their disposal – until January 31 – to take advantage of them. Are you in the market for a new TV? Is a free smartphone a good-enough incentive to purchase a new TV this month? Let us know.

Galaxy S10

• Model: SM-G973N
• Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
• Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy A50s

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

More specifications

Galaxy M30

• Model: SM-M305F
• Dimensions: 159 x 75.1 x 8.4mm
• Display: 6.38"(162mm) LCD
• CPU: Exynos 7904
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS

More specifications

Galaxy A10s

• Model: SM-A107F
• Dimensions: 156.9 x 75.8 x 7.8mm
• Display: 6.2" (157,9mm0 LCD
• CPU: Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22
• Camera: 13 MP F1.8 & 2MP F2.4

More specifications

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Samsung Medical Center becomes a 5G smart hospital powered by AI, VR

In a case of using new technologies to improve healthcare, Samsung and KT Corporation have joined forces to bring 5G to the Samsung Medical Center (SMC) in Seoul and create ‘innovative medical services for the new 5G era’ – reveals a recent PR Newswire press release. 5G enables easy access to digital data and video footage, remote surgery education, and it even powers robots for operating room assistance as well as an AI for in-patient care.

The Samsung Medical Center can now conduct digital pathological analysis through the 5G program, and it has become the first hospital in the world to leverage 5G for on-site medical procedures. Normally, tissues that are taken from a patient during surgery are sent back and forth for analysis, and this procedure can take up to 20 minutes. But the Pathology Department at SMC can now obtain all of this information much faster through the ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency 5G network.

Remote surgery education, robots, and AI

Another area that has been improved by the 5G network is remote training. KT and SMC have developed a 5G-powered education program that allows surgeons in operating rooms to offer remote training to large groups through real-time high-quality video and audio.

The operating rooms have been further enhanced by 5G with the addition of a delivery robot designed to remove medical waste and provide supplies.

As mentioned before, artificial intelligence plays a role as well. A new 5G-enabled AI at the Samsung Medical Center provides in-patient care and allows patients to easily control certain aspects of their hospital room using voice commands. The AI essentially acts as a 5G IoT hub for other smart devices that may be located in the room. In addition, patients can also choose to give the AI permission to access their medical condition and potentially improve medical staff response times in emergency situations.

AR and VR applications are on the way

Samsung and KT Corporation want to further enhance the Samsung Medical Center with AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) applications. These technologies will be used primarily for educational purposes and they’ll provide access to courses in real-time.

Samsung’s commercial VR application, i.e., the Gear VR, hasn’t seen a lot of attention lately. The company’s most recent Galaxy flagship phones no longer offer Gear VR compatibility, and Oculus CTO considers the headset a missed opportunity. Nevertheless, VR has had other applications beyond entertainment ever since its earlier days, and in a closed environment powered by 5G – such as the Samsung Medical Center – VR can become an incredible learning tool.

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Is this the Galaxy Z Flip we see in a newly leaked promo?

We have known for the better part of a year that Samsung is going to launch a new clamshell foldable smartphone. It has been called everything from the Galaxy Fold 2 to the Galaxy Bloom. If recent reports are any indication, the handset might be launched as the Galaxy Z Flip.

A leaked photo shows a promo that might potentially confirm that this device will indeed mark the beginning of Samsung’s Galaxy Z series. The upcoming device will have the distinction of being the world’s first clamshell phone with a foldable display.

Or is that a tri-folding smartphone we see?

First posted on Weibo, this photo shows a promo plastered on Samsung’s DeX interface. It clearly reads “Galaxy Z” with a device that appears to look like the letter Z. At first glance, it appears to be a tri-folding device, in that the top and bottom parts of the device would be capable of folding.

Make no mistake, being the most inventive company that it is, Samsung does have a patent on a tri-folding smartphone but don’t expect one to actually materialize for a few years.

What’s more plausible here is that this promo likely just shows multiple Galaxy Z Flip clamshell phones lined up from top to bottom. There’s always the possibility that this is just an elaborate fake, but the other theory does make sense.

As we’ve highlighted before, it doesn’t really matter what Samsung ends up calling its next foldable smartphone. What matters more is whether it will be able to fulfill its destiny as the device that democratizes foldable smartphones for the masses. Samsung and many of its fans expect the Galaxy Z Flip to do just that. We’ll find out for sure whether or not it’s capable of doing that on February 11 when it’s finally going to be unveiled.

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Galaxy M40 Android 10 release nears as it picks up key certification

Those who have been waiting for the Galaxy M40 Android 10 release will be delighted to know that it’s possibly coming out in the near future. The device has been certified with Android 10 on board. These certifications are usually a good indication of an impending release.

It won’t be the first smartphone in Samsung’s popular Galaxy M series to get the update. Samsung has already released Android 10 for two models. It’s going to expand the update’s availability across the entire lineup eventually.

Galaxy M40 Android 10 release isn’t too far off now

The Galaxy M40 has been certified with Android 10 by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It comes just a week after we spotted a similar certification for the Galaxy M30s. Samsung has already released the Android 10 update for the Galaxy M20 and M30. These budget devices unexpectedly received the update not too long after the Galaxy S10 Android 10 update release.

The Galaxy A40 also received its certification with Android 10 onboard alongside this device. Seeing as how it’s on the list of Samsung phones that will get Android 10, this was bound to happen anyway. Other devices that have been certified with Android 10 recently include the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy A80.

A firm release date obviously can’t be predicted based on these certifications alone. However, they highlight the fact that the update development process for these devices is pretty far along. It should only be a matter of weeks now before the Galaxy M40 Android 10 release takes place, and indeed, a similar outcome can also be expected for all of the other devices.

The Android 10 update is going to bring One UI 2.0 which comes with a plethora of improvements and new features. Check out our One UI 2.0 feature focus series to find out exactly what’s new in the latest iteration of Samsung’s custom skin.

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Daily Deal: 15% off Ring Spotlight Cam Battery – 2-Pack

Adding smart tools to your home is the new normal. Think smart vacuum robots, locks security systems, etc. Ring is one of the larger players in this field, offering a range of doorbell and security camera products. The Ring Spotlight Cam is a security camera that works with rechargeable batteries that last up to six months on a full charge. With this camera system, you can get alerts on your phone, tablet and PC when motion is detected, so you can see, hear and speak to people on your property. It records in HD quality and has lights and a siren to protect your home. Because it’s fully wireless, the average install time is just 5-10 minutes. At 15% off, this is the perfect opportunity to start securing your property!

Hit the Buy Now button below to get it while still discounted.

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Exclusive Galaxy Z Flip colors will be offered to carriers in South Korea

Samsung is gearing up to launch its next foldable smartphone which is now believed to be called the Galaxy Z Flip. South Korea will definitely be one of the markets where this device will be launched, if not the first.

According to a new report out of the country, South Korea’s three largest mobile carriers have secured exclusive color options for the Galaxy Z Flip. This means that customers who want the device in a certain color will have to get it from the carrier that has exclusivity on that option.

This strategy saw a lot of success with the Galaxy Note 10

SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are reportedly all going to launch the Galaxy Z Flip in their respective colors. The exclusivity on a color option is likely going to figure prominently in their marketing campaigns for the device.

We have previously reported that the Galaxy Z Flip will be available in black, white and purple colors. There will also be other colors, obviously, with SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus said to have exclusivity on blue, red and pink colors respectively. This isn’t a new strategy for Samsung and its carrier partners in their home country. It actually proved to be quite effective when the Galaxy Note 10 was launched last year. SK Telecom and KT had exclusivity on Aura Blue and Aura Red respectively.

It’s not unheard of for some Samsung partners in the West to offer exclusive color options as well, so it remains to be seen if the same strategy will be deployed in other markets as well. Samsung’s upcoming foldable smartphone is due to be unveiled on February 11 in San Francisco.

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Samsung to set up $500 million mobile display manufacturing plant in India

It was first reported almost nine months ago that Samsung Display could establish a factory for manufacturing smartphone displays in India. The company had signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government at the time, with reports suggesting that the plant could become operational by April 2020.

Regulatory filings have now revealed that Samsung Display has got the ball rolling on the project. The South Korean conglomerate is investing approximately $500 million into the plant which will be located in Noida, that’s also where Samsung has built its largest smartphone manufacturing facility in the world.

Samsung’s new plant will make smartphone displays initially

Samsung India Electronics, the local entity of Samsung, has transferred a plot to Samsung Display in the existing plant area in Noida. It has also given a loan of almost $500 million to its sister company in order to meet the working capital and building costs. Samsung Display Noida has been incorporated “with the principal business of manufacturing, assembling, processing and sales of displays (including their parts, components and accessories) for all types and sizes of electronic devices.”

This manufacturing plant will initially produce display panels for smartphones. However, industry insiders expect that production at the plant would later be expanded to displays for laptops and TVs as well. That’s likely going to happen once the plant achieves scale and Samsung Display Noida also starts selling components to other brands like Samsung already does elsewhere. While it may not happen by April, the first phase of production at this plant is expected to begin within the year.

This fresh investment underscores the importance that Samsung attaches to the Indian market. It already has plans to double smartphone production to almost 120 million units per year at the Noida factory. Establishing a display plant at the same location would further add to Samsung’s economies of scale. It will secure local supply for one of the most expensive components of a smartphone and eliminate the need to import panels, thus avoiding duties, taxes and other charges.

We may also see Samsung manufacture other components in India. Samsung SDI, the division that makes batteries for its smartphones, is expected to set up a manufacturing plant for lithium-ion batteries in the country.

This will not only enable Samsung to bring devices to market much faster in India but also become more cost-effective. With India being a very price-sensitive market, any edge that Samsung can get over its rivals on the price will end up paying dividends in the long run.

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Samsung’s mobile business has a new boss and he’s going after its rivals

Samsung’s annual executive reshuffle has traditionally taken place in December but it was delayed for over a month due to some legal problems in South Korea. The reorganization was made public today with all three co-CEOs of Samsung Electronics being retained in their respective positions.

The most interesting development in this reshuffle is that Samsung has now appointed a new boss for its mobile division. Roh Tae-moon has been appointed the head of the smartphone division, taking over the job from DJ Koh, who took over the position from J.K. Shin back in December 2015.

Tae-moon will play a vital role in maintaining Samsung’s lead

Roh Tae-moon is a distinguished Samsung executive and is currently its youngest-ever president at 51. He has been with the company for over two decades and was previously the No. 2 executive at the mobile division under Koh.

He now takes over the top job from DJ Koh, who remains the CEO of Samsung’s IT and mobile communications business. Tae-moon will lead Samsung’s entire mobile business under Koh. Tae-moon is highly regarded in the company as an engineering expert who is a perfectionist for phone features. He led the development of the Galaxy series as a development specialist. Samsung says that as competition in the marketplace is intensifying, his appointment is expected to revitalize the organization with fresh strategies.

Tae-moon championed the cause of shifting strategies in order to better compete against major rivals like Huawei. He played a vital role in overhauling Samsung’s mid-range lineup and also pushed to outsource more handset production in order to bring costs down. We saw Samsung shift to the ODM model in the entry-level segment last year and there are already reports that this model may be expanded to cover more devices. That’s something we might see happening under the new boss.

Those who know the executive say that he’s very decision and is likely going to make swift decisions in order to respond to changing dynamics in the market in order to protect Samsung’s lead as the world’s top smartphone company. Huawei has been trailing Samsung closely despite having troubles in the United States. Tae-moon’s primary concern will be ensuring that the Chinese rival doesn’t end up overtaking Samsung globally.

What this means is that we should expect some bold new moves from Samsung’s smartphone division in the coming months. Tae-moon’s first public appearance on the global stage will likely be on February 11 when the company unveils the Galaxy S20 and the new foldable smartphone in San Francisco. Exciting times ahead.

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