Samsung to reportedly launch micro LED TVs later this year

While Samsung makes some killer QLED TVs, there’s not a lot of room for improvement in the underlying technology. The micro LED technology offers image quality similar to that of OLEDs, featuring perfect blacks, but with much higher brightness and no burn-in issues. A lot of TV brands, including Samsung, are expected to slowly shift to micro LED technology for their high-end models soon.

According to a new report, Samsung will launch its micro LED TVs in the second half of 2020. It is planning to partner with Taiwanese brand Epistar, which makes epitaxial wafers and chips, for the supply of micro LED chips. Epistar is a shareholder of PlayNitride, which is currently the exclusive micro LED chip supplier for Samsung. If the deal goes through, Epistar and PlayNitride will team up to supply micro LED chips to Samsung for its TVs.

PlayNitride started producing over 1,000 micro LED chips per month in the fourth quarter of 2019, after beginning the trial production in Q3 2019. This year, the company will pace up the production to make 10,000 wafers per month. China-based firm Sanan Optoelectronics had supplied modular micro LED panels to Samsung for The Wall TV, and it could become the second supplier for Samsung.

Samsung had launched its micro LED-based TV, The Wall, in 2018. Thanks to its modular panels, companies can make TV as big as they want. The South Korean TV maker had launched a 292-inch 8K version of The Wall earlier this year, with other models being available in 88-inch, 93-inch, 110-inch, and 150-inch sizes.

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Test shows that Galaxy S20 is more susceptible to damage than Galaxy S20+, Galaxy S20 Ultra

The recently launched flagship smartphone series from Samsung consists of three devices: the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. A recently published video showed that the Galaxy S20 Ultra is a well-built phone. Since all the phones are made using the same materials (high-grade aluminum and Gorilla Glass 6), one would think that they’re all equally tough. However, it appears that it’s not the case.

SquareTrade, the phone insurance and repair firm, has performed its usual ‘breakability’ test on the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and published the video on YouTube. The test results show that the Galaxy S20 is more susceptible to damage when compared to the Galaxy S20+ and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The Galaxy S20’s screen was shattered during the first 6-feet drop, and it was the only phone to malfunction after the bend test.

The only test where the Galaxy S20 performed well was the water submersion test. The Galaxy S20+ and the Galaxy S20 Ultra remained functional after multiple drops and passing through the bend test. It is to be noted that most people don’t drop phones from a height of six feet, which means that your Galaxy S20 might not shatter after the first drop. Still, it is better to use a good-quality case if you don’t want to spend money getting the phone repaired.

The Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra scored 81, 71, and 70 points, respectively. Note that lower scores mean better build quality. In comparison, the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and the Galaxy S10+ had scored 76, 73, and 73 points, respectively. It appears that smaller Samsung phones are more prone to damage than larger phones.

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Google apps start appearing on Samsung’s Galaxy Store

Google’s Play Store comes installed on all certified Android devices, including Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and tablets. It is the primary source for users to find and install apps and games. However, the internet services giant has now started publishing its apps on Samsung’s Galaxy Store app marketplace. This goes on to show the deepening partnership between Google and Samsung.

Right now, only two Google apps are available on the Galaxy Store: Google Translate and Wear OS by Google. However, we can expect the number of Google apps listed on the Galaxy Store to increase in the coming days. Google, which develops the Android operating system for smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and smart TVs, has been publishing its apps on app marketplaces of other brands such as Realme.

Over the past few years, Samsung has been uploading its homegrown Android apps on the Play Store. As of now, the company has close to two dozen apps on the Play Store. This makes it easier for users to update all the apps on their phones from a single place. It also makes it easier for Samsung to issue updates to its stock apps without needing to push a complete firmware update.

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Samsung Display’s expansion plans in Vietnam may be delayed

Samsung Display wants to expand its production lines in Vietnam, in part to increase its foldable display production capacity, and the company is in the process of sending hundreds of engineers to the country to set up renovation plans. But there is a problem. As reported last week, Vietnam has set a 14-day quarantine for every arrival from South Korea amid the COVID-19 outbreak and has suspended Visa Waivers, making it impossible for a lot of Samsung Display’s engineers to get into the country.

Reports from Yonhap News citing anonymous sources now suggest that Samsung Display has asked the Vietnamese authorities to issue visas for some 700 engineers from Samsung display and its partner companies. More specifically, Samsung Display doesn’ have an issue with the 14-day quarantine and it is willing to comply, but wants Vietnam to consider issuing new visas so that the expansion plans can get underway.

Last Friday, the South Korean Ambassador to Vietnam informed the local media that Samsung Display needs to bring 1,000 experts from South Korea to begin the expansion plans. Another industry insider cited by Yonhap News said that Samsung Display needs a minimum of 700 engineers to begin renovating and upgrading its OLED manufacturing plant in Vietnam.

In light of these events, other reports from the Korean media suggest that Samsung Display could have difficulties in supplying display modules to Samsung Electronics. Specifically, the current production capacity won’t be affected, but that’s exactly it: Samsung Display wants to increase its production capacity in Vietnam, and the quarantine could slow down the ramp-up process. The company also wants to manufacture an increasing number of foldable panels, and these unfortunate events could become another hurdle in the democratization of this technology.

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March 2020 security update rolls out on Galaxy M10, M30, Tab Active 2

Samsung’s March 2020 security patch rollout continues in full force as three more devices have received new updates with the latest security patch included. They are the Galaxy M10, Galaxy M30, and Galaxy Tab Active 2.

The Galaxy M10 is now getting the firmware update and March 2020 security patch in India. It has software version M105FDDS3BTB4 and the package doesn’t seem to include any new features aside from improved security.

The same can’t be said for the Galaxy M30 which also seems to be getting the update, according to a screenshot passed along by the Samsung Community. The M30’s new software package has version M305FDDU4CTC1 and the firmware number hints that new features may have been added over or under the hood. Oddly enough, the changelog states otherwise, as you can see in the screenshot below.

Last but not least, both the Wi-Fi and LTE variants of the Galaxy Tab Active 2 have also received the March 2020 security patch via firmware updates T390XXS6CTB1 and T395JXU7CTB2, respectively. At present, the Wi-Fi model is getting the update in Italy and Russia, but Samsung is being more generous with the LTE variant which made the jump to the latest update in too many countries to list them. You can refer to our firmware archive for the Galaxy Tab Active 2 Wi-Fi and LTE models for more information.

Likewise, you can either wait for the automatic update to commence on the two Galaxy M smartphones, or you can check our firmware archives for the M10 and M30 and download the latest firmware manually when available.

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 M10

• Model: SM-M105F
• Dimensions: 160.6 x 76.1 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.2"(157.48mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS F 1.9 & 5 MP, CMOS F2.2 Ultra Wide

More specifications

Galaxy Tab Active2 WIFI

• Model: SM-T390
• Dimensions: 127.6 x 214.7 x 9.9mm
• Display: 8.0" (203,1mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 8 MP, CMOS

More specifications

Galaxy Tab Active2 LTE

• Model: SM-T395
• Dimensions: 127.6 x 214.7 x 9.9mm
• Display: 8.0" (203,1mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7870
• Camera: 8 MP, CMOS

More specifications

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Daily Deal: 27% off Samsung T5 Portable SD 2TB

When you want to move large files or a large quantity of files you need something to transport them. When you don’t or can’t use cloud services, you need a device to temporarily store those files on. When you’re moving large files, a USB drive won’t have enough storage capacity. In that case, a portable SSD is the perfect solution. Because it’s SSD, there are no moving parts internally and read/write speeds are fast: up to 540MB/s. Seeing that it has a capacity of 2 TB, you could even use this as device to backup important documents and media.

Hit the Buy Now button below to grab the Samsung T5 Portable SSD at a whopping 27% off!

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Galaxy A50 receives new update with March 2020 security patch

Another Samsung device is receiving the March 2020 security patch through a fresh firmware update, namely the Galaxy A50 with model number SM-A505F. The update is presently available for Galaxy A50 models with product code ILO from Israel, and the firmware version is identified as A505FDDU4ATB8.

The firmware version itself suggests that the firmware update should contain additional features and/or changes aside from the March 2020 security patch. However, if there are any changes, they are under the hood and they go by unmentioned in Samsung’s official changelog/update tracker.

The Galaxy A50 remains an Android 9 device for the time being but, technically speaking, it should eventually be updated to Android 10. Until that happens, it will continue to receive new security patches every month. The device was quick to receive both the January and February 2020 security patches, while the fresh March update should expand into new regions very soon.

To grab the latest Galaxy A50 firmware update and March 2020 security patch where available, open the Settings app on the phone, navigate to Software update, then tap Download and install. Alternatively, Galaxy A50 owners who reside in Israel and can’t trigger the automatic update process can head over to our firmware archive, download the package from there, and install it on their devices using a Windows PC.

Galaxy A50

• Model: SM-A505F
• Dimensions: 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7mm
• Display: 6.4"(162.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9610
• Camera: 25 MP, CMOS F1.7 & 5MP, CMOS F2.2 Depth & 8MP, CMOS F2.2 Ultrawide

More specifications

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Fido and Rogers release Android 10 update to Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy Note 9 in Canada

The Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and the Galaxy Note 9 have started receiving the Android 10 update with One UI 2.0 on Fido and Rogers’ networks in Canada. The update is currently being rolled out in a phased manner to the two-year-old flagship smartphone models.

Both the Canadian cellular carriers have published the Android 10 update schedules for the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and the Galaxy Note 9 on their websites. The update should bring either February 2020 or March 2020 Android security patch to the three phones. The Rogers website also mentions the Galaxy Z Flip will receive the March 2020 Android security patch on its network today.

We still don’t have any information on the firmware versions, update file sizes, or the security patch version for these phones right now. The Android 10 update should bring the One UI 2.0 software along with new features such as Google’s improved UI navigation gestures, newer emojis, slightly tweaked UI design, newer icons, a built-in screen recorder, and more.

Samsung had first released the Android 10 update to international versions of the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and the Galaxy Note 9 last month. Later, unlocked variants of the smartphones started receiving the update in the US, followed by the carrier-locked variants.

If you own a carrier version of the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, or the Galaxy Note 9 in Canada on Fido’s or Rogers’ network, you should now be able to check for the update manually and install it. You can check for the update by navigating to Settings » Software update menu.

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Galaxy M40 Android 10 update is live in India

Another Galaxy smartphone is now making the jump to Android 10 and One UI 2.0. The Galaxy M40 is getting the Android 10 update in India today – this is the third device in Samsung’s budget Galaxy M smartphone lineup to be receiving the update. The update comes with software version M405FDDU2BTB5 and includes the March 2020 security patch.

Like other M series phones, the M40 is not getting One UI Core 2.0 instead of the full-fledged version of One UI 2.0, which means it will miss out on some fancy features like the built-in screen recorder. However, all of the basic Android 10 features should be onboard. There’s the improved privacy and location controls, choice of Google and Samsung navigation gestures, better Dark mode (previously Night mode), smart replies, improved Digital Wellbeing, and more. The user interface also gets plenty of tweaks, many of which we have detailed here.

Galaxy M40 can grab the 1.7GB update over the air from the phone’s Settings » Software update menu. We also have Android 10 firmware for the device available in our firmware archive, which can be used to manually update it using a Windows PC. The update should also be available via Samsung’s Smart Switch software for Windows and Mac.

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