Galaxy S21 could feature an under-display selfie camera

Although it has been just a few weeks since Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 series, rumors regarding the next-gen Galaxy S and Galaxy Note phones have started appearing already. It is being reported that the South Korean smartphone giant could implement a completely bezel-less screen without any camera cutout beginning with the Galaxy S21 (or Galaxy S30?).

According to the information tweeted by Ice Universe (@UniverseIce), the Galaxy S21 could be Samsung’s first smartphone with an under-display camera. The company is reportedly checking the feasibility of the feature for the next-generation Galaxy S series smartphone. If everything goes right, we should be able to see a display that’s devoid of bezels, cutouts, or punch holes for the selfie camera.

If anyone could solve the under-display camera problem, it would be Samsung

It is quite hard to implement under-display cameras, but OPPO and Xiaomi have already showcased prototype-stage smartphones with the technology. The biggest hurdle is insufficient lighting, which severely affects the camera quality. The area of the screen, which hides the camera, needs to have enough pixels to show colors but also leave a gap between the pixels to allow enough light to pass to the sensor.

Another problem lies in hiding the lower pixel count in the area of the screen underneath which the camera sensor is placed. A square-shaped sensor’s outlines could be seen in OPPO’s prototype phone, especially when lighter colors like white or light grey are displayed on the screen. However, Samsung makes the best OLED panels in the world, and we are banking on the company’s ability to solve the problem in a better way compared to any other brand.

Apart from an under-display camera, what other features would you like to see with the Galaxy S21? The phone will likely come with Android 11 and the next-gen Exynos processor. Let us know what you want Samsung to improve with its next Galaxy S smartphone series.

The post Galaxy S21 could feature an under-display selfie camera appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3c66Mh3
via IFTTT

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite listed by multiple Korean retailers

While Samsung is just getting started with development on its next flagship tablet, a cheaper variant of the Galaxy Tab S6 is almost ready to hit retail shelves. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, which has been the subject of a slew of leaks recently, didn’t go on sale on April 2 despite an earlier rumor claiming it would, but multiple Korean retailers reportedly started listing it on their website just two days later, hinting that the official launch isn’t far away.

A cheaper Galaxy Tab S6 with an LCD display, mid-range specs

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite may be carrying the name of Samsung’s 2019 flagship tablet, but its specs put it squarely in the lower mid-range category. It even misses out on an AMOLED display according to all the leaks and rumors – the Tab S6 Lite is expected to feature a 10.4-inch LCD display with a resolution of 2000×1200 pixels. Pushing all those pixels will be the Exynos 9611 processor, which powers budget and mid-range Galaxy smartphones as affordable as the Galaxy M30s.

The Exynos 9611 could be accompanied by 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of storage. Other specs, as listed by all the Korean retailers, should include an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie camera, a 7,040 mAh battery, and Android 10 with One UI 2.x. An S Pen will be included as well. The retailers even mention 5G support, though that’s clearly not going to be the case as the Exynos 9611 is not built to offer 5G connectivity.

5G support would also be impossible in the price bracket Samsung is targeting with the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Its Wi-Fi-only variant could be priced as low as $350 while the LTE variant could be priced at $400, at least in Korea. We guess the official pricing and availability details will be out soon enough, though with the smartphone industry having slowed down to a crawl because of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s possible Samsung will not announce the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite as quickly as all the retail sightings and leaks may suggest.

The post Galaxy Tab S6 Lite listed by multiple Korean retailers appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2woQSz8
via IFTTT

Galaxy S20+ 5G, S10+/S10 get 20% discounts in the UK

Samsung has been quite generous to prospective Galaxy S20 buyers in the USA, offering various deals and incentives (including a free Galaxy A50) along with the new flagship, but now it’s time for the UK to take advantage of Galaxy S20 discounts. Samsung UK has launched an Easter Sale whereby customers can shave 20% off the Galaxy S20+ 5G.

The discount offered by Samsung UK lasts until next Tuesday (April 14) and it applies to the Galaxy S20+ 5G only as long as it’s the Cloud Blue flavor. Nevertheless, this brings the smartphone’s price down from £999 to £799, effectively dropping its price below that of the base Galaxy S20 5G model while equalling the 4G variant’s cost. Customers who want to take advantage of this deal must apply the SAMSUNG20 code at checkout.

The promo code works with the Galaxy S10, S10+, and S20+ 5G

As part of the ongoing Easter Sale, customers in the UK can also drop the Galaxy S10 and S10+ prices by 20% at checkout by applying the same SAMSUNG20 promo code.

As a result, the Galaxy S10 costs £535 (£133 off), while the Galaxy S10+ is available for £615 (£153 off). The deal for the 2019 flagships is valid while stocks last, and some color options are already out of stock. As of this writing, only the Prism Black and Prism Green flavors are available for the Galaxy S10, whereas Galaxy S10+ buyers can pick from the Prism Black, Prism Green, and Prism White color options.

Galaxy S10/10+ Review | Galaxy S20+ Review

• Buy the Galaxy S10 from Samsung UK
• Buy the Galaxy S10+ from Samsung UK
• Buy the Galaxy S20+ 5G from Samsung UK

The post Galaxy S20+ 5G, S10+/S10 get 20% discounts in the UK appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2wohMam
via IFTTT

Galaxy S10 Lite gets One UI 2.1 with new firmware update, out in Europe

Following in the Galaxy S10 series’ footsteps, the Galaxy S10 Lite is now being updated by Samsung with One UI 2.1. The firmware update is known by version G770FXXU2BTD2 and includes the April 2020 security patch. Of course, the star of the show is the newer UI version, as it introduced a handful of features that have debuted along with the Galaxy S20 series.

Once you apply the latest firmware update, the Galaxy S10 Lite will offer improved AR Emoji with manual editing and enhanced facial expression recognition. The Gallery is more organized, and Quick Crop lets you easily cut images without having to enter an edit menu. Just zoom in and tap the new crop button that pops up in the upper-left corner.

Other additions that should be part of One UI 2.1 on the Galaxy S10 Lite include Quick Share, Music Share, and an updated Samsung Keyboard with multilingual translation, swipe-based text undo/redo, and an easier way to search for emojis, stickers, etc.

The Galaxy S10 Lite One UI 2.1 update adds a Pro video mode

One particular feature mentioned in the official changelog that caught our eye is Pro video mode. It’s inclusion seemed odd because the Galaxy S10 Lite is limited to a basic Pro mode for photos (as mentioned in our review). Nevertheless, we were able to test the new firmware update ourselves and, indeed, the Camera now offers a Pro video mode, albeit it’s rather basic and doesn’t include advanced features like shutter speed control.

Other Camera features that should be included are Single Take, My Filters, new filters, Selfie Tone, and timelapse for night time.

We suspect that the Galaxy Note 10 Lite will be getting a similar firmware update as well, but we’re not sure when. We’ll keep you posted.

As for the Galaxy S10 Lite, the One UI 2.1 update is now rolling out in Spain, and other markets should follow suit. To grab the update, open Settings, go to Software update, and tap Download and install. Or you can head over to our firmware archive to download and install it manually with the help of a Windows PC.

The post Galaxy S10 Lite gets One UI 2.1 with new firmware update, out in Europe appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/34mskDw
via IFTTT

Alert: Galaxy A70 Android 10 update has a hardware-breaking bug

In the last one month or so, a lot of Galaxy devices have been updated to Android 10. It’s almost been an avalanche, in fact: earlier this week, no less than three Galaxy smartphones got Android 10 along with One UI 2.0 on the same day. While it’s great to see that Samsung is trying to push out the Android 10 update to as many devices as quickly as it can, it seems the company is not testing the update as much as it should and is letting a few bugs slip through.

And, on the Galaxy A70, the Android 10 update has a major issue that bricks the device and stops it from booting.

A hardware issue that requires a trip to Samsung’s service center

Unfortunately, according to our sources, it’s a hardware problem. From what we’re told, Samsung has used two different versions of the printed circuit board (PCB) that handles charging and controls the screen on the Galaxy A70. This PCB is updated along with the motherboard every time a software update is installed, but the process fails to complete with the Android 10 update because Samsung apparently forgot to include the necessary code for Galaxy A70 units with the older version of the PCB.

In simple terms, it means that on some Galaxy A70 units, installing Android 10 results in a mismatch between the software on the main motherboard and the charging PCB, and that makes the phone think the battery isn’t charged and prevents it from booting. And the only way to solve this on devices that have already been bricked is to replace the older PCB with the newer version, which means the device needs to be taken to a Samsung service center.

Update is still rolling out when it should have been halted

It’s worth noting that most reports of the Android 10 update bricking the Galaxy A70 come from the Netherlands, but it’s not known at this point how widespread the issue is and whether devices sold in other countries are affected. Even worse is the fact that Samsung doesn’t seem to have acknowledged the issue and is still rolling out the Android 10 update in the Netherlands and other regions.

We’ve reached out to the company for a comment, but in the meantime, if you own a Galaxy A70 and are still running Android Pie, we would recommend not updating to Android 10 before we have more information on the matter. If you have already updated and your phone is running fine, then you don’t need to be concerned, though we would still suggest that you refrain from installing any future updates for the time being.

Have you run into this issue — or any other problems — after installing Android 10 on your Galaxy A70? Let us know down in the comments!

The post Alert: Galaxy A70 Android 10 update has a hardware-breaking bug appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/34s0cz4
via IFTTT

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Wi-Fi and LTE closer to release, support pages go live

Samsung Germany has given us another reason to believe that the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is getting closer and closer to an official unveiling, as the tablet’s support pages went live on Samsung’s German portal. A pre-release listing in the support section usually indicates that the company is gearing up for the product’s release on the market.

Pair that with previous premature listings on a couple of retailers’ online shops – including Amazon Germany – and the puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place and paint a clearer picture. The tablet should be on its way.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite will come in Wi-Fi and LTE flavors

Support pages went live for both the Wi-Fi (SM-P610) and LTE (SM-P615) versions of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Earlier reports claim that the Wi-Fi and LTE models for Europe will cost €399 and €428, respectively. B&H also listed the Wi-Fi version along with a price tag of $350 a week ago, but the price didn’t contain VAT. The premature listing has since been removed.

The preliminary spec sheet based on previous leaks includes a 10.4-inch LCD with a resolution of 2000 by 1200 pixels, an Exynos 9611 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB of expandable storage, a 7,040mAh battery, Android 10, and support for S Pen. In addition, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is said to carry an 8MP main camera paired with a 5MP front-facing sensor.

The post Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Wi-Fi and LTE closer to release, support pages go live appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2JTO1Sa
via IFTTT

Galaxy A50 is finally getting the Android 10 update in more markets

The Galaxy A50 is finally getting the Android 10 firmware update in more markets. The smartphone got a minor update in numerous European countries earlier this week, introducing the April 2020 security patch but nothing else besides it. Now, Samsung is rolling out a major firmware update, version A505FNXXU4BTC9, for the Galaxy A50, and it pushes the OS to the highly-anticipated Android 10.

The Android 10 update is available for the Galaxy A50 in Poland, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan at the time of writing. But now that the roll-out is expanding its reaches, the firmware should become available in more countries sooner rather than later, at least in theory. At this point, whether or not you’ll be getting it in due time seems to be a matter of luck, and it depends on your country.

Android 10 comes with major changes and improvements

The Galaxy A50 shipped with Android 9 and One UI 1.1, but Android 10 represents a big improvement, partly thanks to the inclusion of One UI 2.0.

Samsung’s newer version of One UI brings new navigation gestures, improved dark mode, dynamic text color based on the wallpaper/lock screen’s background shade, smoother UI animations, and more.

Galaxy A50 owners located in Poland, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan should be greeted by an update notification at any moment. Otherwise, they should be able to trigger the update by opening Settings, tapping Software update ≫ Download and install. They can also download the Android 10 firmware update manually from our archive.

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

The post Galaxy A50 is finally getting the Android 10 update in more markets appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2VdZfpM
via IFTTT

Daily Deal: 12% off Samsung EVO Select 128GB microSD card

Samsung’s microSD cards have been around for a long time. They’ve stuck around because they’re durable and able to withstand extreme conditions, from cold temperatures to heat. That’s why they come with a 10-year warranty which is a long time for electronics. These SD cards are versatile, you can use them to expand the storage capacity of your smartphone, your dashcam or digital camera. Samsung is also praised for bringing the EVO select cards to the market at affordable prices, which makes this an even better deal with an additional 12% sliced off the price.

Hit the Buy Nowbutton below to get a couple of them in while they’re still discounted!

The post Daily Deal: 12% off Samsung EVO Select 128GB microSD card appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Rpt2un
via IFTTT

Samsung Chromebook Pro to get Linux support after 3 years

The Samsung Chromebook Pro will be turning three next month, and Google may end up commemorating that occasion by finally bringing the Chrome OS laptop into the Project Crostini fold.

Curiously named after an Italian appetizer, Project Crostini revolves around a kernel-based virtual machine called Termina that allows Chrome OS devices to run the Linux terminal and apps, with its creators continuously expanding the list of chipsets and related kernels it supports. With that said, the hope that the Chromebook Pro would ever benefit from the program has long since withered away.

Just in time to ditch the old timer for the Galaxy Chromebook

Cue this week’s surprise: the Kerneltext project is bearing fruit, as Project Crostini was found to be working on the Samsung Chromebook Pro running Chrome OS 82 with the experimental VM flag enabled. The only problem is, that version is Dev-Channel-only and has been abandoned due to the ongoing global pandemic. Google’s team ultimately skipped ahead to build number 83 after resuming development. The latter lacks the same feature, though the implication remains: Project Crostini appears to be on its way to the Samsung Chromebook Pro after all.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus, released four months prior to the Chromebook Pro, already received Linux support two years ago, not long after Project Crostini itself launched. That’s courtesy of the fact it leveraged ARM’s Rockchip RK3399 which ended up enjoying much better support than Intel’s Core m3-6Y30 from the polarizing Skylake generation. While the better-late-than-never mantra still applies, the impending support for Linux apps will seemingly hit the Chromebook Pro just as the device has to make space the Galaxy Chromebook, the long-awaited sequel to Samsung’s original vision of an ultra-premium Chrome OS experience.

The post Samsung Chromebook Pro to get Linux support after 3 years appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/3c4Wwpn
via IFTTT

Galaxy S9 gets new update with April security patch, other enhancements

Samsung has released the April 2020 security patch for another of its flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are receiving a new software update and are getting the latest security fixes in the package, along with a number of other enhancements. Before you ask, no, this isn’t an update to One UI 2.1, and last we checked, the latest version of One UI will not be arriving on the Galaxy S9 or the Galaxy Note 9.

More than just a security update

According to the changelog, the update enhances security for Samsung accounts, which we’re assuming is separate from the mandatory two-factor authentication the Korean giant introduced to its cloud service recently. The update also enhances compatibility of the S9 and S9+ with the Camera Controller app for the Galaxy Watch. The Camera Controller app lets you control the phone’s camera on compatible Galaxy smartwatches, and if you haven’t already been using it, you can download it here (open the link on your phone to be taken directly to the Galaxy Store).

The update also improves the stability of the Messages, Contacts, Gallery, and Camera apps. All in all, after Android 10 and One UI 2.0, this is the first update for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ that brings more than just the latest security patch to the two phones. Again, there’s no One UI 2.1, though we will continue to hold out hope that it will arrive on the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy Note 9 at some point in the future.

If you own a Galaxy S9 or S9+, you can download the update — firmware version G96xFXXU8DTC5 — on your phone by opening the Settings app, selecting Software update, and tapping Download and install. The update is currently available in Germany but will no doubt roll out in more markets in the coming days. You can also download the latest firmware for your S9 or S9+ from our firmware archive for manually updating using a Windows computer. 

The post Galaxy S9 gets new update with April security patch, other enhancements appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2Vdk4l3
via IFTTT

Samsung expands doorstep repair services to more countries

Samsung is launching a doorstep repair program in more countries as it continues contributing to the global fight against COVID-19.

As of this week, some of the company’s regional offices are offering to pick up Galaxy devices in need of repairs instead of requiring customers to deliver them themselves. Likewise, the repaired products will be returned to their owners in the same manner.

Door-to-door repairs at no extra cost

Samsung calls this effort a “Door to Door” service and is now offering it in Canada, Croatia, and Serbia.

Again, it didn’t take a global pandemic for Samsung to start offering door-to-door customer support; late last year, the German arm of the company started a mobile repair service with a 21 bus fleet, offering convenient smartwatch and smartphone repairs to its customers. However, while that particular initiative now appears to be more needed than ever, Samsung Germany isn’t currently taking service requests due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, as our friends over at GalaxyClub discovered firsthand when attempting to use the Express Repair program recently.

Nonetheless, Samsung has an even longer tradition in this niche which started in collaboration with WeFix, i.e. the Doorstep Repair service launched in the UK back in April of 2018. Unlike Express Repair, this particular endeavor appears to be continuing during the current crisis. In fact, Samsung UK today even announced it’s expanding it with a high-priority and entirely free device repair channel made available to NHS Nightingale Hospitals staffers.

The post Samsung expands doorstep repair services to more countries appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2JTvtBw
via IFTTT

Galaxy Buds Bean feature Active Noise Cancellation, cost under $150

It was reported last week that Samsung has a new pair of wireless earbuds in development. A report suggested that they could be launched as the Galaxy Buds Bean or just the Galaxy Bean. That’s because the shape of the earbuds is not unlike that of a kidney bean.

A new report out of South Korea claims that the Galaxy Buds Bean will have a feature that many Samsung fans wished the Galaxy Buds+ did: Active Noise Cancellation. The report also claims that these new earbuds will be priced under $150.

Galaxy Buds Bean will finally bring ANC to Samsung’s earbuds

According to the report, each earbud will be 28mm long and 13mm wide with three microphones and two speakers each. The design is very different from that of the Galaxy Buds/Buds+ since these earbuds won’t protrude from the ear. The lower part would sit directly inside the ear canal without requiring any silicone tips while the back is going to fill the upper part of the ear. The charging cradle’s thickness is said to be approximately 26mm.

It’s claimed that Samsung is thinking about further trimming the dimensions of the product during its engineering verification phase to improve the fit even more. The Active Noise Cancellation feature is said to be present. Even Samsung’s shareholders felt that the Galaxy Buds+ should have had this feature so they’ll be happy to know that Samsung has a new model in the pipeline which delivers this feature.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Buds Bean alongside the Galaxy Note 20 later this year. It’s reportedly going to cost 170,000 won which is the equivalent of $140. No word on the actual battery capacity but the report mentions that it will be possible to get 11 hours of use from the new earbuds after a single charge.

It’s uncertain if Samsung will be able to hold a full-scale launch event for the Galaxy Note 20 given the current pandemic situation. A recent report mentioned that Samsung is exploring the possibility of an online launch for its next flagship as well, though nothing has been decided as yet.

The post Galaxy Buds Bean feature Active Noise Cancellation, cost under $150 appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2RoXIvV
via IFTTT