Report: Samsung is still undecided on using ultra-thin glass for Galaxy Fold 2

Samsung introduced the world’s first foldable phone with ultra-thin glass (UTG) in February, and it was rumored that the new material would also be used in the successor to the Galaxy Fold. However, the company is reportedly still undecided whether to use ultra-thin glass or stick to the plastic protective layer that is currently used in the Galaxy Fold.

According to a new report from ETNews, the South Korean firm wants to use the ultra-thin glass material from Samsung Display to protect the foldable screen on the Galaxy Fold 2. However, the company is still keeping its options open to use a plastic-based panel as an alternative in case it faces any problem with UTG. The UTG could increase the weight of the foldable phone by a considerable margin, which Samsung wants to avoid.

Galaxy Fold 2 rumored specs, launch time frame

The South Korean company plans to start the mass-production of Galaxy Fold 2 parts starting mid-May and launch the foldable phone sometime in August alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and the Galaxy Note 20. The upcoming phone is expected to feature an 8-inch or 7.7-inch foldable Infinity-O display, which is larger than the Galaxy Fold’s 7.3-inch screen.

Although the phone was earlier rumored to come with an S Pen, it is now being reported that it won’t ship with a stylus. The Galaxy Fold 2 is internally codenamed Winner 2, and it could come with a lower price tag and 256GB of internal storage.

According to recent rumors and reports, the phone could feature a larger external display with a U-shaped notch. It could also feature the Snapdragon 865 processor, Android 10, 5G connectivity, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra-like quad-camera setup. It could also be launched in a 4G variant (SM-F910), which may allow the company to introduce the phone with a more affordable price tag.

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One UI 2.1 update rolling out to unlocked Galaxy Note 10 units in Canada

Samsung started rolling out the One UI 2.1 update to Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 series smartphones last week. Now, the update is rolling out to unlocked units of the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+ in Canada.

The update with firmware N975WVLU3CTCA and file size of 1606.22 MB is now rolling out to unlocked units of the Galaxy Note 10+ sold via various carriers in Canada. Similarly, unlocked Galaxy Note 10 units sold in the country are now receiving an update with firmware version N970WVLU3CTCA. The new software brings One UI 2.1 along with the April 2020 security patch to the smartphones.

One UI 2.1 brings various new features to Galaxy Note 10, Note 10+

The One UI 2.1 update brings multiple features that first debuted with the Galaxy S20 series. New features include the ability to share files wirelessly using Quick Share and a way to share Bluetooth audio via Music Share. The update also enables 4K 60fps video recording using the selfie camera on Galaxy Note 10 devices. Single Take, improved Night mode, Night Hyperlapse mode, improved AR Emoji, and Pro mode for video recording are also a part of the package.

The update also brings the option to create custom filters using the My Filters feature. An improved Gallery app with Clean View and Quick Crop features is also included with One UI 2.1. The NavStar module now works with Good Lock on Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ devices with the new update.

If you’re a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 10+ user in Canada, you should be able to see a notification for the One UI 2.1 update. You can check for the update manually by heading to Settings » Software update on your phone and tap on Download and install. Alternatively, you can also download the complete firmware from our firmware section and flash the update manually.

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All you need to know about the Spot Fixer in One UI 2.1 Photo Editor

One UI 2.1 introduced a handful of new features, many of which pertain to the Camera and Gallery apps. But one small addition that hasn’t been mentioned very often is Spot Fixer. It’s a new tool inside the Photo Editor that lets you make your selfies look better by hiding small blemishes.

Spot Fixer is essentially a smudge tool, meaning that it uses the colors around your targeted area to cover it seamlessly. You can either drag your finger or S Pen around an area to effectively smudge out a blemish, or you can just tap the desired spot to cover it.

While it is a One UI 2.1 feature that was originally introduced with the Galaxy S20 series, Spot Fixer will work better with an S Pen-enabled device like the Galaxy Note 10. That’s simply the nature of using a stylus versus a fingertip, as the former gives you more precision in these situations.

How to use Spot Fixer

Launch the Gallery app, select the desired photo, and tap the Edit icon. Swipe the menu at the bottom to the left and you will see the new Spot Fixer tool. Note that it will only show up for photos that contain a face detected in them. Otherwise, the tool will be absent.

Select the Spot Fixer and you will be presented with a slider for resizing the tool. There are also redo and undo buttons. A steady hand will yield better results, and dragging the tool across an area that is too large can have bad consequences. As a rule of thumb, you want to smudge as less as possible to achieve your goal, otherwise, you can make the area you want to hide stand out even more. So, don’t shy away from using the undo function and try again if you’re not satisfied with the results.

Check out the photos below for a side-by-side comparison (slide left for the ‘after’ version).

← SLIDE →

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COVID-19 might set Samsung’s 5nm plans back, causing serious damage

As COVID-19 continues to affect businesses around the world, Samsung might be forced to delay its 5nm mass production plans. The reason for this, according to Business Korea, is that ASML is having difficulties exporting its EUV (extreme ultraviolet) solutions from the Netherlands amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ASML is the world’s only supplier of EUV equipment for semiconductor manufacturing. Therefore, Samsung is not the only semiconductor giant to rely on ASML for EUV solutions. TSMC is in the same boat, and the report goes to mention that both TSMC and Samsung might have to deal with great losses due to this seemingly inevitable delay in production.

However, since TSMC is a step ahead of Samsung in the race for 5nm production, this delay could have a big negative impact on the Korean tech giant as it would contribute to widening the gap between it and TSMC even further. Should Samsung lose even more ground to TSMC, it will be virtually impossible for the company to win orders from industry giants like Apple and Qualcomm, claims the report.

Samsung’s future regarding the X60 modem might be hanging from a thread

Last month, Samsung revealed its plans to have the 5nm line ready for mass production by the end of June. But if the company won’t be able to get the foundry line up and running, other giants in the industry could suffer.

Samsung doesn’t manufacture chipsets only for its own smartphone business. It has numerous clients including Qualcomm. Before COVID-19 became a pandemic, the new X60 modem was confirmed to enter production in Samsung 5nm facilities, but all of this might now be in jeopardy.

The X60 modem is expected to be employed by the majority of 5G-enabled flagship smartphones next year, so only time will tell if Samsung will be able to meet the deadline in light of this recent report.

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Pokemon GO is broken on the Galaxy S20, but it’s not Samsung’s fault

Pokemon GO players who happen to own the Galaxy S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra are out of luck. The mobile game (version 0.170.0 and up) is completely broken on Samsung’s latest flagship, regardless of whether you download it from the Galaxy Store or the Play Store. The problem seems to be at the developer’s end (Niantic) so there’s not much Samsung can do about it.

The issue came to light on the Samsung Community forums where numerous Galaxy S20 owners have complained about the app freezing after it finishes loading. We tested Pokemon GO on the Galaxy S20 Ultra and confirmed this unwanted behavior, as seen in the video below.

Pokemon GO players are hoping Samsung will bring this to Niantic’s attention

It’s worth noting that Pokemon GO versions older than 0.170.0 seem to be working on the Galaxy S20 series without a problem, at least according to Community members. The reason why users began complaining about this issue on Samsung’s forums even though it’s not Samsung’s problem is that it’s been going on for the past couple of weeks. Niantic hasn’t yet addressed this game-breaking bug and Galaxy S20 owners are hoping that Samsung could at least ‘nudge’ the developer into fixing it.

Other Samsung flagships including the Galaxy Note 10 don’t have this problem. It only appears to affect the Galaxy S20 lineup.

Thanks for the tip, Milan!

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Galaxy Buds+ update improves Ambient sound, addresses white noise

Samsung is rolling out a much-needed update to the Galaxy Buds+ to address some Ambient sound issues. The new update carries version R175XXU0ATD3 and weighs 1.22MB. The changelog only mentions the usual improved system stability and reliability, and although it doesn’t go into much detail, additional improvements to Ambient sound are part of the package.

This was confirmed by the company on its Community forums. As per the official post, the latest update should address an issue with excessive wind noise when Ambient sound is enabled. Likewise, it should make the surrounding sounds a little more natural when using Ambient sound during a phone call. The update also touches on white noise issues with some minor improvements.

Samsung is looking to improve the wireless connection further

You should be getting the latest update by connecting the Galaxy Buds+ to your smartphone. It’s probably not rolling in every market at the same time, so keep checking regularly if a notification to download this new software version hasn’t yet popped up on your phone’s screen. In the meantime, the company seems to be looking at improving the stability of the wireless connection even further to prevent sound interruptions.

Have you received the latest Galaxy Buds+ update, and if so, are you happy with the new changes to Ambient sound? Leave a comment below.

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Galaxy Tab S6 Lite UK prices, specs, book cover confirmed by retailer

Yet another third-party online retailer, this time from the UK, is gearing up for the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s seemingly imminent arrival. Argos UK is listing the Wi-Fi version of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite in two color options along with a £339 price tag.

The two colors are dubbed Oxford Grey and Agora Blue. The marketing material also includes pictures of an optional book cover that has a neat S Pen holder carved in the hinge. The retailer doesn’t yet list the book cover for sale, so pricing details for the accessory remain unknown.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite specifications galore

Argos UK is listing a bunch of specifications for the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. The tablet will ship with a 10.4-inch display, an Exynos 9611 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage. A 128GB model should also be released but it’s not yet listed.

The front-facing camera has a 5MP resolution, whereas the main shooter clocks in at 8MP. The tablet has a 3.5mm headphone jack and the listing describes the product as having ‘superb AKG sound.’

Other bits of information include a footprint of 244.5 x 154.3 x 7mm and a weight of 467 grams. The retail box should include an S Pen and USB-C data cable, as per the listing, but there’s no mention of a wall charger.

That’s not to say the tablet will necessarily ship without one. Not every detail listed on the retailer’s website seems to be accurate, particularly regarding the absurd charging time of 240 hours. Even 24 hours would be unrealistic, so take some of this information with a pinch of salt until Samsung makes the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite official. Time will tell exactly when this will happen, but Samsung shouldn’t keep us waiting for much longer seeing how the tablet keeps cropping up online at every corner.

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One Hand Operation+ home screen issue fixed with latest update

Samsung is rolling out a new update for One Hand Operation+, pushing the Good Lock module to version 3.2.47.0. It’s not a major release, though the changelog mentions a bug fix that addresses an issue with the module not working from the home screen.

We haven’t experienced this problem on our phones, so we assume that it crops up only in specific conditions that we were not able to recreate. Nevertheless, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so even if you haven’t experienced this home screen bug that goes by undetailed in the changelog, you should grab this new update if you’re using One Hand Operation+. It weighs only around 2.5MB and you can get it from the Galaxy Store or download it directly to your phone from our APK archive.

Reminder: One Hand Operation+ now has a Virtual touch pad

The prior update to One Hand Operation+ was more meaningful thanks to the added Virtual touch pad. It was designed to improve reachability on large-screen Galaxy devices without having to sacrifice screen real estate. The implementation is not perfect but it feels more natural to use than the existing Cursor mode found in the Accessibility menu.

As always, you will need Good Lock running on your phone if you want to use One Hand Operation+ or any other modules for that matter. In other words, downloading the module on its own without Good Lock on your phone is not enough to get it running.

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Red Galaxy Buds+ confirmed for Taiwan, will hit the shelves in late April

The Galaxy Buds+ in red saw a more limited release compared to the standard colors, but after going on sale in a few markets including South Korea, the USA, and Russia, the red flavor is now making its way to Taiwan.

Samsung’s red Galaxy Buds+ will be available for purchase in Taiwan in late April through a variety of retail channels including Samsung, PChome 24h Shopping, MOMO Shopping Network, and Yahoo! Shopping Center.

Same price, different flavor

Despite the red Galaxy Buds+ having a more limited reach, the earbuds will be priced the same as the black, blue, and white models. Prospective buyers will be looking at an NT 5,490 ($182) price tag, and aside from a different exterior flavor, the hardware is unchanged.

The biggest strength of the Galaxy Buds+ lies in battery life, so much so that our review was titled accordingly. It boasts an impressive 11-hour battery life on a single charge, and you can get a total of 22 hours if you consider the extra charge carried by the case.

You won’t be getting ANC (active noise cancellation) with the Galaxy Buds+, and if you can’t do without this feature, you may have to wait until the Galaxy Buds Bean will be introduced. Reports suggest the Bean will be Samsung’s first ANC-enabled wireless earbuds model, and the new design will likely be introduced alongside the Galaxy Note 20 later this year.

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Daily Deal: 28% off the Samsung Galaxy Watch

Samsung took its time developing the Galaxy Watch. It was released two years after the Samsung Gear S3. Within those years, they have developed a good smartwatch that was definitely worth the wait. It’s praised for the Super AMOLED display that is sharp and produces vibrant colors. The battery life is also good, lasting up to 3 days on a single charge, which is what you want when buying a smartwatch. We’ve covered everything else in our review. This smartwatch is now available at a massive 28% discount, which is makes it a deal you wouldn’t want to miss.

Hit the Buy Now button below to get yours while still available!

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Galaxy S10 5G gets One UI 2.1 update on Sprint

The One UI 2.1 update for the Galaxy S10 5G has started rolling out in the USA. Verizon may have been the first carrier to start selling the Galaxy S10 5G when it first launched in the country last year, but Sprint has beaten it to the punch by being the first to release the One UI 2.1 update for the device. The update comes with firmware version G977PVPU4CTC9 and includes the April 2020 security patch.

One UI 2.1 is a big update with lots of new features

One UI 2.1 brings the Galaxy S10 lineup much closer to the Galaxy S20 series as far as software features are concerned. It adds support for Quick Share, which allows transferring of files between Galaxy devices running One UI 2.1 with a single tap (think of it as Samsung’s version of Apple AirDrop). It also introduces Music Share – with Music Share, your friends and family can play their music on a Bluetooth audio device that’s connected to your phone instead of connecting their own phone to the Bluetooth device.

One UI 2.1 is packed to the brim with new camera features. You can now capture selfie videos at 60 frames per second, use Pro mode for recording videos, and record Night Hyperlapse videos to capture cars streaking by at night. The update also adds Single Take camera mode, which automatically takes different kinds of pictures and videos with all the rear cameras. Other features include AR Zone, manual editing and enhanced facial recognition for AR Emoji, and the ability to create custom selfie filters. Performance of the Night mode has been improved as well.

The Samsung Keyboard also gets new functionality with One UI 2.1. It now comes with a multilingual translation feature, lets you search for AR Emojis and stickers at the same time, adds a Samsung Pass shortcut, and lets you redo or undo text by swiping left and right on the keyboard with two fingers. Finally, One UI 2.1 brings an updated Gallery app that can now group similar images together, search for photos and videos based on parameters such as time and date, and lets you crop a part of a zoomed-in image with a single tap.

Grab the update over the air or from our firmware archive

The One UI 2.1 update is currently available for Sprint but should arrive on the T-Mobile and Verizon variants of the Galaxy S10 5G in the near future. If you’re using the device on Sprint, you can download the update over the air from its Settings » Software update menu. You can also download the complete new firmware from our archive and install it on your phone with the help of a Windows PC.

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Galaxy Fold 2 coming in green and blue, won’t get S Pen: rumor

Samsung is reportedly planning to release the Galaxy Fold 2 in two color options that were announced for the original Galaxy Fold last year but weren’t released – Martian Green and Astro Blue. As is often the case with Galaxy flagships, the availability of specific variants is likely to be limited to select markets.

Both the Astro Blue and Martian Green finish were originally in the works for the first Galaxy Fold but ended up scrapped after the company’s seminal foldable was delayed a year ago. Ultimately, the device was only available in Space Silver and Cosmos Black.

S Pen might not make the cut

A new report out of Samsung’s home country also suggests previous rumors about the Galaxy Fold 2 shipping with an S Pen won’t come to fruition. That’s likely related to Samsung’s ambition to make the upcoming foldable lighter than its 2019 predecessor, in spite of delivering a larger display. More specifically, the new device may weight around 229g, or approximately 40g less than the Galaxy Fold. The Bluetooth-enabled stylus will hence remain a selling point unique to Samsung’s Galaxy Note range, at least for another more year.

A separate report that emerged this past weekend indicated Samsung is still aiming to launch the Galaxy Fold 2 in August, possibly alongside the Galaxy Note 20 series. The tech giant is slated to begin mass-producing Galaxy Fold 2 parts in mid-May, whereas the first commercial units are expected to leave the assembly line in June. Furthermore, prompted by the promising debut of the Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung could be planning to lower the introductory price of the Galaxy Fold 2 by offering a 256GB storage variant, as we exclusively reported last week.

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One UI Home update fixes wallpaper rotation bug introduced by One UI 2.1

Samsung recently updated the Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy Note 10 to One UI 2.1. The update brought many new features to the company’s 2019 flagships, most of which were introduced with the Galaxy S20 lineup. After the update, some people noticed that the wallpaper on their home screen was getting stuck in landscape mode even when they were rotating the phone back to portrait orientation, a bug that Samsung is now fixing with a new version of the One UI Home launcher.

The Samsung One UI Home app has been updated with a fix for the wallpaper rotation bug on the Galaxy S10 series and the Galaxy Note 10 series. The update also brings fixes for other issues that were affecting all devices running Android 10 and One UI 2.0. These include a bug that prevented shortcuts in a folder on the home screen and app drawer from being backed up and one that made the notification panel inaccessible for users of the Task Changer module from Samsung Good Lock.

You can download the One UI Home update from the Galaxy Store on your phone – in the Galaxy Store, tap the three-dot button on the top right, select My apps, then tap Update. If you’re reading this on your phone, you can click this link to go directly to the Galaxy Store page for One UI Home.

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Samsung employees in Vietnam factory ordered to be quarantined

Last month, hundreds of Samsung Display engineers were allowed to travel from South Korea to Vietnam despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. They had also received a relaxation from the mandatory 14-day quarantine rule imposed by Vietnam. Now, the local government authorities have ordered people working in the company’s factory to be quarantined after one worker was tested positive for the virus.

According to Reuters, a 25-year-old worker from Samsung Display’s EQC-SI unit was tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. A statement was released earlier today by the anti-COVID-19 task force in Vietnam. The Samsung Display factory is situated in the Bac Ninh province in the northern part of Vietnam. The South Korean firm has announced that it will not close the display panel manufacturing facility despite the quarantine situation.

Samsung is the single-largest foreign investor in Vietnam, and it accounts for more than 25 percent of the company’s exports. Apart from the OLED display plant, the South Korean firm has two smartphone factories in the country. The company had also pledged to invest around $220 million to construct a new R&D center in the country and plans to offer jobs to over 800 people.

Amid this pandemic, Samsung has faced a lot of problems. The company had to close its factories in various countries, including Brazil, India, Slovakia, and the US. It also had to keep its retail stores closed in Canada, China, Europe, Malaysia, the UK, and the US. The company’s revenue fell due to the decreased smartphone demand as people are avoiding spending money on high-ticket items during the economic uncertainty.

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Samsung Galaxy S21 to reportedly feature selfie camera with OIS

It was just a few weeks ago when the Galaxy S20 series was unveiled, but some early rumors about the next-generation Galaxy S smartphone have started arriving already. Last week, we had reported that the Galaxy S21 could come with an under-display selfie camera. Now, it is being rumored that the phone could have a much better selfie camera compared to the Galaxy S20.

If rumors are to be believed, Samsung could bring an improved front-facing camera with the Galaxy S21 using a bigger sensor and optical image stabilization. The South Korean firm is reportedly testing two prototypes of the upcoming phone, one featuring a 1/2-inch sensor (probably with 48MP resolution) and the other featuring a 1/2.55-inch sensor (probably with 12MP resolution) with OIS.

It would be great if the company brings OIS to the front-facing camera as it enables smoother videos and shake-free still images even under low-light conditions. Whatever Samsung ends up choosing, it would be the first phone from the company to use such a large sensor for the selfie camera.

The Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20+ use a 1/3.2-inch 10MP selfie camera (Sony IMX375) with dual-pixel autofocus, while the Galaxy S20 Ultra uses a 1/2.65-inch 40MP (ISOCELL S5KGH1) sensor with Super PD autofocus. All the phones in the series can also record up to 4K 60fps videos using their front-facing cameras. The company first introduced selfie camera featuring autofocus with the Galaxy S8. Later, the Galaxy S10 series featured a selfie camera with an improved, dual-pixel PDAF mechanism.

If the company successfully brings an under-display selfie camera with a larger sensor, dual-pixel autofocus, and OIS in the Galaxy S21, it could be a considerable improvement to the phone’s appearance as well as image quality.

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