Galaxy Note 20 could feature Exynos 992 SoC for improved performance

The Galaxy S20 series debuted earlier this year with the Snapdragon 865 processor in China, South Korea, the US. In other markets, Samsung launched the Exynos 990 variant of the phones, but this variant showcased relatively weaker performance and higher power consumption. Rumors now indicate that the company could be planning to launch the Galaxy Note 20 with an improved version of the Exynos 990 chipset.

According to a new report from ZDNet Korea, Samsung could unveil the Exynos 992 chipset later this year and use it in the Galaxy Note 20. The company could switch back to the Exynos chipset in South Korea for its upcoming flagship smartphone after its semiconductor arm faced humiliation in its home market. Samsung is said to have made improvements to the Exynos 990 processor’s performance.

It is being reported that the South Korean firm has been working on the Exynos 992 chipset over the past few months. Apparently, the yet-unannounced SoC (System on Chip) is made using Samsung’s 6nm process. Earlier reports around the chipset indicate that it would come with a more power-efficient design and slightly improved processing performance (1-3% higher than Snapdragon 865) when compared to the Exynos 990.

Another reason for Samsung’s switch to the Exynos chipset could be the delay in the launch of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865+ processor. The launch of the chipset was reportedly scheduled for Q3 2020, but it has been pushed forward due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Even Vivo is expected to launch its high-end smartphone with the Exynos 992 chipset later this year.

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Samsung to launch Galaxy A51 5G in South Korea on May 7

Samsung announced the launch of its Galaxy A series of smartphones for the US market earlier this month. The lineup includes two 5G smartphones: Galaxy A51 5G and Galaxy A71 5G. Now, the company has announced that it will launch the Galaxy A51 5G in South Korea early next month. Samsung is planning to launch two more mid-range 5G phones in the country this year.

The Galaxy A51 5G is priced at KRW 572,000 (around $466) for the 128GB storage variant. It will be available in South Korea starting May 7. Pre-orders will open tomorrow through 11Street and Samsung’s online store. The phone will also be available from GMarket. The Galaxy A51 5G will be available in three colors: Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Pink, and Prism Crush White.

Customers who pre-order the Galaxy A51 5G will also receive a free ‘Square Mini Printer’ that can print notes without ink or toner. Pre-orders will also come with a KRW 99,000 coupon to purchase the Galaxy Buds+ earphones. All Galaxy A51 5G buyers will get a four-month YouTube Premium subscription and a three-month subscription to Willa e-learning platform for free.

Galaxy A51 5G features, specs

The Galaxy A51 5G features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with an under-display optical fingerprint reader. There is a 32MP selfie camera on the front and a 48MP+12MP+5MP+5MP quad-camera setup on the rear. Samsung is shipping the phone with Android 10. The phone uses the Exynos 980 processor in combination with 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot.

The new mid-range smartphone features sub-6GHz 5G connectivity (SA and NSA). Other features of the phone include GPS, LTE, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. A 4500mAh battery powers the Galaxy A51 5G, and it supports 15W Adaptive Fast Charge technology.

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Galaxy Fold 2 leak hints at upgraded triple camera, lower price

The Galaxy Fold 2 is up for another round of leaks, this time revealing the alleged camera configuration, price, and launch details. The latest bits of information come from the same source on Twitter that previously revealed the possibility of a 120Hz display with S Pen compatibility.

Galaxy Fold 2 to ship with a new triple camera system

The Galaxy Fold 2 will reportedly maintain a triple main camera setup for the back panel, but it will be upgraded to a 64MP/16MP/12MP configuration with dual optical image stabilization.

It sounds like the Galaxy Fold 2 won’t share much of its camera configuration with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, although the 64MP unit could be the same as the telephoto shooter adopted by the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+.

The Galaxy Fold 2 will be cheaper but still pricey

The source claims that Samsung will be looking to boost volumes for the Galaxy Fold 2, and for this reason, the next-gen foldable could be around $100 cheaper compared to the original Galaxy Fold. Despite the improved technologies and upgrades to the camera system, displays, and the inclusion of an S Pen, the Galaxy Fold 2 could launch for anywhere between $1,880 and $1,895.

Finally, the Galaxy Fold 2’s purported launch is likely to take place alongside the Galaxy Note 20 in August, but this should come as no surprise. Earlier reports claimed as much and even suggested that Samsung’s next Unpacked event might take place in an online-only environment due to COVID-19.

All in all, the Galaxy Fold 2 sounds quite promising, but time will tell if Samsung will be able to push more units onto the market than before. There probably will be fewer prospective buyers as smartphone sales continue to drop in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Samsung has already cut part orders by half because of this. Perhaps not as many people will feel comfortable spending nearly $1,900 for a foldable phone, but then again, the Galaxy Fold always had a more niche audience.

More Galaxy Fold 2 Leaks:
Camera – The main camera consists of a triple camera configuration with 12MP/16MP/64MP lenses with dual optical image stabilization vs. last year at 12/12/16MPs.

— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) April 27, 2020

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Samsung USA offers Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $50 off with new deal

If you missed the Galaxy Watch Active 2 discounts from last month, Samsung USA along with a few retailers are now offering new deals for the wearable, allowing you to shave $50 off of any variant, regardless of whether it’s the 40mm or 44mm model, Bluetooth or LTE. The $50 discount applies to every color option, although availability might differ from one retail channel to another.

This new wave of discounts arrives just a few days after Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will be getting a blood pressure monitoring feature in Q3 2020. In addition, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 got a new app meant to promote hand washing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 continues to improve months after its release, and Samsung keeps adding new features even as a new smartwatch is on the horizon.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a great wearable for people who want to stay in shape, track their stress levels and health, or simply complement their outfit with a modern accessory. The different colors and wrist strap combinations ensure this wearable can be used for virtually any occasion. Check the links below to take advantage of the latest deal on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 Bluetooth/LTE.

Galaxy Watch Active 2 review

• Buy Galaxy Watch Active 2 Bluetooth / LTE from Samsung
• Buy Galaxy Watch Active 2 Bluetooth / LTE from Microsoft
• Buy Galaxy Watch Active 2 Bluetooth / LTE from B&H
• Buy Galaxy Watch Active 2 Bluetooth / LTE from Best Buy

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A new Portable SSD T7 without a fingerprint scanner was confirmed

Samsung is preparing to release a new SSD T7 model that lacks a fingerprint scanner. An official product page for this new variant went live at Samsung Canada, and although pricing and release details are missing, the scannerless Portable SSD T7 is shown from all angles in numerous press renders.

The new model drops the ‘Touch’ moniker

Samsung’s original Portable SSD T7 Touch was released earlier this year with a fingerprint scanner built-in. But since the upcoming sensorless model lacks this security feature, it seems to be dropping the ‘Touch’ moniker. It’s simply listed as the Portable SSD T7 on the company’s Canadian portal.

Much like the original model, the Portable SSD T7 will be available in three storage configurations including 500GB, 1TB, and 2GB. Other specs such as the USB 3.2 Gen.2 (10Gbps) interface and the shock-proof body appear to be unchanged. However, since it lacks a built-in fingerprint scanner, the Portable SSD T7 should technically be released for lower prices compared than the Touch model. The original fingerprint scanner-equipped variant with 500GB, 1TB, and 2GB of storage was launched for $129.99, $229.99, and $399.99, respectively.

The new Portable SSD T7 also introduces new, different color options. Instead of black and silver, the upcoming sensorless variant will be released in Titan Gray, Indigo Blue, and Metallic Red. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we learn more about pricing and availability.

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Samsung India relaunches Galaxy J2 Core (2020) with more storage

Samsung is re-launching the Galaxy J2 Core in India, perhaps in a bid to counter its rivals with more aggressive prices after the company lost second place to Vivo in Q1. The so-called Galaxy J2 Core (2020) was quietly released in India for INR 6,299 ($82), but despite the 2020 designation, it seems to be the very same device as the Galaxy J2 Core launched in 2018. What sets the 2020 model apart from the original variant is the on-board storage. It’s been bumped up from 8GB to 16GB.

The Galaxy J2 Core (2020) ships with 2018 software

Aside from more storage, the Galaxy J2 Core (2020) shares the same hardware as well as the same software of the original model. It ships with Android Oreo Go Edition, but it presumably has newer security patches out of the box.

The official spec sheet mentions a quad-core CPU that operates at a frequency of 1.4GHz, and although Samsung doesn’t specify which chipset it is, these characteristics match the Exynos 7570 to the letter.

The Galaxy J2 Core (2020) is available in black, blue, and gold, and it’s officially the cheapest smartphone offered by Samsung India as of this writing. The second most-affordable smartphone is the Galaxy A10s which sells for INR 8,980 ($117), but it is superior in every respect.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a ‘brand new’ (as in ‘unused’) Galaxy smartphone for under INR 6,500, the Galaxy J2 Core (2020) is your only option. Samsung fans and tech enthusiasts are probably not going to rush to buy this device, but there might still be a market for it.

Galaxy J2 Core

• Model: SM-J260G
• Dimensions: 143.4 x 72.1 x 8.9mm
• Display: 5.0"(126.4mm) TFT
• CPU: Exynos 7570
• Camera: 8 MP, CMOS F2.2

More specifications

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Samsung is releasing the Galaxy A31 in Vietnam today as a Gen Z phone

The Galaxy A31 is launching in Vietnam today, April 27, for 6,490,000 VND ($276), which is about $30 less than the asking price in South Korea. Samsung Vietnam is targeting this device at Generation Z, touting the phone’s macro camera as a great fit for users who spend a lot of time social networking.

The Galaxy A31 has the same macro camera as the more expensive Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 mid-range phones. The unit has a 5MP resolution and an f/2.4 aperture. It’s accompanied by a 48MP wide sensor with autofocus and an f/2.0 aperture, as well as an ultra-wide 8MP f/2.2 shooter. Selfie enthusiasts have a generous 20MP front-facing camera to work with.

A 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging keeps the ball rolling

Samsung claims that the Galaxy A31 can achieve up to 20 hours of video playback on a single charge, thanks to the 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging. The display is of the Infinity-U Super AMOLED variety and has a 6.4-inch diagonal with a resolution of 2400 by 1080.

Other specs include a MediaTek Helio P65 chipset, which makes the Galaxy A31 a rarity in Samsung’s portfolio. The CPU is paired with 6GB of RAM, and the phone offers 128GB of built-in storage expandable by up to 512GB via microSD. Android 10 and One UI 2.0 are available out of the box.

The Galaxy A31 in Vietnam is available in black, blue, and white, and it should go on sale starting today through a variety of retailers, as seen below.

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AT&T’s Galaxy Tab A 8.4 price beats Samsung’s, available via Sprint too

The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) is now available through all four major carriers in the USA. Initially launched on Verizon and T-Mobile’s networks a few weeks ago, Samsung’s mid-range tablet is now also available from Sprint and AT&T. Same as before, the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) is available in the Mocha color option with 32GB of built-in storage.

AT&T offers the best full retail price yet

Buying the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) from Samsung USA will set you back $279, while Verizon and T-Mobile have offered the tablet for $279 and $264, respectively. Meanwhile, AT&T is selling the tablet for $239. This is by far the lowest price compared to all the other retail channels. Prospective buyers can also get the slate by agreeing to an $8 monthly installment plan with the carrier.

Sprint USA offers the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) for the full retail price of $259 without a plan. Alternatively, Sprint customers can acquire the device for $0 down as long as they agree to a $25 monthly Unlimited Tablet Plan.

The Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) comes with LTE connectivity and, as the name suggests, it packs a 8.4-inch FHD display. The tablet is driven by an Exynos 7904 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM, and it sports a 5,000mAh battery which should deliver up to 12 hours of video playback on a single charge, according to Samsung.

If you’re willing to pay a bit extra for a more powerful Samsung tablet and you’re not in a rush, you might want to consider waiting for the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite to hit the shelves in the USA. It should be released by the end of this quarter for the starting price of $349. It has more powerful internals, twice as much built-in storage, a larger display, and it ships with an S Pen.

• Buy the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) from AT&T
• Buy the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020) from Sprint

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Samsung Foundry improved chip processes by 40% in 2019

Samsung Foundry achieved significant improvements in its chip manufacturing processes over the course of 2019, new industry data reveals. In layman’s terms, the company did more with less, upping in its efficiency rates by approximately 40%.

It did so by refining its production techniques instead of aggressive investments seeing how its costs either stagnated or even declined in 2019.

Samsung Foundry now doing more with less

Looking at the latest data points coming out of South Korea, Samsung spent the equivalent of over $1.5 billion on wafer components in 2019, 11% more compared to 2018. Accounting for currency fluctutations and the 12% annual increase in wafer costs, that tidbit reveals the company’s wafer input was mostly unchanged over those two years. Yet its output rose quite sharply over the observed period, going from 711 billion Gb in 2018 to 889 billion Gb last year. At the same time, Samsung continued reducing its industry investments as its semiconductor expenses amounted to approximately $14 billion in 2019, 5% down year-over-year.

Overall, these are some rather obvious signs of a maturing business that’s now quite capable of consistently improving its profit margins. Moving forward, Samsung is turning toward artificial intelligence in hopes of maintaining that momentum. Earlier this year, the company created a new AI division primarily focused on upping its semiconductor yields, industry sources revealed.

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Samsung cuts parts orders by half as COVID19 crashes phone demand

COVID19’s impact on the global smartphone market will be truly visible in the second quarter as demand has crashed. As the world’s biggest smartphone vendor, Samsung understandably needs to make some changes to navigate these uncertain times.

According to a report out of South Korea, Samsung Electronics has aggressively cut its orders for smartphone parts. There’s said to be a 50 percent cut in orders for parts across the board as Samsung anticipates weak demand for smartphones going forward.

Samsung no longer buying as many smartphone parts as it used to

It was also reported two weeks ago that Samsung had halved its smartphone production in April – it made just 10 million units instead of the monthly average of 25 million units. Its smartphone plants in South Korea, India and Brazil all suffered from COVID19-related shutdowns.

An official for a parts manufacturer cited in the report says that Samsung has cut orders for all low to mid-range as well as high-end models. This comes following a solid performance in Q1 which was aided by the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy S20 lineup. There wasn’t much disruption initially but things started to take a turn for the worse in April when COVID19 wreaked havoc across Europe and the United States. Samsung is also said to have reduced its production forecast to six months amid demand uncertainty.

Samsung is stable enough to make it through the storm but the impact of its cut in orders will be significant on parts suppliers that don’t have pockets as deep as the Korean giant. Since it makes more than 300 million smartphones every year, Samsung is one of the biggest customers for parts in the mobile market. Therefore, the parts industry is going to feel the pinch when Samsung stops buying. One representative for a parts company said that a 50 percent reduction in orders is “like a death sentence.”

It’s difficult to say right now when the situation might improve so an increase in demand can’t be predicted. Given the state of the world right now, it seems that things will get worse before they get better.

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Latest Galaxy Buds firmware update brings some Galaxy Buds+ features

Samsung is expanding the connectivity features available on the first-generation Galaxy Buds with a new firmware update. Rolling out today, the update brings some new features that first debuted on the Galaxy Buds+ earlier this year.

These new features will enable Galaxy Buds owners to go completely wireless and get more done with their earbuds. Support for Microsoft’s Swift Pair feature has also been extended to the Galaxy Buds.

Samsung brings Galaxy Buds+ features to the Galaxy Buds

Swift Pair lets you easily pair the Galaxy Buds with a Windows 10-powered PC, thus enabling the earbuds to support multiple pairing experiences across mobile and PC devices.

Ambient Sound can be experienced automatically on the Galaxy Buds for the first time. By just putting the Buds on, you can continue to hear your surroundings and it’s even possible to experience Ambient Sound even when you have only one earbud in.

The Spotify integration Samsung introduced with the Galaxy Buds+ has now been brought to the Galaxy Buds as well. Those who use the streaming service will be able to listen to their music on the Galaxy Buds with a single press. This “Tap & Hold” gesture for Spotify requires pre-setup through the Touch Pad menu in the Galaxy Wearable app.

Once it’s set up, this gesture will automatically launch Spotify and resume playback from where you left off. Performing the gesture once again will make Spotify recommend playlists for you.

The R170XXU0ATD2 firmware update for the Galaxy Buds is now rolling out. You should see the Galaxy Wearable app give you an update notification in the very near future.

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