Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong visits factory amid rising demand for semiconductor chips

Samsung posted strong financial results for the second quarter of 2020, and the company’s flagbearer was its chip business. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for memory and storage chips has been rising as more people stay home to learn and work. Now, the company’s Vice Chairman Lee Jae-Yong inspected the chip packaging facility in Asan to oversee the future plans.

It is being reported that Samsung heir Lee, who has been visiting the company’s various factories and meeting key executives over the past few months, visited the company’s Onyang Campus in Asan, South Korea, and checked its future plans in chip packaging solutions. He stressed on preparing the company for the rising demand for advanced semiconductor chips.

Lee reportedly said, “We must lead the post-pandemic era. We have no time to hesitate.” This is the second time he has visited the facility that specializes in semiconductor packaging. The company said that semiconductor packaging has become a core technology in its business as the demand for high-capacity and low-power chips is rising on the back of strong growth in 5G, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and IoT (Internet of Things) sectors.

Samsung has been trying to boost its chip packaging technology. In 2018, the company established a test and system package (TSP) division that is dedicated to chip packaging. The South Korean firm is the biggest memory chip maker in the world, and its semiconductor unit brought in $15.2 billion in revenue during Q2 2020, up 13.3% from Q2 2019.

The company had announced earlier this year that it has developed 160-layer 3D V-NAND technology for manufacturing memory chips. It has also set up a task force to improve the yield of its 6th Gen NAND flash chips to make sure that its yield is the highest and its processes are the most efficient in the industry.

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Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Exynos 990 benchmark offers no surprises

The Exynos vs Snapdragon debate shows no signs of abating anytime soon. The Exynos 990 that powers the Galaxy S20 series in most markets is inferior to the Snapdragon 865 that Samsung used in markets like the US and China. And, for the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Samsung has decided to keep the same Exynos chip while upgrading the Snapdragon 865 to the Snapdragon 865+.

That hasn’t gone down well with fans, and the first benchmark of the Exynos 990-powered Galaxy Note 20 Ultra won’t do anything to change their opinion. That’s because the benchmark can’t really tell us if Samsung has fixed the main issues with the Exynos 990: Its tendency to heat up, throttle the GPU in long gaming sessions, and draw too much power when high performance mode is enabled. A recent rumor suggested Samsung has ‘heavily’ optimized the Exynos 990 for its second outing, but it remains to be seen if that is actually the case.

The benchmark does confirm that performance levels of the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will be similar to the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, which shouldn’t come as a surprise as both flagship series have the same processor inside. And while a single benchmark isn’t enough to tell the complete story, the Exynos variants will seemingly fall further behind the Snapdragon variant in multi-core performance, thanks to the switch to the Snapdragon 865+ on the latter.

The Galaxy Note 20 series is going to be unveiled in just five days at Samsung’s virtual Unpacked event and will be accompanied by the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7+, Galaxy Watch 3, and Galaxy Buds Live. Hopefully, the Korean giant will have a good explanation this time around for its decision to sell a superior version of its latest flagship in select markets, instead of the PR-laced non-answer it offered us earlier this year.

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New images offer a look at Galaxy Watch 3 color variants, features, specs

The Galaxy Watch 3 has been leaked extensively over the past few weeks and was even handled in detailed unboxing videos. One month ago, we had exclusively leaked the watch’s specs. Ahead of the official unveiling on August 5, more images of the upcoming smartwatch have been leaked, offering us a detailed look at what features to expect from it. Its color variants and complete specs sheet have also appeared on the internet.

Noted leakster Evan Blass (@evleaks) published several images of the Galaxy Watch 3 earlier today on Twitter. Samsung’s next-gen smartwatch will be available in two colors: Mystic Bronze and Mystic Silver. The 45mm model will only come with a black leather band, while the 41mm version will have an option for a pink leather strap. The 41mm variant of the Galaxy Watch 3 will have a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED screen, while the 45mm version sports a 1.4-inch Super AMOLED screen.

The Galaxy Watch 3 features Gorilla Glass DX screen protection, a rotating bezel, and two physical buttons on the right side. Its case is made using stainless steel 316L and is IP68-certified for dust and water resistance. It is also MIL-STD-810G compliant for ruggedness. It runs Tizen Wearable OS 5.5 and comes equipped with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. Connectivity features of the smartwatch include GPS, LTE (only in cellular variants), 2.4GHz Wi-Fi b/g/n, and Bluetooth 5.0.

The 41mm version of the Galaxy Watch 3 weighs 48g and comes packed with a 247mAh battery. The 45mm variant of the smartwatch weighs 53g and is powered by a 340mAh battery. In terms of sensors, the watch features an 8-LED PPG heart-rate monitor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, barometer, ECG, and gyro. It also comes equipped with a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a linear vibration motor (for better haptic feedback).

As usual, the Galaxy Watch 3 is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones and comes equipped with Bixby. Samsung is quoting “multiday battery life” in its marketing material for the upcoming smartwatch. It is also claiming better sleep monitoring and a way to measure blood oxygen levels with VO2 Max readings. The company also seems to be bringing post-run coaching and analysis with the Galaxy Watch 3.

Except for the pricing and availability details, we now know pretty much everything about Samsung’s upcoming smartwatch. Are you excited about the Galaxy Watch 3, and would you buy it? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Haze Crush Silver Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 hit the shelves in Brazil

Samsung had enriched the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 color palette with the addition of Haze Crush Silver a few weeks ago and the new flavor is now available for purchase in Brazil. Following Samsung’s official announcement earlier today, both the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 in Haze Crush Silver should be momentarily landing in the company’s online and offline stores.

As you would expect, the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 painted in Haze Crush Silver are no different in terms of hardware compared to the original models. Nevertheless, the familiar hardware is wrapped in a new flavor that has a less-obvious prism pattern on the back panel. The Haze Crush Silver color was created for customers who may want to own a Galaxy A51 or Galaxy A71 wrapped in a more understated exterior.

Both phones will be available through additional retail partners

Hardware-wise, the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 remain fairly competitive for their respective segments, months after their debut. If you have yet to buy one of these phones, you can learn a whole lot about them from our reviews linked below. And if you’ve been waiting for the Haze Crush Silver to hit the shelves in Brazil, check the buy links below and keep an eye on the company’s online store, as both phones should be added to the catalogue at any moment.

Samsung reveals that the Haze Crush Silver Galaxy A51 is and Galaxy A71 will also become available through additional retail partners for the suggested price of 2,699 real ($524) and 3,199 real ($621), respectively. This is a considerable bump in retail prices given that Samsung Brazil is now selling these phones online for 2,249 real and 2,699 real.

Galaxy A51 review | Galaxy A71 review

• Buy the Haze Crush Silver Galaxy A51 from Samsung Brazil
• Buy the Haze Crush Silver Galaxy A71 from Samsung Brazil

Galaxy A51

• Model: SM-A515F
• Dimensions: Bar: 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.5 inch / 165.10 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 48MP

More specifications

Galaxy A71

• Model: SM-A715F
• Dimensions: Bar: 163.6 x 76.0 x 7.7 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Snapdragon 730
• Camera: 64MP

More specifications

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The Galaxy Watch 3 has been a long time coming, here’s why I’ll buy one

Galaxy Unpacked 2020 seems to have something for everyone. Samsung will launch two Galaxy Tab S7 tablets and two Galaxy Note 20 models at the event, along with a brand new premium foldable phone-cum-tablet, a fresh pair of earbuds, and a new smartwatch.

But even though I am excited for the release of all these products, sans the base Galaxy Note 20 model, the one device I’m truly looking forward to making my own is the Galaxy Watch 3. Of course, as a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast I would love to own all of the aforementioned devices come next month. However, even if I may be spending most of my time in front of a computer monitor, I still live in the real world, or at least I’m trying to the best of my ability. In other words, I have to make decisions about my purchases just like most other people do.

Having said that, you can safely assume that the reasons why I’m planning to buy the Galaxy Watch 3 are purely subjective. I’m not trying to convince anyone to follow my lead, though I’m hoping that my reasoning will resonate with at least some of you. And before we move on, I should point out that my decision to buy the Galaxy Watch 3 is very much tied-in with my reasons for skipping Samsung’s previous smartwatches. Yes, you read that right.

It’s all about timing, design, and the sweet physical rotating bezel

Confession time: I never really owned a smartwatch before. Indeed, while I have had first-hand experience with the Galaxy Watch, the Galaxy Watch Active, and the Galaxy Watch Active 2, I haven’t really worn any of these devices for prolonged periods of time outside of testing them as part of my job.

The reason why I skipped the original Galaxy Watch back in 2018 was because my classic Orient watch was still serving me well and I wasn’t convinced I wanted to hop on the smartwatch bandwagon at that time. I did appreciate the physical rotating bezel flaunted by Samsung’s wearable, but then again, there was something about the original Galaxy Watch design that convinced me to wait for its sequel before I make a purchase, and so I did.

Simply put, the original Galaxy Watch felt somewhat bulky and I always thought it looked much better in renders than in real life. You could argue that’s always the case with renders versus the actual product, but that disparity seemed much more evident to me when it came to the Galaxy Watch.

In retrospect, had I known Samsung would be switching gears with the Galaxy Watch Active less than a year later and abandon the physical bezel, I would have probably ignored these details and purchased the original Galaxy Watch. However, I was now committed to the waiting game so I decided to keep playing it until I’d be rewarded for my patience, or until any hopes for the return of the physical rotating bezel would be completely quashed.

As for why I skipped the Galaxy Watch Active / Active 2, it may sound like I have a bad opinion about these two devices, but that’s far from the truth. However, the design of a smartwatch, or indeed a classic watch, plays a huge role for me, and the Galaxy Watch Active formula simply didn’t tick my boxes.

I can appreciate the style of the Galaxy Watch Active and its sequel from afar, but I don’t see myself wearing these devices on a daily basis. Likewise, I find the black rim surrounding the active area of the display to be somewhat of an eyesore. Dare I remind you this is a matter of subjectivity?

My patience is finally being rewarded by the Galaxy Watch 3

After waiting two years for Samsung to release a true sequel to the original Galaxy Watch, my patience is finally going to be rewarded with a new model that not only revives the physical rotating bezel but also looks gorgeous in both leaked renders and early hands-on videos. This gives me hope that the timepiece will look just as stunning once I lay my eyes on it in person.

Granted, I would have liked it if Samsung had increased the battery capacity compared to the Galaxy Watch Active 2, but that’s not what the leaks suggest. Either way, I’m willing to take the good with the not-so-good and finally slap a smartwatch on my wrist, as long as it’s the Galaxy Watch 3.

I should point out that raw power is not the main focus for me when it comes to smartwatches. As long as the software runs smoothly, I don’t see myself demanding a more powerful chipset inside a small wrist wearable just for the sake of numbers. More important are the features and the design itself, and in these areas, the Galaxy Watch 3 seems to fall in line with my requirements. It’s said to boast 39 different sport modes and ECG functionality, and I’m looking forward to monitoring my stress levels while wearing it.

I can’t guarantee that I will like the Galaxy Watch 3 in the long run or that it will sell me on the whole smartwatch idea, but I guess that’s something I’ll be finding out soon enough. I have yet to decide which model I will buy, but that’s something I’ll figure out once I see both the 41mm and 45mm Galaxy Watch 3 variants side-by-side. I’ll admit, this choice is more dependant on my wrist size than anything else.

Do you have any thoughts on the Galaxy Watch 3? Are you a smartwatch owner? What model do you wear, and will you be buying the Galaxy Watch 3 after Galaxy Unpacked? Feel free to comment below.

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Galaxy Note 10 was great, but the Note 20 is looking mighty disappointing

I’m not buying the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. I’ve already talked about how, compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the Note 20 Ultra looks unexciting. Yes, I know switching from a Galaxy S20 Ultra to a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra isn’t something most regular consumers will do. My main pet peeve is that Samsung will be breaking the tradition of each Note flagship being better than the Galaxy S flagship launched in the same year.

However, while I am not excited by the Galaxy S20 Ultra, I have to say I’m mighty disappointed with how the Galaxy Note 20 is shaping up. Last year was the first time Samsung launched its latest Note flagship in two sizes. The Galaxy Note 10 had a few limitations, such as the lack of expandable storage and just a Full HD display, but it was otherwise an excellent compact flagship, especially for consumers buying into the Note ecosystem for the first time.

You would assume that the Galaxy Note 10’s successor would bring plenty of upgrades. But if the rumors are to be believed, Samsung has also made a few questionable decisions for the Note 20’s spec sheet despite reportedly setting the same price tag for it as the Note 10 commanded last year.

Less of an upgrade, more of a sidegrade

As we have opined before, the Galaxy Note 20 is looking more like a Galaxy Note 20 Lite than a proper flagship. First, there’s the fact that it misses out on an amazing new feature that debuted with the Galaxy S20 series earlier this year. I’m talking about the 120Hz display. The Galaxy Note 20 reportedly has a 60Hz panel. That’s despite having a larger battery than the smallest Galaxy S20 and the Note 10 that would easily handle the extra power draw that results from a higher refresh rate.

Samsung is also doing something we thought it would never do again: The company has reportedly used a plastic back for the Galaxy Note 20. Nope, it’s not removable like the plastic back on Samsung’s old phones like the Galaxy S5 or Galaxy Note 4. If it’s not removable, the only advantage of a plastic back is that it won’t break upon impact like a glass back would. That’s an important advantage in my eyes, but for others, it will make the Galaxy Note 20 feel a lot less premium than a €949 smartphone should in 2020.

Of course, the Exynos 990 is also a major reason why the Note 20 will be disappointing, though this applies to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra as well. A recent rumor said Samsung has optimized the 990 to the point that it’s better than the Snapdragon 865+, but we have been served underwhelming Exynos chips two years in a row, so you will forgive me if I don’t believe the Exynos 990 won’t be as problematic as it is on the Galaxy S20 smartphones. Samsung seems unable to make good processors anymore, and it’s shameful that the Snapdragon variants of its flagships continue to be exclusive to select customers.

The Note 20 will be a good phone, but that’s not enough for €949

Despite the rumored shortcomings, the Galaxy Note 20 will still be a good phone. Those who purchase it will appreciate features like the camera’s zooming capabilities, big battery and super fast charging, Samsung’s excellent software, and the ever-versatile S Pen (now with reduced latency and enhanced functionality).

However, compared to the Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy Note 20 isn’t bringing a whole lot of upgrades, and it will also miss out on the 120Hz display that you find on even the smallest Galaxy S20 model. It’s more of a sidegrade in my opinion, and I don’t think that’s good enough for a phone that’s expected to cost between €949 and €1099 (depending on whether you get the LTE or 5G variant).

What do you think?

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[Poll] What new Galaxy devices are you looking forward to at Unpacked?

Galaxy Unpacked 2020 is nearly upon us and we have a variety of new devices to look forward to, from new wearables and the Galaxy Note 20 series to tablets equipped with 120Hz displays and the fresh Galaxy Z Fold 2. Needless to say, Samsung fans are in for a treat, and even if we assume that most of the upcoming products don’t pique your interest, the likelihood is high that at least one of these devices will make you want to watch Samsung’s first virtual launch event.

To make a quick recap, Galaxy Unpacked 2020 will be the company’s first launch event of this magnitude to take place exclusively online. But even if there won’t be a physical crowd at Galaxy Unpacked to cheer for Samsung’s new products, millions of gadget enthusiasts will have the opportunity to tune in and see what the company has been working on for the past year.

What Galaxy devices will be unveiled at Unpacked 2020?

Excitingly for enthusiasts of foldable display technology, Galaxy Unpacked 2020 will host the unveiling of Samsung’s second-gen Galaxy Fold, i.e., the Galaxy Z Fold 2. It promises to address many of the first model’s shortcomings and it looks gorgeous from what we’ve seen in leaked renders. Most importantly, it ditches the foldable screen’s notch in favor of a punch-hole selfie camera and it adopts a much more generous cover display.

Then there’s the Galaxy Note 20 series which so far has been somewhat polarizing. The base Galaxy Note 20 model might not turn many heads, or it might attract new customers to the series thanks to the lower price relative to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The latter model, however, might give existing Galaxy Note owners enough reasons to upgrade, whether it’s the refreshed design, the 120Hz display, or the new S Pen pointer feature.

Meanwhile, Samsung will unveil not one but two Galaxy Tab S7 flagship tablets, both of which are said to feature 120Hz displays. The larger Galaxy Tab S7+ in particular looks poised to challenge Apple’s iPad Pro, and that alone should grab the attention of many Samsung tablet enthusiasts.

Last but certainly not least, Samsung will unveil two new wearable products at Galaxy Unpacked. They are the Galaxy Buds Live and the Galaxy Watch 3. The former changes Samsung’s wireless earbuds formula completely and marks the long-awaited addition of Active Noise Cancelling, whereas the Galaxy Watch 3 marks the return of the physical rotating bezel in a more modern package.

Which of these devices are you looking forward to the most at Galaxy Unpacked 2020? Cast your vote below and feel free to leave a comment.

What new Galaxy devices are you looking forward to at Unpacked?

• Galaxy Note 20 / Galaxy Note 20 Ultra looks like my kind of S Pen flagship
• I'm excited to see all of them
• I'm a tablet enthusiast, and the Galaxy Tab S7 series looks great. Finally 120Hz displays!
• Galaxy Watch 3. Physical rotating bezel in a fresh package? Say no more!
• The Galaxy Z Fold 2, it's the most ambitious product of the year
• None of Samsung's new products interest me this year
• I applaud the unique design of the Galaxy Buds Live. Curious to see how they fit and sound

Results

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Samsung’s automotive goals lead to new MLCC factory opening in China

Samsung Group reported strong Q2 2020 results at an earnings call earlier today, in part thanks to improved profits recorded by the component solution division, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, particularly in the camera and 5G chip sectors. Interestingly enough, the recent earnings call also highlighted the tech giant’s ambitions to have a deeper involvement with the automotive industry.

As you may recall, Samsung’s various subsidiaries including SDI, System LSI, and Samsung Semiconductors have been in talks with carmaker Hyundai over the possibility of a deeper collaboration that may lead to Samsung Group having a larger stake in the automotive business. Now, according to a recent report from Pulse, Samsung Electro-Mechanics is looking to play a bigger role in the parent company’s plans by improving its market share in the multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) segment.

Churning out more automotive MLCCs by the end of the year

Samsung Electro-Mechanics first began mass-producing MLCCs for European and Chinese automakers in 2016, and the company has become the second-largest MLCC global supplier following Japan’s Murata Manufacturing. But despite this achievement, the company has been struggling with its MLCC business since last year when Samsung Group was betting on the Galaxy Note 10 series to offset some of the losses experienced by Samsung Electro-Mechanics in the segment.

However, the component solution division revealed at the recent earnings call that it will complete expanding its new MLCC plant in Tianjin, China, before the end of 2020. Samsung Electro-Mechanics aims for this facility to become the center of its automotive MLCC business over the next few years.

Demand for automotive MLCC is rising on the back of autonomous cars, and Murata Manufacturing has been capitalizing on this market shift with great success. Samsung Electro-Mechanics is apparently looking to do the same. The company revealed that its new factory in Tianjin could start mass manufacturing IT and industrial MLCCs by the end of the year if demand will be high enough.

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Galaxy Z Fold 2 may release on September 18 but don’t expect a price cut

A major leak yesterday gave us our first detailed look at the Galaxy Z Fold 2. There’s a lot of excitement for Samsung’s next foldable smartphone. It’s clearly going to bring a lot of improvements over its predecessor, the Galaxy Fold.

What many had hoped was that Samsung would price it a bit lower than the $1,980 that it asked for the Galaxy Fold. A new report out of South Korea claims that we shouldn’t expect a price cut for the device. It also mentions September 18 as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 release date.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 is probably not going to get a price cut

The report mentions that Samsung and its carrier partners in South Korea have agreed on September 18 as the release date for the Galaxy Z Fold 2. It goes without saying that South Korea will be among the first, if not the first, market to receive the company’s new foldable device.

Samsung will reportedly sell the Galaxy Z Fold 2 for 2,398,000 Korean won which is exactly what it charged for the Galaxy Fold. This is the equivalent of $2006 at prevailing exchange rates. So if Samsung is not cutting the price, this means customers elsewhere can expect the same $1,980 price tag. The silver lining here obviously being that at least it’s not going to increase the price.

Customers who don’t mind paying more will be able to purchase a Galaxy Z Fold 2 Thom Browne Edition. It appears that Samsung is extending the partnership it entered into with this fashion designer for the Galaxy Z Flip to the new foldable as well. The Thom Browne Edition will most likely have an exclusive finish with accessories to match. It’s expected to cost almost 4 million won or $3,350.

Samsung is likely going to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 2 on August 5 during its virtual Galaxy Unpacked event.

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Galaxy Note 20 Ultra pre-orders to include free Galaxy Buds Live

Samsung will be incentivizing Galaxy Note 20 Ultra pre-orders with a complimentary pair of the Galaxy Buds Live or Galaxy Buds+, at least in some countries. One such promotion is currently being planned by Samsung Indonesia, according to a newly leaked image of a flier which recently appeared on Twitter, as can be seen below. Much like it’s usually the case with such initiatives, the company will be giving out e-vouchers alongside pre-order confirmations.

Those coupons will seemingly cover the full price of either the Galaxy Buds+ or the upcoming Galaxy Buds Live in Indonesia, but other markets may only be treated to partial discounts, entirely different pre-order incentives, or a complete lack of any such free goodies whatsoever.

Well, so the Buds Live will be sold for about $179 here. Great deal, I guess.

Ngl, these two colours look good but I'll reserve the spot to replace my S20U for the S21U (or whatever the hell they'll call that thing). pic.twitter.com/QQn1U9W2MH

— Alvin (@sondesix) July 29, 2020

Inferring Galaxy Buds Live pricing

For added context, this is the equivalent of $180 worth of pre-order incentives we’re talking about, which isn’t a particularly valuable opportunity relative to much more generous promotions Samsung often runs in some markets. Assuming whatever it’s selling isn’t doing particularly well, that is. The figure corresponds with recent reports about Galaxy Buds Live pricing which is expected to range from $170 to $220/€190, depending on the market. On a related note, the Galaxy Note 20 prices also leaked just yesterday.

What’s more, the same source reveals exactly how long will Samsung be offering the Galaxy Note 20 series for pre-orders, stating that the early adopter period will run from August 6th to August 19th. Two weeks of pre-orders sounds about right for Samsung. The company used to run somewhat longer launch promotions, but with everything that’s been happening this year, it likely isn’t expecting to shatter any sales records and might have ultimately decided against unnecessarily prolonging this whole affair.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G

• Model: SM-N986B
• Dimensions: Bar: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 108MP

More specifications

Galaxy Buds Live

• Model: SM-R180
• Dimensions: Ear Buds: 27.3 x 16.5 x 14.9 mm
  Cradle (Ear Buds): x x mm
  
• Display:
• CPU:
• Camera:

More specifications

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Galaxy M31s makes the Galaxy A51 a horrible deal for Indian customers

The Galaxy A51 held the crown of the best-selling Samsung smartphone worldwide in the first three months of 2020. When we reviewed the A51, we found it to be perfect in its own reality, but that notion has now been challenged by Samsung itself, at least in the Indian market. Samsung launched the Galaxy M31s in the country today, and it has made the Galaxy A51 a horrible deal for customers in India in the process.

The Galaxy A51 is currently available for INR 25,250 ($337) for the 6+128GB configuration and INR 26,999 ($360) for the 8+128GB variant. The Galaxy M31s, set to go on sale on August 6, is priced at INR 19,499 ($260) and INR 21,499 ($286) for the same memory and storage configurations. That’s a difference of nearly INR 5,000 ($67) between the two phones, and even though the Galaxy M31s is cheaper, it offers most of the same specs as the Galaxy A51 while absolutely destroying it when it comes to battery capacity and charging speeds.

Samsung may as well stop selling the Galaxy A51 in India

The Galaxy M31s has a 6,000 mAh battery, and it’s paired with support for 25W fast charging that takes the battery from 0 to 100% in 97 minutes (according to Samsung’s official figures). The Galaxy A51, on the other hand, has a 4,000 mAh battery with the outdated 15W fast charging. With the advantage of both a massive battery and super fast charging, the M31s is easily the option you should pick if battery life is a priority for you.

Even if battery life isn’t that important for you, the M31s is still an infinitely better deal than the A51. As mentioned earlier, the two share most of their specs. Both have a 6.5-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display, the octa-core Exynos 9611 processor, the option of 6GB and 8GB RAM, and 128GB of expandable storage. The 32MP front camera and the ultra-wide, macro, and depth cameras on the back are the same as well, but the M31s gets a 64MP primary camera instead of a 48MP sensor like the A51.

The Galaxy M31s also runs Android 10 and One UI 2.1 out of the box. It might be missing a couple of features, like a built-in screen recorder (we’ll know once we have the device in our hands), but you can always download third-party alternatives from Google Play. Another benefit on the Galaxy M31s is its side-mounted fingerprint reader. Samsung’s optical in-display fingerprint sensors have gotten much better this year, but side-mounted physical scanners still reign supreme in speed and accuracy.

With Samsung’s latest M series device offering so much at such an attractive price, the company may as well stop selling the Galaxy A51 in India. If you’re on the lookout for a mid-range phone, just ignore the Galaxy A51 and wait for the Galaxy M31s instead, and maybe give the same advice to your friends and family as well.

Galaxy M31s

• Model: SM-M317F
• Dimensions: Bar: x x mm
  
• Display: 6.5 inch / 165.1 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 64MP

More specifications

Galaxy A51

• Model: SM-A515F
• Dimensions: Bar: 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.5 inch / 165.10 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 48MP

More specifications

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Huawei shocks Samsung, tops global smartphone market against all odds

Add “a miraculous Huawei resurrection at Samsung’s expense” to the list of things industry watchers weren’t expecting to see in 2020. New market data suggests Huawei at the very least pulled level with Samsung in terms of global smartphone shipments in the second quarter of the year. It likely even surpassed it, seizing the title of the world’s largest handset manufacturer for the first time ever. More specifically, Huawei is estimated to have shipped 55.8 million smartphones from April to June, toppling Samsung by over two million units.

While this shift in market dynamics isn’t expected to last, it also wasn’t anticipated to materialize in the first place, at least not to this degree. Particularly when you realize Huawei’s latest achievement can largely be attributed to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Huawei’s fortunes are only thanks to its home country of China

Don’t forget Huawei still has a giant target on its back, courtesy of the U.S. Samsung actually stands to heavily profit from Washington’s continued sanctions on Huawei, but given how China was the first to end up in this COVID-19 mess, it’s also the first to experience some short-term recovery effects in between outbreaks, Canalys analysts explain. That is, Huawei’s Q2 insurgence seems to be fueled by China’s overall nationwide rebound from its last coronavirus crisis, and Samsung should go through a similar event cycle.

Which isn’t to say Samsung can be happy with this news, especially as Huawei’s Q2 2020 performance is still below its 2019 levels. Making matters even worse is the fact that an almost identical phenomenon occurred last month, with the only difference being that it affected the smartwatch market. Naturally, both milestones primarily underline the sheer size of China instead of some specific business ingenuity on Huawei’s part. After all, with TSMC being set to stop all shipments to Huawei this September, the company might just have to throw in the towel or try its luck with selling heavily outdated smartphones moving forward.

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Galaxy S10 series already getting August security update

Once again, Samsung is rolling out a new security patch ahead of time for one of its devices. The Galaxy S10 lineup (not including the 5G model) is getting a new update in Germany that brings the August security patch to the 2019 flagship. The update is accompanied by firmware version G97xFXXU8CTG4 and is available both over the air and through our firmware archive.

The firmware version suggests the update includes more than just the August security patch, but the changelog isn’t known at this time. If you have a Galaxy S10e, S10, or S10+ and have received the update, feel free to tell us down in the comments if you spot any changes or new features. Naturally, this isn’t going to be a major update. The Galaxy S10 series is already running One UI 2.1, and it’s still unconfirmed whether One UI 2.5 is in the pipeline for last year’s Galaxy flagships or if they will jump directly to Android 11 and One UI 3.0.

The August update is only available in Germany at this time, but that should change in the next couple of days. To download it on your Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, or Galaxy S10+ over the air, open the phone’s Settings app, select Software update, and tap Download and install. Alternatively, grab the latest firmware from our archive and install it on your phone using a Windows computer.

Galaxy S10e

• Model: SM-G970F
• Dimensions: Bar: 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 5.8 inch / 147.32 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9820
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S10

• Model: SM-G973F
• Dimensions: Bar: 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.1 inch / 162.5 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9820
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S10+

• Model: SM-G975F
• Dimensions: Bar: 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.4 inch / 162.5 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9820
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Unlocked Galaxy Z Flip 5G is now available for pre-order

The Galaxy Z Flip 5G, which was unveiled a few days ago, is now available for pre-order in the US. You can pre-order Samsung’s new foldable smartphone from the company’s website and score various benefits. The Galaxy Z Flip 5G is priced at $1,450 and it is available in two colors: Mystic Bronze and Mystic Gray.

The pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Flip 5G will go through August 6, and the phone will start shipping on August 7. Both unlocked and carrier versions of the 5G foldable phone will be available for purchase on August 7. You can buy the device from Amazon, AT&T, Best Buy, and T-Mobile as well.

For a limited time, Samsung is offering a trade-in value of up to $650 instead of $410. In case the screen of your current phone is cracked, the South Korean firm will still offer up to $400 instead of just $280. As usual, the company is also offering 24-month or 36-month financing schemes and Samsung Care+ protection program (for $11.99/month) for buying the Galaxy Z Flip 5G.

In the US, the company is also offering a one-month subscription to Obé (worth $27), a premium at-home fitness program, and $25 credit towards Glamsquad, an in-home makeup service.

Galaxy Z Flip 5G specs

The Galaxy Z Flip 5G features a 6.7-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display, a 1-inch cover display, a 10MP selfie camera, and a 12MP+12MP dual rear-facing camera setup with 4K video recording. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 865+ processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage, and a 3,300mAh battery with 15W fast charging and wireless charging.

The phone runs Android 10 with One UI 2. The foldable smartphone features 5G connectivity along with LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. It is also equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint reader, Samsung Pay, and HDR10+ content playback.

• Pre-order Galaxy Z Flip 5G from Samsung

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This is how the new Galaxy M31s compares to the original Galaxy M31

The Galaxy M31 has gotten an incremental hardware update in the form of the newly-announced Galaxy M31s. Samsung took the veil off the Galaxy M31s refresh today and it’s quite an exciting low-to-mid-range phone that improves upon the existing formula in a handful of ways. Let’s take a closer look at how the Galaxy M31s and Galaxy M31 compare.

First, let’s touch on the exterior design. Unlike the Galaxy M31 and its 6.4-inch Infinity-U display, the Galaxy M31s features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel with an Infinity-O design boasting a centered selfie cutout. You’ll notice a couple of other design differences on the back panel, such as the new L-shaped camera setup for the Galaxy M31s and the fact that the phone lacks a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. This is because it’s been moved to the side.

New ultra-wide camera, more storage, faster charging

The position of the quad cameras is not the only thing that’s been changed for the newer model. The Galaxy M31s retains a 64MP main shooter along with 5MP depth and macro cameras, however, it replaces the 8MP ultra-wide sensor with a 12MP one. It still has a 32MP selfie sensor capable of 4K video recording.

Regarding internal specifications, the Galaxy M31 and Galaxy M31s share a few components but the newer model is not a carbon copy of the original device. It does have the same Exynos 9611 SoC paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, but also carries 128GB of built-in storage as standard. More importantly, the Galaxy M31s relies on a 6,000mAh battery, same as the Galaxy M31, but introduces 25W fast charging to the budget lineup.

You can check our new online comparison tool for a closer look at how the Galaxy M31 and Galaxy M31s compare side-by-side. In fact, you can use the tool to compare up to four Samsung products at the same time and add any Galaxy phones or tablets from our devices section into the mix.

Galaxy M31s

• Model: SM-M317F
• Dimensions: Bar: 159.2 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.4 inch / 162.56 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 64MP

More specifications

Galaxy M31

• Model: SM-M315F
• Dimensions: Bar: 159.2 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.4 inch / 162.56 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9611
• Camera: 64MP

More specifications

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When, where, and for what price you’ll be able to buy the Galaxy M31s

Samsung India has officially announced the Galaxy M31s earlier today, and in case you’re wondering when, where, and for what price you’ll be able to buy this souped-up budget phone, you don’t have to look any further. The official launch details for the Galaxy M31s are in, and according to the company, you’ll be able to buy the device starting August 6.

The Galaxy M31s will be sold by Samsung’s online shop, Amazon.in, and ‘leading retail stores’ (it’s unclear whether it will be available through offline channels). Samsung has been pushing its online store aggressively to the forefront, so the company might want to leverage the launch of the Galaxy M31s to get closer to its desired 10% increase in online sales.

All those Galaxy M31s extras come at a price

The Galaxy M31s is quite an exciting low-to-mid-range phone mainly because it’s the first in the Galaxy M series to take advantage of 25W fast charging. It also features 128GB of storage as standard, a Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with a centered cutout, and it boasts camera modes like Single Take and Night Hyperlapse.

These extra features command a higher price compared to the Galaxy M31. While the original model was launched in India for INR 14,999 ($200) and INR 15,999 ($213), the Galaxy M31s with 6GB or 8GB of RAM will be priced at INR 19,499 ($260) and INR 21,499 ($286), respectively.

Once the phone hits the virtual shelves on August 6, customers will have two color options to choose from, namely Mirage Black and Mirage Blue. Which color will you pick, assuming you plan on buying the new Galaxy M31s next week? Leave a comment below.

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Galaxy M31s is officially Samsung’s first budget phone with 25W charging

After numerous rumors, leaks, and a couple of early listings on Amazon and the Google Play Console, Samsung India has finally made the Galaxy M31s official in all its glory. You might think that using this noun to describe the Galaxy M31s is a stretch, but this new low-to-mid-range phone unveiled by Samsung is quite special, especially for its class.

The Galaxy M31s breaks convention in more than one way. It’s the company’s first low-to-mid-range smartphone and the first device in the Galaxy M series to boast 25W fast charging. Likewise, it’s Samsung’s first Galaxy M smartphone to feature a Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with a centered cutout for the selfie camera. And if that’s not enough, the Galaxy M31s also adopts a couple of camera modes that are normally reserved for pricier phones, namely Single Take and Night Hyperlapse.

A closer look at what makes the Galaxy M31s tick

The official announcement confirms that the Galaxy M31s is equipped with a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It also reconfirms that the phone is powered by the Exynos 9611 chipset paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage.

The phone carries a quad-camera combo on the back panel, including the relatively-new 64MP Sony IMX682 sensor, a 12MP 123-degree ultra-wide shooter, a 5MP depth camera for Live Focus, and a 5MP macro sensor. The front-facing selfie shooter has a resolution of 32-megapixels, and both the front and rear-facing solutions are capable of 4K video recording.

All these components rely on a generous 6,000mAh battery, and yes, the unit is capable of 25W fast charging despite the fact that the Galaxy M31s is a budget phone. More so, this hero smartphone ships with a 25W charger in the box so you won’t have to spend extra before you can take advantage of the battery’s full capabilities. According to Samsung, the Galaxy M31s recharges its battery from 0-100% in 97 minutes. This is quite a significant improvement over the Galaxy M31 and similar phones equipped with 6,000mAh batteries and 15W charging, as they usually require nearly 2.5 hours to fill up their tanks.

The Galaxy M31s has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and ships with Android 10 and One UI 2.1. You can hit this link for a direct comparison between the new Galaxy M31s and the original Galaxy M31, and you can also refer to our new online comparison tool if you want to pit this new budget phone against other Galaxy devices.

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