Samsung targeting to sell two million Mini-LED TVs next year

While Samsung’s current lineup of high-end TVs uses QLED technology, it is working on multiple technologies for its future TVs. It has already unveiled a few models that use the microLED tech, and it is also working on Mini-LED and QD-OLED-based TVs. The South Korean tech giant is reportedly targeting to sell two million Mini-LED TVs next year.

According to market analysis firm TrendForce, Samsung will launch its new QLED TV lineup with Mini-LED backlighting technology in 2021. The lineup is expected to feature 4K resolution and consist of TVs in 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes. Thanks to Mini-LED backlighting, the TVs are expected to offer a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, which is significantly higher than 10,000:1 that the current-generation TVs offer. Such a high contrast ratio could be attained by implementing at least 100 local dimming zones and using anywhere between 8,000 to 30,000 high-voltage Mini-LED chips.

Samsung’s upcoming lineup of Mini-LED-powered QLED TVs is expected to offer higher brightness, high contrast ratio, and better HDR and WCG (wide color gamut) performance. Currently, Apex, Epistar, FitTech, Macroblock, San’an Optoelectronics, and Saultech are racing to offer their Mini-LED chips to Samsung, but their solutions are currently in the sampling stage.

Mini-LED displays not only offer significantly better image quality than LCDs, but they are also known to be more cost-effective compared to OLEDs. Hence, the adoption of Mini-LED and microLED is expected to rise over the next few years. Apple is expected to launch an iPad Pro with a Mini-LED-based display later this year. Even LG could debut its Mini-LED TVs next year.

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Galaxy A50 wins the race to the October 2020 security update

It’s October 1 and Samsung is already rolling out the October 2020 security patch, but the answer as to which Galaxy device is the first to get it might surprise you. It’s the Galaxy A50 (SM-A505FN) – a very popular mid-range phone released in 2019. The update carries firmware version A505FNXXS5BTI9 and weighs a little over 123MB.

The changelog is as generic as it gets without mentioning any new features, so it appears to be just a routine update. Samsung hasn’t detailed the October 2020 security patch either and there’s no telling what vulnerabilities have been addressed with this latest release. Security updates usually debut without a changelog for security purposes but Samsung is likely to reveal these details by mid-October. And by that time, we expect the October 2020 security patch to become available to more Galaxy devices, so stay tuned if you own a different phone than the Galaxy A50.

As for Galaxy A50 owners, the October 2020 security update will reach more units as availability expand, so give it a bit more time if it’s not available for you yet. The update will be accompanied by a notification but you can try to trigger it manually from Settings. Access Software update and tap Download and install.

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This amazing Galaxy Z Fold 2 deal is making pre-order customers unhappy

Samsung appears to really want to sell you the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in the UK. The foldable phone was released in the UK in September for £1,799 and less than a month after its debut, Samsung has increased the value of trade-in devices when purchasing the Galaxy Z Fold 2 online. This is great news for customers who are considering buying the Galaxy Z Fold 2 or have been waiting for a better deal, but a number of early adopters who have pre-ordered the device and got the original trade-in prices feel like they’ve gotten the short end of the stick despite their loyalty to the brand.

To put things into perspective, Samsung USA offers a $650 discount when trading in the Galaxy S20 Ultra for the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Meanwhile, Samsung UK is now willing to drop the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s price by a whopping £970 ($1,245) if you trade in the same Galaxy S20 model. No wonder some pre-order customers who have gotten a worse trade-in deal are displeased… Then again, there’s no denying that this is an amazing opportunity for customers who have yet to purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

If you happen to have a Galaxy Fold 5G (512GB) lying around and you’re looking to buy the new model, you can get a whopping £1,040 trade-in discount on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, meaning you can buy the latest foldable by paying only £759 – as long as you’re willing to part with the original foldable model, of course. Even the Galaxy S8 with 64GB of memory can shave £330 off the full retail price.

How do you feel about Samsung UK’s latest trade-in deal and way of conduct? Have you pre-ordered the Galaxy Z Fold 2 by trading in an older device, and if so, do you feel mistreated? Do you think Samsung should compensate these early adopters, considering the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is branded as a luxury device with on-demand concierge care? Or perhaps the company should better-communicate its plans to Galaxy Z Premier members. Feel free to share your thoughts below.

• Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 2 from Samsung UK

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Samsung launches offensive against UK budget market with Galaxy M11

Samsung Netherlands confirmed the Galaxy M11’s arrival to Europe yesterday, four months after the phone’s original release in India. Today the company followed up with another announcement for the UK market where the Galaxy M11 will hit the shelves in early October via Samsung’s online shop and Amazon for £149.

At the time of writing, Samsung UK sells only two Galaxy M smartphones through its online shop, namely the Galaxy M31s and the Galaxy M51. They are both positioned higher up in the food chain compared to the Galaxy M11 and cost £279 and £329, respectively. The Galaxy M11 is a less powerful device but it tries just as much to deliver good value at an accessible price.

In exchange for £149, customers in the UK will be getting a 6.4-inch smartphone with an Infinity-O TFT display featuring a resolution of 1560 by 720. The Galaxy M11 is powered by the Snapdragon 450 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, although the 4GB/64GB variant could be made available in the UK at a later date. But initially, customers in the UK will only be able to buy the 3GB model in two color options: black and metallic blue.

One of the Galaxy M11’s biggest selling point is its generous 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging capabilities. It’s another Samsung smartphone that adheres to the long-lasting battery philosophy. Samsung is the preferred smartphone brand among British customers, the majority of which place a high value on battery life, price and build quality, so in theory the Galaxy M11 should receive a warm welcome in the UK.

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Galaxy S20 FE vs Google Pixel 5: Samsung is the clear winner

The COVID-19 pandemic had left its mark on the mobile market this year, leading to global sales plummeting and many consumers shifting focus from the premium segment to value-oriented mid-range solutions. OEMs have done the same, reason why devices like the Galaxy S20 FE exist.

The Galaxy S20 FE came out of nowhere last month; not that it wasn’t extensively leaked and rumored ahead of the official unveiling, but it was still an unexpected addition to Samsung’s 2020 smartphone lineup because FE devices don’t come about very often. It exists because Samsung wanted to give customers a more budget-conscious flagship phone that’s fit for the current economic climate.

The Galaxy S20 FE 5G costs $699. It competes not only with some of Samsung’s own Galaxy phones but also the mobile landscape at large. In fact, the phone costs exactly the same as the new Google Pixel 5, which technically means that Samsung and Google are competing to win over the same prospective buyers. So how do these two phones compare?

Galaxy S20 FE vs Google Pixel 5: Two sides of the same coin

A side-by-side comparison between the Galaxy S20 FE and Google Pixel 5 highlights one of the greatest things about the Android smartphone market, namely variety. These two phones cost exactly the same and yet they’ve somehow turned out to be extremely different from one another. Both Samsung and Google want to offer better value for your money with these products but their vision as to how they can achieve this is clearly different.

The Google Pixel 5 is equipped with a 6-inch OLED display featuring a resolution of 2340 x 1080, a 90Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 6. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S20 FE has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel covered in Gorilla Glass 3, boasting 2400 by 1080 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Galaxy S20 FE is the superior device as far as the screen goes, but what about other internal hardware components? Samsung’s budget flagship is equipped with a Snapdragon 865 chipset (5G) or an Exynos 990 SoC (4G), and memory options include 6/8GB of RAM and 128/256GB of UFS 3.0 storage expandable via microSD. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 5 relies on the less desirable Snapdragon 765G chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage that’s not expandable.

The Galaxy S20 FE is powered by a 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast charging whereas Google’s solution relies on a 4,080mAh unit with 18W fast charging. Both devices have stereo speakers and lack a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Galaxy S20 FE vs Google Pixel 5: Cameras and design

Samsung’s budget flagship features a 12MP main camera with Dual Pixel AF and OIS, an 8MP telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom capabilities, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 32MP selfie camera.

The Google Pixel 5 is equipped with a 12.2MP wide shooter with Dual Pixel AF and OIS, and a 16MP ultra-wide shooter. The selfie camera consists of an 8MP sensor.

On paper, the Galaxy S20 FE is the clear winner in terms of mobile photography, however, Google is well known for delivering fantastic results through AI and machine learning without having to rely on crazy camera hardware, so we can’t yet vouch for one device or the other in this category.

As for design, the Galaxy S20 FE is subjectively a better-looking phone but Google’s device arguably uses higher-quality materials. The Galaxy S20 FE has a better-looking Infinity-O display design with a center cutout instead of one in the corner; it features a metal frame and a plastic back panel, and it boasts a very colorful exterior.

The Google Pixel 5 has a unibody design, meaning the phone doesn’t have a visible frame but the back panel wraps around the edges towards the display. The case was built from aluminum and the phone carries a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner instead of an under-display solution.

Finally, the Google Pixel 5 ships with stock Android 11 whereas the Galaxy S20 FE runs Android 10 and One UI 2.5, but Samsung’s device should be updated to Android 11 and One UI 3.0 in the coming months.

Galaxy S20 FE vs Google Pixel 5: Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a new price-conscious mid-range/flagship device then we’d recommend buying the Galaxy S20 FE over the Google Pixel 5, and that’s not just because SamMobile is a Samsung fan site. Both phones cost the same but the Galaxy S20 FE has the upper hand in nearly every category, from the choice of chipsets and display to the battery and camera setup.

Google’s solution will always be a step ahead in terms of Android OS updates so if that’s what you’re after then the Google Pixel 5 is the winner, even if you take Samsung’s new update policy into account. Otherwise, there’s simply no competition and the Galaxy S20 FE is the superior device for more than one reason. It’s also available for under $699 if you take advantage of the right deals.

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Samsung outs Galaxy A3 Core in Africa as a rebadged ultra-budget solution

Samsung has just launched a ‘new’ budget phone for Africa called the Galaxy A3 Core. It was first announced through Twitter by Samsung Nigeria and it’s already available for purchase through partner retailers. It costs N32,500 ($85) and buyers can pick from three color options including black, blue, and red.

The Galaxy A3 Core is essentially a rebranded Galaxy M01 Core which, in turn, is a rebadged Galaxy A01 Core. All three devices share the same design and specifications, so the story of the Galaxy A3 Core is not entirely unique.

Galaxy A3 Core specifications

The Galaxy A3 Core is equipped with a 5.3-inch PLS TFT LCD featuring a resolution of 1480 by 720 pixels. The display is completely flat and has thick top and bottom bezels instead of a display notch or cutout. It’s as close to an old school design as it can be.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek MT6739 chipset with four Cortex-A53 CPU cores clocked at 1.5GHz and a PowerVR GE8100 graphics chip. The CPU is coupled with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. The phone has a single 8MP main camera and a 5MP selfie sensor.

The device benefits from Bluetooth 5.0 and has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The components are powered by a 3,000mAh battery and are wrapped in a body weighing 150 grams and measuring 141.7 x 67.5 x 8.6mm. All in all, it’s the regular Galaxy A01 / M01 Core with a new name for a different market, and it’s priced appropriately. Refer to the link below for more details.

• Check Galaxy A3 Core retailer availability via Samsung Africa

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With Samsung cutting the dev relations team, is Bixby’s future in trouble?

Samsung is reportedly disbanding its developer relations team in charge of growing third-party voice apps for Bixby. The move comes shortly after the company was said to have started considering deeper Google Assistant integrations into its devices. And while it’s still unclear whether Google finally coughed up enough billions for Samsung to agree to the change, the Korean firm’s Bixby focus does appear to be weakening.

For clarity, the dev relations team was independent of the Viv Labs division which came to existence following Samsung’s 2016 purchase of the eponymous voice app startup which set it back some $215 million. Its remnants come down to just five people, at this point, Voicebot reports, adding that not all of those were full-time employees but outside contractors. None of the core development team in charge of Bixby was let go, though some left the company earlier this year.

Bixby’s fate remains unclear

The demise of the Bixby developer relations team also follows the cancellation of this year’s Samsung Developer Conference from last week. Together, both moves signal a wider shift away from in-house software on Samsung’s part. That transition has been in motion for a while now; for example, Bixby SVP and Viv Labs co-founder, Adam Cheyer, departed Samsung back in July. Samsung also hasn’t been looking to fill any Bixby-related positions since last year.

The Viv Labs division reportedly still has some employees doing developer outreach but their positions are likely to be transformed or eliminated should Samsung and Google reach a deal on Google Assistant integrations. Any such major partnership would almost certainly receive prime time treatment at Google I/O 2020, should it materialize this year at all.

For now, it doesn’t seem like Samsung is making any moves to give up on Bixby altogether. Cutting the developer relations team means that we may not see any major increase in third-party support for Bixby Capsules. The digital assistant lives on.

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What is the newest Samsung phone? – October 2020

It has often been difficult to keep track of the newest Samsung phone given that the company releases so many throughout the year. Samsung has dozens of models across different series which cater to all price ranges. This page will be updated on a monthly basis to ensure that you can always know what is the newest Samsung phone in each series.

The latest Galaxy Phone in every series

Galaxy Z Fold 2

The highly anticipated successor to the original Galaxy Fold has finally been unveiled. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 was made official alongside the new Galaxy Note lineup on August 5. Samsung will start taking pre-orders for the device from September 1. That’s also when the company revealed more details about the device.

It comes with a larger 6.3-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch foldable display at 120Hz refresh rate. The internal display is more durable as its made out of Ultra Thin Glass. It gets flagship-level internals including the Snapdragon 865+ with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Check our Galaxy Z Fold 2 specs page for the detailed specs of this device.

The camera setup of this device includes a 12-megapixel primary sensor paired with a 12-megapixel ultra wide and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is available for pre-order now and will be released on September 18. It costs $1,999 and is offered in Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze color options.

Galaxy Z Flip

Samsung’s second foldable smartphone wasn’t launched as part of its Galaxy Fold series. The company decided to launch it as the Galaxy Z Flip instead. The Galaxy Z Flip was released in February and has quickly become one of the most highly sought after foldable smartphones on the market, and for good reason.

As we point out in our Galaxy Z Flip review, the device feels surprisingly normal despite the fact that it can fold in half into something you can easily wrap your hand around. It features 2019 flagship-level specs with a Snapdragon 855+ processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. There’s also a 12-megapixel f/1.8 wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera at the back. Selfie duties are handled by a 10-megapixel f/2.4 camera embedded in a punch hole in the 6.7-inch foldable display. It also has a combined battery capacity of 3,300mAh.

The Galaxy Z Flip is available far more widely than the Galaxy Fold was. It costs $1,380 and comes in three colors – Mirror Purple, Mirror Black and in select markets, Mirror Gold.

Galaxy Note

August is Galaxy Note month and right on cue, Samsung has unveiled two new handsets this time around as well. The Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are now official and available for pre-order. They’ll go on sale come August 21.

There are some major differences between the two models. The Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra feature a 6.7-inch flat FHD+ display and a 6.9-inch Quad HD+ curved display with dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. The former doesn’t have a microSD card slot while the latter does. Both don’t support 45W super fast charging, maxing out at 25W instead.

While the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra retains the signature metal and glass build that Samsung flagships have become familiar far, the Galaxy Note 20 only gets a plastic back. That’s a surprising decision Samsung has made this year, in addition to not offering 120Hz refresh rate on the smaller handset.

They also use the same Exynos 990/Snapdragon 865+ chipsets with the Note 20 only getting 8GB RAM while the Ultra gets a 12GB RAM configuration as well with up to 512GB of storage. Check out our hands-on to learn more about these phones and visit our devices page for the full Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra specs.

Prices start at $999 and $1,299 for the 5G Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra respectively.

Galaxy S

Much like it did last year, Samsung has launched three separate variants of the Galaxy S20 series in 2020. Therefore, the newest Samsung phones in the Galaxy S lineup are the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The entire lineup is powered by the same Exynos 990/Snapdragon 865 chip with varying RAM and storage options on some variants. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate display. This is also the first time that the entire series is 5G-enabled, only select markets have got units that only support LTE.

The Galaxy S20 is the smallest of the bunch with a 6.2-inch display. Its camera setup consists of a 12-megapixel f/2.8 OIS primary sensor, a 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide and a 64-megapixel f/2.0 OIS telephoto camera. There’s a 4,000mAh battery with support for Wireless PowerShare. The handset ships with 12GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

The Galaxy S20+ has a larger 6.7-inch display but the same camera setup with the ToF sensor being the only addition. Both devices have a 10-megapixel front camera while the Galaxy S20+ is also available with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. It also has a larger 4,500mAh battery. Both handsets feature Super Resolution Zoom up to 30X.

Samsung has truly thrown everything and the kitchen skin at the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It has a massive 6.9-inch display and a truly bonkers camera setup. There’s a 108-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide and a 48-megapixel telephoto sensor accompanied by a ToF sensor. A 40-megapixel selfie camera is also present. The 5,000mAh battery is the biggest we have seen yet in a Galaxy S flagship. The handset also touts up to 100X Space Zoom. It’s available in 12GB/128GB and 16GB/512GB configurations.

Prices start at $999 for the Galaxy S20, $1,199 for the Galaxy S20+, and $1,399 for the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Read our Galaxy S20/S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra hands-on reviews to learn more about these devices.

Galaxy Fan Edition

Samsung has brought back the Fan Edition moniker and has also confirmed that it will release new Fan Edition models of its flagships every year. It’s kicking things off with the Galaxy S20 FE which is being marketed as a flagship in its own right.

Unveiled in September 2020, the Galaxy S20 FE brings many of the best features that were introduced with the Galaxy S20 lineup earlier this year. It gets a 6.5-inch FHD+ flat 120Hz refresh rate display, the same Exynos 990/Snapdragon 865 chipset, stereo speakers, a large 4,500mAh battery and three years of Android OS upgrades.

The Galaxy S20 FE also comes with a triple-camera system at the back which includes a 12-megapixel wide and 12-megapixel sensor in addition to an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom. A 32-megapixel camera is present up front.

Samsung is currently taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S20 FE. Prices start at $699 for the 5G variant in the United States.

Galaxy A

Samsung has significantly expanded its Galaxy A series in 2019. It now offers over a dozen smartphones across all price ranges. You can get a entry level device like the Galaxy A10 and a 5G-capable device like the Galaxy A90 5G.

The Galaxy A31 is currently the latest Galaxy phone in this lineup. It was unveiled in March 2020. The Galaxy A31 has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Full HD+ Infinity-U display, MediaTek Helio P65 processor with 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB storage. The rear camera setup includes a 48MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro and a 5MP depth sensor. A 20MP selfie camera is also present upfront.

The Galaxy A31 is currently available in markets like South Korea, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and India for the equivalent of $280.

Galaxy M

Samsung introduced its Galaxy M lineup earlier this year. It’s a new budget lineup aimed primarily at India with features that were previously never seen on devices in this price range from Samsung. The series is also unique in that Samsung only sells the Galaxy M devices online.

The Galaxy M51 is currently the latest handset in this budget series. It comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with a Snapdragon 730G chipset paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage. The handset runs the latest version of One UI Core out of the box. All of this is paired with a massive 7,000mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging.

The rear quad camera includes a 64-megapixel primary, 12-megapixel ultra-wide and 5-megapixel depth camera in addition to a 5-megapixel macro sensor. There’s a 32-megapixel camera upfront.

Samsung is now taking pre-orders for the Galaxy M51 in Germany for 360 euro in blue and black colors. It will be available in markets like India soon.

Bear in mind that this list only tells you about the newest Samsung phone in every series, not what’s the best in a given price range. It’s to show you what the latest phone is so that you know what to look out for when buying a new Samsung smartphone.

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Best Samsung Phones in October 2020 – Picked by experts

Given the sheer number of devices that it releases every year, finding the best Samsung phones can often prove to be a challenge for most customers. It doesn’t matter if you want a flagship or a budget device. Samsung offers plenty of options for all price ranges.

To make it easier for you to find the one that best suits your needs, our expert reviewers have created this list of the best Samsung smartphones. We’ll explain precisely why a device has made it on to our list and provide you with links to their detailed reviews.

Our Best Samsung Phone List For October 2020

There’s a great mix of devices on our list for October 2020, helped by the launch of Samsung’s new Fan Edition series. We have also included some of the impressive mid-range and affordable models that have been released this year.

Best Samsung Phone – Spec monster: Galaxy S20 Ultra

Samsung wasn’t kidding around when it slapped the word “Ultra” at the end of its top-of-the-line Galaxy S20 model. This is a spec monster in the true sense of the word. Samsung introduced its 108-megapixel camera with this device and threw in a periscope lens setup that allowed for up to 100x hybrid zoom a.k.a Space Zoom.

With a massive 6.9-inch display, the $1,399 Galaxy S20 Ultra was among the first Samsung devices to feature a 120Hz refresh rate panel. Its chipset was paired with a maximum of 16GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Samsung even threw in a 40-megapixel front camera for good measure. The 5,000mAh battery is the biggest yet on any Galaxy S family device.

Reasons to buy: Specs for days, exceptional battery life, amazing display and blazing-fast performance.

Who should buy: Hardcore Samsung fans, serious mobile gamers, photography enthusiasts and those who just want the best of everything.

Galaxy S20 Ultra Specs | Galaxy S20 Ultra Review | Buy Galaxy S20 Ultra on Amazon

Best Samsung Phone – Productivity: Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

There’s no question about it, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra tops our list as the best Samsung phone for productivity. Samsung has made a number of meaningful improvements to its latest flagship smartphone, particularly the S Pen upgrades. The S Pen latency has been dropped to 9ms in order to provide a more fluid and natural experience with the stylus.

The 6.9-inch Galaxy Note 20 Ultra also comes with the latest in smartphone technology as well as 5G support. It happens to be the first Samsung smartphone to feature a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate display. Samsung has also significantly improved the camera setup compared to its predecessor. There are several new software features and new camera modes that enable customers to get the most out of this $1,299 flagship.

Reasons to buy: Best display on a smartphone, wireless DeX, gorgeous design, enhanced camera functionality and great battery life.

Who should buy: Customers who want the latest Samsung phones, power users, mobile gamers, vloggers and content creators.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Specs | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Review | Buy Galaxy Note 20 Ultra on Amazon

Best Samsung Phone – Compact: Galaxy S20 FE

Samsung is out with a new Fan Edition model this year. The Galaxy S20 FE packs many of the best features of the Galaxy S20 series into a more compact package. It uses the same flagship-level chipsets, a 120Hz refresh rate display and a respectable 4,500mAh battery. Samsung has replaced the glass back with plastic and that’s actually a good thing.

The 6.5-inch flat display is great for those who don’t particularly like curved displays. The two 12-megapixel cameras offers similar results as the Galaxy S20+ and it even comes with an 8-megapixel telephoto camera that provides 3x lossless optical zoom. Samsung has also confirmed that it will receive three years of Android OS upgrades. For all of the amazing tech that it offers, the $699 price tag for the 5G variant of the Galaxy S20 FE makes it one of the best value Samsung phones to buy this year.

Reasons to buy: Great design, well-built, great performance, flat AMOLED display and three years of OS upgrades.

Who should buy: Customers who want a flagship-level phone for less, those who don’t want to be worried about breaking the glass back.

Galaxy S20 FE Specs | Galaxy S20 FE Hands-on | Pre-order Galaxy S20 FE at Samsung.com

Best Samsung Phone – Foldable: Galaxy Z Fold 2

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the latest and greatest foldable smartphone from Samsung. It brings some major improvements compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Fold. This includes a larger 6.2-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch Infinity Flex display that’s made of Ultra-Thin Glass and has a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. The design has been improved as well and the hinge is now more durable. It even gets Flex Mode which allows the hinge to free stand at different angles so that the phone can effectively become its own tripod.

Under the hood, you’ll find the Snapdragon 865+ processor with 12GB RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The top-notch specs make the device a bona fide flagship smartphone and its unique form factor just adds to its appeal. The cameras aren’t exceptional by any means but they are enough to get the job done for most users. There’s tons of new functionality, though, which takes full advantage of the large screen.

It goes without saying that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 deserves a place on this list. It’s truly shaping up to be one of the best Samsung phones ever made.

Reasons to buy: Unique form factor, stylish design, great performance and useful features.

Who should buy: Power users, loyal Samsung fans, hype beasts and influencers.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 Specs | Galaxy Z Fold 2 Hands-On | Buy Galaxy Z Fold 2 from Samsung

Best Samsung Phone – Mid-range: Galaxy A51

Samsung made several key improvements to the Galaxy A51, the successor to its hugely popular Galaxy A50, and they have paid off. The Galaxy A51 remains one of the very highly regarded Samsung mid-range smartphones in 2020. The build quality is nice and the 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display is seriously impressive.

There’s plenty of power under the hood as well, with the $399 Galaxy A51 being able to power even the most intensive of mobile games. The camera setup got a major upgrade and the Galaxy A51 is actually Samsung’s first smartphone with a macro camera. Despite its modern makeover, the Galaxy A51 has kept the 3.5mm headphone jack, which many consider being of crucial importance in a mid-range device.

Reasons to buy: Beautiful design, macro camera, excellent display, good gaming performance, 3.5mm headphone jack.

Who should buy: Mobile gamers, photography buffs and customers looking for a reasonable upgrade from a budget device.

Galaxy A51 Specs | Galaxy A51 Review | Buy Galaxy A51 on Amazon

Best Samsung Phone – Budget: Galaxy A31

The Galaxy A31 is a great smartphone for customers on a budget. Despite being a budget handset, it features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, 128GB internal storage, a quad camera setup and a very impressive 5,000mAh battery. Its MediaTek Helio P65 chipset isn’t suited to gaming, though, at least when it comes to resource-intensive games like PUBG.

It’s a decent budget smartphone otherwise. The AMOLED display is one of its biggest selling points and so is the 5,000mAh battery. Camera performance is decent as well while the design and build quality are both respectable.

Reasons to buy: AMOLED display, good design, 5,000mAh battery, decent camera performance.

Who should buy: Customers on a tight budget and those who need long-lasting battery life.

Galaxy A31 Specs | Galaxy A31 Review | Buy Galaxy A31 on Amazon

Why These Are The Best Samsung Phones This Month

Samsung’s strategy has long been to offer something for everyone. We now have one of Samsung’s most diverse smartphone lineups. You have an absolute spec king in the Galaxy S20 Ultra to the extent of being over the top. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is certainly one of the best Note devices yet from Samsung as it builds on the feedback from Note loyalists and provides them with improvements they have long been asking for.

The Galaxy Z Flip is in a league of its own when it comes to foldable smartphones. There’s really no true successor for it on the market yet. It’s also a refreshingly unique device, perfect for those who are fed up with the monotony of smartphone design. The Galaxy S10e may have been out for over a year now but it’s still a great value for the kind of specs it offers.

Samsung has capitalized on the Galaxy A50’s popularity for the Galaxy A51 and made it a worthy successor. It’s a solid competitor in the highly lucrative mid-range smartphone market. The Galaxy A51 does everything that you’d expect a device of its caliber to do without breaking a sweat. Lastly, customers won’t have much to complain about with the Galaxy A31. It’s incredibly clear in its purpose and because of that, it’s worthy of being on this list.

The post Best Samsung Phones in October 2020 – Picked by experts appeared first on SamMobile.

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Best Samsung Galaxy Tablets in October 2020

Nobody makes Android tablets the way Samsung does. The company is an outlier as it still comes out with a flagship Android tablet every year. As part of the company’s vision to offer something for everyone, Samsung’s lineup also includes mid-range and affordable options.

This variety can often present a challenge to those who just want to know what the best Samsung Galaxy tablets are. To help them out, we have created this list of best Samsung tablets which breaks down the strength of each option and explains who should buy them, and why. In addition to detailed information about each tablet, you’ll also find links to our in-depth reviews for these tablets.

Our Best Samsung Tablets List For October 2020

Samsung has treated us to two new tablets this month. This is the first time that we’re seeing it launch two separate models of its flagship tablet. The Galaxy Tab S7+ is accompanied by the Galaxy Tab S7. Some of the company’s earlier tablets have also made it on the list as they offer good value for money.

Best Samsung Tablet – Spec monster: Galaxy Tab S7+

The Galaxy Tab S7+ is surely one of the best tablets that Samsung has ever made. It has a beautiful metal build and feels absolutely premium. It also happens to be the first flagship tablet from Samsung to feature a 12.4-inch display. It’s not just any display, either. This Super AMOLED panel has a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

It’s powered by a top-of-the-line chipset and paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. There’s also a chunky 10,090mAh battery. 5G support is present onboard. The Galaxy Tab S7+ is an absolute productivity champ with features like Multi-Active Window and wireless DeX. Samsung has also improved its S Pen by reducing latency and added more functionality.

Reasons to buy: Big and beautiful display, 120Hz refresh rate, great performance and battery life.

Who should buy: Customers who need a tablet for their work from home setup and enterprise customers for business applications.

Galaxy Tab S7+ Specs | Galaxy Tab S7+ Review | Buy Galaxy Tab S7+ at Samsung

Best Samsung Tablet – Productivity: Galaxy Tab S6

Much like its successor, the Galaxy Tab S6 was undoubtedly the best Android tablet to be released in 2019. It was also the first time that Samsung shipped its flagship tablet with the latest high-end chipset. Samsung initially released the LTE model only but later followed up with a separate 5G model.

The Galaxy Tab S6 also happened to be the first Samsung tablet to feature a dual camera setup at the back. Despite being a year old, it’s still one of the best Samsung tablets for its $729 price tag, and can often be purchased at a discount these days. That’s because it offers a better display than the base Galaxy Tab S7 and there’s really no significant difference in performance.

Reasons to buy: Great build quality, separate 5G variant, Super AMOLED display and dual cameras.

Who should buy: Anyone who needs a powerful Android tablet and feels that the Galaxy Tab S7+ is just too much for them.

Galaxy Tab S6 Specs | Galaxy Tab S6 Review | Buy Galaxy Tab S6 from Amazon

Best Samsung Tablet – Entertainment: Galaxy Tab S5e

Do you only need a tablet to watch Netflix, occasionally browse the internet and use social media apps? The Galaxy Tab S5e is the best option for you. Granted, all of this can also be done by the most basic of tablets, but there won’t be any frustrating performance issues with the Galaxy Tab S5e.

The $479 Galaxy Tab S5e was Samsung’s thinnest tablet when it came out, yet it got a beautiful metal build and a gorgeous 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display. You really can’t beat the quality of Samsung’s AMOLED display and watching video content on it is truly a visual delight. Rich sound is provided by its AKG-tuned quad speakers, making it a well-rounded device for chilling with on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Reasons to buy: Incredibly light and thin, exceptional display, quad speakers and side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Who should buy: Customers who want a tablet purely for the purpose of consuming multimedia content.

Galaxy Tab S5e Specs | Galaxy Tab S5e Review | Buy Galaxy Tab S5e from Amazon

Best Samsung Tablet – S Pen on a budget: Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite earlier this year with the sole purpose of bringing the S Pen to the masses. Previously, one needed to purchase Samsung’s flagship tablet just to get the S Pen experience. With the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Samsung has significantly lowered that barrier of entry.

It still feels sufficiently premium thanks to its metal body. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite also has something that none of the tablets mentioned above have: a 3.5mm headphone jack. Don’t expect a gorgeous AMOLED panel, though, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a 10.4-inch LCD display. The tablet isn’t suited to heavy workloads but if you don’t need that much power, at $429 it’s a great option for those who want the S Pen experience without breaking the bank. It’s often available for purchase online at a decent discount.

Reasons to buy: Affordable, S Pen, 3.5mm headphone jack and good build quality.

Who should buy: Those that don’t require a powerful tablet but would like to have the S Pen experience without spending a fortune.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Specs | Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Review | Buy Galaxy Tab S6 Lite from Amazon

Why These Are The Best Samsung Tablets This Month

The Galaxy Tab S7+ is absolutely one of the best tablets that Samsung has made. It’s packed to the gills with tech and is a great fit for any work from home setup. There’s no question about it being on the list of best Samsung tablets. The same can’t be said for the Galaxy Tab S7, though, which is why the Galaxy Tab S6 finds its way on the list. Even though it’s a year old, it’s still a great option for those who need a productivity tool but don’t necessarily feel the need to buy the latest model.

Samsung continues to sell the Galaxy Tab S5e as well because it fits nicely into its tablet lineup. This isn’t really meant for any heavy workloads but is a great option for watching content. The display is gorgeous and the tablet itself is impossibly thin, making for a very comfortable user experience.

Lastly, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a viable option for customers who want to experience the S Pen on a large display but don’t need a flagship tablet. It offers them the opportunity to experience the best of what the S Pen has to offer at a reasonable price point.

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Galaxy Wearable app updated to support the Galaxy Fit 2

Samsung had unveiled the Galaxy Fit 2 last month alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Ahead of the fitness tracker’s sale in some European markets starting tomorrow, the South Korean firm has updated the Galaxy Wearable app to support the Galaxy Fit 2 so that customers can start using it as soon as the shipment arrives.

The Galaxy Wearable app update brings it to version 2.2.34.20091461, and it has a download size of 4.1MB. Apart from bringing support for the Galaxy Fit 2, the new version of Galaxy Wearable doesn’t bring any other changes or improvements. The app can be installed and updated via the Play Store as well as the Galaxy Store. Alternatively, you can also download it from our APK section.

Galaxy Fit 2 specs

The Galaxy Fit 2 has a slim and lightweight design and offers military-grade durability. It features an accelerometer, gyro, and heart rate sensor, and it can track your steps, sleep, calories burned, and workouts. It also supports automatic workout detection. It features an IP68-certified build and can last up to 15 days on a single charge.

Apart from displaying the time, date, and health vitals, its 1.1-inch Super AMOLED display can mirror smartphone notifications. It supports over 70 attractive watch faces, and the Galaxy Fit 2 is compatible with Android and iOS smartphones. It is priced at $99.99.

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Galaxy S20 series is now getting Google Duo’s auto-framing feature

Google had announced the auto-framing feature for Google Duo last year, and it was included in the first feature drop update for Pixel smartphones. It was exclusive to the Pixel 4 series, but the feature now seems to be rolling out to select Galaxy smartphones from Samsung.

The Galaxy S20 series is now receiving Google Duo’s auto-framing feature. During video calls, the new feature keeps the user in focus by zooming towards their face when they step away from the phone (as long as they stay within the camera’s field-of-view). The camera also smoothly pans towards the user when they move around.

The auto-framing feature seems to be limited to the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The folks over at Android Police tested it on the Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, but the feature is not supported on those smartphones. Hopefully, more Samsung devices will get the feature soon.

When the feature is activated, the video calling app automatically switches to the wide-angle mode. It doesn’t work when switched to the rear-facing camera, though. Google Duo’s auto-framing feature is supposed to be exclusive to Pixel devices, so we don’t know if the rollout to Galaxy devices is intentional.

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