It’s official! Flagship Exynos chip with AMD RDNA2 GPU is coming later this year

Samsung had unveiled earlier this year that it will bring AMD graphics to its flagship Exynos processors. However, the company had not revealed any time frame or details regarding the launch of its next flagship Exynos chipset. Now, AMD has confirmed some of those details during its Computex 2021 keynote event.

AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su made it official during the company’s Computex 2021 launch event today that the next flagship Exynos processor will include RDNA2 graphics. The brand-new GPU, which is coming to mobile devices for the first time, will include advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading to offer higher fidelity graphics and improved power efficiency. RDNA2 is AMD’s latest graphics architecture, and GPUs based on the technology are used in AMD’s 6000 series graphics cards, PS5, and the Xbox Series X|S.

Dr. Lisa Su said, “AMD has partnered with industry leader Samsung for several years to accelerate graphics innovation in the mobile market, and we are happy to announce that we will bring custom graphics IP (Intellectual Property) to Samsung’s next flagship mobile SoC (System on Chip) with ray tracing and variable rate shading capabilities.” It was announced that Samsung will reveal more details about the upcoming processor later this year.

Samsung’s Exynos processors have often been criticized for relatively weaker GPU and performance throttling. With AMD’s latest graphics coming in, we are expecting a significant bump up in gaming and general graphics performance in the next flagship Exynos processor. It is being rumored that the Exynos 2200 will be the first Samsung chip to feature the AMD GPU and that it will be used in both smartphones and laptops.

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International Galaxy S20 series is receiving the new June security update

Samsung began rolling out the June 2021 security update last week, with the Galaxy Z Flip 5G being the first device to receive it. A new firmware update is now hitting the waves for another Samsung flagship that was released in 2020, and it’s none other than the Galaxy S20.

The latest firmware update doesn’t seem to include any new features aside from improved security, and because Samsung hasn’t revealed the changelog for the June security update yet, we’re sort of left in the dark, for now. As usual, security patches are released first and detailed later due to security reasons, so this is nothing out of the ordinary. Samsung is expected to follow up with a more complete security patch changelog soon.

The latest update carries firmware version G98xxXXS8DUE4 and it should be available for the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra in several markets including the UK and Luxembourg. Samsung will gradually push the firmware update to more Galaxy S20 models in additional regions, and it shouldn’t take long before it will be available worldwide.

Galaxy S20 owners should be on the lookout for an update notification, or they can try triggering the update from the Settings app on their phones. The update can also be acquired from our firmware archive where readers can download the files for manual installation using a Windows PC.

Galaxy S20

• Model: SM-G980F
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20+

• Model: SM-G985F
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

• Model: SM-G988U
• Dimensions: Bar: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 865
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Galaxy S21 June update with camera lag fix rolling out internationally

What could be one of the most important updates for the Galaxy S21 series for many customers is rolling out internationally starting today, after it was released in Samsung’s home country a few days ago. This is the June 2021 security update that brings a fix for the lag issues in the Galaxy S21 phones’ camera app, as Samsung revealed earlier today.

As we reported a few days back, the camera app on the Galaxy S21 series phones can lag while doing the most basic of tasks, such as zooming in and out on a scene by switching between the main and zoom cameras or switching between shooting modes. According to Samsung, the lag should be fixed in the June update, but to what extent the company has managed to do it is something we will have to test the new firmware to find out. We’ll update this article with our findings soon; if you’ve already downloaded the update, you can tell us if you see any improvements on your phone.

The international rollout of the June 2021 update for the Galaxy S21 series has started in the UAE and is bound to reach more markets before the end of the week. You can check if the update is available for your phone over the air by opening its settings, navigating to Software update, and selecting Download and install. The new firmware is also available in our archives and can be used to manually upgrade the S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra to the latest software (G99xBXXU3AUE8) using a Windows PC.

Galaxy S21

• Model: SM-G991B
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21+

• Model: SM-G996B
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21 Ultra

• Model: SM-G998B
• Dimensions: Bar: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Galaxy Tab S7 FE vs Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: Which tablet did it better?

Samsung borrowed a page from its smartphone business this year and has created its first-ever Fan Edition tablet, called the Galaxy Tab S7 FE. It’s just as large as the Galaxy Tab S7+ and it comes with an S Pen as well as a very similar suite of productivity apps.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE isn’t quite a flagship tablet killer, but when viewed next to the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Samsung’s new tablet is a much more attractive proposition thanks to a combination of better software and hardware. The Lite variant is newer than the full-fledged Galaxy Tab S6, but it’s also not nearly as well equipped, which means it probably doesn’t have what it takes to remain a challenge to the newer Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE vs Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: One TFT display is better

Both the Galaxy Tab S7 FE and the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite have TFT display technology, so they’re both inferior to Samsung’s other AMOLED tablets. At least in regards to the display.

Neither has a high refresh rate display, but the Galaxy Tab S7 FE takes advantage of a larger 12.4-inch panel, which should be a better fit for the included S Pen and accompanying productivity apps.

Finally, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE benefits from a higher display resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels, whereas the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s TFT panel has a pixel count of 2,000 by 1,200.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE vs Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: Internal hardware

The two Galaxy tablets at hand have similar camera characteristics, including an 8MP main shooter and a 5MP selfie camera. Likewise, they both have dual stereo speakers tuned by AKG but only the older Lite model has a 3.5mm headphone jack. They both have a USB-C port, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, and Bluetooth 5.0.

Beyond these similarities, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE has better hardware in virtually every aspect. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 750G chipset whose performance surpasses than the Exynos 9611 in both CPU and GPU-intensive benchmarks, and by a considerable margin.

The Fan Edition model also has more RAM. Both tablets come with 64GB or 128GB of built-in storage, but the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is limited to 4GB of RAM in both cases. On the other hand, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE has 4GB as standard and 6GB for the beefier model, which should facilitate better multitasking.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE has a larger 10,090mAh battery with support for 45W super-fast charging, whereas the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is equipped with a 7,040mAh battery with 15W charging.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE vs Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: Software and productivity

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a newer tablet that ships with Android 11 instead of Android 10, which means it will enjoy support for a longer time than the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.

But aside from this obvious difference, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE also ships with a more powerful suite of productivity apps, such as Noteshelf, Clip Studio Paint, and a 30-day trial to Canva Pro. Up until now, this apps bundle was reserved for the Galaxy Tab S7 flagship series.

The new model supports Samsung DeX through a hardware connection, and it can be paired with an optional Keyboard Cover accessory to boosts on-the-go productivity further. It also features Second Screen and Multi-Active Window.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE vs Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: Design and Conclusion

There’s not much else to be said about these two tablets, except that the Fan Edition looks a tiny bit more modern thanks to squarer edges, the magnetic S Pen stripe across the back, thinner bezels, and the rectangular camera housing.

Samsung’s first Fan Edition tablet is superior to the company’s most recent Lite model in virtually every way. It’s faster, more powerful, and it delivers a more complete software experience. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite was never a huge hit for Samsung, but now it looks like there’s one less reason for  Android tablet enthusiasts to care about the Lite-branded model.

Samsung is planning to release the Galaxy Tab S7 FE on pre-order terms on June 2. The tablet will ship to customers starting June 18. Samsung has also revealed pre-order prices, which are arguably a bit too high for a device of this caliber.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE

VS.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Full comparison

General Information
Model name	Galaxy Tab S7 FE	Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Model number	SM-T737	SM-P610
Model type	Tablet	Tablet
Color	Black (Black) Silver (Silver) Green (Green) Pink (Pink)	Gray (Gray) Pink (Pink) Blue (Blue)
Announced	2021, May	2020, April
Released	2021, May	2020, April
Physical Specifications
Dimensions	Tablet: 185 x 284.8 x 6.3 mm	Tablet: 244.5 x 154.3 x 7.0 mm
Weights	608g	465g
Operating System
Operating system	Android 11	Android 10
One UI version	3.1	2.1
Network
Networks	2G 3G 4G
Display
Kind	Main Display	Main Display
Name	Infinity Display
Technology	TFT	TFT
Size	12.4 inch / mm	10.4 inch / 264.16 mm
Resolution	WQXGA / 2560x1600 pixels	WUXGA+ / 2000x1200 pixels
Pixel density	244 PPI	224 PPI
Screen to body ratio	%	~81.6%
Memory
RAM/ROM sizes	4 GB RAM with 64 GB ROM 6 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM	4 GB RAM with 64 GB ROM 4 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM
Rear camera
Megapixels	8MP	8MP
Battery
Standard battery capacity	10090 mAh	7040 mAh
View full comparison »

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Does the Galaxy Tab S7 FE have a 3.5mm headphone jack?

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is official but it’s not yet available for purchase, and while we will be preparing a full review in the future, we didn’t have any hands-on time with the tablet when it was unveiled last week behind closed doors.

Samsung did share a lot of information with us regarding the tablet, but between the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, and the numerous leaks that have preceded both tablets, we have erroneously reported on a couple of recent occasions that Samsung’s Fan Edition tablet is equipped with a 3.5mm audio port. That, however, is far from the truth.

The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is the only model of the two new tablets to have a 3.5mm headphone jack, whereas the Galaxy Tab S7 FE lacks one, just like the Galaxy S20 FE does.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack

Samsung did communicate the correct information, but we made an error when we thought that both tablets have this standard feature. They don’t.

SamMobile and I — the author of this article — wholeheartedly apologize to our readers for this error. I was responsible for relaying the correct information about the Galaxy Tab S7 FE to our readers, and although the information was otherwise correct, I made an error regarding a feature that many Samsung fans still consider to be very important to this day. Samsung is not to blame for this.

There’s not much else that can be said at this point, so we will leave you with a promise that we have never stopped striving for greatness, and we will use this mishap to improve the quality of our website and our content further.

Thank you for your understanding. Stay safe!

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Samsung rescues Google once again by using Wear for smartwatches

Rumors over the past few months claimed Samsung would be ditching Tizen for its new smartwatches. The company apparently wanted to make Wear OS (Android) smartwatches again. This would have been a big decision for the company. Samsung did make Android-powered smartwatches in the past. However, it switched over to Tizen in 2014 and hasn’t looked back since. Until now.

Samsung confirmed two weeks ago that it’s dropping Tizen for its upcoming Galaxy Watch devices. It’s embarking on a new collaboration with Google to create a powerful platform for smartwatches simply called Wear. The confirmation came during Google’s annual I/O developers’ conference.

The messaging has been quite clear from the start. This isn’t Samsung conceding defeat, even if it may appear that way. All credit to Samsung for making Tizen a powerful platform for wearable devices.

With complete control over the software, Samsung built features and functionality that could best any Wear OS smartwatch. This also allowed for exceptional integration with Samsung smartphones.

Tizen only lagged in the app department. Despite Samsung selling millions of smartwatches every year, it wasn’t able to generate the kind of developer interest that Wear OS has. The company was the third biggest smartwatch brand in 2020, behind only Apple and Huawei. If you exclude Huawei’s considerable sales in China then no Wear OS smartwatch manufacturer even came close to the numbers that Samsung moved.

Google’s problem was that it didn’t have a major OEM partner for smartwatches, one with the kind of global brand recognition and access like Samsung. The cookie-cutter Wear OS watches from countless fashion brands just weren’t good enough. The clear lack of hardware innovation for its smartwatch platform meant that Google had to find a solution.

This is where the interests of Google and Samsung intersect. The two have come together to create a new unified platform for smartwatches called Wear. Google gets to put its operating system on some of the best smartwatches in the business. Samsung gets access to the vast Android developer ecosystem. It’s a win-win.

Samsung has also been able to extract a big concession from Google. While it hasn’t typically allowed OEMs to customize the look and feel of Wear OS like it does with Android, Samsung will slap One UI on top of its new Wear-powered smartwatches. Other OEMs will be able to use this platform as well so they benefit from Google’s relaxed rules too.

The next-generation Galaxy Watch models stand to benefit from this partnership. A standalone Google Maps version will be available, it won’t require your phone to function. A YouTube Music app will bring offline downloads with the feature also being supported on the Spotify app.

By partnering with Samsung, Google is able to bring its smartwatch platform out of the wilderness. The numbers that it was doing were fine enough. Samsung’s Tizen-based smartwatches were outselling Wear OS smartwatches simply because of the power of the Galaxy ecosystem. Yet it chose to come to Google’s rescue while also extracting some benefits on its own terms.

This isn’t a one-off event. Samsung has long contributed to the growth of Google’s software products. There’s no doubt that One UI makes Android better. Samsung has introduced features like system-wide dark mode and split screen long before they made it to Android. Even the latest Android 12 clearly takes inspiration from One UI.

Will this latest partnership for smartwatches repeat history? Samsung’s Bada-powered phones were doing quite well when the company decided to switch to Android entirely. Having Samsung onboard as an Android OEM has significantly boosted Android availability across the globe, particularly in the emerging markets where Samsung enjoys significant brand equity.

Ultimately, it’s the users that benefit from such collaborations. Samsung and Google’s close cooperation on smartphones has brought unique features to foldable devices. This unified Wear platform that they’re now working on will certainly advance the smartwatch cause. What do you get when you combine the power of Android with a Samsung smartwatch that retains its signature design elements, like a rotating bezel, and custom skin? A damn good product.

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Galaxy S21 camera lag issues will be nuked soon

It turns out that we weren’t the only ones to experience issues with the Galaxy S21 camera app, and Samsung has now acknowledged the problem via the Members forums. As some of you might recall, we talked about the Galaxy S21 camera app being frustratingly laggy a few weeks ago, and we posted a video to prove it. Well, other users are experiencing the same problem, and Samsung has now addressed it.

According to a Samsung Members moderator, the company confirmed that camera lag becomes an issue when there is insufficient memory or computational resources in a specific path including portrait mode, but we’ve also experienced this problem in landscape mode.

In any case, Samsung is aware of the problem and it’s already working on a fix to address the lag in the Galaxy S21 camera app.

Samsung to fix the problem with the next security patch

The forum moderator confirmed that Samsung will include the necessary fixes to address the Galaxy S21 camera lag issue with the June 2021 security patch.

Samsung hasn’t released the June security update outside of South Korea yet, but it should soon. The company usually brings new monthly security patches before other OEMs, but as always, the update’s availability will differ by region, with some markets receiving the update sooner than others.

Have you experienced any lag issues with the Galaxy S21 camera? If so, then stay tuned and we’ll keep you up to speed as soon as Samsung provides a fix in more regions. If not, then we now know the reason why some customers haven’t been affected. Their devices simply didn’t run out of memory or computational resources when capturing photos or videos, but that’s not to say it can never happen.

Samsung official statement regarding S21 camera app lags

We have confirmed that lag occurs when there is insufficient memory or computational resources in a specific path including portrait mode.
We will make it available by including a fix in the June SW Update.

JUNE??? 🥱 pic.twitter.com/ryLINUth80

— Tron ❂ (@FrontTron) May 31, 2021

Galaxy S21

• Model: SM-G991B
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21+

• Model: SM-G996B
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21 Ultra

• Model: SM-G998B
• Dimensions: Bar: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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The Vietnamese government has asked Samsung to help finding vaccines

Vietnam is one of the unfortunate countries that have experienced a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases this month, and the local government is now asking foreign companies, including Samsung Electronics, to secure vaccines for their workers.

Bui Hoang Mai, head of the industrial park management board in the province of Bac Ninh, told Bloomberg over the phone that ‘the government is encouraging companies to find COVID-19 vaccines for their workers.’ A similar statement was made through the Vietnamese government’s website.

The authorities want the situation to be kept under control and for the tech factories to remain operational while the involved parties do what they must to contain the virus. Among other procedures, Bac Ninh authorities have reportedly ordered factories to set up sleeping arrangements for workers on-site.

The health ministry is doing its part and has confirmed that it has sent 200,000 vaccine doses to Bac Ninh as well as Bac Giang workers. These vaccines are to be administrated within a week.

Vietnam is where the majority of Samsung’s mobile products are made

Last week, Samsung announced that it began shipping 1 million Low Dead Space (LDS) syringes to India to increase the vaccine’s distribution and reduce waste by roughly 20%. They got shipped from South Korea, where Samsung is involved with improving the manufacturing yield of syringes and surgical masks through smart factory technologies.

It’s unclear how Samsung will want to tackle these challenges in Vietnam, or whether or not it has any plans for shipping LDS syringes to the country. More details should surface soon.

Samsung is the largest tech company in Vietnam, with its shipments of smartphones, displays, and other products accounting for roughly 25% of the country’s total exports. Vietnam is where the majority of Samsung’s mobile products are being made, with its factories in the Thai Nguyen province churning out smartphones, tablets, as well as wearable devices.

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The Galaxy Tab S6 at Sprint is now joining the Android 11 / One UI 3.1 club

Another US carrier is pushing the Android 11-based One UI 3.1 firmware update to the Galaxy Tab S6. The tablet first got the update in March, and Verizon began distributing it earlier in May. Now, the Galaxy Tab S6 at Sprint is receiving a similar treatment as the carrier is rolling out the Android 11 firmware update for the 2019 flagship tablet model.

This is as big of an update as firmware updates get. One UI 3.1 introduces performance improvements as well as a new visual design with more consistent UI element sizes and better placement. Bixby Routines was improved and now comes with better lock screen widgets, and Digital Wellbeing has separate personal and work profiles.

Further customization options include animated call backgrounds. Conversations can now be seen separately in the notification panel.

Better photography and photo / video editing, and sharing

With Sprint’s Galaxy Tab S6 now being updated to Android 11 / One UI 3.1, users gain access to an improved Samsung Keyboard with added emoji and sticker suggestions, and a total of 370 input languages.

The tablet also enjoys better photography thanks to improved auto focus and auto exposure, while edited pictures can now be returned to their original versions at any time.

As for productivity, My Files now has an option to delete cache files, and users can now use the app to select cloud drive files.

Devices and media buttons were added to the notification panel, and Wi-Fi direct can no longer be used to send files to other devices, but instead, this functionality is available through Nearby Share.

Improved security and privacy options

Last but not least, the latest Galaxy Tab S6 firmware update improves the security of the device in a few ways. Samsung and Sprint have included the May 2021 security patch, and it introduces stronger privacy protection.

Users also now have the option of allowing an app to access the device’s camera, microphone, and / or location just one time, with these permissions being revoked if the app runs in the background for too long.

Sprint customers and Galaxy Tab S6 owners should be able to acquire the latest firmware update OTA (over the air) from the Settings app on the tablet. It can be identified by firmware version T867USQU4CUE1. Alternatively, you can download the latest firmware from our archive and install it on your tablet manually.

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Samsung could supply OLED screens to Apple for next year’s iPads

Earlier today, it was reported that Samsung Display has started making 120Hz LTPO OLED panels for the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro. In addition to those, the South Korean display manufacturing giant could also supply OLED screens for some iPad models that are expected to be released next year.

According to a report from ETNews, Apple will switch from LCD and Mini-LED screens to OLED screens for some iPad models starting next year. Samsung Display has been supplying OLED screens for Apple Watches, iPhones, and even MacBook’s Touch Bar. Now, it is being expected that the South Korean display manufacturing giant will make OLED screens for next year’s iPads as well.

The companies have reportedly agreed on the production schedule and delivery of the screens. LG could also be one of the OLED screen suppliers for next year’s iPads. Apple is the world’s biggest tablet maker, and getting a contract to make screens for iPads would undoubtedly be a massive business for Samsung Display.

The 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro released this year switched from LCD to Mini-LED display, offering brightness, contrast ratio, and deeper blacks. However, critical analysis has revealed that the Mini-LED display has a blooming problem in some scenarios. On the other hand, OLED screens don’t have the blooming issue due to their self-emissive pixels.

It is also being reported that all iPads released in 2023 could have OLED screens. It will result in more significant investments and faster innovation in the medium-sized OLED segment, and more brands could start using OLED screens for their tablets (and even laptops). Samsung Display has already launched OLED displays with a 90Hz refresh rate for laptops.

 

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Samsung smartphone sales rise in Africa, Europe, Middle East in Q1 2021

Samsung has been under fierce competition from Apple and Xiaomi in the smartphone segment. The South Korean firm had just three devices in the list of top ten best-selling smartphones globally in terms of revenue. In developing markets like India, Samsung has dropped back to second place after Xiaomi, but there’s some good news.

The South Korean firm has seen its smartphone shipments rise in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) during Q1 2020. Samsung shipped 30.6 million Galaxy smartphones during the quarter, acquiring a 32.8% share of the market. That’s a growth of 34.7% compared to 22.7 million units it had shipped one year ago. In Q1 2020, Samsung’s market share in the EMEA region was 29.5%.

Xiaomi is catching up fast with Samsung, though. The Chinese smartphone brand shipped 14.4 million smartphones during the same period, and that’s a whopping 95.8% year-over-year growth. Transsion, which sells smartphones under brands like Tecno, Itel, and Infinix, had an impressive showing, too, shipping 14 million smartphones with year-over-year growth of 62.4%.

Apple, which shipped 13.3 million smartphones in the EMEA region during Q1 2021, had a 33.6% growth. That’s slightly slower when compared to Samsung, but Apple’s profit margins are way higher than any other brand. OPPO entered the top five rankings as it shipped 4.7 million smartphones during the first quarter of this year, showcasing a 62.3% year-over-year growth.

Samsung doesn’t have plans to launch a Galaxy Note series smartphone in the second half of this year, and it will be interesting to see if the company can continue to grow in Q3 and Q4 of 2021.

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Sprint’s Galaxy Z Flip 5G finally gets the May 2021 security update

The international version of the Galaxy Z Flip 5G has already received the June 2021 security patch, but not all variants of the foldable phone have been so lucky. The Galaxy Z Flip 5G’s carrier-locked versions in the US have been stuck with the April 2021 security patch. Just one day before the start of June, the Sprint version of the phone has started receiving the May 2021 security update.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5G’s Sprint variant is now receiving a new software update with firmware version F707USQU2CUD9. It includes the May 2021 security patch along with the usual bug fixes and stability improvements. This security patch was first released to the unlocked variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 5G one month ago.

If you are a Galaxy Z Flip 5G user on Sprint’s network in the US, you might have received a notification regarding the new software. If not, you can check for the update manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. AT&T, T-Mobile, and other carrier versions of the clamshell-style foldable phone could receive this security patch over the next few days.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5G was launched in August 2020 with Android 10 on board. It received the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 update five months ago and the One UI 3.1 update three months ago.

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Samsung starts making 120Hz LTPO OLED panels for iPhone 13

Ever since Apple switched to OLED displays for its high-end iPhones in 2017, Samsung has been the company’s biggest OLED panel supplier. It was rumored last year that Apple might bring 120Hz displays with the iPhone 12 series, but that didn’t happen. It is now being reported that Samsung has already started making 120Hz OLED displays for the iPhone 13 series.

According to a report from TheElec, Samsung Display has started the mass production of OLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO technology for the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The displays are being manufactured at the A3 Line inside the Asan plant. LG Display has started making LTPS OLED panels for the affordable iPhone 13 models (iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13). Samsung Display will produce 80 million OLED panels, while LG Display will manufacture 30 million OLED units.

Since the iPhone 12 and other older iPhones will continue to sell even after the launch of the iPhone 13 series later this year, Samsung will keep supplying OLED panels for those smartphones as well. In total, the South Korean firm will make 120 million OLED units for Apple this year. In comparison, LG Display will ship 50 million OLED panels for iPhones. BOE, the Chinese display maker, will play a small part by making 9 million OLED panels for Apple.

BOE, LG Display, and Samsung Display started producing OLED panels for upcoming iPhones one month earlier than last year, which means that the iPhone 13 could launch sooner than its predecessor did last year.

While all the smartphone brands switched to 120Hz displays last year, Apple appears to be 2-3 years late to the party. And that’s because the iPhone maker uses smaller capacity batteries than Android smartphones, and 120Hz displays consume more battery. Samsung’s LTPO OLED panels should offer better power efficiency, though, thanks to a variable refresh rate that can switch from as low as 10Hz to 120Hz.

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Samsung’s next ultra-cheap Galaxy A series phone leaks, specs and all

It seems Samsung’s got a new ultra-cheap Galaxy A series handset in the works. It’s the Galaxy A03s, according to the folks over at 91Mobiles, and it’s a successor to last year’s Galaxy A02s, as you may have already guessed. We hadn’t heard anything about this phone until today, but we’re now getting both a look at its renders and some of its specs all at once.

The renders reveal a standard budget-minded design, with a plastic back and a 6.5-inch Infinity-V display with a notch. There’s a triple camera setup at the back, reportedly made up of a 13MP main camera and two 2MP sensors, likely ultra-wide and macro. For selfies, there’s said to be a 5MP front-facing camera. Basically, the camera setup is going to be exactly the same as that of the Galaxy A02s.

In fact, the only new stuff on this phone, at least that which is mentioned in today’s leak, is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a USB-C port. The Galaxy A02s lacked both of those features (yes, the microUSB port is still there on some phones), though their inclusion isn’t likely to make the Galaxy A03s incredibly — or at all — exciting for most customers.

The Galaxy A03s is going to be 9.5mm thick and measure 166.6 x 75.9 x 9.1mm. Details on the battery capacity, processor, and memory options haven’t been included in the leak, though if we were to wager a guess, we’d say the battery capacity probably isn’t going to get an upgrade. As for the processor, it remains to be seen whether Samsung will stick to using a Snapdragon chip (the A02s has the Snapdragon 450) or if it will switch to a MediaTek chip as it has been doing for many of its phones this year.

Launch and pricing information is also missing for now, but we should learn more in the coming weeks. We’ll let you know once anything new comes up, but in the meantime, enjoy the 360-degree video of the Galaxy A03s below.

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Weekly SamMobile Quiz 75 – Come test your Samsung knowledge!

Fancy yourself as a Samsung superfan? Take our quiz and see how many answers you can get right! This is a fun activity that we do with our readers every week to test their knowledge of the Korean giant. The quiz has a mix of easy and difficult questions that most fans should be able to answer without turning to Google.

We make a new quiz for you every weekend so we hope that you’ll participate and learn a thing or two about Samsung in the process! Don’t forget to share the results of the quiz with your friends and see if you can outscore them. A little competition never hurt anybody!

Remember, if the quiz isn’t loading properly, please access the non-AMP version of this webpage.

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Samsung fans’ next favorite Snapdragon chip gets benchmarked

The Exynos 2100 may not be a disaster like the Exynos 990, but many people still want to be able to buy the Snapdragon 888 variant of the Galaxy S21 smartphones. That isn’t surprising, as Qualcomm’s chip continues to lead in important parameters such as power efficiency. That desire for the Snapdragon processors is likely to continue to be a thing going forward, and today, the next Snapdragon chip that many Samsung fans will drool over has emerged online.

Like last year, Qualcomm is preparing a Plus variant of its flagship 2021 Snapdragon chip. The Snapdragon 888+ is expected to power major Android flagships in the second half of this year. It’s likely to be the brains behind Samsung’s upcoming foldable devices — the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 — and the Galaxy Tab S8 tablet lineup as well. The 888+ was spotted on the Geekbench website, revealing a slightly higher clock speed for its fastest core. The X1 performance core on the 888 runs at 2.8GHz, while the 888+ has it clocked at 3GHz.

The Snapdragon 888+ will likely power Samsung’s 2021 foldables

The scores in the single and multi-core test seem to be similar to that of the 888, which was also the case for the Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 865+ last year. The main attraction of the 865+ was faster GPU performance, and that will probably be the theme with the 888+. However, specs for the Snapdragon 888+ are mostly a mystery at this point, so we will have to wait and see exactly how it will be better than its non-Plus cousin.

What about Samsung’s Exynos line? Is there a slightly upgraded Exynos 2100 in the works? Well, it probably isn’t, as Samsung used the Exynos 990 all through last year instead of bringing out an improved version (much to everyone’s annoyance). But more importantly, Samsung isn’t launching a new Note flagship this year. The foldable phones will get all the spotlight, and the company’s foldables up to this point have been powered by a Snapdragon chip everywhere. The same goes for its flagship tablet lineup (at least in recent years).

Add to that the chip shortage that has gripped the industry owing to the pandemic, and we likely won’t see Samsung bringing out Exynos variants of its foldables this year. As for that highly anticipated Exynos processor with an AMD GPU, it seems that will first debut in a laptop and won’t be seen on a Galaxy phone this year. All of it is speculation and hearsay at this time, though, so we can’t claim to be certain of anything before some concrete information surfaces online.

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BREAKING: Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra could be the Android tablet to rule them all

Samsung launches a flagship Android tablet every year. We got the Galaxy Tab S7+ last year. It was accompanied by a more affordable version in the form of the Galaxy Tab S7. Samsung has just added another model to that lineup, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

Perhaps this third model of the Galaxy Tab S7 was a sign of things to come. It appears that Samsung will be launching three new high-end Galaxy Tab S8 models this year. One of them might be the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, a tablet so bonkers that you’ll be blown away.

Samsung’s new tablet lineup is going to be off the charts

Details of Samsung’s upcoming tablet lineup have leaked from South Korea. It appears that the company conducted a survey in which it provided some details about the new devices. Samsung may be launching three new models at the same time. The new high-end tablet is codenamed “Basquait.”

Basquait 1 would thus be the entry-level model. It will feature an 11-inch TFT 120Hz display with an 8,000mAh battery and 45W charging. The “fastest next-gen” processor will be onboard along with 8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. The tablet will be 0.63cm thick with a dual camera setup at the back.

Basquait 2 would basically be the Galaxy Tab S7+’s successor. It’s said to feature a 12.4-inch OLED 120Hz display with a 10,090mAh battery and 45W charging. It’s also going to have the same processor with 8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. The tablet will weigh 575g and measure 0.57cm thick. An in-display fingerprint sensor will also be present.

Finally, Basquait 3 would be what Samsung might launch as the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. It will feature a truly massive 14.6-inch OLED 120Hz display. This is laptop territory that we’re entering in now. The tablet will measure an impressive 0.55cm thin and weigh 650g. It will have a chunky 12,000mAh battery that also supports 45W charging. The same processor will be paired with 8/12GB RAM and 128/512GB storage respectively.

An S Pen will be included with each model. These new tablets will also feature quad speakers, an 8-megapixel front and a 13/5MP dual camera setup at the back with flash. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will have a dual 8MP and 5MP ultra-wide camera setup at the front.

Samsung will also be shipping a new premium keyboard accessory for these tablets. It will support a variety of different modes for added versatility during use, allowing for a 165-degree field of view.

All three models will have Wi-Fi, LTE and 5G models. Prices for what may be called the Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+ and the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will start at $740, $1,120 and $1,320 respectively based on the conversion from Korean Won.

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Galaxy Tab S7 FE seems like a poor excuse for a Fan Edition device

It’s a little unclear right now when Fan Edition really means for Samsung. The company hasn’t told us exactly who these fans are and how it decides which features these fans love the most when it sets out to make Fan Editions of flagship phones and tablets. It probably does some internal polling that we will never see the data on, and it makes us wonder if there’s really a proper goal Samsung has in mind.

After all, take a look at the Galaxy S20 FE and compare it with the Galaxy Tab S7 FE. The former gives you pretty much every major feature from the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ (you even have to make do with the Exynos 990, but let’s not enter that territory, shall we?). The latter? Well, you get some of the good Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ features, but a lot of them are missing.

The only true flagship stuff — as in features that you don’t see on Samsung’s mid-range or budget devices — you’re getting are the S Pen, 45W charging, and software features like DeX mode. Actually, scratch the S Pen off the list, because the stylus has been available on plenty of mid-range Galaxy tablets already. As for everything else, there’s nothing really special on offer. Sure, the display is huge and so is the battery capacity, there’s 5G (yay?) and hey, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack as well!

A made-for-fans Galaxy device with an LCD display?

But it’s strange how Samsung has the audacity to call the Galaxy Tab S7 FE a device made for fans without giving you an AMOLED screen, let alone a high refresh rate. Who in their right minds is looking to pay €600+ for a tablet with an LCD display that works at 60Hz when even a sub-$200 Galaxy M series phone has a 90Hz panel? Well, some customers surely wouldn’t mind, but it’s a huge omission from a device that’s supposed to be made for some so-called fans.

Don’t even get us started on the processor choice and the amount of memory you’re getting. The Tab S7 FE has a Snapdragon 750G, the same chip that powers the 5G-capable-but-otherwise-budget Galaxy M42 5G and the Galaxy A52 5G. And… wait for it… the base variant has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for €649! Is the 750G powerful enough to run Dex mode on the tablet? Will 4GB of RAM handle the weight of running three apps at once using the Multi-Active Window feature?

These are questions that will only be answered once we’ve had the chance to test the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, but theoretically, this tablet lacks too much of what made the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ so good. Even if it turns out to be a fairly solid tablet, perhaps Samsung should have called it the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite, as there’s a good chance many customers will buy one thinking it’s a flagship killer of sorts like the Galaxy S20 FE and end up being disappointed.

Or perhaps that’s the goal here, to use the Fan Edition branding to lure gullible customers into spending their hard-earned money? We can’t say, but we sure hope Samsung won’t bungle up the upcoming Galaxy S21 FE in a similar way and tarnish the Fan Edition brand before it has even had the chance to take off.

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Galaxy Note 8 gets new update with more than security fixes in tow

Samsung’s software support keeps finding new ways to shine. From pushing future security patches ahead of time to promising three generations of OS updates for many devices, the Korean giant is doing all it can to show customers that it cares about them after they have paid for the hardware. In the latest such move, Samsung has released yet another new update for the Galaxy Note 8, nearly four years after it hit retail shelves.

And this isn’t just a standard security update. Well, at least judging by the firmware version (N950FXXUFDUE4), which suggests the update includes more than just security enhancements, though Samsung doesn’t go into detail in the changelog. But considering how this update comes so long after the Galaxy Note 8 stopped getting big updates, there likely is something important in there. Oh, and you also get the May 2021 security patch.

The update is currently limited to Germany. Since the phone is in Samsung’s quarterly release schedule, it’s hard to say when other countries will join the party. It could be today, it could be next week, or it could be in a couple of months – it all depends on when your Note 8 last received an update. Speaking of last updates, Samsung is likely to remove the Note 8 from the quarterly schedule before the end of the year, seeing as how that recently became the Galaxy S8’s fate.

As usual, you can check if the latest update is available for your phone by opening its Settings app, selecting Software update, and tapping the download option. You can also go the alternative route and download the new firmware for your device model and country from our firmware archive and install it using a Windows PC.

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‘Hey, Google, turn off Android purism and order Galaxy S21… erm, Pixel 6’

If you haven’t been keeping up with the news lately, you might have missed this week’s terse, but credible report about how Samsung scored a deal to supply even more Pixel 6 parts. That would be in reference to the Pixel 6 Pro – supposedly the next Android flagship Google has in the works for… gee, this is hard. People who happen to adore every third smartphone by Google? Low-demand users who’d be content with any device not outright malicious toward them?

It’s difficult to say, but just watching self-proclaimed Pixel aficionados react to the original report of Samsung doing the Pixel brains this year is plenty of fun. Especially in light of the aforementioned report which suggested an Exynos-powered Pixel phone is as good as done. Well, half-done, at least. It is Google we’re talking about here, I’m pretty sure they have a whole department in charge of killing any and all products whose development cycles haven’t been outright schizophrenic for longer than six months.

Who needs stability when those defense contracts keep coming? This way, you get the monies and don’t have to sweat over your social media calendar for 2022. Just check what Samsung did five years ago, then do that in vanilla Android.

Even Samsung would likely prefer a capable rival-client over a measly supply deal

And so, the self-fulfilling prophecy of Google being bad at hardware will most likely continue this year. For its 2021 edition, I’m going to wager a guess that it’s somehow going to be Samsung’s fault, at least according to some of the loudest, most hardcore tech enthusiast communities on the Internet. Those whose opinions happen to echo the loudest, thus appearing way more prevalent than they are.

Since the Nexus days, Google has tried mid-rangers, flagships, then something in between, both, and neither. Not necessarily in that order, but it’s difficult to keep track of this specific flavor of bland and gimmicky. From the squeezable edges of the Pixel 2 which were cute but useless to the full-blown snake oil salesman mode that was required for someone at Google to greenlight the Soli radar-whatever, the Bixby button seems like a Nobel-worthy contribution to science in comparison.

Maybe if any of those previous devices had a feature list more consistent than what you’d get from throwing darts at an Icelandic horoscope and spelling the results into Google Translate set to full auto, there would still be people looking forward to another Pixel phone or two being in the works. Looking forward in a “probably-buying-it-day-one” kind of way.

Samsung, for one, would certainly love a slightly stronger Pixel series; largely on account of the fact that Google’s brand is distinct no matter what. To the point that it could definitely generate some sales that would have never been Samsung’s, anyway. All the while Seoul might have been making even more money from a variety of supply contracts. The kind it already has with Google, but on such an insignificant scale the Pixel lineup usually isn’t even a footnote in the company’s financial reports.

The ultimate Google… I mean, Galaxy phone?

Given how focused Samsung’s been on optimizing margins in recent times, it’s impossible to see that situation changing anytime soon. Even on the off chance the Pixel 6 series ends up glimpsing so much as a fraction of what the Galaxy S21 lineup achieved so far. Direct comparisons wouldn’t be fair, of course, but given the implications of a Mali-G78 graphics chip being part of the package, not to mention the rest of the Exynos 2100, it’s difficult not to wonder how the next Pixel won’t be a poor man’s Galaxy S21.

Not that anyone should expect it to be cheaper than Samsung’s mainstay for 2021. Least of all in the U.S. where Samsung has been pushing some jaw-dropping deals lately, with the Galaxy S21 range currently starting at $99 alongside an eligible trade-in. And maximizing the value of the latter is way easier than you might suspect after being conditioned to expect borderline-scam tactics from the average electronics brand.

Instead, the Pixel 6 Pro or whatever is in the works at the world’s most luxurious retirement home for ex-HTC engineers sounds like it’s going to be yet another reimagining of an erratic line. One that will sell in such minuscule quantities that Samsung won’t even mention its impact on its quarterly financials. Either due to a planet-wide conspiracy against Google, or the simple fact that Alphabet’s subsidiary never really learned how to do hardware to begin with. Not consumer-grade hardware, at least. And certainly not smartphones, which are as high-end as mass-consumer goods get while still hitting annual sales targets worthy of a mass-anything label.

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Samsung Galaxy users: Google Photos’ unlimited backup service is ending soon

Google Photos is the most popular and widely used cloud photo storage service out there, mainly thanks to the fact that it has provided free unlimited photo backups to the cloud to everyone with a Google account for the last couple of years. More than 4 trillion photos are stored in Google Photos, as Google announced last year, and 28 billion new photos and videos are uploaded each week.

All good things come to an end eventually, though, and soon, the same will be true for Google Photos’ unlimited photo storage. As many of you might already be aware, Google is ending its free unlimited storage service starting June 1, and if you own a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, that applies to you as well.

Starting June 1, all photos and videos backed up to Google Photos will count against the free 15GB of Google Account storage that’s shared between Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail (photos and videos uploaded before that date will not count towards that free storage). That means it’s time to start thinking about paying Google for more storage or look for another cloud storage service and pay for that instead.

Time to pay to store those memories in the cloud

That’s because no cloud service out there provides unlimited free storage of photos and videos. Google was the only one, but that’s no longer going to be the case starting next week. And depending on which ecosystem you’re using, the best two options for buying cloud storage from are Google and Microsoft, both of which provide you with the ability to buy additional online storage at different prices and are two of the most trusted brands around.

With Microsoft, the benefit is that OneDrive Sync is integrated into Samsung Gallery, which is great if you tend to browse your photos and videos on the Samsung’s gallery app. Microsoft also tends to be less heavy-handed with how much of your data it farms to make money from advertisers, so it’s better if privacy of your data is a big concern. Microsoft’s OneDrive storage plans can be seen here.

However, if you’re wholly into Google’s ecosystem and use its various services, then Google Photos is easily the better choice, especially since you will be able to access the app on every Android device out there — and the iPhone as well — if you someday decide to stop using a Galaxy-branded phone or tablet. Plus, the Google Photos app offers a lot of amazing AI-enhanced features that can’t be found elsewhere. Here’s where you can check out all of Google’s storage plans.

Either way, the decision is up to you: If paying for cloud storage isn’t your thing, then you can choose to start saving your photos and videos to physical media. For Galaxy devices that support expandable storage, you can buy a microSD card for cheap. Or, if you want to be able to access your photos online from anywhere, you can also check out network-attached storage devices like Western Digital’s My Cloud that connect to your home’s Wi-Fi router and can be used by all members of your family.

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Galaxy Buds 2 design leaks, might come with a compromise

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds lineup has been a success. After the modest launch of the Galaxy Buds two years ago, the company has upped the game by launching the Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds Live, and the Galaxy Buds Pro. Now, the company is looking to launch the successor to the original Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Buds+.

The Galaxy Buds 2 (SM-R177) design has been leaked ahead of the official launch, thanks to the truly wireless earbuds’ FCC certification. The upcoming earbuds appear to have a design similar to the Galaxy Buds Pro rather than the Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Buds+. Even the case has a rounded square design, similar to the Galaxy Buds Pro, which means that Samsung is moving away from the older, pill-shaped case design.

The images found in the FCC certification showcase that the Galaxy Buds+ have infrared sensors for automatic wear detection and metal connectors for charging. While the upcoming truly wireless earbuds are only visible in the black color, we should expect a few more colors, going by the company’s history.

Galaxy Buds 2 could feature shorter battery life than Galaxy Buds+

Samsung tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) has mentioned on Twitter that the South Korean firm’s upcoming wireless earbuds will feature improved audio quality and “active noise reduction.” It might be the company’s way of mentioning passive noise cancellation rather than ANC (Active Noice Cancellation). The Galaxy Buds 2 features Bluetooth 5.0 with LE and Qi wireless charging (2.5W).

The upcoming earbuds feature a combined battery capacity of 120mAh (60mAh inside each earbud) and 500mAh for the case. It means that we should realistically expect lower battery life on a single charge when compared to the Galaxy Buds+ (which has an 85mAh battery inside each earbud). The Galaxy Buds+ can last 11 hours straight on a single charge, but the Galaxy Buds+ might not last as long (unless there are power efficiency improvements).

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Galaxy A80 joins the May 2021 security update party

Samsung is continuing to update its older smartphones and tablets. It released the June 2021 security patch to the Galaxy S21 series yesterday and to the Galaxy Z Flip 5G earlier today. Now, the company has started releasing the May 2021 security patch to its two-year-old rotating-camera smartphone, the Galaxy A80.

The Galaxy A80 has started getting a new software update with the May 2021 security patch in Spain. The new software, which bears firmware version A805FXXU6DUE2, brings fixes from both Google and Samsung for various privacy and security vulnerabilities. While we don’t have the changelog just yet, you can expect to see improvements to file sharing over Quick Share to be part of the update, similar to recent updates released for other Galaxy devices.

Of course, the bigger question Galaxy A80 users might have is whether their phone will manage to make it to Android 12 and One UI 4.0 or if it will spend its last remaining days on Android 11. Well, according to Samsung’s official list of phones eligible for three generations of OS updates, the Galaxy A80 didn’t make the cut, so minor software updates are all that it is likely to get moving forward, before it is eventually limited to only security-related releases.

If you own a Galaxy A80, you can check if the latest update is available for your phone from its Settings » Software update menu. You can also upgrade your phone by downloading the latest firmware from our archive and installing it using a Windows PC, though not before you make sure you have backed up all your important data.

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These are some of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s best features

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE was officially announced as Samsung’s first-ever FE (Fan Edition) tablet, and although it doesn’t have a flagship-grade chipset or an AMOLED display, it has a lot of other qualities that make it stand out a bit more than it would have otherwise.

Some of the best Galaxy Tab S7 FE features are actually borrowed directly from the Galaxy Tab S7 flagship series. It even has one feature that the more expensive flagship models lack. So, without further ado, here are the best features the Galaxy Tab S7 FE has to offer.

A large display and an S Pen included in the box

Samsung’s new Fan Edition device boasts an unusually large display for a non-flagship Galaxy tablet. It’s a generous 12.4-inch panel that has the same resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 as the Galaxy Tab S7.

The panel is TFT and it doesn’t support a high refresh rate, but it can be paired with the included S Pen for a significant boost in productivity and creativity.

Great software and a good collection of productivity apps

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE ships with Android 11 and One UI 3.1, which are the latest versions available to the public, at least until Android 12 and One UI 3.5 take the stage later this year. Samsung will supposedly support the tablet with three major Android OS updates up until version 14.

Beyond Android OS and One UI, Samsung’s first FE tablet also borrows its productivity software suite from the 2020 flagship models. It ships with the latest version of Samsung Notes, as well as third-party apps such as Clip Studio Paint, Noteshelf, and a 30-day trial to Canva Pro. These apps can take full advantage of the included S Pen accessory.

Samsung Dex and an optional Book Cover Keyboard accessory

The app suite above should be enough to label the Galaxy Tab S7 FE as a productivity tablet, but there’s more to it than that. The FE model also supports Samsung DeX, and together with the Book Cover Keyboard accessory that can be purchased separately, it can become a powerful on-the-go, lightweight machine.

Other software features include Multi-Active Window, split-screen mode, and support for Second Screen, the latter of which allows the tablet to act as a secondary screen for Windows 10 PCs via WiDi.

A modern design with a metal finish

Samsung’s first FE tablet looks very much like a flagship model. It has a flat back panel and flat edges all around, similar to the Galaxy Tab S6 and Tab S7 premium models. It looks modern with relatively thin bezels, and the back panel features a magnetic strip for the S Pen.

The back panel has a metal finish, and Samsung is releasing the tablet in four color options: Mystic Black, Mystic Green, Mystic Pink, and Mystic Silver.

A 3.5mm headphone jack

A 3.5mm headphone jack isn’t an unusual sight in the budget segment, but it has become a rarity at the opposite end of the spectrum. The 3.5mm audio port was abandoned by Samsung’s flagship phones and tablets alike, but the Galaxy Tab S7 FE isn’t a premium device, so it didn’t get the memo.

This is one instance in which the tablet’s non-premium nature has worked in its favor. The Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ are limited to wireless earbuds or USB-C dongles, whereas the Fan Edition tablet comes with a standard 3.5mm audio port on top of the usual Bluetooth capabilities for wireless earbuds.

A massive battery with 45W super fast charging support

Last but certainly not least, one of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s best features is its massive battery. It has a capacity of 10,090mAh, same as the Galaxy Tab S7+, and it should provide up to 13 hours of video playback on a single charge.

Furthermore, it boasts 45W super-fast charging, and one of Samsung’s leaked promotional materials suggested that the battery can gain a full charge in up to 190 minutes at maximum charging speeds.

There is one caveat. The tablet supports 45W charging, but Samsung is shipping it with a 15W charger in the box. However, customers who may want to get more out of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE battery can purchase an optional 25W or 45W charger separately.

What are some of your favorite Galaxy Tab S7 FE features? Let us know in the comment section.

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