BREAKING: Galaxy Tab S7+ starts receiving One UI 3.1 update

After rolling out the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 update to most of its high-end smartphones, Samsung has started rolling out the Android 11 update to the Galaxy Tab S7+. However, the new update brings along One UI 3.1 instead of One UI 3.0. The Galaxy Tab S7+ has become the first device to receive the One UI 3.1 update.

The Galaxy Tab S7+ LTE is now receiving the Android 11-based One UI 3.1 update in South Korea. The new software update comes with firmware version T875NKOU1BUA8, and it has a file size of 2,442MB. Since it is a huge update, we advise you to download it using Wi-Fi. If you are a Galaxy Tab S7+ LTE user in South Korea, and if you haven’t received the update yet, you can check for it manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install.

This story is developing…

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Galaxy S21 lets you remove location data from images before sharing them

Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones not only come with a new design and updated specifications, but they also feature improvements to privacy and security-related features. The Galaxy S21 makes it safer for users to share images with other people nearby or on the internet.

Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra users can choose to remove GPS location data from their photos before sharing them with other people. All they have to do while sharing their photos is to select the ‘Remove location data’ and then choose the sharing service of their choice. This will strip away latitude and longitude information from the image’s EXIF data. Although users can remove location data from photos by using countless third-party apps on the Play Store, having this feature built-in will make it accessible to a lot more users.

The new phones also come with a couple of other new security features. Galaxy S21 users can also use the Private Share feature if they want to have more control over who can see their photos, videos, documents, and other files, and how long they can have access to those files. Users can either manually revoke file access or wait for two days after which access is automatically revoked. However, even the recipient will need to have a Galaxy device running Android 9.0 or above.

Another new feature is Samsung Knox Vault, which uses a secure sub-processor, secure memory, and integrated software to protect biometric, blockchain, PIN, and password data. This feature saves user data even during hardware attacks. The South Korean tech giant mentioned it during the Galaxy S21’s launch event that it has worked closely with Qualcomm and Samsung LSI for this feature.

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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Samsung starts rolling out Android Auto support for SmartThings

Last week, Samsung had announced during the Unpacked 2021 event that it will bring Android Auto support for SmartThings. The new feature lets users control their smart home products right from their car’s infotainment unit. Now, the company has started rolling out the new feature to a few users.

The Android Auto integration into the SmartThings app appears to be going live with version 1.7.59.23. If you have received this update on your smartphone, you can start using SmartThings from your car’s Android Auto-compatible dashboard. The Android Auto section appears in the app’s settings menu, and you can select which SmartThings devices you want to show up on your car’s display. You can select up to six devices or SmartThings Scenes. You can also choose to receive automatic notifications for running Scenes when you approach your home (or any chosen location).

The SmartThings app’s icon appears on the Android Auto app launcher. After launching the app, you can turn smart home devices on/off with a simple click. You can also turn on/off automatic notifications for running Scenes from the Settings menu on the top right corner. You can also control SmartThings devices via Google Assistant on Android Auto.

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Galaxy S21 Ultra’s Wi-Fi 6E is powered by a Broadcom chip

The Galaxy S10 was the first smartphone in the world to feature Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and it was launched two years ago. Last week, Samsung launched the world’s first phone with a newer Wi-Fi standard: Wi-Fi 6E. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the only device in the Galaxy S21 lineup to feature Wi-Fi 6E.

The new wireless standard uses the 6GHz spectrum to double the theoretical data transfer speed from 1.2Gbps to 2.4Gbps, and that has been made possible by a chip from Broadcom. The Galaxy S21 Ultra comes equipped with the Broadcom BCM4389 chip, and it also features Bluetooth 5.0. Faster Wi-Fi speeds, when paired with Wi-Fi 6E certified routers, will allow faster downloads and uploads. Things like streaming 4K/8K videos, downloading large files, and competitive online gaming will be faster and easier with Wi-Fi 6E.

Right now, only South Korea and the US have reportedly allowed the use of the 6GHz spectrum. However, Brazil, Chile, Europe, the UAE, and the UK are expected to open the 6GHz spectrum for use this year. Both Exynos 2100 and Snapdragon 888 versions of the Galaxy S21 Ultra feature Wi-Fi 6E connectivity along with 5G, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, and a USB 3.2 Type-C port.

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Galaxy A31 vs Galaxy A32 5G: A polarizing sequel with 5G benefits

The Galaxy A series is transitioning to 5G technology and the Galaxy A32 5G is Samsung’s most affordable 5G phone to have been announced this year. It has yet to hit the shelves and Samsung hasn’t revealed exactly when it should be, but once it does, it will succeed the 4G-limited Galaxy A31.

Several other upgrades aside from 5G have been thrown into the mix but as you’re about to see in this side-by-side comparison, not everything about the Galaxy A32 5G was improved over the last generation. Some components are unchanged but there are also a few notable downgrades and upgrades.

Galaxy A31 vs Galaxy A32 5G: More downgrades than you might think

The Galaxy A32 5G brings in a handful of significant upgrades — 5G connectivity being one of them — but Samsung’s new budget device also took a few shortcuts this year.

The display was downgraded from a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 to an IPS LCD that has a lower HD+ resolution. Since the Galaxy A31 was never targeted at mobile gamers, a lower resolution display for the sequel might make sense from a practical point of view, but there’s no way around the fact that this is a technical downgrade. Perhaps you could look at the lower pixel count as an effort to further optimize the phone for its segment, but the switch from Super AMOLED to IPS LCD is a step down.

In addition, the 5MP depth camera from the Galaxy A31 was replaced by a lower-res 2MP sensor, and even the selfie camera took a hit. It now sits at a resolution of 13MP instead of 20MP. We’ll have to wait and see exactly how the lower-resolution sensors work in the real world, as pixel count is not everything when it comes to photography.

The Galaxy A32 5G has a side-mounted fingerprint reader whereas the Galaxy A31 has an in-display sensor, though in theory, the side-mounted solution should be faster.

Other specifications that have remained unchanged from last year include the main, ultra-wide and macro cameras, the 5,000mAh battery with 15W charging, and all the connectivity features sans 5G.

Galaxy A32 5G most significant changes and upgrades

Some downgrades were clearly made along the way but the Galaxy A32 5G does bring a few key upgrades over its predecessor, including the 5G-enabled Dimensity 720 5G chipset from MediaTek.

The new model comes with more RAM (6GB) as standard and it ships with Android 11-based One UI 3.0 out of the box. More striking is the fact that the Galaxy A32 5G does away with the old design in favor of a fresher look.

From the front, the main difference lies in the Infinity-V (instead of an Infinity-U) display, but more importantly, the back panel looks completely different thanks to a new camera bump, or lack thereof. The new design is arguably the most attractive aspect of the budget 5G phone.

Until the Galaxy A32 5G goes on sale, you can learn more about it and how it compares to the Galaxy A31 by referring to our device comparison widget below. Our Galaxy A31 review can also tell you a lot more about how it’s like living with this budget phone.

Do you think Samsung made the right compromises to bring 5G to the entry-level market with the Galaxy A32? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

Galaxy A31 review

Galaxy A31

VS.

Galaxy A32 5G

Full comparison

General Information
Model name	Galaxy A31	Galaxy A32 5G
Model number	SM-A315F	SM-A326B
Model type	Bar	Bar
Color	Blue (Blue) Black (Black) Red (Red) White (White)	Black (Black) White (White) Blue (Blue) Violet (Violet)
Announced	2020, March	2021, January
Released	2020, March
Physical Specifications
Dimensions	Bar: 159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm	Bar: 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1 mm
Weights	185g	205g
Operating System
Operating system	Android 10
One UI version	2.5
Network
Networks	2G 3G 4G	2G 3G 4G 5G
Display
Kind	Main Display	Main Display
Name	Infinity-U Display	Infinity-V Display
Technology	Super AMOLED Display	IPS LCD
Size	6.4 inch / 162.56 mm	6.5 inch / 165.1 mm
Resolution	FHD+ / 2400x1080 pixels	HD+ / 1600x720 pixels
Pixel density	411 PPI	270 PPI
Screen to body ratio	~84.0%	~81.6%
Memory
RAM/ROM sizes	4 GB RAM with 64 GB ROM 6 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM	4 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM 6 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM 8 GB RAM with 128 GB ROM
Rear camera
Megapixels	48MP	48MP
Aperture	F1.8	F1.8
Battery
Standard battery capacity	5000 mAh	5000 mAh
View full comparison »

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Galaxy S21 series design flaw leaves a lot of room for user error

Samsung’s new Galaxy S21 series, and especially the Galaxy S21 Ultra, is shaping up to be a great addition to the company’s flagship portfolio but the new trio is not without flaws. You’re all probably well-aware of the fact that Samsung has removed any additional accessories — sans a USB cable — from the retail box, but this has more to do with the packaging and the unboxing experience rather than the phones themselves.

Aside from these shortcomings and the fact that the Galaxy S21 series lacks expandable storage, there’s something else that’s been bothering us about the new flagships, and that’s the new location of the SIM tray, which is now dangerously close to the microphone.

Be careful not to break the mic on your Galaxy S21 when inserting a SIM

Samsung has relocated the SIM card tray with the Galaxy S21 series and this component can now be found at the bottom edge, right next to the microphone. As usual, the SIM tray can be ejected by inserting a SIM ejector tool into a tiny round hole, and it so happens that this orifice is millimeters away from the microphone, with both having roughly the same diameter.

As you can see in the image gallery below, the Galaxy S21 ships with a protective back cover that informs users where the SIM ejector tool should and shouldn’t go, but this is a temporary protection which will be removed upon unboxing the device. Once this protective sheet is removed, these warning labels will be gone with it and the only way to ensure that you’re inserting the SIM ejector tool in the right place is by carefully looking for the orifice that’s embedded in the SIM tray.

Because the functionality of these components remains intact, we wouldn’t go as far as calling this a major problem that’s bound to mar the user experience. However, this is undeniably a design choice, or rather a design flaw if you will, that leaves a lot of room for user error. Perhaps a removable warning label on the back might not be enough.

Customers who don’t usually pay too much attention to these minor details could end up damaging the microphone when attempting to remove the SIM tray. To be frank, even more experience users who might be in a hurry could make this small error for just a fraction of a second and insert the SIM ejector tool into the microphone, risking a repair bill on a brand-new and otherwise perfectly functional flagship phone.

Thankfully, the Galaxy S21 series also boasts eSIM technology, so perhaps the physical SIM tray’s location won’t pose much of a risk for all users.

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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Samsung’s so big on big data it made a… movie trailer?

In case you forgot how big of a deal big data is, Samsung just launched a new promotional video that will tell you all about it. All the while being backed by full-fledged orchestral music meant to illustrate how big Samsung is on big data.

To that end, playing into a bunch of Hollywood tropes from the silver screen actually ended up working pretty well for Samsung. At the very least, it manages to get the message across quite efficiently, even before the epic music kicks in and the hype becomes palpable. Well, see for yourself, that is, and let us know if you figure out where the thumbnail went:

Will Samsung manage to complete its transformation into a big data company?

At this point, remarkable production values are probably to be expected even from the most generic of the company’s communications. Not least because the apparently massive concentration of video production talent Samsung amassed in recent years is clearly eager to up its showmanship. You do remember that blockbuster music video with BTS that Samsung casually dropped back in September, right?

Stylistic choices aside, this promo is also perfectly in line with the tech giant’s recent showing at the latest edition of the Consumer Electronics Show. Which was astonishingly dominant, even for Samsung’s standards. Granted, that’s largely on account of the actual tech that was showcased. But a passionate message about a quest to improve everyone’s lives certainly didn’t hurt any impressions.

As for the subject matter at hand, Samsung’s been quite open about striving to become a big data company for a while now. Though the actual road toward that goal has been quite bumpy so far, and the competition isn’t getting any weaker by the day.

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Samsung confirms the Galaxy M02s will be coming to India very, very soon

Samsung has officially confirmed with SamMobile that it’s going to release the Galaxy M02s to India tomorrow, January 19. The device will be available in three color options and the most well-equipped variant is bound to hit the shelves for INR 9,999, which is the rough equivalent of around $136. The entry-level variant will cost even less, and of course, Samsung India has partnered with Amazon to bring the price down for customers who purchase the device using SBI credit cards.

The Galaxy M02s will be sold through Samsung’s online shop, Amazon, and other key retail partners. As part of the Amazon Republic Day Sale, buyers who will be using an SBI credit card for the purchase of the Galaxy M02s will get a 10% instant discount.

Launch prices were revealed before but Samsung India has reconfirmed that it will be selling the cheaper configuration with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage for INR 8,999. The pricier INR 9,999 variant has 4GB of RAM and double the on-board storage.

The Galaxy M02s has a 6.5-inch TFT LCD with an HD+ resolution and it’s powered by a Qualcomm-made chipset that matches the specifications of the Snapdragon 450 SoC. Customers in India will have the option of buying the Galaxy M02s in black, blue, or red.

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Samsung fans can’t wait to move on to better devices

There’s a lot that we want to move on from. 2020, which will forever be known as the year of the COVID pandemic, has been a true rollercoaster. Millions of people across the globe have been seriously impacted by the crisis. Even as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc, we do what we must while hoping for better days.

Samsung was quite quick to adapt last year. The pandemic hit its peak not too long after its Galaxy S20 series was released. That likely dented the sales momentum for what were some of Samsung’s most expensive smartphones. It dubbed the uncertain times the “Next Normal” and went about making some significant changes.

The company adapted by unveiling the Galaxy S20 FE a few months later. It was only of the most affordably priced near-flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S20 FE was created mainly to cater to customers at a time when they were being much more careful with how they spent their money.

The pandemic is far from over. It wouldn’t keep Samsung from launching its new Galaxy S series, though. The company understood that it needed to shake things up a bit. A price cut was definitely needed for the new flagships. While some may not agree with ditching chargers and earphones to reduce the price, at least the Galaxy S21 is more attainable than its predecessor.

What we find incredible is that Samsung balanced the necessity of the price cut with the need to reinvigorate the Galaxy S lineup. As I’ve already said before, the Galaxy S21 series beats Apple at the design game, and that’s no easy feat. Nevermind the fact that the Galaxy S21 Ultra is packed to the gills with the best tech.

After literally falling in love with the Galaxy S21 for purely its design, I can’t wait to see what Samsung has in store for us next, particularly in its foldable lineup. The design choices that Samsung makes with new Galaxy S handsets at the start of the year are often shared with other high-end phones later in the year.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is already quite a premium device with killer looks. There’s literally no alternative to it. Imagine, though, a new Galaxy Z Fold device with design elements from the Galaxy S21 series. The seamless Contour Cut camera housing, made out of metal no less, would just elevate its design to another level. The same goes for Samsung’s new color options and the matte finish. Just thinking about a foldable device like that brings a big smile to my face!

Samsung is going to launch multiple foldable smartphones this year. There’s going to be a successor to the Galaxy Z Flip which will likely be released in the next few months. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 would probably arrive in the second half of this year. There are also rumors of a more affordable Galaxy Z Fold Lite. There’s still a lot that the company can excite us with.

I believe that if Samsung sticks with its new design language and applies it across most of its high-end devices, the foldables in particular, then it might just see a surge in sales even during these turbulent times.

Never has a flagship Galaxy device looked as premium as the Galaxy S21 series does. As a Samsung fan, I can’t wait for us to move on to even better devices. Something tells me we may not be disappointed.

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Galaxy Tab Active 3 goes live for customers and businesses in Canada

Samsung has remained one of the very few rugged Android tablet manufacturers on the market and the Galaxy Tab Active 3 is the latest such solution from the Korean tech giant. It was officially introduced in September and went on sale in Europe a month later. The same tablet is now available for business and non-business customers in Canada.

As far as the business side of things is concerned, Samsung is bringing the Galaxy Tab Active 3 to Canada as more businesses are moving away from the office and out into the field, reveals Paul Edwards, VP of Enterprise Mobility at Samsung Electronics Canada. Indeed, the Galaxy Tab Active 3 was officially launched as a tablet designed to take on the world’s toughest jobs and as such, it’s wrapped in a MIl-STD-810-grade body while offering an IP68 rating.

Galaxy Tab Active 3 is available in Canada for CAD 779.99

The Galaxy Tab Active 3 is available to business and regular customers via Samsung’s online store, the Samsung Experience Stores, as well as partner distributors and resellers including Bell. The tablet is available in a single memory configuration with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage expandable by up to 1TB.

One of the tablet’s biggest strengths, aside from its rugged design, is the user-removable battery. It has a capacity of 5,050mAh and because it’s removable, workers in the field can replace a depleted unit with a fully recharged one — purchased separately, of course — without skipping a beat.

• Buy the Galaxy Tab Active 3 at Samsung Canada.
• Buy the Galaxy Tab Active 3 for business customers at Samsung Canada.

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Customers in Korea can now rent the Galaxy S21 and get free prizes

Galaxy S21 fans in South Korea can now rent the latest flagship for three days through the Galaxy To Go service, and customers who will decide to purchase the flagship after the trial period ends will get free gifts and an opportunity to win bigger prizes through a lottery system.

Galaxy To Go is not entirely new in Korea but with the arrival of the Galaxy S21 series, Samsung has made the service available at more locations. This time, over 200 Samsung Digital Plazas nationwide offer customers the option of renting the flagship. The number of location used to be three times lower.

The Galaxy S21 handsets that are available for renting come pre-loaded with a few extra apps and ship with the popular mobile game League of Legends: Wild Rift, presumably to showcase the phone’s online gaming capabilities via 5G. Customers will also be able to send feedback and ask questions about the device they’ve rented through a one-on-one live broadcast or direct messaging with a Samsung representative.

Customers get a free wireless charger and a chance to win even bigger

Customers in Korea who will rent the Galaxy S21 through the Galaxy to Go service and decide to purchase the flagship will be gifted one of the many Galaxy S21 accessories, namely the Wireless Charger Duo Pad. The Charger Duo Pad can recharge two devices simultaneously and it normally costs $59.99.

In addition, these customers will be enrolled in a lottery with a chance to win the Galaxy Book Flex 2, the Galaxy Tab S7+, and/or accommodation vouchers at The Shilla Seoul 5-star hotel. The Galaxy to Go service will be available until March 14.

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 S21 seems impressively repairable in this early teardown

Well, that certainly didn’t take long at all: the Galaxy S21 5G got taken apart and scrutinized for parts immediately following its launch. Tech YouTuber PBKRreviews did the honors, publishing a high-definition recording of this accomplishment within a day of Samsung’s latest Galaxy Unpacked event.

Now, the video that can be viewed below isn’t significant for proving people are excited about the newest Samsung flagships. We kind of figured that one out on our own, duh. We’re highlighting it because it’s the first piece of evidence suggesting the Galaxy S21 5G is a remarkably repairable smartphone.

At least relative to nearly every other flagship out there, mind you. The biggest inconvenience during this particular disassembly was removing the battery of the Galaxy S21 because factory-sanctioned pull tabs weren’t an option. The author hence resorted to giving the ol’ heat gun treatment to the adhesive.

Are we taking Samsung’s current design achievements for granted?

Being able to continuously refine industry-leading product design is a daunting enough task on its own. The fact that Samsung managed to do so with yet another product generation without sacrificing the repairability of its designs is definitely praiseworthy. Doubly so among the crowd that believes smartphones have already gotten too thin. So, fingers crossed that Samsung’s amazing product design track record continues.

History’s first public Galaxy S21 teardown also confirms Samsung’s chipset cooling experiments are continuing in 2021. Namely, it turned out that the disassembled unit featured a multi-layered thermal pad made of graphite as its primary avenue for draining the heat away from the brains of the device. Whereas a typical mechanism would consist of some copper wiring and a radiator, not unlike a miniature ultrabook setup.

We’ve already seen Samsung use 3D graphite pads to sustain the performance of some of its recent flagships like the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. And if those past product generations are indicative of its current manufacturing practices, there will be no way of knowing if you’re buying a Galaxy S21-series device with a traditional cooling system or its graphite-plated counterpart.

Of course, the expectation is that none of this will matter because both systems should perform at levels indistinguishable from each other.

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What is UWB and why should Galaxy S21+/S21 Ultra owners care?

Ever since announcing its latest premium smartphone line, Samsung was eager to highlight UWB support as one of the key selling points of both the Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. But what does that actually mean? That’s what we’re here to find out.

Ultra-wideband (UWB) is a type of radio technology that Samsung believes will be the next big thing in mobile communications. To that end, it started equipping its Android flagships with support for this kind of wireless tech. While the UWB push technically started last year with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, it wasn’t until the Galaxy S21 series that Samsung started delivering universally practical applications of this radio standard.

What does UWB have over NFC and Bluetooth?

The UWB specification has been designed for short-range communications with high bandwidth requirements. As an added bonus, it’s extremely energy-efficient. It’s hence not inaccurate to think of UWB as an NFC on steroids, especially given how its security features and range are also superior to the near-field communications standard. In fact, UWB is as resilient to relay attacks and signal jamming, in general, as Wi-Fi is.

Naturally, the extra oomph comes at the expense of energy requirements, but take any comparisons targeting power consumption levels of wireless networking with a grain of salt, including the one below. Because that all depends on use cases and the exact psychosis stage at which a developer is while implementing any given solution.

	Bluetooth LE	UWB	NFC
Range	25-100m	70-250m	lol
Data speeds	Up to 2Mbps	Up to 27 Mbps	Up to 424 Kbps
Location accuracy	∼10 cm	Up to ∼10cm	Yes, duh
Typical signal latency	>3s	<1ms	>1s
Chip cost in 2021	∼$2	Up to $5	$0.25
Peak consumption	>15mA	>180mA	>15mA

 

Though that doesn’t mean Samsung is done with NFC R&D, UWB definitely has a higher ceiling and is looking much more promising in the medium- to long-term. As for right now, an extremely powerful version of Nearby Share is perhaps the number one advantage of owning a UWB-ready smartphone.

The ability to quickly locate your electronic belongings is another notable implementation of the ultra-wideband protocol. Branded as SmartThings Find, this functionality just started rolling out to wearables and Android Auto vehicles this month. By the time the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S21+ are available for purchase, there should be dozens of Galaxy smartwatches and IoT appliances compatible with Samsung’s solution. Oh, and have we mentioned that SmartThings Find includes a futuristic augmented-reality component? It’s like you’re the Terminator and your car is John Connor.

Speaking of Android Auto, how about being able to unlock your car after finding it, using just your smartphone? Samsung developed this convenient feature in cooperation with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), so everyone from Ford and Audi to BMW and Genesis will soon be offering it to their customers.

Our today’s look at the state of UWB adoption might have been focused on the Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but Samsung already committed to firmly embracing the standard moving forward. Meaning that many more Galaxy devices with UWB support are to be expected in the near future.

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Galaxy M62’s battery capacity is a mystery no more

We had exclusively reported two months ago that Samsung is working on a higher-end Galaxy M series device called the Galaxy M62. However, another report had claimed last month that the Galaxy M62 is not a smartphone but a compact tablet. Now, the device’s battery capacity and some additional information have been revealed.

The Galaxy M62 (SM-M625F/DS) has received clearance from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), which means that the phone is now closer to its launch. The certification documents of the device reveal that it uses a battery with model number EB-BM415ABY. Since this is the same battery that is used in the Galaxy M51, it is safe to assume that the Galaxy M62 will feature a 7,000mAh battery. It will also feature 25W fast charging (9V/2.77A), thanks to the EP-TA800 charger.

The documents also reveal that the Galaxy M62 will have another variant with model number SM-E625F/DS. It is possible that the Galaxy M62 could be rebranded as the Galaxy E62 in some markets. The Galaxy M62 is a dual-SIM smartphone with LTE connectivity as well as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. It also appears to be running Android 11 with One UI 3.x.

It is unclear how the Galaxy M62 will improve upon the Galaxy M51. However, we hope to know more details about the smartphone such as its screen size and internal hardware over the next few weeks, closer to its launch.

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Galaxy Buds Pro already receiving performance improvements via first update

The Galaxy Buds Pro, which were officially unveiled last week, are Samsung’s best truly wireless earphones ever. Ahead of reaching customers in various markets, the company has started rolling out a new firmware update to the Galaxy Buds Pro, improving their performance.

The first software update for the Galaxy Buds Pro, which bears firmware version R190XXU0AUA1 and has a file size of 2.2MB, brings one new feature and performance improvements. Users of the wireless earphones can now adjust left/right sound balance, and this feature can be beneficial for people with hearing impairments. The update also improves the response of the Bixby voice wake-up feature. It also improves system stability and reliability.

With this update, Samsung seems to be making sure that people buying the Galaxy Buds Pro get the best possible performance out of the box. The $199 Galaxy Buds Pro feature Bluetooth 5.0 and come with a dual-driver setup. They also have active noise cancellation (ANC), 360-degree audio, Game Mode, touch controls, 28-hour battery life (with ANC off), USB Type-C port, and Qi wireless charging.

The post Galaxy Buds Pro already receiving performance improvements via first update appeared first on SamMobile.

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