Galaxy S10+ owners: Is the Galaxy S21 Ultra the upgrade you deserve?

The Galaxy S10+ is still a beloved flagship by many users, for good reasons. The S10+ was part of the company’s last flagship series to boast a couple of features that were removed from later models, and it remains a competent all-rounder to this day.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, is Samsung’s new top-tier flagship designed for smartphone users who want to experience the best the company has to offer in 2021. But can the 2019 flagship hold a candle to the new entry, and should Galaxy S10+ owners look at the Galaxy S21 Ultra as a potential upgrade? As usual, there are plenty of pros and cons to weigh.

Why Galaxy S10+ owners might want to upgrade to the Galaxy S21 Ultra

Larger display with 120Hz refresh rate and better protection

The 6.4-inch display used by the Galaxy S10+ may have been large by 2019 standards, but nowadays Samsung has more 6.5-inch phones on sale than ever. Owners who might want a larger display could and should consider the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The new flagship has a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with HDR10+ and a high 120Hz refresh rate. In addition, the new panel has stronger Gorilla Glass Victus protection, and it’s the company’s first smartphone to boast a new OLED technology for massive energy efficiency gains.

Better cameras with 8K video recording, two telephoto lenses

The Galaxy S10+ camera combo remains fairly competent today it’s been two years since its release and there’s no way around the fact that the Galaxy S21 Ultra raised the bar of mobile photography to a whole new level.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra has four rear-facing cameras, all of which feature autofocus, a first for any Galaxy smartphone, and 4K@60 fps video recording. The piece de resistance is the new 10MP periscope camera combined with the 10MP telephoto sensor for up to 100x digital zoom and 10x optical zoom, and the fact that the phone can record 8K videos.

More powerful hardware, more RAM, all wrapped in a new body

The Galaxy S10+ is no slouch but the flagship-grade chipsets it’s using have been superseded by the Exynos 2100 and the Snapdragon 888 solutions. While the 2019 flagship remains powerful enough to handle any daily tasks, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will deliver a smoother experience, especially in demanding 3D apps. Multitasking is also helped by 12GB of RAM as standard, up from 8GB.

All this new hardware is wrapped in a new body flaunting a fresh design. The old formula that was employed by the Galaxy S10+ was replaced when the Galaxy S20 series arrived last year, and was refined further with the Galaxy S21.

Bigger battery with faster charging and great battery life

If battery life is letting you down two years into the life of the Galaxy S10+ then the Galaxy S21 Ultra should make for a safe upgrade. The device has a larger 5,000mAh battery with faster 25W charging, though both have the same wireless and reverse wireless charging speeds.

But the Galaxy S21 Ultra has the advantage of boasting more energy-efficient components on top of concealing a larger battery, so you should be getting more mileage out of the new flagship.

Wi-Fi 6e, UWB, and 5G connectivity

The subheading above says it all. The Galaxy S21 Ultra supports new connectivity standards including 5G for blazing-fast data transfer speeds, though obviously, the end results will vary depending on your carrier’s network infrastructure and so on. The phone also offers Wi-Fi 6e compatibility.

As for UWB, Samsung will focus more on this standard in the years to come and UWB might even become a key component to Samsung Pay, now that MST will no longer be supported. UWB is also used for SmartThings Find, though you can also use said feature on devices that don’t have UWB.

S Pen compatibility

Bridging the gap between the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung’s first non-Note phone to feature S Pen compatibility, all thanks to a new digitizer.

The S Pen is sold separately so you don’t have to pay extra if you don’t plan on using it, but customers who may want to improve their productivity have the option of adding the versatile S Pen into the mix. Samsung will sell an S Pen Pro variant later this year, and customers can already pair the S21 Ultra with a variety of 3rd party styluses from reputable brands such as Wacom.

Newer firmware and better support to come

Lastly and rather obviously, the Galaxy S10+ was released in Q1 2019 running Android 9 and Samsung should support it with a third Android OS update to Android 12, presumably next year. However, the Galaxy S21 Ultra ships with the newer One UI 3.1 and Android 11 out of the box and it will offer support for more years to come, including an update to Android 14.

Reasons why you may want to keep the Galaxy S10+ instead

No heart rate monitor and SpO2 sensor

The Galaxy S10 was Samsung’s last flagship series to boast a heart rate monitor and an SpO2 sensor. These technologies continue to be offered by Samsung through wearable products such as the Galaxy Watch smartwatch series.

This obviously means that any Galaxy S10+ owners who rely on these sensors regularly and can’t give up on them will have to buy a smartwatch along with the new Galaxy S21 Ultra, should they decide to upgrade.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra lacks MST for Samsung Pay

You’ve probably heard this numerous times before but unfortunately it doesn’t make it less relevant: Samsung has dropped MST support for Samsung Pay from the latest flagship phones, and indeed, even the top-tier Galaxy S21 Ultra is lacking in this area.

The Galaxy S10+ continues to offer MST support and it remains a better choice for Samsung Pay customers in countries where NFC-enabled payment terminals aren’t very common, at least for the time being.

No external storage or 3.5mm headphone jack

External storage and the 3.5mm headphone jack are a couple other features that are no longer offered by the latest Galaxy S21 Ultra, yet they are available on the older Galaxy S10+.

If you can’t live without one or the other, you will be tempted to skip the latest flagship phone. However, you should keep in mind that these features might never return to Samsung’s flagship lineup, so if you’ll skip on the Galaxy S21 Ultra this year, you might be signing up to a very long waiting game with no gains in the end.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is considerably larger and heavier

Although the Galaxy S10+ is anything but a compact phone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is even more so on the larger side thanks to its generous 6.8-inch display. It’s also noticeably heavier, weighing around 230 grams as opposed to 175 grams.

These reasons alone might not be enough to convince you to keep the old flagship, but if the size of the Galaxy S10+ is causing you issues as it is, know that the Galaxy S21 Ultra is even more of a handful.

Galaxy S10+ to Galaxy S21 Ultra: You should be safe either way

Should you upgrade from the Galaxy S10+ to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, or should you not? It’s a tricky question because the Galaxy S21 Ultra does offer a few upgrades that are very difficult to ignore, but also due to the fact that the Galaxy S10+ remains fairly competent and has a few extra features that are no longer supported by the newer flagship.

A trade-in deal is probably your best option, should you decide to upgrade from the Galaxy S10+ to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. But if you don’t feel like spending a few hundred dollars / EUR for the Galaxy S21 Ultra on a trade-in deal then you could probably keep the Galaxy S10+ at least until Samsung releases Android 12.

All in all, the Galaxy S10+ is a good all-round device in 2021 but it’s no longer the most powerful or future-proof one. You can continue to have a good time with the 2019 flagship but if you feel like the device is lagging behind in some areas, the Galaxy S21 Ultra could be a better alternative.

Galaxy S10+ review | Galaxy S21 Ultra review

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

Galaxy S10+

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

More specifications

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Galaxy A12 could debut in India later this week

Samsung had unveiled the Galaxy A12 three months ago, but it is yet to be launched in most markets around the world. The affordable smartphone first launched in Singapore and then in the UK. Last week, the phone made it to South Korea and now it is being reported that the Galaxy A12 will be launched in India this week.

According to a new report, the Galaxy A12 is slated for India launch later this week. Samsung India has even created a support webpage for its upcoming affordable smartphone on its website, and the listing confirms that it will have a 4GB RAM variant with model number SM-A125F/DS (dual-SIM). Going by its global prices and specifications, the phone could be priced somewhere around the INR 15,000 (around $205) mark in India.

The Galaxy A12 features a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with HD+ resolution. It has an 8MP selfie camera and a 48MP+5MP+2MP+2MP quad rear-facing camera. The phone can record 1080p 30fps videos using front and rear cameras. It runs Android 10 and comes equipped with the MediaTek Helio P35 processor, 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM, 32GB/64GB/128GB storage, and a microSD card slot.

Samsung equipped the Galaxy A12 with a side-mounted fingerprint reader. Other features include GPS, dual-SIM card slot, LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The smartphone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and supports 15W fast charging.

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Here’s how much Samsung’s 4K and 8K Neo QLED TVs cost

Samsung introduced its first Mini-LED-powered Neo QLED TVs last month during its virtual CES 2021 event. However, the company had not revealed the pricing of its new TVs back then. The TVs are now up for pre-order and the South Korean firm has revealed how much it costs to buy its 4K and 8K Neo QLED TVs in the US.

Samsung’s 4K Neo QLED TV prices start at $1,600

The company’s 4K Neo QLED TV models are available in various sizes, starting from 55 inches and ending at 85 inches. This 4K lineup is divided into to models: QN85A and QN90A. The QN85A is priced at $1,600 for the 55-inch model, $2,200 for the 65-inch model, $3,000 for the 75-inch model, and $4,500 for the 85-inch model. The QN90A is priced at $1,800 for the 55-inch variant, $2,600 for the 65-inch variant, $3,500 for the 75-inch variant, and $5,000 for the 85-inch variant. Samsung says that it will ship these TVs by March 20 in the US.

These 4K Neo QLED TVs feature anti-reflection coating, 4K AI upsampling, a 120Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HDR10+ (Quantum HDR 24x on QN85A and Quantum HDR 32x on QN90A), HLG, solar-powered remote controller, Object Sound Tracking+, Q-Symphony, Active Voice Amplifier, 60W speakers (2.2.2-channel on QN85A and 4.2.2-channel on QN90A), Alexa, Bixby, Game Bar, Samsung TV+, and Samsung Health.

Samsung’s 8K Neo QLED TV prices start at $3,500

Samsung is offering 8K Neo QLED TVs in 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes. Even the company’s 8K Mini-LED TV lineup is divided into two models: QN800A and QN900A. The QN800A costs $3,500, $4,800, and $6,500 for 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes, respectively. The QN900A goes as high as $5,000, $7,000, and $9,000 for 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes. These 8K TVs will ship by March 18 in the US.

The QN900A and QN800A TVs from Samsung feature 8K resolution, 8K AI upscaling, Mini-LED backlight with precise local dimming, Quantum HDR (48x on QN900A and 32x on QN800A), a 120Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HDR10+, HLG, Multi View, surround sound speakers (80W 6.2.2-channel on QN900A and 70W 4.2.2-channel on QN800A), solar-powered remote controllers, Object Sound Tracking+, Q-Symphony, Active Voice Amplifier, Alexa, Bixby, Google Assistant, Super Ultrawide GameView mode with Game Bar, Samsung TV+, and Samsung Health.

The South Korean firm is aiming to sell over 2 million Mini-LED TVs this year.

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[Poll] At what price would the Galaxy Z Fold Lite make sense to you?

It has been rumored quite a few times that Samsung might launch a budget variant of the Galaxy Z Fold. The term “budget” wouldn’t really be appropriate for the device, though. Even if the device doesn’t offer flagship-level specs, components like the foldable display are still expensive.

So a Galaxy Z Fold Lite could be considered “budget” relative to the $2000 Galaxy Z Fold 2, but not quite as budget as a Galaxy A42, for example. If Samsung does put out such a device, at what price would it make sense to you?

Would you consider buying the Galaxy Z Fold Lite if it cost $999? At that price, it would be accessible to the millions of customers who spend the same amount of money, often more, at a top-of-the-line Galaxy S or Galaxy Note flagship.

It wouldn’t necessarily offer the same kind of specs but a proper foldable with a 7-inch internal display would likely find a lot of takers at under a thousand dollars. Would it still be considered a good deal at $1,299, though? That’s about the same as you’d pay for a new Galaxy Z Flip. What then drives the decision for customers in that price range would largely be the form factor, not price.

Is a Galaxy Z Fold Lite be worth it at $1,499? It would still be around $500 cheaper than a full-fledged Galaxy Z Fold but in that case, the device will have to strike a balance between cost-cutting and functionality. Customers are going to have high expectations from a $1,499 device, even if it’s meant to be a “budget” variant.

What do you think about these price ranges for the Galaxy Z Fold Lite? What would be most acceptable to you? Vote below and share your thoughts with us in the comments.

At what price would the Galaxy Z Fold Lite make sense to you?

• $999
• $1,299
• $1,499

Results

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Samsung’s latest discounts on Galaxy tablets might be the best yet

This might be the perfect time for Samsung fans who are considering buying a Galaxy tablet to go ahead and do just that. Samsung has dropped the prices of a handful of Galaxy tablet models in the USA, including the Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S6 flagship series, the Galaxy Tab S5e, and the budget-oriented Galaxy Tab A7.

Needless to say, if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to buy one of Samsung’s Android tablets at a discount, this could be it. For example, the Wi-Fi-only Galaxy Tab S7 with 256GB / 512GB of storage is now available for $619 and $699, respectively, instead of $729 and $829.

The Galaxy Tab S7+ Wi-Fi is also $80, $130, and $180 cheaper depending on storage, with the new 512GB model netting the biggest discount of the three.

Looking for cheaper alternatives? Check this massive Galaxy Tab S6 discount

If you can live with the thought of not getting the latest Samsung tablet then you can take advantage of other discounts on models such as the Galaxy Tab S5e, the Galaxy Tab A7, and especially the Galaxy Tab S6.

The Galaxy Tab S6 (Wi-Fi) can now be yours for only $429, down from the full retail price of $729. This price corresponds to the 256GB model since the 128GB variant is out of stock as of this writing. Speaking of which, we’re not sure how many of these offers will continue to be available by the time you visit Samsung’s online store in the USA, as the company hasn’t slapped an expiration date on these deals, but you can refer to the links below and verify.

An even more affordable alternative is the Galaxy Tab S5e, which is now available for $329 instead of $479. Of course, the Tab S5e has lesser specs compared to the Galaxy Tab S6 and the price drop isn’t as significant, so technically, you’d be getting a better value out of the Galaxy Tab S6 discount if you could fork over the additional $100.

Lastly, Samsung has dropped the price of the Galaxy Tab A7 from $279 to $219. It’s available in silver or gold and with 64GB of storage. Once again, the second storage option (32GB) is out of stock.

Keep in mind that the latest Galaxy tablet discounts can stack with Samsung’s trade-in offers for an even lower price.

Galaxy Tab S7+ review | Galaxy Tab S6 review
Galaxy Tab S5e review | Galaxy Tab A7 review

• Buy the Galaxy Tab A7 at Samsung USA
• Buy the Galaxy Tab S5e / Tab S6 at Samsung USA
• Buy the Galaxy Tab S7 / Tab S7+ at Samsung USA

Galaxy Tab S7

• Model: SM-T870
• Dimensions: Tablet: 253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3 mm
  
• Display: 11 inch / 279.4 mm LTPS TFT
• CPU: Snapdragon 865+
• Camera: 5MP

More specifications

Galaxy Tab S7 Plus

• Model: SM-T970
• Dimensions: Tablet: 285 x 185 x 5.7 mm
  
• Display: 12.4 inch / 314.96 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Snapdragon 865+
• Camera: 5MP

More specifications

Galaxy Tab S6

• Model: SM-T860
• Dimensions: Tablet: 244.5 x 159.5 x 5.7 mm
  
• Display: 10.5 inch / 266.7 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Snapdragon 855
• Camera: 5MP

More specifications

Galaxy Tab S5e

• Model: SM-T720
• Dimensions: Tablet: 245.0 x 160.0 x 5.5 mm
  
• Display: 10.5 inch / 266.7 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Snapdragon 670
• Camera: 13MP

More specifications

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Should you upgrade from the Galaxy S9+ to the Galaxy S21+?

Samsung recently unveiled its next-generation flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. They bring a brand new design and improvements in camera quality, performance, and battery life compared to the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

However, if you have an older Galaxy smartphone that was launched 2-3 years ago, like the Galaxy S9+, should you upgrade to the new phones? Well, the answer is not that simple because Samsung has removed a few features that are extremely important to some consumers.

Let’s find out why you should upgrade from the Galaxy S9+ to the Galaxy S21+ and why you shouldn’t.

Reasons to upgrade from the Galaxy S9+ to the Galaxy S21+

Bigger, better, faster screen

The Galaxy S9+’s 6.2-inch Super AMOLED screen was the absolute best when the phone was released three years ago. Since then, Samsung has brought important improvements in terms of screen technology. The Galaxy S21+’s 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O display has extremely thin bezels all around. Yes, its resolution has been dropped to Full HD+ (from Galaxy S9+’s QHD+), but it has higher brightness, more accurate colors, and a much higher refresh rate at 120Hz. Whether you are browsing the web, playing high-end games, or just scrolling through the UI, everything feels more fluid and smooth. The Galaxy S21+’s HDR10+ certification also means a more immersive HDR experience.

Huge performance gains

The Galaxy S21+ is equipped with the 5nm Exynos 2100 processor (Snapdragon 888 in China and the US), which is faster and more power-efficient than the Galaxy S9+’s 10nm Exynos 9810 SoC. The new processor is more than twice as fast as the Exynos 9810 in terms of CPU and GPU performance. And you’ll definitely feel the additional speed while launching apps, gaming, and multitasking. The Exynos 2100’s dedicated NPU (used for AI processing) also means a faster camera and better images and videos.

Guaranteed software updates for 3 years

The Galaxy S9+ was launched with Android 8 onboard, and it received two major software updates (Android 9 and Android 10). Since last year, the phone has just been receiving security patches. In comparison, the Galaxy S21+ was launched with Android 11 (with One UI 3.1), and it will receive three major Android updates and at least one additional year of security patches. One UI 3.x brings massive UI design improvements over One UI. Knowing how important software updates and security patches are, you might want to upgrade to the Galaxy S21+.

Better front & rear cameras

The Galaxy S21+ features a 10MP selfie camera and a 12MP+12MP+64MP triple-rear-facing camera setup. All four cameras on the Galaxy S21+ perform better than the cameras on the Galaxy S9+. The new phone captures brighter images with higher detail and a wider dynamic range. It can also record 4K 60fps videos using the front and rear-facing cameras and 8K 24fps videos using the rear-facing camera. The phone has an ultra-wide camera, something that is lacking on the Galaxy S9+, and you get up to 30x digital zoom capabilities with massively better quality compared to what you get on the Galaxy S9+.

Faster connectivity

The Galaxy S21+ also brings faster wireless connectivity in the form of 5G and Wi-Fi 6. Even while using an LTE network, the Galaxy S21+ offers faster upload and download speeds compared to the Galaxy S9+, thanks to improved carrier aggregation (CA).

Longer battery life, faster charging

The Galaxy S9+ is powered by a 3,500mAh battery, while the Galaxy S21+ uses a 4,800mAh cell. Sure, the Galaxy S21+ has to power a bigger and brighter screen and a bunch of cameras and latch on to 5G networks, but it will still last longer compared to the Galaxy S9+, thanks to the more power-efficient 5nm processor, a variable refresh rate screen (that can drop to as low as 48Hz in certain conditions), and optimized software.

The Galaxy S21+ charges fast, too, thanks to its 25W fast charging technology. If you are in a hurry and find that your phone is almost out of charge, you will want the Galaxy S21+ rather than the Galaxy S9+ with its 15W fast charging.

More striking design, stronger glass protection

The Galaxy S9+ was among the most polished phones of 2018, but the Galaxy S21+ is even better. It sports a more striking design, thanks to extremely thin bezels at the front and a camera housing that melts into the phone’s frame. Plus, it uses more durable Gorilla Glass Victus panels at the front and the rear.

Even the in-display fingerprint reader on the Galaxy S21+ is easier to reach compared to the rear-facing fingerprint reader on the Galaxy S9+. The unnecessary Bixby button has been removed as well. On the design front, the Galaxy S21+ is clearly a better choice compared to the Galaxy S9+.

Reasons not to upgrade from the Galaxy S9+ to the Galaxy S21+

The three-year-old Galaxy S9+ might not be as fast, as bright, as strong, or as smooth as the Galaxy S21+, but it still has some tricks up its sleeves. It has some features that are missing on the Galaxy S21+, making the new phone a deal-breaker for some consumers.

No microSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack

The Galaxy S21+ is the first Galaxy S series smartphone in the past five years to lack a microSD card slot. And that means you can’t upgrade its storage space. If you are someone who stores a ton of photos, videos, files, and music, the Galaxy S21+ might not be a great choice for you. Yes, you can buy the new phone with up to 256GB of internal storage, but upgrading a microSD card is always cheaper, and you can use that card with other smartphones, tablets, and laptops or share it with friends or family.

The Galaxy S21+ also lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which means you can’t use most wired earphones without a dongle. In this regard, the Galaxy S9+ is a better-equipped smartphone and you should stick to it if you are someone who still prefers wired earphones over wireless ones.

No iris scanner

Ever since Samsung introduced the iris scanner, some consumers have been fans of the biometric authentication system. However, the Galaxy S21+ lacks an iris scanner, so if you wear a mask, the fingerprint sensor is the only way you can unlock the phone (or remove your mask and use facial recognition, which is both more time consuming and less secure than iris scanning). If you are someone who wants an iris scanner on your smartphone, the Galaxy S21+ is not for you.

No heart rate & SpO2 sensors

The Galaxy S9+ features a heart rate monitor and an SpO2 sensor, both of which might come in handy during this COVID-19 pandemic. The Galaxy S21+ lacks both of those sensors as Samsung wants you to buy its smartwatches instead, and that might just be a reason to not upgrade from the Galaxy S9+.

No MST for Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay is a unique mobile payment system among a bunch of rival mobile payment solutions due to its MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) feature. MST mimics a credit or debit card’s magnetic strip, tricking a PoS (Point of Sale) machine into thinking that a card has been swiped. This makes it compatible with PoS machines that have not been upgraded to support NFC payments. A lot of PoS systems around the world, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries, lack NFC, and the Galaxy S9+ can still make mobile payments there.

The Galaxy S21+, on the other hand, lacks MST in various markets. If you depend on Samsung Pay’s MST feature and leave your wallet at home, you should not upgrade from the Galaxy S9+ to the Galaxy S21+.

No charger and headphones in the box

With the Galaxy S21 series, Samsung has decided to not ship its flagship phones with chargers or headphones in the box. And that means you have to spend an extra $30 on the charging adapter, around $15 to $20 on comparable earphones from a decent brand, and an additional $15 on a USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone port adapter. That’s almost $60 more to spend just to get the phone up and running for daily use. In that case, you might not want to upgrade to the Galaxy S21+.

Galaxy S9+ or Galaxy S21+: The final decision rests on you

Even with a bunch of missing features such as the microSD card slot, headphone jack, iris scanner, and MST, we still feel that the Galaxy S21+ is a great upgrade from the Galaxy S9+. The new phone features a more futuristic and striking design, a brighter and smoother screen, much faster performance, improved cameras, longer battery life, faster charging, and guaranteed updates for three years. However, in the end, the final decision depends on you and what you think is important for your needs.

Have you decided to upgrade from the Galaxy S9+? Let us know your decision in the comments section below.

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 S9+

• Model: SM-G965F
• Dimensions: Bar: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Super AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Android 11-based One UI 3 update is now rolling out for the Galaxy M30s

Samsung’s incredible streak of Android 11 and One UI 3.0 firmware updates continues, as this week’s beginning has marked the release of the highly-anticipated firmware update for the Galaxy M30s. The rollout is presently taking place in India though additional markets should follow suit, and the update includes the January 2021 security patch.

The new firmware update for the Galaxy M30s in India is identified by firmware version M307FXXU4CUAG. The update weighs nearly 2GB so it’s advised to look for an active Wi-Fi network before downloading. This will save you some time and data if necessary.

What can you expect from the Galaxy M30s running One UI 3.0?

The biggest highlight of One UI 3.0 is the reworked user interface. It continues to uphold the values of previous One UI versions, so ease of use is at the forefront. However, virtually every UI element was more or less redesigned for a modern look and a more comfortable, user-friendly experience.

There are a ton of other features that we’ve discussed at length before, though keep in mind that not every One UI 3.0 element will be present for the Galaxy M30s. It’s still a budget phone after all, and hardware limitations will prevent some newer features to be included within this latest firmware release.

As always, you can try to update your phone by opening Settings and tapping Download and install under Software update. You can also refer to our firmware archive where new Samsung firmware is being uploaded regularly. SamMobile readers can download the firmware for free and install it on their phones using a Windows PC.

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SamMobile is on Telegram, join now to stay up-to-date on all our coverage!

SamMobile readers can now stay up to date with current events in the world of Samsung through the instant messaging and social media platform Telegram, in addition to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. And of course, you can already find us on YouTube and LinkedIn.

Telegram users can now join the new @SamMobileNews Telegram group to stay updated with the latest Samsung-related news and interact with the growing SamMobile community on Telegram. Keep in mind that although visitors can check our Telegram group on desktop web browsers, the mobile app is required for joining the SamMobile group and participating in the conversation.

The Telegram mobile app is available for download via the Google Play Store and, once downloaded, you’ll be just a few taps away from our community. Do take note of the fact that there are a few other Telegram groups labeled SamMobile in one form or another, but the only official SamMobile group on Telegram is @SamMobileNews. If you want to make sure you’re following the right group, come back to this story once you’ve installed the app on your mobile device and tap this link to join.

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Exclusive: First details about the new Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip

With the Galaxy S21 launch out of the way, Samsung fans can now look forward to the company’s next foldable devices. It’s due to launch at least two new foldables this year, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 2, assuming that’s what the company decides to call them.

We have now received the first details about these upcoming devices. It’s unclear as yet if the rumored “Lite” variant of the Galaxy Z Fold is due as well. There’s no evidence about its existence at this point in time.

Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 2 are due this year

Samsung’s next Galaxy Z Fold handset will feature the model number SM-F926. It will be available with at least 256GB of storage. The foldable device will run Android 11 and it will come with One UI 3.5.

The company’s next clamshell foldable smartphone will have model number SM-F711. It will be available with 128GB and 256GB storage options. Android 11 and One UI 3.5 will be present as well.

The presence of One UI 3.5 suggests that we may not see these devices until the second half of this year. Samsung has only just introduced One UI 3.1 with the Galaxy S21 series and it’s yet to trickle down to compatible devices. One UI 3.5 will certainly bring some new software features.

Over the past couple of years, Samsung has introduced its second iteration of One UI for the year with the Galaxy Note lineup. With the future of the Galaxy Note series still up in the air, the foldables are understandably the more appropriate devices to launch a new One UI version with.

We’ll continue to keep our ear to the ground and bring you information about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 2 as soon as we hear more.

The post Exclusive: First details about the new Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip appeared first on SamMobile.

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Samsung Galaxy A52 5G launch nears with FCC certification

The Galaxy A52 5G is one of Samsung’s most highly anticipated phones. This particular series has always done very well for Samsung, particularly in emerging markets. Naturally, there’s a lot of excitement about the 2021 model.

Details about the handset have gradually been trickling in over the past few months. With the device now clearing its FCC certification process, we can be reasonably sure that the Galaxy A52 5G launch isn’t that far off.

Samsung may launch the Galaxy A52 5G soon

The 4G and 5G variants of the Galaxy A52 have both received their Bluetooth and Wi-Fi certifications last month. Those documents had revealed that the device would come with Android 11 out of the box. They may also ship with One UI 3.1.

Now the FCC certification has also been granted to the Galaxy A52 5G. It’s a major indication that the time isn’t far off when Samsung will be unveiling this device. Earlier reports have indicated that the Galaxy A52 5G will feature the Snapdragon 750G processor. The 4G variant will have the Snapdragon 720G.

Some CAD renders of the device have also been leaked online. They suggest that the Galaxy A52 will have a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O display, a quad camera setup at the back, a 3.5mm headphone jack and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

There’s no word as yet when Samsung plans on launching the Galaxy A52 5G. With the Galaxy S21 launch out of the way now, it may not be long before Samsung’s latest Galaxy A handsets are unveiled.

The post Samsung Galaxy A52 5G launch nears with FCC certification appeared first on SamMobile.

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Samsung’s first 65W USB-PD charger reappears, cleared for release

The first-ever 65W charger from Samsung resurfaced once again, having just hit a pretty advanced release milestone in the form of a TÜV SÜD certification mark. This isn’t a mandatory regulatory clearance, but that doesn’t make it unexpected. Especially seeing how TÜV SÜD and Samsung have been active partners for almost four years now, working on raising the quality bar for modern automotive LED components.

But back to the charger at hand, its designation – EP-TA865 – has already been sighted on several occasions. Even the charger itself leaked online last month.

Which devices is this charger meant to power?

And much like the previous testing documentation that emerged, this one outright confirms that the EP-TA865 allows for 20V/3.25A charging. As was the case with the last several adapters from Samsung, this one supports the latest USB-IF Power Delivery (PD) standard. Which includes a new specification called Programmable Power Supply, or PPS, for short. This technology essentially works by managing both standard and non-standard voltages during the charging process in real time.

Dynamic charging speeds are far from a complete novelty in the world of smartphones, though Samsung hasn’t been as pioneering of a force in this segment as its track record would have you believe. Laptop manufacturers have been even slower to embrace USB-C fast charging standards in the meantime. This might be why the EP-TA865 hasn’t launched sooner.

The appearance of this TÜV SÜD certification does make its release seem imminent, however. Just don’t expect your shiny new Galaxy S21 Ultra to leverage anything beyond 25W charging. But you will end up needing a charger for it, anyway, so if you happen to already own a capable laptop with USB-PD charging support or intend to get one in the near future, the EP-TA865 is about to add to your list of options, presumably by early spring.

The post Samsung’s first 65W USB-PD charger reappears, cleared for release appeared first on SamMobile.

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