Here’s the pricing for Samsung’s new A-series, Q-series soundbars

Samsung had unveiled its new soundbar lineup for 2021 in January alongside its Neo QLED TVs. However, the company had not revealed the pricing and availability of the new soundbars. Now, Samsung has revealed the prices of most of its new soundbars, and they start at just $200 in the US.

The HW-Q800A and the HW-Q700A are priced at $900 and $700, respectively, and are available for pre-orders. Both are 3.1.2-channel soundbars with eight speakers, Dolby Atmos, AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, SpaceFit Sound, and Q-Symphony. The HW-Q800A and the HW-Q700A are feature DTS:X, HDMI eARC port, and Game Mode Pro. The SpaceFit Sound feature uses microphones built into the subwoofer and the soundbar to calibrate audio according to your room’s layout.

The Game Mode Pro tries to make sound from gaming consoles more immersive, while the Q-Symphony feature works in tandem with Samsung’s QLED TVs to offer more immersive and powerful audio. The HW-Q800A features Alexa and AVA (Active Voice Amplifier), but the HW-Q700A has limited support for Alexa and lacks the AVA feature completely. Both soundbars feature Tap Sound, Adaptive Sound, SmartThings, and One Remote. The Adaptive Sound feature automatically tunes audio according to the type of content you’re watching or listening to.

The HW-A450 is an affordable 300W 2.1-channel soundbar that costs just $200. If you are buying it right now, it will arrive at your doorstep by April 8. This soundbar features a trimmed-down version of Adaptive Sound technology called Adaptive Sound Lite. It also features Bluetooth and Game Mode. Samsung is yet to reveal the pricing and availability of its 11.1.4-channel HW-Q950A soundbar that features upward-firing and side-firing speakers for a full Dolby Atmos experience.

• Buy HW-Q800A soundbar from Samsung
• Buy HW-Q700A soundbar from Samsung
• Buy HW-A450 soundbar from Samsung

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Apple rumored to use Samsung’s 120Hz LTPO OLED panel in iPhone 13

While Samsung started using high-refresh-rate displays in its smartphones last year, Apple is yet to implement the technology in its iPhones. The company was rumored to use a 120Hz refresh rate display in the iPhone 12 series, but it never materialized due to battery life concerns. It is now being reported that the Cupertino-based brand has decided to use Samsung’s LTPO OLED panels in the iPhone 13 series.

According to a report from The Elec, Apple will use Samsung Display’s LTPO OLED panels with support for variable 120Hz refresh rate in the iPhone 13 series. The company seems to have already placed the orders for new display panels. Samsung will upgrade its Apple-dedicated OLED panel manufacturing line to use the LTPO technology and start delivering those panels later this year.

LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) OLED panels consume lower energy when compared to regular OLED panels because they can change the screen’s refresh rate. For example, when scrolling and navigating around the UI, the refresh rate can be automatically switch to 120Hz, while it can go as low as 30Hz or 60Hz while watching videos. When nothing is happening on the screen, the refresh rate can go as low as 1Hz, thereby saving power.

Samsung has reportedly guaranteed 30,000 LTPO OLED display substrates per month to Apple, but once the complete transition is done, the South Korean firm can start supplying up to 70,000 LTPO OLED substrates. Apple is rumored to bring variable 120Hz refresh rate screens to the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, while the iPhone 13 Mini and the iPhone 13 are expected to stick to 60Hz OLED displays.

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New Galaxy Fit 2 firmware update brings additional watch faces

It’s been quite some time since we last spoke of a firmware update for the Galaxy Fit 2 but Samsung has now reminded us that the wearable still exists and it keeps getting better. News has now arrived from South Korea (via @Kuma_Seepy) about Samsung rolling out a new firmware update for the Galaxy Fit 2.

Along with the usual system and security improvements mentioned in the somewhat generic changelog, the latest update also brings a handful of new watch faces to the Galaxy Fit 2. Or rather, as seen below, there are two new watch faces and a few variations for each.

The update is available through the Galaxy Wearable app on the connected smartphone, though for the time being it remains unclear if the latest firmware is available elsewhere besides South Korea. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we find out more. Until then, you can refer to your Galaxy Wearable app in case you’ve been notified about the latest release and tap the Band software update option. The package weighs a little under 3MB.

The Galaxy Fit 2 was released in September with fewer watch faces pre-loaded, and so far it has received a handful of firmware updates that have improved the experience in other ways. Shortly after its debut, the wearable was updated with improved features and a few bug fixes, one of which was affecting the behavior of the clock screen.

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Samsung has only become more independent following Japan’s trade ban

The Japanese government’s trade ban on key materials for semiconductor manufacturing seems to have had the unintended opposite effect on local suppliers. The Japanese media now reports that the trade ban has affected local suppliers who continue to suffer massive losses.

Meanwhile, the trade ban has helped South Korean suppliers grow their businesses and become competitive to the point where they can now supply the nation’s leading semiconductor manufacturers without external help. According to data from the Korean International Trade Association, the value of hydrogen fluorite imports came to $9.38 million in 2020, down a whopping 74.2% year-on-year.

The exact reasons behind the trade ban have been explained in detail before, but in short, South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Japanese companies have to compensate individual South Koreans for forced labor during Japan’s occupation of the country between 1910 and 1945.

The Japanese government replied by issuing a trade ban on key materials needed for semiconductor manufacturing, and of course, South Korean semiconductor giants such as Samsung have since tried to secure other supply channels for hydrogen fluoride, fluorinate polyimide, and photoresists.

Samsung has become less dependent on Japan

Since the trade ban was issued, South Korean suppliers have enjoyed tremendous success and they’ve reportedly matched the level of quality that was previously guaranteed by Japan’s main suppliers. As a result, companies like Samsung Electronics are no longer as dependent on a single supplier from Japan.

According to unnamed officials from major South Korean chipmakers cited by The Korea Times, the decision to stick with local suppliers has nothing to do with the history of these nations or the nationality of vendors. Instead, these events have simply shown that a multi-vendor system is the best choice for South Korean semiconductor companies. The trade ban has also persuaded local suppliers to up their game and match the quality level of the world’s best suppliers, and of course, this benefits the entire country and not just Samsung Electronics.

An unnamed official representing one of South Korea’s biggest semiconductor players noted that local manufacturers wouldn’t source from Korean suppliers just because they are Korean. If there are competitive local vendors in certain materials we would choose to source from them, but if not, we would seek overseas-based suppliers.

Samsung used to source silicon wafers from Japan’s Sumco but that’s no longer the case. These components are now being supplied by SK Siltron. Similarly, Samsung used to rely on Dongwoo Fine-chem — a subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo — for hydrogen fluoride, but the company is now acquiring the substance from Soulbrain.

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Samsung secures NTT DOCOMO as its latest 5G network equipment client

Samsung Electronics has secured another key 5G client in Japan. As a result, the company will be responsible for providing 5G network solutions to NTT DOCOMO, the latter of which offers wireless network services to roughly 82 million users across Japan.

Samsung will empower NTT DOCOMO’s infrastructure with innovative 5G technologies and solutions compliant with O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network). NTT DOCOMO General Manager of RAN Development Department Sadayuki Abeta said that Samsung will be the key to the next phase of 5G Open RAN and the faster expansion of its Lightning Speed 5G coverage nationwide.

Once again, Samsung establishes itself as a major 5G RAN supplier

Market research firm Dell’Oro chimed in and Vice President Stefan Pongratz said believes that the agreement between NTT DOCOMO and Samsung is significant because the Japanese network operator has a history of being at the forefront with new and innovative technologies.

Therefore, Samsung has now established itself as an even bigger 5G supplier in Japan after it entered the market in late 2019 in collaboration with network operator KDDI. Samsung’s partnership with KDDI was strengthened on the enterprise front by another agreement last year.

NTT DOCOMO is a founding member of the O-RAN Alliance that was founded earlier this year in partnership with 12 other companies for the purpose of accelerating global O-RAN adoption.

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Android 11, the last major update for the Galaxy A40 is out now in Europe

We have great news for Galaxy A40 owners who have been anticipating the launch of One UI 3, as Samsung is now rolling out the Android 11-based firmware update for the Galaxy A40 in Europe. More specifically, the firmware began rolling out for the Galaxy A40 (SM-A405FN) at Vodafone Germany over the weekend, and it brings the March 2021 security patch along.

The highlight of the update is, of course, One UI 3 and the new visual / UI changes it introduces, though Galaxy A40 owners shouldn’t expect every One UI 3 feature to be included. Similar to the Android 11 update for the Galaxy A50, the firmware is expected to improve camera autofocus, add more lock screen and AoD options, additional Bixby Routines and more.

The latest update for the Galaxy A40 bears firmware version A405FNXXU3CUC2. As of this writing, the update is available only for the Galaxy A40 offered by Vodafone Germany, though its release indicates that it could soon be rolled out for the Galaxy A40 in other countries, at least where the device was sold by Vodafone.

If you happen to own the Galaxy A40, you can verify if the update is available for you to download by opening the Settings app and tapping Download and install in the Software update section. SamMobile readers can also download the firmware from our archive with no strings attached and install the firmware to their phones using a Windows PC and Odin.

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Samsung’s latest secret project is a double-folding phone due this year

Samsung has gone all-in on foldable smartphones. No other smartphone manufacturer has been able to match its pace of innovation yet. The company is in no mood to slow down. A new report reveals that Samsung plans to aggressively increase production of its foldable smartphones.

It also mentions that Samsung’s latest secret project is an entirely new double-folding phone that may be launched as early as by the end of this year. The company is already due to unveil new models of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold in the second half of 2021.

A new double-folding phone is on its way

Citing three sources, Nikkei Asia reports that Samsung is working on a new double-folding phone. Many of you will be well aware that the company already has countless patents covering foldable phones that can be folded twice. It even has patents for tri-folding phones.

One person with direct knowledge of Samsung plans tells the scribe that the company has now set a very ambitious goal for itself. It wants to bring total sales of foldable smartphones to a level similar to that of its popular Galaxy Note series. The phablets typically sell more than 10 million units per year.

This may explain why there have been so many rumors about the Galaxy Note series being killed off. Samsung has already said there won’t be a new Galaxy Note handset in 2021. It understandably wants to bet on the foldable phones that carry higher margins.

With the increasing similarities between the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series, the company didn’t have much to differentiate the two lineups. Foldables offer a clear distinction and if Samsung can find a way to accommodate the S Pen lovers between them, it really has no reason to keep the Galaxy Note series around.

Sources say that Samsung is still in the process of finalizing the finer details of its double-folding phone. It wants the handset to have a more app-friendly design. The idea is to have the unfolded screen aspect ratio be in line with the mainstream 16:9 or 18:9 ratio. This would enable apps and games to be more visually appealing on the device with better resolutions. For context, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a rather unique screen aspect ratio of 25:9.

No further details are available about Samsung’s latest secret project right now. We’ll keep our ear to the ground and let you know as soon as we hear more.

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New Galaxy M phones to have Chinese OLEDs instead of Samsung

Samsung Display is the primary supplier of OLED screens for Samsung’s mobile devices. The Korean conglomerate relies heavily on vertical integration. It sources a wide variety of components that go inside its mobile devices from sister companies.

With intensifying competition in the entry-level smartphone segment, Samsung is looking at every possible way to reduce prices in order to increase competitiveness. It’s now reportedly going to use Chinese OLEDs in new Galaxy M phones instead of sourcing them from Samsung Display.

Samsung wants to cut costs, improve margins on Galaxy M phones

A report out of South Korea claims that Samsung has inked a contract with Chinese display manufacturer BOE. It will use the OLED panels that BOE provides in new Galaxy M smartphones. This is part of Samsung’s efforts to reduce the production cost in order to retain its position as the world’s top smartphone vendor.

The report mentions that Samsung will use the OLED panels that it gets from BOE in new Galaxy M phones that are due in the second half of this year. This will be the first time that Samsung will buy OLED panels from BOE. It has previously used LCDs from the Chinese company.

Samsung Display remains the leading manufacturer of mobile OLED panels in the world. It understandably charges a premium for its products. Companies like BOE are trying to make a dent in its market share so they offer their products at more competitive prices.

Samsung can thus benefit from a market dynamic that its own sister company has created. By using cheaper OLEDs from China, it can improve margins on the high-volume Galaxy M handsets while also keeping their prices low.

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Galaxy A80 will turn two as an Android 11 smartphone, update out now

A new software update carrying Android 11-based One UI 3.1 is confirmed to be on its way to the Galaxy A80 series. The rollout already began reaching select models in Europe, having been spotted in France. This latest firmware upgrade for the 2019 mid-ranger is arriving under version number A805FXXU5DUC7 and also comes bundled with the March 2021 security update, as was to be expected.

The new update has yet to expand to more countries but will likely do so shortly. A number of Galaxy A smartphones already made the jump to Android 11 in recent weeks, and many ultimately even skipped One UI 3.0 in favor of a newer, more polished implementation of Android.

But what about Android 12?

The Galaxy A80 just barely missed out on a third generation of major operating system updates that Samsung promised for a whole swath of its devices last summer. Of course, remaining owners can at least count on a steady influx of security patches for at least another year. Many might end up upgrading in the meantime, which is pretty much what Samsung’s contemporary support policy is all about: providing a stable mobile ecosystem that doesn’t pressure you into jumping ship out of fear for your data and privacy.

Galaxy A80 owners eager to upgrade can try triggering an OTA installation manually by going to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Alternatively, our firmware archives will soon have full system images containing the Android 11 update for anyone who’s feeling really, really keen to take them for a spin.

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Galaxy S21 still selling like crazy in the U.S., tripling S20 numbers

The Galaxy S21 series isn’t showing much signs of slowing down in Samsung’s key markets. According to the latest industry insights, the flagship family tripled the first-month sales of the Galaxy S20 range in the United States – still the world’s largest smartphone market.

Granted, a direct comparison to the 2020 devices might not be as clear-cut as it so readily appears. Largely thanks to Samsung’s improved willingness to slash the prices of the Galaxy S21-series flagships much sooner than their predecessors were granted the same privilege.

For how long can Samsung keep this up?

That’s all according to Strategy Analytics, whose latest report also estimates that the Galaxy S21 Ultra so far accounted for over 40% of the lineup’s U.S. sales. Which is nothing short of an amazing percentage given the pricing difference across the three models. At the end of the day, the only smartphone Samsung truly wants to sell year in, year out, is its most expensive one, popcorn not included.

Looking at the broader picture, while many of Samsung’s fiercest mobile rivalries took place on the other side of the world in recent years, the U.S. will remain a key battleground for every major smartphone maker for as long as profit margins are a consideration. Given the humongous effort that went into the launch of the new Galaxy A devices, not to mention the already-abundant rumors concerning the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition, it would appear Samsung will be able to keep this momentum going for at least a little while longer. That’s the idea, at least.

Galaxy S21

• Model: SM-G991U
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 888
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21+

• Model: SM-G996U
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 888
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21 Ultra

• Model: SM-G998U
• Dimensions: Bar: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 888
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Samsung’s stunning new laptops leaked, check them out!

We had reported earlier this year that Samsung will launch two new laptops, the Galaxy Book Pro and the Galaxy Book Pro 360. We had also exclusively leaked some of the features of the two upcoming laptops, including their OLED screens. Now, the first images of the two laptops have been leaked, showcasing their design.

Reliable leakster Evan Blass (a.k.a @evleaks) has published press renders of the Galaxy Book Pro and the Galaxy Book Pro 360 on Voice. The Galaxy Book Pro has a traditional laptop form factor with a full-sized keyboard, a large trackpad, a fingerprint reader, a microSD card slot, a USB Type-A port, and a headphone jack. It may also feature a USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 4 and an HDMI port, but they aren’t visible in the images. It will be available in two colors: black and white.

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with a 360-degree hinge and a touchscreen that is compatible with an S Pen. It appears to feature a USB Type-C port, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. This laptop appears in two colors in the leaked renders: Mystic Bronze and Navy Blue.

The Galaxy Book Pro and the Galaxy Book Pro 360 will reportedly be launched in two sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch. They both feature OLED screens, 11th Gen. Intel Core series processors, Nvidia MX450 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, and an LTE modem.

The company also seems to be working on the Galaxy Book Go, a Windows 10-based laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 14-inch Full HD screen, 4GB/8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB storage. It was also recently rumored that Samsung is working on a series of Windows 10 ARM-based laptops that feature its own Exynos 2200 processor rather than using a Qualcomm processor.

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Samsung launches a dozen high-res monitors with HDR10

Samsung has unveiled its 2021 monitor lineup, and it consists of a dozen high-resolution models that have extremely thin bezels. The new monitors also have the capability to display over a billion colors and are compatible with HDR10. They come in a variety of screen sizes, starting from 24 inches and going as high as 32 inches.

The South Korean firm says that its new monitors are perfect for work-from-home setups, thanks to life-like picture quality, advanced ergonomic designs, and features like pivot, tilt, and swivel. Additionally, all these monitors have received the ‘Intelligent Eye Care’ certification from TÜV Rheinland. They have also received the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) energy efficiency certification and sustainability certification from the Swedish Confederation Of Professional Employees (TCO).

Samsung’s new monitors are divided into three series: S6, S7, and S8. The S8 series has three models: 32-inch S80A, 27-inch S80A, and 27-inch S80UA. All these models feature a flat-screen display with 4K resolution, HDR10, 1.07 billion colors, 99% sRGB coverage, and a USB 3.0 hub. They also feature ergonomic adjustments via a height-adjustable stand (HAS), pivot, swivel, and tilt. The S80UA even features a USB Type-C port with 90W charging and 10Gbps data transfer speeds.

There are two monitors in the S7 series: 27-inch S70A and 32-inch S70A. Both are 4K monitors with a flat-screen display, HDR10, 1.07 billion colors, a bezel-less design, and tilt adjustment.

There are seven monitors in the S6 series: 34-inch S65UA, 32-inch S60UA, 27-inch S60UA, 24-inch S60UA, 32-inch S60A, 27-inch S60A, and 24-inch S60A. The 32-inch S65UA is an ultra-wide QHD monitor with a 3,440×1,440 resolution, a 21:9 aspect ratio, 1000R curved screen, 1.07 billion colors, HDR10, a bezel-less design, and tilt adjustments. It also features a LAN port, USB Type-C port (with 10Gbps data transfer and 90W charging), and a USB 3.0 hub. The LAN port can be used for the wake-up-on-LAN feature.

The S60UA comes in three sizes: 32-inch, 27-inch, and 24-inch. It has QHD resolution, AMD FreeSync, HDR10, 1.07 billion colors, USB Type-C port, USB 3.0 hub, and adjustments for pivot, swivel, and tilt. The S60 series has three models: 32-inch, 27-inch, and 24-inch. These monitors have all the features of the S60UA, but lack LAN and USB Type-C ports.

Samsung hasn’t announced the pricing or availability of these monitors yet, but we expect them to be released over the next few weeks.

Hyesung Ha, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “As demand for higher resolution monitors continues to increase, Samsung plans to continue to lead the market by unveiling new products that meet our customers’ needs. Our 2021 High-Resolution lineup delivers dazzling picture quality and powers enhanced performance, all the while ensuring user comfort with a streamlined, eco-conscious design.”

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Galaxy Buds Pro’s Ambient Sound feature can help people with hearing loss

The Galaxy Buds Pro are Samsung’s best truly wireless earphones ever. They offer excellent sound quality and many convenient features such as ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), wear detection, Voice Detect, and Ambient Sound. The Ambient Sound feature has been found effective for people with mild or moderate hearing loss.

A new study conducted by Samsung Medical Center indicates that the Galaxy Buds Pro’s Ambient Sound feature effectively helps those who have mild hearing loss. The truly wireless earphones can help such people in better hearing sounds in their surroundings. The study was published in Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, a renowned scientific journal dedicated to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) research.

The research evaluated the effectiveness of the Galaxy Buds Pro’s Ambient Sound when compared to a hearing aid and a personal sound amplification product. This is the first study that has included truly wireless earphones when reviewing the clinical performance of hearing devices. All three devices went through three tests: electroacoustic assessment, sound amplification evaluation, and a clinical performance evaluation.

The study tested the Galaxy Buds Pro’s equivalent input noise, frequency range, output sound pressure level, and total harmonic distortion. It also tested their amplification performance at seven different frequencies. Participants in the study, with a median age of 63, were suffering from moderate hearing impairments, and 57% of them said that the Galaxy Buds Pro helped them communicate in a quiet environment. The earbuds were found to be effective at 1,000Hz, 2,000Hz, and 6,000Hz.

The tests revealed that the Galaxy Buds Pro perform comparably to hearing aids. When compared to their unaided condition, individuals with mild to moderate hearing impairments understood spoken words better when using the Galaxy Buds Pro. Samsung’s latest truly wireless earphones can amplify nearby sounds by up to 20 decibels and offers four levels of customization.

Han-gil Moon, Master and Head of Advanced Audio Lab, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “As we develop new products and services, we are mindful of how our technology can help people to defy barriers and do more. These findings reflect our ongoing commitment to creating innovations that enable everyone to better enjoy everyday experiences, and we plan to extend the test to more participants in the coming months.“

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