Galaxy Z Fold 3 will likely feature a smaller battery than Galaxy Z Fold 2

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is shaping up to be quite an impressive foldable smartphone. The device will likely get a faster processor, better displays, improved cameras, an under-display front-facing camera, and a thinner and lighter build. However, it might be powered by a smaller battery when compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

It was reported last week that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could feature a dual-battery system with a combined capacity of 4,380mAh, but that information was just based on TheElec’s own source. Today, the upcoming foldable phone’s dual-battery system passed through the 3C certification process in China. One of those batteries (EB-BF926ABY) has a rated capacity of 2,060mAh, while the other battery (EB-BF927ABY) has a rated capacity of 2,215mAh.

The combined battery capacity turns out to be 4,275mAh, and Samsung could market it as a 4,380mAh or a 4,400mAh battery. Although Samsung appears to be using a smaller capacity battery than the Galaxy Z Fold 2, its upcoming foldable phone could make up for it via more power-efficient internals such as its 5nm processor.

Galaxy Z Fold 3 expected features

We had exclusively revealed yesterday that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will have an official IP rating for dust and water resistance. The device could also feature thicker Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) protection over the foldable screen to withstand the S Pen. Speaking of S Pen, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will likely come with S Pen support, but it won’t have a dedicated silo to store the stylus.

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is rumored to feature a 6.21-inch cover display and a 7.55-inch foldable display. We had exclusively revealed that the foldable phone will have 256GB internal storage, and that it will run Android 11 with One UI 3.5 out of the box. The device will be available in at least two colors: black and green. It will also be available in The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is rumored to be unveiled sometime in July 2021 alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

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Upcoming SmartThings update lets you know if you’re being tracked

Samsung has announced two new exciting additions to its growing SmartThings platform, designed to enhance user safety and provide easier access to the SmartThings Find feature via Bixby. Indeed, Bixby Voice integration is soon coming to SmartThings, and the company has announced a neat new security features for the Galaxy SmartTag.

First of all, the upcoming SmartThings update will allow users to find their SmartTags hands-free using voice commands. Users will be able to ask ‘Hi Bixby, where is my bike‘ or whatever object your SmartTag is tracking, and Bixby will find and share your property’s exact location.

The second part of the upcoming update seems to address a potential security and privacy issue. It allows SmartThings users to prevent being tracked by unknown SmartTags. Essentially, SmartThings users will soon be able to scan for Galaxy SmartTags that aren’t their own but follow the same movement patterns as they do. In other words, the feature allows SmartThings users to detect whether they’re being tracked by someone else’s SmartTag.

According to Samsung, the SmartThings update will be released starting next week. Exact availability details are missing, so there’s a chance that the update will gradually reach more markets over time.

‘One of the fastest-growing location services in the world’

Along with the recent announcement, Samsung also revealed a few interesting tidbits of information surrounding its SmartThings platform, such as the fact that it’s become one of the fastest-growing services of its kind.

The SmartThings Find network is now home to more than 70 million devices that have been registered as of the platform’s debut. Samsung claims that, at present, there are more than 700 million Galaxy users who can participate in the SmartThings Find network.

The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag was released along with the Galaxy S21 series and you can learn all there is to know about it from our review linked below. Keep in mind that Samsung has also launched the UWB-enabled SmartTag+ in key markets including the USA and South Korea.

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag review

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Galaxy Tab S7 Lite just did a little turn on the catwalk

If you can’t tell that the tablet season is almost upon us, you haven’t been paying attention these past few days. But that’s alright, because it seems the best is yet to come, as far as leaks are concerned. Today, the spotlight turned to the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite, which has just been sighted doing a deliberate 360 on video.

That setup should sound pretty familiar to anyone with a loose interest in smartphone news. And with good reason, as this newest depiction of the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite comes directly from known industry insider Steve Hemmerstoffer, better known by his online handle @OnLeaks.

Will the Galaxy Tab S7 be able to take on the new iPad Mini?

As usual, this video rendering is implied to be based on the final factory specifications of the device. Speaking of which, the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite will reportedly measure in at 284.77 x 185.04 x 6.34 mm, per the same source.

After more than a quarter of non-stop rumblings about the device, we’re kind of ready for Samsung to get this over with. Not because the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite doesn’t seem intriguing, but because there’ll be no one left for it to cater to if it ends up being months behind the widely rumored iPad Mini 2021. Unfortunately, the latest info on that front is that the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite will only be launching in June, at least a month and likely two months behind Apple’s spring slates.

Oh, and let’s not forget the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite appears to be on the horizon, as well. In the meantime, Samsung wants you to know last year’s Galaxy Tab S7 flagships are still powerhouses. Because they are.

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The Galaxy M12 is officially headed for the UK and will arrive this month

It’s been roughly a couple of months since the Galaxy M12 was quietly introduced to Vietnam and India, but now the device is headed for its UK debut. Samsung confirmed today that the budget device will be available in the UK from April 30 exclusively through the company’s online store as well as through Amazon.

The Galaxy M12 is Samsung’s cheapest smartphone to date that boasts a high refresh rate of 90Hz, and as detailed in our review, it works surprisingly well. This leads to smoother animations throughout the UI, and a higher frame rate in certain mobile games. And although you shouldn’t expect flagship-grade performance from this budget phone, the Exynos 850 octa-core chipset punches well above the Galaxy M12’s weight.

Other hardware specs include 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage expandable by 1TB via microSD, and an Infinity-V display with a resolution of 1600 by 720 pixels. The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and the components are powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging.

Prospective buyers in the UK are looking at a £159 price tag attached to the Galaxy M12. Once the device becomes available at the end of the month, customers will get to pick from three color options: black, light blue, and green.

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Samsung’s developed a wireless keyboard with DeX and it’s coming soon

Samsung has developed a wireless QWERTY keyboard called the Samsung Keyboard Trio 500, and what makes it special compared to any other wireless keyboards on the market is that the Trio 500 was designed to offer DeX compatibility. Or at the very least, this is what a handful of leaked press renders suggest, because the keyboard itself is not yet available for purchase.

The Samsung Keyboard Trio 500 should work in wired mode thanks to a USB port, but it also works wirelessly thanks to two AAA batteries. The keyboard not only has a dedicated DeX button but the layout also suggests that it should be compatible with Apple devices and Windows-powered PCs. The keyboard seemingly has a dedicated button for switching between connected devices, and the name itself implies that it should be able to carry three connections simultaneously.

The alleged price might tell us more about the keyboard’s capabilities

The renders below were lifted by WinFuture from an online third-party retailer’s website, so there’s no official information to go by regarding the product’s official launch date and price. However, the source suggests that the Samsung Keyboard Trio 500 will go on sale in Europe for around €45.

The price suggests that the Keyboard Trio 500 doesn’t have any smart ‘brains’ inside it, therefore it can’t work independently as a DeX-only machine. Instead, it will likely require the user to connect it to a Samsung smartphone or tablet that supports the DeX platform. Time will tell.

The Samsung Keyboard Trio 500 should hit the market in two color options — black and white — but the exact launch date remains unclear. Nevertheless, third-party retailers are already preparing the product for release so it shouldn’t take much longer. We’ll keep you posted.

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Samsung heir could be pardoned as semiconductor supply issues continue

The ongoing global shortage of semiconductors is causing supply problems across a wide variety of industries. Some car manufacturers have been forced to halt production due to parts unavailability, and with both the USA and China trying to become the world’s greatest semiconductor hub, Samsung Electronics is reportedly feeling pressure from both sides. The company is planning to make massive investments to increase its semiconductor manufacturing capacity, and according to the latest reports from industry sources, Samsung could end up following a dual-track approach in investments.

Last week, industry watchers said that Samsung has yet to make a decision as to whether it should pursue its semiconductor investment plans in the USA or South Korea, but a new report now suggests that Samsung is very close to revealing its plans for a two-pronged strategy. The company is expected to announce a 70 trillion won ($62.7 billion) investment. 20 trillion won ($17.9 billion) will reportedly be allocated to its expansion plans at its facility in Austin, Texas, and the remaining 50 trillion won ($44.8) will go towards expanding its P3 semiconductor line in Hwaseong, South Korea.

Business officials want Lee Jae-yong back at the helm

Even more interesting than the alleged two-pronged strategy is the fact that business officials believe that the next huge wave of investments should happen with Lee Jae-yong back at the helm. The planned investment is too large and important in their eyes, and because of this, they’ve asked president Moon Jae-in to pardon Lee Jae-yong and allow him to facilitate the investment.

Korea Enterprises Federation Chief Sohn Kyung-shik has reportedly suggested the idea of pardoning Lee during a meeting with the finance minister and heads of economic lobby groups, and apparently the other attendees remained quite positive on the idea.

Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on account of bribery at the beginning of the year, and the vice chairman has humbly accepted the court’s decision. He was barred from working at Samsung for five years once he’s released from jail, though the employment ban seemingly remains controversial.

It’s unclear whether Lee Jae-yong will or won’t be pardoned but more details could emerge soon, especially since Samsung’s investment plans could become clearer in a matter of weeks. An unnamed industry executive cited by The Korea Times expects these details to be revealed a few days before president Moon’s face-to-face meeting with Biden […] probably in early May.

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Exclusive: Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 2 will have an IP rating!

Durability remains a concern with foldable smartphones and Samsung is addressing it with each new generation. The Galaxy Z Flip featured Samsung’s first-ever Ultra-Thin Glass foldable display and a solid hinge.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 also featured a UTG panel in addition to a more refined hinge. None of the foldables that Samsung has released so far have an IP rating. That’s about to change this year.

Samsung’s first foldable phones with an IP rating

An IP or Ingress Protection rating is awarded to the enclosure of an electrical item. It clearly indicates just how resistant the item is to debris and liquid ingress. For example, the IP67 rating found on most smartphones indicates that it offers full protection against dust and other foreign particles as well as protection against full immersion in water for up to 30 minutes at up to 1 meter.

We hear whispers from people in the know that both new foldables – the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 2 will feature an IP rating. The exact rating is unknown at this point in time. It may not be similar to the IP68 rating of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, for example, but at least it represents a major improvement in the durability department.

This will certainly be a welcome addition for customers who pay up to $2,000 for a foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Samsung’s foldables are also some of its most expensive smartphones. The more durable they can be the better it is for customers.

Samsung is due to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 2 later this year. A recent report has suggested that the devices may be launched in July. These are the only two foldable smartphones that Samsung will be launching this year. Rumors that claimed up to four new foldables might be launched are incorrect.

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Samsung India launches pick-up and drop service for Galaxy phones, tablets

Samsung has launched a pick-up-and-drop service for smartphone and tablet repairs in India. Starting today, consumers in 46 cities across India can request Samsung to pick up their Galaxy smartphone or tablet for repairs from the comfort and safety of their homes. An executive from the company will come and pick up the device, get it repaired in an authorized service center, and then deliver it back home to the consumer.

The company’s pick-up and drop service is available in the following cities in India: Agra, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Durgapur, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hubli, Hyderabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Kochi, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Patna, Pune, Rajkot, Raipur, Ranchi, Surat, Thane, Tirupati, Udaipur, Vadodara, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Vishakapatnam.

Executives from the company will follow all the COVID-19-related safety and hygiene protocols that are advised by the government. The contact-less pick-up and drop service costs INR 199 (around $2.5), while the drop-only service is priced at just INR 99 (around $1.35). Consumers can pay for the service through several digital payment methods.

Samsung is helping consumers in resolving their device-related issues without a need for them to step out of their homes. The company is offering 24×7 support via WhatsApp (1800-5-7267864) where consumers can register for the service, seek technical support, get information about service locations, get information about offers, and request for demo and installation of Samsung products.

Another contact-less support channel from the company includes Remote Support where service executives diagnose smartphones and TVs via the internet and offer instant resolutions. There’s a live chat service, technical assistance through call centers, and various video tips on Samsung’s website and YouTube channel. The Samsung Members app can be used for live chat, tracking service requests, remote support and diagnostics, and tracking repair progress.

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Samsung tells Galaxy Tab S7 owners they really ought to try Good Lock

Eight months into its shelf life, the Galaxy Tab S7 series is still the golden standard for ultra-premium tablet experiences. And not due to any good luck, which was a rare commodity in the mobile space over the past year. But a Good Lock? That’s an entirely different matter.

Samsung’s been doing its best to remind everyone of how acclaimed its flagship tablet range remains as of late. While that probably has something to do with the intensifying iPad 2021 rumors, these pitches have already gotten way more interesting than what another boring Apple lineup deserves.

Good Lock and a good tablet: a combo that’s more than just ‘good’

Inflammatory remarks aside, Samsung today underlined some recent arrivals to its Android module Good Lock, many of which shine particularly bright on the Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7+.

An improved, extensible keyboard, as well as a robust theming engine are both parts of that equation. As are custom navigation gestures, Multistar’s picture-in-picture functionality, and a more polished one-handed mode; all great fits for extending the inherently convenient nature of a tablet.

If you want to know more, the short video promos embedded herein introduce the new and improved features in more depth.

These additions have all arrived as part of Good Lock module updates that brought full Android 11-based One UI 3.0 support to the app. Of course, the Galaxy Tab S7 family already made the jump to One UI 3.1 back in January and will remain at the bleeding edge of Samsung’s firmware updates for a long time to come.

Galaxy Tab S7 LTE

• Model: SM-T875
• Dimensions: Tablet: 253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3 mm
  
• Display: 11 inch / 274 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

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Samsung starts making smartphone display panels in India

Samsung had announced in early 2020 that it plans to set up a smartphone display manufacturing facility in India. However, due to the COVID-19 situation, the plans had to be postponed and the company had to send an additional workforce from South Korea to speed up the pending work. Thankfully, the company has now started the production of mobile phone display panels at its Noida factory.

ET Telecom is now reporting that Samsung Display started the production of smartphone display panels at its Noida factory in India earlier this month. The company is planning to ramp up the production and eventually start making display panels for monitors and other IT products as well. The display plant will offer employment to more than 500 people directly and 1,300 jobs indirectly. Currently, Samsung makes 70% of the total display panels it needs in South Korea.

Samsung Display has invested INR 4,825 crores (around $653 million) to shift the manufacturing of mobile displays and smartphones from China to India. It will receive financial incentives worth INR 460 crores (around $61 million) from the government. Analysts say Samsung’s move will nudge other companies to set up operations in the country and offer a boost to India’s plans of becoming the next big electronics manufacturing hub after China.

Samsung is the only company that has met the Indian government’s PLI scheme targets of making mobile phones with an invoice value of INR 15,000 (around $200). Other companies, including Apple, Foxconn, and Wistron, have struggled to meet the targets and asked the government to the financial year 2021-2022 as the first year of production targets.

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This four-year-old Galaxy smartphone is getting latest security patch

Samsung had unveiled the Galaxy Note FE almost four years ago, one year after the Galaxy Note 7 debacle. The S Pen-equipped smartphone debuted with Android 7.1.1, and it received two major Android OS updates: Android 8.0 and Android 9.0. Now, the company has started rolling out the latest security patch to the Galaxy Note FE.

The Galaxy Note FE (SM-N935F) has started getting a new update in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The new update brings the April 2021 security patch to the Galaxy Note FE and bumps up the firmware version to N935FXXS8CUD1. This security patch includes fixes for various vulnerabilities within Android and Samsung’s own software. We don’t have the official changelog for the update yet, but we don’t expect it to include anything other than the security fixes. So, don’t expect new features or performance improvements.

If you are a loyal Galaxy Note FE user in any of the countries mentioned above, you can check for the update by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. If you don’t want to wait for the OTA update, you can download the entire firmware from our firmware section and flash it manually. We expect the new update to roll out in other markets soon.

The Galaxy Note FE was built using the leftover stocks and components of the Galaxy Note 7. It featured a relatively smaller battery (3,200mAh) and a rigorous battery safety testing standard compared to the Galaxy Note 7. It was available in limited numbers, though, and was quickly sold out.

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One of Samsung’s best-selling phones is finally getting Android 11 update

The Galaxy A31 was Samsung’s second best-selling smartphone globally in January 2021. The phone was launched in March 2020 with Android 10 (One UI 2.1) onboard, and it now seems to be getting updated to Android 11. Along with the latest version of Android, the new update also includes the latest security patch from Samsung.

Samsung has started rolling out the Android 11-based One UI 3.1 update to the Galaxy A31 (SM-A315N) in South Korea. The latest update, which has firmware version A315NKSU1CUD3, includes the April 2021 security patch and has a download size of 2,036.12MB. The new update brings refreshed UI and icon designs, one-time permissions, app permissions auto reset, chat bubbles, conversations section in the notification area, dedicated media player widget in the notifications area, improved stock apps, easier access to smart home controls, and the ability to remove GPS location data from images while sharing them.

The update also includes more lock screen widgets, improved Dynamic Lockscreen options, AoD designs, video backgrounds for voice calls, and improved Digital Wellbeing and parental controls.

If you are a Galaxy A31 user in South Korea, you can check for the update manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. We expect Samsung to roll out the Android 11 update to the Galaxy A31 in more markets globally in the coming weeks.

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Galaxy S22 camera will miss out on this image sensor

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is among the best smartphone cameras in the world right now, and Samsung is expected to improve it even further with the Galaxy S22 next year. However, the next-generation Galaxy S flagship might not include a 3D ToF (Time of Flight) sensor that was used in the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the Galaxy S10 5G.

According to a new report from South Korean publication ETNews, Samsung has made up its mind not to include a 3D ToF sensor in the Galaxy S22 series. A 3D ToF sensor uses infrared light to create accurate three-dimensional depth maps of objects and helps the camera with focusing and portrait images in low-light conditions. It is also used in AR apps and games due to its accuracy.

An official from Samsung reportedly said that consumers are satisfied with the image quality of the Galaxy S21 even if it lacks a 3D depth sensor. Hence, the company has decided not to use it in the Galaxy S22 as well.

Samsung could bring back 3D ToF camera when there are enough meaningful AR apps and games

Samsung believes that 3D ToF sensors don’t serve a meaningful purpose in flagship smartphones right now. However, the company could bring back the feature when there are enough satisfactory AR apps, games, and experiences in the market. Despite Apple’s latest iPhones and iPads featuring a LiDAR sensor (similar to 3D ToF), its usage is said to be low among consumers right now.

Samsung LSI, the company’s camera sensor arm, recently showcased its newest 3D ToF sensor, the ISOCELL Vizion 33D. The 1/3.2-inch VGA sensor aims to provide best-in-class photography, AR/VR experiences, 3D scanning, and video bokeh effects. It features a 4-tap demodulation system, allowing each pixel to receive four-phase signals simultaneously at 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees.

Coming back to the Galaxy S22, various reports claim that the phone will have a bigger camera sensor. The company could also tie up with Japanese camera brand Olympus to improve its camera quality. The Galaxy S22 is also expected to feature an Exynos processor with AMD Mobile Radeon graphics for improved gaming performance.

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