Australia’s first mmWave 5G network powered by vRAN will use Samsung’s solutions

Samsung has announced that it will conduct Australia’s first 5G vRAN (Virtualized Radio Access Networks) trial with TPG Telecom. The trial 5G network will use Samsung’s 5G solutions, including the Compact Macro and vRAN. TPG Telecom owns various telecom and internet brands in Australia, including Felix Mobile, iiNet, Internode, TPG, and Vodafone Australia.

The 5G vRAN trial will be conducted on the 26GHz spectrum using the mmWave technology. Samsung will place its vRAN solution in TPG Telecom’s Innovation Lab in Glebe, New South Wales. The South Korean firm’s Compact Macro will be used for the wider Glebe area. The Compact Macro solution was recently unveiled by Samsung Networks, and it combines a baseband, radio, and antenna in a single form factor that’s compact and lightweight. It can be easily installed on the side of buildings and utility poles, leading to faster rollout of mmWave 5G networks.

Samsung’s 5G vRAN uses the company’s independently developed stack that can be operated using commercial off-the-shelf servers. It is already being used by various network carriers across the world. The company recently expanded its solution to support 3.5GHz Massive MIMO radio, which is said to be hard to achieve.

Iñaki Berroeta, CEO at TPG Telecom, said, “We are very pleased to partner with Samsung as part of our new Innovation Lab to drive product and technology innovation by trialing virtualization. Deploying mmWave spectrum on our 5G network together with vRAN architecture will allow us to develop exciting 5G use cases for industry verticals and enable the delivery of even faster speeds and greater capacity for our customers.”

Samsung Networks entered the Australian market in April 2021, and it is currently exploring more clients. TPG Telecom recently tripled its total spectrum holdings after it acquired spectrum in the 26GHz band with an investment of AUD 108 million. The telecom firm aims to offer high-speed data services for its mobile and home broadband users.

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Samsung expects a 53% jump in Q2 2021 profit, thanks to higher chip sales

Samsung has published its earnings guidance for Q2 2021 (April to June) earlier today. The South Korean firm is expecting a healthy jump in revenue and profit, thanks to higher sales of semiconductor chips and electronic devices, driven by the remote learning and work-from-home trends during the pandemic.

The company expects its revenue for Q2 2021 to be around KRW 63 trillion (~$55.4 billion) and its operating profit to be around KRW 12.5 trillion (~$11 billion). That is a 19% jump in revenue and a 53% jump in operating profit compared to Q2 2020. This is just the company’s earnings guidance, and it will post the actual numbers sometime later this month. The company also mentioned that it includes one-time gains from its display business.

During the same time last year, the company reported a 7.4% decline in sales as most markets were closed due to COVID-19 related lockdowns. Samsung Electronics is expecting to sell more smartphones and TVs than any other brand, but it said that its sales could decline due to a shortage of chips and other components.

Samsung (well, the Samsung Semiconductor arm) is the world’s biggest memory chip manufacturer, and it is expecting a strong jump in sales, fuelled by rising demand from cloud computing, data center, and personal computing sectors. Analysts expect the South Korean firm’s chip business to have contributed over half of the company’s operating income for the quarter.

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New Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra update is mysteriously massive

The rollout of the July security update for Galaxy devices is beginning to show some urgency this week. The Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 10 lineups were updated with the latest security fixes earlier today, and the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are also receiving a similar update today. Only the update that’s rolling out for the Galaxy Note 20 series is massive, with the over-the-air download over 1GB in size while the changelog simply says that security has been improved.

An updated QR scanner app seems to be the only user-facing change

Upon closer inspection, the only new thing we could find was an updated QR code scanner. Instead of simply opening the camera app when you tap the QR Scanner toggle in the notification shade, you now get a dedicated QR scanner app that was first introduced on the Galaxy S21 series. In addition to scanning QR codes with the camera, you can open QR codes saved in the device gallery, a functionality that was also added to the Galaxy S21 lineup with a recent update.

As for what else is new or improved, it’s a mystery at this point, though if you find anything, do feel free to let us know down in the comments section. According to Samsung, The July update is supposed to fix Android Auto issues for Galaxy devices, but why that would warrant a big update like this is anyone’s guess. Oh, and you’re not getting One UI 3.1.1 with this release, if you’re wondering.

In any case, the update — firmware version N98xxXXU2DUF8 — is currently out in Germany and should make its way to more countries in the coming days. It can be downloaded over the air from the Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra’s Settings » Software update menu using the Download and install option inside. Alternatively, download the latest firmware from our archives and upgrade your phone using a Windows PC.

Galaxy Note 20

• Model: SM-N980F
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Super AMOLED Plus
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

• Model: SM-N985F
• Dimensions: Bar: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 108MP

More specifications

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G

• Model: SM-N986B
• Dimensions: Bar: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 108MP

More specifications

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE review: Good, but not ‘fan edition’ good

The Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) was a major success for Samsung, thanks to an aggressive price tag for hardware that was pretty close to the flagship Galaxy S20 lineup launched in early 2020. When rumors of a Fan Edition of the Galaxy Tab S7 first arrived, everyone expected the tablet to follow in the S20 FE’s footsteps by offering flagship-level features at a not-so-flagship-level price.

That didn’t turn out to be the case. Where the Galaxy S20 FE shares almost all of its specs with the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a full on mid-range tablet that only shares some of its hardware with the Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7+. The only highlights here are the massive 12.4-inch display, equally massive 10,090 mAh battery with 45W charging, S Pen support, and the latest One UI software packed with excellent features like on-device DeX mode.

The price isn’t very aggressive, either, and it made us skeptical of the Tab S7 FE when it went official back in May this year. But has using the tablet changed our opinion, and do we recommend buying one?

Galaxy Tab S7 FE design

You would be forgiven for confusing the Galaxy Tab S7 FE with the Tab S7+ at first glance, because these two tablets are similar in a lot of ways. The front side is taken up by the huge 12.4-inch display, and the sides and back of the tablet are metallic, giving it a premium feel. Naturally, with that big screen, this thing requires two hands for comfortable use, though it’s not as heavy as you would expect.

One important change in design compared to the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ is the lack of any magnetic strip on the back of the tablet for the S Pen to latch on to for charging. Not that charging is needed here, as the S Pen included with the Tab S7 FE is a standard stylus with no Bluetooth or gesture functionality. The Tab S7 FE also lacks a fingerprint sensor, leaving facial recognition and your traditional pin and pattern as the only methods of securing the device.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE supports Samsung’s keyboard cover and comes with a keyboard cover made exclusively for it – it’s the same keyboard that you get with the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ but lacks a trackpad. However, Samsung tells us the Tab S7+ keyboard cover works with the Tab S7 FE, and since the latter doesn’t come with the keyboard accessory in the box, you can always just buy the one with the trackpad.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE display

You would expect a Galaxy device that’s “made for fans” to feature, at the very least, an AMOLED display. Samsung, however, doesn’t think that’s necessary and has equipped the Tab S7 FE with an LCD panel, and one without a high refresh rate. As you would expect, the viewing experience is notably inferior as a result.

The display’s not bad: You’ll enjoy doing everything from watching movies to playing games on it, mainly because of the 12.4 inches of screen estate. The screen’s quite sharp thanks to the QHD resolution, the colors are pretty punchy for an LCD panel, and it gets sufficiently bright. If you have never seen Samsung’s tablet AMOLED displays in action, you’ll likely have no complaints.

But it’s still disappointing that you’re not getting an AMOLED screen. Even more disappointing is the lack of a high refresh rate panel. Many Galaxy phones now offer 90Hz displays at crazy affordable prices, so there’s no reason the Galaxy Tab S7 FE doesn’t, other than Samsung wanting to cut as many corners as possible.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE audio quality

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE gets two speakers instead of four, but these are excellent speakers that won’t disappoint you. They get really loud and easily fill a medium-sized room. I even forgot I wasn’t watching a TV show on my PC speakers at one time, that’s how loud these can get. There’s enough punch in the low frequencies (bass), though the higher frequencies can sometimes distort depending on the audio source. Dolby Atmos is supported, as with every other phone or tablet Samsung launches in the last few years, and it enhances stereo separation and also somewhat increases the overall volume.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE S Pen

The Tab S7 FE has a standard S Pen, meaning there’s no Bluetooth connectivity for remotely controlling apps and functions nor any air gestures. And, because the screen works at a standard 60Hz, the S Pen doesn’t benefit from a low latency and, therefore, doesn’t provide the pen-to-paper feel that you get on the Tab S7 and Tab S7+.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the S Pen isn’t useful. You’re still getting the best stylus package in the industry when you consider all the software features at your disposal, including Samsung’s excellent Samsung Notes app. You also get third-party apps like Clip Studio, Canva, and Noteshelf pre-installed for an enhanced drawing and writing experience.

Naturally, the S Pen is also great for just generally navigating through the user interface. In fact, given how big the screen is, most users will find using the S Pen at all times more comfortable, especially if they have the tablet docked in the keyboard cover.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE Book Cover Keyboard

Samsung’s selling a case-cum-keyboard accessory with the Galaxy Tab S7 FE. It’s called Book Cover Keyboard, same as the one for the flagship Tab S7 and S7+, but, as mentioned earlier, this one lacks a trackpad. That means it’s a little more awkward to use and doesn’t offer a proper laptop-like experience. For that, you need to buy the Book Cover Keyboard that Samsung sells for the S7+, which works with the FE model.

The missing trackpad aside, it’s a pretty nice keyboard. The keys have sufficient travel and are spaced well enough for accidental presses to be a non-issue. Of course, typing is my bread and butter and that makes it easier for me to adjust to any keyboard, but anyone with a decent amount of typing experience will have no trouble with the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s Book Cover Keyboard.

The keyboard includes plenty of shortcuts, including one for taking screenshots and another for switching to DeX mode (and back). However, this thing costs the same as the Tab S7+’s keyboard cover, so I’d recommend buying that one instead so you have access to a trackpad as well.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE software, DeX experience

The software experience on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE is perhaps the only thing that’s carried over completely unchanged from the flagship Tab S7 and Tab S7+. From Multi-Active Window (running three apps side by side) to on-tablet DeX mode, it’s all here (how it all performs is another matter, as discussed below). The Tab S7 FE runs Android 11 with One UI 3.1 out of the box, and it’s likely to be eligible for three major OS updates down the line.

For more details on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s software and DeX experience, check out our Galaxy Tab S7+ review.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE performance

One of the biggest downgrades on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE is no doubt the Snapdragon 750G processor, which replaces the Snapdragon 865+ that powers the Tab S7 and Tab S7+. Worse still, the base variant, which is the one we tested, has just 4GB of RAM. This is a tablet which boasts of features like Samsung’s DeX mode and the ability to multitask with three apps running on-screen at the same time, mind, so I had low expectations for its performance going in.

And the Tab S7 FE proved me right. This tablet does great when you’re just navigating the user interface, running single apps on the phone, or using the S Pen to draw or write something. But try running even two apps side by side and things deteriorate. It’s worse with three apps running at the same time, and the limited memory almost always makes those three apps reload if you go to the home screen and then reopen those apps in split-screen view from the recent apps screen.

Gaming performance was good enough, but with the Snapdragon 750G having to push a high-resolution display, you will run into some stutters here and there in games like Call of Duty. All in all, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE isn’t slow by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s not the fastest tablet out there, and that’s a shame considering how much it costs.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE battery life

I was expecting the 10,090 mAh battery inside the Galaxy Tab S7 FE to be a solid performer, and it was, but only with light use or when you’re only binge watching your favorite TV show all day long. It did get through a day with heavy use that involved a few hours of gaming, watching videos on YouTube, and browsing the internet (including writing a couple of articles), but I had to charge it by the end of the day.

A little surprising, that, but like I said before, it does fine with light use or if you’re only watching videos on it all day long. Left idle, it can last for days on end, while watching a 3-hour movie on Netflix with medium display brightness drained around 18% battery. That somewhat exceeds what Samsung claims, which is up to 13 hours of video on a single charge.

Unfortunately, charging is an excruciatingly slow affair if you use the bundled 15W charger, which takes upwards of three hours to reach a full charge. A 25W charger takes a little under two hours while Samsung’s 45W charger takes around 1.5 hours, and investing in either of those would be a good idea.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE cameras

The Tab S7 FE’s 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras are as basic as they come. They’re good for the occasional emergency snap when you don’t have your phone at hand and for video calls, but that’s about it. Tablets are never meant to offer amazing cameras, and the Tab S7 FE does nothing to change that trend.

Galaxy Tab S7 FE verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a good tablet, just not good enough to be given the Fan Edition label. You’re getting a massive screen with impressive sound quality, the best tablet software package on Android, excellent battery life, and the S Pen experience. If any of that sounds interesting to you, go ahead and buy the Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

If you’re looking for a flagship-grade tablet at a relatively affordable price tag, you’re not going to find it here. You might as well save up and get the Galaxy Tab S7 instead – it’s got a 11-inch display that’s also not AMOLED and has a smaller battery, but everything else is miles better than what you’re getting on the Tab S7 FE.

Pros	Cons
Massive 12.4-inch screen is great for all kinds of content	LCD display, no high refresh rate
Premium build quality	15W charger in the box
Excellent speakers	Middling performance, 4GB of RAM on base model
DeX and software improvements enhance productivity	No fingerprint sensor
Comes with S Pen in the box
Great battery life

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The Galaxy Buds 2’s biggest secret, Active Noise Cancellation, is out now

It has been known for a couple of months now that Samsung will be launching a new pair of truly wireless earbuds. They will be called the Galaxy Buds 2. Since these are meant to the be the successors to the Galaxy Buds+, all initial rumors and reports claimed that it won’t be as feature packed as the Galaxy Buds Pro.

That may not be the case, if a new leak is believed. The Galaxy Buds 2 had a big secret all along that may have been unveiled today. It’s possible that the Galaxy Buds 2 will feature Active Noise Cancellation.

These will be Samsung’s third ANC-equipped earbuds

This will certainly be a big deal. Active Noise Cancellation on the Galaxy Buds 2 will make the new earbuds a more compelling option. This is a highly useful feature as it lets people tune out the background noise, enabling them to enjoy their music, videos or podcasts without distractions.

This rumor be based off of the presence of an Active noise cancelling option in the Galaxy Wearable app to which the Galaxy Buds 2 are synced. Of course, it’s not that difficult to fake such a screenshot, but that source that it comes from does have a fairly accurate track record.

It’s also within the realm of possibility. The Galaxy Buds Pro area already Samsung’s second earbuds with ANC in less than a year. If the company is going all out on this feature, there’s no questioning the possibility that this feature might come with the Galaxy Buds 2 as well.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed as yet when the Galaxy Buds 2 will be unveiled. If rumors are accurate, they might be unveiled alongside the new handsets on Samsung’s next Unpacked event expected to take place on August 11.

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Samsung’s camera sensors are seeing increased demand

Samsung is all set to ramp up the production of CMOS image sensors (CIS) following increased demand from the industry. A report from TheElec states that Samsung will bank upon its vendors, Tesna and LB Semicon, to ramp up production. Both firms will invest in new facilities, which will be operational in the second hard of the year. Furthermore, Nepes Ark, a company that manufactures integrated circuits and TFT-LCD panels, also plans to ease Samsung’s burden by taking up some of Samsung’s orders for image sensors.

The increased demand for image sensors mainly comes from Chinese smartphone vendors such as Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, and Realme, who rely on Samsung’s massively popular ISOCELL image sensors. It is quite common for Samsung to test its image sensors on other OEM’s devices before using them in their in-house offerings. For example, the ISOCELL GN2 sensor made its debut alongside the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra but is yet to be seen on a Samsung smartphone. Then again, it isn’t just smartphone vendors driving up demand for image sensors. They are also used in a load of IoT devices and even automotive parts.

Tesna, LB Semicon and Nepes Ark’s endeavours will also take some load off Samsung’s DRAM production facilities, which had to be repurposed earlier this year to keep up with CIS demand. Samsung could even repurpose the aforementioned facilities into semiconductor plants. That will greatly help the likes of Qualcomm and AMD, who rely on Samsung foundries for their hardware. In conjunction with the proposed manufacturing unit in Texas, Samsung Foundries will be capable of pushing out a lot more semiconductors, of which there is a global shortage.

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Will Samsung join Biden’s war on robocalls? Will it get to choose?

The Biden administration’s war on robocalls is heating up, and Samsung might actually get involved in it. The real question is – who will get to decide that? As the American wireless industry can attest, not all stakeholders have been given the luxury of choice.

As of this week, stateside carriers are legally obliged to verify the identities of all callers perusing their infrastructure. That goes for both outgoing and incoming calls, though the entirety of the directive – authored by the Federal Communications Commission – is aimed at stopping robocalls. Or reducing their ridiculous abundance in the U.S., at the very least.

Are the victims of robocalls truly the tech-inept? Try the sick and elderly

The deadline officially passed on Sunday midnight, the 30th of June, to be exact. And the carriers weren’t left to figure out how to do identity verification on their own. Washington tried that already. Not once, but eleven times – which is how many administrations came and went through the Oval Office since the Reagan era, when robocalls became a thing.

The wireless industry, meanwhile, probably wasn’t in a rush to stop these predators on account of the fact they were making money from them, hand-over-fist style. This would be why their repeated claims of being helpless to do anything against the trend should have always been met with skepticism. Alas, that’s finally what seems to be happening this year, with the so-called STIR/SHAKEN initiative.

The catchy acronym stands for, pay attention: the “Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs (SHAKEN) standards”, as per the FCC. You got all that, carriers? We’ll find out soon enough. But yeah, the majority of the tech meant to handle the identity verification part of the directive has already been secured. The government effort officially started back in November, which is when the FCC announced the June deadline for carriers to implement the protocol, or else.

This is yet another political front whereon Samsung seems like a natural ally for the Biden administration. The Washington-Seoul relations have been progressing rather steadily ever since the sitting President took office half a year ago. Not only is the South Korean giant planning to invest billions in a new chipmaking monster project in the heart of Texas, but Samsung SDI also greenlit plans for another battery plant in the U.S., according to recent reports.

As these things usually go, the quid pro quo situation is rather simple: money. Money packaged as tens of thousands of new high-paying jobs for Americans, and even more thinly veiled money in the form of tax breaks. So while no one owes anyone anything, the sole fact that the White House and Samsung are maintaining active relations suggest the STIR/SHAKEN initiative isn’t without a plan B. After all, Samsung launched a comprehensive effort to combat this annoying trend just last year. And in our experience, the project has been a relative success so far. Have you noticed that yourself? Or maybe had an opposite experience?

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Android 11 now hitting Galaxy A20s as Samsung prepares for Android 12

As Android 12 looms on the horizon, Samsung is making sure to update all eligible devices to Android 11 as soon as it can. As part of that goal, the company is rolling out the latest version of Android to the Galaxy A20s, along with One UI 3.1. The update has been spotted in Malaysia, sports firmware version A207FXXU2CUFA, and includes the June 2021 security patch.

Galaxy A20s gets its second and final Android OS upgrade

This is the second and last major Android OS upgrade for the Galaxy A20s. Being a budget phone, it’s only eligible for two such updates, though with OnePlus nipping at Samsung’s heels with its software support promises, the Korean giant may soon want to extend the privilege of three OS generation updates to the more affordable Galaxy devices in its stable.

The Android 11 and One UI 3.1 update introduce a slew of improvements and changes, including an updated user interface both in general and inside various Samsung apps, better privacy controls (such as the ability to remove location data from images before sharing and one-time permissions for apps), and faster app performance and memory usage.

As mentioned earlier, Malaysia is the only market where the Android 11 update is rolling out for the Galaxy A20s right now, but we expect more countries to follow suit in the coming weeks. If you reside in Malaysia, the update should be available for download over the air from the phone’s Settings » Software update menu. As usual, our firmware archives are at your disposal if you wish to take the manual route and upgrade your phone using a Windows PC.

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Galaxy A52 joins the July 2021 security update party

Samsung started rolling out the July 2021 security update last week. The Galaxy S10 was the first smartphone to get the new security patch. The update was then released to the Galaxy Fold, Galaxy S20, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy Tab Active 2, and the Galaxy Tab A 8.0. The Galaxy A52 has now joined the list of devices getting the July 2021 security patch.

The Galaxy A52 (SM-A525M) has started receiving a new software update with the July 2021 security patch in Bolivia and Panama. The latest update bears firmware version A525MUBU2AUF3. The update aims to fix the Android Auto-related bug that some Galaxy users were facing. Apart from the usual privacy and security-related bug fixes, the update could also bring device stability improvements to the mid-range smartphone.

If you are a Galaxy A52 user in Bolivia or Panama, you can check for the OTA update by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. If you don’t want to wait for the update to arrive on its own, you can download the latest firmware from our firmware section and flash it manually.

Samsung had launched the Galaxy A52 earlier this year with Android 11-based One UI 3. The South Korean firm has promised to release three major Android OS updates to the Galaxy A52 and four years of security updates.

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Galaxy S22 Ultra to take a backseat in the megapixel wars?

Samsung used 16MP or lower resolution cameras on its flagship smartphones for almost a decade before jumping to a 108MP camera sensor in 2020. This year, the company used a newer-generation 108MP camera sensor for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and it looks like it won’t switch to a higher-megapixel sensor for its next flagship smartphone.

It was rumored that Samsung could unveil a 200MP ISOCELL camera sensor later this year and use it in the Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, it looks like Samsung won’t go ahead in this megapixel race. According to tipster Ice Universe, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will feature the company’s third-generation 108MP camera sensor (ISOCELL HM3), and that Samsung is working on improving its performance with further optimizations.

Frankly, we are relieved to hear this. A 200MP sensor would have meant even smaller pixels, resulting in lower light sensitivity and higher noise, especially in videos where pixel binning doesn’t work. In fact, we would be happier if Samsung uses its ISOCELL GN2 (or a similar) camera sensor that has a larger native pixel size and a resolution that’s high enough for recording 8K videos. This ISOCELL GN2 is used in Xiaomi’s Mi 11 Ultra, which is currently leading DxOMark’s smartphone camera rankings.

Previous rumors have also claimed that the Galaxy S22 Ultra could feature an improved periscope camera with continuous zoom capabilities for greater details at more zoom levels. It was also expected to feature an under-display selfie camera, but recent developments show that the Galaxy S22 Ultra might not be the first Galaxy S series phone with an under-display camera.

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Galaxy Buds 2 star in 360-degree GIFs to show off their design

Every day seems to bring us another new leak starring one of the products Samsung is expected to launch next month at its Unpacked event. The quality of those leaks has been increasing steadily, too, and today, we’re getting to see what look like official 360-degree GIFs showing off the Galaxy Buds 2.

The GIFs come from Evleaks and, if we’re being honest, don’t really reveal anything we haven’t already seen. They do confirm that no matter which color option you choose for the earbuds, the case itself will be white instead of matching the color of the earbuds. Speaking of colors, the Galaxy Buds 2 will come in black, green, purple, and white, similar to the Galaxy S21 FE.

The Galaxy Buds 2 aren’t expected to feature active noise cancellation (ANC), but whether or not that will result in a price drop is unclear at this time. There are conflicting rumors about how much the Buds 2 will cost, with reports ranging between $149 to $200. Good thing there’s barely a month or so to go before Samsung will take the virtual stage and officially reveal all the info so all the speculation can finally be over.

Check out the Galaxy Buds 2 in 360 degrees down below.

Galaxy Buds2 pic.twitter.com/Gi2PipKaqr

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 6, 2021

pic.twitter.com/SKg8MzNL3S

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 6, 2021

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Galaxy Note 10 series is getting the July 2021 security update

Samsung appears to be updating a bunch of Galaxy smartphones to the latest security patch. After releasing the July 2021 security update to the Galaxy Fold, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S20, Galaxy Tab Active 2, and the Galaxy Tab A 8.0, the company has started rolling out the update to the Galaxy Note 10 series in various parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

4G and 5G variants of the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+ have started getting new software updates with the July 2021 security patch. The latest update carries firmware version N97xFXXS7FUF5 for the 4G variants and N97xBXXS7FUF5 for the 5G variants of the Galaxy Note 10 series. It should fix the Android Auto-related bug that some Galaxy smartphone users have been facing. It could also include device stability improvements.

The update is currently rolling out in several markets across the world, including Afghanistan, Baltic countries, Bulgaria, Caucasus countries, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Libya, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Southeast Europe, Switzerland, the UAE, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The new software could be released in more markets over the next few days.

If you are a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 10+ user in any of the countries mentioned above, you can check for the latest update by navigating to Settings » Software update and clicking on Download and install. If you have experience in flashing firmware files on Galaxy devices, you can download the latest firmware file from our firmware database and flash it manually.

Galaxy Note 10

• Model: SM-N970F
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.0 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.3 inch / 160.02 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 16MP

More specifications

Galaxy Note 10+

• Model: SM-N975F
• Dimensions: Bar: 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 16MP

More specifications

Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

• Model: SM-N976B
• Dimensions: Bar: 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 16MP

More specifications

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Galaxy F22 debuts in India with 90Hz Super AMOLED display, 6,000mAh battery

Samsung has launched the Galaxy F22 in India. The mid-range smartphone is a rebranded version of the Galaxy A22 with a bigger battery. The Galaxy F22 is priced at INR 12,499 (around $170) for the variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, while the 6GB + 128GB variant costs INR 14,499 (around $200).

The Galaxy F22 is available in India exclusively via Flipkart, and it will go on sale starting July 13 at 12 PM. The smartphone is available in two colors: Denim Black and Denim Blue.

The Galaxy F22 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone runs Android 11 out of the box with One UI Core 3.1. It uses the MediaTek Helio G80 processor, 4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB/128GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot (compatible with up to 1TB microSD cards). It has a side-mounted fingerprint reader, Samsung Pay Mini, dual-SIM card slot, LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, and a headphone jack.

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy F22 with a 13MP selfie camera and a 48MP rear-facing camera. The smartphone has three more cameras on the rear: an 8MP ultrawide camera, a 2MP depth camera, and a 2MP macro camera. Its video recording capabilities max out at 1080p 30fps, which is a disappointment. A 6,000mAh battery powers the Galaxy F22, and there is support for 15W fast wired charging.

• Buy Galaxy F22 from Flipkart

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Galaxy S20 series gets the July 2021 security update

Samsung started rolling out the July 2021 security update with the Galaxy S10 series last week. The latest security patch was then released to the Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Tab Active 2, and the Galaxy Tab A 8.0. The company has now released the security update to the Galaxy S20 series.

The Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra are getting new software updates with the July 2021 security patch in Germany. The firmware version for the LTE variants of the Galaxy S20 series is G98xFXXU8DUF9, while the firmware version for the 5G variants is G98xBXXU8DUF9. This update should fix Android Auto-related issues that some users were facing. The company has not released the list of bugs and vulnerabilities that it has fixed with the July 2021 patch, but we expect it to make the information public in the next few days.

If you are a Galaxy S20 series smartphone user in Germany, you can check for the latest update by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. You can also download the latest firmware file from our firmware database and flash it manually. We expect this update to roll out to Galaxy S20 series devices in other markets in the next few days.

Samsung had launched the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra early last year with Android 10-based One UI 2 onboard. The smartphones received the Android 11-based One UI 3 update a few months ago. They are currently on Samsung’s monthly software update schedule.

Galaxy S20 5G

• Model: SM-G981B
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20+ 5G

• Model: SM-G986B
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

• Model: SM-G988B
• Dimensions: Bar: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.9 inch / 175.26 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 990
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Samsung will launch another affordable phone with a MediaTek processor

Samsung could soon introduce another affordable smartphone in the form of the Galaxy A03s. The smartphone was first revealed last month when its 3D CAD renders were leaked along with some of its specifications. Now, its processor, RAM, and software-related information has been leaked.

The Galaxy A03s (SM-A037F) has been spotted in Geekbench’s database. According to the listing, the smartphone uses the MediaTek Helio G35 processor (MT6765V/WB) and 4GB RAM. The Galaxy A03s also appears to be running Android 11, which means that it could debut with One UI 3.1 onboard. The device scored 163 points in Geekbench 5.1’s single-core CPU performance test and 847 points in the multi-core CPU test.

Going by previous leaks, the Galaxy A03s could feature a 6.5-inch Infinity-V display, a 13MP triple-camera setup at the rear, and a 5MP selfie camera. The other two sensors in the phone’s rear-facing camera setup could include a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The device is said to be 9.5mm thick and measures 166.6 x 75.9 x 9.1mm. It could also feature a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

Other features such as a dual-SIM card slot, 4G LTE, Wi-FI b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack are expected on the Galaxy A03s. Since it is succeeding the Galaxy A02s that was launched earlier this year, we expect the Galaxy A03s to come powered by a 5,000mAh battery and feature 15W fast charging.

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OnePlus is coming after Samsung’s lead in the software update game

Samsung has been crushing it in terms of software updates over the past year. It offers three major Android OS updates to its high-end smartphones and some mid-range devices, and two major Android updates to all other devices. It even offers five years of security updates to enterprise models. However, it is no longer the only Android OEM to offer such a long software update support.

OnePlus has announced that it will offer three major Android OS updates and four years of security updates to its flagship smartphones. Its Nord and Nord CE series of mid-range devices will get two major Android updates and three years of security updates, while the Nord N series will get just one major Android OS update. Flagship models released before the OnePlus 8 will stick with the older update schedule, though, which means they will get just two major updates.

Many OnePlus users have been complaining about slower, fewer, and buggier software updates. The company recently announced its merger with OPPO, and it is now merging its OxygenOS with OPPO’s ColorOS. Although the software development resources of both companies are merging, OxygenOS will remain visually intact (at least for the next couple of years). This will help the company in pacing up the development process and rolling out faster software updates.

OnePlus will still release security updates once every two months, and Samsung is better in this aspect as it releases security updates every month for its flagship smartphones. It also remains to be seen if a merger with ColorOS will improve or degrade the software quality. Still, OnePlus’ new software update schedule announcement should be enough to disturb Samsung as it can no longer claim that it offers the longest software support.

Do you think Samsung’s four-year software update policy is enough to attract new buyers and keep existing users? Would you buy a OnePlus phone just because it has promised three major Android OS updates to its flagship products? Let us know in the comments section below.

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