Samsung has been using Corning’s Gorilla Glass lineup on its smartphones and smartwatches for years. Now, it will be the first brand to bring Corning’s special Gorilla Glass that is specifically designed to protect smartphone camera lenses. The new glass panel not only protects smartphone cameras from scratches but also offers them anti-reflective properties.
Corning has unveiled Gorilla Glass DX and Gorilla Glass DX+ protective panels for smartphone camera lenses. These glass composites can transmit 98% of the ambient light to the camera sensor and offer unmatched scratch resistance. According to Corning, Gorilla Glass DX maintain excellent scratch resistance in everyday use, while Gorilla Glass DX+ offers scratch resistance performance that’s close to sapphire, which is commendable.
Looking at the timing of the announcement, it is being expected that Gorilla Glass DX and Gorilla Glass DX+ would debut on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The two foldable smartphones will be announced during Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2021 event on August 11. The smartphones are also expected to feature Gorilla Glass Victus to protect their cover displays.
Samsung uses Gorilla Glass Victus on its recent flagship smartphones, while mid-range Galaxy smartphones use lower tiers of Gorilla Glass (Gorilla Glass 3 and Gorilla Glass 5). On its smartwatches, the company uses Gorilla Glass DX and Gorilla Glass DX+ panels to protect their circular Super AMOLED displays.
A few weeks ago, Samsung had announced that it is abandoning Tizen OS in favor of an operating system that it has jointly developed with Google for smartwatches. Some of the important features of the new operating system were revealed during Google I/O 2021, but the brands had not revealed its formal name until today.
Google has revealed that the new operating system for smartwatches is called Wear OS 3. There is no mention of Google in its name, and probably because it was built using the best bits of former Wear OS, Samsung’s Tizen, and Fitbit’s fitness expertise. The Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic would be the first Samsung smartwatches to run Wear OS 3. Future smartwatches from the South Korean firm will use Wear OS 3 as well.
Existing Galaxy smartwatches won’t be upgraded to Wear OS 3
Existing Galaxy watches won’t be upgraded from Tizen to Wear OS 3, though. In fact, only four existing smartwatches running Wear OS 2.x would be updated to Wear OS 3, and the update will come in the second half of 2022. Samsung has announced that it will support its current Tizen-based smartwatches for up to three years and bring new features through software updates.
Wear OS 3 offers faster performance, better health tracking, improved battery life, and more third-party apps
Wear OS 3 features a new UI design, and Google is promising that it has faster performance and longer battery life. Apparently, apps will open 30% faster when compared to previous versions of Wear OS. The new operating system will also offer more third-party apps, and brands would be able to offer their own UI customizations on top of Wear OS 3. Samsung has revealed that its UI customizations over Wear OS 3 would be called One UI Watch.
The new operating system for wearables also features an easier way to switch between important features, apps, Tiles, and watch faces. Developers can build new watch faces for Wear OS 3 using Samsung’s watch face design editor. The operating system will have standalone apps for Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Pay, Fitbit, and YouTube Music.
Features like health tracking and fitness goals celebration have been designed with the help of Fitbit. Some third-party app developers will launch new and revamped apps for Wear OS 3. Overall, it looks like the future is bright for Samsung’s smartwatches and Wear OS 3.
The Galaxy A71 has started receiving the July 2021 security update earlier today. Namely, Samsung’s newest security patch level, labeled as the release A715FXXU5BUF5, is now making its way to compatible devices in Mexico. The rollout hasn’t yet expanded beyond Central America but that’s likely going to happen in a matter of days, if not sooner.
After all, the July 1st, 2021 security update has been rolling out all across the globe for nearly a month by now. And as these things usually go, Samsung is ramping up momentum with every passing day. The Galaxy A71 is hence the 46th device to join this month’s rollout, but it’s far from the last. For context, the June 2021 security patch level is currently available on over four times as many devices.
This month’s security update should be landing on your Galaxy A71 in a matter of days, if not sooner
In other words, you won’t need to remain patient for much longer before this update reaches your trusty smartphone. But just in case you’re super eager to get going and would even be willing to install the new software manually, our firmware archives are at your disposal, as always. Before you do that, however, see if you can get lucky enough to trigger an OTA download by simply going to Settings > Software update > Download and install.
Base on the previous update’s deployment roadmap, we’d wager a guess that Galaxy A71 units in Europe and Asia will be next in line to pick up the July patch. In that order, and without any further dilly-dallying, mind you.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is weeks away from an official unveiling. Its design is no longer a mystery in the wake of so many leaked renders, and it’s going to take a while before the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will even hit our radars. Nevertheless, a few interesting sketches found by LetsGoDigital were published by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) today, showcasing an unusual Galaxy Z Flip concept with a rotating camera embedded in the hinge. Some believe that it’s an early preview of the Galaxy Z Flip 4, but we wouldn’t bet on that.
The WIPO documents describe a clamshell phone that seems to have a similar footprint to the ongoing Galaxy Z Flip series. It has a foldable display, as well as a much larger cover display made possible by the relocation of the main camera system.
The sketches reveal a dual rotating camera inside the hinge, the latter of which looks almost comically large when compared to the final hinge design adopted by the existing clamshell foldable phones.
Rotating cameras have failed to become mainstream, so don’t hold your breath
Although this design would allow this foldable clamshell phone to have a larger cover display, let’s not forget that rotating and pop-up cameras haven’t made as big of a dent in the market as some may have initially hoped.
Under-panel cameras are the next best thing, and this technology is finally ready to reach the consumer market with the release of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. It won’t make it into the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but its eventual sequel — the Galaxy Z Flip 4 — will most likely have UPC technology.
In other words, we wouldn’t advise you to look at these documents as if they’re a sneak preview of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Rotating and pop-up cameras are out, while under-panel cameras are in, and we don’t see Samsung going back to an intricate mechanism while disfavoring UPC. Not to mention that this particular hinge design looks out of place and unwieldy.
At most, this WIPO application represents one of Samsung’s shelved experiments, and it serves the company to protect its intellectual properties. But it probably doesn’t reveal any secrets pertaining to the future Galaxy Z Flip 4. Check the sketches below and see for yourself.
It’s been a little under two weeks since the international variant of the Galaxy S10 Lite began receiving the July 2021 security update, and now, Samsung is turning its attention towards the unlocked model in the USA.
Unlocked Galaxy S10 Lite owners in the USA can identify the latest update by firmware version G770U1UES3DUF2. This bit of detail indicates that the new firmware update doesn’t bring any new features to One UI aside from improved security and a handful of included fixes.
Improving Bluetooth and Android Auto stability
The July 2021 security patch is the main point of this new update, and as you may have already learned, this month’s security release covers various issues, some of which are affecting Bluetooth connectivity and Android Auto. If the Galaxy S10 Lite is giving you issues and stops working when running Android Auto, then the latest security patch should address all that.
Galaxy S10 Lite users in the USA should receive an update notification at any moment, but they can also open the Settings app on the phone, access Software update, and tap Download and install to attempt to trigger the update process. As usual, SamMobile readers can download the latest firmware from our firmware database and install it manually without having to wait for the OTA notification to arrive.
Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong could soon be released from prison on parole. The local media reports that Lee has been placed on a list of candidates for parole on August 15, which happens to be Korea’s Independence Day. However, the fact that the vice chairman made the parole list doesn’t necessarily guarantee his release.
Generally speaking, inmates who have served more than 60% of their sentence are eligible for parole. However, the law is different regarding imprisoned social leaders, government officials, and business people, as they are required by law to serve 90% of their sentence before being eligible for parole.
By August 15, Lee Jae-yong will have served 60% of his sentence. According to the chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, this makes Samsung’s chairman eligible for parole.
Lee Jae-yong has other trials that need to be considered
Lee is serving 2.5 years in prison for a bribery case involving South Korea’s former president, but he’s also being trialed for a controversial Samsung merger with Cheil Industries back in 2015.
With that in mind, even if Lee could be released on parole, he might be sent back to jail due to other ongoing trials. Either way, it would be technically easier for Lee Jae-yong to be paroled rather than pardoned by the president himself, as more than a dozen prisoners are being reviewed and released on parole every year.
Many other industry watchers argue that Lee Jae-yong should be released from prison, as strong leadership is critical to combatting the COVID crisis and the global semiconductor shortage.
Ads for Galaxy Unpacked went up in various places around the world soon after Samsung confirmed that the event is to take place on August 11. There are now huge digital signages promoting Galaxy Unpacked in various locations that have a high population density. The ads ask passersby if “good” is “good enough” and invite everyone to “Get ready to unfold.”
Large digital signages for Galaxy Unpacked can be found in Times Square, USA, as well as at Piccadilly Circus in London, Piazza del Duomo in Milan, Plaza del Callao in Madrid, Shanghai K11 Shopping Center in China, The Entertainment Building in Hong Kong, Panoramix CentralWorld in Bangkok, and last but not least, the Hydroproject in Moscow.
The era of foldables is here and the hype is getting realer
As many of you know, there won’t be a new Galaxy Note model at the next Unpacked event, which is why there’s no S Pen teaser or something of the like.
Galaxy Unpacked 2021 will be focused primarily on foldable devices, namely the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Prospective buyers can already make reservations for these devices, and Samsung is even giving customers the option to trade in two older devices instead of one. This year, the company wants its foldable devices to reach as many customers as possible.
Although it might not be evident from these latest ads, Galaxy Unpacked 2021 won’t be all about foldable devices. Samsung is also expected to launch two new smartwatches at the event — the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic — both of which will be powered by a new version of Google’s Wear OS developed in partnership with Samsung’s Tizen division.
Are you excited for Galaxy Unpacked 2021, and have you seen any of these digital signages live? Will you be buying one of the new Samsung foldables next month? Leave a comment below, and don’t forget to stay tuned for the event. The presentation will be broadcasted live, and anyone will be able to watch it here.
Given all the recent buzz about the Steam Deck, I thought I’d share some of my recent experiences with gaming on the go using Samsung hardware. Not because an Android smartphone or tablet can compare to a fully portable PC with dedicated hardware input, mind you. But due to the fact that most people aren’t going to shell out north of $400 for an emulation machine. And emulation seems to be a large part of the Steam Deck’s appeal, based on the discussions currently ongoing on social media.
Your mileage may obviously vary, but unless you’re interested in emulating the seventh generation of consoles — the PS3, X360, and the iconic Wii — chances are that your Galaxy device already has you covered. In fact, that’s probably putting it mildly.
Let’s just take a moment for an obligatory disclaimer before we go any further: emulating anything other than your own physical media is illegal in pretty much every part of the world. But, say, dumping an old PSP UMD with an accompanying BIOS is both trivial and very much within your rights as a consumer. Which is what I’ve been doing quite a lot as of late, faced with the long-awaited demise of my old PSP.
So, no, we aren’t condoning piracy here, and save for some obscure collector’s items, used copies of ancient games are a dime a dozen online. All you have to to is pick them up, dump their contents together with your target console’s BIOS to your smartphone or tablet’s memory (card), and watch a whole new world open up before you. All for the low, low price of whatever you paid for your current Galaxy device. Assuming you’re working with something released within the last couple of years that’s above the entry-level range.
What emulation? This is real greatness
To illustrate, I’m still using the European variant of the Galaxy Note 10. The Exynos 9825 powering it is hardly a chump, but emulation-wise, it’s a clear step below the Snapdragon 855 fueling its international variant. Qualcomm’s graphics prowess, at least in that particular year, was unmatched, especially in roundabout, virtualization-heavy applications like PPSSPP. I cannot recommend PPSSPP highly enough if you’re interested in PSP emulation. Open source software that works like pure magic. Plus, it’s free, though you should really consider supporting the dev team by going for the token Gold version if you end up liking it as much as I did.
Anyway, a combination of PPSSPP, a $15 controller clip, and my trusty Xbox Wireless Controller transformed the Galaxy Note 10 into the most amazing source of portable entertainment I’ve owned since picking up the Nintendo Switch with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild back in 2017. In that four year’s span, Nintendo hasn’t really put out that many more titles that interested me, the Switch Online subscription remains a joke, and the Steam Deck is arguably the most compelling portable gaming device to launch since the Switch itself.
But Samsung’s smartphones? I always have one of those on me, and lately, I’ve even started finding space to fit the said clip-controller combo. It’s not that I don’t want a Steam Deck eventually, assuming they don’t end up being hot trash. It’s just that my current backlog is so massive that I see no point in getting one anytime soon. E.g., I’ve barely found enough time for a long-awaited replay of the Persona 3: Portable on my Galaxy Note 10 this year. That one took 85 hours, and that’s with quite liberal use of fast-forwarding, a luxury that was unavailable on the original hardware.
So, I guess the moral of this week’s story is that if you’re tempted by the prospect of a Steam Deck and emulation is a large part of its appeal to you personally, try investing in that clip-and-gamepad combo mentioned above. Or any other, for that matter, though I’m afraid there aren’t that many quality options to choose from.
Have you ever tried some “hardcore” gaming on your Galaxy device? What about emulation? Would you like us to make a guide for how to get started with either? Let us know in the comments!
It was revealed a couple of months ago that Samsung is working on a new smartphone that could be launched as the Galaxy F42 5G. It was almost confirmed last month that the smartphone’s specifications could be very similar to the Galaxy A22 5G, given that they both were listed under the same Bluetooth certification entry.
Now, the information related to the Galaxy F42 5G’s processor, RAM, and operating system has been confirmed. According to the smartphone’s (SM-E426B) listing in Geekbench’s database, it runs Android 11 and comes equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor (MT6833V/NZA) and 6GB RAM. The phone scored 559 points in Geekbench 5.4.1’s single-core CPU test and 1,719 points in the multi-core CPU test.
Since the smartphone is based on the Galaxy A22 5G, we expect the Galaxy F42 5G to feature a 6.6-inch TFT LCD Infinity-U display with Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It could sport an 8MP selfie camera and a 48MP+5MP+2MP triple-camera setup at the rear. It could have a side-mounted fingerprint sensor as well.
The phone could have 4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB/128GB storage, and a microSD card slot. We can expect the upcoming mid-range smartphone to feature GPS, 5G, a dual-SIM card slot, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It could come powered by a 5,000mAh or a 6,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging.
The next hit game for your Galaxy smartphone might be a Netflix original, of all things. Namely, the video streaming giant disclosed its intentions to branch out into gaming more aggressively in the near future. The company revealed as much in an investor brief earlier this week.
For the time being, Netflix is primarily interested in mobile games, reads the conglomerate’s latest shareholder letter. The gaming expansion is still in a relatively early phase and no exact timelines have been attached to the pledge.
Netflix and gaming? Now, who do we know that’s irking for a blockbuster content partnership?
Netflix is far from a stranger to the world of interactive entertainment. From traditional titles like the Stranger Things spin-offs to more bizarre experiments in the vein of Black Mirror Bandersnatch, the company has so far been more than willing to throw money at niche video game projects. Niche relative to the popularity of its streaming platform, at least.
Samsung has formally revealed the new name of its giant display installed in the SoFi Stadium situated in California, USA. The state-of-the-art display with a screen real estate of 70,000 sq. ft. will henceforth be called The Infinity Screen. The new name of this centrally-hung screen was finalized after months of consideration.
The Infinity Screen features the most LEDs ever used in an entertainment venue or a sports stadium. It is also a part of the only end-to-end 4K video production system ever used in a stadium. Samsung and the SoFi Stadium say that the new name of the giant circular display clearly communicates their overall vision.
The circular display is installed 122 feet above the playing field and features 80 million pixels. The pixels are placed 8mm away from each other. Each panel on the display is arranged in such a way that it can display animated or live content, statistics, and graphs.
Everyone in the stadium can view the display clearly, whether they are seated on the sidelines or the upper deck. Spectators seated in the lower bowl of the stadium can view the inner screen, while the ones seated in the upper deck can see the outer display of The Infinity Screen.
Mark Quiroz, Vice President, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America, said, “It’s been a long time coming, but we are so proud to announce The Infinity Screen by Samsung. SoFi Stadium is one of the NFL’s crown jewels, and it has been a privilege and an honor to work with the team on this project. We are incredibly excited to see fans engage with the Infinity Screen in-person for the first time.”
Samsung also has plans to showcase its display technologies throughout Hollywood Park to reach consumers across the district’s residential and office areas through the connected mobile app.
According to the latest numbers from market research firm Canalys, Samsung shipped just 5.5 million smartphones in India during Q2 2021. That’s close to half of what Xiaomi achieved. Samsung’s market share turned out to be 17% during the quarter, while Xiaomi, which shipped 9.5 million units, had a market share of 29%. Samsung’s year-over-year growth was 87%, while Xiaomi’s year-over-year growth was 77%.
Vivo shipped 5.4 million smartphones in the country and has a market share of close to 17%. The Chinese firm is quite close to defeating Samsung and earning second place in the rankings. Realme, OPPO’s subsidiary brand, shipped 4.9 million smartphones and achieved a whopping 181% year-over-year growth and a market share of 15%. On the other hand, OPPO shipped 3.8 million smartphones and had a market share of 12%.
The Indian smartphone market saw an overall growth of 87% compared to Q2 2020. Last year, the country went through strict COVID-19 related lockdowns during Q1 and Q2, severely affecting smartphone sales. The smartphone market has not fully recovered yet, and rising costs are not helping either.
Canalys claims that smartphone brands will see some increase in demand in the second half of this year, but they have to invest more in online sales channels since the third COVID-19 wave seems inevitable. Samsung has been focusing a lot on online sales and launching exclusive products for Amazon and Flipkart.
Samsung is working hard on making its foldable phones more attractive to consumers through technological advancements and lower pricing. We had exclusively revealed a few weeks ago that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 would carry lower price tags than their predecessors. Now, a new report claims to reveal the final pricing of the upcoming foldable phones along with their pre-order dates and pre-order gifts.
Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Fold 3 prices in South Korea
A new video published on YouTube claims that the 256GB variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will cost KRW 1,254,000 (around $1,090) in South Korea. It is being claimed that the country won’t get the 128GB variant of the foldable smartphone. The 256GB and 512GB variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could be priced at KRW 1,999,000 (around $1,738) and KRW 2,098,000 (around $1,825), respectively. These prices are for the South Korean carrier (LG Uplus, KT, and SKT) variants of the devices.
It is also being claimed that Samsung would start accepting pre-orders for its upcoming foldable phones in its home country starting August 12, 2021. August 18 would be the last date for pre-orders. Pre-order carrier activation will happen from August 19 to August 26. And the smartphones will finally reach store shelves in South Korea on August 27.
Another report claims that the pre-order period is August 17 to August 23, and the phones will launch on August 27. Pre-order carrier activation could happen from August 24 – 27. Apparently, the initial inventory for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is less than 200,000 units and less than 500,000 units for the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Fold 3 pre-order gifts could include Galaxy Buds 2
Samsung will reportedly offer the Galaxy Buds 2, a one-year Samsung Care+ plan, and an S Pen case for free with Galaxy Z Fold 3 pre-orders. Those who pre-order the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in South Korea would get the Galaxy Buds 2, a one-year Samsung Care+ plan, and an official case for free. The company could offer similar pre-order offers in other countries as well.
