According to a new report from 91Mobiles, the Galaxy Buds 2 could be priced at INR 12,990 (around $175) in India. If this information is correct, the Galaxy Buds 2 would be costlier than the Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Buds+ in India. Moreover, they would be only slightly more affordable than the Galaxy Buds Pro which are currently being sold for INR 14,398 (around $194).
The Galaxy Buds 2 feature a Bluetooth 5.2 chip and they support SBC, AAC, and SSC codecs. They feature six microphones for ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). They are IP52-rated for dust and water splash resistance. They also feature automatic wear detection, Ambient Sound mode, a voice pickup unit, a USB Type-C port, and Qi wireless charging.
Samsung has also listed the Bluetooth and LTE variants of the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on its website for the Indian market. The smartphones could go on pre-order soon.
Samsung started releasing the August 2021 security update to Galaxy devices in the last week of July. The Galaxy A52 was the first phone to get it, and over the past few days, the update has been released to various other Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Now, the security update is being released to the Galaxy A32 5G.
The Galaxy A32 5G has started getting a new update in Malaysia. It comes with firmware version A326BXXU3AUH4 and includes the August 2021 security patch. According to Samsung’s notes, the August 2021 patch fixes 40 bugs and vulnerabilities related to user privacy and data security. The update could be released in more countries over the next few days.
If you are using a Galaxy A32 5G in Malaysia, you can update your smartphone right away 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 using a Windows PC.
It is being reported that a Samsung smartphone burst into flames inside an Alaska Airlines flight yesterday evening. Upon inspection, it was found that a passenger’s Galaxy A21 caught fire in the cargo hold of the Alaska Airlines Flight 751 at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. There was enough fire and smoke that the flight crew had to initiate an emergency evacuation.
This incident happened right after the flight landed at the airport. The phone caused a small fire, and the plane’s crew had to use fire extinguishers and a battery containment bag to “stop the phone from smoking.” However, there was enough smoke that the passengers had to be evacuated through inflatable slides and transported to the airport via a bus. It is being reported that the phone was so severely damaged that it couldn’t be recognized. Thankfully, the incident was handled pretty quickly, and no one was seriously injured.
Perry Cooper, a spokesperson for the Port of Seattle, said in an email to The Seattle Times, “After much digging, I can tell you that the phone was burned beyond recognition. However, during an interview with one of our Port of Seattle Police officers, the passenger volunteered the phone was a Samsung Galaxy A21. Again, we could not confirm it by looking at the remains of the device.”
All devices with lithium-ion batteries pose a risk of fire and explosion, and this can’t be seen as a problem with the Galaxy A21 as this is an isolated event. Various such isolated incidents have happened over the years with devices across brands. However, this incident might remind us of the famous Galaxy Note 7 saga where enough phones caught fire worldwide that Samsung had to cancel the phone altogether and recall the units that were sold.
To the massive disappointment of Galaxy Note fans, the rumors turned out to be true. Samsung didn’t reveal any new Note models at Galaxy Unpacked this year, but instead, it focused on pushing the new Z3 foldable lineup in the limelight.
Samsung tried to make things better for Galaxy Note fans by adding S Pen compatibility to the Galaxy Z Fold 3. And make no mistake. Adding S Pen support to the foldable display was an amazing feat, to say the least. It’s an upgrade that many foldable phone enthusiasts have asked for since the launch of the original Fold back in 2019, and it’s most welcome.
The question then is whether or not the Galaxy Z Fold 3 can be viewed as a Galaxy Note replacement. After all, it has an S Pen, right? Well, not quite. Despite the impressive tech behind the new Samsung foldable, the Z Fold 3 is unlikely to convince hardcore Galaxy Note users that the new S Pen solution is better than the old. Why? Well, you probably already guessed the answer if you’re a diehard Note fan, but you can check our new Tech Talk episode at SamMobile TV for more details.
As Samsung continues to make efforts towards plugging leaks and preventing technologies from falling into the hands of its rivals, the company is said to have sent out a revised confidentiality agreement to its semiconductor and component partners.
The new confidentiality agreement was reportedly written by Samsung’s Device Solutions branch and signed by the co-CEO and Vice Chairman of the chip business. Local news outlet The Elec has learned that Samsung will send the revised contract only to semiconductor partners who are heavily involved with the company’s production processes.
Samsung is outlining new rules and breach of contract fines
Samsung has reportedly drafted at least a couple of new contract formats for its supply chain partners. One of these contracts is requiring partners to be more open about their employees. Partners will need to keep Samsung informed on former employees who have started working for the company’s suppliers within a year of departing from Samsung.
Furthermore, Samsung asks its partners to prevent ex-Samsung employees from working on technologies that allow them access to confidential information. Breaching these contract agreements can result in partners getting fines of $85,000 and up.
Although some partners reportedly believe that Samsung’s new contract is too strict, it’s not like Samsung didn’t have to deal with contract breaches in the past. New technologies are the lifeblood of the company, and it makes sense for Samsung to want to maintain the highest level of secrecy.
The Galaxy M31s has started getting a new software update with firmware version M317FXXU3CUH2. Apart from fixing 40 privacy and security-related vulnerabilities, the update could include device stability improvements and general bug fixes as well. If you are a Galaxy M31s user from India, you might have received a notification of this new update. If you haven’t, you can check for it manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install on your smartphone.
You can also flash the new firmware manually after downloading it from our firmware database. However, to do that, you need to be experienced with firmware flashing and have a Windows PC handy.
Android 12 will introduce a new design language called Material You. Google unveiled the new design paradigm a few months ago at I/O, and although Android 12 is not publicly available yet, parts of Material You have begun spilling over to apps that aren’t exclusive to Google Pixel phones. As a result, select Samsung customers can now get a taste of Material You without having to wait for any major firmware updates.
Google is bringing the Material You design language to Gboard beta. If you are using this app on your Galaxy S21 Ultra — and possibly other Galaxy devices — you should be noticing a slightly revamped Theme screen with more rounded corners and redesigned text, as seen in the screenshot below — via Android Police.
Material You won’t be entirely hidden by One UI
Android 12 will come with a new version of One UI, and you can be certain that Samsung will continue following its own design language. Nevertheless, Galaxy smartphone and tablet users will inevitably get to experience Google’s new Material You as long as they use the company’s apps.
Samsung Keyboard is fantastic, and the majority of Galaxy fans are and will continue using this solution instead of Gboard. But anyone who relies on Google’s apps more extensively is likely to experience Material You in small quantities even if their Galaxy smartphones don’t run the latest version of Android or One UI.
Are you a Samsung Keyboard fan or a Gboard user? And assuming that you’re using Gboard beta, have you noticed these Material You changes on your Galaxy smartphone yet?
Now, some new statistics about the topic have emerged online, and they pretty much tell us the same thing. In essence, Samsung and LG Electronics accounted for over 50% of all revenue generated by the way of smart TV sales globally.
Of that figure, 31% was accounted for by Samsung while LG’s sales made up the remaining 19%. Sony sat at a paltry 9.3% followed by TCL and HiSense, which accounted for 7.4% and 7.3%, respectively. These numbers tend to vary on a report-by-report basis, but they paint an accurate picture overall.
Samsung’s QLED TVs are incredibly popular among the masses
Globally, smart TV sales raked in a total of $54.2 billion in revenue in H1, 2021. The demand for TVs grew exponentially over the past year due to more people being forced to stay at home. Samsung, LG and other TV makers have done a stellar job of keeping up with demand despite the overwhelming odds against them.
In terms of raw volume, Samsung shipped about 21.03 million smart TVs in H1 2021, which is 10.3% higher than last year’s figure in the same time period. The report attributes Samsung’s success to its diverse QLED TV lineup, which accounted for nearly 4 million of the total shipments. Additionally, Samsung TVs also reigned supreme in the 80-inch plus market, with a market share of 51%.
However, things could be different in the future, as Samsung’s Vietnam plants will not be able to operate at peak efficiency due to COVID-19 restrictions. These facilities are responsible for a whole range of markets including Europe, Asia and North America.
The Galaxy Buds 2 wireless earbuds were available for pre-order in South Korea for about a week. The pre-order window is now closed, but as expected, Samsung gave prospective buyers a few incentives to go ahead and pre-purchase the new wireless earbuds ahead of time. One of the pre-order bonuses that really stood out was a protective case for the wireless earbuds. Not just any protective case, but one that’s shaped like the Galaxy Z Flip 3 clamshell foldable phone.
The protective case borrows its design from the Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable device but has a faux cover display and dual-camera setup. It doesn’t add new functionalities, and it wraps around the standard charging case instead of replacing it.
The Flip 3-inspired Galaxy Buds 2 cases might go on sale soon
In essence, the flip phone case follows the same principles as the Anycall Galaxy Buds Pro cases sold last year, except the new model is inspired by a new clamshell smartphone as opposed to a couple of old — yet still iconic — clamshell feature phones.
Samsung gave away the faux Galaxy Z Flip 3 cover cases to early Galaxy Buds 2 pre-order customers in South Korea, and as yet, they don’t seem to be available for purchase separately. However, Samsung is selling last year’s Anycall covers on their own now, so chances are that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 cover will also pop up at Samsung’s online shop eventually.
The previous Anycall cases for the Galaxy Buds Pro now cost 33,000 Won (~$30) when purchased separately. We suspect that if Samsung decides to sell the Flip 3-inspired cases separately, they’ll hit the shelves for about the same $30 price.
A webpage on Samsung France’s website that advertises the free YouTube Premium offer mentions the Galaxy S21 FE. It looks like the company accidentally listed the unannounced smartphone alongside the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Apparently, the Galaxy S21 FE will come with a 4-month subscription to YouTube Premium.
The Galaxy S21 FE’s images and specifications have been leaked already. The smartphone features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and an in-display fingerprint reader. The phone will come equipped with the Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB internal storage. It will be powered by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging and Qi wireless charging.
It will have a 32MP selfie camera and a 12MP+12MP+8MP triple-camera setup. The 12MP primary camera and the 8MP telephoto camera will have OIS, and the phone would be able to record 4K 60fps videos using all its cameras. The device will feature GPS, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB Type-C port, Samsung Pay, stereo speakers, and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
The Galaxy Buds 2 were unveiled a few days ago, and they are already up for pre-order in various countries. While most pre-orders haven’t reached the buyers yet, Samsung seems to have rolled out a software update to the Galaxy Buds 2 to add new features and improve their performance.
A new update with firmware version R177XXU0AUH2 is rolling out in South Korea right now. It adds the ability to activate the Ambient Sound mode during calls so that you can listen to things around you even during calls. After installing this update, ANC can be activated even when you’re using just one earbud.
The update also adds Ambient Sound customization and the ability to double-tap the edge of the earbuds to turn the volume up or down. The changelog also mentions that the Galaxy Buds 2’s stability will improve with this firmware update. This new update could roll out to more markets over the next few days.
The new smartwatches are available for pre-order in various markets around the world. In our review, we found them to be excellent new products that reinvent the Android smartwatch, and to further help you decide if you should buy the Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, we’ve rounded up what we think are their best features.
Galaxy Watch 4 series runs Wear OS 3
The biggest upgrade that Samsung is bringing with its new smartwatches is on the software front. The Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are the company’s first smartwatches to run Wear OS 3, which is co-developed by Google and Samsung. The new platform is said to be fast, cohesive, and power-efficient.
On top of Wear OS 3, the new wearables run Samsung’s own One UI Watch 3 interface that includes additional features, including the ability to automatically install watch versions of apps that are installed on your connected smartphone. One UI Watch will also sync settings between phone and watch versions of the apps.
Wear OS also brings access to thousands of popular apps and watch faces via the Play Store. It has already been revealed that Spotify and YouTube Music will support offline music playback directly via the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Other apps such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Pay, and Nike Run+ will be available as well.
Samsung has made a brand-new Exynos processor for the Galaxy Watch 4 series. The two new smartwatches come equipped with the Exynos W920 chipset that is made using the extremely power-efficient 5nm process. It features two Cortex-A55 CPU cores and the Mali-G68 GPU. The Exynos W920 makes the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic much faster and power-efficient than any other Wear OS smartwatch.
The company’s new smartwatches also feature 1.5GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. That’s 3x more RAM and 2x more storage compared to the Galaxy Watch 3. Higher RAM means smoother multitasking, while higher storage offers you a way to store thousands of music tracks offline so that you can listen to them while running or cycling and space for installing more apps.
The Galaxy Watch 4 series also features 4G LTE (in some variants), dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. You can also take calls, check notifications, and make mobile payments using the new smartwatches.
Samsung’s new smartwatches can accurately track your activity and fitness
Both new smartwatches come equipped with the latest sensors, including an accelerometer, barometer, compass, ECG, gyro, and a heart-rate monitor, to track your physical activity and fitness. Thanks to the inclusion of GPS, they can also track your outdoor activities like cycling, running, and swimming. The Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 can also track your body fat composition, sleep quality, SpO2 levels, and stress levels.
They are built tough, thanks to IP68 rating and MIL-STD-810G design
Despite packing such powerful hardware and an elegant design, the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are built extremely tough. They are IP68 certified for dust and water resistance (up to 5 ATM). The watches are also MIL-STD-810G-compliant for shock resistance. You can take them swimming as well.
Yes, the rotating bezel is still here
Samsung knows that people love the rotating bezel on their Galaxy smartwatches, and the company has included the feature on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. It not only makes the watch look good but also makes navigating through the UI a breeze. The Galaxy Watch 4 lacks the rotating bezel, though, and suits those who like more compact smartwatches.
Galaxy Watch 4 series is extremely customizable
Both smartwatches offer high levels of customizations so that you can make them your own. You can replace the bundled 20mm watch straps with any third-party ones to match your style. You can also choose from thousands of watch faces that are available on the Play Store. As usual, Samsung has made multiple new watch faces for the Galaxy Watch 4 series, and you can customize them by changing the color scheme and adding complications.
Galaxy Watch 4 last long and offer wireless charging
Samsung claims that its new smartwatches can last up to 40 hours on a single charge. The 40mm version of the Galaxy Watch 4 and the 42mm version of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are powered by 247mAh batteries, while the 44mm version of the Galaxy Watch 4 and the 46mm version of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic come packed with 361mAh batteries. They also support Qi wireless charging, which means that you can also charge them via your high-end Galaxy smartphone with Wireless PowerShare.
They let you play music, take calls, and make payments on the go
The LTE variants of the new smartwatches feature an eSIM, which means that you can take calls, stream music on Spotify, and even make payments (via Google Pay or Samsung Pay) even when you’ve left your phone at home. The Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic feature Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC.
The Galaxy Z Flip has always attracted more customers than the Galaxy Z Fold. Last year’s Galaxy Z Flip likely outperformed the larger foldable. The price is one major factor since the clamshell foldable is more affordable. It’s also the form factor and design that makes the device so popular with customers.
Samsung has now started selling the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Both devices are cheaper than their predecessors. Once again it’s the clamshell model that’s seeing more interest from customers.
Galaxy Z Flip 3 in greater demand than the Galaxy Z Fold 3
South Korean media had reported that up until the end of last week, 450,000 pre-orders had been made for both new foldable smartphones combined. The latest reports say that pre-orders in Samsung’s home country alone have crossed 800,000 units.
A lot of people expected the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to be the best-selling model this year. It really is one of the best Samsung phones we’ve seen so far.
Samsung didn’t release a new Galaxy Note in 2021 and this foldable device supports the S Pen. The expectation was that some of that customer base would inevitably buy the larger foldable.
They might very well be the case but seeing how Samsung nailed the pricing on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, it’s no surprise that this model is outselling its larger sibling. The latest report points out that of the 800,000 pre-orders made in South Korea, 60% were for the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
We have already highlighted how Samsung has broken a key psychological price barrier for the Galaxy Z Flip 3. At $999, the price point is appealing enough to make a lot of new customers buy their first foldable smartphone.
Even when its watches ran Tizen, Spotify was Samsung’s preferred music streaming service. The company recently made a major change for its smartwatches. It launched the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic that run on the Android-based Wear OS.
Spotify has had a Wear OS app for the longest time so it’s already available for these best Samsung smartwatches. A new update is now rolling out that brings Spotify offline playback to the Galaxy Watch 4.
Spotify offline playback for Galaxy Watch 4 is on the way
Before Samsung had even unveiled its new watches, Spotify had said that it would update its Wear OS app with support for downloadable content. It confirmed the update once again after Samsung’s latest watches were announced.
This update will now be available on the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic (review) since they run Wear OS. The offline playback feature will allow Spotify Premium subscribers to download albums, playlists and podcasts to listen to when they’re offline.
The feature is going to be of limited use to those who are on the Free tier. They can only download podcasts directly to the watch for offline playback. Their music can only be played in Shuffle Mode via either a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
Saving songs, albums and playlists for Spotify offline playback on Galaxy Watch 4 will be quick simple. Just navigate to the content you want to download and tap on the Download to watch button. Once they’re downloaded, the content that’s available for offline playback will have a little green arrow next to its name.
Spotify offline playback for Galaxy Watch 4 is an amazing feature. It will let users listen to their favorite tunes without requiring an internet connection. So if you’re out on a run and don’t want to bring your phone with you, your watch can easily store your favorite workout tunes. Storage is not an issue on the Galaxy Watch 4. It has 16GB built-in, higher than any Samsung smartwatch.
Some users have reported on Reddit that they’re already able to use this feature. Looks like it’s rolling out now and should be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
Samsung is seeing a lot of interest in its new foldable smartphones. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have captured the attention of people across the globe. 2021 just might be the year that foldable smartphones go mainstream.
2020 was the first full year of Samsung selling foldable smartphones. It launched the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold 2. Both devices set a new record for foldable sales to date. That record has now been smashed only by the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 pre-orders so far.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 pre-orders are at an all time high
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have been available for pre-order since last week. Reports from South Korea reveal impressive pre-order performance. Samsung received 450,000 pre-orders for both foldables combined in just one week. Analysts expect that the total number of pre-orders just in South Korea could cross 800,000 units.
It’s quite likely that Samsung is seeing such strong pre-order performance in other markets across the globe. That’s why the company confirmed the following in a statement:
“We are thankful for the great customer response to our new Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. Interest in foldable smartphones is at an all-time high, with pre-order volume for Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 already outpacing total sales for Galaxy Z devices to date in 2021.”
Samsung didn’t provide any numbers. So it’s unclear how many units of the new foldables have been pre-ordered or how many units of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold 2 it has sold to date. Several market research firms estimate that Samsung sold around 2 million units combined of these two models.
They now expect Samsung to sell 5.2 million units of its new foldables this year. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are more durable, powerful and stylish than their predecessors. They have also received substantial price cuts. If the pre-order figures are an indication, its new foldables are going to be super hit devices.
According to IANS, the Galaxy M32 5G will be available in two memory configurations, and they will be priced between INR 20,000 (around $270) and INR 25,000 (around $337). It will be available in black and blue color variants. The smartphone will reportedly be available via Amazon.in, Samsung India website, and other authorized retailers starting September 2, 2021.
It has already been revealed that the Galaxy M32 5G will feature a 6.5-inch TFT LCD Infinity-V display with HD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The display will be protected using Gorilla Glass 5. The Galaxy M32 5G will come equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 720 processor, 6GB/8GB RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. The phone will also feature a microSD card slot for storage expansion.
It has a 13MP selfie camera and a 48MP quad-camera setup at the rear. Samsung has claimed that the phone will be compatible with 12 5G bands which means that it is future-proof. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and features a dual-SIM card slot, GPS, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Complacency can be fatal for any company but when you’re a global conglomerate with rivals itching to take you down, nothing can be left to chance. Samsung has faced incredible business challenges over the years but it has been able to overcome them through leadership and innovation.
As the world evolves and new technologies gain momentum, Samsung wants to ensure that it remains as competitive as ever before. To that end, the company has drawn up a new game plan worth $206 billion to secure its future.
Samsung is making bold moves for its future
Samsung confirmed today that the Samsung Group will be investing approximately $206 billion in the next three years to enhance its capabilities in the artificial intelligence, biopharmaceutical, semiconductor and robotics industries. The investments are meant to prepare Samsung for a leading role in the post-pandemic world.
These investments will be made through 2023. The company says that this move will enable it to strengthen in global position in competitive industries like the chip market while also providing it with new opportunities for growth in next-generation telecommunications and robotics.
Samsung Electronics didn’t provide a breakdown of the exact amounts that it will be spending on each of the highlighted industries. However, it once again reiterated that mergers and acquisitions are being considered to consolidate technology and gain market leadership.
With more than $114 billion in cash, Samsung is in a very strong position to buy new companies. Its potential targets are said to include automotive semiconductor companies like NXP and Microchip Technologies.
The company’s $206 billion game plan has been revealed over a week after its leader Lee Jae-yong was released from prison on parole. His return to the office was said to be crucial for progress on Samsung’s major plans. With the heir back in action, we might see some progress in its merger activities soon enough.
The semiconductor division is a literal cash cow for Samsung. It’s particularly the company’s dominance in the memory market that made it overtake Intel again to become the world’s largest semiconductor vendor by revenue.
The division’s performance did come under pressure a bit when the memory supercycle subsided and prices came down. However, once the pandemic hit, demand for memory products shot up again. Revenues have gradually increased since 2018 and have now reached a new high.
Samsung revenues at a record high since Q3 2018
A report from market research firm TrendForce highlights that the global DRAM sales in Q2 2021 were at $24.1 billion, up 26% compared to the previous quarter. Overall demand for memory products has increased and the average selling price has gone up as well.
Samsung made over $10.5 billion in revenue for its memory chip products in the second quarter of this year. This is the first time since the third quarter of 2018 that quarterly revenues for the memory business have crossed $10 billion.
The company saw a 30% jump in its revenues compared to the same period last year. It still remains the dominant player in the memory chip market. Samsung accounted for 43.6% of the entire market in Q2 2021.
The pandemic has contributed immensely to the increase in demand, particularly due to the sustained need for remote work and distance learning. Demand from the notebook sector was particularly strong. The average selling price of these products also increased. Prices were up by up to 23% in Q2 compared to Q1 2021.
Analysts expect this solid demand to continue in the third quarter of this year but expect that the price increase would be more limited at up to 8%. A decline in demand is predicted for the fourth quarter.
