You can now unlock your car with a Galaxy smartphone in South Korea

One of the less-talked-about features of the Galaxy S21 series is its ultra-wideband (UWB) chip. It opens up a lot of possibilities for object tracking and high-speed data transfer at short ranges. Earlier this year, Samsung promised that users would be able to unlock their cars with a combination of NFC and UWB technologies.

Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra users in South Korea have received the functionality via the October security update which began rolling out earlier this week. At the moment, there is no word about supported car models, but we can expect Samsung to put out a list soon.  The last we heard, cars made by OEMs such as Audi, BMW, Ford and Genesis would be supported.

Users need to set up a Digital Key on Samsung Pass, following which it can be accessed via your fingerprint. In theory, one can also share the key with a friend who happens to have a compatible phone with a UWB chip. One can also use the technology to find their car in a parking lot.

Samsung usually tests these cutting-edge features in South Korea, so it’ll be a while before it rolls out internationally. The U.S. and Europe should be the next regions to get Digital Key, ideally, followed by other markets.

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Samsung might be developing a solar-powered Galaxy Watch smartwatch

Samsung is considering using solar energy to power its Galaxy smartwatches. Or, more specifically, Samsung has been entertaining the idea of applying solar cells to a Galaxy Watch wrist strap for a couple of years now.

A patent application filed all the way back in 2019 got discovered recently by LetsGoDigital after being published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on September 16. The patent showcases a generic Galaxy smartwatch equipped with a wrist strap embedded with solar cells, though the application doesn’t go into any detail as to how efficient the system would be.

Perhaps the idea here is to provide auxiliary power through the solar cells, even if they wouldn’t be powerful enough to replace the standard charging port. It’s a great idea that, in theory, could make Samsung’s wearables a lot eco-friendlier and capable of providing a way for users to recharge them even when they might be away from a wall or wireless charger.

Is Samsung planning on making the Galaxy Watch 5 solar-powered?

It’s too early to be sure of Samsung’s plans for the next-generation smartwatches. After all, the Galaxy Watch 4 series was just released. Nevertheless, we can assume that this technology is at best reserved for the future, given that the Galaxy Watch 4 series has conventional lugs and no obvious way of transferring electric current from the strap to the watch itself.

Regardless, Samsung is constantly trying to improve its eco-friendly policies, and the company recently achieved 100% reusable energy at its factories in the USA, Europe, and China.

On the consumer side of the equation, Samsung adopted solar power for its latest QLED smart TV remotes controls earlier this year. This could be a sign of things to come, as more device types could end up utilizing solar cells in the future. Needless to say, wearables would be a great candidate for this technology.

But as always, patent applications don’t usually confirm upcoming products, but rather, they often offer a sneak preview into a company’s way of thinking. Time will tell if Samsung is indeed serious about applying solar cells to future wearables.

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Galaxy Buds Live and Buds Pro get new massive discounts in the US

Thanks to their unusual design, the Galaxy Buds Live remain some of the most unique wireless earbuds on the market, one year after their release. And now, the Galaxy Buds Live are available in the USA for the low price of $99 thanks to a new limited-time deal from Amazon.

The Galaxy Buds Live can now be yours for only $99.99 after a 41% discount on the full retail price of $169.99. The 41% price drop is available for the Mystic Bronze model, whereas the Mystic Black variant is available for $109.99 (35% off).

Galaxy Buds Pro also get a limited-time discount

If you’re not a fan of the Buds Live’s unconventional design, or if you’d simply prefer the Galaxy Buds Pro instead, fret not. Amazon has also dropped 24% off the Galaxy Buds Pro price for a limited time.

The Galaxy Buds Pro can now be yours for $151, as long as you pick the Phantom Black color. The silver and purple models are available for lower prices as well, but aren’t quite as affordable.

In addition, Amazon is dropping up to 24% off the full price of the Galaxy Buds Pro and Samsung Wireless Fast Charging Pad (2021) bundle. It now costs $181 instead of $239.

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Galaxy Buds Pro review | Galaxy Buds Live review

SamsungGalaxy Buds Live

Full Specs

SamsungGalaxy Buds Pro

BuyFull SpecsReviewHands-On

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Samsung uses 5G to boost network speeds in Seoul subways by 25 times

Samsung is working on speeding up Wi-Fi services in subways, and it recently demonstrated how 5G mmWave technology can boost legacy Wi-Fi network speeds in these environments.

Samsung trialed the technology in parts of Seoul Metro, and more specifically, the test covered five stations in major downtown areas. Samsung used its 5GmmWave Compact Macro solution for the test, which was installed along the railways.

The system achieved ~25x faster speeds than current solutions

According to Samsung, the current average network speed achieved in the Seoul Metro network is 71Mbps. But after testing the 5G mmWave Compact Macro solution as a backhaul, the company claims to have reached a transfer rate that is 25 times faster than the current solution.

In telecommunications terms, a backhaul is a network component that links the core network to smaller subnetworks.

Samsung reached Wi-Fi downlink speeds of 1.8Gbps on a moving subway train using the Galax S21 Ultra and the Compact Macro 5G mmWave solution. The Compact Micro was introduced in June, and as the name implies, it’s a compact 5G solution that includes a baseband unit, radio, and antenna in a single device.

The Korean tech giant’s 5G technologies are also used to boost network speeds in crowded areas such as stadiums, shopping malls, and hospitals. And with the first test run complete, the Samsung Compact Micro could soon bring 5G to your mobile device in subways outside of South Korea.

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Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy M52 5G: Same raw power for a lower price

The Galaxy M52 5G was announced in India earlier today, and thanks to all the previous leaks, we already knew that it should share a few similarities with the Galaxy A52s 5G. And that’s a good thing, too, given that the Galaxy A52s is arguably the best mid-range smartphone of the year.

So now that the Galaxy M52 5G is official, how does it actually compare to the Galaxy A52s 5G? Is it just another rebrand, and has it improved the formula in any way? How similar are these two phones, and which one’s a better proposition? Let’s have a closer look.

Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy M52 5G: Hardware specifications

The Galaxy M52 5G has the same chipset from Qualcomm as the Galaxy A52s, which is great news for anyone who intends to play mobile games. The Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset featuring the Adreno 642L graphics chip is a great choice, and both phones come with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy M52 is available with 128GB of built-in storage, but the Galaxy A52s was released with 128GB or 256GB of built-in memory — at least in some markets.

Both the Galaxy M52 5G and Galaxy A52s 5G have 25W fast charging capabilities, but the newer Galaxy M52 has a larger 5,000mAh battery as opposed to a 4,500mAh one.

The phones are similar in terms of connectivity and have Wi-Fi 802.11 dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB-C capabilities, though it’s worth noting that, oddly enough, the Galaxy M52 5G lacks a 3.5mm audio port. The Galaxy A52s 5G has one, and we wouldn’t expect any less from a mid-range M-branded phone, but there you have it.

Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy M52 5G: Display

Samsung’s new Galaxy M52 5G has a larger footprint than the A-branded counterpart because it has a slightly larger Super AMOLED display. It has a 6.7-inch diagonal, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a resolution of 2400 by 1080.

The Super AMOLED panel used by the Galaxy A52s 5G has a similar pixel count and aspect ratio, but it’s smaller at 6.5 inches.

Both phones adopt an Infinity-O display design and benefit from a high refresh rate of 120Hz.

Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy M52 5G: Cameras

At first glance, the Galaxy A52s 5G and Galaxy M52 5G seemingly have the same primary camera, featuring a resolution of 64MP, but that’s not the case. They seem alike but the Galaxy M52’s camera lacks OIS.

Furthermore, each phone has a 12MP ultra-wide shooter and a 5MP macro sensor, but the Galaxy M52 5G doesn’t have the 5MP depth sensor the A52s 5G has. Each phone is also equipped with a 32MP selfie camera.

Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy M52 5G: Design

Both the Galaxy M52 5G and Galaxy A52s 5G look like 2021 mid-range phones, but the Galaxy M52 5G is a little flashier, for better or for worse. It has a glossy finish with a vertical stripe pattern on the back panel, whereas the Galaxy A52s 5G is available in a handful of plain matte colors.

The Galaxy M52 5G is slightly taller and wider but 1mm thinner. Samsung’s actually promoting the Galaxy M52 by leveraging its thinner profile, even though this design characteristic may have come at the cost of the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Galaxy M52 5G also lacks stereo speakers, but more importantly, it doesn’t have an IP rating like the Galaxy A52s 5G, which means it isn’t dust or water-resistant.

Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy M52 5G: Price and Conclusion

The Galaxy A52s 5G is roughly INR 6,000 ($80) more expensive than the Galaxy M52 5G, though the latter model can be purchased from Amazon at a lower promotional price that increases the price gap to about $120.

With or without the discounts, the Galaxy A52s 5G is a better phone overall because it has OIS, a depth camera, stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone port, and an IP 67 rating. On the other hand, the Galaxy M52 5G has a larger battery, though admittedly, it doesn’t make up for all the things it had to give up on.

The Galaxy M52 5G seems like a decent phone, especially with discounts included. It offers similar performance to the Galaxy A52s 5G at a lower price, which is quite an attractive proposition for people looking for power on a budget. Nevertheless, the Galaxy A52s 5G delivers a more complete mobile experience thanks to all the little extras.

Feel free to refer to our Samsung device comparison tool and widget below for more details on exactly how the Galaxy A52s 5G and Galaxy M52 5G are similar — or aren’t.

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Galaxy A52s 5G review

Samsung
Galaxy A52s 5G

Select model SM-A528B SM-A528N Full specs

Samsung
Galaxy M52 5G

Select model SM-M526B Full specs

General Information

• Model Name

  Galaxy A52s 5G

  Galaxy M52 5G

• Model type

  Bar

  Bar

• Colors

  Mint (Mint)
  Violet (Violet)
  Black (Black)
  White (White)

  Black (Black)
  Blue (Blue)

• Announced

  2021, August

  2021, September

• Released

  2021, August

  2021, October

Physical specifications

• Dimensions

  Bar: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm

  Bar: 164.2 x 76.4 x 7.4 mm

• Weights

  189g

  173g

• IP rating

  IP67

Operating system

• Operating system

  Android 11

  Android 11

• One UI version

  3.1

  3.1

Networks

• SIM

  Dual SIM model

  Dual SIM model (Hybrid SIM slot)

• SIM card sizes

  Nano-SIM (4FF)

  Nano-SIM (4FF)

• Networks

  2G
  3G
  4G
  5G

  2G
  3G
  4G
  5G

• eSIM support

  No

Display

• Kind

  Main Display

• Name

  Infinity-O Display

• Technology

  Super AMOLED

• Size

  6.7 inch / 170.18 mm

• Resolution

  FHD+ / 2400x1080 pixels

• Pixel density

  407 PPI

• Screen to body ratio

  84.9%

• Refresh rate

  120Hz

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New Galaxy S22 Ultra renders show a different frame and camera design

The first Galaxy S22 Ultra renders based on leaked official information emerged last week, revealing what could be the upcoming flagship’s design. However, these first renders were created from loose bits of information, which means that the finer design detail could be inaccurate.

Among many other things, the first Galaxy S22 Ultra renders revealed a design with a square footprint and an unusual camera housing. In addition: a metal frame which is wider around the side buttons, so, nothing unusual in this regard.

However, after @OnLeaks shared the first renders, new bits of information emerged from @UniverseIce, claiming that the frame design is different. @OnLeaks later confirmed that at least one Galaxy S22 Ultra prototype with a uniform side frame exists and shared a new render — seen below — that accounts for this possible design choice.

The wider metal side frame could contribute to a stronger structure and make Galaxy S22 Ultra more resilient than the ongoing models.

Galaxy S22 Ultra with a different camera housing design

In addition to this adjustment to the metal frame, the camera housing design could also look different. The source shared another render featuring a second design for the camera housing; however, it’s important to note that this particular render wasn’t based on leaked information. It simply explores the possibility of the camera housing looking different, which it might.

The lower edge of the phone isn’t shown in these new renders, so one of the most exciting characteristics — namely, the dedicated S Pen slot — is hidden. Whether or not the device will carry the Note brand remains to be seen. In theory, Samsung should unveil the Galaxy S22 series in January, though there are rumors of a possible December launch.

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Samsung Health update brings improved design and more gender options

The Samsung Health app is getting a new update that brings an improved UI design, more gender options, and some bug fixes. The update with version number 6.18.8.005 is currently rolling out via the Galaxy Store and the Google Play Store.

This new update adds more gender options other than just Male and Female. Moreover, the app now presents all the user information such as their profile, weekly statistics, rewards, and personal best data in one place. Earlier, this information was scattered in different sections. The update also brings general bug fixes and improvements across the app.

These changes are already available on Galaxy smartphones running the beta version of One UI 4.0. You can look at the new features and the improved design in the screenshots below.

Samsung Health is among the best health and fitness tracking apps available for Android smartphones. It is also available on Samsung’s tablets, smartwatches, smart TVs, and fitness bands. Over the years, Samsung has introduced a lot of features to Samsung Health. Users can even compete with their friends and family members using the app.

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Galaxy Z Flip 3 survives durability test, gets a thumbs up from JerryRigEverything

Samsung’s foldable phones have come a long way in terms of durability compared to the first generation models. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 are the world’s first foldable smartphones with an IPX8 rating. They are also stronger and have a more robust hinge mechanism. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 recently went through a torturous durability test by JerryRigEverything and received a thumbs up.

As usual, JerryRigEverything’s durability test starts off with a scratch test on the screen. The Galaxy Z Flip 3’s cover display starts showing scratches with picks rated at Moh’s level 6 hardness, with deeper grooves appearing when faced with a pick rated at level 7. The inner display, however, still continues to get scratched using picks rated at Moh’s level 1 and level 2. Both screens start showing signs of burns after facing 25 seconds in front of a lighter.

The phone’s hinge performed miraculously well in the bend test considering how much pressure was applied to it. It didn’t go bust even after multiple tries. Even when dust and dirt were poured all over it, the hinge continued to work silently. This is a huge improvement over Samsung’s first-generation foldable smartphones. In the end, the YouTuber gave a thumbs up to Samsung’s efforts and the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s robustness.

Needless to say, you won’t have any durability issues with the Galaxy Z Flip 3. You can view the complete durability test video below.

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Your WhatsApp may soon work across multiple Samsung devices

Most of us use multiple devices. Most of us also rely on WhatsApp for communicating with friends and family as well as to carry out business. What we haven’t been able to do is use the same account on multiple devices, at least not in the true sense of the word.

WhatsApp only added support for multiple devices a few months back. Prior to that, your phone needed to be on and connected to the web, even if you were using WhatsApp Web to send messages. That’s no longer required but it’s still not possible to use one account on multiple mobile devices. It looks like this might change.

True WhatsApp multi-device support may be coming soon

The multi-device support that WhatsApp introduced a few months ago was a welcome change. It no longer requires the phone to be connected to the internet. The messages can still be sent using the web client or through WhatsApp Desktop.

What it still doesn’t allow you to do is use the same account on multiple devices. If you want to use WhatsApp on another phone, you must shift the account over and the messages will no longer be delivered to and sent from that device.

WABetaInfo has spotted support for “multi-device 2.0” in the early beta builds of the app. It will let you link another mobile device to the same account. The chat history will be synced when the device is linked the first time. Thereafter, it will be possible to use that same account on multiple linked devices.

It’s too soon to tell if this feature will be restricted to tablets only or if it will be made available for smartphones as well. It would defeat the purpose if the feature was kept limited to tablets.

Even in that case, there are plenty of best Samsung tablets that existing Galaxy smartphone owners could keep using their WhatsApp account on.

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Samsung has lost a chunk of its image sensor revenue share

Samsung is one of the leading suppliers of many smartphone components. The list includes batteries, displays, chipsets, RAM, image sensors and more. The components business makes up a big chunk of its earnings and profits every quarter.

The company is expected to report one of its best quarterly profits yet in Q3 2021. Its semiconductor business is to thank for that. However, the company wasn’t able to sell as many image sensors as it has in the past.

Samsung’s image sensor revenue share declines in H1 2021

A report from market research firm Strategy Analytics reveals that Samsung retained its second place in the global smartphone image sensor market in the first half of 2021. However, despite keeping its second place, the company’s share of the market has actually declined.

Samsung accounted for 25% of the revenue share in the first six months of this year, down from 32% in the same period last year. Its share went down even as the global image sensor market saw revenue growth of over 10% in H1 2021.

Sony remains the undisputed leader in this segment with a 42% revenue share. However, it also saw a slight decline from 44% just a year ago. OmniVision came in third place with a 13% revenue share. It registered an increase from 9% in H1 2020.

Samsung has recently introduced great new image sensor products that we’ll be seeing in many devices due next year. Its latest 200 megapixel image sensor is one of those products. Many of Samsung’s own upcoming devices will be sporting its sensors.

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Galaxy M52 5G goes official in India

After unveiling the Galaxy M52 5G for the European market last week, Samsung has launched the smartphone in India. It is a cheaper alternative to the Galaxy A52s 5G that was launched in the country a few weeks ago. The Galaxy M52 5G features a bigger battery than the Galaxy A52s 5G but lacks an IP rating, OIS, stereo speakers, and the headphone jack.

The Galaxy M52 5G is priced at INR 29,999, but the company is offering a limited-time discount of INR 3,000 during the festive season. The 8GB RAM variant is priced at INR 31,999. The Galaxy M52 5G will be available via Amazon and Samsung’s website in two colors: Blazing Black and Icy Blue. The smartphone will be available starting October 3, 2021.

Buyers can get a 10% discount if they buy the Galaxy M52 5G using an HDFC Bank credit or debit card. The company is also offering one-time screen replacement for free within six months of purchase.

Galaxy M52 5G specifications

The Galaxy M52 5G features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It runs Android 11 out of the box with One UI 3.1. The phone comes equipped with the Snapdragon 778G processor, 6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot.

At the front, it has a 32MP selfie camera. At the rear, the phone has three cameras: a 64MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 5MP macro camera. The device supports 11 5G bands, GPS, dual-SIM functionality, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and a USB Type-C port. It has a side-mounted fingerprint reader and comes powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging.

• Buy Galaxy M52 5G from Amazon.in
• Buy Galaxy M52 5G from Samsung India

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