The latest update for the unlocked units of the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ comes with the firmware version N97xU1UEU7FUI4. It is currently available on various US carrier networks, including AT&T, Bluegrass Cellular, Comcast, C Spire, Verizon, and Xfinity Mobile. The update includes the October 2021 security patch that fixes more than 60 vulnerabilities. It might also include general bug fixes and device stability improvements.
If you are a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 10+ user in the US, you can check for the new 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. The update hasn’t been released to the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+’s carrier-locked units.
If you missed the opportunity to buy the Galaxy Watch 4 and Wireless Charger Pad Duo bundle at a discount last month, Amazon is giving customers another chance. It’s not as good as it previously was, but it’s still better than paying the full retail price.
The 40mm Galaxy Watch 4 with the Wireless Charger Pad Duo (2021) is now available at an 11% discount, meaning customers can buy the bundle for $275.56. The 44mm Galaxy Watch 4 combined with the wireless charger is available for 10% off, or $305.56. These prices correspond to the Bluetooth variant, but customers can also save up to 9% off the LTE variant with the wireless charger included.
Customers can also buy the Galaxy Watch 4 without the wireless charger and benefit from a discount of 8%-12% depending on size and connectivity options.
Sadly, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic doesn’t get quite the same treatment this time around. It, too, is available for a lower price (with or without the Wireless Charger Pad Duo), but truthfully, the discount is too small to make that much of a difference. However, if you’re looking to save roughly 1% / $4 on a $410 purchase, you can.
Check our review and hands-on videos below — and Amazon’s store page — if you wish to learn more about the latest Samsung wearables, and stay tuned for more.
Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram took a massive hit earlier this month when all three services went down for hours. The outage was reportedly caused by an internal error rather than a malicious third-party attack, but regardless, it left millions of users without a way to connect to their social media platforms. The outage is estimated to have cost Facebook $65 million (via Forbes), but the story didn’t end here.
During the outage, millions of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram users flocked to other social media platforms looking for an alternative way to connect with their friends, followers, clients, etc. Many took to Twitter, while millions began looking for other social apps. Telegram alone earned roughly 70 million new users thanks to Facebook’s issues. The platform only continued to grow since, and late last week, the messaging app reached another milestone.
Telegram exceeds 1 billion Google Play Store downloads
One company’s failure can translate into another’s success, and Telegram is definitely on the winning side here. The app’s download counter at the Google Play Store stood at 500,000,000 downloads not too long ago, but now, that counter exceeds 1,000,000,000 downloads.
Keep in mind that Telegram is also offered as an APK from the developer’s official website, and those downloads don’t add up to the Play Store counter. Likewise, the 1 billion downloads figure doesn’t necessarily mean that there are over 1 billion people using Telegram, but regardless, the app is definitely surging in popularity.
Do you count yourself amongst those who have downloaded Telegram over the past few weeks? Leave a comment below, and don’t forget that you can join our official SamMobile channel on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news in the world of Samsung.
Likewise, subscribing to our YouTube channel gives you instant access to news updates and in-depth reviews of Samsung devices. You can also subscribe to get updates from us on Google News.
In India, Samsung had initially launched only two color variants of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 was available in Cream and Phantom Black, while the Galaxy Z Fold 3 was available in Phantom Black and Phantom Green. Now, the South Korean firm has launched more color variants of its latest foldable devices.
The company has announced that the 128GB variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will also be available in Lavender. The 256GB version of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be available in Phantom Silver. Samsung has already listed the new colors on its website. The new color variants will be available through third-party stores and retailers very soon.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is priced at INR 84,999, while the Galaxy Z Fold 3 starts at INR 1,49,999. Samsung is offering an upgrade bonus of INR 7,000 with its latest foldable phones. Alternatively, buyers can get an instant cashback of INR 7,000 if they use an HDFC Bank credit or debit card while purchasing the Galaxy Z Flip 3 or the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Nanoleaf has announced a new range of in-door smart LED lights called Lines, and they’re quite clever. They allow for custom designs to be created with relative ease; they don’t require power tools to be mounted on the walls or ceiling, and more importantly, they’re compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings platform.
With Lines, Nanoleaf is moving away from its usual design language and is attempting something new without abandoning the concept of modularity. The company’s previous solutions consist of light panels of different shapes and sizes; however, the Nanoleaf Lines comprises light strips that connect to hexagonal mounting points/hubs. They project light into the wall behind them rather than glowing outwards. They feature double-sided tape and don’t require tools for mounting.
RGBW lighting at your fingertips with SmartThings
Each hexagonal mounting hub can be connected to up to six Light Lines, each measuring 27.85cm in length. The Nanoleaf Lines is capable of RGBW lighting, and Samsung fans can control the setup through the SmartThings mobile app or the dedicated Nanoleaf app for Android.
The Nanoleaf Lines Starter Kit is now available for pre-order for €199.99. It consists of nine Light Lines and mounting connectors, a controller, ten Mounting Plates (and tape), one Processor & Power Connector, a power supply, and a Type-C plug. The company is also offering an Expansion Pack for €59.99. It comes with three additional Light Lines, Mounting Connectors, and Mounting Plates. As of this writing, the estimated shipping date is late November.
If you’re a fan of RGBW lighting that can be controlled through SmartThings, this should be right up your alley. Check the video below for a taste of what can be achieved with the new Nanoleaf Lines.
The Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+ are getting new updates with firmware version G97xFXXSDFUI5. This update is available in Central Asia and European countries. The latest update for the Galaxy S10 5G comes with firmware version G977BXXSAFUI5. Samsung is currently rolling out the Galaxy S10 5G update in Austria, Nordic countries, Switzerland, and the UK.
The new software update brings the October 2021 security patch to the Galaxy S10 series, along with usual bug fixes and device stability improvements. Samsung had revealed earlier this month that its latest security patch fixes over 60 vulnerabilities related to device security and user privacy.
If you are a Galaxy S10 series smartphone user in Europe or Central Asia, you can check for the latest software update by navigating to Settings » Software update and clicking on Download and install. You can also download the latest firmware file from our firmware database and flash it manually.
Samsung’s foldable phones are the perfect fit for fashion collaborations. The Galaxy Z Flip 3, in particular, can be a canvas for expressing oneself through the cover display and the wide range of colorful accessories. There were plenty of options at launch, but today, Samsung announced two new accessories for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in collaboration with Marvel and Disney.
They consist of a hand strap featuring the Marvel logo and a ring that resembles Disney’s Mickey Mouse. To be precise, Samsung will be selling the Marvel strap and Disney ring separately without a protective case, but the accessories can be attached to Samsung’s regular Silicone Cover cases for the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Galaxy Z Flip 3 Marvel and Disney accessories are available offline
The Marvel and Disney accessories for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will be sold offline from mid-October — Samsung Taiwan revealed today. Namely, they will be available at the Samsung Experience Hall, Samsung Wisdom Hall, and the Samsung Mall.
For the time being, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 Marvel and Disney accessories seem to be limited to Taiwan. The Marvel strap is priced at NT$690 ($24), whereas the Disney ring will be available for NT$890 ($31).
As yet, there’s no official information as to whether or not Samsung will sell these accessories outside of Taiwan. But as always, we’ll keep you up to speed if the story develops. And if you are looking to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in a more unique color combination, look forward to Galaxy Unpacked 2 on October 20, where Samsung might unveil a new design studio for its foldable phones.
Samsung’s event comes a day after Google’s launch event for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on October 19. There is a lot of hype around these devices. A leak has now revealed the expected Google Pixel 6 Pro price. Samsung won’t be happy about it.
Google Pixel 6 phones will undercut the Galaxy S21 series on price
Leaked Target pre-listings have been shared online. They reveal that the Google Pixel 6 Pro price will be $898 in the United States. This means that the handset will be cheaper than the Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Google will thus be able to undercut two of the best Samsung phones on the market. One can even argue that they’re the Android smartphones to beat in 2021. The $599 Pixel 6 is also going to undercut the Galaxy S21.
The new Pixel smartphones will have much to offer. These handsets will be the first to feature Google’s new in-house designed Tensor chipset for smartphones. We’ve previously detailed how this makes the new Pixel phones a threat forSamsung.
Combine that with a more competitive price and you’ve got a problem for the Korean giant. As if that wasn’t enough, Google is also going to obliterate Samsung’s edge in software support. It will provide five years of security updates for the Pixels and four Android OS upgrades.
The Galaxy S21 series is already on its way out, though. The impact on its sales may not be significant. It remains to be seen whether the new Pixel phones can hold a candle to the Galaxy S22 series due next year. They may remain a tough competitor for the Galaxy S21 FE that’s now expected to launch in January 2022.
Here are the corroborated #Pixel6 and #Pixel6Pro prices in the Target inventory system in the US.
The latest update for the carrier-locked units of the Galaxy Z Flip 5G in the US comes with firmware version F707USQS2DUI1. The unlocked variant of the smartphone is getting the newest update with firmware version F707U1UES2DUI1. While we don’t have the official changelog for the updates yet, they include the October 2021 security patch, device stability improvements, and general bug fixes.
If you are a Galaxy Z Flip 5G user in the US, you might soon get the new software update. If you are feeling impatient, you can check for the update manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. You can also download the latest firmware files from our firmware database and flash them manually on your smartphone.
One week after releasing the October 2021 security update to the Galaxy Fold, Samsung is releasing it to the Galaxy Fold 5G. The new software update is currently rolling out in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. More markets are expected to get the update over the next few days.
The latest software update for the Galaxy Fold 5G comes with firmware version F907BXXS6FUI5. It includes general bug fixes, device stability improvements, and the October 2021 security patch. Samsung had revealed earlier this month that its latest security patch fixes more than 60 privacy and security-related vulnerabilities to make its devices more secure.
If you are a Galaxy Fold 5G user in any of the countries mentioned above, you might have already received a notification of the new update. If you haven’t received it yet, you can check for it manually 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.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra should be three months away, assuming that Samsung will launch the series in January 2022. The phone will succeed the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which, as of this writing, remains one of the best smartphones ever made. But will the Galaxy S22 Ultra make the Galaxy S21 Ultra obsolete a few months from now? And more importantly, is it even worth buying the S21 model at the moment, knowing that the sequel is just around the corner? Or should you wait for the Galaxy S22 Ultra to arrive?
Well, starting with the obvious: no, the Galaxy S21 Ultra won’t be made obsolete by a new flagship. It won’t be rendered useless, but as is the case with yearly upgrades, the Galaxy S22 Ultra should have at least a few key advantages over its predecessor.
Reasons why you should go ahead and buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra this year
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is tried and tested, and it’s the best Samsung smartphone to date, barring foldables and the Galaxy Note series. It has a fantastic camera with great optical zoom capabilities, and it’s powerful enough to handle virtually any task without difficulties — especially the 16GB model.
The 2021 flagship’s exterior design might also be more appealing, judging by the leaked Galaxy S22 Ultra renders so far. The ongoing model has a camera housing design that works very well for the form factor, but Samsung could change things around again next year, and not for the better.
Another reason is that the Galaxy S21 Ultra is cheaper now than it was at launch. And with the holiday shopping season closing in, customers will be able to find all sorts of attractive Galaxy S21 Ultra deals and discounts, especially since Samsung and its partner retailers know that the sequel is just around the corner. Some stores will want to clear up their inventory, so prospective buyers should have many opportunities to buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra this year for a much lower price relative to the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s cost at launch.
Finally, if you’re not a fan of the S Pen at all then you might prefer the Galaxy S21 Ultra over the sequel, since the 2021 flagship could be the last in the series to omit a dedicated S Pen slot.
Reasons why you should wait for the Galaxy S22 Ultra
One of the most obvious reasons is the S Pen — assuming you’re a fan. If you plan on using this popular accessory with your flagship phone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra should be the superior choice.
Samsung already brought the S Pen to the Galaxy S21 Ultra earlier this year, but the phone doesn’t have a dedicated S Pen holster. Instead, the accessory needs to be stored inside an S Pen case that Samsung sells separately, and it lacks Bluetooth features.
In contrast, recent leaks indicate that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will fully embrace the S Pen and come with a dedicated holster — which is one of the key characteristics of a Galaxy Note device.
Moving on beyond the S Pen, there are the usual yearly upgrades to look forward to. If you buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra this year, you’ll be missing out on the upcoming Exynos 2200 chipset, which should be considerably more powerful than the ongoing Exynos 2100 solution — in theory, at least. You can never be too certain about a chipset’s performance before release, especially now that the Exynos SoC is backed by AMD graphics. Preliminary performance reports look promising, but AMD has little experience in the mobile game so only time will tell how Samsung’s new chipset pans out. Besides, the Exynos 2200 might not be available in every market.
Finally, a new flagship will ship with a newer OS version, namely Android 12 with One UI 4.0 on top. Of course, the Galaxy S21 Ultra already has access to this firmware — in beta form — so it might run a polished build by the time the Galaxy S22 Ultra goes on sale. In this regard, you could say that the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a head-start, particularly if you don’t shy away from beta firmware builds. However, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will ship with this latest OS version from day one, which means it will be supported for longer and receive one extra Android OS upgrade before it reaches end-of-life.
Galaxy S21 Ultra or Galaxy S22 Ultra? What’s the conclusion?
At the end of the day, the Galaxy S21 Ultra remains a great flagship and a safer purchase, at least in some areas. It has a fantastic camera system, a great display, and good performance, all wrapped in an elegant design. If you really need to buy a new flagship this year, you probably won’t regret getting the Galaxy S21 Ultra, especially if you find it at a good discount before the end of 2021.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S22 Ultra might become the best S Pen-enabled phone once it goes live early next year, and it will certainly deliver better firmware support than its predecessor. It technically should be faster too, and at the end of the day, there’s no telling what other unique features Samsung might have prepared to differentiate its upcoming flagship from the rest of the pack.
If you’d have to buy a flagship within the next few months, would you pick the Galaxy S21 Ultra this year, or would you wait for the Galaxy S22 Ultra to arrive early next year? Feel free to leave a comment below.
We are still three months away from the announcement of the Galaxy S22 series. However, their possible design and specifications have been leaked already. Most Samsung fans disliked the design render of the Galaxy S22 Ultra that was revealed a few weeks ago. Now, a new set of renders have been published, showcasing a new camera design.
LetsGoDigital has published new concept renders of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. According to the latest images, the upcoming flagship smartphone might not have a camera island. Instead, all individual cameras might have slight protrusion from the body. The camera design reminds us of the LG Velvet that was launched last year.
The camera design definitely looks better than the P-shaped and 11-shaped camera design that was rumored earlier. You can see its design in a 360-degree video towards the end of the article.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra reportedly features a 6.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 898 processor, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging. The smartphone could have a 108MP primary camera, an ultrawide camera, and two 12MP telephoto cameras with OIS.
The phone could launch with Android 12-based One UI 4.0 out of the box. Other features that we could expect on the phone include an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, Samsung Pay, and Wireless DeX.
Did you like this version of the Galaxy S22 Ultra in terms of design? Let us know in the comments section below.
Samsung has a gaming-focused product lineup called Odyssey, and the company has launched several Odyssey laptops and monitors over the past few years. While the company didn’t see much success in the laptop space, its Odyssey gaming monitors have hit the mark among gamers.
The South Korean firm has now published a new infographic to showcase how it has consistently improved its Odyssey gaming monitors. Samsung launched its first curved Odyssey gaming monitor (CFG70) in 2016. It featured gamer-centric UI and design. It then introduced QLED display technology in 2017 with the CHG90. The CHG70 and the CHG90 were the first gaming monitors in the industry with VESA’s DisplayHDR 600 certification.
In 2019, Samsung launched the Odyssey CRG9, the world’s first monitor with Dual QHD resolution (5,120 x 1,440 pixels). It also featured the VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification for top-notch HDR performance. Last year, it launched Odyssey G7 and Odyssey G9 gaming monitors with 1000R curvature displays.
Earlier this year, the company unveiled the world’s first Mini-LED gaming monitor, the Odyssey Neo G9. It features 2,048 local dimming zones, a 1,000,000:1 static contrast ratio, and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The monitor even features an RGB lighting zone on the rear, called CoreSync, which automatically replicates the colors displayed on the screen. Right now, the company makes one of the best gaming monitors in the world.
The Galaxy A series is very important for Samsung. These mid-range devices are loved across the globe. They provide exceptional features at a very competitive price. The Galaxy A handsets tend to sell very well. That’s why Samsung does a great job every year making sure they remain competitive.
It’s going to be no different for the 2022 Galaxy A series. A few rumors have emerged already and they predict promising changes for the lineup. Samsung also appears to be making steps to improve its profit margins on these devices.
Your Galaxy A73 might have a Chinese display panel
According to reports out of South Korea, Samsung is considering using Chinese OLED panels for the Galaxy A73. Samsung Display has previously been supplying all OLED panels used in Samsung smartphones.
In order to secure OLED panels at lower prices, Samsung Electronics is now expected to source OLED displays from China’s BOE and CSOT. The two companies are said to be already developing panels for the Galaxy A73.
Samsung Electronics is yet to make a final decision on the suppliers and quantities. It may evaluate the panels made by the Chinese and decide what quantity to source from which suppliers. The expectation is that if BOE and CSOT are able to provide panels at much cheaper prices then Samsung will increase the quantity it buys from them to improve its profit margins on the Galaxy A73.
Chinese companies are gradually taking on a greater role in Samsung’s supply chain. They’ve supplied batteries and CSOT was also in the running to supply OLED panels for Samsung’s low-end Galaxy M handsets.
Samsung had unveiled the Galaxy Buds 2 alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in August. The company had launched the earbuds in four color variants: Graphite, Lavender, Olive, and White. Similar to the Galaxy Buds+, Samsung could unveil additional color variants of its latest wireless earbuds.
Tipster @FrontTron has published the first images of three new color variants of the Galaxy Buds 2: Absolute Black, Maison Kitsune, and Vivid Lemon. As the name suggests, the Absolute Black version of the earbuds is darker than the Graphite version. The Vivid Lemon variant is attractive, too. The Maison Kitsune Edition of the Galaxy Buds 2 comes in a shade of pastel green and has the Kitsune (Japanese word for fox) graphics.
Maison Kitsuné is a fashion label and an electronic music record. The French—Japanese brand was created in 2002 by Gildas Loaëc, Masaya Kuroki, and Åbäke (graphic design collective). The Galaxy Buds 2 Maison Kitsune variant could be a limited edition version. As of now, there is no information about the pricing or availability of these new color variants.
Samsung has released two beta builds of the Android 12-based One UI 4.0 update to the Galaxy S21 series. The company has added dozens of new features, including improved privacy, a new widget selection menu, camera app design improvements, more UI customization options, and a slightly better quick settings section. While some UI changes are notable, others are minor.
Among all those new features and changes, we have a few favorites. Samsung has added Material You-inspired UI theming. It also improved existing features like Picture-in-Picture and Video Call Effects. In our latest video on SamMobile TV, we have listed our top 5 One UI 4.0 features. Check out all those features in the video embedded below.
Samsung had launched the Smart Monitor lineup last year after the COVID-19 pandemic. The new monitor lineup is targeted towards those who work from their homes and want a display that can double up as a TV. Smart Monitors are smarter than regular PC monitors and feature a smart TV-like operating system and expansive connectivity features.
The South Korean firm has now announced that the launch of the Smart Monitor lineup has been a huge success. The company has managed to sell over 600,000 units of Smart Monitors globally within a year of the launch. The new monitors have received positive ratings from experts and consumers alike. There are a total of six models in the Smart Monitor lineup, ranging from 27 inches to 43 inches.
Smart Monitors run Samsung’s Tizen OS and feature all the popular music and video streaming apps like Apple Music, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify, and YouTube. They feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wireless Dex, and a USB 3.0 hub. The monitors even come with a remote controller that lets you easily navigate around the UI. Other features include Bixby and built-in stereo speakers.
Hye-Seung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “Samsung Smart Monitor is an innovative product that has completely positioned itself as a new category in the ‘home life’ era.”
