Rumored Galaxy M30 spotted on Geekbench with Exynos 7885, Android Oreo

Samsung is rumored to launch the Galaxy M series in the coming months. The new series is expected to replace the current Galaxy J, Galaxy On, and Galaxy C series devices in the company’s lineup. All the leaks and reports so far point to three new Galaxy M models in development: SM-M105F, SM-M205F, and SM-M305F, rumored to launch as the Galaxy M10, M20, and M30 respectively.

In our exclusive reports, we have already reported color and storage options for these upcoming devices. One of them, the SM-M305F, aka the alleged Galaxy M30, has now appeared on the Geekbench website, revealing some of its middling specifications. As per the Geekbench listing, the Galaxy M30 will be powered by an Exynos 7885 SoC with 4GB of RAM and Android Oreo 8.1 onboard. From our earlier report, we also know that the Galaxy M30 will come in 64 GB and 128 GB storage variants.

Android Oreo onboard?

Samsung has already started rolling out the Android 9.0 Pie update to the Galaxy S9/S9+. It will be disappointing if the company launches these Galaxy M devices a few months later with the older Android Oreo onboard. As it is common for companies to develop and test prototypes with older components and software, there is still a possibility for the Galaxy M30 to launch with better specs and updated software. The upcoming Galaxy A50 was spotted with Android Pie after all.

For now, the listed specs don’t appear very different from current Galaxy mid-range (and some recent budget) devices. The Exynos 7885 powered the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ and also powers the Galaxy M20, so Samsung may be moving to the Exynos 9610 for next year’s A series phones. It does make us wonder if there is anything else these phones might offer to stand out in the crowded budget market. Pricing will define their success more than anything else, but details on that are currently unavailable.

The post Rumored Galaxy M30 spotted on Geekbench with Exynos 7885, Android Oreo appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2GFEfnL
via IFTTT

Analysts predict a weaker Q4 for Samsung Electronics

2018 has been a mixed bag for Samsung Electronics so far. Though the company continued to post impressive earnings quarter after quarter, there were visible signs of an impending slowdown. The company’s mobile business failed to impress despite launching critically-acclaimed products. Even the company’s most profitable semiconductor business faced an uncertain future. It appears the fourth quarter of this year will finally see the impact of some of these visible threats.

According to a report in The Investor, Korean analysts are predicting a weaker Q4 for Samsung Electronics. They are forecasting Samsung’s operating profit to drop 7.6 percent from the 15.1 trillion won in Q4 2017 to 13.9 trillion won (US$12.30 billion) in the last quarter of this year. If the projections turn out to be on point, then this will be the first time the company’s quarterly operating profit will drop below 14 trillion-won since Q1 2017.

Still a record year for Samsung

The forecasted operating profit for Q4 represents a 20.5 percent drop from the record high 17.5 trillion won posted in the previous quarter. Sales are also expected to drop 3.2 percent to 63.8 trillion won during the October-December period.

The weaker projections are attributed to the drop in DRAM and NAND chip prices globally. Worsening trade relations between the US and China, the flux in the international financial markets, and China’s growing investment in the domestic semiconductor industry are mentioned as the other reasons for the weak forecast.

For the entire 2018, however, the company is expected to post a record operating profit of 62.6 trillion won, up from the 53.6 trillion won posted last year. The company’s Q4 earnings guidance is expected in early January.

The post Analysts predict a weaker Q4 for Samsung Electronics appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2EJiykb
via IFTTT

[List] Official Galaxy S9 Android Pie update available in these countries

The stable and official worldwide release of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ Android Pie update kicked off earlier today. Samsung chose Germany as the starting point, but the update is now beginning to show up in other markets as well. As with all major upgrades, Pie will be released in stages and the list of countries where the update is rolling out will grow bigger and bigger in the coming days.

To make it easy for you to see if Android Pie is available in your country, we’ve put together that list below and will be constantly updating it as and when we learn about another country getting the update. You can help out by telling us in the comments if you have the update in a country not on the list so we can add it in. And remember, this list is for countries where the update has been released for all Galaxy S9 and S9+ owners, not just those in the Android Pie beta program.

Countries where Galaxy S9 Android Pie update is rolling out

• Germany
• Switzerland
• Italy
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

You can download the Pie update over the air by tapping the Download updates manually option in the Software update section of the phone’s Settings app. Alternatively, you can download the Android Pie firmware from our database (Galaxy S9 | Galaxy S9+) or use Samsung Smart Switch on a desktop PC.

Android Pie not yet out in your country yet? Check out all the new features that the new version of Android will bring to your Galaxy device in the meantime.

Galaxy S9

• Model: SM-G960F
• Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS OIS (F1.5/F2.4)

More specifications

Galaxy S9+

• Model: SM-G965F
• Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
• Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)

More specifications

The post [List] Official Galaxy S9 Android Pie update available in these countries appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2CtUP5O
via IFTTT

Galaxy A3 (2017) and A7 (2017) updated with December 2018 security patch

While Galaxy S9 owners are being treated to the Android Pie update, it’s business as usual for other devices in Samsung’s lineup. Samsung has released an update for the Galaxy A3 (2017) and the Galaxy A7 (2017), bringing the December 2018 security patch to both devices. The December patch has already been released for the Galaxy A5 (2017) in some markets.

December 2018 security patch update out for A3 (2017) and A7 (2017)

The A3 (2017) and A7 (2017) updates are rolling out in a number of countries, with software versions A320FXXU4CRL1 and A720FXXU6CRL1 respectively. The December 2018 security patch fixes 40 vulnerabilities in Samsung’s software and six critical ones discovered in the Android OS. One of the major vulnerabilities with Samsung’s software allowed access to Secure Folder gallery images without authentication, so the December 2018 patch is a recommended download for everyone.

Of course, that doesn’t mean an update with the December patch will be available in every market. You can check if it’s available for you by going into the Settings » Software update menu on your device and tapping the Download updates manually option. Alternatively, you can update by downloading the full firmware file for your country from our firmware database. Samsung’s Smart Switch program for desktop computers should also have the new update available.

Galaxy A3 2017

• Model: SM-A320F
• Dimensions: 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 4,7" (119mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 7870 Octa
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS F1.9

More specifications

Galaxy A7 2017

• Model: SM-A720F
• Dimensions: 156.8 x 77.6 x 7.9mm
• Display: 5,7" (143.9 mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 7880 Octa
• Camera: 16 MP, CMOS F1.9

More specifications

The post Galaxy A3 (2017) and A7 (2017) updated with December 2018 security patch appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2EJ8qYC
via IFTTT

Here are all the new features Android Pie brings to Galaxy devices

Samsung has begun rolling out the official Android Pie update for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, giving everyone a neat little surprise a day before Christmas. We will soon see the Galaxy Note 9 get the stable update, and it will only be a matter of time before Samsung starts updating other Galaxy devices. Android Pie brings a beautiful new user interface and a number of new features, many of which we have covered in our One UI (Android Pie) feature focus series.

Now that the official update is rolling out, we have put the articles detailing those features in a list below so you can quickly check them out. Keep in mind that not all of these features may be available for every Galaxy device, but you should get a general idea of what to expect.

What’s new with Android Pie for Galaxy smartphones

• Samsung One UI (Android Pie) brings option to lock home screen icons
• How to enable night mode on Samsung One UI (Android Pie)
• One UI (Android Pie) feature focus: ‘Lift to wake’ gesture arrives on Galaxy phones
• One UI (Android 9) feature focus: Gallery gets a ‘recycle bin’
• Samsung’s Android Pie camera UI gets a dedicated video recording mode
• One UI (Android Pie) feature focus: Navigation button gestures
• One UI (Android Pie) feature focus: Samsung keyboard gets floating mode
• Galaxy S9 camera gets Flaw Detection, Scene Optimizer with Android Pie
• One UI (Android Pie) feature focus: Reset volume and screen brightness
• Android Pie brings a nifty alternative to the screen auto rotate toggle
• One UI (Android Pie) feature focus: Kids Mode gets a quick toggle
• A tiny way One UI makes screenshot button combo more convenient
• New One UI beta brings Android Pie’s Adaptive Battery feature
• New Android Pie beta adds quick toggle for full-screen navigation gestures
• Neat touch in Android Pie: Battery tips in device maintenance section

We’ll be sure to update this list as and when we discover new features, so we’d recommend bookmarking this page—or regularly monitoring the tag—to stay up-to-date with all the latest posts.

What’s your favorite Android Pie feature?

The post Here are all the new features Android Pie brings to Galaxy devices appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2V78F5t
via IFTTT

Galaxy S9 beta users: Grab the official Android Pie update over the air!

In a surprise move, Samsung has started rolling out the official Android Pie update for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ owners today. The update is currently available in Germany, and perhaps the best part is that both Android Pie beta testers and those who are on Android Oreo are getting the update. And, for beta users, the official update is a mere 158 MB download, so you should be able to quickly jump on-board to the stable release.

A small download for beta testers, as expected

To grab the update on your S9 or S9+, open the Settings app, tap Software update, then tap the Download and install option. It may take a couple of tries before the update starts downloading, so don’t lose hope if it doesn’t work on the first attempt. Those in beta markets other than Germany can try as well, although we currently have reports of only Germany having the official update. For Android Oreo users, we have the Galaxy S9 Android 9 Pie firmware available for download from our database.

Have you received the Android Pie update on your Galaxy S9 or S9+? Once you’ve updated, be sure to check out our One UI (Android Pie) feature focus series of articles to find out what’s new with Android Pie.

Galaxy S9

• Model: SM-G960F
• Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
• Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS OIS (F1.5/F2.4)

More specifications

Galaxy S9+

• Model: SM-G965F
• Dimensions: 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
• Display: 6.2” (158.1mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9810
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS Dual OIS (F1.5/F2.4) & Telephoto: 12MP AF F2.4)

More specifications

The post Galaxy S9 beta users: Grab the official Android Pie update over the air! appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2Si1CFn
via IFTTT

Galaxy S9 Android Pie firmware download available on SamMobile database

We just reported that the stable Galaxy S9 Android Pie firmware is now rolling out. Samsung had previously said that it would release Pie for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 in January 2019. However, it seems like the company has sent out an early Christmas present for Galaxy S9 owners.

Samsung is rolling out firmware version G960FXXU2CRLI and G965FXXU2CRLI for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in Germany. It may be a while before the firmware goes live in other markets across the globe. No worries, though, as we have the stable Galaxy S9 Android Pie firmware available for download from our database.

Download Galaxy S9 Android Pie firmware from our database

We have already shared the screenshots of the update roll out in our earlier post. The actual firmware file has now been obtained and uploaded to our database. Android Pie firmware version G960FXXU2CRLI is now available for download from our firmware section. We’ll have the firmware for the Galaxy S9+ available soon as well.

As previously mentioned, this is the fastest rollout of a major Android update from Samsung, not that we’re complaining. It doesn’t seem that the stable version is out yet for the Galaxy Note 9. It may be a matter of time before the flagship phablet gets it as well.

The post Galaxy S9 Android Pie firmware download available on SamMobile database appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile http://bit.ly/2SimQCV
via IFTTT