Galaxy S10 5G reportedly gets 3D face unlock with Android 10

The front-facing 3D depth camera on the Galaxy S10 5G may finally be put to use for 3D face unlocking. Unlike the Galaxy S10+, the Galaxy S10 5G’s second front-facing camera is not a regular depth camera – it is a ToF (time-of-flight) sensor. A ToF camera emits an infrared light signal and measures the time it takes for the signal to return after hitting an object, enabling more accurate depth-mapping, and it can be used for advanced face recognition similar to Apple’s Face ID.

Face recognition using ToF sensors is available on quite a few Chinese smartphones, but the Galaxy S10 5G’s front-facing ToF camera only works to enable more advanced bokeh in photos and videos. According to one Galaxy S10 5G owner from Korea, that has changed on the Android 10 beta for the device. The S10 5G is apparently using both the ToF camera and the regular front-facing camera for facial recognition on Android 10. The ToF camera lights up when face recognition is active, and covering either the regular camera or the ToF camera stops face recognition from working.

Considering Samsung has also improved face recognition on Android 10 in general (like adding an option for users to add an alternative look), it’s not surprising that the Galaxy S10 5G is getting more advanced face recognition that takes advantage of its extra hardware. However, it’s unclear if the ToF camera is actually being used to its full potential. Since it uses infrared light, it should also work well in a dark room unlike face recognition with a regular camera, but we don’t know if that is the case on the Galaxy S10 5G. We guess we’ll have to wait for the stable Android 10 update for the S10 5G to find out, as the beta is only available in South Korea.

To translate, the S10 5G got Pixel 4/Mate 20 Pro/Mate 30 Pro/iPhone 11 style 3D face unlock with the Android 10 update. The TOF sensor was there, but Samsung was never using it for face unlock. https://t.co/a5l3kDNHYJ

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) November 8, 2019

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Galaxy Fold goes on sale in China, sells out in five minutes

The Galaxy Fold has slowly been making its way to more and more markets in recent weeks, and today, the foldable device was launched in China. The Fold is priced at 15,999 Chinese Yuan, which translates to around $2290, in the country and comes in black and silver. As has been the case in other markets, the Galaxy Fold sold out in China pretty quickly, with Samsung confirming that stocks ran out in five minutes while third-party retailer Jingdong.com said that it sold out in just two seconds.

Samsung reportedly had around 20,000 units of the Fold for sale in China in the first round, so it’s not hard to see why it sold out so quickly. Samsung is currently selling only the LTE variant of the Galaxy Fold in China, with the 5G variant to arrive sometime later this month. However, the 5G model is expected to be exclusive to carrier China Telecom and launch on its network as the W20 5G, replacing the existing flagship flip phone lineup that Samsung has been selling in the country the last couple of years.

Galaxy Fold will soon compete with the Huawei Mate X in China

It remains to be seen if the next sale for the Galaxy Fold in China will see similar interest from consumers, as they will soon have the option of picking up another foldable device: the Huawei Mate X will be launching in China next Friday with a price tag of $2,400. While its outward-folding screen isn’t the most sensible approach for a foldable device, the Mate X has a considerably larger screen and arguably looks more futuristic, but it’s Huawei’s popularity in its home country that might be a bigger obstacle for Samsung.

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Galaxy Note 10 One UI 2.0 Android 10 beta program live in India!

At long last, Samsung is opening up the Android 10-based One UI 2.0 beta program for the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ to more countries. After its debut in Germany last month, the One UI 2.0 beta program is now live in India. The beta program is likely to be made available in France, Poland, Spain, and the UK later today or sometime next week, and possibly in the US as well.

Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ owners can enroll in the beta program by opening the Samsung Members app, press the bell icon on top to go to the Notices section, and tapping the Registrations for One UI Beta Program notice. There, they can tap the One UI Beta Program banner, scroll through the terms and conditions, then tap the Enroll button to register. Once registered, they can download the first beta update by going into the Settings app, selecting Software update, and hitting the Download and install option, just like they would for regular software updates.

Backup your data before installing the beta!

The first beta build for the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ in India comes with software version G97*FXXU1ZSK4. Since you will be installing beta software, it’s recommended to backup your data to a PC using Samsung’s Smart Switch program. The Galaxy S10 and S10+ had a pretty serious issue with the Android 10 beta that resulted in many users losing their data on the phone, so if you use your phone for storing important data or at work, it’s best to wait for the stable Android 10 and One UI 2.0 update instead.

Have you received the option to enroll in the Galaxy Note 10 Android 10 beta program in India or another country? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to check our detailed side-by-side comparison of all the user interface improvements included in One UI 2.0 and also check out the video below for a quick look at One UI 2.0’s new features. For a more in-depth look, check out our One UI 2.0 feature focus series of articles.

Galaxy Note 10

• Model: SM-N970F
• Dimensions: 151.0 x71.8x7.9mm
• Display: 6.3"(160.02mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F2.2 Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy Note 10+

• Model: SM-N975F
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 77,2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.8"(172.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 12 Ultra Wide: 16MP F2.2 (123°) & Wide-angle: 12MP 2PD AF F1.5/F2.4 OIS (77°) & Telephoto: 12MP F2.1 OIS (45°) & DepthVision Camera: VGA

More specifications

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Galaxy J5 Pro & Galaxy A7 (2018) get November 2019 security patch

Samsung continues the November 2019 security patch rollout and the latest two smartphones to be patched via software updates are the Galaxy J5 Pro (SM-J530G) and Galaxy A7 (2018) – model number SM-A750GN. As of this writing, the Galaxy J5 Pro update is rolling out only in Brazil. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A7 (2018) is getting the software package in Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

November 2019 security patch continues to expand

The Galaxy J5 Pro is now officially the oldest Samsung device to have received the November 2019 security patch (click for patch details). It joins considerably newer devices such as the Galaxy Tab S4, the Galaxy S10 5G, and the Galaxy Note 10 series.

The latest update carries firmware version J530GUBU6CSJ2 and A750GNDXS4BSJ7 for the Galaxy J5 Pro and Galaxy A7 (2018), respectively. The firmware versions suggest the Galaxy A7 (2018) is not getting any new features along with the November 2019 security patch, while the Galaxy J5 Pro does. It’s unclear what additions may have been included in the Galaxy J5 Pro update, but if you’ve received it in Brazil then feel free to drop us a line in the comment section below and share your experience with the community.

As usual, the update is accompanied by a notification which can be tapped to begin the process. Alternatively, you can open Settings and access Software update, then tap Download and install. And yet another alternative is to visit our firmware database for the Galaxy J5 Pro / Galaxy A7 (2018) where you can download the latest update manually and install it using your PC.

Galaxy J5 Pro

• Model: SM-J530G
• Dimensions: 146.3 x 71.3 x 7.9mm
• Display: 5.2" (131.8mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos Exynos 7870
• Camera: 13 MP, CMOS F1.7

More specifications

Galaxy A7

• Model: SM-A750F
• Dimensions: 159.8 x 76.8 x 7.5 mm,
• Display: 6.0" (152.4mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 7885
• Camera: 24 MP, CMOS F1.7, 8 MP, CMOS & 5 MP, CMOS

More specifications

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Mi Note 10 has a great camera and that could be good news for the Galaxy S11

Xiaomi launched the Mi CC9 Pro, also known as the Mi Note 10, in China earlier this week. It’s a Snapdragon 730G-powered upper-midrange device whose main attraction is the penta-camera setup on the back that includes a whopping 108-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor for the primary camera.

Understandably, Xiaomi hyped up the Mi Note 10’s camera a lot and, for a change, it indeed appears to be the best in the market, at least according to the DxOMark’s smartphone camera rankings. While we can argue about the validity of the exact DxO scores, there is no denying that the comparison pictures in the DxO review show that the Mi Note 10 performs exceptionally well in a variety of situations. This proves, among other things, Samsung’s 108-megapixel ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor is a top-notch performer.

Prior to the launch of the Mi Note 10 and the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, Samsung’s 2019 Galaxy flagships stood at the top of the DxOMark rankings for a large part of the year. A mid-range Xiaomi device beating these flagships is bad news for the Korean tech giant in the short run, but it can be good news for the company’s upcoming Galaxy S11.

This is because the Galaxy S11 will reportedly use an improved version of the same ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor as its primary camera. When you combine that with the Galaxy S11’s flagship SoC with a superior ISP (Image Signal Processor) over the Snapdragon 730G, you suddenly get a hardware package that is capable of beating the best in the market.

If that’s not enough camera hardware for you, the Galaxy S11 will supposedly feature a periscope camera system as well to enable 5x optical zoom. Not just hardware, Samsung is generally better than Xiaomi when it comes to image processing as well. When you take all of this together, the Galaxy S11 indeed has the potential to top the smartphone camera rankings when launched.

We have said in the past that the Galaxy S11 should be a camera champion. Thankfully, all the rumours and evidence we have come across so far suggest that the camera will indeed be the focus of the Galaxy S11.

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Get a free Galaxy Note 10+ 5G when buying a Q950R TV in the UK

Samsung fans and bargain hunters residing in the UK are in for a treat, as the company has launched a fantastic offer ahead of Black Friday, letting customers claim a Galaxy Note 10+ 5G for free when purchasing select QLED 8K TV models.

The promotion is valid for the Q950R TV models with screen diagonals including 55, 56, 75, 82, and 98 inches. The free Galaxy Note 10+ 5G comes only in Aura Glow, but this shouldn’t be an issue for most prospective buyers given the popularity of the Aura Glow flavor, at least among our readers.

Get an 8K TV, claim a free Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

It’s not very often when Samsung – or any other OEM for that matter – offers its latest and greatest flagship phone as a free bonus attached to another product. Come to think of it, it’s probably going to be difficult for Samsung to match this great offer even on Black Friday.

But what if Samsung will offer even better deals at the end of the month? Should you risk buying the Q950R 8K TV along with a free Galaxy Note 10+ 5G knowing that there’s a chance for an even better deal to crop up in the next few weeks? Well, the good news is that the offer at hand will last until January 28, so you don’t necessarily have to rush into it. There’s plenty of time for the entire 2019 holiday season to conclude by the time Samsung’s TV + Note 10+ 5G offer expires.

The offer is valid for Q950R TVs purchased online from Samsung UK or partner retailers including Dixons, Hughes, JLP, and Richer Sounds. Check this official page for more details about the promotion and instructions on how to claim your free reward.

Do you already own an 8K TV and/or a Galaxy Note 10+ or are you going to take advantage of this latest promotion? Join us in the comment section below.

Galaxy Note10+ 5G

• Model: SM-N976B
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 77,2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.8" (172.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
• Camera: 12 Ultra Wide: 16MP F2.2 (123°) & Wide-angle: 12MP 2PD AF F1.5/F2.4 OIS (77°) & Telephoto: 12MP F2.1 OIS (45°) & DepthVision Camera: VGA

More specifications

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New Galaxy Note 10 update rolling out, adds OneDrive sync to Gallery

Android 10 isn’t a big update for Galaxy devices as far as new features are concerned. And it may be an especially minor update for the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 if Samsung keeps bringing some of the Android 10 functionality to these flagships before the Android 10 update is released worldwide.

Last month, we discovered that Android 10 includes a slow motion mode for the front-facing camera, a feature that Samsung brought to the Galaxy S10 series with a minor update just a few days later. Then, we discovered that the Android 10 beta on the Galaxy Note 10 lets you sync your Gallery files to OneDrive, and that functionality is now making its way to Galaxy Note 10 owners on Android Pie.

Samsung Cloud will use OneDrive to backup your media

Samsung has released a new software update for the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ in Switzerland. The update adds OneDrive integration to Samsung Cloud for syncing media from the Gallery app. We’ve already gone into detail about how this works in our previous article so we won’t repeat it here, but the basic premise is that all your images and videos will be synced to your OneDrive account going forward.

This integration is not an optional feature – Samsung Cloud will eventually ask all users to start using OneDrive for media backup. Other data that’s backed up to Samsung Cloud will remain on it, however, so Samsung’s cloud service is not going anywhere. We reckon the switch to OneDrive for media backup will be necessary once Android 10 comes out for all eligible Galaxy devices, although it may come to the Galaxy S10 series with a regular Android Pie-based update.

The latest Galaxy Note 10 update also improves Bixby performance and the fingerprint recognition algorithm. It sports software version N97*FXXU1ASJM and, like the previous update, includes the November 2019 security patch. It is only available in Switzerland right now but should soon be rolling out in other countries. You can download it over the air from the Settings » Software update menu on your Note 10/10+, or you can upgrade by downloading the latest firmware from our database and flashing it on the phone using a Windows PC.

Galaxy Note 10

• Model: SM-N970F
• Dimensions: 151.0 x71.8x7.9mm
• Display: 6.3"(160.02mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F2.2 Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy Note 10+

• Model: SM-N975F
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 77,2 x 7.9mm
• Display: 6.8"(172.7mm) Super AMOLED
• CPU: Exynos 9825
• Camera: 12 Ultra Wide: 16MP F2.2 (123°) & Wide-angle: 12MP 2PD AF F1.5/F2.4 OIS (77°) & Telephoto: 12MP F2.1 OIS (45°) & DepthVision Camera: VGA

More specifications

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