Is Samsung Galaxy Z Flip’s ‘Ultra Thin Glass’ really glass?

Samsung unveiled its second foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip, last week with new-gained confidence and promises of important breakthroughs in material sciences. It claimed that its new phone features the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG), a flexible protective glass layer to save the foldable screen from scratches. Now, those claims have been put to the test, and the results aren’t looking pretty.

YouTuber Zack Nelson, also known as JerryRigEverything, has published a video that shows him testing the durability of the Galaxy Z Flip’s screen and body. As usual, he starts the screen durability test by scratching it using various Mohs hardness picks.

Most modern smartphones that use Gorilla Glass or other screen protection solutions start showing permanent scratches at level 6, which then deepen at level 7. The Galaxy Z Flip, however, starts showing permanent damage at level 2, with deeper grooves beginning to appear at level 3. This puts the Ultra Thin Glass at the same durability level as the plastic protection on the Galaxy Fold and Motorola’s new RAZR.

Towards the end of the video, the YouTuber pokes holes into the Galaxy Z Flip’s screen, causing the pixels to go crazy and stop working. The Ultra Thin Glass doesn’t show any sign of fracture, though, and there aren’t any irregular bumps and lumps that we’ve seen on other foldable smartphones.

Nelson thinks that Samsung could be using a hybrid plastic polymer with microscopic bits of glass mixed in it so that it can advertise the protective layer as glass. The YouTuber concludes the video saying that “the screen is in now way scratch-resistant.”

In response to the video and a related story on The Verge, the South Korean smartphone giant sent an official statement to the publication:

“Galaxy Z Flip features an Infinity Flex Display with Samsung’s Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) to deliver a sleek, premium look and offer an immersive viewing experience. Samsung’s first-of-its-kind UTG technology is different from other Galaxy flagship devices. While the display does bend, it should be handled with care. Also, Galaxy Z Flip has a protective layer on top of the UTG similar to Galaxy Fold.”

As per Samsung’s statement, there’s a plastic protective layer on top of the company’s proprietary glass technology. Does this mean the scratches that we see in the video are only affecting the outer layer? Is the Ultra Thin Glass really glass? Was it all marketing hype and no truth?

Received my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip just now. Opened the box. Removed the protective/instruction film. Flipped the phone as you would do since it’s a flip phone and this happened. I heard the crack as well. cold weather?#SamsungGalaxy #ZFlip #samsung pic.twitter.com/j8KLL2vm8d

— Amir (@mondoir) February 14, 2020

There are a few images and videos on Twitter that put the Galaxy Z Flip’s durability into question. A buyer in the UK flipped open his brand new phone for the first time and heard it crack along the hinge. He claims that Samsung replaced his phone with a new unit within 24 hours. Another YouTuber, Quinn Nelson, also seems to have a faulty Galaxy Z Flip whose screen started squeaking within a day of being used.

uh oh guys pic.twitter.com/RFiKFgFxts

— Quinn Nelson (@SnazzyQ) February 16, 2020

Samsung says that it will offer a one-time screen replacement option (for $119) to all Galaxy Z Flip users. Buyers in the US can also get the specially-designed screen protector applied for free for one time via select UBIF (U Break I Fix) shops, Samsung-branded locations, or sending the phone to Samsung Premier Service via mail.

The company’s marketing makes it seem like the Ultra Thin Glass is as hard as glass panels on other phones. No one expects a hard folding glass, at least right now, but Samsung should be clearer in making people understand that they need to be more careful with the phone.

It looks like the company is now right in the middle of yet another controversy as it continues to try and push the boundaries of foldable phones. And it doesn’t inspire confidence, especially after the Galaxy Note 7 and the Galaxy Fold fiascos.

Would you buy the $1,380 Galaxy Z Flip even after watching this video? Let us know your thoughts.

The post Is Samsung Galaxy Z Flip’s ‘Ultra Thin Glass’ really glass? appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/37AmQVA
via IFTTT

New leak reveals a Galaxy A series phone that no one needs

Samsung has launched an insane number of mid-range Galaxy A series phones targeting various price segments in the last year. The company plans to continue doing the same this year, as we had learned a few months back when Samsung trademarked a bunch of phone names as part of its 2020 Galaxy A series of devices. From the Galaxy A01 to the Galaxy A90 5G, there’s something for everyone in Samsung’s mid-range lineup, but the company now seems to be working on a new Galaxy A smartphone that no one asked for.

The folks over Price Raja have leaked high-quality renders of a phone they say is the Galaxy A70e. However, it doesn’t seem to be a variant of the Galaxy A70, Galaxy A70s, or even the new Galaxy A71. The A70e reportedly has a 6.1-inch Infinity-V display with pretty huge bezels like one of Samsung’s early Galaxy M budget smartphones, a rear-facing physical fingerprint scanner, and, apparently, a microUSB port. There’s a vertically aligned triple camera setup at the back, and a headphone jack at the top.

The Galaxy A70e has come completely out of left field, and we are left wondering exactly who this device is for. The microUSB port alone makes the Galaxy A70e quite meaningless – there’s no place for a phone with a microUSB port in this day and age, certainly not on a device that’s supposedly a cheaper variant of the Galaxy A70, which is one of the more high-end offerings in Samsung’s mid-range lineup.

We also see no signs of the phone’s firmware being in development, so we will have to wait for more information to get a clearer picture of what Samsung is up to. We’ll let you once we learn anything, and in the meantime, you can check out renders of the supposed Galaxy A70e below.

The post New leak reveals a Galaxy A series phone that no one needs appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/37vI1Ik
via IFTTT

First Galaxy Z Flip is the US update adds a missing camera feature

When it comes to its hardware, the Galaxy Z Flip is unique compared to anything else that’s out there (yes, including the new Motorola Razr). When compared to other Galaxy phones, the Z Flip is also unique how quickly it went on sale after being officially announced.

The Galaxy Z Flip (read our hands-on impressions here) was unveiled on February 11 and released yesterday, February 14, and it seems Samsung was in such a hurry that it forgot to load retail units with an important new camera feature that it’s supposed to have out of the box. Samsung has released the first software update for the Galaxy Z Flip in the US, and the update adds the Single Take camera feature to the device.

In Single Take mode, when the shutter button is pressed, the camera takes a number of photos and video clips with the different rear cameras for up to 10 seconds. It’s like a burst mode on steroids, or as Samsung calls it, a “burst mode turned beast mode.” The update also adds the option to switch between wide and ultra-wide view when the 1.1-inch cover screen is used as a viewfinder for taking photos.

The update includes the February 2020 security patch and is currently available for unlocked models. It carries software version F700U1UEU1ATAR and can be downloaded over the air from the Settings » Software update menu on the phone. We also have firmware for the device available in our firmware archive for those who want to manually update using a Windows computer.

The post First Galaxy Z Flip is the US update adds a missing camera feature appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2uEowjO
via IFTTT

Exclusive: Galaxy A71 5G could come to markets outside US and China

The 5G variant of the Galaxy A71 seems set for a wider launch than we had originally reported. Before the Galaxy A71 was officially announced, we had found signs of a 5G variant in development for the Chinese market. Samsung then started developing both carrier and unlocked versions for the US as well, and we can now confirm that the Galaxy A71 5G is also in the works for other markets.

A Galaxy A71 variant with model number SM-A716B is currently in development. Samsung uses the letter ‘B’ at the end of the model number for 5G devices sold outside the US and South Korea (where the ‘B’ is replaced by a ‘U’ and an ‘N’ respectively). Unfortunately, we do not know which markets the SM-A716B is headed to. 5G Galaxy phones with the letter ‘B’ on their model numbers are usually for European markets and countries like Australia and New Zealand, and considering the Galaxy A90 5G was launched in many of these markets, we can expect the same for the Galaxy A71 5G.

It’s also worth mentioning that Samsung doesn’t seem to be working on an LTE variant of the phone for countries like the US, though it isn’t too surprising as it won’t make sense for the company to launch both the LTE and 5G variants in a country where carriers have launched 5G networks. The US launch might also take place in the near future, going by a teaser for what looks like a Galaxy A71 posted by leakster Evleaks on Twitter, but whether or not a launch in other markets is going to happen any time soon remains to be seen.

The post Exclusive: Galaxy A71 5G could come to markets outside US and China appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2SHjmLK
via IFTTT

Galaxy S20 series up for pre-order in India, prices revealed

Samsung has started taking pre-orders for its latest flagship smartphones in India. The Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra can be pre-ordered from the Samsung India website, with shipments to start from March 13. That’s nearly a week later than the release date for the phones in markets like the US and South Korea, and Samsung says shipments could take up to a week to arrive, which means some pre-order customers might have to wait until March 19 or March 20 for the device to reach their doorstep.

Galaxy S20 prices in India start at Rs 66,999

Samsung’s pricing for the three phones in India, where only the LTE variants with 128GB storage are available, starts at Rs 66,999 for the Galaxy S20 and goes up to Rs 92,999 for the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The Galaxy S20+, meanwhile, is priced at Rs 73,999. Those who pre-order will get the option to buy the Galaxy Buds+ for Rs 1,999 and also be able to opt for additional warranty via Samsung Care+ for another Rs 1,999. The devices can be purchased on installment plans with 0% interest with credit cards from all major banks as well as some debit cards.

As far as color options are concerned, Samsung’s offerings are quite limited. The Galaxy S20+ is available in Cloud Blue, Cosmic Gray, and Cosmic Black, while the Galaxy S20 Ultra can only be purchased in Cosmic Gray. The Galaxy S20 can be purchased in two colors: Cosmic Gray and Cloud Blue. It’s possible Samsung will extend the choice of colors a few weeks after the phones hit retail stores.

Will you be picking up any of the Galaxy S20 smartphones? Which one are you going to get? Let us know in the comments!

The post Galaxy S20 series up for pre-order in India, prices revealed appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2UVv0Fl
via IFTTT

Weekly SamMobile Quiz 13 – Come test your Samsung knowledge!

Consider yourself a superfan of Samsung? Take our quiz and see how many answers you can get right! This is a fun activity that we do with our readers every week to test their knowledge of our favorite company. The quiz has a mix of easy and difficult questions that most fans should be able to answer without turning to Google.

We intend to make a new quiz for you every weekend so we hope that you’ll participate and learn a thing or two about Samsung in the process! Don’t forget to share the results of the quiz with your friends and see if you can outscore them. A little competition never hurt anybody!

Remember, if the quiz isn’t loading properly, please access the non-AMP version of this webpage.

The post Weekly SamMobile Quiz 13 – Come test your Samsung knowledge! appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2SPSHfG
via IFTTT

Galaxy Z Flip lacks DeX support but Samsung could add it later via update

The Galaxy Z Flip appears to be Samsung’s latest smartphone to lack DeX support, at least judging by a photo shared recently by @Kuma_Sleepy via Twitter. It showcases the search results, or lack thereof, for ‘DeX’ on a Z Flip in South Korea, and seemingly confirms that the feature is missing from the device.

South Korea was among the first markets to receive the Galaxy Z Flip and to sell it out in less than 8 hours of availability. One early adopter has discovered that DeX is missing from the device, but hopefully, this is just a temporary setback.

The Galaxy Z Flip could get DeX support via firmware update

The original Galaxy Fold also lacked DeX support at launch, but Samsung added the feature later through a firmware update. The Galaxy Z Flip may get a similar treatment, or at least this is what we’d expect from a smartphone that comes with a price tag of $1,380.

However, this is not a guarantee. Lack of DeX support at launch is not something specific to Samsung’s foldable devices. As we’ve discussed in our review, the feature is also missing from the Galaxy S10 Lite even though it is available on the Galaxy A90 5G, and both models feature the Snapdragon 855 chipset. The Galaxy Z Flip is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ so, technically speaking, all of these smartphones should be capable of supporting DeX.

It’s a mystery how Samsung decides which smartphones should or shouldn’t get DeX at launch or at all, but all we can do is hope that the Galaxy Z Flip will start supporting the feature sooner rather than later.

The post Galaxy Z Flip lacks DeX support but Samsung could add it later via update appeared first on SamMobile.

from SamMobile https://ift.tt/2uMzdR5
via IFTTT