The Galaxy S21+ flat display with thin bezels looks gorgeous in this leak

If you’re up for another Galaxy S21 leak then you probably won’t be disappointed by the latest. A few hands-on photos featuring the Galaxy S21+ in Phantom Violet have emerged via @MauriQHD and although they don’t reveal anything we didn’t already know about the phone, they still offer a good view on the actual product rather than the press renders.

The leaked hands-on photos appear to be depicting a Galaxy S21+ preview unit that’s not intended for sale. More importantly, they once again highlight some of the phone’s most attractive design features, from the unique camera bump design to the flat display with thin bezels all around. In fact, the Galaxy S21+, as seen in these photos, appears to have some of the thinnest screen bezels around.

And no, we won’t see under-display camera technology making it into the Galaxy S21, even though Samsung is exploring various unique ways in which it might tackle the challenge for future flagship models. Regardless, the Galaxy S21+ Infinity-O selfie camera cutout appears to be fairly small. And in the realm of things we’ve seen before, the leaked hands-on photos also reconfirm one of the Galaxy S21’s official wallpapers. They were all leaked a couple of weeks ago and they’re available for download – unofficially – ahead of the phone’s January 14 unveiling.

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Official Galaxy S21 case renders may have revealed the S Pen’s location

Third-party case renders for the Galaxy S21 series have been leaking for a few good weeks now. They were among the first leaks to reveal some of the flagship’s new design elements, but since then the entire Galaxy S21 series has been fully unveiled in press renders that have left nothing to the imagination. Except for Samsung’s range of official cases.

Now a new batch of leaked renders depicting some of the company’s official Galaxy S21 case models emerged via MySmartPrice. They reveal a couple of LED covers, Clear covers, Leather and Protective Standing covers, and a silicone case. In addition, the renders also reveal a couple of Kvadrat textile cases for the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+. The purple Kvadrat case was spotted before but the gray variant is new.

Interestingly, not every case model is hiding the new camera bump design employed by the Galaxy S21 series. This is by far the most striking design element and, thankfully, it looks like customers might have enough case models to choose from regardless of whether they like the idea of covering the camera module or not. There might be an option for everyone.

Clear View Case appears to be wide enough for an S Pen

Samsung’s official range of cases for the Galaxy S21 series offers a wide variety of designs, materials, and color options. They look similar to the previous models but they were tailored to fit the Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. This also means that the latter model should get at least one case accessory that features an S Pen holster.

That particular case appears to be the Clear View Case. The S Pen holster itself is not visible but @ishanagarwal24 made an interesting point about the case having an unusually-wide aspect ratio precisely because it accommodates an S Pen.

We expect most of these Galaxy S21 official cases to become available on the same date as the flagship series itself but prices have not yet been revealed. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we find out more. Until then, feel free to let us know if you plan on buying the Galaxy S21 next month and pair it with one of the official case models seen below.

Galaxy S21

• Model: SM-G991B
• Dimensions: Bar: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.2 inch / 157.48 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21+

• Model: SM-G996B
• Dimensions: Bar: 161.4 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy S21 Ultra

• Model: SM-G998B
• Dimensions: Bar: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  
• Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Exynos 2100
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Samsung might use this neat trick to hide the under-display selfie camera

Smartphone brands have been trying various technologies to make smartphones bezel-free. We saw screen notches of various shapes, including a rectangular notch, a V-shaped notch, and a U-shaped notch, to maximize the screen area. We also saw phones with flip and pop-up selfie cameras. Samsung then introduced phones with punch-hole-shaped display cutouts. Now, the company seems to be working on a new solution to hide the selfie camera.

A new patent filed by Samsung with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) shows that the company is working on a solution that involves a sub-display to hide the front-facing camera. The patent explains how a small-sized sub-display can be placed below the main screen and then it can be operated using a motor. Whenever the user needs to use the front-facing camera, the phone moves down the sub-display to let all the light pass through to the sensor. When the camera is not being used, the sub-display covers the camera sensor, making it an elegant solution.

Samsung talks about using a dual-camera setup below the screen in its patent. The second sensor could be a ToF camera that can be used for secure face unlock. Moreover, the company also talks about the ability to only move the sub-display partially to reveal just one camera sensor. For example, while unlocking the phone, only the ToF camera can be revealed, while the camera sensor can be revealed while taking selfies and videos. LetsGoDigital has created an easy-to-understand GIF to showcase the technology.

The patent also mentions that the movable sub-display can show useful bits of information such as notification icons, time, battery level, and messages. The sub-display can either be moved by the phone automatically or by the user manually through a double-tap or a swipe-up action. This solution, if managed well, can be great because it can be used in an IP68-certified smartphone body. It doesn’t even degrade the image quality, which is a problem on phones like the ZTE Axon 20 5G that have an under-display camera.

This patent from Samsung was published on December 24, 2020. However, we are not sure whether the South Korean tech giant will use this technology in its upcoming smartphones. Would you enjoy using a phone that uses this under-display selfie camera technology? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Galaxy M12 to launch in India soon as it reportedly goes into mass production

Samsung is working on yet another affordable phone with a big display and a high-capacity battery. The Galaxy M12 first surfaced last month when its 3D CAD renders were leaked. Later, some of the phone’s specifications were revealed along with its Bluetooth certification. We now have a report that offers some information about its launch time frame.

According to a new report from 91Mobiles, Samsung has already started the mass production of the Galaxy M12 in India. This means that the phone could be launched in the first quarter of 2021, at least in India. The unnamed source also reportedly shared live images of the phone’s chassis, which further confirms that it will feature an Infinity-V display.

Going by previous leaks, the Galaxy M12 features a 6.7-inch display (probably an LCD unit). It measures 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm and features a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The phone was seen rocking an Exynos 850 processor and 3GB RAM. It will be launched with Android 11-based One UI 3.x, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 7,000mAh battery.

The Galaxy M12 could also be launched as the Galaxy F12 in some markets as the device goes by multiple model numbers: SM-M127F, SM-M127G, SM-F127F, and SM-F127G. Since the Exynos 850 lacks a 5G modem, the Galaxy M12 will not feature 5G connectivity.

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Samsung might not stop making LCD panels so soon

Samsung Display had originally planned to stop the production of LCD panels by the end of 2020. However, that plan was postponed slightly, and the production was scheduled to stop in March 2021. The company has now announced that it will continue making LCD panels indefinitely in its L8 fab in the Asan plant.

South Korean media IT Chosun says that Samsung Display will continue producing LCD panels for monitors and TVs as the demand for such products has increased following the COVID-19 related stay-at-home trend. Samsung Electronics reportedly requested Samsung Display to continue the production of LCD panels. However, a Samsung Display spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.

According to TrendForce, a 30% QoQ uptick was seen in demand for laptops, monitors, and TVs since the COVID-19 pandemic. Samsung Display had originally planned to stop the production of LCD panels by 2020 and move to the QD-OLED technology. It even sold its China LCD factory in Suzhou to TCL’s CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology). However, the company will now continue operating its LCD plant in South Korea.

Samsung Electronics has reportedly denied buying QD-OLED panels from Samsung Display for its TVs because it has been rallying against OLED technology, and adopting QD-OLED might send wrong marketing signals. Reports claim that the company might buy some small-sized QD-OLED panels for monitors soon. For its high-end TVs, the company plans to use Mini-LED and MicroLED technologies.

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Samsung starts accepting pre-orders for 110-inch MicroLED TV in Korea

Samsung’s first ready-to-install MicroLED TV was unveiled earlier this month. The company has now announced that it will start accepting pre-orders for its premium TV in South Korea. Those who pre-order the 110-inch MicroLED TV will get access to various benefits.

Pre-orders for the MicroLED TV will start tomorrow and continue until January 29, 2021. Samsung has created an entirely new process to offer consultation to the buyer right from pre-order to the installation of the new TV. The company will send a limousine when customers visit a special consulting store. Moreover, a dedicated team will install the MicroLED TV at the buyer’s home. The South Korean firm is also offering a 7-year warranty for the new TV.

Customers can pre-order the TV via specialized call centers, Samsung Digital Plaza, and other authorized brick-and-mortar stores. Deliveries of the MicroLED TV will begin after its launch in March 2021.

While pre-ordering the MicroLED TV, customers can choose from three packages: Chef Collection, Home Cinema, and Relax. The Chef Collection will come with a Samsung Chef Collection Refrigerator (Mare Blue), which features metal doors designed by Italian firm De Castelli. The Home Cinema package will come with The Premiere laser beam projector, the JBL L100 Classic luxury speaker, and a massage chair. The Relax package includes air travel and accommodation to visit Jeju island and play professional golf.

Samsung’s MicroLED TV offers stunning design, picture quality

The new MicroLED TV from Samsung comes in a 110-inch variant right now, but the company has plans to launch it in more screen sizes. It features the MicroLED technology and uses more than 8 million micrometer-sized LEDs to create various backlight zones. This new technology offers OLED-like deep blacks, high contrast ratio, and very high brightness for an immersive experience. The TV has a monolith design, which means it has no bezels and sits close to the wall.

Samsung’s Tizen-powered 110-inch MicroLED TV features ‘Majestic Sound System’ with a 5.1-channel speaker setup and Object Sound Tracking. It also has a Micro AI processor for content upscaling and the 4Vue feature that lets users watch four channels simultaneously. The TV will be launched in other markets such as the Middle East and the US in the coming months.

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Firmware updates don’t stop and the Galaxy Buds Live get a new one

Samsung is rolling out a new firmware update for the Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds. We can confirm that the update is being deployed in Europe at the least, but as usual, availability will expand gradually into more markets over the coming days and weeks.

Availability aside, you shouldn’t expect a game-changing update for your wireless bean-shaped earbuds; not according to the minimalist changelog that mentions only stability improvements. The update weighs about 2.2MB and it’s labeled as firmware version R180XXU0ATK2. It’s a bit larger than the recent stability update for the Galaxy Buds+ so other tweaks and/or improvements may have snuck in but we haven’t noticed anything worth reporting. In case you do, feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

The Galaxy Buds Live are a few months old and this isn’t their first firmware update, but in case you are new to Samsung’s wearable ecosystem then the way you acquire new updates is through the Galaxy Wearable app that runs on your connected smartphone. Just tap the notification followed by Download and install. And in case you haven’t yet received an update notification, well, there’s not much else you can do besides remaining patient until the gradual rollout reaches your device.

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