This Galaxy S21 Ultra competitor will get laughably short software support

Samsung is undoubtedly the king of software updates in the land of Android phones. For the longest time the company guaranteed two major OS updates to devices across all price points, and now, Samsung promises three generations of OS updates to many mid-range devices and all flagship phones. Security updates, meanwhile, are guaranteed for as long as four years, and up to five years for some enterprise edition variants.

It’s not Apple-grade, but Samsung’s software support game is far ahead of the rest of the competition, especially given the number of devices it spits out each year. Some manufacturers, like OnePlus, are trying to bridge the gap in some ways, but others aren’t so concerned. Case in point: Sony’s new flagship, the $1,299 Xperia I III, will be supported “with the latest Android updates for two years after its launch.”

Even the Galaxy A51 will get more big OS upgrades than the Xperia 1 III

That’s right: A Sony phone that is competing with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung’s top-of-the-line flagship, is being promised lesser support than what Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A51 will manage. And Sony isn’t even saying anything about security updates. Those are arguably more important in this day and age, but only Samsung seems completely sure about its intentions and long-term plans as far as security updates are concerned.

At the end of the day, if post-purchase peace of mind is an important parameter for you, Samsung’s phones are pretty much the best you can get. Not that Samsung can rest on its laurels, because at least one manufacturer — the maker of Android itself — is reportedly trying to destroy the Korean giant’s software update advantage by promising five years of support for upcoming Pixel phones, though it’s unclear at this time if that support will translate to five Android OS updates.

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Samsung’s making 120Hz foldable displays for everyone this year

Samsung’s at the forefront of the foldable smartphone market, with a lead so strong other manufacturers can only hope to catch up any time soon. In addition to making its own yearly foldable phones, with new refreshes in the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip lineups due next month, Samsung is also making foldable displays for other manufacturers.

Companies like Google, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo are currently working on foldable devices of their own and are sourcing their foldable displays from Samsung, and according to analyst Ross Young, all foldable panels Samsung will make this year will feature a 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO technology (which enables variable refresh rate for higher power efficiency).

Of course, the main takeaway here is that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are confirmed to feature 120Hz LTPO displays similar to the Note 20 Ultra and S21 Ultra. The Galaxy Z Flip had a standard 60Hz screen while the Galaxy Z Fold 2 only featured high refresh rate support on the inner display. That’s set to change with the sequels to those phones, which are due for launch sometime next month, though a release date currently remains a little uncertain according to a recent report.

Google will reportedly also be using Samsung’s UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) technology for a higher degree of protection on the folding display. Oppo and Xiaomi are also said to be using the technology for their phones, which shouldn’t come as a surprise as Samsung’s display arm works independently of its mobile unit and, therefore, doesn’t keep any of its technical advancements exclusive to Galaxy devices.

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Samsung launches 65-inch The Serif TV in South Korea

Samsung has launched the 65-inch version of The Serif TV in South Korea. The company’s lifestyle-oriented smart TV was already available in 43-inch, 50-inch, and 55-inch versions. The South Korean firm has announced that it will bring the 65-inch version of the TV to more markets globally soon.

The 65-inch version of The Serif TV is priced at KRW 2,790,000 (around $2,420) in South Korea. The company has already started showcasing its new TV in Samsung Digital Plaza offline stores across the country.

The Serif is designed by the world-famous furniture designers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. Its design is inspired by the alphabet I written in the serif font family, hence the name. The company wants its lifestyle TV to blur the lines between a consumer electronic product and furniture. When the TV is turned off, it looks like a painting canvas and its interior effect is maximized using the Magic Screen feature.

It is a QLED TV with 4K resolution, HDR10+, HLG, high screen brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync Premium. It has a quad-speaker setup with 40W audio. Other audio features include Adaptive Sound, AVA (Active Voice Amplifier), Dolby Digital Plus, and Dialog Enhancement. It has four HDMI ports, two USB ports, eARC, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, and HDMI CEC.

It runs Tizen OS and features NFC, AirPlay 2, and screen mirroring. Its Ambient Mode+ feature shows important information in the morning, a range of visuals during parties, calm tunes while you read a book, or the pictures that you took during a vacation. It features Alexa, Bixby, Google Assistant, Samsung Health, SmartThings, Microsoft Remote Access with Office 365, and multi-view mode.

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Apple Pay is coming to take Samsung Pay’s business on its home turf

Samsung Pay doesn’t have any competition from Apple in South Korea, but this will apparently change soon. The South Korean government is planning to invest $133 billion on a new initiative called ‘K-New Deal,’ which is meant to help bolster projects across the digital and green economy sectors.

The project is also looking to improve South Korea’s NFC infrastructure for mobile transactions and create a better platform for MZ generation customers. According to a fresh report by @FrontTron, Apple Pay will eventually be released in South Korea as part of the K-New Deal strategy.

Why isn’t Apple Pay available in South Korea yet?

According to previous news from the Korean media, card issuers in the country have attempted to bring Apple Pay to South Korea since 2015, but Apple’s demands were too steep. This problem continues to this day, and last year, some domestic card issuers have reportedly stopped negotiating with Apple altogether because of the US company’s unreasonable fees.

But judging by the more recent report, South Korean card issuers and Apple might be working on a new strategy under the umbrella of the K-New Deal program. There’s no telling when Apple Pay could be launching in Korea, but if these plans go through, we’re likely to hear more about the platform’s launch in the coming months.

It will be interesting to see if Samsung will try to counter Apple’s move in South Korea, but either way, Apple’s eventual arrival poses a big threat for Samsung, the latter of which was protected indirectly by the aforementioned disagreements between Apple and card issuers.

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With no Note coming, are you looking forward to the next Galaxy Unpacked?

Times are changing, and the next Galaxy Unpacked event will be very different from what we’ve grown accustomed to. Not because it will be hosted in a virtual environment, as this isn’t something unheard of, but because Galaxy Unpacked 2021 will be the first Samsung event scheduled for the second half of any given year to miss out on the Galaxy Note series.

Over the past decade or so, Samsung’s Unpacked events held in H2 were focused on revealing a new Galaxy Note model. This year will be different, as every bit of leaked evidence claims that there won’t be a Galaxy Note 21 coming in 2021. The iconic S Pen smartphone series has been shelved for the time being, but the yearly event will continue with a new focus on a different category of devices.

What’s there to look forward to at Galaxy Unpacked 2021?

The next Galaxy Unpacked event will be almost entirely focused on the company’s latest foldable devices, namely the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3. The company will also launch the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic wearables, along with the Galaxy Buds 2.

The S Pen Pro will make an appearance at Unpacked thanks to the fact that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be compatible with this accessory (and also the Galaxy S21 Ultra). This makes Samsung’s decision to abandon the Galaxy Note series a bit more bearable, but it might not be enough to appease hardcore fans.

The S Pen / S Pen Pro will be offered as an optional accessory for the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but the device won’t have a dedicated S Pen slot. The foldable won’t deliver an optimal S Pen experience in this regard, even if it will be compatible with the upcoming S Pen Pro, and this begs the question of how many fans of Samsung and the Galaxy Note brand will be looking forward to Galaxy Unpacked 2021.

Of course, there are a couple of new wearables planned to be on stage, and the Galaxy S21 FE might also make an appearance, even though rumors suggest otherwise. So, are you excited about the second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2021? And will the lack of a Galaxy Note model change anything for you? Feel free to participate in our poll and leave a comment below.

With no Note coming, are you looking forward to the next Galaxy Unpacked?

• Yes, I'm excited for every Galaxy Unpacked event regardless
• Yes, I think the S Pen and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 make a great combo
• Yes, I didn't care much about the Galaxy Note series to begin with
• Yes, I'm looking forward to the Galaxy Watch 4 and Classic
• If there's no Note, there's no Galaxy Unpacked in my eyes
• No, I care about the products but not the event itself
• No, there's nothing for me at this Galaxy Unpacked
• Not unless the Galaxy S21 FE makes an appearance

Results

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Here’s when the Galaxy Tab S7 FE will be launched in South Korea

Two months after unveiling the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, Samsung is finally ready to launch the first Fan Edition tablet in its own country. The company has announced that the Galaxy Tab S7 FE will be available in South Korea starting July 23 via Samsung’s online and offline stores, 11th Street, GMarket, Naver, WeMakePrice, and select offline stores. Samsung has started accepting pre-order today, and the pre-order period will run until July 21.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE will be available in 64GB and 128GB storage variants. The 64GB version supports LTE networks, and it will be available in three colors: Mystic Green, Mystic Pink, and Mystic Silver. It is priced at KRW 699,600 (around $606). The 128GB version of the tablet supports LTE and 5G, and it will be available in three colors: Mystic Black, Mystic Green, and Mystic Pink. The 128GB LTE variant costs KRW 770,000 (around $670), while the 5G variant costs KRW 844,000 (around $730).

Those who pre-order the Galaxy Tab S7 FE will get a 50% discount on the Slim Keyboard Cover or the Book Cover for KRW 5,000 (around $5). Buyers can also get the Tucano Mendini pouch for the tablet for KRW 5,000 (around $5). Samsung is also offering a six-month subscription to Watcha video streaming service, a three-month subscription to Millie’s e-book service, a Galaxy Store discount coupon worth KRW 10,000 (around $10), and Class101 coupons worth KRW 200,000 (around $170).

Samsung is also offering a trade-in program where customers can return their older Galaxy tablet to get a rebate while buying the Galaxy Tab S7 FE. Starting today, customers can experience the tablet at offline stores such as Electronic Land, E-Mart, Hi-Mart, and Samsung Digital Plaza.

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Samsung Calendar update adds Google Meet integration, improves search

Samsung’s Calendar app is getting a new update with additional customization options, functionality improvements, and minor UI changes. Calendar version 12.2.04.8000 is now available for download from the Galaxy Store, but it doesn’t seem to be available everywhere. It appears to be rolling out in certain regions first, with Europe seemingly having priority.

The new Calendar version adds a Join button for events such as Google Meet video calls, and it moves the Search button from the contextual menu to the main screen right between the existing S Pen and current date buttons. The changelog also mentions some improvements to calendar management and support for more colors in My Calendar. Users can now choose from a dozen color options instead of just six.

Galaxy smartphone and tablet users can grab the latest version of Calendar from the Galaxy Store by accessing the “Updates” section in the side menu. Alternatively, they can access the Calendar settings screen and update the app from the “About Calendar” section.

If you can’t find the latest version (12.2.04.8000), it means that the update has yet to reach your location. The rollout is seemingly staggered, but sit tight and the update should reach your device sooner rather than later.

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